SG as first bike - please share your experience

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Oct 26, 2009 | 03:21 PM

#21

kk6pg

Outstanding HDF Member

Joined: Nov 2007

Posts: 2,289

Likes: 22

From: Beautiful Downtown Burbank

Quote:

Originally Posted by sightseer

k&j eglide, I have zero street riding experience. My CHP certificate should come in 2 weeks then off to the DMV to get my C/M license.

Thanks for all the responses so far. This forum and the people participating are wonderful. I am leaving my options wide open. Maybe I'll go with a stock HD and add accessories as I see/feel needed.

Keep the replies coming. Relax, ride safely, and enjoy God's creations.

First off, its perfectly OK to start off on a big twin as your first bike.

Second, you aint getting a deal on that bike you mention. I'm guessing you probably looked at a dealer (Laidlaws). If you want a deal, you'll have to suck it up and look at private parties (buyer beware, everyone in SoCal thinks their bike is worth 3 times what they paid for it). For a few bucks more, you can buy new (without the add ons) and build the bike the way you want it, when you know what you want. Till then, dont flush your hard earned cash down the toilet.

Thirdly, Stay out of Azusa Canyon until you feel comfortable with the bike. You can ride Turnbull all you want until you feel ready for the faster stuff. Turnbull Canyon is a damn good training ground for new riders. It has every type of turn imaginable, and you do it at under 30MPH (much faster and even a seasoned rider will find themselves airborne off the cliff). I use Turnbull as a tune up before torturing East Fork and Glendora Ridge.

If you need a good teacher, let me know. I'm not as good as Paniolo (a member here and RLAP instructor), but I can hold my own.

Oct 26, 2009 | 11:07 PM

#22

sightseer

Thread Starter

Intermediate

Joined: Sep 2009

Posts: 46

Likes: 0

From: Azusa, CA

Thanks for all the great advice and encouragement. I will be taking my time in getting my first street bike. I am decided on the Super Glide. When the right time comes along I will know.

kk6pg, your guess about Laidlaw was correct. It is the closest dealer to my home. Also, a friend got his Electra Glide Classic there and highly recommended the delearship. I am considering getting brand new, base model, no mods. Ride it and then add as I determine I need, just as suggested. I plan on practicing on flats and around the neighborhood (familiar roads) then venture further as I get use to the bike.

Relax, ride safely, and enjoy God's creations.

Oct 27, 2009 | 02:49 PM

#23

ScottK

Advanced

Joined: Jan 2009

Posts: 68

Likes: 0

I had no dirtbike experience, all I did was ride a SG around the neighborhood a few times, take the MSF class, and then bought the SG as my first bike.

Nov 1, 2009 | 11:15 AM

#24

lionsm13

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: Oct 2007

Posts: 56,052

Likes: 88,863

From: Western South Dakota

Quote:

Originally Posted by sightseer

Hello everyone. First of all, I would like to thank all of you for sharing your experiences on your SG. I just finished the MSF basic training and awaiting the CHP certificate to waive the road test. I am looking at a 2003 SG, 15K miles, touring seats, windshield, and saddle bags, asking price is $10K. This will be my first street bike. I do trail biking. When I get this bike, I will make sure to get the owners manual and a repair/maintenace manual. I intend to use this bike for mostly recreational riding, sometimes for commuting too. I would like to tap into everyones experiences as far as do-it-yourself repair/maintenance of this model (ease or difficulty). Any surprises you have encountered during your ownership. Road handling experiences. Dos and don'ts. And anything else you might want to share.

Again thank you for allowing me to learn from your experiences. I look forward to reading your responses to help me prepare for ownership of a SG.

Relax, ride safely and enjoy God's creations.

The first year of the FLHX Street Glide was 2006. You would probably be buying an electra glide that is made up to look like a Street Glide. Nothin' wrong with that, but thought that you should know.