That must mean I'm above average at 48

 

Only your undertaker can classify you as being too old.

 

the best thing to do is take the motorcycle riding course, after all if you decide to ride youll need a motorcycle license anyway. this way youll be able to find out if your comfortable with it. i hadnt ridden a bike in over 20 years and went and bought my bike, then took the course, kinda of backwards, but knew i was going to be riding. im was 54 when i decide to ride again.

 

You guys made my day, was not the answers I was thinking I would get.

I was guessing it would be, if you have not been riding road bikes for years you should pass.

I will be visiting some HD stores this week, had avoided it because I know what will happen when I sit on one.

 

Take the Riders Edge course. As far as what bike to get first. The conventional wisdom says get something small and trade up later. Harley has that deal that you can get a Sportster and trade up in a year to a bigger bike. Not loosing anything on the Sportie. You would be able to learn better on a smaller bike than you could starting off on a big bike. Others say just jump in on what ever bike you want in the end. If funding is not a problem, I'd find a smaller used bike to learn on for about a year, or do the Sportster deal for a year. You might love the Sportie so much you don't trade up. Remember everyone has an opinion on this subject and the say opinions are like a$$ holes, everyone has one and most stink.

 

I'll be 53 next month, just finished the MSF course, and brought home a Super Glide Custom.

Go for it!

 

Many riders in these forums got started in their 50's, 60's and even 70's. It is a state of mind...take the MSF or similar course. Find the bike of your dreams and practice, practice, practice.

 

Take the Motorcycle Safety Foundation's Basic Rider course. they provide the bike to learn on. It is a 3 day course with classroom and riding. they start out with you walking the bike with your legs and progress to the point you are riding shifting, slow speed turns, faster turns. braking, etc. until you complete the course with a maneuverability test. It is all done in excercises that add skills in each segment. very well put together. I have been riding 40 years and took it this summer just to justify telling my sons they should take it. I was amazed at how much I learned. There were 6 women in the class all had never ridden. 5 passed and one lady that was in her late 50"s withdrew, but said she would take it again. I think she would have passed the test but she fell just before the test and banged her knee pretty good.

 

My wife is in her 40s and last year she took the MSF course and bought a bike. Up to that time she had only been a passenger. I say go for it!

 

i just started riding again after around 35 years (dirtbikes back then), took the course last fall and bought my firsdt harley in march- im 52 and lovin every minute of it!