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I think your thinking is right on.

I totally agree with #1. The 1500 is fairly heavy though not as heavy as some. For your first bike it is much easier with a lighter bike.

You may be planning on short trips and your wife may not have an interest RIGHT NOW. Mine went from having no interest to buying her own bike. The bug is strong and it does bite.

The white speedo reason still cracks me up but the FI and more power are valid. :)

1500's are more scarce this season than last when I was looking for mine and they will be even scarcer next season, I'm sure. People grow out of 800's but not 1500's. I know this may sound bizarre to you and it was when I bought my first bike but it is true and it is not a macho thing.

To summarize, I don't think you are making a big mistake but I'm giving you a heads up to things that will come. There is no way that I would put a new rider on this 1500. It is 100 inches long and close to 700lbs. It would be nice to buy the 1500 right away but the learning curve would be much harder. Some 1500's you would be able to get away with. My friend just bought an HD Heritage Classic and although it is heavy it doesn't feel heavy and is not too big.

You'll want a 1500 later, probably, but we can deal with finding you one then.

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Posted by greenbarn

- March 14, 2012, 21:58:27 PM

Well, after much agonizing and debating I think I've made up my mind. I am often guilty of analyzing an issue to death, but I usually do a LOT better on decisions than this, but this has REALLY given me a hard time. I attribute it to the fact that I have never even seen a drifter up close, either 800 or 1500 - there just aren't many around - and the fact this is my first bike, so I guess I don't know what I really want. Add the fact there are not many around to go look at.

So finally I've decided on a 800 for the following reasons, not necessarily in this order. I found the one I think I want, an 02, and I am planning to go look at it (about 150 miles) maybe as SOON AS TOMORROW AFTERNOON...

1) new bike owner - smaller might be better to start with
2) short trips planned - I live 4 miles from work, which will be the primary use, at least at first, plus trips to town (15 miles)
3) The wife doesn't seem to have much desire to ride with me, at least not yet
4) Price difference of about $1000 - 1500, thinking I don't even know how much I'm going to ride,
5) At first I was leaning 1500 (FI, more power, white speedo) but right now, the only 1500s available within 500 miles I don't really like as well as 2-3 800's. I know patience is a virtue - but it's really getting nice out and I'm getting that itch...
6) I found a couple 800s I really like (in the pics at least) - I'll find out soon...
7) If I decide later, in a year or two, to ride more, farther, 2-up, etc, I can trade up to a 1500 (or maybe just add one)

Please someone tell me if I'm making a big mistake! (I know- there are no bad drifters....) and it's all preference, but I just know a lot of you have a better perspective than me and might see something I don't.

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