What is the Best Harley-Davidson for Beginners?

Harley-Davidson motorcycles are known to be some of the most reliable bikes out there. They are also popular for their classic style that never seems to go out of fashion. This article will help you if you’re looking into getting a Harley-Davidson, but don’t know where to start! We’ll break down what type of rider each bike is good for and give you an overview of the features they have so you can make an informed decision about which one would work best for your needs. If this sounds like something you need, keep reading!

Models overview

Touring models

So, let’s go and get started with what Harley is known for. Touring Bikes, Street Glides, and Road Glides are some of their most popular bikes! They also have an array of other models in case you don’t want to travel all day long but still need a reliable mode of transportation. Radio, passenger seats (so your friends can join on the ride too), Saddlebags that accommodate large amounts of storage plus give travelers plenty of room during overnight journeys. And Power output from 114-117 horsepower depending upon whether the buyer goes CVO. It’s a little bit pricey, but the bikes are super comfortable to ride in everyday life! The next class under is Softail.

Softail models

I think the Softail models are pretty awesome. It is an excellent class with plenty of power for those who want to go fast! There are also some great options if you’re looking at what will best suit your riding style – from a Street Bob all the way through Heritage Touring-style bikes which have fewer features but might be better suited towards touring than others in this range.

Fat Bobs and Low Rider S bikes are a lot lighter than touring style motorcycles, which can weigh up to 900 pounds. Softail series has been known for being around 700 – 750lbs with one of the 114 or 107 options fitted on your bike frame! These models will be quick as well. And you still Have saddlebag options.

Sportsters

You can find three different models of Sportster bikes on the market. Each model has its own unique features, but all are stripped down to their most basic form with small tanks and basically 600-pound weight. Customization options like saddlebags or swing arm bags for extra storage space become available!

But these are your basic, stripped-down Harley Davidson bikes that go back to the old school days when bikes were very simple and they didn’t have all this electronic stuff. Now, of course, you can get them with ABS brakes but at heart, it’s still about being able to ride around on two wheels without feeling like an utter novice just because there are so many buttons you’ll never understand. But these bikes are not necessarily made for a passenger. Softails, you can absolutely have a passenger and most of them come with a passenger seat.

The Sportster is a very popular motorcycle. It’s light, sporty, and made for short trips in town or around the neighborhood if you’re going on an errand run! The Street series has more urban features that will let riders do some overnights but it may be tough going with what they have at their disposal: either 750cc engines which can take you up to about 120 MPH (or less depending upon how fast traffic moves) as well as 500 cc models.

So very stripped down, very basic. And then there’s going to be some in-between bikes. So the Pan America coming out, and Harley also has a sport bike coming out. So there’s going to be some odds and ends like that, but those are the main four classes of Harleys.

How to choose a Harley for beginners?

Seat height and Riding position

The two main things I want to talk about are riding position and seat height. “The Iron” has a more forward seating posture where your arms are stretched out in front of you but the street glide will be more natural for most people with its slightly lower bars that come just far enough back so there’s no discomfort while sitting tall upright without hunching over too much or feeling like it was right on top of my head (not an issue at all). Some might need minor adjustments whereas others may not even notice any differences after continuous use. And keep in mind, if you don’t like it after a week or so and want to go back – no problem! All of this can be fixed with handlebars and all that kind of stuff. But also have the forward controls which may seem awkward at first for someone coming from dirt bikes but when they get used to them it’s amazing how much more comfortable riding feels without having your hands tired after only 5 minutes.
For new riders, though I would suggest getting accustomed before making such a big change.

Mid controls, there’s nothing wrong with it but I think that riders who are more vertically oriented might find the Street Glide to be a little less accommodating. That said though you can adjust the seat height for different types of riding – just like any other motorcycle.

The Softails you can flat foot no problem too. The Ultra, it’s about the same as Street Glide but riding position will vary from bike to bike so this is where you should go into a Harley dealership and ask them if they let you sit on their bikes before purchasing one yourself because comfort must be taken into consideration when buying any type of motorcycle or motorbike.

Highway speed

One other thing that I want to talk about is highway speed. So if you do a lot of highway driving, the Iron for me once reached 55-60 and beyond its vibey little motor my leg would be vibrating all over after getting off the bike which some people don’t mind but not everyone can handle this feeling in their legs when they get on these high powered bikes due to too much vibration sometimes.

The Street Glide if you are doing 80 mph, man the thing is so smooth. So it depends on what kind of riding you’re going to do and how fast your speed limit will be for that day/ride. It’s all about finding out what feels comfortable while still being safe. If you’re just heading in town and you’re never really going to break that 60 miles per hour mark, it may not bug you at all.

The Iron 1200 is a great bike for those who want more power. I mean, the classic iron is an in-town type of riding bike and there are guys that have taken it on long distances but if you’re doing mostly highway driving, the Softails or Touring bikes will never match up as well against sportsters/street series bikes. You do however have your medium option which provides some good features like style with less weight than other models.

Final thoughts

So you might be thinking, “Which one is best?” So here’s what I would say for the beginner. My recommendation is that your Sportsters are going to be your go-to bike because now you have an authentic-looking Harley in comparison with the Street series which has some Harley accents but does not resemble a Harley Davidson. Let’s face it, a lot of people get a Harley because just of the way it looks.

The Street and Sportster series look different, but they both offer a great riding experience. While the Harley brand is known for its heavy bikes with large engines that produce tons of power in low-end torque delivery; these smaller motorcycles allow you to enjoy cruising on two wheels while still having plenty enough zip when needed. So the Sportster, I think, is the best entry-level Harley to get, because of the things that I just mentioned.

Now, if you’re somebody that has been riding for a long time and have ridden bikes of different types before like BMW’s or Honda Goldwing, then I would say get an old-school soft tail or maybe even try out one of these Heritage Classic models. The Low Rider S is just awesome too.

So, that’s pretty much where I’m at with this. Let me know what you think the best Harley for your first Harley is down in the comments below.