Baldbiker, that is a sweet Sporty. I particularly like the straight bars and the pipes. Who makes the exhaust? That is some cool $h!t!
 

bikes are great! and being sly, you don't have to worry about messing up your hair. harley's are cool, a little on the expensive side. nothing like the sound of a harley with straight pipes though, i'll give you that. other that that fact though, i love rice burners. i've been restoring vintage rice burners for about 8 years. i've owned all kinds of them, 1968 honda dream (i still have it) 1971 suzuki t500, 80's honda v65 magnas (fastest production bikes in their day, still outrun alot of modern crotch rockets) and more. you CANNOT beat a good japanese bike whether new, or old. great gas mileage, and they can have great sound with the right pipes. plus youc can run the living SH#$ out of them and they beg for more. you'll pay a fraction of the price as compared to a harley. i've restored/ridden a few harleys :1968 and 1982 FLH's, and one 80 sporty 883. I sold all of these bikes to keep up with my rice burner hobby. so i'd suggest if you're not wanting to spend an arm and a leg, but want a great bike, go for a japanese model!

hey funshine:  the "bitchster" is one sweet looking bike.  i know U miss her dearly.

WARHAWK

Very nice, Funshine, love the personalization on the tank. And good choice on the color, great way to be seen.

I too miss my ride. Had to sell my 89' Sporty when we moved to AZ.

But I do have my sights set on a few possible replacements, eventually, lol.   

I ride a 2003 Harley Davidson Road King......its almost my everyday transportation since the price of gas went nuts. My other vehicle is a 1987 El Camino SS with a 350 hp 350 , we are leaving june 8th for a 9 day ride through Ga.  Tenn. and North Carolina ....going with 9 other bikes, it should be fun.

I dont see how a 1200 or even the 883 could be "Too Small" unless your a really big person (6' 4" or something) unless you are talking Harley ego where Sportsters are often referred to as "chick bikes". Sportsters can produce some good power and for a cruiser, how much performance do you want?

The Low Rider is a nice bike, Sportsters often remind me of The Fonz on Happy Days.

I dig what your saying, and yes, the 750 I could see being somewhat tapped out at freeway speeds. The 1200 would be much smoother, even the 883 would be a nice upgrade but if you are looking at doing long runs or trips on it, the road king is where it is at from what I understand. Many people I know have traded in their older bikes for the newer RK, but they are in higher demand and can be quite the pricey even used.

You should check craigslist, I am currently reaching the end of a complete rebuild / restore and am contemplating picking up a HD. There are TONS on craigslist lately (at least around here). I think the romance many had with getting a "Hog" has dwindled and people are seeing a pile of cash sitting in their garage collecting dust. I have seen alot of near new 1200 sportsters for under 5K and Ultra Classic, Low Rider, Fat Boy for under 10K.

I have never had freeway complaints on any bike over a 900 and a 1200 sportster would prob be great power but a little on the flimsy side for throwing the wife on the back and bombing 200 miles.

Yak, I love my sporty and for a ride it fits me just right.  However, I am looking at the softail deluxe because for me out in the country the sporty is too light on windy days.   Has a tendency to get shoved at  the wheel line whenever I come out into a open patch on days when the wind is 20 mph or so.