newbies first ride
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 365
Likes: 0
From: Ohio
RE: newbies first ride
Hi Phil congrats, you must be very happy. There is
probably little I can say about practice or riding , you
don't already know. I am sure you will want to get out
there on the first clear warm day. My only comment.
I also live in Ohio. Be careful at those stop signs. The
salt and sand Ohio puts down. Can be worse than ice
if you lean just a little too much.
probably little I can say about practice or riding , you
don't already know. I am sure you will want to get out
there on the first clear warm day. My only comment.
I also live in Ohio. Be careful at those stop signs. The
salt and sand Ohio puts down. Can be worse than ice
if you lean just a little too much.
Road Master
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,081
Likes: 336
From: Upstate, SC
RE: newbies first ride
Some dealerships have demo days where you can test ride several different bikes. When I got mine it was the first time I rode in over twenty years. I remember thinking it was faster than I expected.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 10,471
Likes: 1
From: Heart of Missouri
RE: newbies first ride
You have saddletime. Of course when you pick it up, the dealer is going to go over the bike with you. Once you leave the parking lot, you will be fine. Its brand new you will be doing brake in and that is your time to get the feel of the bike. Congratulations. Don't forget to take pic when you get home and have time to rest your face muscles.
Road Captain
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 681
Likes: 0
From: Red&Black World
RE: newbies first ride
Have your kids to get their freinds and line upnear the roadclose toyour house. Now buy them a bag of Baseballs. You ride down the road on your suzuki C-50at about 50mph have them throw the baseballs at and in front of you. If you make it you are ready to ride anything. If you dont make it call cops get insurance claim and buy a harley.
For real though My brother rides a C-90t and the first day I had my harley jumped on it and rode it like a champ. They are similar in the balance and turning radius. Only problem I have with my SG is it dont wash it's self.
I also ride a Gold-wing and a Hayabusa. I find myself shifting early on the busa after riding the harley for a day. You will be fine
For real though My brother rides a C-90t and the first day I had my harley jumped on it and rode it like a champ. They are similar in the balance and turning radius. Only problem I have with my SG is it dont wash it's self.
I also ride a Gold-wing and a Hayabusa. I find myself shifting early on the busa after riding the harley for a day. You will be fine
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 758
Likes: 0
From: Winston Salen, NC
RE: newbies first ride
I had not owned a bike for about 18 or so years. Let me tell you what not to do.... DO NOT
decide to ride home even though it is supposed to storm
forget to check your bags to make sure they are locked
forget to tell your wife you will be going below the posted 70 mph speed limit on purpose
keep riding when your wife pulls up beside you and points at the bike (while it is raining like hell)
keep going when you realize what she was pointing at is an open lid on the bags
use one hand to hold the lid down while riding as you are now only 3 miles from home
look down to make sure your hand is working good as a lid latch
AND MOST OF ALL DO NOT....
freak out when you look back up and realize that you are about to eat the *** end of your own truck as your wife has locked it up because of the old lady deciding to make a quick left
However do be thankful that you maintain control and bring the bike to a complete upright stop while missing the bumper of your own truck. Then realize your wife is looking at you and you are beside the truck in a wide section of road that provided an out to keep from hitting oncoming traffic. Now is when you do pull over in the church parking lot, latch the lid, clean the crap out of your pants, thank God and ride the last mile to the house totally drenched but glad to be living.
Then join this forum and spend a lot of money due to all the coaxing from these nice people on here.
Do not ask how I know all this.....[:@][:@]
Enjoy and ride safe... I now have 11,000 safe miles...
decide to ride home even though it is supposed to storm
forget to check your bags to make sure they are locked
forget to tell your wife you will be going below the posted 70 mph speed limit on purpose
keep riding when your wife pulls up beside you and points at the bike (while it is raining like hell)
keep going when you realize what she was pointing at is an open lid on the bags
use one hand to hold the lid down while riding as you are now only 3 miles from home
look down to make sure your hand is working good as a lid latch
AND MOST OF ALL DO NOT....
freak out when you look back up and realize that you are about to eat the *** end of your own truck as your wife has locked it up because of the old lady deciding to make a quick left
However do be thankful that you maintain control and bring the bike to a complete upright stop while missing the bumper of your own truck. Then realize your wife is looking at you and you are beside the truck in a wide section of road that provided an out to keep from hitting oncoming traffic. Now is when you do pull over in the church parking lot, latch the lid, clean the crap out of your pants, thank God and ride the last mile to the house totally drenched but glad to be living.
Then join this forum and spend a lot of money due to all the coaxing from these nice people on here.
Do not ask how I know all this.....[:@][:@]
Enjoy and ride safe... I now have 11,000 safe miles...
Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 116
Likes: 0
From:
RE: newbies first ride
Meeeee toooooo
Last bike ride.... 23 years ago on a Kaw...400!!! Bought a 04 Ultra classic.... picked it up... 40 degrees out.... bought gloves and helmet while they finished up prep. Service showed me the basics..... I got on ... it is now 9PM I head out of the service bay into the parking lot.... and promply start heading right for a truck ..... Stopped, ran over my mistake of looking at the truck and not my route circled the lot for several laps.... head home in the dark scared to death. Stayed in my lane on a bunch of twistes on the way home ... well most of the time. Got a mile from home and realized I live on a 1/4 mile dirt road with a steep rocky climb up to my garage. When I got to the garage, wife opened the door and finally got into the garage and then I kissed the ground....!!!!! I love it and have taken the first riders course....
I love the bike.... just take it slow and easy....and RELAX...
Last bike ride.... 23 years ago on a Kaw...400!!! Bought a 04 Ultra classic.... picked it up... 40 degrees out.... bought gloves and helmet while they finished up prep. Service showed me the basics..... I got on ... it is now 9PM I head out of the service bay into the parking lot.... and promply start heading right for a truck ..... Stopped, ran over my mistake of looking at the truck and not my route circled the lot for several laps.... head home in the dark scared to death. Stayed in my lane on a bunch of twistes on the way home ... well most of the time. Got a mile from home and realized I live on a 1/4 mile dirt road with a steep rocky climb up to my garage. When I got to the garage, wife opened the door and finally got into the garage and then I kissed the ground....!!!!! I love it and have taken the first riders course....
I love the bike.... just take it slow and easy....and RELAX...
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider
Verdad Gallardo
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 979
Likes: 0
From: west of the west side of Indy, many miles from nowhere
RE: newbies first ride
Congratson your first HD. I bought my first one last fall - '05 Ultra. I'd been riding an '82 BMW R100RS for the last 20 yrs. The most noticeable thing for me was going from footpegs to floorboards. I kept feeling for them and they just weren't there!The extra weight really isn't an issue once it's moving. Have fun and ride safe!
