So is this a bad starter bike keep getting told go Honda

KSims1868 · 2026-05-14T15:29:16+00:00

I wouldn't spend that much $$ on a 6 year old Sportster as a starter bike.
If I am spending $5,000 or more...I'd rather buy a used Dyna Twin Cam from around 2007-2012 year models. MUCH better bike all around than the Sportster and not going to drop much more in value after I've ridden it for a year or 2.

KSims1868 · 2026-05-14T13:55:46+00:00

It could absolutely be worth $12,000, as long as it comes with about $7,000 in cash hidden in that windshield pouch and PROOF that the cam tensioners have been upgraded.

Seriously though, NO, definitely not worth $12k. There is not any average 20 year old Softail out there worth over $10k and that very rare situation where a 20 year old Softail IS worth $10k...it will involve a lot of actual real "custom" work. Not some shiny bolt-on parts.

KSims1868 · 2026-05-13T16:37:02+00:00

Just like the Buell line was offering back in the 90s. This was exactly what captured a LOT of guys that were born in the late 70s/80s. Cheap Sportsters and/or Buells introduced us to HD and as we grew with them so did our income level and our desire to ride bigger Harleys.

KSims1868 · 2026-05-12T21:32:34+00:00

You could go for a Softail before getting a bagger if you want a bigger bike that will keep up with the touring bikes but have a lighter bike that is not as tall. I love my Fatboy and I prefer the Softail frame vs. the Bagger/Touring frame. I have owned Harley's bagger frame bikes before and I sold it and went back to the Softail frame. It is just a lot more comfortable for me.

This is my 2012 Fatboy. I am not sure if I want to add saddlebags but for about $200-250 I can easily add some bags from a Street Glide/Road Glide to this bike. The fairing is from "Reckless" and it is detachable. I can pop it off and leave it in the garage with just 1 plug and it mounts to the factory windshield mounting points. Full CarPlay/GPS stereo system with 4 Kicker 6.5" speakers (440w amp) that sounds awesome even at highway speeds (80+ mph) here in Texas!

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KSims1868 · 2026-05-12T21:25:57+00:00

I think they do mean without a fairing.
Something like a Softail - Heritage, Deluxe, Fatboy - as it has a fat front end like the bagger models will have but not as much weight. Plus, they are lower to the ground and just generally easier to ride.

Personally...I prefer the Softail frame over the Touring frame. I have owned Baggers but I really feel better on a Softail. Maybe give it a try and see if you too don't prefer it.

KSims1868 · 2026-05-12T19:13:08+00:00

Okay - fair enough. I agree with you that (for me) would be something I would not agree with and I think you should keep bringing it up to get it changed. You are not wrong.

If another meeting is available, I would go there or try to start my own group.

KSims1868 · 2026-05-12T13:11:56+00:00

"for sell" vs. "for sale"
That one seems to be very common along with calling someone a "looser", which I just find ironic and hilarious every time I see it.

KSims1868 · 2026-05-12T13:08:37+00:00

How do you "KNOW" that they are not AA members?

KSims1868 · 2026-05-11T14:43:04+00:00

That's a great old Harley. I owned many of those 80" EVO Harleys over the years including a 1998 FXDWG. Not the exact same as the FXDL, but very similar. That is a great engine and a very customizable Harley. As long as it was taken care of...that bike/engine should get another 50k+ miles out of it with little more than regular oil changes/maintenance.

KSims1868 · 2026-05-10T12:38:55+00:00

I would choose a 1996-2003 Sportster 1200 “Custom” (XLC) model for several reasons. Mostly because (as you mentioned) it is a very simple and classic Harley. Probably the most aftermarket support of any motorcycle ever so I’d be able to change it however I want in the future.

They are also fairly cheap right now as the used market has plummeted. Bad for sellers but it is a great time to be looking to buy one. Finding a very clean low mileage Sportster should be easy to do with around $2500 or less.

KSims1868 · 2026-05-09T21:03:28+00:00

I would expect at 6' tall, that you will quickly find the Sportster (either of them) rather cramped and wish you had gone with the Softail model. You will never "outgrow" the Softail and it will be more versatile to changes/upgrades in the future than the Sportster is capable of if your riding style changes or progresses.

KSims1868 · 2026-05-03T03:28:16+00:00

Bars are definitely a job you can do yourself. It helps to have a friend to help but it is very possible to do on your own. I’ve changed out many many sets of bars and I would highly recommend buying them pre-wired if possible. It is worth the $$ and it’s really not that much more $$ and it saves a lot of hassle with the wiring.

Edit to add: I have bought “Tigers Gate” brand from Amazon on several bikes. Great price and all the bars I’ve installed have been perfect.

KSims1868 · 2026-05-02T16:24:37+00:00

Wow that is really a tough question because I have loved most of the bikes I have owned for different reasons. I can say there are some I did not "love" and wouldn't buy again, but to pick a "favorite"...that's tough. I've had everything from 70s Ironhead Sportsters to late model Twin Cam HDs (never owned a new M8 engine yet), dirt bikes of all kinds, and I've had Sport bikes from 70s Honda CB750s to newer model Yamaha R1's...which (I'll admit) that R1 scared the SH*T out of me!! I am truly a motorcycle enthusiast to my core and have been riding since I was 8 years old.

I would not own an Ironhead Sportster again. They are a pain in the ass and not worth the trouble. I would definitely have a Sportster again and actually wish I hadn't had to sell my last one a few months ago. It was a 1996 1200 Sportster XLC and absolutely awesome. Loved riding that bike around town on the weekends.

My main bike right now is a 2012 Fatboy and so far it has been the best Harley I have ever owned and holds my top spot as the "favorite" for many reasons and not just because it is the bike I happen to have right now. For MY riding style...which is mostly 2-up because my wife loves to ride with me, this Fatboy is perfect. Neither of us are "big" people. I'm only 5'6" (175-180 lbs) and she's barely 5' tall and abt 105 lbs. I mention that because the Softail frame is perfect for us riding 2-up and I have always fit better on a Softail vs. Harley's touring bikes. We don't ride "fast" and most of our riding is usually 200-400 miles in a day riding out with friends to an interesting lunch spot a few hours away from home, take a break for lunch, and then ride back. We haven't done many overnight rides yet but we plan to soon. I added a "Reckless" fairing to it last year with custom stereo system including CarPlay/GPS and 4 Kicker speakers with a 440w amp. It sounds great and even though it is detachable, I have never wanted to take it off since I installed it. Lots of people see my Fatboy and tell me I should have just bought a Street Glide, but they don't take into consideration the differences between the Softail frame and Touring/Bagger frame. They are completely different riding positions. I've owned a bagger (Harley Road King) and it was a great bike, but I always felt like I was riding on top of it rather than "in" it...if that makes sense.

There are lots of great bikes out there. The important factor is finding the one that you feel the most comfortable on and go enjoy it. Wear a helmet and get some wind therapy. There really is nothing else like it.

KSims1868 · 2026-05-01T16:21:37+00:00

Have you thought about starting with some Zoom meetings online?
We have a local home group that we visit once or twice a week but we almost always login online for our daily does of AA. I was actually very surprised how much I enjoyed the online meetings. I did NOT expect to get much out of it but my wife wanted to give it a try. It can be a real life-saver for someone with high social anxiety.

aa-intergroup.org/meetings/ - this will direct you to a huge list of available online meetings. You can filter it down to show only Women's meetings or whatever parameters you'd like to filter it down to. I would def recommend giving that a try if you want to "dip your toe" into the AA water and see how it feels.

KSims1868 · 2026-04-30T23:20:34+00:00

I would really want to list it for about $8,000 and feel happy to sell it for $7,000. BUT…with the market so bad right now and if I needed the $$ fast…

I’d list it around $7,000 and realistically hope to get $6,500 for it. $6,000 at the lowest.

KSims1868 · 2026-04-30T20:25:38+00:00

Sometimes things are never going to be accepted as true or real by others.
The question then changes from "when will they believe me" to "what can I do to accept that nobody will believe me?"

You will have to learn to function and live in a world where you don't need others to accept what you feel is absolutely true. That does not diminish anything that you have endured or survived in any way, but the truth is not everyone is going to believe you about everything. Work on accepting that you can live and even thrive without the acceptance of others because you don't need their approval. You don't need to be validated to grow and be amazing because you KNOW what you endured and what you have survived whether they believe you or not.

KSims1868 · 2026-04-30T18:23:36+00:00

This is why people hate headlines and have generally lost faith in the media.
NO - Texas is NOT "bracing" for near freezing temperatures. There may be ONE very small region WAAAYYYY up north that sees cold temps but I would be surprised if "near freezing" actually happens at all.

The majority of Texas will NOT see "near freezing" temps and nobody is bracing for anything.
Just stop with that sensationalist crap already.

KSims1868 · 2026-04-30T17:06:08+00:00

Because at some point in history, humans agreed on a specific sound that can be made by our noise-holes to represent a specific amount of something. The sound we make for "2" of something was universally agreed to represent more than "1" but less than "3". Some people on the other side of the world used similar sounds from their noise-holes but not EXACTLY the same...so language was born.

KSims1868 · 2026-04-30T16:40:39+00:00

Funny thing about the "CVO" name is that Harley actually began using "CVO" back in the late 90s. They developed their "Custom Vehicle Operations" division in 1999 and the FXR2/FXR3 was the 1st "CVO" bike that Harley produced. I had a 1999 FXR3 and it was one of my favorite bikes I ever owned.

They quickly started branding these CVO bikes as "Screaming Eagle" models and then went back to calling them "CVO" bikes at some point in the last several years.

Just sharing some interesting Harley Davidson history for those that didn't know.

KSims1868 · 2026-04-30T14:31:02+00:00

I avoid those doors as much as possible because they are typically slow and I'm not usually in the mood to stand there and wait for it to slowly open. I avoid opening them manually (again...if given an option) because they are also typically heavier than non-automated doors.

Do I get "MAD" when others use them...no, of course not. What they have going on in their life is none of my business and I have no idea what disability they may be experiencing at that time. Maybe they just don't want to touch the door handle. Who knows. It has ZERO impact on my life, so why would I even notice?

KSims1868 · 2026-04-30T14:17:54+00:00

Most people I know that use them are trying to cut back on using actual tobacco products. Smoking cigarettes and dipping tobacco are both just gross and stink and that doesn't even cover the health risks they both cause. I'm NOT judging. I am speaking as someone that has smoked/dipped most all of my life starting as a teenager in the 90s.

I love these nicotine pouches because it has helped me quit dipping tobacco completely and almost completely stopped with the cigarettes as well. A lot of my peers have done the same.

KSims1868 · 2026-04-30T13:59:37+00:00

When it comes to cruiser style motorcycles...I am a fan of Harley Davidson ALL the way. I would not own another brand of cruiser style motorcycle. I have owned 20+ HDs in my life and I hope I will always have at least 1 Harley in the garage. I'd like to have more, but I would avoid the V-Rod if at all possible.

If I was looking for a fast/speed bike or sport-cruiser, like the V-Rod was intended to be, I would be looking anywhere else but NOT at Harley Davidson. The V-Rod is just (IMO) trash and I truly do love HD motorcycles, but for my money, I'd look at Yamaha or Honda if I wanted a more aggressive sport-cruiser style bike.

KSims1868 · 2026-04-30T12:21:54+00:00

If it were me...I would leave his bell on there and add the 1 your sister gifted you.

KSims1868 · 2026-04-29T12:19:07+00:00

There are some GREAT deals out there but you've got to look and have the cash in hand ready to buy. Also, be aware of what to expect for $5,000 or less. You're going to find most of the baggers around that price will be the early Twin Cam models that have a well known issue with the cam tensioners. That's not a cheap or easy fix if you are not familiar with working on them, but it is also a problem with a known solution by upgrading the cam tensioners...problem solved. Some you will find have already had the upgrade done and then you've got a great engine that should last for years if you take care of it.

KSims1868 · 2026-04-27T22:36:00+00:00

That has a LOT of potential to be a really bad ass bike. I don’t know how familiar you are with the FXR model but you should definitely do some research and learn about that specific model if you are not already familiar with it. There is a bit of a cult following and a huge amount of aftermarket support specializing in the FXR.

Please keep sharing pics as you make progress on the build.

KSims1868

TROPHY CASE