New to Harley big bikes. Need riding advice

Closed Thread Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Feb 18, 2014 | 06:52 PM

#81

Tampakingpin

Outstanding HDF Member

Joined: Aug 2012

Posts: 2,130

Likes: 0

From: Tampa

Riding in Stillwater is pretty wide open. Oklahoma has so many wide open roads that you should go out and pack on the easy miles as you find your footing. Drive down to cushing, chandler, and ride those windy back roads when you want to skill up. Just watch for loose gravel, etc. Ride a bit, one-up until you get comfortable, then throw the lady on the back.

Feb 19, 2014 | 01:02 PM

#82

Carolina Joe

Cruiser

Joined: Jul 2013

Posts: 212

Likes: 4

From: South Carolina

My advice would be to ride that bike plenty by your self until all controls fell under your hands and feet without having to think about them at all. When it becomes "second nature" then I would start 2 up.

As far as the bike feeling "big" , that will go away as your miles on it begin to accumulate. Probably more quicker than you realize. I think the size thing is directly connected to your confidence level. As confidence goes up the other diminishes.

Just take your time, ride every chance you get and you will be ok. This ain't your first rodeo with your experience on the other bikes. You'll be OK.

Feb 19, 2014 | 02:35 PM

#83

Sagido

Tourer

Joined: Jul 2012

Posts: 486

Likes: 1

From: Coal Township, Pa

I went from a Softail Standard to a 2009 Ultra Classic. My advice is the same as many of the other posters. Know your braking limits, and make sure you know where you are planning on stopping. Hopefully you got a bike with ABS, if not then know when they lock, and they will lock. Once I came to the stop sign at the bottom of a off ramp and planted my foot in gravel. Needless to say, my wife was jumping off and helping me pick up the bike.

Feb 19, 2014 | 02:38 PM

#84

HDSAE60

Road Master

Joined: Sep 2007

Posts: 1,044

Likes: 13

From: Broken Bow Oklahoma

You can learn a lot from a dirt bike that is how I learned to ride, without front brakes. That front brake will get ya.

Feb 19, 2014 | 04:10 PM

#85

AlBaron

Cruiser

Joined: Jan 2014

Posts: 162

Likes: 0

From: Chicago

Great advice here, thank you everyone. I'll definitely be ordering the DVDs in the next couple of days myself.
Being a new Harley rider - switching from Yamaha Raider to a Harley FLHX, I do have questions regarding a potentially higher COG than before, especially with bags and the tour pak, but my main question is about ABS (which my Harley has). Does it change my typical "use both brakes whenever possible" approach? Should I be doing anything differently?

Feb 19, 2014 | 04:19 PM

#86

UppercaseJC

Road Warrior

Joined: Sep 2007

Posts: 1,693

Likes: 17

From: Ontario Canada

Quote:

Originally Posted by osudvm

I just bought a 2009 Ultra Classic with 18,000 miles and it is loaded. My wife and I had a dream to ride when we retired. Well, this bike was such a great deal we decided to get our retirement bike now. I have had 175 , 450, 750 Hondas and a 1200 Virago. So I have ridden a lot over the years but never anything this big. I will be taking a two day riding course and will get my M certificate by taking the course. The main reason I am taking the course though is to start out as good as I can with motorcycle safety and riding knowledge even though I have ridden in the past. This is my first Harley. So, I am quite intimidated by the size and want to be a great driver since my wife's safety will be in my hands. Please offer this novice to the big bikes all the advice you want. I will be like a sponge. If you were a little intimidated at first with the size, how did you overcome that? Are the big bikes as hard to ride as they first look? Thanks in advance for your expert insights.

Ok, some of the bikes you have ridden in the past are harder to ride and maneuver then the new bike you purchased. The low centre of gravity on the Ultra is what helps. Having said that no passengers for the first 1000 miles.
When you add the passenger make sure you instruct them on being a passenger. An example of this is many passengers new to bikes sit very still when you are moving and then want to move around to get more comfortable when you are going very slow which is of course a bad idea.
I didn't ask but I assume you can easily flat foot when the bike is stopped.
I think you will be pleasantly surprised how easy the transition will be.