new sportster wow !!!!!!!!!
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Joined: Mar 2005
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new sportster wow !!!!!!!!!
Hey everyone,
Picked up my new sportster Sat after taking a two day class for new riders. The course was on 250 cc Suzukis and the sportster is 1200cc. Needless to say, it is going to be quite an adjustment. I'll have to ride it locally at first until I get used to it. It's really awesome !!!! I got the custom, so it has lots of chrome and I had Vance and Hines pipes with the filter kit, etc. on it. It sounds great !!!!
Any suggestions as to getting used to it or good places to go to practice ?
Mike
Picked up my new sportster Sat after taking a two day class for new riders. The course was on 250 cc Suzukis and the sportster is 1200cc. Needless to say, it is going to be quite an adjustment. I'll have to ride it locally at first until I get used to it. It's really awesome !!!! I got the custom, so it has lots of chrome and I had Vance and Hines pipes with the filter kit, etc. on it. It sounds great !!!!
Any suggestions as to getting used to it or good places to go to practice ?
Mike
Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,679
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RE: new sportster wow !!!!!!!!!
Wheeler, If you can find a good sized parking lot that is not busy (i.e. not a Mall parking lot!) practice your balance, S curve in a box while counter balancing, 2 second and 3 second spacing, and get used to looking in the mirrors to determine what the object is behind you... Did they give you a little booklet for excercises to practice after the course? I know some do and some don't, but it is handy to have one...
Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2005
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RE: new sportster wow !!!!!!!!!
You've taken a big jump in weight to maneuver around. I sometimes pull into my local DMV on weekends when the place is closed and ride on the course where the riding test is given. I don't setup cones, but the paint lines for the course are visible. I have found my Sportster to be easier to handle at slow speeds than the Japanes four cylinder bikes I've had in the past. You may find the same thing. The center of gravity is lower on these than the CG on overhead cam sport bikes. Enjoy the ride.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 4,513
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From: Midland, TX
RE: new sportster wow !!!!!!!!!
Mike, Parking lot practice is great. Using the clutch's friction zone is the best way to do low speed manuvers. If you can find a road with gentle curves and not much traffic, practice countersteering at speed. And with road and parking lot practice, remember to look where you WANT to go. Clutching, shifting and braking all come natural. The rest you have to learn and the only way to learn is to practice. Be safe and have fun. You're gonna have a blast! Pat
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2004
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From: TEXAS!!!!
RE: new sportster wow !!!!!!!!!
I need to quit my job and just ride.
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Road Master
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,201
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From: s.e. Kansas
RE: new sportster wow !!!!!!!!!
yeah, what 12stones said!!! I have done the parking lot thing. It helped out alot. My balance has gotten alot better from parking lot practice and I can now come to a stop sign and keep my feet up at a complete stop if there is no traffic coming. Parking lots are great for practice.
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 4,513
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From: Midland, TX
RE: new sportster wow !!!!!!!!!
ORIGINAL: wheeler
Thanks,
I found that the slow s turns were the most difficult with the counter balancing. I'll just have to practice. I need to quit my job and just ride.
Thanks,
I found that the slow s turns were the most difficult with the counter balancing. I'll just have to practice. I need to quit my job and just ride.
