Total Motorcycle Community Forums

I caught the bug! I am taking the motorcyle safety course in two weeks, and I'm looking to buy my first cruiser. Here is my wish list:
-Something easy to ride, but that I won't quickly outgrow
-I'm 6'3" so I'm looking for a bike that will allow me to stretch my legs
-Want something cool, but comfortable for long rides (sometimes with my wife)

Have been considering the Triumph America...thoughts?

Hi,

Triumph America is a nice bike, but have a bit of a reputation for being underpowered when two up.

That said it is far too early for you to be buying a bike with the idea of pillion comfort. You need to get a lot of miles under your seat before you even consider whether you are capable of riding with a pillion. Buy a bike suitable for yourself as a learner & then trade up in a year or so.

Or if you are just starting on the wonderful motorcycle adventure why not get your girlfriend to join in & then you can go for those long rides together both on your own bikes?

Thanks so much for the reply! At the risk of sounding niave...what does the term "pillion comfort" refer too?

The seat behind the rider is the pillion seat therefore a passenger is called pillion rider or just pillion. As for pillion comfort - many bikes are great to ride but neglect to ensure passenger/pillion is equally comfortable.

For example when on the back of the Rocket III the pillion footpegs are too far back for me, fine for a short ride but after a few hundred miles it hurts my knees & hips.

As for getting on the high pillion "seat" of a sports bike forget it - unless you are short, light & young - none of which apply to me!

I have only once been on the back of my own bike & will never do it again unless we need to escape some sort of life threatening scenario!!

BTW feel free to ask any questions here on the forum no matter how naive. It is a broadminded & supportive community who will do their best to help & not judge.

Enjoy the ride

I think once you've taken the course and had some experience riding by yourself you might start to think like I did that it would be better to wait quite a while before considering taking a passenger. My girlfriend knows I won't be taking a passenger at all this year (took my course in october) and she's fine with it. I made it a rule almost immediately after riding myself after the course, I just have too much to learn and don't feel comfortable with the idea of having someone else's life in my hands.

She may be taking the course herself this year and look into buying her own bike, which I fully support and would be comfortable with, but no passengers for me for quite a while. Get the experience, and start getting used to riding. You'll want to share it with her and have her come with you, but I'd wait until you're feeling very confident in your abilities and if she does ride with you, make sure she's got all the gear she'd need to be safe(r) in the event of a crash.

Welcome and glad to see someone else catching the bug! I can't wait to ride, we just had some snow here for the first time this year and I'll have been off the bike for almost two weeks in a row...longest time without riding since I bought the bike. I keep looking outside and shaking my head. Snow is not acceptable!!

Islesfan91 wrote:I can't wait to ride, we just had some snow here for the first time this year and I'll have been off the bike for almost two weeks in a row...longest time without riding since I bought the bike. I keep looking outside and shaking my head. Snow is not acceptable!!

I saw a motorcycle at 1:00 this morning turning onto St Edwards off of Bridgeport in Richmond. He almost lost it but recovered in the corner, the roads were slick with black ice last night. He's a braver rider than I am, that's for sure...

dr_bar wrote:

Islesfan91 wrote:I can't wait to ride, we just had some snow here for the first time this year and I'll have been off the bike for almost two weeks in a row...longest time without riding since I bought the bike. I keep looking outside and shaking my head. Snow is not acceptable!!

I saw a motorcycle at 1:00 this morning turning onto St Edwards off of Bridgeport in Richmond. He almost lost it but recovered in the corner, the roads were slick with black ice last night. He's a braver rider than I am, that's for sure...

Our street here is a complete sheet of ice, very dangerous. I won't likely be able to ride for at least another week, maybe longer. We're also moving into Richmond next month so I've got some packing to do so I'll be busy anyway. This spring my commute should be about 10 minutes tops, and I'll be using the bike almost all the time.