First Bike - 2007 Street Bob
Tourer
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 312
Likes: 0
From: Brewster, NY
I just got one too in January after trading in my Sporty, and the Bob did feel at first hard to handle. It's heavy, and coming from the Sporty with mid controls this bike with forwards was a bit scary. However, I kept at it. All of sudden last week something went click in my head and it now feels like the Sporty to me. I have noticed also that making sure I keep the speed up in turns helped. If I was in a lower gear and let go of the throttle she slows down to much and stands up (and heads for the outside shoulder) or wants to fall down. As they teach you in the course, keeping a decent steady speed and looking through the turn helps a lot. Just watch it with slow turns, like outside your garage.
+1 on the course. They teach you a lot of techniques I have found to be right on the money.
Enjoy the new bike. Practice makes perfect. Stick to roads you know well at first, too.
+1 on the course. They teach you a lot of techniques I have found to be right on the money.
Enjoy the new bike. Practice makes perfect. Stick to roads you know well at first, too.
Last edited by Handycam; May 24, 2009 at 03:12 PM.
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5th Gear
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
I'm military and had no choice but to take the MSF course, it's a requirement to get the bike on base. I took it a month and a half ago and evidently forgot EVERYTHING. Today it did kinda click, though. I was still having a rough time with my turns, then...well, duh, LOOK where you're going and pow, no problem with turns. Little shaky, but that's primarily because I'm so hesitant on that throttle. Like Handycam said, if I can just get comfy with throttle through those turns I'll be much better.
Made another idiot mistake today. Riding in a parking lot, doing fine, confident, dealt with some traffic and did well. Popped up into the parking lot of my favorite bar just to get a feel for it, went to leave and, oh, hey, sharp decline. Started to approach, found I was at a bad angle, eased on the brakes and....well, hey, guess what happens when you brake on a decline at a really retarded angle? Yup. This time I went down on the LEFT side. Tore off the end of my clutch handle and cracked the housing for it. Picked it up and got it going again, clutch worked fine, little scrape on the leg. Two hot cougars walked up, really worried, asked if I was ok. I said yeah, I'm good, made a silly excuse and poked fun at myself. They invited me in for drinks.
Nah, gotta ride.
So, uh, yeah, engine guard, $200. Might possibly be my next purchase...after I replace my clutch handle!
No such thing as a simple "oops" on a Harley. More like, "oops, there goes $150."
Damn I love this bike....
Made another idiot mistake today. Riding in a parking lot, doing fine, confident, dealt with some traffic and did well. Popped up into the parking lot of my favorite bar just to get a feel for it, went to leave and, oh, hey, sharp decline. Started to approach, found I was at a bad angle, eased on the brakes and....well, hey, guess what happens when you brake on a decline at a really retarded angle? Yup. This time I went down on the LEFT side. Tore off the end of my clutch handle and cracked the housing for it. Picked it up and got it going again, clutch worked fine, little scrape on the leg. Two hot cougars walked up, really worried, asked if I was ok. I said yeah, I'm good, made a silly excuse and poked fun at myself. They invited me in for drinks.
Nah, gotta ride.
So, uh, yeah, engine guard, $200. Might possibly be my next purchase...after I replace my clutch handle!
No such thing as a simple "oops" on a Harley. More like, "oops, there goes $150."
Damn I love this bike....
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,673
Likes: 16
From: Norfolk, VA
Congrats and glad you can laugh it off. I would have dropped my Bob a couple of times after I purchased it, but luckily I am big enough to hold the thing up when it starts to go. Carrying around all this weight for so long has finally paid off 
. And to think so many friends told me all that time in the gym was a waste!
And stay off the front brake when you are going slow like that in a parking lot, that usually will lead to a meeting with the pavement.
. And to think so many friends told me all that time in the gym was a waste!And stay off the front brake when you are going slow like that in a parking lot, that usually will lead to a meeting with the pavement.
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5th Gear
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
I do have a tendency to hit the front brake a little more than I do the rear. I never had that problem before, but for some reason I do it quite frequently with this bike. Quite likely due to the sheer size of the sucker. I'm just going to have to keep training myself on how to cope with this thing and not fight it so dang much. I'll be more mindful of the rear brake tomorrow when I'm out and about, if it's not raining.
Don't worry, I'll let ya'll know what I damage next. Every time something breaks on my bike from one of my stupid mistakes, I keep a little piece of whatever broke off. So far I have a smashed turn signal lens and a the broken end of my clutch handle sitting on my bookshelf as a little reminder. I see it every time I walk out of my bedroom, lol.
Don't worry, I'll let ya'll know what I damage next. Every time something breaks on my bike from one of my stupid mistakes, I keep a little piece of whatever broke off. So far I have a smashed turn signal lens and a the broken end of my clutch handle sitting on my bookshelf as a little reminder. I see it every time I walk out of my bedroom, lol.
Road Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,168
Likes: 1
From: Cornwall UK
Congrats on your new bike. It's great to hear that you have a good sense of humor about your newbie mistakes. If you haven't already, I'd recommend you take the MSF rider safety course. You'll learn a lot about the do's and don'ts and you'll have a blast while learning.
As far as having feelings for your bike, it's like this...the tobacco companies put nicotine in their tobacco, Harley puts something in either the paint or the chrome that is addicting...I'm going to file a Class Action lawsuit.....
As far as having feelings for your bike, it's like this...the tobacco companies put nicotine in their tobacco, Harley puts something in either the paint or the chrome that is addicting...I'm going to file a Class Action lawsuit.....
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5th Gear
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Thanks SuperFastGlide.
Had an excellent low-speed ride today. I was a bit sleepy so I waited till early afternoon to ride. Beautiful day, perfect for ridin'. Rode for an hour straight but kept it safe. Still have yet to get this thing up to anything over 40, but that's ok. Challenged myself by riding this big SOB all over a busy mall parking lot, it was excellent. Had my first near-collision when some cute little teeny bopper pulled out in front of me in the parking lot, no turn signal, didn't even SLOW DOWN. I had to brake hard, but it was smooth as hell and I'm glad I saw her when I did. Talk about pissed. I started to follow her but she sped off, not worth it. 10 minutes later, I'm at a 4-way stop, waiting for my turn to go, and guess who pulls up next to me and damn near crowds me out of the way? Same damn teeny bopper. She came so damn close to me I was afraid she was gonna scrape my pegs.
<sigh>
Must resist temptation to kick cars....besides, I'd just fall over.
Had an excellent low-speed ride today. I was a bit sleepy so I waited till early afternoon to ride. Beautiful day, perfect for ridin'. Rode for an hour straight but kept it safe. Still have yet to get this thing up to anything over 40, but that's ok. Challenged myself by riding this big SOB all over a busy mall parking lot, it was excellent. Had my first near-collision when some cute little teeny bopper pulled out in front of me in the parking lot, no turn signal, didn't even SLOW DOWN. I had to brake hard, but it was smooth as hell and I'm glad I saw her when I did. Talk about pissed. I started to follow her but she sped off, not worth it. 10 minutes later, I'm at a 4-way stop, waiting for my turn to go, and guess who pulls up next to me and damn near crowds me out of the way? Same damn teeny bopper. She came so damn close to me I was afraid she was gonna scrape my pegs.
<sigh>
Must resist temptation to kick cars....besides, I'd just fall over.
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Joe Kucinski
Tourer
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 312
Likes: 0
From: Brewster, NY
You know the MSF offers an "advanced" course, which is mostly parking lot riding stuff on your own bike.
And riding around parking lots can be more difficult than actual roads. What I did was go out on a nice day on some roads I knew pretty well (even from the car) so no surprises there. Go at exactly the speed limits, even the ones posted for curves. Go when there is not much traffic so annoying people don't come up on your ***. Repeat as needed.
And riding around parking lots can be more difficult than actual roads. What I did was go out on a nice day on some roads I knew pretty well (even from the car) so no surprises there. Go at exactly the speed limits, even the ones posted for curves. Go when there is not much traffic so annoying people don't come up on your ***. Repeat as needed.
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5th Gear
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
I've got a nice little park just down the road that forms a good square. One 4 way stop, two 2 way stops, and one right of way. One of the stop signs is on a slightly uneven decline so I get to practice all sorts of stuff. It's great. I go ride that two or three times every day before I get out on any kind of busy road.
I hand't really thought too much about the advanced MSF course. May have to look into it.
I hand't really thought too much about the advanced MSF course. May have to look into it.
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