Any Harley Davidison Bike "in the know's" on here? advice..

[REDVOLUTION]

Hi

I am looking to pickup a Harley.

Looking for something nice without going crazy money-wise.

Was looking at the Ironhead Sportster.




Here is the listing

http://newjersey.craigslist.org/mcy/3488298053.html



Tips, advise, comments.... ?

[Dallas]

If you are going to run a HD, then buy something w/ a rake to it. Those classic store Sportsters look silly. If you like the style of the Sportsters, you might like this.

This is a Nightster

[WPBCowboysFan]

Sportsters dont bring much money.

And if you plan on riding with a group of Harley guys, you'll always get crap for riding a Sportster instead of a real bike. On the other hand, you can get a Sportster to go pretty fast and take most of the Harley guys on their big bulky bikes.

You can get a Sportster to look pretty good but most look pretty hokey like the one in the pic posted in the OP.

[WPBCowboysFan]

Originally Posted by REDVOLUTION

Hi

I am looking to pickup a Harley.

Looking for something nice without going crazy money-wise.

Was looking at the Ironhead Sportster.




Here is the listing

http://newjersey.craigslist.org/mcy/3488298053.html



Tips, advise, comments.... ?

Look how high this bike sits in the rear.

Look at all the crap bolted on everywhere cluttering up the look.

I think the company is White Bros that makes brackets for the rear that lowers the bike. Unbolt all that bolt on crap and clean it up, lower the rear and it would look way better. Compare to the other pic already posted.

Look at the little front wheel/tire. If you want a good looking Sportster get the Custom with the 21" front wheel.

[REDVOLUTION]

Originally Posted by Dallas

If you are going to run a HD, then buy something w/ a rake to it. Those classic store Sportsters look silly. If you like the style of the Sportsters, you might like this.

This is a Nightster

That is nice!!!!! The direction I was looking for. Thanks!!

I don't see them looking like that on Craigslist. They still look like sportsters?

[Dallas]

Originally Posted by REDVOLUTION

That is nice!!!!! The direction I was looking for. Thanks!!

I don't see them looking like that on Craigslist. They still look like sportsters?

Couple of kits on this Nightster. That front end isn't stock its a raked chopper kit.. He also has dropped the rear as a couple of mentioned.

Instead of Sportster you can search for Nightster. This is a model of Sportster.

The major differences are blacked out engine, cast wheels instead of laced; narrower handlebars; different seat, belt guard, and front mudguard.

Drag bars are awesome on this bike too. hehe!

Sporsters aren't my fav HD but they can be modded soooo much. Very reasonable and EXTREMELY popular motorcycle. Especially now w/ all of the new riders. It's great!

If you want a BIKE.... google Night Train

[REDVOLUTION]

Originally Posted by Dallas

Couple of kits on this Nightster. That front end isn't stock its a raked chopper kit.. He also has dropped the rear as a couple of mentioned.

Instead of Sportster you can search for Nightster. This is a model of Sportster.

The major differences are blacked out engine, cast wheels instead of laced; narrower handlebars; different seat, belt guard, and front mudguard.

Drag bars are awesome on this bike too. hehe!

Sporsters aren't my fav HD but they can be modded soooo much. Very reasonable and EXTREMELY popular motorcycle. Especially now w/ all of the new riders. It's great!

If you want a BIKE.... google Night Train

Night train is nice but you have me itching for the nightster. THAT particular one you posted! Lol

[ABQCOWBOY]

My advice would be not to buy a Harley from this time period. They don't run very well, they leak oil all over the damn place and they are uncomfortable to ride for any length of time.

I don't know what your budget is but if I had any cash to spend on a bike, I would buy a BMW. JMO

[WPBCowboysFan]

Originally Posted by ABQCOWBOY

My advice would be not to buy a Harley from this time period. They don't run very well, they leak oil all over the damn place and they are uncomfortable to ride for any length of time.

I don't know what your budget is but if I had any cash to spend on a bike, I would buy a BMW. JMO

You are living in the past. This is the 21st century.

That whole "oil leak all over the place" shows how in touch with the past 20 years or so you are.
.

And yes, while the whole Harley bike is somewhat antiquated in design, they are still popular for a reason. They certainly have a better feel than other bikes, unless you like a light weight feeling bike.

[Dallas]

Originally Posted by WPBCowboysFan

You are living in the past. This is the 21st century.

That whole "oil leak all over the place" shows how in touch with the past 20 years or so you are.
.

And yes, while the whole Harley bike is somewhat antiquated in design, they are still popular for a reason. They certainly have a better feel than other bikes, unless you like a light weight feeling bike.

ABQ is a pal-o-mine so I was going to take it easy on him w/ his comment . The whole leaky oil thing is a long time ago where HD is concerned. You just don't have that anymore w/ these bikes.

Gosh all of my biker friends pretty much ride Harleys. There might be a few off market brands sprinkled in buy not many. Harely is king here where we ride. There are no BMW's anywhere near us, unless its some hot chic in her old mans convertible.

[WPBCowboysFan]

Originally Posted by Dallas

ABQ is a pal-o-mine so I was going to take it easy on him w/ his comment . The whole leaky oil thing is a long time ago where HD is concerned. You just don't have that anymore w/ these bikes.

Gosh all of my biker friends pretty much ride Harleys. There might be a few off market brands sprinkled in buy not many. Harely is king here where we ride. There are no BMW's anywhere near us, unless its some hot chic in her old mans convertible.

Very true.

If you have a group of guys that you ride with and you dont have a Harley, you will get endless ribbing about it. You just arent one of the guys. Its kinda like a bunch of guys (Cowboys fans) going to a sports bar to watch a football game and a Redskin fan takes along. You get no respect. If you have a Sportster, you at least have a HD so you are kinda part of the group.

[jobberone]

You need to marry your budget with what you want. I sold my bike a couple of years ago but I've generally ridden Road Kings. They are my compromise between a big bagger and a smaller bike.

For me you have a touring bike without the counter-rotation so the bike shakes and a rigid frame and the softail which has a smoother engine and a cantilever swingarm with hidden shocks. The Fatboy and Deluxe are my favorite Softails. Road Kings are touring bikes and I like the shake. I like the CVOs but they are EXPENSIVE.

Once you have your budget and your bike (go to the Harley store and ride one of each class) then you can get a range of years to look for. You can find a deal this time of year on a bike with low mileage and no history of repair or accidents. If you really take your time you can find the right one with updated pipes and more to get the sound you want.

I like to find police bikes used in funerals and/or parades (generally Road Kings) that have been modded back to a regular bike. You can get a year or two old bike with the big motor cheaper than most used bikes. But you can find civilian bikes that are just as nice and don't have any remnant police look or equipment for the same price if you take your time.

[ABQCOWBOY]

Originally Posted by WPBCowboysFan

You are living in the past. This is the 21st century.

That whole "oil leak all over the place" shows how in touch with the past 20 years or so you are.
.

And yes, while the whole Harley bike is somewhat antiquated in design, they are still popular for a reason. They certainly have a better feel than other bikes, unless you like a light weight feeling bike.

You guys do realize this bike is 33 years old right? If I'm not mistaken, that bike is still chain driven.

They leaked liked like nobodies business and that one will be no different.

Things at HD didn't start turning around till the mid 80s and early 90s.

[Dallas]

Originally Posted by ABQCOWBOY

You guys do realize this bike is 33 years old right? If I'm not mistaken, that bike is still chain driven.

They leaked liked like nobodies business and that one will be no different.

Things at HD didn't start turning around till the mid 80s and early 90s.

Which "bike" are we referencing here? The one in the pic I posted originally is a 2007 Nightster HD.

You are correct w/ your concerns of the past. Back in the day HD were notorious for having bad seals and leaks everywhere. You def didn't want to take one on a x-country run. You would be fixing things every couple hundred miles or so.

Much much better these days.

[ABQCOWBOY]

Originally Posted by Dallas

Which "bike" are we referencing here? The one in the pic I posted originally is a 2007 Nightster HD.

You are correct w/ your concerns of the past. Back in the day HD were notorious for having bad seals and leaks everywhere. You def didn't want to take one on a x-country run. You would be fixing things every couple hundred miles or so.

Much much better these days.

The one Revolution is asking our advice on. The 1980 Sportster.