Rookie buys Roadglide - advice
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 648
Likes: 24
From: New Jersey
Here's another vote for encouraging him to enroll in an MSF course. If he has the means, maybe he can also pick up a used Yamaha V Star or similar small cruiser and ride it for a couple of months and then unload it for what he paid for it.
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 779
Likes: 29
From: AMERICA
I was him 10 years ago. Hadn't been on a bike in 20 years. I took the MFS course. I then ordered an 06' RKC. I had by buddy Dale pick it up with me. Dale road it to a local parking lot. I practiced there some slow speed maneuvers. Later that week we went to a state park. I practiced going up and down mountain hills and braking. Later on during the week my buddy Tommy came by and we took a 125 mile ride. Well now the RKC has 70K and I also have a 15' Limited with 6.2K.
You should help him. Explain your concerns while also encouraging him.
Remember experience is gained through riding and racking up the miles.
You should help him. Explain your concerns while also encouraging him.
Remember experience is gained through riding and racking up the miles.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 17,750
Likes: 3,347
From: maine
It was a 23 year gap when I was reintroduced to riding again. My brother offered me his Heritage to ride when I went to visit him in Florida, he has a Road King for himself. I really didn't realize how much I remembered about riding or how much I'd forgotten until I went for that first ride.( I think my brother was way more nerves than me.) That first day of riding really got some of my confidence back. The next day my brother asked if I would mind watching a video of riding instructions before we headed out for the day. I didn't mind, after all it was his bike and nothing to lose watching a video. The video was Ride like a Pro. After watching it I really learned just how much I not only forgot but just how much I never knew. I would recommend that to all who ride. Its a sad day when you can't learn something no matter how long you've been doing anything. Ride Safe.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,390
Likes: 2
From: Naples, Florida
My first bike was an Ultra, never ridden before, I took the riders edge course and did the break in miles at night with leas traffi . 85k miles later no incidents.
So yeah, help him, take him out and let him get use to it all over again. All of us were beginners at one point.
So yeah, help him, take him out and let him get use to it all over again. All of us were beginners at one point.
Last edited by Lawdawg; May 13, 2015 at 08:48 AM.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 1,556
Likes: 521
From: San Angelo, Tx
I know guys that have ridden "their whole life" that I wouldn't ride in a parking lot with, and I know guys that have ridden for a year that I would ride to Sturgis with. It just depends on the confidence and skill.
Just because he hasn't ridden much on a 800 pound bike doesn't mean he will suck at it, and vice versa...
Some guys duck walk forever, some guys don't.
Just because he hasn't ridden much on a 800 pound bike doesn't mean he will suck at it, and vice versa...
Some guys duck walk forever, some guys don't.
Road Captain
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 671
Likes: 5
From: D.C suburbs
The new touring bikes are easy to learn with, I never rode a touring bike before I picked it up in Texas. I was riding the dragon 2 days later on my way back to DC. I never got to practice on it because I flew in later than I planned.
Tell him to take it easy, and hope he isn't cocky and hard headed like me. My favorite line is "I got this!"
Tell him to take it easy, and hope he isn't cocky and hard headed like me. My favorite line is "I got this!"