Help a newbie
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 8,196
Likes: 2,432
From: San Francisco
Do whatever you want dude but personally I would never recommend a big expensive motorcycle to a new rider. I've owned a dozen motorcycles from small metrics to large tourers and it takes alot of experiences and skill to effectively and confidently ride a bigger bike. Bigger bikes are less forgiving and if you have to pick one up you might need help and that just exaggerates an already embarrassing situation. Whatever you decide be safe and enjoy the class.
But more important then the bike is YOU. It takes awhile to become a skilled rider. My rule is one riding season to attain real basic skills, and two riding seasons to become a skilled rider. From what I remember, the shorter time you've been riding, the more likely you are to get into an accident. So do yourself a favor and get a smaller, easier to control bike, learn to be a good rider, and then move up to whatever you want. You are worth it.
You are right picking and purchasing the bike should be the easy part, figuring out where to put your gas cap during fill up and what oil to run is where the difficulty starts LOL
Big Kahuna HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 322,622
Likes: 3,077
From: .....
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 1,249
Likes: 565
From: Utah
FWIW, I rode dirt bikes a lot as a kid, and my first 'real' street bike was a sportster 883. I had ridden some of the bigger bikes, but wasn't comfortable with them. I think starting out on the smaller, more manageable bike really helped. YMMV.
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 1,249
Likes: 565
From: Utah
To add to that, if you have your M license, some of the dealerships have Demo Days where they bring in a truckload of bikes. You can ride yourself silly trying everything out.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 7,709
Likes: 7,850
From: New York
Hello all. So.. I will be up and riding this month. Why wait? I won't have my license till the 12th in the mean time I need to buy a bike. I have narrowed it down to a softtail slim OR an fxdwg. The wide glide initially had my eye as I am a new rider. But when i saw the softie things changed. This is my first bike first ride. Any suggestions and words of wisdom for a new rider!?
Once you get out on the road, don't be intimidated but ride like everyone is out to get you. "Defensive driving" on steroids. Be safe and enjoy.
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Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 668
Likes: 34
From: New Jersey
