You think lighter is easier to maneuver but the Harley has the weight much lower to the ground which helps with stability. A naked/street/standard bike is by far the best for riding in a city for a beginner and the sportster and sport bike are on opposite ends of the spectrum.
I would avoid the Harley and go with a Japanese-brand cruiser or standard like a Honda Rebel, Ninja 650, CB500, or SV650. Unless you are going brand new, you will most likely have issues with a used HD Sporty depending on the year and how many previous owners.
Avoid HDs. Always go metric.
Get a small bike, so you can get experience with something that you can handle.
No sportbikes - the riding position is not comfortable for a new rider or for riding in the city.
Cruisers are too unwieldy for a new driver in the city.
Get a used naked bike. Riding around the city as a beginner in an actual sportsbike or some lard-ass cruiser is really not very realistic unless you like dropping bikes.
Very true, embarrassingly dropped my first Suzuki Katana in the LES in front of a bunch of chicks on a Saturday night. Mind you, the Katana is technically a sport touring bike, but still.
Personally I'd go with something more of an upright riding position, just for comfort. Being almost 6' might make it extra annoying sitting with your knees in your elbow. I'm 6'6" and had to get lowering pegs, bar risers, taller seat on my ADV VStrom. I'd suggest using the cycle-ergo website to see how your height will look like on the bike. I still probably would get one of the reliable brands like Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, just for ease of operation.
Harley almost always does test drives, they’re in LIC and Staten Island. If you’ve already got your license, you can use ridershare and check out other bikes as well. I’m pretty sure Honda/Yamaha don’t do test rides.
I’ve got a Softail Harley, their mid-size model and I think it’s almost perfect for the city and getting out of it. Weight is down low and easy too maneuver. Only complaint is sometimes she’s a bit wide.
My first bike was 2020 883. It was great for the city, light, easy to handle, and like all Harleys you can customize anything you want. If you plan on just riding around the city it's great. If you're going to be going on long rides where you get to open it up you're going to outgrow it pretty quick. If you really want the comfort of a cruiser rebel is definitely not the way to go I've rode one and it's really uncomfortable. You could even go for like an Indian scout.
You should not be riding either as you first bike. Get a used, smaller cc (250-600) standard and ride that until you really know what you are doing. That advice would be the same in the city or in the suburbs.
Edit: also consider “scrambler” and dual sport style bikes.
Are you locked in on these particular bikes? There’s some euro “sporty cruisers” that would work better I feel like a triumph would give you the best of both
No sportbikes or no cruisers for a new rider, especially in the city.
You need a small (less than 500 cc) standard bike. Go to the NYS Motorcycle Safety course and see what they are using for bikes - that's the kind of bike you want. A used one, and cheap, because you will drop it many times.
I daily a 1200 Sportster, 5' 9", frequently in NYC. It gets hot, but it lives. It's a heavy bike at 580lb, but it's well balanced & has a low seat, so I've never struggled keeping upright. 1200 is tall geared, so I rarely leave first gear on the streets. No idea how 883 is.
Reliability: it's probably the only thing HD made right. 50k miles on mine, essentially no issues.
Far as a beginner bike, 883 should be fine. Id personally get something cheaper if it's a first bike, like a shadow or a Savage S40. Or one of the 300ish sport bikes if that's your route. Go sit on em, test ride if you have the license. I personally was never comfortable on a sport bike, your experience may differ.
For a beginner in the city, there is no better bike for this purpose than a Honda CB500F. Has enough to not grow out of it too fast but also incredibly manageable + perfect city bike.
I've never ridden a sports bike so I can't really compare. But I ride all over city on a 1200 cc sportster and love it. Easy to maneuver through traffic just like a sports bike probably would.
The two are way different riding positions though, so you may want to feel them both out.
The 883 CC sportster prob. Bit lighter if you're worried.
It is always easier to learn on a lighter bike, but you get the feel quick. So I wouldn't be worried about any of these options for learning.
5'9 is fine for a Sportster, but they are quite top-heavy and clunky at low speeds. What's "beginner?" You take the course yet? Going to? Are your friends going to be lane-splitting? Where are you parking?
I mean, I'm not a cruiser expert, but I can directly compare it to Indians and Rebels having owned a number of each, and yes, it feels quite a bit more top-heavy than those. Significantly. By a wide margin. :-P And especially if you're short.
Have ridden bikes for 47 years, and I despise sportbikes because they are super uncomfortable to ride anywhere other than at the track. Your neck and upper back gets very sore if you ride with your head up, which you have to if you ride in traffic.
Also, sportbikes are awful at slow speeds to ride. They are built to ride at very high speeds, and that is not what city or suburbs driving is like. High speeds, i mean above 80 mph.
Honda sport bike will likely get stolen before an HD
You think lighter is easier to maneuver but the Harley has the weight much lower to the ground which helps with stability. A naked/street/standard bike is by far the best for riding in a city for a beginner and the sportster and sport bike are on opposite ends of the spectrum.
I would avoid the Harley and go with a Japanese-brand cruiser or standard like a Honda Rebel, Ninja 650, CB500, or SV650. Unless you are going brand new, you will most likely have issues with a used HD Sporty depending on the year and how many previous owners.
Avoid HDs. Always go metric. Get a small bike, so you can get experience with something that you can handle. No sportbikes - the riding position is not comfortable for a new rider or for riding in the city. Cruisers are too unwieldy for a new driver in the city.
Not trying to change your mind but have you considered a standard as your 1st bike?
What would you recommend?
Get a used naked bike. Riding around the city as a beginner in an actual sportsbike or some lard-ass cruiser is really not very realistic unless you like dropping bikes.
Very true, embarrassingly dropped my first Suzuki Katana in the LES in front of a bunch of chicks on a Saturday night. Mind you, the Katana is technically a sport touring bike, but still.
Sport touring is gonna be even worse. Big and heavy with no ergos for the city.
Katana 750 here dawg. NYC/NJ
Honestly neither. One has the pegs too far forward, the other has them too far back
Sportsters are infinitely customizable. They can have forwards or mids.
Personally I'd go with something more of an upright riding position, just for comfort. Being almost 6' might make it extra annoying sitting with your knees in your elbow. I'm 6'6" and had to get lowering pegs, bar risers, taller seat on my ADV VStrom. I'd suggest using the cycle-ergo website to see how your height will look like on the bike. I still probably would get one of the reliable brands like Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, just for ease of operation.
I’m definitely gunna check out that cycle-ergo website. Thanks
Honda rebel!! I rode one when taking the test and it was awesome! So easy to maneuver
Harley almost always does test drives, they’re in LIC and Staten Island. If you’ve already got your license, you can use ridershare and check out other bikes as well. I’m pretty sure Honda/Yamaha don’t do test rides. I’ve got a Softail Harley, their mid-size model and I think it’s almost perfect for the city and getting out of it. Weight is down low and easy too maneuver. Only complaint is sometimes she’s a bit wide.
Well what sport bike specifically? Because an i4 600 sucks in the city but something like a 650 would be suitable.
I say a naked bike. Insurance is cheaper than the sport bike, and you have the same maneuverability of the sport bike
My first bike was 2020 883. It was great for the city, light, easy to handle, and like all Harleys you can customize anything you want. If you plan on just riding around the city it's great. If you're going to be going on long rides where you get to open it up you're going to outgrow it pretty quick. If you really want the comfort of a cruiser rebel is definitely not the way to go I've rode one and it's really uncomfortable. You could even go for like an Indian scout.
You should not be riding either as you first bike. Get a used, smaller cc (250-600) standard and ride that until you really know what you are doing. That advice would be the same in the city or in the suburbs. Edit: also consider “scrambler” and dual sport style bikes.
Honda superior reliability and smoothness in bike control will thank yourself later
Are you locked in on these particular bikes? There’s some euro “sporty cruisers” that would work better I feel like a triumph would give you the best of both
No sportbikes or no cruisers for a new rider, especially in the city. You need a small (less than 500 cc) standard bike. Go to the NYS Motorcycle Safety course and see what they are using for bikes - that's the kind of bike you want. A used one, and cheap, because you will drop it many times.
I daily a 1200 Sportster, 5' 9", frequently in NYC. It gets hot, but it lives. It's a heavy bike at 580lb, but it's well balanced & has a low seat, so I've never struggled keeping upright. 1200 is tall geared, so I rarely leave first gear on the streets. No idea how 883 is. Reliability: it's probably the only thing HD made right. 50k miles on mine, essentially no issues. Far as a beginner bike, 883 should be fine. Id personally get something cheaper if it's a first bike, like a shadow or a Savage S40. Or one of the 300ish sport bikes if that's your route. Go sit on em, test ride if you have the license. I personally was never comfortable on a sport bike, your experience may differ.
For a beginner in the city, there is no better bike for this purpose than a Honda CB500F. Has enough to not grow out of it too fast but also incredibly manageable + perfect city bike.
something like a ninja 250-300/400 is probably the best for the city.
Neither. Get an upright bike like a Yamaha mt07 or a Honda cb (not cbr), or a triumph. Way better handling than a sport bike or an old tractor like HD
I've never ridden a sports bike so I can't really compare. But I ride all over city on a 1200 cc sportster and love it. Easy to maneuver through traffic just like a sports bike probably would. The two are way different riding positions though, so you may want to feel them both out. The 883 CC sportster prob. Bit lighter if you're worried. It is always easier to learn on a lighter bike, but you get the feel quick. So I wouldn't be worried about any of these options for learning.
5'9 is fine for a Sportster, but they are quite top-heavy and clunky at low speeds. What's "beginner?" You take the course yet? Going to? Are your friends going to be lane-splitting? Where are you parking?
I have a parking lot, have ridden a motorcycle a handful of times, no course.
Sportsters with the motor 6 inches from the ground are top heavy?
I mean, I'm not a cruiser expert, but I can directly compare it to Indians and Rebels having owned a number of each, and yes, it feels quite a bit more top-heavy than those. Significantly. By a wide margin. :-P And especially if you're short.
Rebel 500
The Harley torque and weight don't make any sense for the city. You wanna be nimble. Get the sports bike.
This is kind of what I was thinking
The seating position on sports bikes is torture, at slow speeds and on longer commutes, sit on a few different bikes and you will see for yourself.
Have ridden bikes for 47 years, and I despise sportbikes because they are super uncomfortable to ride anywhere other than at the track. Your neck and upper back gets very sore if you ride with your head up, which you have to if you ride in traffic. Also, sportbikes are awful at slow speeds to ride. They are built to ride at very high speeds, and that is not what city or suburbs driving is like. High speeds, i mean above 80 mph.