Really New Guy

Closed Thread Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Feb 5, 2012 | 03:52 PM

#11

FXD07

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: Oct 2007

Posts: 8,834

Likes: 13,832

From: IL

Welcome to HDF from IL.

Feb 5, 2012 | 04:07 PM

#12

filstoy

Novice

Joined: Jan 2012

Posts: 23

Likes: 0

From: Michigan

Quote:

Originally Posted by YoungGun88

I don't have a bike yet, but i have been looking around for some good starter bikes. I have a pretty hectic schedule as a farmer and would have to time my courses and testing accordingly. Most guys I've talked to suggest something like a 250 cc to start, and i'm sure that would be the smartest move,but i have to be honest.. my goal is to own a new harley iron 883. I sat on one of those boys at the philly auto show last week and i fell in love. I'm 23 years old, 5'10'', and 160 lbs. that bike felt about right sizewise.

I'd get a beater bike to practice on. You wouldn't want to dump the new Harley while you're learning. Then once you pass the test you can sell it move up if you feel confident and learn to countersteer and negotiate curves. Most guys your size are strong enough to catch a 250cc or less when they dump it doing the figure 8 in the box but the 883 weighs considerably more and just goes down. Those tanks are pretty expensive. I was referring earlier to a guy that came in to the class with an Electra Glide and thought he'd ace the class because he had been riding for over 20 years. Guess what ? He dumped it in the figure 8. That's not meant to scare you but it will take you a couple of weeks practice if you've never done it before. Some places have bikes that you can use. That's the way to go if you can find one.

Feb 5, 2012 | 04:20 PM

#13

YoungGun88

Thread Starter

1st Gear

Joined: Feb 2012

Posts: 5

Likes: 0

From: New Jersey

Thanks a lot filstoy, i'll see about finding a place that supplies the cycles for the course.

Feb 5, 2012 | 04:48 PM

#14

motorman857

Former Sponsor

Joined: Apr 2006

Posts: 66

Likes: 0

From: Hudson, FL USA

Quote:

Originally Posted by YoungGun88

Thanks a lot filstoy, i'll see about finding a place that supplies the cycles for the course.

If you take the beginner Motorcycle safety foundation course, they all supply you with a small, 125 to 250 cc bike, for the course. You'll learn the very basics in that course but if you've never ridden before, that's just what you need. Now here's a general rule of thumb. If you breeze thru that very simple easy course, and the bike you used in the course felt like a toy, a mid size bike like the Sportster will be fine as long as you first take it to an empty parking lot and practice what you were taught in the course before you venture out on the road. Get a crash bar for the bike and mount highway pegs on the bar. But mount the pegs upside down so they stick straight out. That way, when the bike tips over, it's held up by the peg and will not get damaged. I have a Sportster we use as a training bike set up like that. It's been dropped a bunch of times without damage.

Feb 5, 2012 | 04:53 PM

#15

TUCCI

Extreme HDF Member

Joined: Jun 2011

Posts: 10,216

Likes: 224

From: Glendale AZ

Welcome to the forum!!

Feb 5, 2012 | 05:15 PM

#16

RANGER73

Club Member

Joined: Sep 2010

Posts: 15,420

Likes: 7,118

From: Beyond Fucital

YoungGun88, I was where you are a year and a half ago. I was 56, had never been on a bike before, and had a 94 Softail sitting in my garage. Took the MSF course in April of 2011 (it's now mandatory in CT), used their bikes (nothing bigger than a 250) and the riding portion is inplace of the DMV portion of riding test), you still have to take the written part.
Any way I haven't looked back.
Stay safe, and Enjoy the ride.

Last edited by RANGER73; Feb 6, 2012 at 06:10 PM.