First bike for beginner
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 14,744
Likes: 402
From: Phoenix '53, '88, '09 Big Twins
I hope you took a rider course, now take the advanced course.
Statistically most m/c accidents happen in the first year of riding, on a borrowed bike to an unlicensed ( or provisional) rider.
The touring bikes we ride weight 800 pounds or more. are dumb, heavy, and top heavy too
A midweight import bike might be the way to go to ensure that m/c riding is for you - many end up getting out of it as they find it stressful.
The entry to Harley world is often with a Sportster series bike which is 1/2 the cost of a touring model, yet offers rubber mount drivetrain, lightweight, good power to weight ratio, good turning and stopping.
Do that for a year or 2.
Component 1 is your riding ability and enjoyment- and judging road conditions
Component 2 is those other ****** on the road and learning to read other traffic in a whole new way, choosing your lane position, blind spots etc.
( I had some douche stick in my truck's blind spot for about 20 minutes the other day- I wish I could have schooled him- I spent the drive hoping that I wouldn't kill him if I had to swerve, or just needed to change lanes)
Mike
Statistically most m/c accidents happen in the first year of riding, on a borrowed bike to an unlicensed ( or provisional) rider.
The touring bikes we ride weight 800 pounds or more. are dumb, heavy, and top heavy too
A midweight import bike might be the way to go to ensure that m/c riding is for you - many end up getting out of it as they find it stressful.
The entry to Harley world is often with a Sportster series bike which is 1/2 the cost of a touring model, yet offers rubber mount drivetrain, lightweight, good power to weight ratio, good turning and stopping.
Do that for a year or 2.
Component 1 is your riding ability and enjoyment- and judging road conditions
Component 2 is those other ****** on the road and learning to read other traffic in a whole new way, choosing your lane position, blind spots etc.
( I had some douche stick in my truck's blind spot for about 20 minutes the other day- I wish I could have schooled him- I spent the drive hoping that I wouldn't kill him if I had to swerve, or just needed to change lanes)
Mike
Buying a bike depends on how you want to use it, IE where, IE how...etc. Depends on what you can handle, experience says you can handle more, but you don't always need to. I like my bike because it is part of me, not because it is the thing to do. Sure I justify things to add things to it, but my bike is mine and I am its biggest fan. When I switched from rockets to cruisers, I started on a 500 Kawi pos, then moved up. The point is we evolve, get our confidence, but the bike we select today may be different from tomorrow based on how we have evolved and matured. I love my bike, but you may not, so you need to find you, to find your bike...
Good thing my initials are BS and got my riding boots on, but I mean every word!
Good thing my initials are BS and got my riding boots on, but I mean every word!
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 302
Likes: 0
first bike is a big step.take the riding course then practice in a lot etc.got my first harley several years ago after not riding since the teenage dirt bike days.riding on the road and highways is a big difference.the biggest thing to remember is to ride within your limits.if your riding buddies try to push you past your limits....well find some new riding buddies.it takes time.i had a dyna for two years then moved up to a streetglide.had i bought the streetglide first i probably wouldnt have enjoyed it as much..just be safe and ride your own ride no matter what.be safe and good luck.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 28,842
Likes: 16,582
From: Wisconsin, USA
I hope you took a rider course, now take the advanced course.
Statistically most m/c accidents happen in the first year of riding, on a borrowed bike to an unlicensed ( or provisional) rider.
The touring bikes we ride weight 800 pounds or more. are dumb, heavy, and top heavy too
A midweight import bike might be the way to go to ensure that m/c riding is for you - many end up getting out of it as they find it stressful.
The entry to Harley world is often with a Sportster series bike which is 1/2 the cost of a touring model, yet offers rubber mount drivetrain, lightweight, good power to weight ratio, good turning and stopping.
Do that for a year or 2.
Component 1 is your riding ability and enjoyment- and judging road conditions
Component 2 is those other ****** on the road and learning to read other traffic in a whole new way, choosing your lane position, blind spots etc.
( I had some douche stick in my truck's blind spot for about 20 minutes the other day- I wish I could have schooled him- I spent the drive hoping that I wouldn't kill him if I had to swerve, or just needed to change lanes)
Mike
Statistically most m/c accidents happen in the first year of riding, on a borrowed bike to an unlicensed ( or provisional) rider.
The touring bikes we ride weight 800 pounds or more. are dumb, heavy, and top heavy too
A midweight import bike might be the way to go to ensure that m/c riding is for you - many end up getting out of it as they find it stressful.
The entry to Harley world is often with a Sportster series bike which is 1/2 the cost of a touring model, yet offers rubber mount drivetrain, lightweight, good power to weight ratio, good turning and stopping.
Do that for a year or 2.
Component 1 is your riding ability and enjoyment- and judging road conditions
Component 2 is those other ****** on the road and learning to read other traffic in a whole new way, choosing your lane position, blind spots etc.
( I had some douche stick in my truck's blind spot for about 20 minutes the other day- I wish I could have schooled him- I spent the drive hoping that I wouldn't kill him if I had to swerve, or just needed to change lanes)
Mike
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,347
Likes: 602
From: The 9th Island
ahhhhh three threads. He's got one in the soft tail and General forum as well.
Road Master
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,183
Likes: 1
From: Las Vegas
Answer some basic stuff and you will get a lot better responses...It's also a good idea not to multi-post stuff, you'll get your info eventually, otherwise you may be looked at as a troll...
Last edited by MADHOG; Mar 15, 2012 at 04:07 PM.
Road Captain
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 545
Likes: 5
From: California
Buy something like you used during the rider training classes you took.
I believe you will enjoy it more at first.
You are going to lay it down. Everyone does. You may find it easier to wreck a bike you only paid a couple of grand for.
Ride it for a year or two and do a lot of riding. Perhaps 8K or 10K miles a year.
You may decide, once you have ridden a while, that you don't like it. Or, that you want to stay in the desert or in the mountains.
If you are set on buying a Harley then I would recommend a Dyna or Sporty. A used bike for a couple of years. You will be able to relax more on a bike with some dings on it. You will add some of your own and a used bike will make the new dings more palatable.
I believe you will enjoy it more at first.
You are going to lay it down. Everyone does. You may find it easier to wreck a bike you only paid a couple of grand for.
Ride it for a year or two and do a lot of riding. Perhaps 8K or 10K miles a year.
You may decide, once you have ridden a while, that you don't like it. Or, that you want to stay in the desert or in the mountains.
If you are set on buying a Harley then I would recommend a Dyna or Sporty. A used bike for a couple of years. You will be able to relax more on a bike with some dings on it. You will add some of your own and a used bike will make the new dings more palatable.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 34,654
Likes: 36,249
From: outskirts of ba habba
then move up to a larger frame and motor .....
Of course they offer other colors !!!!
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Road Master
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,145
Likes: 98
From: Colorado Springs
Go to several dealers and test drive what ever they'll let you. Your leg inseam and arm length come into play when choosing but for the first bike I'd recommend something along the Dyna or Softail line. Then after a couple of seasons you'll be trading up to a touring platform, you watch.
...
Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 730
Likes: 1
From: Maryland
If it is your first bike I would look for something like a yamaha 1100 and ride that for a year or so. They are light and easy to ride and you can pick one up fairly cheap. Why drop a 800 lb $20,000 bike while you are learning. Make your mistakes on something else then spend the money on something nice when you are ready. Just my thoughts.