Are Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Too Powerful for Beginners?

Looking at the current Harley-Davidson motorcycle lineup, it is hard to suggest any Harley model for beginners. The Harley Sportsters were among the best beginner platforms that Harley discontinued.

After the Sportsters’ discontinuation, beginners will have to look in the used motorcycle market if they want to ride a Harley.

Almost every Harley-Davidson motorcycle in the current lineup is either too heavy or too powerful for a beginner. Although Harley motorcycles may not be known for their top-end horsepower, they are famous for their impressive torque-producing capability.

However, beginners love Harley-Davidson as much as old and experienced riders. If you are an American motorcyclist and love the motorcycling scene, you must be attracted to Harley-Davidson motorcycles.

It doesn’t matter whether you are a beginner or experienced; riding a Harley bike is a dream come true for everyone.

Let’s explore the topic further and determine whether Harley-Davidson motorcycles are too powerful for beginners. Harley bikes are also the best platform for beginner riders.

Although the answer to this question is straightforward, you may hear different views and opinions on the subject.

Some motorcyclists would suggest that even beginners ride any Harley motorcycle they want to. For them, the motorcycle is not the most important safety factor; how you ride a motorcycle is more important.

If you have ever been on a super sports bike, they are very powerful and quick. Compared to the Supersports bikes, Harley-Davidson bikes are usually slow and less agile for certain reasons.

Nevertheless, to give you an honest opinion and answer the question, “Are Harley-Davidson good for beginners?” Simply, Harleys are not the ideal option for beginners, specifically the current 2024 lineup.

As per the general rule and considering the best safety practices, a responsible rider cannot suggest anything above 300 cc to a complete beginner. If you have a little knowledge or prior riding experience, a 500 cc motorcycle will work for you.

Considering that Harley’s smallest motorcycle, the H-D Nightster, has a 975 cc engine, you cannot recommend it to a beginner.

Harley bikes are renowned for their large-displacement, extremely torquey V-twin engines, which have become a trademark or symbol of this American motorcycle brand. Harley has never used any other engine type.

These powerful, massive V-Twin engines installed in almost every Harley motorbike deliver superior torque. Harley produces its own engines for their motorcycles and calls it the Milwaukee-Eight. The Milwaukee-Eight engines are usually produced with the following displacement sizes:

• 107 cu in

• 114 cu in

• 117 cu in

• 121 cu in

The current Harley-Davidson Sportster models use the Revolution Max engine in the following displacement sizes:

• 975 cc (Nightster & Nightster Special)

• 1250 cc (Sportster S)

The Milwaukee-Eight engine perfectly suits Harleys, considering what these bikes are made for. Harley-Davidson specializes in manufacturing cruisers, touring bikes, and baggers for long-distance and cross-country rides, and the long-stroke, high-displacement Milwaukee-Eight engines make for the best platform.

The high torque figures ensure these bikes take riders as far as they want. Harley motorcycles may not be the fastest, but the throttle response is exceptionally responsive, and the acceleration is top-end.

Considering the top-end power and torque figures, Harley bikes are nowhere near suitable for beginners. They can be highly unsafe for those who have just started riding a motorcycle and are in their initial phase.

Harley motorbikes are too big and heavy for new riders. They have large engines and are built with top-quality metal parts, which makes them heavier.

Harley bikes are ideally designed for highway cruising and covering long miles, with several add-ons and touring parts. These additional parts and accessories make Harleys heavier.

For example, most Harley motorcycles have fairings, crash bars, floorboards, saddlebags, and more. They also have large fuel tanks and full-sized fenders, resulting in more weight.

Due to their weight, Harley motorcycles require great force, muscle, and experience to maneuver safely. Beginners are highly recommended not to use heavy motorcycles like Harleys, as they may be unable to easily ride, maneuver, lean, or turn corners on such bikes.

As we mentioned, if you are a beginner and still want to ride a Harley, there are good options in the used motorcycle market.

Harley-Davidson is clear about its production and marketing strategies. The company solely wants to focus on its bigger engines and powerful motorcycles.

Harley’s focus has long been on building motorcycles for experienced riders who want sheer torque. Recently, this has led the company to make top-end premium bikes with high-capacity engines.

You don't need to be disappointed as a beginner and a Harley fan. You can still find a Harley in good shape and condition on the used motorcycle market.

Old and used Harley models are gems. They have a high resale and holding value. So, you can still find a suitable beginner-friendly Harley.

In the recent past, Harley-Davidson has produced many motorbikes that can suit a beginner. The best Harley for beginners has a small-displacement engine, low weight, approachable ergonomics, and is easy to ride.

Based on this, the below-mentioned Harley bikes are considered to be the best entry-level Harley motorbikes:

The Harley-Davidson Street series is considered the ideal beginner-friendly Harley ever produced. The company introduced two Harley Street models in 2014. The Harley Street 500 was the lightest entry-level Harley bike and affordable.

The Street 500 was similar to the Street 750, except for the engine displacement size.

Because it is a low-powered Harley bike, it became very prominent in other parts of the world. The Harley Street 500 and 750 were produced in India for the non-US and Canadian motorcycle markets.

Although it was discontinued in 2021, this bike can still be found in the used market. The 494 cc liquid-cooled, 60° V-Twin engine delivered 33.5 hp and 40 Nm of torque at 4,000 rpm.

The Harley Street 500 had very decent styling, with a small nose fairing, similar to the Harley Low Rider S. The 25-inch seat height and 220 kg (480 lbs) wet weight made this bike one of the best Harleys for beginners.

The Street 500 offers gentle power to learn throttle and clutch control. Its low weight and agility help it maneuver easily on city streets and busy roads.

Despite being one of the smallest Harley motorcycles ever produced, it offers comfortable ergonomics with an upright riding posture.

The Iron 883 is among the most popular and best-selling motorcycles ever produced by Harley-Davidson. Although it was discontinued in 2022, it still holds a special place in the hearts of Harley fans.

The Sportster Iron 883 is also known as the most girlish Harley bike due to being considered the best beginner Harley for a woman. Despite the small-capacity engine and low power, it is still among the best-looking Harleys ever produced.

The Harley-Davidson Iron 883 has a light and slim build, making it easy to ride and maneuver in urban settings. Although the 883 cc air-cooled Evolution V-Twin engine may seem big initially, it is manageable enough for a beginner with little prior riding experience.

Some motorcyclists may object to the Iron 883’s beginner friendliness due to its relative weight for beginners. However, its low center of gravity, low-powered character, comfort, and customizability make it a very attractive option for riders who want a low-capacity Harley bike.

Although the Iron 883 is a beginner bike, you must consider its weight before choosing it. It can be slightly heavier and slightly more powerful than smaller motorcycles.

The Harley Sportster Iron 883 delivers good low-end torque and decent power for city traveling.

It is less likely for a beginner to find a suitable entry-level Harley Softail model. However, according to most reviews and riders’ opinions, if there is still a Harley Softail that a confident beginner can ride, it is the Harley Softail Slim.

However, it is the most decent option in the Harley Softail lineup. It is also the lightest; it has a low seat height and a slim profile compared to other Softail models.

Harley-Davidson motorcycles are not easy for novices or those who have never ridden a heavyweight cruiser or a touring bike. Most Harley motorcycles are large, bulky, and intimidating for riders with less experience.

For a rider to confidently ride a Harley Davidson bike, you must have good experience managing heavyweight motorcycles. Also, you must be experienced in handling a motorcycle with high torque-producing engines.

There are only a very few Harley-Davidson motorcycles that suit beginner riders. These include the Harley Street 500, Street 750, the Sportster Iron 883, and the Harley Nightster.

To a certain extent, a beginner can also use the H-D Sportster Iron 1200 if he/she has a little prior riding experience. The Iron 1200 is also quite light, easy to handle, and maneuverable bike with a slim profile.

Heavy motorcycles are hard to ride, particularly while turning corners at slow speeds. As far as riding in a straight line is concerned, a heavyweight motorcycle may not cause much of an issue for an intermediate or expert-level rider.

However, a heavyweight motorbike may become problematic during slow-speed maneuvers. It is most likely that an untrained rider will drop the bike while trying to maneuver a heavy motorcycle.

The weight of a motorcycle becomes more obvious while turning corners at slow speeds. As a beginner, you may be unsure, but a motorcycle requires leaning to turn a corner. Leaning a heavyweight motorcycle and countersteering it can be extremely difficult for a new rider.

Riders need to train harder and should get years of experience before choosing a heavyweight bike like Harley-Davidson.

Harley-Davidson motorcycles are considered reliable because they are built with high-quality parts. These bikes are manufactured and assembled at local facilities in the US. The company doesn’t compromise on the build quality and reliability standards.

However, Harley-Davidson is not as reliable as Japanese motorcycle brands, including Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, and Suzuki.

Also, according to a consumer survey conducted in 2015, Victory Motorcycles was named the fifth most reliable motorcycle brand in America, overtaking Harley as the best and most reliable American company.

Overall, Harley is considered reliable. It can last much longer only if you keep the bike in good shape and maintain it properly. There have been certain issues with Harley models and engines in the past, but timely recalls have helped the company operate smoothly.

Harley-Davidson has always been the first choice for American riders looking for high torque output and comfortable long-distance rides. The company no longer produces suitable bikes for beginners.

If you want to start your riding career on a Harley, you will need to look for a suitable beginner Harley bike in the used motorcycle market.

The other way to ride a Harley is to first gain a lot of riding experience and the ability to manage a heavyweight motorcycle with massive torque figures.

If you want an ideal beginner platform to learn motorcycling, you may need to try some other brands that offer small and suitable beginner bikes. If you want to stick to Harley-Davidson, you have the Harley-Davidson Street 500, Street 750, and the H-D Sportster Iron 883.