For the BEGINNER BIKER

[dr_bar]

Hey, that 1100 is a great bike, but if I were you, I'd go out and get something a bit smaller before putting out the bills for the VStar. Get some miles under your belt on a smaller bike, you won't regret it...

[MikeyDude]

Hi... I'm new here! Great site and forum.

I kinda expect to get flammed here a lil bit but here goes...

I'm not a complete newbie to riding, but I'm treating myself like I am. I last rode back in the 70s, so it's been a very long time. My new "1st bike" is an 03 Harley Superglide. I've researched all over the place and this is about one of the only places where I have heard "start small." Just about everywhere else I've visited they say to start with what you want if it fits you. Now in my case things are kinda weird in that this Harley was a gift from my wife, and I had it before I knew I was getting it...lol. I fully plan on taking the MSF BRC and have a ton of respect for the bike. But I also believe that if you're an adult and treat it with respect, it's not a wrong way to start. Someone asked about the 883 in an earlier post and never got an answer. I was originally looking at one of those a while back thinking it was smaller and therefore easier to handle. I was told if I could handle that, I could handle a 2cam, and probably easier since the 2cam isn't as strong on the bottom end as the Sportsters are.

Smaller bikes handle so much differently than a large bike... The center of gravity is higher (generally speaking) and the power ratio is usually higher because of the lighter weight. Thats why most of these smaller bikes will run circles around a Harley. Now I'm not stating that everyone should run out and buy a Harley, but I don't discount it either. The learning curve is about the same on either. What we're talking about here is someone thats never been on a bike before and they pull the throttle open and the bike lurches. That happens on any size bike. And if a Honda 650 is capable of highway speeds it's every bit as chewey as a bigger Cruiser (just easier to pick back up).

So I guess what I'm asking is why so adamant about small bikes? If smaller is best than a 250 is sooo much more safe that a 650. But when you start with the level of bike that can handle highway speed the issues are a little more equal aren't they?

Okay... Flame away... lol!

Just remember that I'm new and fragile... And I don't think I could sell my Harley and buy a smaller Metric and survive my wife.

Nice to meecha !!!

Mike

[Jamers!]

Hi... I'm new here! Great site and forum.

I kinda expect to get flammed here a lil bit but here goes...

I'm not a complete newbie to riding, but I'm treating myself like I am. I last rode back in the 70s, so it's been a very long time. My new "1st bike" is an 03 Harley Superglide. I've researched all over the place and this is about one of the only places where I have heard "start small." Just about everywhere else I've visited they say to start with what you want if it fits you. Now in my case things are kinda weird in that this Harley was a gift from my wife, and I had it before I knew I was getting it...lol. I fully plan on taking the MSF BRC and have a ton of respect for the bike. But I also believe that if you're an adult and treat it with respect, it's not a wrong way to start. Someone asked about the 883 in an earlier post and never got an answer. I was originally looking at one of those a while back thinking it was smaller and therefore easier to handle. I was told if I could handle that, I could handle a 2cam, and probably easier since the 2cam isn't as strong on the bottom end as the Sportsters are.

Smaller bikes handle so much differently than a large bike... The center of gravity is higher (generally speaking) and the power ratio is usually higher because of the lighter weight. Thats why most of these smaller bikes will run circles around a Harley. Now I'm not stating that everyone should run out and buy a Harley, but I don't discount it either. The learning curve is about the same on either. What we're talking about here is someone thats never been on a bike before and they pull the throttle open and the bike lurches. That happens on any size bike. And if a Honda 650 is capable of highway speeds it's every bit as chewey as a bigger Cruiser (just easier to pick back up).

So I guess what I'm asking is why so adamant about small bikes? If smaller is best than a 250 is sooo much more safe that a 650. But when you start with the level of bike that can handle highway speed the issues are a little more equal aren't they?

Okay... Flame away... lol!

Just remember that I'm new and fragile... And I don't think I could sell my Harley and buy a smaller Metric and survive my wife.

Nice to meecha !!!

Mike

why so adament about smaller bikes? its safer. Pretty simple. Not as mean as a bigger more powerful bike.

"hat we're talking about here is someone thats never been on a bike before and they pull the throttle open and the bike lurches. That happens on any size bike. And if a Honda 650 is capable of highway speeds it's every bit as chewey as a bigger Cruiser (just easier to pick back up)."


i get what your saying here. But if you pull the throttle open on a big mean bike and dont know what your doing it will get to a very dangerous speed very quickly and has a better chance of getting you more messed up if you low side.

"If smaller is best than a 250 is sooo much more safe that a 650. But when you start with the level of bike that can handle highway speed the issues are a little more equal aren't they?"


the only 250 ive ridden could barely handle highway speeds. Not sure how true that is for all 250s but the difference i think is that the 250 will max out at a much lower speed than a 650 and its easyer to handle a bike at 65-80 than at 110+. So i think tat we support smaller bikes because it is easyer to learn on them and they are nicer to you when you make mistakes. And because they are much cheaper and if you start out on a cheap-o 250-500 and find out that you hate it and sell it you dont lose as much money. Hope i answered your question and i hope i havent made any mistakes in my answers.


btw Mike



JWF

[Ninja Geoff]

The biggest thing about starting on the bigger cruisers (IMO) is just that. They're BIG. Though some are powerfull, their weight often makes up for it. And V-Twins are generally have really easy and forgiving powerbands (in cruisers anyway). For some new riders, actually holding up super glide is the hardest part about riding a super glide. When it comes to actually riding, and not sitting at a stop light, it'll be fine. Just be a little gental with the throttle at first, because despite the weight, you CAN burn out or slide the rear end, it does have more torque than most sport bikes (85.0 ft. lbs. @ 3000 rpm). That Super Glide weighs 663 pounds when fully gassed and geared up, so just be aware of your balance at low/no speed and you should be fine.

[MikeyDude]

Wow! Thanks for the fast and gentle replies!

I kinda understand what you're saying about smaller being more forgiving, but I really think that any bike thats capable of getting to highway speed (not like a 250 being maxed out, but one designed to run on the highways like a 500 or better) is just as mean as another (crotch rockets aside). At the beginning of the learning curve the 1st thing is to NEVER throttle open ANY bike. It's better to stall it than to launch it. True?


I guess I am still looking through some experienced eyes. I can't completely shut out the fact that I have ridden before... No matter how hard I try. I have to remind myself that we're talking about someone that's never felt a throttle in their lives. It is better to err on the side of caution. And believe me I know how much torque this FXD has...lol! But it thankfully does have a nice low center of gravity... unlike that Sportster.

Thanks guys...

[Jamers!]

It's better to stall it than to launch it. True?

id rahter stall it than launch it if im just trying to start. Cause if i just want to go and i launch it, quite a suprise. Ya know?


\
JWF

[Ninja Geoff]

On that bike with the 1450cc you'll be fine revving to 1500 rpm and easing out on the clutch, so if you're gonna launch, try not to stall, ecspecially with traffic behind you. Carefull, just cause it's a harley doesn't mean you can't lift that front end up... My step dad did it on his road king and that has 100 lbs on yours. Though it is a rolling Screamin Eagle performance parts catalogue...

[CM400ERider]

I really think the go small and work up mainly goes for Sport bikes If I liked them even with riding as long as I have I probally wouldnt go much bigger then 600 they just react so much quicker and are so much faster then your average cruiser. you try to take your HOG off the line and get it to 140 in less then a half mile you can do that easily on a 600 or smaller sport bike when you talk sport bikes and cruisers your talking apples and oranges.

[TechTMW]

When it comes to big cruisers, I think the more pertinent advice is "Buy something USED and OLD so if you drop it, it's not going to cost you an arm and a leg to fix"

This goes double if the bike you want is a harley (Pricier to fix)

If you get an old japanese cruiser and putter around on that til you get your riding chops back, it's probably not going to kill you. However, if you want to stick w/ the Harley, that's not going to kill you either. I think the best advice I can give is Concentrate on the RIDE, not on the BIKE. Don't worry about not dropping it, because that's when you are really going to mess up.

[roscowgo]

my first, and still current bike is a 92 600 kat. I'm dumb but it was cheap and im poor. been riding for 4 years, dropped it once in the driveway, and ive gotten to where i Hate all forms of gravel.

Closest ive come to really dumping it was a test ride after some carb work. Nice gentle incline up a mountain, to where the twisties start, so i crack it open and bounce up to 4th, meaning to down into 3rd and do tne engine brake thing around the curve, i double tapped the shifter and wound up in second. let the clutch off nice and quick, suddenly the bikes imitating a severely pissed off trout, and ive formed a permanent O indentation in the seat. luckily i was a tad premature on the downshift and hadnt started my lean into the curve.

If i woulda been laid over and done that, id be explaining how i paid the medical bills im fairly sure. Good news is the damn thing ran and runs like a scalded dog. so i putt around on it instead of driving fast. i've got nowhere to be