{"id":98493,"date":"2026-02-22T11:45:10","date_gmt":"2026-02-22T14:45:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/automotive.einnews.com\/article\/894548950"},"modified":"2026-02-22T11:45:10","modified_gmt":"2026-02-22T14:45:10","slug":"the-harley-davidson-that-makes-sense-as-your-first-big-bike","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/2026\/02\/22\/the-harley-davidson-that-makes-sense-as-your-first-big-bike\/","title":{"rendered":"The Harley-Davidson That Makes Sense As Your First Big Bike"},"content":{"rendered":"

Big bikes are incredible fun. The feeling when you open the throttle wide, or simply cruise down the highway with a large displacement engine loping along easily, is difficult to match with any other vehicle. However, the same things that make big bikes awesome also make them intimidating to a rider moving up to the class for the first time.<\/p>\n

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You\u2019ll need big muscles to move them around in a parking lot (or to pick them up when they fall), a big budget to make the purchase, and the fuel and maintenance or repair bills will be proportionally big. So choosing a first big bike can be confusing. Can you have a good ol\u2019 American cruiser<\/a> as your first big bike? The answer might surprise you.<\/p>\n

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Can A Harley-Davidson Be Your First Big Bike? <\/h2>\n
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Harley-Davidson Softail cruiser lineup 2026<\/figcaption>Harley-Davidson<\/small><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Harley-Davidsons<\/a> can be intimidating. They have traditionally been big, heavy, powerful, and premium. Far be it from us to dictate what is right for each individual, but over the years, Harleys have become friendlier. This friendliness encompasses all aspects \u2013 the purchase price, the maneuverability, and the ownership costs. So it is well within reason to have a Harley as a first big bike. The entire range is now available with a minimum of traction control and ABS, and only the cheapest model, the Nightster<\/a> doesn\u2019t have a six-axis IMU. That means you get great safety if you get any other Harley. But which one should you pick?<\/p>\n

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The Harley-Davidson Street Bob Makes Sense As Your First Big Bike <\/h2>\n
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\"2026 Harley-Davidson<\/small><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

The Street Bob<\/a> is the entry to the versatile<\/a>-than-ever-in-2025\/\" target=\"_blank\">Softail range<\/a> \u2013 and that means it is the entry to the traditional cruiser range from Harley as well. That means a cradle frame and a big-displacement, torque-rich engine as well. It has earned a reputation for reliability while holding on to all the traits that make Harleys so popular.<\/p>\n

At the same time, the Street Bob is meant to be a blank canvas for customization. That means that you can upgrade everything from the looks to the performance, should you feel like it. So if you want, the Street Bob can be more than just your first big bike!<\/p>\n

Shockingly Reasonable Pricing For The Street Bob <\/h3>\n
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\"2026 Harley-Davidson<\/small><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

The Street Bob<\/a> has had price cuts every once in a while, and it is now listed at $14,999. That puts it on par with the competition \u2013 and not necessarily premium American competition. This is a truly competitive price, no matter the brand, and coupled with its reliability, makes the Street Bob a great option for a first big bike.<\/p>\n

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10 Motorcycles Riders Fall In Love With And Have A Tough Time Replacing <\/a> <\/h5>\n

From the Honda Grom to the Ducati Diavel V4, these bikes have a special place in riders’ hearts.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Big Twin Power From The Milwaukee-Eight 117 Engine <\/h2>\n
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Studio shot of right side of a Milwaukee-Eight 117 Classic from a 2025 Street Bob<\/figcaption>Harley-Davidson<\/small><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

The Street Bob<\/a> uses the most basic version of the Milwaukee-Eight 117, called the Classic, both because of the way it looks and the fact that it is fully air-cooled. This has become Harley-Davidson\u2019s engine of choice for much of its lineup today and is quite reliable. It generates 98 horsepower at 4,600 RPM and 120 pound-feet at an extremely low 2,500 RPM \u2013 another reason the Street Bob will be easy for riders moving up to a big bike for the first time. The six-speed gearbox and belt final drive, combined with the safety suite, should help in different conditions.<\/p>\n

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Conventional Chassis Lends Itself Well To Customization <\/h2>\n
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\"2025 Harley-Davidson<\/small><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

We\u2019re not advocating that you need to jump into customization, but it\u2019s nice to have the option and not need it, rather than want it and not have it. The Street Bob has a traditional double cradle frame, which cruisers from time immemorial have used. It has a bolt-on rear subframe and a swingarm that makes it look like a hardtail.<\/p>\n

Conventional Suspension And Brakes Pair Well With The Chassis <\/h3>\n
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Studio shot of rear suspension of a 2025 Street Bob<\/figcaption>Harley-Davidson<\/small><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

The suspension is a simple but effective choice, with dual-bending 49 mm telescopic forks with dual-rate springs, and a hidden free piston single shock at the rear. It has cam-style preload adjustment, and there is an Ohlins upgrade available with a remote reservoir. Like most of Harley\u2019s cruisers, it makes do with a single brake disc at both ends, but a four-piston fixed caliper is present at the front, and a 2 piston floating caliper at the rear. 19\/16-inch alloy wheels are standard fare, while tubeless laced rims are optional.<\/p>\n

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