First ride to bring my new (big) bike home ... advice?

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Rogero · #1 Unread post by **Rogero** » Wed Jul 15, 2009 4:34 am

I've been reading a while, and this week found a smoking deal on an '03 Softail Deuce. I was going to start with a Sportster, but this one came in cheaper than the bikes I was scoping ... so last night I committed.

The bike is 100 miles away, so I signed up for the safety course where the bike is. I figure I'll take the course over the weekend, staying with some friends, and then on the Monday drive it home.

Question is: any advice (beyond what the safety course tells me) for the first ride? Should I try to take it slow, or once I'm cruising, am I ok to cruise along at 50mph? I have to buy a helmet, gloves and boots to take the course. Other than jeans and a leather jacket - any other advice there? I'll also need to have a back pack to carry stuff home - the bike has no bags yet, and I can't afford the $1000 or whatever they cost.

I'm wicked pumped about getting it, but to be honest a little intimidated with having my virgin ride being 100 mile trek.

Any advice/comments would be awesome.

r

koji52 · #2 Unread post by **koji52** » Wed Jul 15, 2009 4:51 am

Hey man,

The Deuce is a nice bike. It is a relatively large bike...and I think you're going to be hardpressed finding anyone on here to support a 100 mile first time ride directly after completing the basic riders course. I think it's doable if you have the balls, but it'll definately be a scary experience.

I think you'll be fine cruising along at 50 mph (though it will be scary for you). Be prepared for wind resistance and cars merging in and out in front of you and behind. The stops and starts are where you're going to probably have the most trouble (and the greatest chance of running into real problems with traffic). You have to remember that you're going to be learning on a small (likely 125cc or 250cc) bike and then directly moving up to something that's 1500cc and 88ci. The difference will be incredibly large. Softtails are not small bikes. You may have a 500 lbs difference between the bike you learn on in a closed course and the softtail so handling will be much much different.

Have you ridden anything with a clutch before (dirt bike, manual transmission car)? What kind of roads woudl you be driving back on? Will there be traffic?

Honestly (and as much as you may not want to hear this), you may be better off having someone ride it back for you.

Rogero · #3 Unread post by **Rogero** » Wed Jul 15, 2009 5:02 am

yeah ... i've driven a 5 speed car for years, so I get the clutch thing - though I've read that can actually be a detriment to learning to shift on a motorcycle (can't imagine why though).

I'm also not a small guy (6ft, 235lbs) - so I'm comfortable moving around the bike when stopped, and kind of think the steady ride will be ok.

It is the start/stop (mostly stop) that has me concerned.

The route I'm planning to take is about a mile of city street, then 2-3 miles of suburbia, and the balance is paved country roads - which at 10am on a Monday should be mostly clear. I've been going through my head though whether I'd like to stay ahead of any traffic behind me (going fast, but not being passed) ... or keep a slower steady pace, but getting passed a lot.

Worst case, I could plot a really roundabout route that keeps me on much less travelled roads, and putt putt putt all the way home.

koji52 · #4 Unread post by **koji52** » Wed Jul 15, 2009 6:07 am

I don't agree with the whole manual transmission car skill not translating over to the bike world argument. The basic understanding of the balance between clutch and gas I think is very helpful when learning to ride. The motions are different but a lot of people just don't understand that the gas and clutch are not on and off switches.

My advice, if you're 100% about going forward with riding it home, is that you go to a big parking lot for a few hours and learn to maneuver the bike at slow speed. Practice doing U-turns, turns from stops, emergency stops, riding in a straight line slowly...the whole nine yards. Use everything that you learn from the basic course and apply it to the slow maneuvering. After that, practice riding some small quiet roads just to get a feel for your nerves. If you still want to ride 100 miles back after that, hats off to you man, 'cause i'd be scared outta my mind. haha. Good luck, I'm sure you'll do fine though.

havegunjoe · Wed Jul 15, 2009 8:57 am

I don’t know man. I spent at least a week riding my bike around the neighborhood before taking it out on busy streets. Then I think it was another week before getting it up to 50+. The bikes they use for the MSC are usually small 250 cc’s so you don’t have the weight or power of a big bike. I agree at least take it to a parking lot for some maneuvering practice. If you aren’t completely comfortable leave it at your friends and come back to practice before attempting the trip. Good luck!

Brackstone · Wed Jul 15, 2009 9:14 am

I think it's a bit much to do. If you HAVE to or INSIST on doing it this way at least see if you can get two friends to drive cars and give you a bit of padding one infront and one inback of you.

koji52 · #7 Unread post by **koji52** » Wed Jul 15, 2009 9:30 am

Adding here, keep in mind that at 50mph, a 100 mile trip will take you 2 hours (assuming always riding at 50mph). If you leave at 10:00 on Monday, you may very well be running into traffic at 12:00 in which case, it's probably not going to be a very positive situation for you.

Either leave at the crack of dawn or take a day to practice and ride around local roads.

All I can say that 50 mph on a bike is much more "real" than 50 mph in a car.

Brack's suggestion of using friends for a buffer zone is a good one. However, 100 miles one way is kind of far for two friends to simply drive. haha.

Flipper · #8 Unread post by **Flipper** » Wed Jul 15, 2009 9:54 am

I think this is way too much to expect from a new rider.
You won't be ready for this kind of trip right after taking the MSF.
Also, that bike is going to feel HUGE after being on a 250.
Be safe and wise, have it trucked.

PioneerUrban · Wed Jul 15, 2009 1:19 pm

ITA with all the other posters.

I still a noob when it comes to riding. I just bought my Rebel the other day, while it was only about 15 miles from where I bought it in Ohio, to my house in West Virginia, I took my truck and trailer and brought it home that way.

I know that I'm not ready to be on the road yet with traffic, because to me 20 -25 mph feels fast on a bike. So I'm going to do alot of parking lot practive, back roads, and perhaps small town streets, where there isn't alot of traffic.

How am I going to get my bike to these places? Truck and trailer.

If you have a truck and trailer, that's the way I'd do it. If you don't have a truck and trailer, borrow a set up or rent one.

You've already admitted about being intimidated about riding 100 miles to your house, just after completing the BRC. There's no shame in playing it safe. You don't want your maiden ride to become your last.

#10 Unread post by **Wrider** » Wed Jul 15, 2009 1:27 pm

I think it's possible, but definitely don't recommend it. My first rides on my bike after the MSF course, I hit 35 MPH and because of the feeling, I literally thought I was doing at least 60. Also when you're new to riding, it really comes as a shock how different going slow feels after going relatively fast.
I'd truck it if at all possible, but if not, take your time, do your best to remember your turn signals and to cancel them, and remember not to panic and grab your throttle. Done all of those at least a few times and it scares me to this day when I do.