Got my new bike!

Yes I know it's a Harley. I know I could have got a much better bike for less money. I know it's only an 883 and I should have gotten the 1200. And guess what I don't give a rats ass because I love this thing. It looks Badass and I liked the way it rode.

Although I do have to say that if the only Triumph dealer in town hadn't closed down I would have been on a Thruxton. And since it was down to these two bikes and this one was available it's what I have.

Anyway I'm pumped to have a bike again. I have to get some new gear, take an MSF course and get my endorsements. So for now it's just going to be lawn art. The only thing I may do to the bike is forward controls. At 6' with bad knees the mid mounted controls are pretty tight for me. Other than that I like it just like it is. I even like the sound of the subdued stock pipes.

Very sweet. No h8.

The bike looks great with all the black accents ... I would have the exhaust pipes painted black too

Nice bike I was thinking of getting the same bike, but my heart and checking account are not on the same page At 6' I think a set of forward controls would make the bike more comfortable on long rides.

BTW: This is what I want (not need)

That is a purty bike! If I had to nitpick, not wild about the accents on the wheel spokes. Love how the lines continue strait from the tank to the seat. Hawt. And I like the bright chrome pipes.

nicksta43 wrote: ...I don't give a rats ass because I love this thing.

Perfect!

I can't hardly believe I also bought a Harley a few months ago, for exactly the same reasons. It's amazing what happens when you actually get on one and ride it.

Great looking bike! You could have got a much better bike? A much different bike, sure, but not better. You would be trading coolness factor for power!

Cool! I just finished my first night of MSF course.

Meh, not black enough. I keed, I keed. Wish I had the skrilla to buy a new bike.

http://youtu.be/xGyKBFCd_u4

I'll do it before someone else does..

being of next month im flying to jersey to pick up a 1200 sportster and going to ride it back down the coast

singleslammer wrote: Cool! I just finished my first night of MSF course.

Pay attention. Keep practicing those drills even when you start riding for real, especially the emergency maneuvers. If there is no one behind me when I get onto my street for the last half-mile ride home, I use the time to practice emergency swerves and a couple emergency stops. These things should be instinct.

I was pleased at the end of a quick ride (~20min total) into town and back to discover they were to the point of reflex. Twice did emergency swerves on instinct. First was a small dog at the side of the road that looked about to wander into the middle. Second, something popped out from underneath the truck in front of me. The dog decided not to wander into my path, and the thing that popped out was just a homeless person's cardboard sign, but my reflex was to react to something unexpected as though it could have been a real hazard.

Thumbs up! 8)

Black is my favorite color for Harleys. Only thing I'd change is jack up the rear wheel. It looks kinda droopy with the rear wheel so low to the ground.

Love it! They look even cooler with those black drag bars. I just saw one at the dealership with those and I did the triple-take, I liked it so much!! :)

And don't defend the 883 - what matters is that you like it.

Although my girl and I were out to dinner and a man and woman climb off a little Sportster, both in shorts and flipflops and t-shirts, both of them OBVIOUSLY freezing and he does the chest puff-out, dude, I'm riding a Harley, thing. We were joking that he was so puffed up and MIster Harley on his tiny Sportster, my girl asked me, "Isn't that supposed to be the chick Harley?"

"Well, the way he rode it, yeah..." I answered.

"Y U NO BUY PINK ONE?!?!?" she said! ahahaha!!!

But his wasn't the super cool black one, and he was a douche.

Thanks for all the kind words guys.

I'm just amazed and befuddled at how much hate there is out there for Sportsters and in particular 883 Sportsters, even from other Harley riders. Hell I even caught a bit of a condescending tone form the dealer when we were in negotiations. I never really wanted a Harley-Davidson but I have always wanted a Sportster if that makes sense.

Now I'm just kicking myself for not getting my endorsment first because this weekend looks to have perfect riding weather. Oh well, I can always pull it out in the drive and look at it.

Harley riders hating a Harley? WTF? Imagine how the bastard on a Blast feels.

Funny, one of our guys broke a master link on his freshly restored KZ900.

The three of us that were with him were all riding shaft-drive bikes and kidding him pretty good while we waited for his wife to bring out a spare master link.

One of our guys rides a GL1100 but has a '60's Harley at home in the garage.

Not one biker stopped to ask us if we needed help no matter what they were riding.

Finally a guy on a HD bagger stops to ask if we need help and our guy with the Harley at home says "Hey, you ride a Harley! Got any bailing wire?"

He told us to F-off and left!

No sense of humour at all.

Nick. Just ride the F'in thing and don't worry about people with attitudes...

Find out if the dealer offers the "Riders Edge" classes its the same as the MSF classes except that you normaly can go back any time there not having a class and use the course to practice. It was the best valintines gift i've ever given my wife. She goes back for her 1st ride each year to warm up here skills. Dealer loves to see her even on her Suzuki as other can see her wheeling it around and come in to look at bikes.

I'm pretty sure that 883s are my favorite Harleys. Maybe I just like the number or it's the fact that when I was dreaming of buying one, it was the gateway Harley. I don't know. I just like them in spite of all that people say about them.

Chick-bike myth dispeller: More guys are buying Sportsters, these days. The Nightster/Iron, 48 and 72 are drawing them in.

Women tend to buy Heritage or Deluxe Softails.

A couple weeks ago, I demo'd the Star Bolt, and thought, "Damn, a little bike would be fun to have." and I might look for a Sporty, eventually.

I think the idea that you're "settling" with "only" an 883 is bullE36 M3. I would not want to ride with folks who cant understand the appeal of a smaller, lighter bike. Especially one that pretty. Are you a giant Jaba-butt that you need a 1200 to get you down the street?

Just dont put obnoxiously loud pipes on it and spend time burping the throttle up through first gear in order to make maximum racket possible at 20mph.

Nah, the other bikes I looked at where all in the 650 range. Almost settled on a Verseys. I guess the styling won me over because this one or the thruxton are oozing with style. The big twins don't interest me at all.

nicksta43 wrote: Nah, the other bikes I looked at where all in the 650 range. Almost settled on a Verseys. I guess the styling won me over because this one or the thruxton are oozing with style. The big twins don't interest me at all.

I wasn't trying to imply that you think you're settling. I was implying that the Harley elitists who think you're not a "real" Harley rider are full of E36 M3.

And now I know it's really a Harley...it's trying to mark it's spot in the basement. Has a tiny little oil seepage from the primary inspection cover. Guess I'll make a call to the service department Monday.