I plan on hitting the parking lot for a few hours and practicing some of the stuff from the MSF and then neighborhood riding. I will take it easy for sure and learn. I'm excited about the possibility of being a really good rider and I don't mind putting in the time but the friends that told me to buy this bike seemed to think I would be fine taking it slow but the more I read from pro instructors I wonder if they are correct. My MSF riding instructors said to get the bike I want and take it very slow. I am a big strong guy so I guess that's better than if I had this bike as a 100 lb chick.

 

Do you think the parking lot practice is the best place to start learning the bike? I am lucky the msf course lot has some faded practice lines and I have some motorcycle cones I can put down to practice. I will go through the process with the bike much like msf and learn the bike and just take my time. How long should I do that before I am ready for the neighborhoods? What drills do you guys recommend?

 

I've seen 100 lb chicks on bikes like yours who ride them like they stole 'em. It's not about weight until you mess up and let gravity take over...and there are many men who can't stop it once it gets to that point of no return. Bike drop!

 

The bike only does what you make it do,so with that practice. If your friends ride go out with them and if they aren't patient with you as a new rider find new friends.

 

If you're not ****in up you ain't tryin - join the club


You not bigger..., nor badder than a cage..., or face plant @ 80 + mph

So - better get squared away ricky-tick

Slow maneuvering..., stopping at a given point..., starting / braking / turning - uphill / downhill / flat..., stopping / starting..., turning slow and at speed..., backing up..., iow - everything / all of it / over & over

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At some point you'll get comfortable.., even confident - then is when you're most susceptible to shtf

It comes from all directions - cages..., kamikaze birds / bugs..., weather..., debris..., road..., wind.., mechanical malfunctions..., inattentiveness.., fatigue

Assume you have a target on your back every ride - you'll do fine

Forget you do - you're ****ed


Welcome..., enjoy - and practice till you're blue in the face

Don't forget to maintain / check your scoot before / after every ride

Ghost

 

Speaking with first hand knowledge, I am 5' 11" 270 and my FB has forward controls. I find that I am too big for the bike. It would be great if the seat were another 2 inches back. At 6' 2" I am willing to bet that after a short time, you will agree that you are too big for the bike, even with forward controls. Just my 2 cents.

 

Perhaps some of your friends who say you made a mistake are hoping to buy your bike cheap! You sound like you have a plan. If you were to have bought a small, cheap bike, and rode around til you got comfortable might have taken 3 months? Then you would trade, get an HD, and spend time getting used to that. Take your time and get used to this bike, and within a few months (or less), you'll feel fine.

 

You did an MSF course. You're way ahead of most riders. Always keep looking, always keep learning.

 

No disrespect to the small ladies out there killing it. I just mean the bike feels great and hopefully as I learn a little extra strength can keep it up on the practice range doing slow drills and such. Much respect for all riders but I must say after MSF I am hooked.

 

It's ideal to start out with a beater bike for the first year or so but you already did it.

Many people just buy the bike. Some even without MSF!

The fun **** on the right grip is continuously variable and you don't need to go pedal to the metal at all times.

My priority to practice is emergency stops at varying speeds, then slow speed maneuvers, then street practice. You'll be good to go in no time.