This was my first bike ever so wanted to start small. It is a great bike the 1200 has a lot of power. The old stigma about Sportsters not being able to ride with groups of touring bikes is no longer true. This model has a 4 gallon tank and gets 52 miles to the gallon on the highway. My wife and I both rode ours from NC to NH this year for the Laconia Rally. We had a blast. We have been riding a year now and want to step up to a larger bike. This bike is a great starter for the new rider or a wonderful bike for that rider who does not want to spend 18k on a motorcycle but would like a Harley. The custom 1200 has forward controls, large fuel tank, chrome heads, primary cover, transmission cover, sprocket cover and much more. It is a beautiful bike and I love it but want to step up to a touring bike now. If you have any questions feel free to email or call.