Take a riders course before you buy anything. Once you have the course under your belt go buy the bike you want.

 

More then likely this is the best way to go. Do riders courses provide the bike? I don't know I've never taken one. I think I will someday.

 

The MSF Basic Rider Course I took bikes were provided. It was a mix of small metrics - Yamaha V-Star 250, Honda Rebel, and Kawasaki dual sport, maybe a few others I can’t remember.

Some Harley dealers offer a rider course with the Street 500.

 

it kind of boils down to economics. their are so many people out there that change hobbies like socks and shorts. that is why it would be better to buy a used metric to see if motorcycling will be just a short term hobby or a life long one. then if he finds it is just a short term hobby he is not out a large investment. on the other hand if he finds he loves riding and will be a life long enjoyment, he can then splurge on a bike he really wants.

 

Mine boiled down to economics as well. I wanted a Harley Road King Classic. That was the bike I wanted to ride. I found a used one that was a good deal and bought it. Learned to ride it, put in the work and we enjoyed 5 good years together, before I traded it for a Street Glide. I didn't want to buy and sell bikes, possibly losing money on a starter bike and then turn around and have to learn to ride all over again on a heavier bike.

Would I recommend it for everyone? Nope. I'm not an authority on anything motorcycle related. It's just my experience. I put in my time doing the work late nights in empty parking lots and I continue to do so. If you're coordinated and pick up new things pretty quickly, it's not rocket science. Buy the Ride Like a Pro videos and have at it. If you feel more comfortable starting on a smaller Metric cruiser, the same advice still applies. Your wallet, your choice at the end of the day.

 

Harley big twins are just as easy to ride as something smaller, not to say you should start on a Ultra Limited, but a Softail isnt a crazy first bike. My Heritage is super easy to ride slow and smooth on. I wish I had bought it instead of a starter bike.... I would be $1000 richer today and not regretted buying the starter bike. I know quite a few people who have started out on Softails...they were also older and had a lot more self control than 20 year old versions of themselves...me included.

 

I will say it again, Road King.

 

Buy a junk bike and learn to ride ​​​​​​.

folk will have you buying and dropping an ultra if you listen to them

 

There is a reason why most people don't recommend spending a lot of money on a first bike other than growing out of it... you might not like riding. A lot of people like the image of a biker and want to be that, but when it comes down to it they have no passion to actually ride.

I've seen people buy two brand new Harley baggers only to find out they didn't enjoy riding. That was a very expensive mistake.

Riding a motorcycle is completely different than a bicycle. Two wheels and seat is all they have in common. They move completely differently, you move completely differently.

What this boils down to is taking the MSF course is $50 to determine if you should put in $1000s into riding. And yes, you need to try out different bikes on the road, I've sat on ones that where just fine and then found they where extremely uncomfortable once I got it moving. Think of it like a $10,000 shoe, sitting on a bike is like putting the shoe on your foot, riding the bike is like standing up and walking in it. We can go back and forth on what a good "shoe" is, but if it doesn't fit you it doesn't matter. And the only way to know if it fits you is to 'walk' in it.

Think of it like you're getting into photography (not selfies, but real photography). You're going to want to try to take a few photos with a $100 camera to make sure you even like doing it as there is a lot more to it than point and shoot. Would you put down $20,000 in equipment if you didn't know you had a real passion for it? Just saying I knew a lot of people in college in the photography classes that where glad they where able to just borrow a camera at the end of it. The people you're talking to on here are the people that went and bought thousands of dollars worth of gear at the end of the class.


A starter bike might not have the image you want, just be aware holding onto the image you want of your first bike and you on it changes within the first year of riding. For some people it changes to no bike at all. A good starter bike will sell for what you paid for it and if you find riding isn't for you you're just out your efforts, not $10,000.


If it has to be a Harley to start, start with the 883. Know you'll sell it.
(some don't and love it forever because it's a great machine, at 250lbs though you'll almost certainly end up wanting more eventually. You'll notice it most on the freeway. Some dealers have a Sportster buy back promotion, might be worth looking into it. ).
The bike will probably get dropped. Something will probably break on it. And you'll find either you discover you can't live without one or you'll end up wondering what all the fuss is about and end up selling it because it's not worth the effort. And that critical answer can only be answered by you and on the road.


So relax. Go into this knowing no matter which way you go there is a borderline certainty that you will end up selling whatever choice you make. Either you sell it to no longer ride or you sell it to buy something new that you've grown into.

 

And btw, purple done right can look outstanding.





Even hot pink can work



Just don't put the two together as pastels: