Advice Needed
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5th Gear
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
From: Houston
Advice Needed
I don't ride... YET, but have lots of friends that do. Being the "support vehicle" is getting old quick! :-) I've been planning to take the riders course and try a few bikes before making a purchase. A good friend contacted me last night and she is getting a NEW bike. She wants me to buy her old bike. 2012 FXDWG. Only 27K miles (all hers) with great maintenance, new tires, pipes, etc., etc. I'd be getting a great deal on it (well below blue book). I do LOVE her bike and would love to pick up a great deal but was really not ready to start this process yet and not even sure if I can handle it. She's a bigger girl than me. She thinks I'd have no problem. I'm only 5'4" and 150 lbs. Not sure if I should even consider this or stick to my original plan. Curious if other women my size have this bike and how easy they can handle it. Hate to deviate from my original plan but also hate to pass up a really good deal on a bike I love the look of and know has been well maintained. Would love any input you guys have to offer!
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 11,448
Likes: 2,299
From: NW Ohio
There was a woman here a few months ago asking similar questions about a bob. Not sure how that ended up.
Regardless, in addition to the folks in here, you may want to hit up the ladies section: https://www.hdforums.com/forum/the-q...kers-only-139/
Regardless, in addition to the folks in here, you may want to hit up the ladies section: https://www.hdforums.com/forum/the-q...kers-only-139/
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 5,352
Likes: 648
From: Vegas, baby!
Stick to your original plan and get some experience first. Not everyone likes, or to be honest is able, to ride a motorcycle. There is a huge difference between actually doing it, especially in high traffic areas, and seeing or hearing about friend's experiences. I was your size, actually smaller, when I began riding, and am not much bigger now so I understand more of what you will be dealing with then most people.
The possibility for a bad result is very high for new riders, at least compared to the possibility of bad results for new cage drivers. Over the past 49 years I have seen many new riders. Most didn't last long because riding wasn't what they expected/wanted.
The possibility for a bad result is very high for new riders, at least compared to the possibility of bad results for new cage drivers. Over the past 49 years I have seen many new riders. Most didn't last long because riding wasn't what they expected/wanted.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 10,907
Likes: 8,758
From: Galt's Gulch - MI
Stick to your original plan and get some experience first. Not everyone likes, or to be honest is able, to ride a motorcycle. There is a huge difference between actually doing it, especially in high traffic areas, and seeing or hearing about friend's experiences. I was your size, actually smaller, when I began riding, and am not much bigger now so I understand more of what you will be dealing with then most people.
The possibility for a bad result is very high for new riders, at least compared to the possibility of bad results for new cage drivers. Over the past 49 years I have seen many new riders. Most didn't last long because riding wasn't what they expected/wanted.
The possibility for a bad result is very high for new riders, at least compared to the possibility of bad results for new cage drivers. Over the past 49 years I have seen many new riders. Most didn't last long because riding wasn't what they expected/wanted.
^^^^ This is an excellent post
I personally don't believe the Wide Glide is a good choice for a beginning rider; I'd love to see another member added to Club Wide Glide; it's the cool kids club
but by her design the Wide Glide is harder to ride and even people who've ridden for years can find the Wide Glide more difficult to control, especially at slow speeds. It's a unique beast so I do understand the attraction all too well, it's all I want to ride, but first you should focus on the basics.Learn the fundamentals; always remember you ride on technique, not instinct. Instincts can get you killed. Once you've developed an understanding of the fundamentals, developed situational awareness, and learned the proper techniques and have become skilled at executing them, then look to the Wide Glide. She'll be there; and so will we
A good motorcyclist is a perpetual student; always learning, always critiquing their skillset, always practicing technique, always looking for more ways to improve their performance and knowledge base.
There are motorcycle owners and there are motorcyclists; focus on you first, focus on learning; become a motorcyclist...
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 16,035
Likes: 7,155
From: Sandy Eggo's North County
Hold off getting the WG.
First, get the Basic Rider Course out of the way.
THEN, IF you're still interested in learning to ride a motorcycle, then get a small/ lightweight asian motorcycle. (Something like a USED Yamaha/Honda 250.)
The last thing a new rider needs is a 700lb. Bike that they love.
Remember~ this is your "first" bike, not your "forever" bike.
Ride the 2-fiddy around for a season, then sell it to the next noobie. After this year of experience, THEN it is time to go shopping for your bike.
When you take your BRC/BRT ask the ridercoaches/instructors what they recommend for you as they'll watch you throughout the course. They see a lot of new riders every week, so they are very intune with where riders are developmentally. For us, it's like a "sixth sense".
During the classroom portion, you might ask about "spidey sense." (Women are very good at this.)
The reason I recommend this? I want you to have the best chance at having a long successful riding career. Doing this places the odds in your favor.
If you have questions, we're here to help.
See my sigline?
First, get the Basic Rider Course out of the way.
THEN, IF you're still interested in learning to ride a motorcycle, then get a small/ lightweight asian motorcycle. (Something like a USED Yamaha/Honda 250.)
The last thing a new rider needs is a 700lb. Bike that they love.
Remember~ this is your "first" bike, not your "forever" bike.
Ride the 2-fiddy around for a season, then sell it to the next noobie. After this year of experience, THEN it is time to go shopping for your bike.
When you take your BRC/BRT ask the ridercoaches/instructors what they recommend for you as they'll watch you throughout the course. They see a lot of new riders every week, so they are very intune with where riders are developmentally. For us, it's like a "sixth sense".
During the classroom portion, you might ask about "spidey sense." (Women are very good at this.)
The reason I recommend this? I want you to have the best chance at having a long successful riding career. Doing this places the odds in your favor.
If you have questions, we're here to help.
See my sigline?
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Club Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 69,901
Likes: 18,590
From: South Florida
There was a woman here a few months ago asking similar questions about a bob. Not sure how that ended up.
Regardless, in addition to the folks in here, you may want to hit up the ladies section: https://www.hdforums.com/forum/the-q...kers-only-139/
Regardless, in addition to the folks in here, you may want to hit up the ladies section: https://www.hdforums.com/forum/the-q...kers-only-139/
BuzzCap7
Stick to your original plan and get some experience first. Not everyone likes, or to be honest is able, to ride a motorcycle. There is a huge difference between actually doing it, especially in high traffic areas, and seeing or hearing about friend's experiences. I was your size, actually smaller, when I began riding, and am not much bigger now so I understand more of what you will be dealing with then most people.
The possibility for a bad result is very high for new riders, at least compared to the possibility of bad results for new cage drivers. Over the past 49 years I have seen many new riders. Most didn't last long because riding wasn't what they expected/wanted.
The possibility for a bad result is very high for new riders, at least compared to the possibility of bad results for new cage drivers. Over the past 49 years I have seen many new riders. Most didn't last long because riding wasn't what they expected/wanted.
Yeah what he said.BuzzCap7
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 16,035
Likes: 7,155
From: Sandy Eggo's North County
Originally Posted by TinCupChalice
^^^^ This is an excellent post
but first you should focus on the basics.
Learn the fundamentals; always remember you ride on technique, not instinct. Instincts can get you killed. Once you've developed an understanding of the fundamentals, developed situational awareness, and learned the proper techniques and have become skilled at executing them, then look to the Wide Glide. She'll be there; and so will we
A good motorcyclist is a perpetual student; always learning, always critiquing their skillset, always practicing technique, always looking for more ways to improve their performance and knowledge base.
There are motorcycle owners and there are motorcyclists; focus on you first, focus on learning; become a motorcyclist...
but first you should focus on the basics.
Learn the fundamentals; always remember you ride on technique, not instinct. Instincts can get you killed. Once you've developed an understanding of the fundamentals, developed situational awareness, and learned the proper techniques and have become skilled at executing them, then look to the Wide Glide. She'll be there; and so will we
A good motorcyclist is a perpetual student; always learning, always critiquing their skillset, always practicing technique, always looking for more ways to improve their performance and knowledge base.
There are motorcycle owners and there are motorcyclists; focus on you first, focus on learning; become a motorcyclist...
