Motorcycle Question

[DeadAye]

Ask yourself this question. Do you want to learn to ride a motorcycle or do you want to putt around on something that looks good and will draw attention to you? A Harley is a fine bike for a beginning rider because its performance is so limited it will never demand any real skill from you. And they do look good. But you will never become much of a rider on a Harley. The few Harley riders that can really ride a motorcycle started out on something else, usually in some kind of racing, and ended up on Harleys when they wanted to slow down.

If you really want to ride, get something else. I can suggest half a dozen bikes in the price range of a Sportster that are better motorcycles in every respect, and will do everything a Sportster can do plus much, much more.

Whatever you do, get rider training, the MSF course or its equivalent.

Like Marshwheeling - I agree with the MSF course - TAKE IT BEFORE you go for a putt!
Other wise - I cannot express in words my thoughts on the rest of his ******** post - None of them are allowed here.

I've erased the rest of my tirade............. Thrice

 

[Moonman]

CAJ,

First Motorcycle !!!!!!!!

OLD MEN DON'T BOUNCE OR HEAL VERY WELL!!!!!

Basically everyone lays er down sometime.

 

[jlrhiner]

I'm leaving for Mobile AL in three weeks. Riding is fun. Hurry up and you can go too!

And if you want to hurry and get a bigger bike, bring Mama Caje on the back of that Sporty. When she sees them Ultra's, you'll be bike shopping.

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

A Harley is a fine bike for a beginning rider because its performance is so limited it will never demand any real skill from you. And they do look good. But you will never become much of a rider on a Harley.

No argument there. I don't see any Harleys in this advanced skills riding vid. Advanced Riding Skills Vid - YouTube

Caj, go to a Harley dealer and sit on a few bikes. You may find that the 883 fits you fine, or maybe it will feel like a minibike compared to other models. Great advice has already been posted, but if you're considering a Sportster just because you think it is safer to learn on, forget about it. If you can learn to not kill yourself on a Sportster, you can do the same on a Fat Boy. Get a bike that fits you and your riding. That said, if you're concerned with learning, you might consider an old small beat up Japanese bike. You can learn the basics riding around the neighborhood (Not in traffic!), and when the bike falls over in the driveway it won't cost much other than to your pride when your neighbors have a chuckle at your expense. Have fun.



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[ladder13]

Big slow plodding Harleys are just fine with me, they're all I've ever owned and all I would ever own. I'm in no rush to go anywhere.

 

[wheelgun28]

Ive got an 04 883 its the upgraded 883, big tank, lace front wheel and forward controls. Its pretty bike and I got a deal on it when I bought it a few years ago. I hadnt ridden in years and got the bug. To be honest I havent been comfortable on the bike, it doesnt fit me just right or perhaps I it? I just wanted to put around town and ride the back roads that are windy county roads. I never had these forward controls and I cannot tell you how much I dislike them. It changes my balance, I cannot hug the bike with my legs in the turns. I dont quite get the feet sticking out riding style of today. Also I found that the standard controls on the Sportster are to close and make me bend my legs...

I will probably sell the bike this spring, its not the correct bike for me.

Oh I am not giant of a man 5'10" 210lb and a 32" inseam

 

[ridgerunner609]

If you want a bike I would highly recommend that you go and get a beat up old beater bike for a first bike. With the cheaper one you could get really comfortable on a bike and when you get done with it you can probably sell it for what you have in it and if it drops it's not a big deal. Also, if you do want to ride then take the basic riders course to see if you can pick up the skills you need to ride. That being said I've rode for years and I love it. It's completely worth it as far as I'm concerned.

 

[feralmerril]

While we are on the subject, what do you guys think of springers and soft tails? Is it strictly a nostolgic look thing that rides rougher? It cant be better than the standard? I had harleys and practicly lived on them from the mid 60s to the mid 80s but havent had one since.
I do like the looks of those classic heritage springer soft tail classics.

 

[doublesharp]

I've got 2 bikes and I'm 61 and been riding since I was old enough. I think I'm going to sell my BMW 1100r and keep the Honda Silverwing scooter. It's 600cc and has interstate capable power but I find I don't ride that way much anymore. The SW isn't macho but it sure is comfortable to step thru mount and auto shift. Big gas tank and lots of lockable storage make it easy to live with and it's got Honda reliability. My wife has a 150 Honda scooter and we ride the 2 lane roads seldom getting over 50 miles from home.

 

[jlrhiner]

Now this is what mama Caj will like. I call it my GeezerGlide.

 

[kraigwy]

That's a good price. I ride a Sportster, a '94 1200. I make road trips several times in the summer. The only problem I have is the smaller tank. It's OK if you plan your trip.

I normaly don't get in a hurry so I don't mind stopping every 75-80 miles to smoke and have coffee.

I like stopping and visiting people along my route.

I got into "Patriot Guard Riders" so I'll be doing more road trips this year.

One thing you have to watch for. Harley Riders are a funny lot. They have a since of humor you have to watch for. Sportster's don't have a gas gage. The gas switch has a reserve setting that works but others like to sneak up and switch your petcock to R, so when you're out of gas, you're out of gas.

Check that sucker every time you get on the bike.

 

[45Wheelgun]

Big slow plodding Harleys are just fine with me, they're all I've ever owned and all I would ever own. I'm in no rush to go anywhere.

Great looking bike, love the color. There is a Geezer-Glide in my future...

 

[Marshwheeling]

While we are on the subject, what do you guys think of springers and soft tails? Is it strictly a nostolgic look thing that rides rougher? It cant be better than the standard? I had harleys and practicly lived on them from the mid 60s to the mid 80s but havent had one since.
I do like the looks of those classic heritage springer soft tail classics.

I'd say stick with your baggers. I once spent a couple of hours on a softail springer, a beautiful new bike. It was one of the most evil-handling, vibratory and uncomfortable rides I have ever experienced. After the first hour I stopped and let my buddy catch up. He was riding my old ratty BMW, with something north of 150,000 miles on the clock. When I offered him his bike back and asked for mine, he begged me to let him ride it a while more. Within 2 weeks, he had a new BMW in his stable. Meanwhile, I continued to ride my old /5 for another 50,000 miles.

If you are going to get Harley, then Ladder13 has the right idea, especially if you want to share the experience with your wife. If you want an excuse to get out of the house alone, then you want something with a solo seat and a p-pad.

 

[blackdeuce]

As to the Heritage Softail Springer question, I haven't ridden a bike with a springer front end, but my Deuce was a softail. A softail has a rigidly mounted counter-balanced motor, so it feels real solid. The Deuce would have been great if it didn't have the forward controls. I think the Heritage Springer with floorboards would be pretty comfy.

I wanted a sleeker looking touring bike, so I bought a Road King Custom and dressed it up a bit. If I put my low profile seat on and take the backrest off, it doesn't look so much like a touring bike. I love it. I rode it in some curvy roads of Texas and it handled really well (not like a crotch rocket, though).

 

[feralmerril]

Thanks. Been wondering about it. There is just too much of my wants for the money available. Guess its cheaper to read magazines and dream. On a couple big ticket things I want, like a new ATV I sometimes think maybe I should sell some safe queens. Then I think what the item would be worth in 5 years. Probley a 1/5 th of what you paid, and the guns probley 50% more if you had hung on to them. It aint any fun being practible!

 

[Damn Yankee]

Caj

Will be looking for you at the Blowout this May in Gulfport.

Welcome to the Mississippi Gulf Coast Memorial Day Blow Out Website

 

[DeadAye]

While we are on the subject, what do you guys think of springers and soft tails? Is it strictly a nostolgic look thing that rides rougher? It cant be better than the standard? I had harleys and practicly lived on them from the mid 60s to the mid 80s but havent had one since.
I do like the looks of those classic heritage springer soft tail classics.

The only springer that I've ever had was on a rigid 45 that I had in the '60s - FAST handling but not much in the way of suspension.
The old swingarm frames on heavy bikes tended to *pogo* in turns under acceleration -- -Could be that I just never got one adjusted right, but I ALWAYS had that problem on several swingarm Electra Glides.
I now have (and have had since '93) a Heritage Classic Softail (Softail with a hydraulic front end) and will NEVER go back to a swingarm - A rigid maybe.

I truly liked rigid frames - Light weight and super handling.
And NO - they don't beat you to death - Not on today's roads around here at least.

 

[vrichard]

A couple of harleys that I`ve had,the one on the bottom is what I ride now.
Dick

 

[wheelgun28]

I come from a long line of frugal people, they had a saying. I have found it to be true sometimes...

"Wanting is better than having"

I try to keep it in mind when shopping

Thanks. Been wondering about it. There is just too much of my wants for the money available. Guess its cheaper to read magazines and dream. On a couple big ticket things I want, like a new ATV I sometimes think maybe I should sell some safe queens. Then I think what the item would be worth in 5 years. Probley a 1/5 th of what you paid, and the guns probley 50% more if you had hung on to them. It aint any fun being practible!

 

[mball]

I bought a new 883 in 1987. It was great for puttering around town or in county. In June 1988 I rode from Asbury Park, NJ to Asheville, NC. and back. As soon as I could I traded it for a 1985 FXWG. I guess it depends on what you are going to do with it and how well you can deal with the ribbing.

You could always buy it for the wife. That'll give you an excuse to pick up a Road King so you can ride with her.
Mike