Help picking first bike
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 419
Likes: 19
From: earth
When I started riding 15 years ago the first thing I did was the safety course.
Then I sat on every bike I could. Visited every dealership for a hundred miles. Didn't matter the brand.
Found out at 6'4" the only ones that felt right were the HDs. Because of funds I wound up with a 883. Put several thousand miles on that bike and then I found a 1200XL. Give the 883 to my wife and put close to 20k on the 1200XL. Several trips up and down I95 from NC to FL and back up to DC. Lots of Myrtle Beach Bike weeks thrown in. Even made it to Sturgis on it.
Got a great trade in on the 1200XL to a RKC. Still have the RK and bought a Fat Bob later on.
Don't let the nigh sayers talk you into a bike that doesn't fit you. Sit on them all and take every demo ride you can. Find one that feels right and take off.
FYI, wife went from that 883 to a Night Rod Special. That bikes is fast!
Then I sat on every bike I could. Visited every dealership for a hundred miles. Didn't matter the brand.
Found out at 6'4" the only ones that felt right were the HDs. Because of funds I wound up with a 883. Put several thousand miles on that bike and then I found a 1200XL. Give the 883 to my wife and put close to 20k on the 1200XL. Several trips up and down I95 from NC to FL and back up to DC. Lots of Myrtle Beach Bike weeks thrown in. Even made it to Sturgis on it.
Got a great trade in on the 1200XL to a RKC. Still have the RK and bought a Fat Bob later on.
Don't let the nigh sayers talk you into a bike that doesn't fit you. Sit on them all and take every demo ride you can. Find one that feels right and take off.
FYI, wife went from that 883 to a Night Rod Special. That bikes is fast!
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 44,902
Likes: 29,882
From: PNW
I'm sure you know where I'm coming from. Many riders have this picture in their heads of them playing the part of the bad *** wind in the hair free spirited biker rolling across the plains. Harley makes a lot of money pushing that drug. To hear from guys like us to start with a more appropriate bike really rains on the old fantasy parade.
When I started riding 15 years ago the first thing I did was the safety course.
Then I sat on every bike I could. Visited every dealership for a hundred miles. Didn't matter the brand.
Found out at 6'4" the only ones that felt right were the HDs. Because of funds I wound up with a 883.
.....
Don't let the nigh sayers talk you into a bike that doesn't fit you. Sit on them all and take every demo ride you can. Find one that feels right and take off.
FYI, wife went from that 883 to a Night Rod Special. That bikes is fast!
Then I sat on every bike I could. Visited every dealership for a hundred miles. Didn't matter the brand.
Found out at 6'4" the only ones that felt right were the HDs. Because of funds I wound up with a 883.
.....
Don't let the nigh sayers talk you into a bike that doesn't fit you. Sit on them all and take every demo ride you can. Find one that feels right and take off.
FYI, wife went from that 883 to a Night Rod Special. That bikes is fast!
If I am one of the nay sayers, it certainly isn't to put the guy on a bike that doesn't fit him. As mentioned, there are many reasonable options out there. Ron's son (not a small guy) is a good example of what I'm talking about.
Ideally, I would suggest an enduro for beginning riders. But to someone who wants a Harley, it's like selling condoms to a Mormon.
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