Buell Blast to HD883 Sportster?

[Coffee357]

I've been riding a short while (beginning of May) and have been enjoying my Blast, slightly underpowered as it is. Now my boy, who has been eyeing HD Sportsters since he was 16 is about to take up riding (he's 18 now). I bought him a certificate for the Riders Edge safety course at HD and he has expressed a wish to trade in the Buell towards a Sportster for our mutual use when he gets licensed. I've already informed him that I want him to ride the heck out of the Buell for at least a month before I make any decisions on a Sportster. My question is, does the Sportster do anything significantly better than the Blast? Would you guys make the trade? Why or why not?

Thanks!

Coffee

[wally hooker]

Sportsters look cooler!

What year sportster? The sportster motors are unbalanced. I think in '04 they finally started mounting the motor with rubber mounts. Older sportsters supposedly will shake the hell out of you.

Wally

[Aggroton]

My question is, does the Sportster do anything significantly better than the Blast? Would you guys make the trade? Why or why not?

Thanks!

Coffee

no...the Sportster does not do anything significantly better than the Blast...except it may be quicker do to the the bigger engine...the buell only has a 500cc thumper...but it handles better and stops better. if you just wanna tear around town i would keep the buell...but if you have any touring planned i would trade for the sportster...or if you like the tuffguy look trade up...or if your primarily driving in strait lines trade up. i would love to either of those bikes...id just buy the sporty and swich back and forth...2 bikes are better than 1

[DustyJacket]

I did 1600 miles on the Blast after my class. It is a real snappy bike. Very flickable. No learning curve adjusting to a new bike after the class.

When my wife took the Riders Edge class, she took the Blast and I went to a Sportster 1200C. I am glad I had the time on the Blast. The Sportster is much more "top heavy" and isn't as flickable.

Have him do 1 to 2 thousand on the Blast before trading up. Maybe get some CityX handguards and/or CityX bars. See my web page for photos.

[DustyJacket]

BTW - out Blast get 69 or 70 MPG
.
My 1200C gets 50 on a good day.

[V4underme]

Sportsters look cooler!

What year sportster? The sportster motors are unbalanced. I think in '04 they finally started mounting the motor with rubber mounts. Older sportsters supposedly will shake the hell out of you.

Wally

According to my fillings, hands and the seat of my pants, the new ones aren't much better.

[DustyJacket]

Sportsters look cooler!

What year sportster? The sportster motors are unbalanced. I think in '04 they finally started mounting the motor with rubber mounts. Older sportsters supposedly will shake the hell out of you.

Wally

According to my fillings, hands and the seat of my pants, the new ones aren't much better.

It's not that bad. Geez. It is very different than some other bikes.

Certainly before buyinf a new bike, he needs to get some miles in the saddle, then maybe ride on during demo days at the dealer. That changed my mind about which bike I wanted.

[V4underme]

Obviously for many people "it isn't that bad", but it was for me. I just posted my opinion based on my experience (brief as it was). I got off my inline 4 Kawasaki, onto my neighbor's brand new 2005 1200 Sporty, and the vibration was not to my liking. Even the wife's Honda v-twin wasn't near as "shaky". I didn't say it was a bad thing. Many many people like it and even demand it. I just didn't want the poster to believe that it was vibration-free.


I agree completely about getting saddle time before buying, it's the best way to make the decision. Similar to you, it's helped me in making my choices, too. Different strokes, eh?

[niterider]

I rode a brand new sportster that a friend bought back in 1982, it had okay power; however, the whole bike vibbeerrraatted so bad that it would not ( in my opinion ) make a good road bike. The seating was like riding a dirt bike. Now, I rode a sportster 2005 model that a friend bought 2 wks ago. A much better bike as far as power and a whole lot less vibration. The seating is still much like that of a dirt bike. The man said he is saving money for the repairs after the warranty is out. To each his own. I rather have my japanese bike. Vulcan 750.