Total Motorcycle Community Forums

ok well i got my permit and im going to be taking a MSF course at a local harley dealership and then at our department of transportation building.now according to the harley dealership and DOT building info they will be supplying me with a 250cc bike to train on,the bike i will be riding after i get my license is an 800cc.i am about 5'11 and 145 lbs.i have no problem holding up my dads bike and i have plenty of room to reach the ground with my legs but i would like to know if that bike is maybe a little to big

At the Harley dealerships, they use the 500cc Buell Blast.

Also, saying "800cc" is not enough to help.

It would depend on the bike itself. Some are heavier than others. Some have a higher or lower center of gravity. Some are taller than others.

If it's an 800cc Harley the only issue you're likely to have is the weight when you push it around the drive etc.

Definitely let us know what bike it is. There are a lot of 800cc bikes out there and none of them weigh the same.

If your a new rider, I can't think of any type of bike with around 800cc's that would be a good choice. No matter if it the engine type/gearing or total weight, there all too far from a beginner's bike.

Now if you have recently ridden a 250cc bike for a year or more, then that would open up your realistic and safe choices dramaticaly, with any type.

With a bike it much more than holding up a bikes weight or being tall enought to hold it upright at a long stop light or train crossing. You'll find out alot more why during your class, if its a MSF or based on MSF class.

flw wrote:If your a new rider, I can't think of any type of bike with around 800cc's that would be a good choice. No matter if it the engine type/gearing or total weight, there all too far from a beginner's bike.

Now if you have recently ridden a 250cc bike for a year or more, then that would open up your realistic and safe choices dramaticaly, with any type.

With a bike it much more than holding up a bikes weight or being tall enought to hold it upright at a long stop light or train crossing. You'll find out alot more why during your class, if its a MSF or based on MSF class.

Not even a Sportster 883, Honda Shadow, or V-Star 750??

tdrider90187 wrote:i have no problem holding up my dads bike and i have plenty of room to reach the ground with my legs but i would like to know if that bike is maybe a little to big

as you've seen, you're gonna get some people that say no way - you need to ride a 250 for a year before you think about anything else. others are going to say start on whatever you want - as long as you use common sense and approach learning to ride correctly. the real question is how you feel about/on the bike. if you feel you can handle an 800cc bike, and you learn slowly/use common sense, then there's no reason you shouldn't start on the bike. you'll have a better feel once you take the msf course...

I've always thought an M-50 was a good bike to learn on... if you can lift it.

I'll say the ninja 250 is a great bike, but it's not necessarily the ultimate learning bike. Especially if you want to ride cruisers.

Vulcan 800s would be good learners if they were not raked out so much...and even then they arent bad.

its a suzuki boulevard C50T..ill be taking the MSF course soon so hopfully it will help with getting used to and controlling the bike