Fat Bob. Too much bike?
Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,384
Likes: 0
From: Austin, Texas
RE: Fat Bob. Too much bike?
I'll echo most of the opinion here. Thanks for your service! Come home safe! Get whichever bike you sit on and feels great to you (I love my Fat Bob!) I believe you'll have no problem learning on either model you mention, and you'll have a wonderful machine that you'll be proud of and happy with!
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,900
Likes: 1
From: Backwoods of NH
RE: Fat Bob. Too much bike?
ORIGINAL: AH64DMatt
I've never ridden a motorcycle before. ....
..... From a realistic perspective, I probably need to buy a beater bike just to learn on.
Agree or disagree? Let me know.
Thanks.
Matt
"Life is worth living, and living hard."
I've never ridden a motorcycle before. ....
..... From a realistic perspective, I probably need to buy a beater bike just to learn on.
Agree or disagree? Let me know.
Thanks.
Matt
"Life is worth living, and living hard."
Now, since you've never ridden a motorcycle before, be a bit cautious of deciding on a particular model based on style alone. Every bike fits a little (or a lot) differently. You really need to sit on each model and, if possible, try them out to really find out which is the most comfortable. The first rule in being safe is being comfortable and at ease with your ride.
Dealers here stateside are giving great deals right now, so check them out and compare prices to ones you've seen. And used bikes have plummeted, so a good used late model harley right now might make some sense and save you big bucks. But don't buy a beater, you'll just be throwing money away and end up with a bunch of headaches and regrets.
Good Luck!
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,027
Likes: 4
From: Eastern NE
RE: Fat Bob. Too much bike?
Thank you for your service to our country from another retired Military person.
I learned to ride at age 16 in 1953 on a 1950 H-D Panhead 74ci. Suicide clutch, hand shift. The shop mechanic took me out to a park and turned me loose. I spent about an hour going in circles, etc. and went back to the shop behind the mechanic and left on my bike.
There weren't that many choices in those days, but I do believe now, I would sit on a few of the different models the MoCo has to offer and decide the ergonomic attributes of each bike and how you feel in the saddle when making your decision to purchase.
Personally, I would start right outon the ride I wanted, take the MSF course and ride safe and cautious.
Good luck in whatever you decide.
I learned to ride at age 16 in 1953 on a 1950 H-D Panhead 74ci. Suicide clutch, hand shift. The shop mechanic took me out to a park and turned me loose. I spent about an hour going in circles, etc. and went back to the shop behind the mechanic and left on my bike.
There weren't that many choices in those days, but I do believe now, I would sit on a few of the different models the MoCo has to offer and decide the ergonomic attributes of each bike and how you feel in the saddle when making your decision to purchase.
Personally, I would start right outon the ride I wanted, take the MSF course and ride safe and cautious.
Good luck in whatever you decide.
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 478
Likes: 0
RE: Fat Bob. Too much bike?
First off thanks for defending our country and come home safe.
I am ring to decide between the Fat Bab and the Night Train also. Leaning toweords the NT at the moment. KInd of glad I cant go and buy one right now so I can do research .
Let us know on what bike you decide to get and why. Im waiting to find out where I can ride both. BTW I have been riding metrics for about 17 years and my dream has been to ride an HD.
I am ring to decide between the Fat Bab and the Night Train also. Leaning toweords the NT at the moment. KInd of glad I cant go and buy one right now so I can do research .
Let us know on what bike you decide to get and why. Im waiting to find out where I can ride both. BTW I have been riding metrics for about 17 years and my dream has been to ride an HD.
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 56
Likes: 0
From:
RE: Fat Bob. Too much bike?
This being just my second post in the forum, and as a proud new owner of a Fat Bob I have only one thing to say...GET ONE! I too ordered a harley from AAFES this last summer while deployed, and had the opportunity to ride the bikes once I got home and I loved the big baby! I had considered the Street bob...and a couple of others, but I loved the way it handled and the sheer ease of riding. I used to be a sport bike guy and learned to ride on an R6. I will echo the sentiments of the other guys and say that the "learning" bike is really what you make of it, but I think that this bike will do you just fine and you will be loving every minute of it. I know that I cant stop grinning now when I ride, the bike simply makes riding fun again. Get home safe, and look out for C-17s!
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 4,722
Likes: 7
RE: Fat Bob. Too much bike?
If you can fly a helicopter, riding a Fat Bob should be a piece of cake. Hell, if you can ride a bicycle, riding a Fat Bob should be a piece of cake. I can't really argue with getting a beater to learn on but you'd still then have to get used to the bike you actually want and could possibly get stuck with a beater that you can't get rid of for near what you have in it. I think the only way I'd suggest doing that is if you aren't sure you will like it or stick with it. If you know you'll love it and want to ride for as long as you physically can in your life, go ahead and get the bike you want if you can afford it. If you need some help and/or confidence, take a course first.
I know everyone has different comfort levels and abilities but I had never ridden anything but dirt bikes and I bought my FXDC as my first bike and road it 65 miles home from the dealer the day I bought it after only about a half mile test run on a back road behind the dealership. Then again, aside from video games, I've never flown a combat chopper either. I sat in one once and got to try on the helmet that aims the gun by turning your head - does that count for anything?
I know everyone has different comfort levels and abilities but I had never ridden anything but dirt bikes and I bought my FXDC as my first bike and road it 65 miles home from the dealer the day I bought it after only about a half mile test run on a back road behind the dealership. Then again, aside from video games, I've never flown a combat chopper either. I sat in one once and got to try on the helmet that aims the gun by turning your head - does that count for anything?
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 3,664
Likes: 714
From: DFW
RE: Fat Bob. Too much bike?
I'll 2nd this comment. LOL
I NEVER RODE BEFORE...bought my buddies '97 Wide Glide and used that to learn on. Granted, I stayed within 6 blocks of home and no busy streets. Just did the small stuff: stopping, braking, starting (remember to let the clutch out slowly and give it some gas or you'll tip over - don't ask me how I did this...yep, 4x besides!)...all of the little stuff. Spent 4+ hours doing this prior to my MSF course, passed with a perfect score and now ride pretty well.
I feel if I can do it and I didn't fly the Apache, you should be able to. Good luck and last, but not least, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE!!!!
I NEVER RODE BEFORE...bought my buddies '97 Wide Glide and used that to learn on. Granted, I stayed within 6 blocks of home and no busy streets. Just did the small stuff: stopping, braking, starting (remember to let the clutch out slowly and give it some gas or you'll tip over - don't ask me how I did this...yep, 4x besides!
)...all of the little stuff. Spent 4+ hours doing this prior to my MSF course, passed with a perfect score and now ride pretty well. I feel if I can do it and I didn't fly the Apache, you should be able to. Good luck and last, but not least, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE!!!!
ORIGINAL: Scooter Wench
Dude! You're an Apache Pilot! The Fat Bob will be a piece of cake!
Here's my story. I grew up on trail bikes. Little Yamaha Enduros. When I was around 20, I had a Honda 400 that was my sole mode of transportation for about a year. In September I finally was able to afford my first "real" motorcycle and bought a Fat Bob. I had taken the MSF weekend course to get my license (a requirement here in Florida) a few months before. We trailered my bike home as I wasn't comfortable jumping onto one of the busiest streets in Jacksonville right off the bat. When we got home and unloaded it off the trailer I jumped on it and drove around the neighborhood a couple of times, then I went out on the main road outside our subdivision (which is pretty much a two mile straight line with no traffic) and proceeded to open her up! What a rush. You couldn't wipe the grin off my face!
The Fat Bob is a GREAT handling bike. Very well balanced. You will absolutely LOVE it! Even if you've never been on a bike before, if you take the rider's course, then take some time to ride your bike around the neighborhood or a local parking lot to get a feel for it, I promise you will take to it like a duckling to water.
Be safe and hurry home!
Dude! You're an Apache Pilot! The Fat Bob will be a piece of cake!
Here's my story. I grew up on trail bikes. Little Yamaha Enduros. When I was around 20, I had a Honda 400 that was my sole mode of transportation for about a year. In September I finally was able to afford my first "real" motorcycle and bought a Fat Bob. I had taken the MSF weekend course to get my license (a requirement here in Florida) a few months before. We trailered my bike home as I wasn't comfortable jumping onto one of the busiest streets in Jacksonville right off the bat. When we got home and unloaded it off the trailer I jumped on it and drove around the neighborhood a couple of times, then I went out on the main road outside our subdivision (which is pretty much a two mile straight line with no traffic) and proceeded to open her up! What a rush. You couldn't wipe the grin off my face!
The Fat Bob is a GREAT handling bike. Very well balanced. You will absolutely LOVE it! Even if you've never been on a bike before, if you take the rider's course, then take some time to ride your bike around the neighborhood or a local parking lot to get a feel for it, I promise you will take to it like a duckling to water.
Be safe and hurry home!
Road Captain
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 547
Likes: 2
RE: Fat Bob. Too much bike?
Helicopter pilots have to have the best coordination of all four limbs (and drummers). You'll be bored, well okay, not bored but damn near not even thinking about what your gonna have to do. It will come so naturally to you that you could choose any HD bike although the Fat Bob is probably the best choice ever.