New Rider
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6th Gear
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 14
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From:
New Rider
Hi Everyone,
I am planning on purchasing a Harley. This is my first bike and I want to it right so I hope you can help with some rather stupid newbie questions. I should also mention that I live in Saskatchewan Canada, and have no experience riding.
I dropped into my local Harley Davidson dealer and mentioned I was interested in learning to ride. His suggestion was to look at a 2006 Sportster XL1200C bike to start learning on. His feeling was it was a good and stable bike for learning and still has some power to get out of trouble. What are your thoughts on learning on a Sportster?
Can someone advise on if H-D offers a lease to own style of financing and what the current rate for financing is?
How or where do I find the MSRP, and any offers that are available for purchasers?
Does anyone know of a good book for beginners that might discuss motorcycle operation etc.?
Please any info you can give will be a help.
Thanks
Ron
I am planning on purchasing a Harley. This is my first bike and I want to it right so I hope you can help with some rather stupid newbie questions. I should also mention that I live in Saskatchewan Canada, and have no experience riding.
I dropped into my local Harley Davidson dealer and mentioned I was interested in learning to ride. His suggestion was to look at a 2006 Sportster XL1200C bike to start learning on. His feeling was it was a good and stable bike for learning and still has some power to get out of trouble. What are your thoughts on learning on a Sportster?
Can someone advise on if H-D offers a lease to own style of financing and what the current rate for financing is?
How or where do I find the MSRP, and any offers that are available for purchasers?
Does anyone know of a good book for beginners that might discuss motorcycle operation etc.?
Please any info you can give will be a help.
Thanks
Ron
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 7,950
Likes: 4
RE: New Rider
Before you do anything, take the MSF Basic Riders Course.
You are able to find the MSRP at www.harley-davidson.com.
For books try the Transportation section at Barnes and Noble, Hastings, or any bookstore.
You are able to find the MSRP at www.harley-davidson.com.
For books try the Transportation section at Barnes and Noble, Hastings, or any bookstore.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,495
Likes: 4
From:
RE: New Rider
Before you do anything do NOT start on a sportster!
I dont know why in the hell dealers and others constantly try to sell them to beginers and women! Maybe just because they are slightly smaller. Truth is a sporty is a more dificult bike to ride than many others. It has a higher back bone and tank thus creating a higher center of gravity. Due to this under an inexperienced rider it may tend to want to flop at low speed maneuvering. Im not bashing the sporty but I dont think it is a good starter bike at all! Under an experienced rider it is or can be a beast and a blast to ride. Why not try a deuce or a lowrider.
I dont know why in the hell dealers and others constantly try to sell them to beginers and women! Maybe just because they are slightly smaller. Truth is a sporty is a more dificult bike to ride than many others. It has a higher back bone and tank thus creating a higher center of gravity. Due to this under an inexperienced rider it may tend to want to flop at low speed maneuvering. Im not bashing the sporty but I dont think it is a good starter bike at all! Under an experienced rider it is or can be a beast and a blast to ride. Why not try a deuce or a lowrider.
Cruiser
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 236
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From:
RE: New Rider
I agree, the old Sportsters with the small, high gas tanks may be a bit too much for a new rider. I have the newer Sportster with the flatter gas tank and it is easier to handle. I started riding on a Honda Shadow 600. The bike cost $4500 and I hate to say I dropped it a couple of time. I'll tell you it easier to look at a $4500 bike laying on the ground than a $10,000 bike. Its your choice, but get a bike with a low center of gravity, thats not heavy, not a large cc bike to learn on. Then after a few months to a year graduate to a larger bike. I think a lot of people get discouraged if they get a big bike too soon. My 2 cents.
illinimeats
illinimeats
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 892
Likes: 0
From: Central, IN
RE: New Rider
As stated above, take a rider safety course. Reading a book about riding is like reading a book about flying. You're gonna need some "stick" time. There is a great DVD from Motorman on low speed handling. Google motorman DVD. As far as the bike goes, the choice is yours. Most safety classes are done on 250's. I started on a 1972 Yamaha 750 in 1973. At the time, one of the biggest bikes made.
Chris
Chris
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 278
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From: Lafayette, LA
RE: New Rider
Okay, I'm fully qualified as a terrified newbie, to advise you on this 
.
Take the MSF course. Riders Edge - run by Harley, will teach you on a 492cc Buell Blast. The local MSF course here teaches on a 250cc Honda Rebel. Once you have your endorsement, go test ride different Harley's, that will tell you what you feel comfortable riding. I have an 883 Sportster, and for me, a relative newbie to riding - its been 12 years since I rode, and that was a 50cc moped, the power of the 883 scares the sh*t out of me. LOL.
As far as books there are a couple of very good books - Proficient Motorcycling, and More Proficient Motorcycling. Amazon.com carries them for about $15 USD each. They are great for strategies of riding, but you have to 'do it' to understand it. In fact I'm coming off a 12 year break from riding anything and some of the things they talk about, confuse the heck out of me.
As far as financing, it'll depend on your credit score. We just bought 2 sporties, FICO scores around 700 each, and we got financing at about 7% ish, over 7 years, no down payment from Harley Credit. Although this was an offer on 2005 models. The only way to find out what you'll get is to apply for it. Insurance on both bikes is only $250/year - full coverage thru Harley with Progressive.
Hope this helps some.
Eva
.Take the MSF course. Riders Edge - run by Harley, will teach you on a 492cc Buell Blast. The local MSF course here teaches on a 250cc Honda Rebel. Once you have your endorsement, go test ride different Harley's, that will tell you what you feel comfortable riding. I have an 883 Sportster, and for me, a relative newbie to riding - its been 12 years since I rode, and that was a 50cc moped, the power of the 883 scares the sh*t out of me. LOL.
As far as books there are a couple of very good books - Proficient Motorcycling, and More Proficient Motorcycling. Amazon.com carries them for about $15 USD each. They are great for strategies of riding, but you have to 'do it' to understand it. In fact I'm coming off a 12 year break from riding anything and some of the things they talk about, confuse the heck out of me.
As far as financing, it'll depend on your credit score. We just bought 2 sporties, FICO scores around 700 each, and we got financing at about 7% ish, over 7 years, no down payment from Harley Credit. Although this was an offer on 2005 models. The only way to find out what you'll get is to apply for it. Insurance on both bikes is only $250/year - full coverage thru Harley with Progressive.
Hope this helps some.
Eva
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 7,950
Likes: 4
RE: New Rider
That about sums it up. Thanx, Eva.
Trending Topics
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,334
Likes: 107
From: Santa Clarita, So. Cal. & Bullhead City, Az.
RE: New Rider
You didn't tell us about yourself. If you are a 6'6" guy who weighs 300#, Don't buy a Sportster. If cost is the major factor, maybe a Sportie is your only option. Nearly all the guys I know that bought a Sport to learn on, took a major loss and traded the Sport for something bigger in a year. Sports are tall, high seat height, and are more difficult to ride than a Dyna or Softail. My wife traded her Sportie for a Softail Nightrain.
Oh, don't take the MSF course on a sport bike unless you intend to ride one. The 250 Rebels have forward controls and handle more like a Harley than a Buell or anyother sport type bike.
Good Luck.
Oh, don't take the MSF course on a sport bike unless you intend to ride one. The 250 Rebels have forward controls and handle more like a Harley than a Buell or anyother sport type bike.
Good Luck.
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Road Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,098
Likes: 5
From: North Texas
RE: New Rider
I have to aggree with all others comments above.
Bought my 1st ever bike in July, a Heritage Softail.
Went to several dealers, and the one salesman that really took the time to talk to me, and ask "me", questions was the one I bought from.
Questions like,
Is your wife going to ride with you on ocasion?
Are you planning on taking any kind of road trips?
Are you the cruiser type, our do you want Speed & Performance.
Salesman told me like this, bring your wife in, let her saddle up on the back of that Dyna Low Rider with you, and I bet she will look at the Heritage or Road King and say whats wrong with that one over there, I like the size of those bikes better, it even has more room for me in the back.
Brought in the wife, and well just about as my salesman called it, she wanted me to buy the biger bike with more chrome.
The Lava Red Heritage was sold the next afternoon and in my garage.
I had'nt ridded anything on the street in my life, took the MSF course 1-week later and now its moving with me and her on the back every chance we get.
TAKE THE MSF COURSE IF YOU HAVE NO EXPERIENCE, THEN PICK OUT THE BIKE "YOU" WANT.
IF MARRIED, AND YOU HAVE A WIFE INTERESTED IN WHAT YOU ARE DOING, EXCEPT JUST A LITTLE INPUT FROM HER ALSO.
Worked for me.
Motor-On
Bought my 1st ever bike in July, a Heritage Softail.
Went to several dealers, and the one salesman that really took the time to talk to me, and ask "me", questions was the one I bought from.
Questions like,
Is your wife going to ride with you on ocasion?
Are you planning on taking any kind of road trips?
Are you the cruiser type, our do you want Speed & Performance.
Salesman told me like this, bring your wife in, let her saddle up on the back of that Dyna Low Rider with you, and I bet she will look at the Heritage or Road King and say whats wrong with that one over there, I like the size of those bikes better, it even has more room for me in the back.
Brought in the wife, and well just about as my salesman called it, she wanted me to buy the biger bike with more chrome.
The Lava Red Heritage was sold the next afternoon and in my garage.
I had'nt ridded anything on the street in my life, took the MSF course 1-week later and now its moving with me and her on the back every chance we get.
TAKE THE MSF COURSE IF YOU HAVE NO EXPERIENCE, THEN PICK OUT THE BIKE "YOU" WANT.
IF MARRIED, AND YOU HAVE A WIFE INTERESTED IN WHAT YOU ARE DOING, EXCEPT JUST A LITTLE INPUT FROM HER ALSO.
Worked for me.
Motor-On
Thread Starter
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6th Gear
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From:
RE: New Rider
Greetings,
I will try and answer some of your questions, and ask more of my own. I am 45, 5'11", 190lbs. I'm looking at the Sportster because of price and I only want to ride back and forth to work, and maybe some short trips around town. My Harley dealership in town doesn't offer any type of training but I can take some training through the safety council here in Canada. Am I hearing that I should maybe look at another bike maker to start, or at the least a different Harley model because the Sportster is hard for a beginner to ride? Does Harley Davidson offer an riding tips, bike selection books? My local dealer has a reputation for being somewhat of a a**hole to deal with so I'm open to any and all suggestions on being new to riding.
Thanks for taking the time to answer or at least look at my stupid questions.
Ron[sm=feedback.gif]
I will try and answer some of your questions, and ask more of my own. I am 45, 5'11", 190lbs. I'm looking at the Sportster because of price and I only want to ride back and forth to work, and maybe some short trips around town. My Harley dealership in town doesn't offer any type of training but I can take some training through the safety council here in Canada. Am I hearing that I should maybe look at another bike maker to start, or at the least a different Harley model because the Sportster is hard for a beginner to ride? Does Harley Davidson offer an riding tips, bike selection books? My local dealer has a reputation for being somewhat of a a**hole to deal with so I'm open to any and all suggestions on being new to riding.
Thanks for taking the time to answer or at least look at my stupid questions.
Ron[sm=feedback.gif]