New owner - clueless.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,599
Likes: 1
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RE: New owner - clueless.
Firing it up and riding are two different things. I may let it idle out if the class takes longer to get into than I thought on a weekend day.
Riding it is not an option. Heck, I'm afraid to walk it to a more secluded corner of the garage at this point.
This bike is a dream realized for me. Other than the roar (which I've now heard) the rest of the dream will have to wait. Shopping for a manual - hehe..
Riding it is not an option. Heck, I'm afraid to walk it to a more secluded corner of the garage at this point.
This bike is a dream realized for me. Other than the roar (which I've now heard) the rest of the dream will have to wait. Shopping for a manual - hehe..
RE: New owner - clueless.
Welcome from SoCal......Due to your lack of experience, take an MSF course , you use their bikes. This will save you alot of handles , mirrors, lenses and maybe some skin. Wear appropriate gear when riding.
Again WELCOME and Ride Safe
Road Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 873
Likes: 2
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RE: New owner - clueless.
Here's an ugly first bike story for ya.... A detective from another local police dept could talk about nothing but his pending retirement and the purchase of his first bike, a Harley. Took the retirement and had the dealership deliver the bike cause he didn't know how to ride it home.
The following morning a friend of his came over to teach him about the bike. He fired it up in his driveway, over revved it, panicked and dumped the clutch. The bike took him down the driveway, across the street and into a deep ditch. That was five years ago. He is spending his well-earned retirement in a rest home paralyzed from the neck down. The bike really didn't sustain much damage and was sold by his family with less than five miles on it.
Moral of the story... Stay off the bike until you get the class...
The following morning a friend of his came over to teach him about the bike. He fired it up in his driveway, over revved it, panicked and dumped the clutch. The bike took him down the driveway, across the street and into a deep ditch. That was five years ago. He is spending his well-earned retirement in a rest home paralyzed from the neck down. The bike really didn't sustain much damage and was sold by his family with less than five miles on it.
Moral of the story... Stay off the bike until you get the class...
Tourer
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 383
Likes: 1
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RE: New owner - clueless.
Here is the procedure for turning on a Carb/Petcock bike.
Set Kill Switch to Run
Turn Fuel from the Off to On Position
Pull Choke all the way Out
Sit on Bike
Turn Ignition On
Pull in Clutch
Hit the Starter
Put Bike in Neutral and Kickstand it
Push Choke in to Half Way
Let it Warm up, but turn off choke as soon as you can. If you do it too soon you'll hear the engine RPMS lower to much and want to die on you. You do it to late and you'll foul your plugs....One Reason why EFI Is nice is you don't have to worry about this.
On a Side note. take your bike into the back yard. Sit on it and let the clutch out and take it back and forth in your yard. If it falls its in the grass, won't hurt nothing, but it gets you used to clutch control and the weight of your bike. Don't do it to long because it'll burn the clutch out. After an Hour or two of that you might feel comfortable to go to a parking lot or a court in your neighborhood and ride around in straight lines and what not. That should get you going. Later.
Set Kill Switch to Run
Turn Fuel from the Off to On Position
Pull Choke all the way Out
Sit on Bike
Turn Ignition On
Pull in Clutch
Hit the Starter
Put Bike in Neutral and Kickstand it
Push Choke in to Half Way
Let it Warm up, but turn off choke as soon as you can. If you do it too soon you'll hear the engine RPMS lower to much and want to die on you. You do it to late and you'll foul your plugs....One Reason why EFI Is nice is you don't have to worry about this.
On a Side note. take your bike into the back yard. Sit on it and let the clutch out and take it back and forth in your yard. If it falls its in the grass, won't hurt nothing, but it gets you used to clutch control and the weight of your bike. Don't do it to long because it'll burn the clutch out. After an Hour or two of that you might feel comfortable to go to a parking lot or a court in your neighborhood and ride around in straight lines and what not. That should get you going. Later.
Tourer
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 383
Likes: 1
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RE: New owner - clueless.
Oh and don't just turn you bike on and off like that its bad for it. However, if your out riding and you park in and your back to your bike in a half an hour or, so try not to use the choke to start it up, prolly warm enough already. Or Half Choke. Just remember, don't use that choke TOO much, JUST enough!
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 7,611
Likes: 104
From: Southern Colorado
RE: New owner - clueless.
Biggol,
Put the bike in neutral.
Push it down the street to the city park.
If a park isn't available, park it under a nearby shade tree.
Sit on it, smile alot and wave at passing people.
Push it home.
Sign up for the MSF course.
I took the course before I rode my bike (yes, I bought the bike first!) and still think it was the best thing I ever did. Don't be a fool and hurt yourself.
Nice bike!
Put the bike in neutral.
Push it down the street to the city park.
If a park isn't available, park it under a nearby shade tree.
Sit on it, smile alot and wave at passing people.
Push it home.
Sign up for the MSF course.
I took the course before I rode my bike (yes, I bought the bike first!) and still think it was the best thing I ever did. Don't be a fool and hurt yourself.
Nice bike!
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,728
Likes: 1
From: Olympia, Washington
RE: New owner - clueless.
Whiskers--that was good.
Like the rest, take the MSF course. You won't regret it. And you waited this long for the bike, so be patient. Sometimes, you can work through a bad decision and sometimes you can't. If you don't have a local Harley dealership that has a manual, you can probably order one which is a good idea.
Have fun.
Like the rest, take the MSF course. You won't regret it. And you waited this long for the bike, so be patient. Sometimes, you can work through a bad decision and sometimes you can't. If you don't have a local Harley dealership that has a manual, you can probably order one which is a good idea.
Have fun.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,942
Likes: 2
From: LAKESIDE CA.
RE: New owner - clueless.
first thing a warm up period of just sitting and idleing is a waste of time not needed and may even do damage
second leave the choke alone just twist the throttle once maybe twice and start the thing
I personelly never shut my gas off and I never use the kill switch (works for me) but I ride every day
start your bike and ride slow for the first block or so that is all the warm up needed
second leave the choke alone just twist the throttle once maybe twice and start the thing
I personelly never shut my gas off and I never use the kill switch (works for me) but I ride every day
start your bike and ride slow for the first block or so that is all the warm up needed
Tourer
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 383
Likes: 1
From:
RE: New owner - clueless.
I don't really agree with hop on it and ride it with a carb bike. Its dangerous to some extent. It'll want to die on you at stop lights and sitting there twitching the throttle to keep it alive can be a pain for a newbie. Let it warm up for 5mins then take it on a ride. Doesn't need more than that. Alot of people will pull the choke all the way, then push it in half way and take off that way. If thats what you want to do thats fine, but remember to push it in after a mile or 2. On a carb bike I have always prefered to let it achieve idle without choke before I pulled off. Thats why I like my EFI, so much I don't have to do that, but to each their own. As far as the MSF goes. I didn't take it until my 3rd bike. Road Virago 700 3 months, Road Star for 6 months, and now my Wide Glide. I passed the MSF with a 100. I however did buy and read several motorcycle safety books and spent about as much time in the parking lot as that course. I would do the backyard thing, so you do have somewhat of a heads up on the others when you go. I was in the back yard for 2hrs, then rolled over to a parking lot and spent 3 days there. After that I was on the road and never looked backed. The books helped in knowing what to look for, as well as hanging out with experienced riders. Never stop straight behind a car at a stoplight and always look for left turners is my bit of advice .
P.S. If you put it in neutral at a light and you go to put it into first and it won't go, the bike isn't to hot, just let out on the clutch halfway and pull it back in again then shift into first. I had that problem once in my career, could have used that bit of advice.
.P.S. If you put it in neutral at a light and you go to put it into first and it won't go, the bike isn't to hot, just let out on the clutch halfway and pull it back in again then shift into first. I had that problem once in my career, could have used that bit of advice
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