I am about to buy my first bike. Last time I road was about 30 years ago at the tender age of 13. So here I am wanting to get back on a bike and I want to get a Fatboy. I like the look and the feel of it. I'm about to take the safety course in about a month. I'm just wondering, is a Fatboy too much for a first bike? Thanks

 

YES

 

It's very heavy and has lots of torque. Even with a few years of experience, a big twin is a handful. A Sportster or Bonneville is the biggest I would recomend for a first bike.

 

If you havent been on a bike in 30 years you might want to consider buying something smaller to get your ridding legs back. Buy a little used something for a couple of hundred bucks that way if you happen to drop it(not that you would) it wont be a fatboy or some other big bike. I hear of guys that buy a bike and never ride it because they arent comfortable ridding it so it just sits and I am sure that is not what you want. just my .02cents.

 

It's your money and you can most surely do what you want with it. The Fat Boy is a great bike sought after by many.

Most people start out on a much less expensive bike to go through their growing pains with. Also, the 07'96 cubic inchmotor is probably not considered a starter motor size for a beginner.

Most people start out on 650, 750, or 800 cc's., and then graduaten to the bigger motors once they feel they have becomeacompetent rider.

The safety course is a great idea.

Glad to hear you're considering a bike. Be safe.

 

I hadn't been astride a motorcycle in 29 years until the day I bought my '07 Fat Boy last October. I bought a motorcycle riding DVD which was a big help to me in learning proper techniques which I practiced at the local mall parking lot each morning till I became reasonably competent and gained confidence in myself. I've since logged more than 4000 miles on my bike and also completed the MSF BasicRider Course, something I highly recommend to all new riders.

So................to answer your question, no, I don't think a Fat Boy is too much as a first bike if you go about it the right way.

 

go for it..............i learned on my night train...........first bike i ever rode......stayed in the neighborhood till i had the confidence to hit the streets

now 2 years and 15k miles later here i am

 

My first road bike was my deuce but prior to that I had ridden two stroke 250cc dirt bikes for about two years off road.

The great thing about harleys based on my experience is they do everthing you tell them to. they are very predictable and you can actually be quite lazy and still get around and have no dramas.

The real issue as i see it is getting used of being in and around traffic and the clowns in cars who have no idea about motorcyclists. Only experience can bring you that and remember it doesnt matter if you were in the right or the wrong, if you have an accident and you're on a bike you are going to hurt the most.

 

NO it's not too much bike - plus a fatboy is way cool.

In Victoria Australia we have a law that requires new riders not to ride anything over 250cc for the first 12 months. I had to do it and it was horrible (not to mention massively expensive as most people selltheir 250ccafter they serve the 12 months). I went from my 250 to a Honda Fireblade (without problem) and i could see theFirebladebeing too much bike for a beginner or someone coming back to riding, but my new HD i think is a perfect mix of power and responsibility. It's got enough to move you out of the way in an emergency, but its smooth usable power without the risk of serious suprises. Treat it with respect and you'd be fine... treat anything without respect and your going to get in trouble, regardless of power.

 

Does your safety course include some riding? If so, then no, it's not too much bike.

2 thumbs up for taking the course.