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1+ on the non Harley 1st, until you get some expierience under your belt. Also look into the "Ride Like A Pro V" DVD and start with those lessons after the MSC. This way, if & when you drop the bike, you will not have the added grief of dropping your Harley because of inexpierence or overconfidence.
Either way, for you it looks like it's going to be a long winter...
Thanks. After my trip to the Harley store yesterday, they had the same advice. They felt the Suzuki M50 and the Kawasaki Vulcan 900 were the best starter bikes. When I sat on Kawasaki, that is the one which felt best to me. Of course, I have a lot to learn, which is why I am starting now, listening to advice, etc. Thanks for the tip on the "Ride like a pro v" DVD, I will do search for it on the web.
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One thing that hasn't been mentioned and everyone should do it. When you sit on bikes at the dealer have the salesman or someone else (maybe two guys) hold it up. Put your feet up on the controls and sit in the riding position.
Remember that your feet will be on the ground for a minute or less when you start and stop but you will be in the riding position for hours.
Another bikes you might want to check are the Honda VTX1300 or 750 Aero. Low seat height and well balanced.
I think with your size and weight, a Dyna Low Rider would be a better bet, plus you can tour on it with some bags and a windshield as you get more comfortable on the machine. A friend of mine was hell bent on a Nightster, but was steered to a Dyna Street Bob and he hasn't looked back, he rides that thing everywhere. Just my .02
+1. A dyna low rider would be a great bike to start with considering your size.
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2009 Road Glide, Rush Mufs w/ 2.5" Baffles, PC-V, K & N Filter
If your ultimate goal is to eventually buy a big twin Harley Tourer after you've gained experiance riding. I suggest you buy one of the mid size Metric bikes to learn on as you suggest. Number 1 they will be much cheaper than the Sporty and a good bike to learn on. Once you've gained the experiance and feel comfortable riding the entire Harley lineup can be yours for the taking. The BEST thing would be to get yourself a dependable used bike to learn on in the event it gets dropped etc. I ride an 883 Low - I'm a short guy and just love the bike for what "I" do. But it maybe too small for you to feel comfortable on. You need to feel comfortable on a bike and I also suggest MID controls to learn on ( just my $.02). Good luck
This is what I have decided to do. I sat on my first Harleys at the dealership yesterday. I was impressed. But I also want to be smart about this, so I am looking especially at the Kawasaki Vulcan 900. I have been giving Yamaha V Star 650 the short shrift because I had read about the short clutch release, which is harder on beginners. Several have mentioned that I should look at them too, so I think that I will. Thanks.
I just bought my first bike, an 04 sportster 1200, lowered 2 inches in the back, from a friend. I amd 5'8" and 145, fit on it easily, feet get to the ground no problem, it is easy and comfortable to ride and I am a noob (you can learn via YouTube like me, lol). I will be attending the safety course next year.
The only thing I notice is that since it is lowered, I have to watch my lean in turns as it will bottom out. So I can tell you that a 1200 will not be too small for you
As you can see from all the different responses, everyone's learning curve, comfort level, and confidence progress at different rates.
Take the MSF class. Get some feedback from your instructor, and make a sound assessment of your own abilities.
I got my permit on a whim. I was driving by the DMV and randomly decided to stop and go in to take the permit test. Passed and had 90 days to get my license. I opted for the MSF class and a couple months later I had my license (but no bike).
I had natural talent. I picked things up immediately and felt comfortable on two wheels from the get-go. A year later (this past March) I bought my first motorcycle, my 09 Night Train, having never been on a motorcycle (except for the MSF class).
