Beginner Biker - Cruiser Advice
Discussion
Hi all,
Recently I ran into a couple of old mates I used to ride BMXs with when we were younger- in the intervening years they've got into harleys in a big way, and having browsed the interweb obsessively for several days I'm feeling the need to join them.
The only problem is, apart from push irons I've never ridden anything on two wheels- not even so much as a scooter.
I've been reading around, and I think I'm going to do my CBT/DAS next spring, but I'm not really sure where to go from there. My heart wants the harley, my head says I'm being an idiot (most other people seem to share this opinion).
For reference, I'm 29, 6"1 and about 13 1/2 stone (in reasonable shape), and I'd like to think pretty level headed. It's not the power of a cruiser that bothers me so much as the weight- I can't imagine what it feels like to ride a 300+kg monster when my only frame of reference is a bmx. I get the feeling that being comfortable doing tricks isn't going to help me here!
Please help me with sage advice- I think my life might be in danger if I show my girlfriend another photo of a bike
Recently I ran into a couple of old mates I used to ride BMXs with when we were younger- in the intervening years they've got into harleys in a big way, and having browsed the interweb obsessively for several days I'm feeling the need to join them.
The only problem is, apart from push irons I've never ridden anything on two wheels- not even so much as a scooter.
I've been reading around, and I think I'm going to do my CBT/DAS next spring, but I'm not really sure where to go from there. My heart wants the harley, my head says I'm being an idiot (most other people seem to share this opinion).
For reference, I'm 29, 6"1 and about 13 1/2 stone (in reasonable shape), and I'd like to think pretty level headed. It's not the power of a cruiser that bothers me so much as the weight- I can't imagine what it feels like to ride a 300+kg monster when my only frame of reference is a bmx. I get the feeling that being comfortable doing tricks isn't going to help me here!
Please help me with sage advice- I think my life might be in danger if I show my girlfriend another photo of a bike
Past my test four years ago and brought a 1731cc Victory motorcycle cruiser as a first bike and have not looked back.. Lots of power but it is up to you how far you turn the throttle. But I would not trust myself with a sports bike as I know it would end in tears... The cruiser puts me in the right place mentally
FightTheFuture said:
Hi all,
Recently I ran into a couple of old mates I used to ride BMXs with when we were younger- in the intervening years they've got into harleys in a big way, and having browsed the interweb obsessively for several days I'm feeling the need to join them.
The only problem is, apart from push irons I've never ridden anything on two wheels- not even so much as a scooter.
I've been reading around, and I think I'm going to do my CBT/DAS next spring, but I'm not really sure where to go from there. My heart wants the harley, my head says I'm being an idiot (most other people seem to share this opinion).
For reference, I'm 29, 6"1 and about 13 1/2 stone (in reasonable shape), and I'd like to think pretty level headed. It's not the power of a cruiser that bothers me so much as the weight- I can't imagine what it feels like to ride a 300+kg monster when my only frame of reference is a bmx. I get the feeling that being comfortable doing tricks isn't going to help me here!
Please help me with sage advice- I think my life might be in danger if I show my girlfriend another photo of a bike
There is a lot of debate about whether or not you will drop your first bike, I think if you're a new rider a 300kg HD will be laid down once or twice when you own it, but can you even damage a HD like that? I'm not sure, I'd have thought it would have running boards or something. Either way, as you're so low down, if you have any low speed wobbles at junctions you should be able to get your feet down and balance the bike. However, if it leans past a certain point, even if you do get a leg down you won't save it unless you're Ronnie Coleman. That said, despite the size I don't think HD's should be hard to ride, they're big and torquey enough to get about fairly effortlessly (if not especially quickly) and most people I've spoken to say they hide their weight well when riding. Sports bikes are my thing but I'd love a go on a big full dress HD like an Electra Glide just to see what it's like.Recently I ran into a couple of old mates I used to ride BMXs with when we were younger- in the intervening years they've got into harleys in a big way, and having browsed the interweb obsessively for several days I'm feeling the need to join them.
The only problem is, apart from push irons I've never ridden anything on two wheels- not even so much as a scooter.
I've been reading around, and I think I'm going to do my CBT/DAS next spring, but I'm not really sure where to go from there. My heart wants the harley, my head says I'm being an idiot (most other people seem to share this opinion).
For reference, I'm 29, 6"1 and about 13 1/2 stone (in reasonable shape), and I'd like to think pretty level headed. It's not the power of a cruiser that bothers me so much as the weight- I can't imagine what it feels like to ride a 300+kg monster when my only frame of reference is a bmx. I get the feeling that being comfortable doing tricks isn't going to help me here!
Please help me with sage advice- I think my life might be in danger if I show my girlfriend another photo of a bike
Just make sure you're getting into it for the right reasons and not just because you want to look cool in front of your mates. You could buy and sell an HD without losing much money on it, as long as you keep the acres of chrome perfectly gleaming and unpitted, which you'll likely be doing more than riding it, but the training and gear are going to be the thick end of £1500 if you're picking from HD rider's club catalogue, and secondhand gear is generally expected to be dirt cheap, or people will just buy new.
Ask yourself if you really want to get into biking / HD ownership, or whether it might be a passing phase. Not that I'm saying you shouldn't, but it would be a lot of wasted time, money and effort if you have a few goes and decide it's not for you.
If your mates are real mates they won't mind what bike you ride at first.
Any bike bigger than 125cc will be able to keep up with a Harley anyway.
There are loads of s/h hardly used retro/cruiser bikes available at a fraction of the price of a Harley, so start out with something lighter and easier to manage whilst you decide which Harley you prefer.
Harleys are still big lumps of iron even if they carry their weight well, I am guessing a lighter Sportster is a no go for a 6 footer.
Any bike bigger than 125cc will be able to keep up with a Harley anyway.
There are loads of s/h hardly used retro/cruiser bikes available at a fraction of the price of a Harley, so start out with something lighter and easier to manage whilst you decide which Harley you prefer.
Harleys are still big lumps of iron even if they carry their weight well, I am guessing a lighter Sportster is a no go for a 6 footer.
Cruiser bikes ::: + low seat, not too much scary power, gentle brakes. - way too heavy, poor ground clearance. This last one is a deal breaker as it spoils many corners.
Harley's look good and hold value, and if you want to be the same as every other outlaw rider, get one. There are plenty of better brands out there that unfortunately are not as popular.
Personally I'd be careful of getting one as a first bike but if it fits your life do it and enjoy it!
One thing. U turns!!
Harley's look good and hold value, and if you want to be the same as every other outlaw rider, get one. There are plenty of better brands out there that unfortunately are not as popular.
Personally I'd be careful of getting one as a first bike but if it fits your life do it and enjoy it!
One thing. U turns!!
Cheers for the replies guys, most of what you say semms pretty much in line with my thinking (apart from the bit about being gay- cheers for that!).
). I think it's definitely worth doing the test, but maybe finding something cheaper to run around on for a year or so, to see how I feel.
The thing is, what's a good compromise between a harley and a 125? I really don't care what people think, I'd happily pootle round on a 125 if it was the best option to make me a better rider, but I can't help but feel that learning the ins and outs of a small bike I could lift over my head might not really help in the long run if the end goal is a big cruiser. Like I said before, I've spent thousands of hours on a BMX but put me on a MTB and I'm like Bambi, all over the place- totally different geometry/riding style. That's my only worry.
Just had a look around, those Honda Shadow 750s look nice, seems they're about 50kg lighter than a Harley as well. Still heavy, but I imagine every little helps!
Cheers again.
Mastodon2 said:
Ask yourself if you really want to get into biking / HD ownership, or whether it might be a passing phase. Not that I'm saying you shouldn't, but it would be a lot of wasted time, money and effort if you have a few goes and decide it's not for you.
This is a valid point- I'm not really a phases kind of guy, but it's definitely in the back of my mind. I can't really say for sure until I've had some experience, I suppose. It's not about looking cool in front of mates- I pretty much bumped into them having not spoken for years, don't think I'd be riding with them much anyway! It was the bikes that grabbed my attention, not the hairy bearded men riding them (see, definitely not gay ). I think it's definitely worth doing the test, but maybe finding something cheaper to run around on for a year or so, to see how I feel.The thing is, what's a good compromise between a harley and a 125? I really don't care what people think, I'd happily pootle round on a 125 if it was the best option to make me a better rider, but I can't help but feel that learning the ins and outs of a small bike I could lift over my head might not really help in the long run if the end goal is a big cruiser. Like I said before, I've spent thousands of hours on a BMX but put me on a MTB and I'm like Bambi, all over the place- totally different geometry/riding style. That's my only worry.
Just had a look around, those Honda Shadow 750s look nice, seems they're about 50kg lighter than a Harley as well. Still heavy, but I imagine every little helps!
Cheers again.
It's all two wheels though, and if you're riding a cruiser you won't be clambering all over the thing like you might if you were on a sports bike. Learning the ropes on a 125 is useful, but you might as well just go straight in for your DAS. My only advice would be not to buy your dream bike as your first bike, unless you have deep pockets, because there is a good chance you'll mark it by having a minor off, a drop, scrape etc. Especially with a huge cruiser, as wheeling it in and out of the garage is probably the most risky time for putting a ding on it. I wouldn't worry too much about the riding, once you get used to the whole clutch / throttle balance and controlling low speed riding by slipping the clutch and dragging the back brake, you should be able to ride even the biggest cruisers with confidence and control.
HD owners do seem to be anal about cleaning though, I've never seen a dirty one, so ask yourself if you're ready to go to those lengths of OCD cleaning to keep all those acres of chrome gleaming, and how much you'll ride it, given that a lot of HD owners seem to be do more posing than riding, and only come out on the sunniest of sunny weekends. I'm not trying to put you off, but motorcycling can be a dangerous business, and a costly one if you go in whole hog (excuse the pun) and decide it's not for you.
HD owners do seem to be anal about cleaning though, I've never seen a dirty one, so ask yourself if you're ready to go to those lengths of OCD cleaning to keep all those acres of chrome gleaming, and how much you'll ride it, given that a lot of HD owners seem to be do more posing than riding, and only come out on the sunniest of sunny weekends. I'm not trying to put you off, but motorcycling can be a dangerous business, and a costly one if you go in whole hog (excuse the pun) and decide it's not for you.
FightTheFuture said:
The thing is, what's a good compromise between a harley and a 125? I really don't care what people think, I'd happily pootle round on a 125 if it was the best option to make me a better rider, but I can't help but feel that learning the ins and outs of a small bike I could lift over my head might not really help in the long run if the end goal is a big cruiser. Like I said before, I've spent thousands of hours on a BMX but put me on a MTB and I'm like Bambi, all over the place- totally different geometry/riding style. That's my only worry
I would forget about pedal cycle experience in the world of motorbikes, they're vaguely similar to sit on and that's about it. It's a good idea though to get some riding practice in, anyway you can, before you jump on a Fatboy and promptly lean it over. If you want to get riding soon and find out if it's for you, why not get your CBT, some kit and jump on a Kawasaki Eliminator 125 or a Suzuki Intruder 125? They're well made sitty-down cruisers but without the huge price tag of the HD, and you can swap it out when you pass your test. You might even be able to ride out with your mates, you won't have that classic Milwaukee 'potato potato' sound and you won't keep up on any long straights but it should be more than quick enough to cruise around Brighton seafront or wherever you're going.
My Electra Glide weighs 368kg unladen.
You don't wheel it about. You sit and ride it forwards and pedal it backwards.
Don't put your foot in a hole or park side on to a drop in the curb unless you can do one legged squats better than the worlds strongest man
Go on, do it and join the rest of us Chromosexuals
You don't wheel it about. You sit and ride it forwards and pedal it backwards.
Don't put your foot in a hole or park side on to a drop in the curb unless you can do one legged squats better than the worlds strongest man
Go on, do it and join the rest of us Chromosexuals
FightTheFuture said:
Hi all,
Recently I ran into a couple of old mates I used to ride BMXs with when we were younger- in the intervening years they've got into harleys in a big way, and having browsed the interweb obsessively for several days I'm feeling the need to join them.
The only problem is, apart from push irons I've never ridden anything on two wheels- not even so much as a scooter.
I've been reading around, and I think I'm going to do my CBT/DAS next spring, but I'm not really sure where to go from there. My heart wants the harley, my head says I'm being an idiot (most other people seem to share this opinion).
For reference, I'm 29, 6"1 and about 13 1/2 stone (in reasonable shape), and I'd like to think pretty level headed. It's not the power of a cruiser that bothers me so much as the weight- I can't imagine what it feels like to ride a 300+kg monster when my only frame of reference is a bmx. I get the feeling that being comfortable doing tricks isn't going to help me here!
Please help me with sage advice- I think my life might be in danger if I show my girlfriend another photo of a bike
Kinda knew Snapper7 would be the first to respond! We had a long discussion on the phone before he bought his Victory, I'm pleased to have been proved wrong with my assumptions, but I'll repeat them for you, if you like. For his size (about the same as you), I suggested a Yamaha Drag Star 650, similar in size to most cruisers, but cheaper, both to run and insure. I was sure that Snapper7 would drop the bike sooner rather than later (he hasn't, hope this isn't the kiss of death), and wanted to spare him the repair costs.Recently I ran into a couple of old mates I used to ride BMXs with when we were younger- in the intervening years they've got into harleys in a big way, and having browsed the interweb obsessively for several days I'm feeling the need to join them.
The only problem is, apart from push irons I've never ridden anything on two wheels- not even so much as a scooter.
I've been reading around, and I think I'm going to do my CBT/DAS next spring, but I'm not really sure where to go from there. My heart wants the harley, my head says I'm being an idiot (most other people seem to share this opinion).
For reference, I'm 29, 6"1 and about 13 1/2 stone (in reasonable shape), and I'd like to think pretty level headed. It's not the power of a cruiser that bothers me so much as the weight- I can't imagine what it feels like to ride a 300+kg monster when my only frame of reference is a bmx. I get the feeling that being comfortable doing tricks isn't going to help me here!
Please help me with sage advice- I think my life might be in danger if I show my girlfriend another photo of a bike
Go and try a few, see how you feel on them, especially moving them around at low speed (which is where most "incidents" with these bikes occur), and buy what YOU like, not what somebody else tells you that you should have.
Take it easy, take your time, don't rush, and see how you go.
maggit
FightTheFuture said:
Hi all,
Recently I ran into a couple of old mates I used to ride BMXs with when we were younger- in the intervening years they've got into harleys in a big way, and having browsed the interweb obsessively for several days I'm feeling the need to join them.
The only problem is, apart from push irons I've never ridden anything on two wheels- not even so much as a scooter.
I've been reading around, and I think I'm going to do my CBT/DAS next spring, but I'm not really sure where to go from there. My heart wants the harley, my head says I'm being an idiot (most other people seem to share this opinion).
For reference, I'm 29, 6"1 and about 13 1/2 stone (in reasonable shape), and I'd like to think pretty level headed. It's not the power of a cruiser that bothers me so much as the weight- I can't imagine what it feels like to ride a 300+kg monster when my only frame of reference is a bmx. I get the feeling that being comfortable doing tricks isn't going to help me here!
Get your licence and go from there.Recently I ran into a couple of old mates I used to ride BMXs with when we were younger- in the intervening years they've got into harleys in a big way, and having browsed the interweb obsessively for several days I'm feeling the need to join them.
The only problem is, apart from push irons I've never ridden anything on two wheels- not even so much as a scooter.
I've been reading around, and I think I'm going to do my CBT/DAS next spring, but I'm not really sure where to go from there. My heart wants the harley, my head says I'm being an idiot (most other people seem to share this opinion).
For reference, I'm 29, 6"1 and about 13 1/2 stone (in reasonable shape), and I'd like to think pretty level headed. It's not the power of a cruiser that bothers me so much as the weight- I can't imagine what it feels like to ride a 300+kg monster when my only frame of reference is a bmx. I get the feeling that being comfortable doing tricks isn't going to help me here!
As for Harley's, well, ignore the stupid abusive comments from the plastic missile crowd and try one once you've got your licence.
They are a doddle to ride, even for a novice, the weight is only an issue when you are pushing and pulling the thing around not when your riding them.
If you are looking at longer distance rides, you won't want a Sportster, you need to look at a Dyna or Softtail.
A modded Sporty though is great fun as a shorter ride, bar hopper type of bike, and respond well to a bit of retro vintage style customising
(as does a Softatil of course)The new Indians are a great alternative, if the styling floats your boat.
Do your DAS, go ride a few different bikes, pick what you want. Not what your mates want.
There is a lot more to motorbiking than cruisers and sports bikes, they are just 2 ends of the spectrum.
There is everything in between, singles/twins/triples/turbines smooth 4s, big lolloping adventure bikes, knife edge 600s.
Everyone enjoys each type of bike for a reason, a Harley is one type of bike.
They don't go round corners, they make a lot of noise and don't go very fast, but they do hold their money well, and the right bike can look very nice.
If much rather spend my money on something like a triumph rocket or a ducati diavel personally, just to be different.
There is a lot more to motorbiking than cruisers and sports bikes, they are just 2 ends of the spectrum.
There is everything in between, singles/twins/triples/turbines smooth 4s, big lolloping adventure bikes, knife edge 600s.
Everyone enjoys each type of bike for a reason, a Harley is one type of bike.
They don't go round corners, they make a lot of noise and don't go very fast, but they do hold their money well, and the right bike can look very nice.
If much rather spend my money on something like a triumph rocket or a ducati diavel personally, just to be different.
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