Looking for some advise for my first Harley. I got my bike licence a year ago so now am on a full licence. I dont have a bike at the moment but within the last year have been riding my friends Yamaha v star 650 a couple of times and seem to handle that ok. I want to by a Harley but not to sure which one to by. I am 5.6 tall and weigh 75 kilos. I dont want a sportster as I dont like the shape of them, no offence to any one ! I am looking for more of a cruiser low rider. Love the look of softtails but I seem to be getting bad advice from alot of people who say that a first Harley should be a small one as they are very hard to ride and will end up crashing a softail. I would like to add that I am 45 yrs and very careful on the road so I guess what I am saying is that I am not an idiot on the road. Can any one recomend what kind of Harley would suite me for my size. I tend to get used to things very quickly so I dont want something small and be regreting it a month later that I didnt get something bigger. Hope this all makes sence.

Cheers

Spudy1

G'day spudy & welcome to the madness.

Mate ya gunna get 30 different answers to that question, ya best bet is to just spend some time at a dealer & sit on em all, you'll soon know wot suits ya best, then look at which model does it for ya & work toward getting it.

All the best

hi m8 and welcome

test ride one then test ride another and another and another , you'll find what you want after a while , good luck

Well gday and welcome to my second home......go for a dyna..........

Thanks for every ones comments. Much appreciated. Touching the ground isnt to much of a prob it was the advise I was getting that Harleys are too top heavy especialy anything bigger then a sportster for the first timer and would be hard to handle. Is this pretty much true?. Will head up to Harley heaven in Melbourne and try sitting on heaps. Just dont want to get used to a smaller one within the first month then have to waite a year or so before I can get what I realy want.
Cheers every one
Spudy1

im 170cm (short) i got a dyna lowrider first bike .as for handling dude u ride to YOUR abillity not the guy/guys infront . take it easy and u can ride anything ya want. there r a lot of people that buy sporty,s only to want to up grade soon after .Thats IMO anyways

Cheers. They are also my thoughts on the subject. Many thanks. Spudy1

Welcome to the forum if you go to a dealer you find the one for you

g'day to this mad forum Spud..... best bet would be to have a look over the Dyna range... if you like one then you will have some dollars left over for bling all the best mate

Howdy spudy1, welcome to the forum, enjoy, for the bike to buy, what ever you feel comfortable on bud.

Welcome Spudy try everything at the local dealership you wont go wrong im in favour of the dyna lowrider ok hope you enjoy the forum and what ever you get stay safe out there.

Don't listen to them Spud, my first HD was/is a 95 Road King, started riding it about 30 seconds after I got off my restrictions, sure it's big, but it fits me perfectly. If you're not the sort of guy who's out to break land speed records while commuting through metro peak hour, and you're happy to spend a bit of time riding yourself in and getting used to the bike, then I don't believe that any Harley is "too big for a first timer". It's all about what's comfortable, suits your purpose (touring, commuting...) and is within (or maybe just beyond ) your price range.


Oh and welcome to the forum.
Bear

Although i am slightly taller than you.....I learnt to ride on the old mans Electra Glide Ultra Classic and although it was a big bitch...it is the same as every bike...once you get the bastard off the stand the rest is easy.

I have had all sorts of bikes from dirt to sports to tourers and they may be a bit bigger but the harleys are the only ones to give you a proper wood.

As everyone else has said....flash your cash to the dealer and test ride everything until you find something you like and feel comfortable on and that will be the ONE!

Welcome and post pics of it once you decide..

Spudy, welcome and with regard to the bike what they said.

welcome spuddy ! just pick one you like and enjoy it mate .
P;S; nothing wrong with softies mate . you should sit in the saddle alright. just go to the shop and test ride everything.
good luck

MANY THANKS TO EVERY ONE FOR THEIR ADVICE. IT HAS ALL BEEN A GREAT HELP. I WILL HAVE A GOOD LOOK AROUND AT THE DEALERS AND TEST RIDE AS MANY AS I CAN. I WILL ALSO GET WHAT I WANT AND NOT WHAT OTHER PEOPLE ADVISE ME TO GET. THAT MUCH I BELIEVE. CHEERS EVERY ONE AND WILL POST A PHOTO OF THE BEAST WHEN I HAVE IT. CHEERS SPUDY1

Welcome Spudy. As to which bike, mate, it will come to you. Good advice here from other members. Test ride everything. Then buy the one that you fall in love with. Then you will always find ways of justifying what is not quite right ...too tall/short,.. too heavy...doesn't matter. And don't buy any one just because you want one now and it's on the dealer's floor! Waiting for a new bike to arrive is one of the joys (???) of Harley ownership..right guys?

Welcome to the nuthouse Spud Good luck with your choice of Harley.

Hey Mate, For me, it all depended on where i live and the roads i ride on, I'm in the mountains, my Fatboy isn't real good in the mountains, Great once I get over the mountain though, weigh it up, where do you live and where are you going to go. I'm short and like my fatty!!

Gday m8 and welcome