Motorcycle Safety & Driveability: Beginner Motorcycle, custom paint job, hd sportster

Question
William,

I have been looking for a cruiser for about a year now.  At first I wanted to go the easy way out and get something comparable to a Honda Shadow.  But the more I have researched and talked, I would feel more comfortable owning an American made bike.  I have recently come accross an "01 HD Sportster 883 Custom.  Custom air intake aftermarket "wide" tank and custom paint job, all for what I was going to pay for the Shadow.  

   I have grown up around dirt bikes and all sorts of motorsports like that but am new to the public streets.  I'm 25 and single which should make it optimal for me to get somethig like this now.  I'm not a racer, just want to feel the wind on my face and the freeedom of the motorcycle.

How do to feel about the HD and my choice for a first cruiser.  Any other feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Brett
Texas

Answer
Hi Brett,

Thanks for the question.

Riding a Harley is certainly the cool thing to do these days (if you want a cruiser), and while Japanese (or “metric”) cruisers are certainly capable rides, it's still not the same as owning an honest American-made Harley. And I applaud your willingness to but an American motorcycle. That being said, you need to know some truths about 2001 883 Harleys.

First of all: they vibrate. A lot. If you are thinking of doing any type of long-distance riding, this is not the bike for it. Sure, you could “gut it out”, but when there are so many other cruisers out there with better touring capability, there's really no reason to suffer. Distance riding on a motorcycle is challenging enough without the added stress and fatigue of constant vibration.

Also, the 883 is small. There's just no way around it. It sounds like the bike you are looking at has some nice modifications, but it's still a small bike, and low-powered (compared to a 1200 Harley or a large Japanese cruiser). I'm not saying this is a disadvantage, and as a beginner STREET rider, it's actually a good thing. But you may find yourself wanting something larger as soon as next year. Again, small is not bad, it just is what it is, and you should consider that when buying your bike.

Last of all, the 883 and 1200 Sportsters had a big makeover this year. The engines are now rubber mounted and smoooooth. You can ride them long distance in comfort. They have some other modern updates, a bit more power, better brakes, and so forth. And they are not terribly expensive. Have you given them some consideration? Might be worth a serious look, especially with financing and a large down payment. And you always have the option of getting a Shadow (or other metric cruiser) if the budget will not allow a new Harley.

I'm not saying the '01 883 is a bad bike. It isn't. For in-town riding and short trips, it's a great bike that is reliable, looks good, sounds good and will get you there in style. But for the same money, you might be able to land a metric bike that allows more kinds of riding. It really depends on how you are going to use it. Just cruising and short trips? The 883 is a great choice. Want to get out on the open road and do some distance? Then the 883 is a poor choice. More than style or country of origin, the way you are going to ride the bike should be the major determining factor in what you end up buying.

Last of all, even though you obviously know how to ride bikes from previous experience, I have to warn you that street riding is not a cake walk. The most important thing is to watch everyone else. If you think a car is going to pull in front of you, you're probably right. Be prepared. Think ahead. Wear the proper gear. And keep your new bike in tip-top shape. Crashing on concrete or into a minivan is really painful, and often fatal. Street riding does not give a lot of second chances. I strongly suggest you start riding during low-traffic hours (usually weekend mornings) to get a feel for the flow on the street. Use your head, eyes, ears  and lots of common sense to protect yourself. If you have riding buddies, tell them you're going to take it easy while you learn to street ride. Newbies playing “catch-up” to their experienced friends are common crashers. If you keep it together this summer, you should be good to go in a few months.

Good luck, ride smart.

Bill Roberson