First Bike - 2007 Street Bob
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5th Gear
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
First Bike - 2007 Street Bob
I picked up my first bike yesterday. It's a 2007 Street Bob with V&H pipes and custom handle bars, red denim. Not my first choice in color, but it's growing on me. I picked it up for $10,350, less than 3k miles, so in my opinion it was a steal. Real clean bike.
I've ridden a few smaller bikes, the largest being an 1100 metric bike. I handled that one alright (I'm 5'7, 140 lbs) and figured a 1584 would be a challenge, but nothing I couldn't handle.
Um, yeah...
Holy crap this bike is FAST and HEAVY. Day 1 I was forced to "very gently" lay the bike on the ground due to a sudden failure to negotiate a small incline outside my garage. No biggie, no damage not even a scratch. Day 2 I felt good, confident, was on my way home after a fun hour ride. 300 meters from my drive way I made a terrible rookie mistake from a dead stop...turned the handle bars THEN hit the gas. Needless to say I went down quick. Sheered off my right rear turn signal (re-located custom job) and shattered my right front. The worst damage was my ego, but I shrugged it off. My bike, my fault, lesson learned. I picked it up and rode it home. Unfortunately that damn rear tail light rolled right down into a gutter so it was a complete loss. $200 later i have all the parts I need plus new smoked lenses, which I think look really nice on the Street Bob. I'll fix up the rear turn signal tomorrow over a bottle of whisky and fresh grilled steak, so no worries there.
I love the bike. So much power. Yeah, it seems to want to fight me (or, rather, I seem to want to fight IT) on those right turns, but I'll learn. It's my first bike, I'm going to scratch it, ding it, warp it. Maybe I should have gotten a smaller bike. Maybe. Don't care. The bike's MINE, and I love it.
I never knew you could have such strong feelings for a material thing. I haven't even gotten it out of third gear yet!
I've ridden a few smaller bikes, the largest being an 1100 metric bike. I handled that one alright (I'm 5'7, 140 lbs) and figured a 1584 would be a challenge, but nothing I couldn't handle.
Um, yeah...
Holy crap this bike is FAST and HEAVY. Day 1 I was forced to "very gently" lay the bike on the ground due to a sudden failure to negotiate a small incline outside my garage. No biggie, no damage not even a scratch. Day 2 I felt good, confident, was on my way home after a fun hour ride. 300 meters from my drive way I made a terrible rookie mistake from a dead stop...turned the handle bars THEN hit the gas. Needless to say I went down quick. Sheered off my right rear turn signal (re-located custom job) and shattered my right front. The worst damage was my ego, but I shrugged it off. My bike, my fault, lesson learned. I picked it up and rode it home. Unfortunately that damn rear tail light rolled right down into a gutter so it was a complete loss. $200 later i have all the parts I need plus new smoked lenses, which I think look really nice on the Street Bob. I'll fix up the rear turn signal tomorrow over a bottle of whisky and fresh grilled steak, so no worries there.
I love the bike. So much power. Yeah, it seems to want to fight me (or, rather, I seem to want to fight IT) on those right turns, but I'll learn. It's my first bike, I'm going to scratch it, ding it, warp it. Maybe I should have gotten a smaller bike. Maybe. Don't care. The bike's MINE, and I love it.
I never knew you could have such strong feelings for a material thing. I haven't even gotten it out of third gear yet!
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 3,359
Likes: 2
From: MA
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.....
Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 133
Likes: 0
From: Western New York
Congrats on the new machine! I could have written your story as mine was nearly identical without the damage. I've had mine (2007 bobber) about 2 months. She laid down on me while trying to make a left hand turn UP a country road with some gravel in the intersection. I thought I was in 1st but was actually in second gear. It chug chugged and then flopped over. That was bad but the good news was I am able to lift it up on my own if but with great difficulty 
I have also had some rice burners. I used to wonder why the Harley boys always seemed to move so slowly with their bikes when my 750 twin Kawasaki felt so nimble, now I know. I think a lot of it has to do with the rake angle of the forks as it steers heavy in a parking lot compared to my other bikes. Now I just slow down and let everybody get a good look at how bad I look on my Harleywhile maneuvering at the gas pumps
Have fun, expect the worst and get home sans roadrash.
I have also had some rice burners. I used to wonder why the Harley boys always seemed to move so slowly with their bikes when my 750 twin Kawasaki felt so nimble, now I know. I think a lot of it has to do with the rake angle of the forks as it steers heavy in a parking lot compared to my other bikes. Now I just slow down and let everybody get a good look at how bad I look on my Harleywhile maneuvering at the gas pumps
Have fun, expect the worst and get home sans roadrash.
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 442
Likes: 0
From: Goffstown, New Hampshire
Congrat on the new bike, love the Street Bob, I have an 06 Vivid Black. Just take you time and use your head, you will get better. As Jake said if you have not taken the MSF course you should, it is a great eye opener to rookies, and veterern riders.
Ride Safe and Welcome from New Hampshire.
Dombow77
Ride Safe and Welcome from New Hampshire.
Dombow77
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 5,120
Likes: 17
From: Indiana
+ on the MSF course. Plus you might want to look into an engine guard until you are more consistent and not dropping the bike. That way your turn sigs won't get damaged, or the tank, mirrors. A lot less damage till you get use to the bike.
Hang in there and before you know it will be natural and I agree with jake. I believe there is something in the paint and I wanna a cut of that law suit.
Hang in there and before you know it will be natural and I agree with jake. I believe there is something in the paint and I wanna a cut of that law suit.
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,393
Likes: 8
From: Ohio
Those flat bars should help you get the feel of it. Find some empty parking lots and just practice loops, or download the MSF course layout to get an idea of the measurements for the turns:
http://www.msf-usa.org/index_new.cfm...A&referer=MSTS
http://www.msf-usa.org/index_new.cfm...A&referer=MSTS
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Tourer
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 452
Likes: 2
From: SF Bay Area
I got an 07 street bob too....
The dyna is a very balanced nimble bike!
my previous bike was a Harley Custom which was my first real bike,
it was too much power/torque, but compaired to the bob it was Very top heavy
and very tough to control at low speeds.
When I got on my bob, the balance had an almost bicycle balanced quality to it
meaning I could dodge little things in the road easily, It was great, and still love
my bike, I got it when it came out in 06...
Don't give up, but yes take the rider saftey class...
I DID NOT take the Class, That is WHY I have the streetbob instead of my old
harley custom ! (Freeway crash - road rash - Fire - Hospital = bad)
Take it easy
The dyna is a very balanced nimble bike!
my previous bike was a Harley Custom which was my first real bike,
it was too much power/torque, but compaired to the bob it was Very top heavy
and very tough to control at low speeds.
When I got on my bob, the balance had an almost bicycle balanced quality to it
meaning I could dodge little things in the road easily, It was great, and still love
my bike, I got it when it came out in 06...
Don't give up, but yes take the rider saftey class...
I DID NOT take the Class, That is WHY I have the streetbob instead of my old
harley custom ! (Freeway crash - road rash - Fire - Hospital = bad)
Take it easy
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