Ive decided to buy a bike and I was deciding between the Sportster and the FXD Superglide. I’m not a big guy (about 5’9 165 lbs) and I definitely feel more comfortable on the smaller bike. However, I’ve heard that once I start riding (I’m a beginner), I’ll quickly outgrow the sportster and want a bigger bike. (Additionally, I’ve also heard the Sportster referred to as a "girl’s bike, although I can’t really notice too much of a difference). Anyone have any thoughts? Thanks!
Ride what feels comfortable for you, I don’t recommend listening to yahoo’s telling you what ‘girls’ ride. Get on the bike first and ride ride ride, then talk about what it might be lacking, (in that case you’ll outgrow HD completely 
) its all about the machine not what impressions you’ll be making on the sunday morning ‘church ride’.
-Let me try this again, the hamster’s ate my first post-
-And my second attempt but I fooled them and copied before I hit submit!-
First a warning, I think Harleys are overpriced, underwhelming, piles of junk (they are NOT American made, they are American assembled but they are priced like they are American made).
In my opinion (a little over 20 years playing with motorcycles and most of that time very close to or in the business) buying a Sporty is almost always a bad idea!, they are ok in town but they do not have long enough legs for big highway use, they are also notoriously hard to sell so if you buy one, you are stuck with it (unless you trade it in for a “big twin”, and the dealer is going to “rip your head off” on the trade in value), the worst ones as far as value are the 883 basic models (for a while here in Houston one of the local Ford dealers was willing to throw an 883 basic in if you bought a new pickup from him).
Do yourself a favor and look for alternatives, there are bikes out there that are cheaper, faster, handle better, stop better, have longer warranties and hold thier value better (Triumph and BMW are my preferences).
HD’s = constant speed, variable noise,
Ok HD folks FLAME AWAY!
unclviny
{{{HUGS unclviny}}} Sorry, had to do that after such a great post. Couldn’t agree more.
My advice would be to go and get you a cheap used bike to break yourself in; becuase if your are indeed a novice rider, you WILL be laying that puppy down a time or two. I’d hate to see ya’ spend all that dough only to scratch up your cool new bike.
That is really good advice. If you’re a rookie, get in some riding on a 2ndhand Japanese bike first. You can sell it after a year or two with modest loss of value, and you’ll be in a much better position to decide what it is you’re looking for in a motorcycle.
OK, that wasn’t what you asked, so here goes: My experience with Sportsters is a single day on a rental, and I did not like that bike a lot. I’m a bit of a lightweight myself (170 lbs soaking wet), and I found it underpowered and sluggish. If you ride seriously, you will outgrow the Sportster. If you spend that time getting some riding in on a bike that doesn’t depreciate as much in value as a Sportster probably will (and won’t be as costly to repair), you’ll have more cash to spend on tricking out the Superglide.
But if you’re decided on the Harley mystique from day one, by all means get the Sportster if you’re uncomfortable on the Superglide. Feeling in control makes for safer riding and better learning. Just be prepared to upgrade eventually.
Oh, and I guess in all fairness I should add that apart from rentals, I’m not a Harley rider - Honda Interceptor.
I thought HD’s hold value the best. Two years and 20K miles later and the bike is worth exactly the original purchase price.
Good advice about the small Jap bike first, then go for the big boy.
Former Harley rider here (now riding a BMW, and very happy with it). The Sportster is a better bike than any of the big twins. Especially now that the new ones are rubber-mounted, which pretty effectively takes care of the “Milwaukee Vibrator” syndrome.
The Sporty can be made to go faster, handle better, and stop faster than any of the bigger HDs. If you go with the 883, it’s relatively inexpensive to bump it up to 1200 (ccs or more) later if you feel the need for more power. The engine response very well to basic bolt-on mods (cam, carb, pipes, ignition), and it’s simple. There are lots of top-quality suspension upgrades out there. Progressive fork springs (and a Gold Valve cartridge emulator) and decent shocks will make the bike handle pretty decently. If you have any mechanical aptitude whatsoever, you can do this stuff yourself, and save a bundle.
The only mandatory upgrade to the Sporty (or any HD) is brakes. HD brakes, even the new ones, just plain suck. A Performance Machine caliper and rotor up front will work wonders.
Absolutely wrong.
I had people - mostly my ex husband - try to tell me this before I got my first bike. Problem was I didn’t WANT a cheap used bike. I wanted a nice shiny NEW bike. I got it. I never laid it down. It was never scratched or dinged. Neither was the other new bike I bought a few years later.
Buy the bike you want, not the bike other people tell you to get. You might lay the bike down, but you might lay a bike down when you have 50K miles under your belt, too. Are you NEVER gonna get the bike you want because you might scratch it?
Back to the OP -
Sportsters are nice little bikes. If you want one, get one! I had a Road King for a few years, and would never go back to such a large bike. I could handle it just fine, but a smaller bike fits me better and is ultimately more fun to ride.
However, if you’re looking to do long trips, be warned that a sportster isn’t the greatest touring bike. Small gas tank, smaller cargo room, etc. etc. But for around town, a Sportster could be a lot of fun.