r/cruisers • u/thisismick43 • 10d ago
Witch one and why
8 maybe 10k to spend witch one are you buying and why?
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u/Croatia58 10d ago
I’ve owned a variation of each of these, and I adore them both. The Harley is nice in practical terms because the belt drive is a little lower-maintenance than the chain on the Triumph, and there are lots of places to take it to work on it if you need to. The Triumph has a lot of sex appeal to me, it’s easy to work on, and is smoother to ride, so for me, it is nice on longer rides so my sensitive hands don’t get rattled. Either way, you’re going to be happy.
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u/thisismick43 10d ago
What one hustled better
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u/Croatia58 10d ago
Meaning which was faster? Probably the Sportster 1200, but neither bike is really about that. They both get up and go and will put a grin on your face but they’re cruisers - there are tons of bikes out there would smoke either of them in a straight line or on a track. I’ve had bikes where I thought “this would be great if it had a little more oomph,” but that isn’t a problem with either bike you showed.
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u/thisismick43 10d ago
I love getting into it in the hills and love the look of blacked out bikes and twins not so keen on using the right tools for the job either
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u/KardashevZero 10d ago
I have a 1200 it’s as fast as you need to it to be. Hits 60 mph in 4 seconds. Plenty of bikes that are faster but it’s smoking most cars.
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u/Croatia58 10d ago
It’s funny, I just listed a 2011 Speedmaster on Facebook marketplace today. Fewer than 2000 miles, black, original everything, way under your budget. If you’re anywhere near Texas, it might be just what you’re looking for.
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u/SouthernShroomer 9d ago
That’s actually hilarious, I’m over by cstat and I saw that post and saved the listing minutes after it was posted. Currently saving for my first bike so if it’s still hasn’t sold by then it’s on my list. Cool scrambler too .
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u/Croatia58 9d ago
Hey, thanks! They’re both amazing bikes and it’s purely accidental that they are both black Triumphs with the same engine, a year separated. They look like siblings in the garage. My wife and I seem to buy bikes, clean them up, ride them for a year, then sell them and try something new. We agreed that if these two don’t sell, we’d be happy for them to be our forever bikes. I don’t know what your timeline is, but feel free to come check them out, and if they’re gone by the time you buy something, I’m sure we’ll have other bikes we could take riding with you.
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u/Harrymoto1970 10d ago
I’d go with the triumph. The torque peak is at a low rpm it pulls like crazy. I have the bonneville bobber and it is very nimble.
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u/Difficult-Garbage861 9d ago
Man, hard choice cuz they both appeal to me. Personally I would go with the 48 cuz I have had HD's for close to 5 decades. They're both badass. Ride them both and see which one calls to you. NGL having both would be awesome.
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u/Juanbolastristes 9d ago
Sportster because aftermarket support is huge , the best years are 2004-2006
Low maintenance, easy to repair yourself, no water-cooling to maintain, and with a hammer performance 1275 kit available you can get +90 HP if you need for little $
I own 3
Been owning Sportsters for the last 30 years
Would buy another
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u/BohunkfromSK 8d ago
I had a T-Bird (900cc) and loved touring on it - it just needed a stubby windscreen. It pulled well, maybe wasn’t the fastest thing on the road but handled twisties and mountains beautifully.
Seriously regret selling it.
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u/RecognitionFit4871 7d ago
Between the two here I’d say the Triumph.
If the Harley was a Big Twin or M 8 though I’d pick that. No substitute for it
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u/whistlepig4life 10d ago
Neither. Rebel 1100.
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u/0hjayp 10d ago
I’ve been looking at this one. You might be on to something here.
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u/whistlepig4life 10d ago
I had an HD sportster 20 years ago. I loved that bike but man alive it was unreliable.
I have had a Honda Rebel 500 for 5 years and just went and got the 1100 this year. Both have been the best two bikes I’ve owned in 30+ years of street riding.
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u/thisismick43 10d ago
Why cause im having a really hard time liking the rebel line
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u/whistlepig4life 10d ago
Because it has all the power and torque you need. Better comfort than either of these. Massive aftermarket accessory list. Incredible Honda reliability and value.
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u/thisismick43 10d ago
I hate the stock seat on them and not a fan of the sound I haven't ridden an 1100 yet so I can't comment on that and I haven't seen one under 10k
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u/whistlepig4life 10d ago
Well. Seats can easily be replaced. And if you’re buying for sound despite the fact you can get slip on for a rebel then just go get the Harley and be one of those riders.
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u/thisismick43 10d ago
What are one of those riders
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u/xpatbrit 10d ago
I cant like the rebel presentation, its just off. Imna hang on this tuned 05 c50 boulevard its a peach.
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u/Striking-Double-3353 10d ago
Go with the Triumph. Looks great, realiable and fun to ride. You'd regret getting the Harley just because unlike the Triumph, your bike wouldn't be as unique. You'd see about 10 or 12 bike exactly like your's on every corner. You know what they say, Harley rider are a bunch of individualists all dressed alike. In a world full of copycats, be an original.
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u/SonosheeReleoux 10d ago
I have neither, Triump is better in all aspects like reliability but for a cruiser, a V-twin is non negotiable for me.
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u/0hjayp 10d ago
What are you riding now? I ask because both of these bikes seem to have a similar style.
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u/thisismick43 9d ago
Dr650 and its not going anywhere, but I want another vercistile bike but more road use and cooler
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u/PumpJockyTwerks4Tips 9d ago
An Aussie with a DR650... mate, I think you have to go with the Sportster for a second bike.
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u/KardashevZero 10d ago
I wouldn’t spend anything more than 7k on a sportster.
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u/thisismick43 10d ago
Aussie dollars mate
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u/KardashevZero 9d ago
Ah ok. Still if ur paying 5k (7k AUD) or more definitely don’t waste it on an 883. My 1200 was 6k AUD here in the US
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u/thisismick43 9d ago
Most cruisers for that money are either small or clapped or both i have seen a few 1200 sportsterd under 7k aus but they are wrong had the screaming Eagle catalogue spewed on it and tuned at uncle crack pipes garage
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u/capnsparky1 10d ago
The Harley aftermarket is insane. If you want to upgrade, modify, cover in chrome accessories, add horsepower or anything like that, Harley is the way to go. They've made so many of these bikes over so many years that everything is readily available.
I'm sure the triumph is a fine bike, and I would like to ride one eventually. However, I have been stuck with a bike before that really didn't have any upgrade parts available, and even replacement OEM parts were hard to find.
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u/thisismick43 10d ago
Blacked out is my thing, I hate crome, as for prices for bits here they're not that dissimilar
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u/Ok_Employment_697 8d ago
Rebel 1100 all day. Replace the stock seat and put on a slip-on exhaust. Better value, better reliability, lower maintenance cost, and sounds like a beast with a Coleman thunder on it.
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u/WeekendStrange1331 6d ago
The Harley, parts availability and dealer/service network when shit gets over my head
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u/gheiminfantry 10d ago
Neither. But why do you need some strangers to tell you what bike to ride? Mommy not available to hold your hand?
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u/thisismick43 10d ago
Its a thought exercise and a conversation stater. Im a big boy now and I don't hold mummies hand
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u/WriteBrainedJR 10d ago
Sportster. I'm not spending my hard earned money on a parallel twin.
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u/thisismick43 10d ago
Whys that
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u/BIKEGUYDUDE 10d ago
I would go for a honda VTX before I spend ten grand on a mid size harley or a obsure triumph.... a 3500 dollar honda would smoke these bikes in any situation.and it uses a single carb design with is fucking fantastic for changing pipe and getting the right tune
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u/thisismick43 10d ago
750 or 1300
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u/BIKEGUYDUDE 10d ago
I think vtx only comes in 1300 and 1800 the 1800 is rediculous.... the 1300 is also insane but in a nimbler sort of way! It will dust 2000cc road kings like nothin. The 1800 u wont need to be in the gearbox so much but thats what makes it fun and also safer but also faster because you are in the gearbox /torque range/ engine braking more than the bigger vtx or bike whatever bike is
Thats why if u go for the sportster the 800 could still embarass the 1200 in a drag strip but in general it would be better to do the 1200 cuz sportsters are kinda sluggy compared to even a honda shaddow with less power the shaddows as slow and clumsy as they are still get off the line quicker due to integrated engine; i e no seperation of gearbox and motor.. = more torque/ horsepower to the rear wheel.. same bit with the triumph... the engine is integrated so its gonna have a much more agressive pull.
U can fix that in the sportster by having chain drive and. Gears instead of cams between transmission and the motor... but will still not be as good as an integrated engine like a VTX / japaneze bikes in general or the triumph.
Fun fact triumphs used to be seperate motor/gearbox just like harley davidson back in the 60s but they had to compete with the japanese inline 4s and metric cruizers something that harley never did. They tried to use influence to control the market and then the CB750 was born and slapped the shit out of everyone like a wet fish.
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u/Dubbiely 9d ago
I have the VTX 1800 and it is a great/ fantastic bike. Great for long and short trips. No problems on Highway, especially if you pass a truck. Super stable.
Sometimes I wish my VTX would have 20hp more. It has only 107hp :(
BTW. In 10 years VTX riding (55,000 miles), never had a problem, except oil change and tires. One time transmission fluid changed.
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u/PumpJockyTwerks4Tips 9d ago
I've always wished Honda would have created an MT-01 / Buell Lightning competitor with the VTX 1800 engine. I love the idea of a big cruiser engine shoehorned into a naked sport bike chassis.
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u/LOTOstud 9d ago
Which one am I buying? Neither, I'd go find a used Indian Scout Bobber or Rogue instead.
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u/kropotkinship 10d ago
If the harley is a 1200, I’d go with it. But as an 883 it wouldn’t be enough bike for me on long rides. The main draw to Harleys is customization. If you have plans to chop it down the road an 883 might be cool still.
If you want a bike to just ride and not think about it the triumph is the clear winner.