Getting started with Motorcycles

[Dub_James]

In the mentioning of scooters, you left out the only one I'd ever own, the Honda Ruckus. The rest of em just feel... wrong to me.

It's only 49cc, although there's a bigger one available. I've been over the Dublin mountains on a 50, but I wouldn't care to repeat the achievement!

[Bob K]

I used to ride 10-30k a year (prior to my illness) and none of my Harleys has ever seen a trailer.

I have nothing against Jap bikes (and I'm old enough, and enough of an historian to know that "JAP" stands for James A. Prestwick). It's just that if I wanted appliance reliability, and the consequent lack of soul, I'd buy a refrigerator.

YMMV. Go with what you're comfortable with.

[JohnOC]

Like everyone said, take the rider course. The courses at the Harley dealership teach from the same books as the MSF courses, and in many states either counts for both the riding skills test for your motorcycle endorsement, and possibly a discount on your insurance.

1200 CC is a lot of engine for a first bike. My opinion is you should look more around the 600-800 cc (36 - 48 in^3) range. This also means you likely won't find it in the Harley dealership. On the other hand, if that XL1200 is what ends up singing to you in your dreams once you shop around some, then you should go get it.

If you're planning on a fair number of highway miles, I don't think a dual-sport is a good choice. Road-bike styling and amenities are meant for on-road riding. I personally find the 'cruiser' styling (feet forward) much more comfortable in general, and offers many more options for unbending yourself for just killing miles. Adding highway pegs and a windshield can mean the difference in your ability to feel your ass after 4 or 5 hours in the saddle.

For touring/distance riding: Get off the bike and walk around at every gas stop. Take the opportunity to get a drink and a snack at least, and find a meal every couple stops. It'll be about time for one anyway. My bike goes around 150 miles on a tank of gas, and I'm always ready for a stop when it is.

I bought my bike in July several years ago, and then discovered the first MSF class I could get in was in early October, and my permit for the endorsement would expire in 30 days. So I taught myself to ride, practicing in parking lots every day after work until it got dark (the permit was no good after dark either). I aced the NH skills test with 1 day to go on the permit, and put several hundred miles on the bike through the rest of the summer. I still wasn't getting on the highway for more than a few miles at a time, and then only when I could not avoid it, by the time I took the MSF course.

The basic rider course was still extremely valuable.

I didn't become comfortable riding over 50mph on my bike until the next summer. I had over 800 road miles on, and had gotten a windshield. The windshield was the really important factor, though. Without it, I was feeling like I had to be holding on for my dear life or be blown off the back of the bike.

[Highspeed]

I think you'll handle a 1200 Sportster just fine. They have a surprising amount of low down grunt for an engine in a relatively low state of tune, so the only thing to watch out for is breaking the back end away on poor road surfaces ( wet, gravel, dirt ) - but you'd have to be quite clumsy with the throttle ( or over-enthusiastic )

[rightisright]

I know a lot of people who have purchased a Sporty for their first bike.

Yeah, it's 1200 ccs. But it has about 1/2 the horsepower of a new 750cc sportbike.

And if you get bored in a year or so, the 1200 can be tweaked to give you more juice.

[Netpackrat]

Don't forget to register as an organ donor (somebody had to say it).

[TheIrishman]

Safety course-Safety course-Safety course! I took my written test for my permit, registered and insured, and tagged my CB500T bobber all in one day and promptly jumped on the road. I have been riding MX bikes since I was 10yo along with a sundry of quads and other ORVs. I had ridden my fathers Kawi H1 500 triple around town(under age w/o papers) but almost killed myself the first time out on a highway. At that point I raced to the local course and learned a lot more than you can imagine.

If you are going to ride long distances a cruiser would probably be better for you. The dual sports(had a Yami TW200) are great around town but unless it's one of the big BMW or such they are not much fun for touring. Luggage space is only saddle bags and your imagination away. A buddy rode 1600 miles in 4 days camping along the way with nothing but what was strapped to his Ducati monster. This included a trip up Mt. Washington.

Leather is your friend. A good jacket with padding and protection on elbows and back are a must. Gloves are a wonderful thing since if you do fall your natural reaction may be to grab for things to stop you and grasping pavement bare handed hurts.

My bar hoppers caused me to always wear half helmets but if I was to be riding more than half an hour from one place to another I didn't care what I looked like in a full face riding a rigid. There is also something else to remember about helmets. DON'T DROP THEM. Dropping a helmet is no good for it and may cause unseen damage that could cause it to fail when you really need it.

For something light but fast enough for the highways a Honda shadow in the 6-750cc range is just fine. You'll save money over a sportster that can be put into things like a windscreen saddle bags and maybe a different seat to make it more comfortable. The Suzuki you mentioned while being a great across town commuter really doesn't have the legs for highway work. The big single will vibrate you to pieces on long rides.

Lastly I would steer away from a sportster as a first bike. Not because they are too powerful but too expensive for a bike that will go down. Facts are that you are more likely to go down when first learning so why not scratch up a cheaper bike. Don't take this to mean that you are going to get in a horrible accident or something like that. The most likely falls you will take will be in slow to non moving traffic or while getting off of the bike. It is easy to forget that your right foot is on the brake while the roads crown tilts to the right.

[Highspeed]

The most likely falls you will take will be in slow to non moving traffic or while getting off of the bike. It is easy to forget that your right foot is on the brake while the roads crown tilts to the right.

C'mon, it's a Harley Sportster. The seat height is low, the centre of gravity is low. He won't fall off the thing in traffic unless he's a complete spastic. It's not some two wheeled winnebago like a Goldwing. 5'2" girlies can handle a Sportster OK.

[TheIrishman]

C'mon, it's a Harley Sportster. The seat height is low, the centre of gravity is low. He won't fall off the thing in traffic unless he's a complete spastic. It's not some two wheeled winnebago like a Goldwing. 5'2" girlies can handle a Sportster OK.

It's not the seat height or weight, it's the inexperience.

[Highspeed]

It's just a motorcycle, it's not an F-104 Starfighter. He'll be OK.

( Sorry if the above sounds overly sarcastic, I don't mean to be rude. I'm currently suffering from Bubonic Plague - OK a head cold - and my missis says it's making me behave like an asshole )