what harley would be the best to start on
Cruiser
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 108
Likes: 0
From: Warren Ohio
If you never road before I would definitely take the safety course first it will teach you the basics and important things you never would have thought of
If you get a cheap jap bike and really want a Harley, IMO, you're just throwing your money away, you won't be happy.
Might not hurt to look over some manuals to get familiar with what up keep a bike takes and basics of how they function. You might be able to find these on line.
Just remember that riding can be dangerous even if you're skilled at it. Other people can be A** holes.
So this question was a dilemma for me when I started riding last year. I'm 6'3", 210 lbs and have always admired Harley Davidson because its not just a motorcycle, it's a lifestyle and an American icon. I couldn't afford too much, and was looking on Craigslist for all kinds of cruisers. But after a lot of thought, I knew I wanted a Harley and wouldn't be satisfied with anything else. Don't get me wrong, there are a lot of great bikes out there other than Harley's....but do some research and see what you like. I ended up started in a Heritage and have no regrets at all. The sporters were too small and I love the feel of the Heritage compared to any Dyna.
Whatever you decide on, just make sure you can handle it. And definitely take the MSF course as it definitely teaches you some much needed skills. Don't rush the ride and definitely get some good gear in the event you do unfortunately go down. Good luck!
Whatever you decide on, just make sure you can handle it. And definitely take the MSF course as it definitely teaches you some much needed skills. Don't rush the ride and definitely get some good gear in the event you do unfortunately go down. Good luck!
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 1,438
Likes: 12
From: Washngton State
I am totally against starting on a small bike. Try to get the bike you want and learn on it. The bike will only go as fast as you want it too (unless you panick and ****** the throttle).
Riding is pretty easy...getting road experience in different scenarios is what is important...that can be done on any bike but less expensive if you just get what you want from the start.
Riding is pretty easy...getting road experience in different scenarios is what is important...that can be done on any bike but less expensive if you just get what you want from the start.
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 1,817
Likes: 116
From: Raleigh, NC
I am totally against starting on a small bike. Try to get the bike you want and learn on it. The bike will only go as fast as you want it too (unless you panick and ****** the throttle).
Riding is pretty easy...getting road experience in different scenarios is what is important...that can be done on any bike but less expensive if you just get what you want from the start.
Riding is pretty easy...getting road experience in different scenarios is what is important...that can be done on any bike but less expensive if you just get what you want from the start.
If you've never ridden, how can you really know what you want? One may like the way a H-D looks, but how can you know that's what you want to ride if you've never ridden?
I work with a young gal who had her heart set on riding. Signed up for MSF and was checking out Sporties.
She had to take the MSF course twice, with two private lessons in between those, before she passed. That told her enough to set her sights lower, and she got a 250 Rebel.
That was months ago. She has hopped on it often, but after months has only reached the point where she can leave her immediate neighborhood. She'd take it out of the garage and ride up and down the street a few times, then back into the garage. She's still fixating, and my constant advice to her is that's she thinking too much, analyzing every single action she takes.
The point is that what she "wanted" and the reality of getting there are very different, and me and my other riding co-worker have wondered, despite her desires, if she ever will be able to really ride.
I'd advise the same as most everyone else: find a small rice burner and take it from there. If you end up on a Harley, don't think of it as wasted money, but the cost of a good education.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 44,807
Likes: 29,745
From: PNW
Guys...............
1 post at 2:35 AM by a 23 year old dishwasher? Dude was probably all liquored up and posted his daily wet dream somewhere between playing Warcraft and seeking out a good **** vid. My guess is he doesn't even remember signing up and posting the question.
Regardless - here's my offering
Uploaded with ImageShack.us
1 post at 2:35 AM by a 23 year old dishwasher? Dude was probably all liquored up and posted his daily wet dream somewhere between playing Warcraft and seeking out a good **** vid. My guess is he doesn't even remember signing up and posting the question.
Regardless - here's my offering
Uploaded with ImageShack.us
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 1,817
Likes: 116
From: Raleigh, NC
Guys...............
1 post at 2:35 AM by a 23 year old dishwasher? Dude was probably all liquored up and posted his daily wet dream somewhere between playing Warcraft and seeking out a good **** vid. My guess is he doesn't even remember signing up and posting the question.
Regardless - here's my offering
Uploaded with ImageShack.us
1 post at 2:35 AM by a 23 year old dishwasher? Dude was probably all liquored up and posted his daily wet dream somewhere between playing Warcraft and seeking out a good **** vid. My guess is he doesn't even remember signing up and posting the question.
Regardless - here's my offering
Uploaded with ImageShack.us
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,306
Likes: 3
From: Vancouver, BC
If you never rode a bike in your life, start small, buy a cheap second hand 250cc rice burner, drop it, fall to the ground, roll it into a ditch.
After that learning process, buy another even cheaper heavier ricer, till you know how to handle a motorcycle, then buy a H-D.
Sportsters are known to be starter bikes, but this not true, they are more top heavy than a Softail...
After that learning process, buy another even cheaper heavier ricer, till you know how to handle a motorcycle, then buy a H-D.
Sportsters are known to be starter bikes, but this not true, they are more top heavy than a Softail...
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 431
Likes: 0
From: b.c.
I disagree.
If you've never ridden, how can you really know what you want? One may like the way a H-D looks, but how can you know that's what you want to ride if you've never ridden?
I work with a young gal who had her heart set on riding. Signed up for MSF and was checking out Sporties.
She had to take the MSF course twice, with two private lessons in between those, before she passed. That told her enough to set her sights lower, and she got a 250 Rebel.
That was months ago. She has hopped on it often, but after months has only reached the point where she can leave her immediate neighborhood. She'd take it out of the garage and ride up and down the street a few times, then back into the garage. She's still fixating, and my constant advice to her is that's she thinking too much, analyzing every single action she takes.
The point is that what she "wanted" and the reality of getting there are very different, and me and my other riding co-worker have wondered, despite her desires, if she ever will be able to really ride.
I'd advise the same as most everyone else: find a small rice burner and take it from there. If you end up on a Harley, don't think of it as wasted money, but the cost of a good education.
If you've never ridden, how can you really know what you want? One may like the way a H-D looks, but how can you know that's what you want to ride if you've never ridden?
I work with a young gal who had her heart set on riding. Signed up for MSF and was checking out Sporties.
She had to take the MSF course twice, with two private lessons in between those, before she passed. That told her enough to set her sights lower, and she got a 250 Rebel.
That was months ago. She has hopped on it often, but after months has only reached the point where she can leave her immediate neighborhood. She'd take it out of the garage and ride up and down the street a few times, then back into the garage. She's still fixating, and my constant advice to her is that's she thinking too much, analyzing every single action she takes.
The point is that what she "wanted" and the reality of getting there are very different, and me and my other riding co-worker have wondered, despite her desires, if she ever will be able to really ride.
I'd advise the same as most everyone else: find a small rice burner and take it from there. If you end up on a Harley, don't think of it as wasted money, but the cost of a good education.
I was selling a Kawi ZX6R recently and a young girl and her boyfriend showed up to buy it. In conversation, it became clear that this would be the girls bike and she'd never ridden before....just liked the look. I told them that this was a race bike and she really shouldn't consider having one as her first bike. I hope she didn't end up buying the Honda CBR600RR that she said she was going to look at next. To quote a wise friend "no good can come from it" .
Dave