G'day Brian first of welcome to the forum, I am on my 7th Harley and it is a XL1200R I owned three other Sportsters as well also I have owned many Jap bikes mostly cruisers yes the Sportster can ride a little rough it is a short wheeled based bike but nothing that can't be fixed with a better rear shocks and fork springs and many members here have done big rides on there Sporties in comfort and as for handle bars the great thing about owning a Harley there are many different bars made for our bikes so setting up your bike to suit yourself would be a lot easier than doing the same thing for a Jap cruiser and I know there is a cost factor but show me a bike that you never have to spend any money on to set it up right I sure it would be hard to find.

There is nothing wrong with Jap bikes but once you own a Harley it's hard to go back the amount of money I have lost over the year's buying and then selling my Jap cruisers because I did not get the WOW factor from them as I do from my Harley lets say I really don't want to go there.

Brian buy the Iron thats if you can get one I heard that demand is out stripping supply maybe a good time to get a great deal on a Nightster or a XL 883 or 1200 Custom and when you get your bike put a good set of pipes on it to give it that great sound you only get from a Harley hit the starter button and believe me you will find it hard then to go back to a Jap bike enough said.

Regards Choco

 

for me it was 09 DRZ400SM, 03 GSXR-600

Still have a 09 GSXR-750...

Oh, and the Iron.

I took the same path as you Madness except I went for the XL1200c, tried the Iron but found it too small for my size 6ft 4" the XL was just a better fit, but I would never look back now.

I've only ever owned Japanese bikes... mainly RG's and RGV's. Waiting on my Iron which should be here in 2-4 weeks (can't wait!). My bikes have really only ever been weekend bikes (can't use for work due to being in the trades and needing to carry 100's kgs of tools every day). Of course they are completely differnet sorts of bikes, but the Iron just suited everything I was looking for and needed in a bike at the moment!

Started on a GS250 yammy, then got the 650 triton (1962 truimph), then got a 2001 R1 and wrapped myself around a tree stump at warp speed. Broke my back, 4 ribs, bruising on the brain, amnnesia. Wrote bike off. Now i just criuse around on my bobber sporty lol. Much much safer ! lol. I'll never go back to jap.

as far as I know nearly the entire harley range is learner approved and legal here in the ACT except for the vrod range?

Hey Metro. I started on jap bikes as well, then moved on to Italian - Ducati. Its time to slow down a bit and ride something more comfortable. All you folks who complain about the ride of a sportster, Iron etc. Sorry, but you don't know what harsh is! The italian school of suspension is "ifa she no handle, then make da suspensione harder" and they just keep doing it until the bike handles like its on rails. Only trouble is you end up with rock hard suspension and sore bits after ANY length of riding........can't wait for the Iron sportster to arrive.

Had em all mate

LTD kwaka 250 then RG250 Suzy in the eighties i used to get across to the isle of man so used to get stan stevens formula 3 barrels heads and pipes to run on it spare crank every 12 months mind you 

Rod tingate SR500 cafe racer with wire wheels, Z900 ex race bike on the road, Katana 1100, RCB replica 900 Honda dol d or 

then the play bikes

Laverda 1000 81 Jota still got it Laverda 750 SFC Replica still got it, Ducati 50cc Cucciolo 1952 push bike that did 80 ks an hour  just sold it 1927 AJS Big port engine fidling around with it still has a Nickel Ally Bronze head to be machined 

Ducati 750 GT long gone Motoguzzi Le mans mk 3 long gone

Then the Go to work bikes CX500 honda just sold 3.5 off them Zephr 750 kwaker GSX750 ESD Yamaha 650 twin etc etc all gone

Then thje Dirt bikes Maico Magnum 500 cc still brings a tear to my eye that i let it go SL500 honda XL250 mosport Tl 250 trials all gone

Speedway 2 valve Jawa, 4 valve Jawa 4 valve Godden all gone

And now an iron 883 and yep my home made springer is 1/4 done rockers finished, lugs finished and getting my trees and spring plate cut this week   

Bruce

 

 

  

 

Ive had numerous jap bikes and still have one I find it handy when the harley breaks down

yes I have regrets

I wish I could trust myself with the power of a new fireblade but I need my licence

I've had two Fireblades, two R1's and still ride motocross - KX450.

Bit of a change to a Rocker...... love it. I got out of sportsbikes with my life so I am thankful.

I've had two Fireblades, two R1's and still ride motocross - KX450.

Bit of a change to a Rocker...... love it. I got out of sportsbikes with my life so I am thankful.

most harley owners had owned a jap bike at some time in their lives , i have owned quite a few . but my trusty sporty is still a fun bike to ride and wouldn't swap it for anything

well reading between the lines it appears by what you are saying you have chosen an XR1200 due to the fact that you cant handle the power of a jap sports bike...I too yearn to join the harley riders ranks and will probably look at a sportster as well when the finances permit