Sportster vs M50

[dilligaf_nz]

I know I'm probably going to open a can of worms asking this question, but here goes anyway.

I am wanting to get back into riding having originally ridden two-stroke tearaways and then a Honda CB750 in my younger days (Last lot of riding was about 15 years ago).
I'm thinking of buying a cruiser (cause I figure if I buy a sports bike I'll wrap myself around some solid object in fairly short time) and I'm trying to decide between a M50 and a 1200 Harley Sportster.
My budget will be around the 12 grand mark and the bike will become my primary transport. I commute to work everyday (around 35km's each way) through Auckland motorway traffic.
The way I see it is I'll be able to get a new (2009) M50 for my money and I'm sure it will be OK on trips as well. However I have always wanted to own a Harley (blame a wayward step-brother for that influence) and I figure for my budget I will be looking at something second hand, and I have been told that the Harley will be harder to get through traffic and they are less reliable than Jap bikes. Also, I have heard that they are prone to running rough in wet weather.

Anybody got any advice or personal experiences they can share to help me make my decision?


Thanks

[The Lone Rider]

I know I'm probably going to open a can of worms asking this question, but here goes anyway.

I am wanting to get back into riding having originally ridden two-stroke tearaways and then a Honda CB750 in my younger days (Last lot of riding was about 15 years ago).
I'm thinking of buying a cruiser (cause I figure if I buy a sports bike I'll wrap myself around some solid object in fairly short time) and I'm trying to decide between a M50 and a 1200 Harley Sportster.
My budget will be around the 12 grand mark and the bike will become my primary transport. I commute to work everyday (around 35km's each way) through Auckland motorway traffic.
The way I see it is I'll be able to get a new (2009) M50 for my money and I'm sure it will be OK on trips as well. However I have always wanted to own a Harley (blame a wayward step-brother for that influence) and I figure for my budget I will be looking at something second hand, and I have been told that the Harley will be harder to get through traffic and they are less reliable than Jap bikes. Also, I have heard that they are prone to running rough in wet weather.

Anybody got any advice or personal experiences they can share to help me make my decision?


Thanks

Not sure about harder to get through traffic, but generally harleys are much much more expensive to keep on the road.

A good place to look for some states as far as clearance and power is to go to www.bikesz.com and look up the bikes you are after.

[munster]

I bought a cruiser for the same reasons you did, if I had a sports bike I'd be wrapped round a tree too.

I recently bought a 2007 M50 and haven't regretted it one bit. Great bike, great looks, great economy. No issues at all. For $12k, you'd be looking at new. The styling on the 2010 M50 doesn't cut it for me, I prefer the '05 - '09 model.

[PeeJay]

Not sure about harder to get through traffic, but generally harleys are much much more expensive to keep on the road.
.

Sportster would have to be one of the cheapest bikes to keep on the road. Service costs are minimal, excellent fuel economy 20km/L on a trip, tyres last for ages, they sound good and can get along pretty good as well.
Get a rubbermount 04 and later, excellent bike.

[Headbanger]

hmmm....No Harley I have ever owned was unreliable, nor did they run rough in the wet (or rougher in the wet) and they were cheap as chips to keep on the road. an oil change and a set of tires every so often was about all there is to it, and my tires lasted freakin ages,

Having said that, They aren't any safer, probably less so as they are slower to change direction, need more room to slow down, and generally take a fair bit of effort and skill if you want to make something happen quickly, and they are still capable of being ridden at speeds that are likely to cause an accident and injury, Its just that this speed will be much lower.

[ukusa]

check out a Trumpet, you could get a late model America or Speedmaster for that sort of money.

[rainman]

M50, all the way.

Or the Triumph advice above, if you like the look.

[peasea]

I know I'm probably going to open a can of worms asking this question, but here goes anyway.

I am wanting to get back into riding having originally ridden two-stroke tearaways and then a Honda CB750 in my younger days (Last lot of riding was about 15 years ago).
I'm thinking of buying a cruiser (cause I figure if I buy a sports bike I'll wrap myself around some solid object in fairly short time) and I'm trying to decide between a M50 and a 1200 Harley Sportster.
My budget will be around the 12 grand mark and the bike will become my primary transport. I commute to work everyday (around 35km's each way) through Auckland motorway traffic.
The way I see it is I'll be able to get a new (2009) M50 for my money and I'm sure it will be OK on trips as well. However I have always wanted to own a Harley (blame a wayward step-brother for that influence) and I figure for my budget I will be looking at something second hand, and I have been told that the Harley will be harder to get through traffic and they are less reliable than Jap bikes. Also, I have heard that they are prone to running rough in wet weather.

Anybody got any advice or personal experiences they can share to help me make my decision?


Thanks

We have had two 1200 Sportsters in the family, one was a converted 883, a '96, and it went well, handled fine and was utterly reliable. People who say that HD's are expensive to maintain are mistaken.

The current 1200 is a fuel injected '07 Custom that cost $13,500 with 12,800k's on it. It rides nicely but doesn't corner as well as the older model and scrapes readily but thanks to the rubber-mounted engine it's a better tourer and a good looking bike. It depends what you want.

A buddy of mine recently scored a 2001 Sportster S (twin-plug heads, fully adjustable suspension and twin disc front end) for $8,200 with 50k on the dial. It's been utterly reliable, so far, too.

I know where there's another 'S' for sale, $10,000, I think it's a 2000 but has less k's on it. It also has a bit of Screaming Eagle stuff on it but not sure exactly what's there. If you're serious I could find out more.

Re-sale will be better on the HD, they tend to hold their value.

[MSTRS:Me]

Latest KiwiRider has the M50 at SummerFest price of 10995. On road.

[240]

In my opinion I would go for the m50.
The main reason is that the brakes and suspension are likely to be far and away better the Japanese tend to do things right.
Nothing wrong with hd I have owned one and loved it,but going back to Japanese is like returning to a responsive modern car after owning a 1960s english car.

[Big Dave]

No wrong answer really - They are both good motorcycles.

The Harley should actually cost you less to keep on the road. Obviously there are exceptions to every rule and individual machines are different. The H-D motor is very cheap to service - a major is around $300 (No shims - self adjusting valves) and parts are relatively cheap. They are also economical on fuel.

The unreliability thing is a bit of a myth created by the heavy customisation of the machines often leading them to be 'fixed until they break'.
Ask AMPS how many times they have had to call out the truck on a rental in the last 7 years. On those abused machines (c'mon - who doesn't pin a rental?) - the answer was still 'bugger all' last time I asked.

You keep it in good order it will probably last longer and hold better resale than the Suzuki. But that is a big 'probably'.

It will cost a shitload more to insure and poses a greater security challenge.

The Suzuki has all the benefits of being a Suzuki. Dealers everywhere, great backup, general parts availability (although slightly expensive IMO) and a whole lot of ride and forgetaboutit.

In the end - I would ride both and buy the one that sings to you loudest.

[Big Dave]

In my opinion I would go for the m50.
The main reason is that the brakes and suspension are likely to be far and away better the Japanese tend to do things right.
Nothing wrong with hd I have owned one and loved it,but going back to Japanese is like returning to a responsive modern car after owning a 1960s english car.

Depending on model, Modern Sportsters have Japanese (some have showa) suspension and Nissin or Brembo brakes.

[peasea]

In my opinion I would go for the m50.
The main reason is that the brakes and suspension are likely to be far and away better the Japanese tend to do things right.
Nothing wrong with hd I have owned one and loved it,but going back to Japanese is like returning to a responsive modern car after owning a 1960s english car.

You obviously haven't ridden a Sportster 'S' then.

[Big Dave]

>>check out a Trumpet, you could get a late model America or Speedmaster for that sort of money.<<

Merit in that suggestion too.

America is still one of the best handling vehicles in the class.

[peasea]

>>check out a Trumpet, you could get a late model America or Speedmaster for that sort of money.<<

Merit in that suggestion too.

America is still one of the best handling vehicles in the class.

My brother-in-law in Cairns has an America, which was the darling of the garage until he bought a new 1600 T'bird.