Several people thought I was nuts for getting a Hayabusa for a first bike. I respected the bike and knew my limitations took it slow and drove very defensively. I stayed off busy roads for the first few months I had it and did not get on the highway until I felt comfortable with the controls and feel of the bike. I also took the motorcycle safety class that I learned a lot in too. Good luck.

 

Heritage was my first bike, Fits me just right at 5'11"and 230.

Very Balanced, and very easy to Handle.

I did take a MSF rider course, and would recomend it. You learn a lot and it made riding the Harley easy by giving you the cofidence to get on and ride it.

My salesman told me to buy what I wanted, if you choose the smaller one Ill see you in 6-months when you want to trade it for a bigger bike.

Hes right on, buy what you really want the first time, unless you have a Money Tree in the yard somewhere.


Ride On.

 

Have you considered the new deluxe? It is very similar to the Heritage only lower to the ground making it a good choice for us short guys! I have one and love it. You can add the bags, WS and whatever you need if desired. I have quick detach bags and WS. I have pics in my signature so you can see the similarities. Good luck with whatever you decide, you can't go wrong with either bike.

 

I have a Heritage Classic - first bike in 15ish years and never really was an experienced rider.

I found the Heritage much much easier to ride than I expected. Does not feel heavy, at all.

I agree that considering the Deluxe would be a great option and can be easily dressed to look like a Classic. I am 5' 12" and find the Classic a perfect height; giving up 5" would probably make me consider a Deluxe and the fact that the Deluxe is just the coolest damn bike in the line-up!!

Take a MSF course and get want you want. If you buy a smaller bike and develop a bad habit, it will still be there with a heavier bike-only worse. Although buying a cheap used small bike is a great way to start, personally I think you'd be fine on the bike you want...

 

I'm 5'11' and 231 lbs.. The riders course is required in my state before I can buy a new bike.

 

devrayfan,

I haven't ridden much over the last 20 years and prior to that I rode infrequently on borrowed bikes. Like you, I wondered if I should start "small" and move into a Heritage. Several of my friends encouraged me to get what I wanted and I bought an '05 Heritage in July 2005 as my first bike... It has 6,300 miles on it now.

The bike is 700 lbs, but the weight is low and well balanced. I rode solo for just over a month before I felt confident enough to take anyone 2-up riding.

Two things that helped me when starting with a Heritage as my first bike:

- The HD Rider's Edge course was offered free by my dealer with the purchase of a new bike. The course was riden on Buell Blast motorcycles which are light and easy to learn on. This course taught me the correct way to perform the many things we do on a bike and was more than worth the time and effort.

- Although well balanced, if you let that 700 lb Heritage start leaning when coming to a stop it can quckly get out of hand. To keep the bike straight up when stopping, look in the distance ahead of you and find something vertical to focus on. It could be a tree, light post, house, etc. This may seem goofy, but I live in a hilly area and stopping on the side of a hill can get your attention quickly if you are looking at the ground. This gains extra importance with the extra weight of passenger mounted high behind you. After some time in the saddle stopping and starting smoothly will be second nature.

Be safe, have fun, and post pics!

Edmo

 

Hi devrayfan...I 'm 5' 11' and I started on the Heritage Classic. I took the MSF course first though but had not been on a bike of any kind for 25 years. I'm 47 years old. I did not find the Heritage hard to ride at all...it's very well balanced. I would take the course and then buy what you want. I think you would be fine on the Heritage for your first bike...it's also ready for two up riding when your ready. I would pratice, pratice and pratice with the Heritage around parking lots and not so busy streets with your partner on with you before heading of across the country though. I have not riden other harleys so I can not give advise on how they handle... this is my 2 cents worth. Post pictures when ya get your ride and ride safe.

 

No reason to start with a smaller bike. The heritage though a big bike in terms of poundage, has a very low COG and is a very easy bike to learn on and ride. Very forgiving in nature, very easy to get a good feel on. My wife learned how to ride on a roadking. And she isnt big at all. Now take a Sportster. Weighs a few hundred pounds less, but it has a much higher COG and seat height and in comparison to the heritage is not an easy bike to learn to ride on at all. Whats funny too is that people call Sporties "girls bikes", pretty silly as its farthest from the truth.

 

Out of all the bikes I have rode the past few years the Heritage is by far the easiest to ride. It has a nice center of gravity and gives a floating sensation or atleast to me it does, it is a smooth and easy to maneuver bike.

 

You can find a used Yamaha Vstar for next to nothing to get comfortable on. Try it for a while then pass it on to another newbie and get the Heritage.

Best thing about the Yamaha is if you dump it just drag it to side of road, call a cab and forget you ever owned it.