The Best Harley For Your 1st Harley & Ones To Stay Away From In 2024 

I agree....You cant go wrong with the Heritage for what you get for the Money...Beginner or Not...

2 years ago I put in an order for a Low Rider ST. I was on a waiting list with no delivery date. While I was talking to my HD sales rep they rolled a brand new Heritage out of the back to put on the show room floor. It was blacked out with 2 tone blue. It caught my eye. It was beautiful. I told the guy pushing the bike. Stop right there and I bought it on the spot. Man am I glad I did. With 4 1/2 inch travel in the back suspension and 5 1/2 in the front and great wind protection it rides like no other Harley I've ever ridden. Never bottoms out!. it also is quick as heck with the 114. I put fork deflectors which took all the buffeting off my face. (always ride open face). I got a Viking 62 liter trunk mounted on the Harley quick detach tour pack bracket. I also got the quick detach back rest with rack. For solo riding I got a nice fender rack in place of the pillion seat. Now I have a bike that is instantly configurable nine ways to Sunday. Also the bike handles way better than my old sporty. I put 48,000 km's (38,000 miles) on the bike in 2 years. I put the car away for the summer and do everything on the bike. Heck with the trunk and saddle bags, I can fit 5 bags of groceries on the darn thing. I drive it every ware! I think I'll keep this bike till I can't ride anymore. I'm 70 years young and find this thing so easy to handle that I see myself riding this baby into my eighties and beyond! For me it's the perfect bike for my needs. I did a trip to the Tail of the dragon in April with my BMW buddies in 36 degree weather. I put on the elephant ears and was not cold at all. We got lost on a mountain dirt road in the Smokies and it handled the dirt track whereby myself and a guy on a Ducati Multistrada left the BMW's behind. We had to stop and wait of them every 20 minutes for them to catch up to us. It never bottomed out once on this mountain track. When the BMW's caught up to us they could not believe that a Harley could navigate the dirt track as well as it did. I give the credit to the Heritage. What an awesome handling machine.

I agree on the Heritage Softail !😎

The Heritage platform is my favorite. It does everything great.

My fist Harley ended up being a 2013 Dyna Street Bob limited. My age and back issues made me sell my Victory Kingpin which I absolutely loved. The steady smooth ride, handling, and raw power were awesome, but just too heavy for me to get off the stand and hold steady at stops. I tried my son’s Street Glide and it was a nice handling comfy bike, but again heavy. I walked into a dealership and the Street Bob just jumped out at me. Hard Candy Custom Big Flake red, and more chrome than a 58 Buick Roadmaster. I sat on it, I stood it up easily and then noticed the 103 engine. It doesn’t handle quite like a heavy bike, but not bad. The Twin cam 103 on the light bike pulled hard and ran sweet. I have really been enjoying riding again and not looking like a newbie at stops holding it up. I ride it short and long trips and it’s the best ALL AROUND bike I’ve ever owned.

I just got a 2024 Low Rider S as my first Harley and the only thing I have put on it so far (besides the first 1000 miles) is a Saddlemen step up seat and the Dominion pegs. Being a complete novice in the Harley world I of course don’t have any valuable input to offer but at least as far as a new experience goes I have very few, if any, bad things about it that comes to mind. The seat did definitely improve comfort even though it will probably get even better (I put it on at roughly 600 miles. I did order 6,5” risers with some pullback but they seem to have joined the aftermarket purgatory of back orders… I love these channels because you guys who are true seasoned riders have so many valuable, tested (and sometimes really polarized 😂) opinions and advise that really have helped me out. I still haven’t really grasped how much fun the customization part really is. However I think I’m getting the big picture that it’s going to be a never ending nemesis for my checking account! Thanks for the content!

My 1st Harley is my 2004 carbed Dyna Low Rider...absolutely fell in love with her. ♥️

I honestly like the styling of the RKS more! I have one and love it. Windshield is all you need to be ready to go a long way, everything you need and not a lot you don’t. But the Heritage can fit so many different needs it’s not even funny, probably HD’s most versitile bike. And i would buy one of the new Indian Scout models before a new sportster

The Heritage new design was the first one I rode and I will admit it very much impressed me! Couldn’t agree more! But I got the ST. It was the bike to have in my opinion. And now I wish I coulda held out for that Revival! Damn my oily Hyde!

My first and only (so far) is a 05 Road King and I love it she's almost as old as i am but runs just fine funny enough i went Battlefield Harley in Gettysburg looking to get a Softail Slim cus that's the one i liked in GTA 5 online called the Zombie and i told guy that's what I wanted he looked me in the eye looked down and looked back up at all 6'5 of me and said "no" it was funnier in person but he helped me in right direction had me sit on a street glide classic i think it was and we talked for about an hour and I came to the conclusion that I either wanted Road King or a Fatboy and later on got a Road King right before covid kicked off and yeah I love it i might get another bike someday but I doubt it

I’m fortunate enough to have a couple bikes. I have a 22 Heritage that can absolutely do anything I throw at it. It’s fast , comfortable, handles well, and allows me to do week long trips. In my opinion, it’s the best all around bike that Harley makes. My 2nd bike is a 23 Triumph T120. I’d recommend it over a Softail Standard, Street bob , or any new “ sportster “ model. I paid 13200 for it and it came stock with Traction control, Ride Modes, Brembo brakes, 80hp/80 tq, and weighs in around 450lbs. Unfortunately, nothing Harley has in this range can touch it. Just my 2 cents.

My current, and first Harley, is a 2017 Street Rod 750 with the ABS option. Brand new, out the door, was over $12,000 and I got mine preowned (with only 759 miles) for $5999 in 2018. The water-cooled engine, along with the dual front disc brakes and the ABS option, as well as the inverted front forks make it a no-brainer. This is a GREAT bike.

A 2018+ blacked out Heritage is the most beautiful factory bike ever from any brand 💕 I just stop and stare every time I see one. BUT I drive too aggressively and look like an idiot with my ass hanging off the seat in a curve. Bought a Low Rider ST (prefer the mids) instead.

Softail standard for sure!!!!!! But I do love the Heritage

Nice video mate. I wanted to add the bikes to avoid is the fatboy. In my experience it handles worse than the breakout

Great video. I wish Harley would bring back the V-rod.

2014 1200T. 4.5 gallon tank and bags and quick detach windscreen. Raised back up with 13.5” shocks. Will go ricors in the front. Great around town basher and typically around 180 miles on backroads before I look for a refuel.

I am on my second Heritage and love it for most things, but for long distance high speed runs my Ultra was a better choice.

4:24 call me old brother! the Heritage is the best looking motorcycle Harley makes. I have one in a Twin Cam. You can tour on one(just got back from a 1700 mile trip), but I would be lying if I said anything other than it would be alot more comfortable for u and ur passenger on a tour frame. I love the styling, bit will be looking to upgrade to an Ultra in '28.

I love my 2020 131” Ultra Limited and my new 2024 117” Road Glide. I’ve got just over 1,800 miles on my Road Glide, 46,000 miles on my Ultra frame and 40,000 miles on the 131” motor. My Ultra is still super comfy and runs like a scolded dog! My Road Glide runs pretty good too, however, the seat on that thing is just horrible very uncomfortable. Also you can't hear the stereo above 55 mph on the Road Glide… The one that I should’ve keep was my ’07 Wide Glide. That was hands down a really fun bike to ride! Especially riding it from here in St Pete to Daytona, or down to the Keys.

I love my 04 Heritage!

I agree I had one years ago. I miss it

My first Harley 17 dyna Street Bob freaken awesome bike

FYI - NO HARLEY is comfortable out of the box for someone 6’3” tall with a 33.5 inseam… Always need a +2 seat.

My first big twin harley was an fxrc with rabbit ear bars in 99 loved it have had 6 since then had my 96 streetbob since 08 great bikes

Just got into riding, I bought a honda shadow for my first bike to get my feet under me and really master some of the slow speed maneuvering. However I've got my eyes set on something bigger maybe next year. So far I'm a fan of the cheiftan, street glide, road king, and Springfield. I mainly commute to work, but enjoy going on longer rides on the weekend when I can, the shadow is excellent commuting, but I start to really feel it taking a toll on me ( particularly in the rear and lower back) after about 2 hours of riding, I actually enjoy the wind blast, but I've never experienced riding with a fairing. That being said, I would definitely appreciate an upgrade in torque as well. What are your thoughts on what to look for in 2025?

You're timing with this video is perfect for me. Thanks. Easy sub!

The touring frame road king is superior in every way to a Heritage, unless you are short or not comfortable with the extra weight.

Really looking at HD as my first. Rode 38 years ago, but not since. I want something I can do hour plus rides on the highway to work, as well as some longer runs for fun. I'm 5' 8" & 180 lbs and have looked at the Hydra-Glide Revival and a Road Glide. Really don't want something I am going to trade in later because I feel restricted or unhappy, but something I can grow into and master from the get-go. What would y'all recommend?

I so much agree i really,really hope H.D does not mess it up.

Heritage by far is the best model available right now

Where would you place a 2002 HD Electra glide custom. Going to look at one Friday

can't go wrong with the Heritage.

First Harley - Buy a 2009-12 Dyna Superglide for $7 to $8k. Ride it for two years and sell it for what you paid for it. Very light, nimble, and easy to ride compared to larger Harleys.

The pan America is junk my 2021 blew the engine at 3300 miles not to mention all the electrical problems I had 😢

Are trikes a separate video

22000 to 30,000 Harley-Davidson is way too expensive for somebody to have as a first motorcycle. Pan America is so unreliable it is heavily discounted in order to be sold and that affect the resale value of them. Big adventure bikes are for a different kind of closure just like the Ricky racer guys and just like the pirate guys.

My first Harley was a 2009 Sportster Nightster

I wouldn’t recommend the fat boy as a first bike because it’s too hard in the corners to turn. I own one, but I’ve been riding for years just my two cents.😅

So from my opinion the Best Harley for the first Haley’s should be the following - Low Rider ST, the Road Glide Line, and then the Street Glide line. Everything else is just money burned. IMO

I owned my heritage for 9 years. I like my Road King better. Handles better in my opinion. Traded the heritage in for my street glide two years ago

What not talking about the trikes?

Hello from Indiana.

Let’s talk about the $28 bucks you are charging for a $3 coffee cup with your name on it. 😂

I notice you never even mention the Fat Boy. Do you not like that bike?

I rode the CVO Pan America at the demo truck and thought it was pretty amazing with that bottomless suspension, easy handling, light clutch and tremendous power. No way would I buy a ginormous and heavy Road Glide or Street Glide; I would rather have a Heritage Classic if I bought a traditional Harley.

All Hogs are over-priced, heavy, low tech, poser rides. Any used Japanese bike will cost SIGNIFICANTLY less and allow you to have money left over for proper riding gear. Remember...$10 head $10 helmet😅

Your best harley for your first one is an INDIAN!

I would stay away from any of the gay glides with the fairing there’s no reason to pay an extra two to three to $5000 for affair Ring and a radio when you could just wear a helmet and get a radio system in your helmet