As times are evolving, so is the motorcycle industry. The days of women riding solely on the rear of bikes are coming to an end. Do you want to feel the power, control, and confidence that comes along with owning your hog? If you’ve made it to this article, you’re on the way to getting your own Harley.
Whether looking for aesthetics, durability, or torque in the rear wheel, Harley-Davidson offers it all. In this article, we will directly compare and contrast the top Harley-Davidson motorcycles for women.
How do You Find The Best Harley For You?
When searching for a motorcycle, the best thing you can do is be humble and honest with yourself. Motorcycles come in all shapes and sizes for beginners and experts. The worst thing you can do for yourself is to purchase a bike overpowered by your size and skill level. Not only is it dangerous, but getting the wrong-sized bike can be scary and demotivating.
Let’s discuss the key factors that should be used to choose the right bike.
Skill Level
It’s time to be honest with yourself. If you have never driven a Harley before, you shouldn’t be searching for the biggest, badest bike on the market. You can always upgrade as your road time increases. Every day on the road will improve your skill levels and confidence, so take your time.
But, on the other side of the spectrum, if you’ve been riding for 10-plus years, you don’t want to purchase an underpowered bike. There’s nothing worse than having the throttle wide open and enjoying a little more performance.
Determining The Right Size
Ladies, we’re notorious for being petite and shorter than men. However, the market has just recently made the shift to market towards women. So we need to make sure we’re able to place both feet on the ground and be sure we can hold the bike up. Let’s face it, Harley-Davidson does not make the lightest bikes on the market.
First, we need to determine your height, weight, and strength. For example, if you’re 5’2 weighing 100 pounds, a street glide probably isn’t your ideal bike. But, if you’re a veteran on the road, there are always accessories, such as lowering kits, that we can purchase to customize a bike to fit you.
Determining The Right Price
Ladies, let’s be honest. The price is a deciding factor in our purchases (except when we’re at target). If the price isn’t right, it doesn’t matter how much we love the bike. Luckily Harley-Davidson keeps this in mind for their customers.
List of top Harley-Davidson motorcycles for women in 2023
1. Harley-Davidson Iron 883 SuperLow
The Harley-Davidson Iron 883 Superlow is described as one of the market’s best beginner bikes. This bike looks aggressive, yet, she won’t have you doing a wheelie through a redlight.
This bike is comfortable and light, with a seat height of 25.5 inches and a dry weight of 536 pounds. Admittedly, the bike is on the smaller end, but don’t let its size deter you. The four-stroke V-twin produces 68 HP with 52 lbs per foot of torque to the rear wheel, creating plenty of power and performance.
The 2022 model of this bike starts at $11,249.
2. Harley-Davidson Sportster 1200 Custom
For a more advanced rider, the Harley-Davidson Sportster 1200 custom offers a smaller frame while packing the power of a larger bike.
This bike has a seat height of 26.6 inches and a weight of 582 pounds. The four-stroke V-twin produces 62 HP with 72 lbs per foot of torque. This bike is small, versatile, and has plenty of power to keep you up to speed with anyone on the road.
The price for this bike starts at around $11,999.
3. Harley-Davidson Softail Deluxe
This next bike is a fan favorite for women. The Harley-Davidson Softail Deluxe is perfect for the shorter lady.
The seat height on this bike is 24.5 inches, and the weight is a little over 700 pounds. Though the weight of this bike is a little higher, the lower seat height benefits your center of gravity, evening out the weight distribution.
If you can handle the extra pounds and power, this bike is perfect. Offering over 100 pounds of torque, with 86 HP to the rear tire, this bike is anything but slow.
The price mirrors the quality you’re receiving with this beast, starting at $18,399.
4. Harley Softail Low Rider
The Harley Softail Low Rider is for a larger advanced woman rider. The lady veteran rider truly gets everything with this hog.
With a seat height of 28 inches and a weight of 679 pounds, you’ll have some strength in your legs to keep this bike balanced at a red light. The engine is incredible, producing 103 HP and 125 lbs per foot of torque to that rear wheel.
The price is small to pay when you’re flying by all the boys. Starting at $17,530, this bike is one heck of a deal.
5. Harley Street 500 and 750
This following bike lands as the number one beginner Harley-Davidson on the market (especially for the petite lady). The Harley Street 500 or 750 offers an upgraded, excellent engine and sleek design.
Weighing in just under 400 pounds, this bike is one of the lightest cruisers you can purchase today. The seat height is at 28 inches, but remember, you can always customize and add a lowering kit to your hog.
The liquid-cooled engines produce 53 HP and 60 lbs per foot of torque for the 750cc, and the 500cc produces 33.5 HP and 50 lbs per foot of torque.
What Harley-Davidson is Best For a Women
Ladies, we’ve covered five different types of Harley-Davidsons. While each has its pros and cons, we’re going to bring it down to our favorite for the beginner or veteran rider.
If you’re a typical beginner with little to no experience, the Iron 883 offers a great starting frame and size while you’re not losing power and performance. So it’s less likely you’ll outgrow this bike.
For the lady veteran, the Softail Deluxe is an impeccable machine. The power and speed behind the rear wheel will have you buzzing down the freeway leaving the boys in the dust.
But remember, we’re all different, so one bike may be perfect for you while wrong for the next. So take your time and be sure you’re choosing the ideal Harley-Davidson.
