New member looking for some sage advice

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Gator · #11 Unread post by **Gator** » Fri May 19, 2006 9:48 am

Lion_Lady wrote:Funny but a rider posed pretty nearly the EXACT same question... INCLUDING the bike choice (VTX1300) here:

http://forum.motorcycle-usa.com/default ... 1&m=262347

Have a look.

Pam

I have read that thread, but it is not me. The reason I started this thread is because I want input on my own situation, not somebody else's.

Lion_Lady · Fri May 19, 2006 11:40 am

All the advice in that thread applies. Maybe more so because you've never ridden anything.

In this, you're not as unique as you think.

P

BubbaGump · Fri May 19, 2006 12:22 pm

Lion_Lady wrote:All the advice in that thread applies. Maybe more so because you've never ridden anything.

In this, you're not as unique as you think.

P

I've read your posts L-lady. A VTX is a lot of bike at 650+ pounds - I agree. I've been looking at it too for highway riding, as the feedback I've gotten is that something like a 750 just won't have the juice. I am taking the step of test riding it tomorrow - I'm interested to see how it handles at lower speeds. Is that your only concern w. a new rider is the weight of that type of bike?

#14 Unread post by **bok** » Fri May 19, 2006 12:30 pm

think the concern is similar to getting a gixxer as a first bike, the power of the bike is significantly greater than the skill of the rider at the beginning, and the more power you have under you, the more skill you should have. it's possible to learn on a bigger bike but less painful/costly to start smaller usually.

every rider is different, but we all have to start somewhere and a 750 cruiser is still fine for highway riding and after a year or two you go "dang i want a bit more ooomph" which is better than saying "holy crap i can't control this, why did i buy this"

people will buy what they want to buy and we can only advise and suggest what has been proven in most cases to be true.

BubbaGump · Fri May 19, 2006 12:45 pm

bok wrote:people will buy what they want to buy and we can only advise and suggest what has been proven in most cases to be true.

Kudos - I couldn't agree more. That's why I'm test riding - I'll know right quick if its beyond my skill and ability and dont want to make the mistake of buying something beyond what I can handle.

#16 Unread post by **bok** » Fri May 19, 2006 12:50 pm

holy crap someone from Edmonton agreeing with someone from Calgary...reminds me of that quote from Ghostbusters

"Rivers and seas boiling! … The dead rising from the grave! ... Human sacrifice! Dogs and cats living together!"

or since you love the 80s so much:

Now, the world don't move to the beat of just one drum,
What might be right for you, may not be right for some.

BubbaGump · Fri May 19, 2006 12:54 pm

bok wrote:holy "crumb" someone from Edmonton agreeing with someone from Calgary...reminds me of that quote from Ghostbusters

"Rivers and seas boiling! … The dead rising from the grave! ... Human sacrifice! Dogs and cats living together!"

or since you love the 80s so much:

Now, the world don't move to the beat of just one drum,
What might be right for you, may not be right for some.

Well - the Oilers are in the semi's and the Flames are golfing - so it was more of a pity agreement than a soulful one.

#18 Unread post by **bok** » Fri May 19, 2006 12:57 pm

Well - the Oilers are in the semi's and the Flames are golfing

well the Oilers were working on their handicap the last two years, so Sutter told the boys their short game needed work and they tanked it on purpose

but since they are the last Canadian team left, Go Oil Go!

Part of me died inside when i typed that

jstark47 · #19 Unread post by **jstark47** » Fri May 19, 2006 2:32 pm

Gator,

I think Bok gave you the best advice in his first post.

In the case of a large v-twin cruiser, the power curve is pretty flat - bike might have a lot of power, but the onset of peak power is gradual and predictable. Power management is not so much an issue as with an I-4 sport bike. I think the issue is low-speed handling and leaning with a bike of substantial weight. To learn and increase proficiency, you have to push the edges of your personal envelope a bit. Doing this as a beginner with a 670 pound bike with a raked front end erodes your margin of error until it's pretty thin. If you misjudge lean angle, that bike will go down - you cannot hold up 670 pounds, even if you're Charles Atlas. Or, to the other extreme, you'll be too conservative, you'll not learn how to lean the bike properly........ and what fun is that?

A lighter bike will be more forgiving, it will not bite you in the a$$ so badly for errors of judgement in handling - and you will make errors in judgement. Everyone does. A lighter first bike just arranges the odds more in your favor.

Jonathan

BubbaGump · Fri May 19, 2006 4:19 pm

This is a good thread, so I'd like to keep the discussion going w. a small observation. Obviously the consensus appears to be that the VTX 1300 is heavy and cumbersome for a newer rider to handle at slow speeds and emergency situations. A valid point.

My question is a comparision to the Kawasaki bikes. The Vulcan 900 is only 87 lbs lighter than the Vulcan 1500, the rake is the same. If the concern is mostly weight - would you guys be advising a new rider not to buy a Vulcan 900 as compared to a 1500? Or even to buy a Shadow over a 900? I'm just curious what you consider an ideal weight range to be for a newbie.

Dragonhawks link to his New Rider's Guide is excellent. It lists the VTX 1300 as a good beginner bike based on HP. So from what has been posted, weight should also factor in........