I don't thinkit's a girls bike. I think they are pretty coolt but at 6'2" unless youare a rail and weigh like 160it might look a little small for you. I would get something bigger. Jowever If you really like the sportster... Go sit on one have a friend take some pics of you on it. If you still like it get a 1200 or you can get a kit to upgrade a 883 to 1200 for about $800 with labor and all.Although if you get a sportster I would get at least a 2004 or later; they made lots of improvements on them that year including rubber mounts and they are more reliable. Hope this helps man. but if I were you for the price I would get a warrior of course, but if you like the style of the sportster my buddy has a Vstar custom 1100 that has been lowered and chopped the rear fender itis much more reliable has similar styling but in my opinion much nicer.

 

Me and my buddy are thinking about getting one. Not together but each one lol. Gonna chop off the fender lower it maybe a little flat black just real simple. They are not real fast bikes so if you gotta ride the highway a lot i would consider something bigger.

 

It makes a great starter bike for any gender. Even better if its used. Does the 91 mustang have a 5 liter in it? if not, it might be a good trade. Just so you know... Even a short guy like me would want to upgrade from a sporty after a little while.

 

Everyone I know that has had any sportster has hated it. They handle like crud and are only good for around town. Now if I could get one at a steal I would lower it, extend the rear swing arm and put a fat tire on it, wide glide front end kitand some drag bars and your all set. Maybe Nitrous :~)

 

I was curious what a '91Mustang convertible would go for these days so I looked on CL and found a few around $1K. Kind of surprising but I guess if they're not worth any more then that and you're looking for a first bike to learn on then it's not a bad trade if it doesn't feel too small for you. I don't imagine at your size that it will be very comfortable however and if you get into it any at all you'll want something bigger and better within a few months I'm sure but if you're not sure you even want to ride and are just looking to make more garage space why not just go for it and see what you think. Even if you sold the Mustang for $2K you still couldn't even get a decent V-Star or Boulevard hardly. I think it's a lot smarter move to have an old beater for your first bike then using the money from your car as a down payment on a new one that you'll probably dump a few times anyway.

 

Maybe its just me, but I am a bit befuddled as to why a guy would join a metric power cruiser forum to ask if a 883 harley is a girl bike?? Now if he was asking about a warrior, or any star, I would see the connection..he's probably further ahead staying with the rustang...

 

I was curious what a '91 Mustang convertible would go for these days so I looked on CL and found a few around $1K.  Kind of surprising but I guess if they're not worth any more then that and you're looking for a first bike to learn on then it's not a bad trade if it doesn't feel too small for you.  I don't imagine at your size that it will be very comfortable however and if you get into it any at all you'll want something bigger and better within a few months I'm sure but if you're not sure you even want to ride and are just looking to make more garage space why not just go for it and see what you think.  Even if you sold the Mustang for $2K you still couldn't even get a decent V-Star or Boulevard hardly.  I think it's a lot smarter move to have an old beater for your first bike then using the money from your car as a down payment on a new one that you'll probably dump a few times anyway.

Sorry can't cut the quote up on the blackberry....anywho, Wow, are they 5 liter cars marco? I sure can't find any fox bodies around my parts that aren't completely junk for that price..maybe we need to set somethin up here....

 

I could have gotten my Dad's 883 sportster with a lot of screaming eagle parts for what I paid for my 02 VStar Custom 650 ($3583 new in crate then). I rode his sportster and it felt like the flywheel weighed 100 lbs, couldn't stall it, but it wasn't smooth either. IMO, the VStar was the better bike and a lot easier to maintain. But, if you can get a sportster for even trade, I have to take a hard look at the deal. Might also want to get the bike checked out just to make sure there are not issues with it.

 

Personally I'm not a sporster fan just because of the look but IMO they are good bikes even the 883, plus there are more parts for these things than you can shake a stick at. I've seen some nice lookin hardtail frames for a grand or less. I wouldn't call it a girls bike but def. a beginners bike the good thing is that it does have the ability to grow with you but it takes money. Like the other guys said you'll be looking for more power in a couple months and if money is not that big of a deal I say go for it, at a 98 model you know it's post AMF so it should be a good bike just check it out good. I wouldn't mind finding one myself just for a project bike. Good luck! And oh yeah if this is shag or injector trolling you guys suck! Jk.

 

my bro bought an 08 1200 and I'm glad I didn't try to talk him into something else. i've been riding it while my warrior is being remodelled. the sporty is no warrior, but it is a fast fun bike. it rides rough, the warrior suspension soaks up the bumps way better. I'm considering building a sporty after the warrior project is finished. forget what people say, ie it's a girls bike, and ride whatever you want. you're riding for yourself, not for others.

 

I've always liked the look of Sportsters and I even owned a 74 iron head for years. It was a nasty thing to keep running, but the new one's aren't. I think it sounds like a good deal, not knowing what either one of these vehicles looks like. But it would be a starter bike for you. You won't be comfortable and it probably won't have enough power, unless you are a lot easier to please in the power department than most.

 

here is a quick thought for you that i havent heard yet but makes real good sence, take the bike its complete ,that means you have every part you need for a conversion chop the parts as needed get a prostreet frame and make the bike like a custom or change some stuff to look like a buell or bar hopper choper old school ,what ever your flavor is . the point is that you have everything you need mostly and can ride it until you figure out what you want to do ,or the hd shop says you will always get 100% of your money back when you trade up dont they ?so there is another option for you. look at the price in the book for both the car and bike for their value and good luck. btk572

 

The 883 does carry the stigma of being a "girls" bike, at 6'2 I'd think you would not get too many comments (to your face) but behind your back would be another matter.

If you like the looks I'd think you would be happier with a 1200 model, the 883 is woefully underpowered and quickly outgrown. If this is your first bike, I think you would quickly find out it's a poor starter bike due to the fact that it's top heavy, hesitant in the corners, and generally does not inspire confidence.

My Wife has a 2006 883 Custom, she hates it. She misses her 2004 Honda Shadow 750.

 

Newsflash, girls ride all kinds of bikes and some of them quite proficiently.

I rode a newer 883 a few years back and thought it rode pretty nicely even two up on the backroads. Not sure it would be powerful enough to offer much oomph at highway speeds though. This was a model year after they started rubber mounting the engines.

I also rode a buddies late 90s model 1200 which had the 21" tire and the solid mounted engine. That was the biggest POS I ever sat cheek on. Handled terribly and shook you to death the entire time.

YMMV, good luck.

 

or the hd shop says you will always get 100% of your money back when you trade up dont they ?so there is another option for you.

That only counts for twelve months or something like that, I'm pretty sure buying a used '98 Sporty won't cut it.I can just see people digging up junked and mangled old Sporsters and tossing them out of the bed of their pickups looking to get $10K trade for them. lol

at 6'2 I'd think you would not get too many comments (to your face) but behind your back would be another matter.

Good point! Either way, I wouldn't worry about it because you'll be sick of it by the time anyone even notices you're on a girl's bike anyway.

Again though, if it fits you well enough and you like it and want to dump the car then do it. I personally would sell the car or use it as a trade for something a bit more substantial and better but I've never seen a Sporty that I'd be caught dead on yet so that's just personal preferance.

 

i have a 75' ironhead on the lift right now, trying to do a little cleanup, change up and sell. it is a major POS, but the newer ones are ok........you really need to sit one to see if you fit. not a bad way to start out tho if the main thing you are looking for is to get out of the mustang.....you could always change it up a bit and re-sell to get your money back if you want to upgrade bikes. always nice to start out on a lighter smaller bike even if its just for 6mo or so. p.s. I'm 5' 10" 230 lbs and i can ride that sportster around without feeling like I'm humping a peanut

 

Regardless of what others think, if you have to ask "is it for girls".....

 

I don't really buy into the whole "that's a girl's bike" thing. Unless it's painted pink with flowers, or it's a bicycle with the downward trailing support bar, there's no such thing as a "girl's" motorcycle. If the bike fits you physically, and serves the function that you intend it to serve, then fsck everyone else and their opinion.


I myselfwouldn't mind an883 Iron for local riding, or perhaps a Street Bob.

 

if you have to ask "is it for girls".....

then you may want to have a look at these:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvN_H3d8dQU&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YiJk8P-Zz0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DuZYQesbWOs

 

Regardless of what others think, if you have to ask "is it for girls".....

sorry but i must correct you here, its a well know fact that the only vehicle produced exclusively for women was the Mazda Miata, everything else is fair game

 

Remember when the miata first came out they made the kit for the 302 swap? That was a nasty little car, I would have drove that one!! I think the beetle is the fem car myself..

 

Regardless of what others think, if you have to ask "is it for girls".....

sorry but i must correct you here, its a well know fact that the only vehicle produced exclusively for women was the Mazda Miata, everything else is fair game

Allow me to clarify....I think sportsters look cool. I especially like the Nightster version. What I was getting at is that if you're having to ask for validation that the bike your looking at buying is not a girls bike, then potentially you are setting yourself up for some buyers remorse.

 

I would rather ride almost any other motorcycle 500cc's or more than a 1998 sportster 883, but that's just me. If you like it, I'd go for it. Unless you wreck it, it would be hard to lose money on a 1998.

 

Unless it's painted pink with flowers, or it's a bicycle with the downward trailing support bar, there's no such thing as a "girl's" motorcycle

sorry but i must correct you here, its a well know fact that the only vehicle produced exclusively for women was the Mazda Miata

And I'll go ahead and correct your correction I guess. BBC makes the "Miss Behavin" model specifically for women and although Victory's "low" versionmodels aren't gender specific they are there primarily for average women who are smaller in stature then the average man. I don't think HD's intention for the 883 Sporsters was ever meant to be exclusively female oriented but it's just a matter of if you let the perception of perfect strangers bother you or not. If you do then the chances are high that you have more issues then what you ride anyway.

 

Yes.