Sportster: Caroline Rides Again

For Newbies: As Delivered

Once the bike was home, Caroline was ready to give it a try. Up and down the road she went, and each time she passed by our house, there was a big grin on her face. While I had

Summer 2003: New shield, bags, and pipes.

found the bike a disappointment, she found it perfectly fine. And that is the beauty of the Sportster; it really is the perfect beginner's bike. It doesn't intimidate a new rider physically or by providing too much power. The power it does produce is almost all off idle which makes it much easier for a newbie to learn clutch/throttle coordination. Once a new rider grows in experience and confidence, the Sportster can readily be modified to match the rider's new requirements. No need to buy another bike; everything needed can be found in Harley's own extensive parts catalog, or from the huge Harley aftermarket.

As of this writing, the 883 has survived two summers of use, and "the tax" has been paid making it a far more enjoyable motorcycle. If it was my bike, I would have been planning for big bore kits, high compression pistons, hot cams, and much more. But it is not mine, it's my wife's and she is very happy with it as it is. Sometimes I have to remind myself that some of my earlier bikes that I had considered more than adequate possessed no more horsepower than the Sporty, and a lot less torque. So for now it will remain as it is. But should Caroline ever decide that more power is required, or better handling, then I'll be ready to make her bike into anything that she wants. I might even start borrowing it from time to time.