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doesn't really matter to me what you start on. I all ways recommend a used Honda rebel. ride it for six months and if you like riding, sell it and move up. to many people buy expensive first bikes and ride them for a few months and three years later, the wife says to sell it cause you don't ride it.
constant practice, rain or shine. it is all a learning experience no matter the situation, just ride the bike!!
Nice bike. I think you need more electrical meters.
Originally Posted by Skullcap
Thanks for your input and encouragement everyone!
I have a class M California driver's license and a credit card, which is what the Harley dealership required from me to do a test drive. I have a class M license because I used to ride a scooter in my 20's. I have kept it current all these years.
I did a lot of reading and research about how motorcycle shifting mechanisms work before I went to do that test drive. I just took it slow and easy, and everything was fine. I never went above third gear, and was really careful with turns, but it all worked out. Plus, if anything went wrong, they had my credit card.
No damage has been done to my bike by dropping it. The engine guard plus similar mechanism on the back of the bike (not sure what that is called), are positioned such that when you dope the bike , it is resting on those. Nothing else gets touched by the ground. It is almost as if they knew people were going to be dropping these bikes. I have only dropped the bike when almost at a complete stop. Slow turns are really the biggest challenge. Everything else has been pretty easy. Braking on curves has been the other technical point that I feel a little iffy on.
In general, I have done a ton of reading and internet research on good riding technique, and it has payed off. The videos by Jerry (the motorman) Palladino have been especially helpful. I guess I am a quick learner.
Welcome to the forums and congrats on the new ride - You seem to already know your limitations, take the class, learn a few things and you'll be amazed on how quickly the learning curve ramps up.
If the tour pack behind the seat is detachable - you may want to remove it to lower the risk of damage and I'm not sure but it might help your initial riding skills.
In general, I have done a ton of reading and internet research on good riding technique, and it has payed off. The videos by Jerry (the motorman) Palladino have been especially helpful. I guess I am a quick learner.
Here is a picture of my bike...
Nice bike sorry for any doubts, but it seems strange to me to learn to ride on a big@ss loaded out expensive harley. I wore out at least 3 dirt bikes and wrecked a couple street bikes and still was hesitant about getting on a 900 pound shinny beautiful Limited. Good on you, that takes strong intestinal fortitude or just stupid.
The first time you go into a corner too hot will determine what size bike you should have started on.
Sorry, but this is stupid. You can go into a corner too hot on ANY bike and learn a very costly lesson or a potentially life-ending mistake. Too fast on a small bike is still gonna put you over the center-line (I've seen more than a handful of videos on youtube of crotch-rockets doing this exact thing).
I have a class M California driver's license and a credit card, which is what the Harley dealership required from me to do a test drive. I have a class M license because I used to ride a scooter in my 20's. I have kept it current all these years.
I did a lot of reading and research about how motorcycle shifting mechanisms work before I went to do that test drive. I just took it slow and easy, and everything was fine. I never went above third gear, and was really careful with turns, but it all worked out. Plus, if anything went wrong, they had my credit card.
No damage has been done to my bike by dropping it. The engine guard plus similar mechanism on the back of the bike (not sure what that is called), are positioned such that when you dope the bike , it is resting on those. Nothing else gets touched by the ground. It is almost as if they knew people were going to be dropping these bikes. I have only dropped the bike when almost at a complete stop. Slow turns are really the biggest challenge. Everything else has been pretty easy. Braking on curves has been the other technical point that I feel a little iffy on.
In general, I have done a ton of reading and internet research on good riding technique, and it has payed off. The videos by Jerry (the motorman) Palladino have been especially helpful. I guess I am a quick learner.
Here is a picture of my bike...
Beautiful bike! And congrats on going straight to what you wanted and not dicking around listening to other people's advice. I would say you definitely did not make a mistake...as you pointed out, dropping the bike doesn't really hurt it due to the guard rails and most drops are at very slow speed. Guard rails are cheap to replace if you don't like the scratches, and as the Ride Like a PRo guys point out...it's even cheaper to put rubber hose on them and not scratch them up at all.
Getting that RLAP DVD and practicing in a big empty parking lot will probably be good for you...help you get used to whipping that big girl around at slow speed. I assume you've already discovered the technique for easily picking the bike up if you drop it?
As for braking in curves at speed...you shouldn't need to do it. Always approach cruves at a reasonable speed and brake BEFORE the turn, then lean her over and roll on the throttle as you see the exit for the turn. If you have to brake in the curve, light rear brake is your friend (though on the rushmore's they hve linked brakes so it will also engage your front brake some, too...I'm not sure how that affects the handling as I've not taken a rushmore into the twisties yet).
Good luck, be safe, practice, practice, practice, and practice some more, and most importantly, hAVE FUN! Welcome to the forums.
As a former motorcycle safety instructor, it is my belief that it is not what you ride but how you ride it. There is a lot to be said for starting with a smaller motorcycle and then moving up in displacement as your skill level improves, however, the alternative is that you will not be satisfied with a beginner style motorcycle as you progress and will be frustrated by riding something that is below your expectations. Whatever you ride, do it safely and with as much information and practice as you can get. Enjoy the ride.
Yeah go for! Do take a class. I got a lot of bad habits teaching myself I had to unlearn as I got more knowledge. Much easier to learn it right. Still no good at it but haven't died in over 50 years of riding...
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I have only dropped the bike when almost at a complete stop. Slow turns are really the biggest challenge. Everything else has been pretty easy. Braking on curves has been the other technical point that I feel a little iffy on.
