The #1 Reason a Harley Davidson Softail is not a beginner motorcycle isn't because it's big, or heavy, or too powerful...etc. It's actually because of insurance!
Insurance for new riders is already high, but you add in the size of motor that a softail comes with, the rates go way up. In Ontario, the rates are based on the number of CC's your motorcycle is. When I purchased my first bike and tried to insure it, they didn't look at the fact I was a 42 year old husband with 2 kids. They looked at, what license do you have, how long have you had it, and how many CC's is it.... Boom, I'm paying rates that a 20 year old new car license holder is paying.
My advice would be to get a smaller displacement motorcycle (a Sportster is still displacement for insurance purposes) until you are fully licensed and then get into the bigger models you want.
