My dad passed and willed me too much bike.

[honda599]

Sorry about your dad.

I agree with others, start smaller, maybe trade down then you'll have money for insurance riding gear etc and it is easier to learn on a smaller/lighter bike. Your dad will always be there in spirit no matter what bike you ride.

[Gilfy650a]

Yeah, buddy... we'll tool around in a parking lot on the nighthawk for a bit if you like. Give me a call and we'll hook up.

I'll get the number off that 83 cx650 i saw for sale and get it to you.

[Coach]

No way can you sell that bike. As others have already said, go out and get yourself and old but reliable bike for a couple hundred bucks and learn to ride. Enjoy that one for a year or two and move up to your Dad's bike when you feel ready. Sure, you could learn on the 1100, but you'd be kicking yourself if you messed it up making some new rider mistakes, dropping it, etc.

[old-n-slow]

My dad passed last week sometime, and my stepmom approached me and told me about how my father had willed me his Yamaha V star classic 1100.

I was in the market for a bike, knowing i need to start small, and me and my dad always talked about how we'd cruise around together when i finally got a bike. An 1100 is more than a little bit much for a beginner. Insurance is going to be outrageous. What do you guys think i should do? My first step, as it would have been all along is to take the MSF course. But where should i go from there? His friend talked to me and told me he was going to teach me, and wouldn't let me out on it until he was positive i wasn't going to kill myself. He said right after MSF he's taking me to a parking lot, and he said he'll see how it goes from there.

What is your guys' take?
What should i do?

*EDIT* I forgot to mention, selling his bike is COMPLETELY out of the queston.

Sorry to hear about your dad.

I think you have been reading too much into some of the "beginner posts" here. Just son't drive like a total a$$ and you'll be just fine. I've known many riders that learned on even larger bikes. The key is to realize YOUR limitations and stay within them. Realize that you can buy a 250 and still kill yourself if you insist on stupid driving such as blatently ignoring speed limits etc. etc. etc.

[mendel]

One other thing to think about, that only you can answer, really: do you think your dad really wanted you to have that bike, or that he really wanted you to ride happy in his memory? If the former, then holding onto it and buying a ratbike to learn on sounds like a good approach. If the latter, you might consider selling that bike and using the proceeds to buy a beginner ride that's right where you want it that you won't outgrow too quick, and then using the rest of the proceeds to gear yourself up. Gear can get pretty expensive quick too...

[JustJames]

sorry to hear about your loss.

If I were you, I would take MSF course first and see how it goes from there. You might not enjoy riding after all.

The 1100 seems to be a little bit too big for a beginner but not really that hard to learn on either. 1100 is actually a machine with around 50hp compare to other standard/sport bike and that nothing at all but the important factor is weight. You will have to take it very slow with 600lbs bike. try to learn as much as you can on low speed control where you will have problem the most.

The most important thing is, you must enjoy riding on either bike you choose to learn on, if the 1100 give you a scare $%^& everytime you go out riding, then selling it is a good bet for you, otherwise get a used smaller bike to learn on, and when you're ready then take your dad bike out for a spin.

[frisch]

You might not enjoy riding after all.

Doubtful. I've ridden before and it was awesome.

[Gilfy650a]

SUPER AWESOME VILLIANS FOREVER!!!



Frisch- you should make your sig (night puncher)