Motorcycle Safety & Driveability: picking my next bike, a harley, honda rebel 450, sportster hugger

Question
hi, i am planning to buy my next bike, i am a newbie, just got my lic. i own a 250 yamaha, but for next year i want a harley , i am way over 21 and want one before i am to old to enjoy it.i have looked at so many i am confused. i am short 5'2, i want a bike i can do the country roads with , but also be able to do highway if need be . i will use the bike for pleasure riding . not to go to work with .could you advise me in where to look. price range 1500.00 thank you for your time ...kathy

Answer
Kathy,

Thanks for the questions.

The good news is, Harley made a bike just for you, called the "Sportster Hugger". It had a lower seat height so people in your height range could get their feet on the ground.  They stopped making it a few years ago, but there are many available on the used market. If you look on CycleTrader.com, you chould be able to find a few to choose from. I suggest you use the term "hugger" to search with. Be sure to check eBay (ebay.com) as well.

Now the bad news: if you find a Sporster Hugger for $1500, it's probably going to be missing a few things, like wheels and an engine. Most likely, the least expensive Sportster Hugger that will be worth buying is going be at least $3000. Harleys hold their value extremely well, and if you see one cheaper than that, you should have it checked out by a Harley mechanic before buying it to make sure it has no problems.

If you have your heart set on getting a Harley, I'm not going to talk you out of it. But if you can't find one in your price range, you might look at finding a different bike that's bigger than your current 250. Such as:

Honda Rebel 450 (fromthe 1980s). They look like a small Harley, but have more size and power than your current 250.

Honda VLX: This is a 650cc cruiser, and a nice bike with a low seat. There are lots of used ones out there.

If your budget is fixed at $1500, you'll really need to dig to find a bike with a seat low enough for you to safely ride. Take any bike you are considering for a test ride to see if works properly and if you can touch the ground with your feet. Have a mechanic check it out as well.

Remember to check cycletrader.com and ebay.com. That's where most people are advertising their bikes online right now. And check your local classified as in the paper as well.

Best of luck to you,

Bill Roberson