New owner - clueless.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,081
Likes: 4
From: Phoenix, Arizona
RE: New owner - clueless.
ORIGINAL: Whiskers
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!
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!
<ahem> Yes take the course and then ride.
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,192
Likes: 4
From: Columbus, OH
RE: New owner - clueless.
Get yourself a battery tender, not a trickle charger, a battery tender. I only use the enricher (choke) when it's below 60 deg outside, and I start halfway and go more only if needed. I put it all the way in when I've gone a couple of blocks, depending on how cold it is. In the summer, I don't use it at all. Every time I start the bike after it's been sitting, I crank the trottle 4 or 5 times before I hit the starter, after it's warmed up I only crank it once. I always turn the gas off and try to use the kill switch instead of the ingintion.
Guest
Posts: n/a
RE: New owner - clueless.
ORIGINAL: Biggol
Yeah I have a few - problem is none of the locals have Harleys. I don't wanna' take advice from my bud with the SZ Marauder.
Guess the biggest question I have tonight is - do I need to turn that toggle to "off"? Bike didn't come with a charger.. and would hate to be the sucker sitting in the garage on the non-riding machine.
Yeah I have a few - problem is none of the locals have Harleys. I don't wanna' take advice from my bud with the SZ Marauder.
Guess the biggest question I have tonight is - do I need to turn that toggle to "off"? Bike didn't come with a charger.. and would hate to be the sucker sitting in the garage on the non-riding machine.
Actually if you have any friends that have a carb bike the basics are just about the same....does not have to be a Harley, large cc, or even a cruiser.... (some of the battery tending might be different -- like if it doesn't have one...lol)
I still make the suggestion that you should get to the MSF course as soon as you can but your friends should be able to help you out with getting going a bit in a yard or parking lot. Take it slow ... it will be easy in no time.
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,034
Likes: 1
From:
RE: New owner - clueless.
I gather from your post that you have never operated a motorcycle. If true:
Don't even think about riding your bike untill you have taken the basic cource.
Try to find an understanding mentor who will ride your bike to a empty parking lot and will help you with the basics.
Take your first ride early on a Sunday morning when there is little traffic.
Find some rural roads and ride until you feel confident. Slowly work your way up to traffic.
Do not get talked into any organized group rides (over 2 riders) or go riding with folks who don't know or don't care that you are inexperienced. You will try to keep up with them and that will get you into trouble.
Take it easy and slow for a while and you will be fine.
Don't even think about riding your bike untill you have taken the basic cource.
Try to find an understanding mentor who will ride your bike to a empty parking lot and will help you with the basics.
Take your first ride early on a Sunday morning when there is little traffic.
Find some rural roads and ride until you feel confident. Slowly work your way up to traffic.
Do not get talked into any organized group rides (over 2 riders) or go riding with folks who don't know or don't care that you are inexperienced. You will try to keep up with them and that will get you into trouble.
Take it easy and slow for a while and you will be fine.
Thread Starter
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,599
Likes: 1
From:
RE: New owner - clueless.
Thanks all - great advice.
Pushing it out to a shadetree now to wave at folks. Actually I'm not, walking it up the grade at the bottom of the driveway is a killer..
Last night after logging off I decided there would be a definate "NO RIDE" policy until I take the course. That's just good common sense.
Since I hung a pic of it on the wall at work, other owner-riders have come out of the woodwork I never knew about. Several claps on the back and offers to ride have been thrown out like beads at Mardi Graux (sp).
I did a little research on it and figured out the basics. Although, checking this thread from work would have been just as good.
Thanks again for the input and I waited this long for the bike, I can wait a week or two for the course!
-impatiently patient-
Biggol.
Pushing it out to a shadetree now to wave at folks.
Actually I'm not, walking it up the grade at the bottom of the driveway is a killer..Last night after logging off I decided there would be a definate "NO RIDE" policy until I take the course. That's just good common sense.
Since I hung a pic of it on the wall at work, other owner-riders have come out of the woodwork I never knew about. Several claps on the back and offers to ride have been thrown out like beads at Mardi Graux (sp).
I did a little research on it and figured out the basics. Although, checking this thread from work would have been just as good.
Thanks again for the input and I waited this long for the bike, I can wait a week or two for the course!
-impatiently patient-
Biggol.
Banned
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 14,082
Likes: 8
RE: New owner - clueless.
Get on the Bike and ride. the MSF course is great but damn it, ride that Bike. You must be careful, even after the course. What did people do before the course came along? Damn, ride the dang thing. It is a Bike, it is dangerous, before and after the course. Common sense goes a long way, but Dude, waitin for someone to teach you is not a good idea. I can't believe the number of people who don't ride till they get some class. thats total BS. Ride the damn thing!
And don't move the Bike an inch unless you are astride it!
And don't move the Bike an inch unless you are astride it!
Tourer
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 383
Likes: 1
From:
RE: New owner - clueless.
ORIGINAL: ******
Get on the Bike and ride. the MSF course is great but damn it, ride that Bike. You must be careful, even after the course. What did people do before the course came along? Damn, ride the dang thing. It is a Bike, it is dangerous, before and after the course. Common sense goes a long way, but Dude, waitin for someone to teach you is not a good idea. I can't believe the number of people who don't ride till they get some class. thats total BS. Ride the damn thing!
And don't move the Bike an inch unless you are astride it!
Get on the Bike and ride. the MSF course is great but damn it, ride that Bike. You must be careful, even after the course. What did people do before the course came along? Damn, ride the dang thing. It is a Bike, it is dangerous, before and after the course. Common sense goes a long way, but Dude, waitin for someone to teach you is not a good idea. I can't believe the number of people who don't ride till they get some class. thats total BS. Ride the damn thing!
And don't move the Bike an inch unless you are astride it!
Thread Starter
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,599
Likes: 1
From:
RE: New owner - clueless.
****** and rap87 - The idea is tempting.
I know what to look for in other drivers and not worried about them being a hazard to me initially. I teach Smith Systems safety classes for big rig drivers.
I don't want to be the hazard to them, or to my new bike. If I can't get a class lined up for earlier than the middle of August, I will probably do the back yard thing.
I rode a friends dirtbike quite often, and three wheelers, quads etc when I was younger. This isn't one of those. It's a Harley.
It needs me to respect it until I can make sure that I can fire it up and ride it like crazy - without tearing it or me or anything else up in the process.
No disrespect guys, and I appreciate the advice, but this bike is one of the dreams I've had in my life coming to reality. Don't want it to be one of those dreams where you wake up right before you're about to.. well.. hehe
I know what to look for in other drivers and not worried about them being a hazard to me initially. I teach Smith Systems safety classes for big rig drivers.
I don't want to be the hazard to them, or to my new bike. If I can't get a class lined up for earlier than the middle of August, I will probably do the back yard thing.
I rode a friends dirtbike quite often, and three wheelers, quads etc when I was younger. This isn't one of those. It's a Harley.
It needs me to respect it until I can make sure that I can fire it up and ride it like crazy - without tearing it or me or anything else up in the process.
No disrespect guys, and I appreciate the advice, but this bike is one of the dreams I've had in my life coming to reality.
Don't want it to be one of those dreams where you wake up right before you're about to.. well.. hehe
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Banned
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 14,082
Likes: 8
RE: New owner - clueless.
I dropped my Sporty a month ago. I have ridden it for 18,000 plus miles in the past year. I have rdden Bikes off and on for 33 years. Nothing is going to save yer butt from the idiots of the road, or from circumstances beyond yer control. That said, riding the less traveled backroads with the frame of mind that all four wheeled and up vehicles are out to get you, is by far better experience than any course. The course is better for refining skills than it is for teaching the basic riding attitude. Ride yer bike to some place you deem realitively safe and ride. Be very careful in neighborhoods and around lots of traffic, but find a way to ride that Bike. Nothing beats experience. Sometimes I have seen the course give people a false sense of security too.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,050
Likes: 1
From:
RE: New owner - clueless.
ORIGINAL: rap87
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.
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.
No offense but that is a terrible idea. Sending a newbie onto the GRASS and telling him to practice letting the clutch out??? I'll bet at some point he'll accidently let the clutch out too quickly and will send him and his bike crashing to the ground. (grass or no grass, he could get burned, hurt or break parts on his bike)
I recently took a 16 y/o out in a parking lot and taught him the correct way to take-off, stop, park, turn and countersteer. In less than an hour and a half, he was riding all over the lot with a complete grip of what was expected.
Gradual instructions by someone that knows what they're doing with a little patience will help a new rider....
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