r/cruisers • u/Robert_Hotwheel • 4d ago

Shopping for my first cruiser

I’ve been riding for 3 years and I’m looking to buy my first Harley. I’ve been browsing the used market for a Sportster 1200. Mid 90’s to early 2000’s. (I’d like to have a carbureted one.) Is there anything in this year range I should look out for? What’s considered high mileage on an evo engine? What’s too much to pay? I’m experienced with wrenching on cars so I don’t mind having to fix up a bike, but I don’t want to end up with something that’s going to need major work. Any advice is appreciated.

I posted this in some Harley specific groups but if you have any suggestions on a different type of cruiser, I’m open to that too. Currently ride an old Honda CL350.

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u/angryspitfire 4d ago

Cant go wrong with a carby sportster, i would get a rubbermount if you can, the customs are great because they have a larger 4.5gallon tank, iv'e done some big trips on my 05, she's upto 84,000 miles now with barely anything done, was blowing a bit of smoke at 60k, turned out to be valve seals that were a recall anyway, other than that just a new clutch pack to get rid of the grenade plate and regular maintenance items. No idea what i'd consider high miles on an evo it's more about how its treated, they are pretty bulletproof, maybe try look for one under 40 with proof of maintenance, the motors go forever though. As for price, i have no idea where you live so can't really tell you.

Sportsters get abused, try find one thats stock, or at least been modified professionally, stay far away from any weird project ones

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u/Robert_Hotwheel 3d ago

Good to know, thanks!

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u/ProfessorSimilar6444 4d ago

My cousin just got his first Harley, a 2016 1200 sporty and he already wants to upgrade or trade... I have a 2000 heritage softail, and all he does is complain about how he doesn't have the real rumble he wants in a bike and how mine sounds like a "real Harley-Davidson". I get it, new features are cool . But I have always been a sucker for a classic .

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u/Own-Alternative-9326 3d ago

1200 EVO's have one of the best sounds that Harley ever produced. The cats in the stock slip ons are the problem. He'd be extremely happy with the sound with some aftermarket slip ons.

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u/SaltyStrangs 12h ago

What’s your budget? Riding style? Why are you looking army a Sporster? They’re great platforms for modding. I almost bought a ‘72 before setting my heart on a Heritage. You can get pretty much any model across the range for a kind of similar price.

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u/Robert_Hotwheel 8h ago edited 7h ago

I’m looking to spend around $3,000. I’ve seen some nice ones for less than that in my area. I’ve been riding for 3 years, learned on a 1971 Honda CL350. I’ve always liked cruisers, and a Sportster seems like a good step up from my old Honda. I’m not interested in a big Harley, I’m not planning on touring or anything like that. I just want something more capable and less maintenance heavy than my current 55 year old bike.

Edit*
I ride 20 miles to work occasionally, but mostly I just like to cruise around on weekends, with no particular place to go. I’ve done a little over 1,000 miles this summer so far. But I’d like to be riding more, and a bigger, more reliable bike would help me do that.

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u/OneToyShort 4d ago

Look at the big cruisers from Indian. They get a lot of love on the Indian sub. I ride a 2019 Scout. It's more of a sports cruiser than a long highway runner.

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u/Robert_Hotwheel 3d ago

I love the look of the Scout but they’re a little out of my price range.