First motorcycle question for you riders...

[floridadiver81 0]

WEll..this is a matter of opinion...everyone's will vary. Me personally..if she is as "natural" as you say she should be fine. I started riding on dirt bikes through mountains when i was 13. When i got on my first road bike at 16 i felt as though it was very easy to adjust. Although it took me some time to break the habit of putting my foot down when it came to turning(common among dirt bikers). It took me about 2 weeks to break the habit. Now i dont even think about it. Just let her decide if it is too much. Just make sure you are there to give her constructive criticism in case she doesnt make the right decision!

Props to her for saving her own money for it too! That shows a lot of responsibility in acquiring her own things on her own...especially being a skydiving AND in college!

"Age has absolutely nothing to do with knowledge, learning, respect, attitude, or personality." -yardhippie
"Fight the air, and the air will kick your ass!!! "-Specialkaye

[gitRdone 0]

She prefers the cruiser style, currently looking at a Honda Shadow, a Buell Blast and the Sportster 883. She does have experience on small dirt bikes but extremely limited road bike experience.

Hoping to settle this next week -- thanks to all for your thoughts.

[airtwardo 7]

http://www.cycleworld.com/article.asp?section_id=3&article_id=818

Thought you might find this article of interest.

~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~

[gitRdone 0]

Thanks for the link, good info...

[EvilEagle 0]

[replyI don't know what the speed limits are out there, but here in the states...

I've lived all over the US and have ridden through almost every state at least once, as well as living in England for 3 years. Trust me, there is no interstate in the states that has an average speed as fast as the major motorways in England. A14 & M25 I would go 90-100mph on the bike or in my car and would be WITH the flow of traffic & many people passing me. A bit crazy, but also fun, just watch out for the speed camera's!

[MADPROPS 0]

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Agreed. Not much to lok at - But not a bad first bike/ learning bike that can be leaned over/ dropped. It might even look pretty good if you added a few mods to it.

http://houston.craigslist.org/mcy/1068549614.html

also its not a bad idea to put a set of sliders or slide pucks on the side of the bike for the first time its laid down

I have heard - not experienced - that the pucks add distance to the slide after laydown. Therefore adding risk and danger.

frame sliders are the number 1 thing you can get short of a full crash cage to save your bike if you drop it!

more then once i have picked my bike up from a highway crash and was able to ride it away do to my frame sliders. plus even if your just standing with the bike and drop it or your not there and some one push's your bike over they can save you alot of money. i will not ride with out them. they can also help by making space for your leg so if you do drop it you don't lose your leg. one of my good friends is one leg short for the rest of his life cuz he was to lazy to bolt on his frame sliders after rebuilding his bike. crashed out on some sand in a twisty and woke up with only one leg the other was crushed by the bike

live and let live

[davelepka 4]

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She prefers the cruiser style, currently looking at a Honda Shadow, a Buell Blast and the Sportster 883. She does have experience on small dirt bikes but extremely limited road bike experience

I'm not sure how I forgot this one (or how everyone else forgot it too), how about a TEST RIDE?

Give her the opportunity to throw a leg over each bike she's considering, and take it for a spin. If she's light on street bike experience, and you don't want her riding a strange bike in a strange neighborhood, an empty mall or movie theater parking lot should provide plenty of open space for her to get a feel for the the bike.

Have her do a handful of starts and stops, have her do some backing up to see how it feels to manuver it around, run through a few gears, and just overall see what's the most comfortable to her. Certain bikes just 'feel' right to different people. The seat, peg and bar position, the feel of the clutch and throttle, etc.

And I cannot agree enough about proper riding gear. I know she likes cruisers, and you guys are looking at a Harley, but just understand the majority of Harley riders are sorely under-dressed. Just because the bike is called a 'cruiser' if a car takes you out at 45 mph, you go down just the same as a guy on a crotch rocket.

Make sure the clothing is genuine bike gear, and not a discount store knock off, and make sure she is commited to wearing it EVERY time she rides, no matter how short the ride is, or how hot it is out side. It can literally make the difference between getting up and walking away from an accident, or months of skin grafts and permanent scars (it could be much, much worse, but a get-off at residential speeds is easily survivable, but without abbration resistant gear, you'll get chewed up pretty good).

[MADPROPS 0]

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She prefers the cruiser style, currently looking at a Honda Shadow, a Buell Blast and the Sportster 883. She does have experience on small dirt bikes but extremely limited road bike experience

I'm not sure how I forgot this one (or how everyone else forgot it too), how about a TEST RIDE?

Give her the opportunity to throw a leg over each bike she's considering, and take it for a spin. If she's light on street bike experience, and you don't want her riding a strange bike in a strange neighborhood, an empty mall or movie theater parking lot should provide plenty of open space for her to get a feel for the the bike.

Have her do a handful of starts and stops, have her do some backing up to see how it feels to manuver it around, run through a few gears, and just overall see what's the most comfortable to her. Certain bikes just 'feel' right to different people. The seat, peg and bar position, the feel of the clutch and throttle, etc.

And I cannot agree enough about proper riding gear. I know she likes cruisers, and you guys are looking at a Harley, but just understand the majority of Harley riders are sorely under-dressed. Just because the bike is called a 'cruiser' if a car takes you out at 45 mph, you go down just the same as a guy on a crotch rocket.

Make sure the clothing is genuine bike gear, and not a discount store knock off, and make sure she is commited to wearing it EVERY time she rides, no matter how short the ride is, or how hot it is out side. It can literally make the difference between getting up and walking away from an accident, or months of skin grafts and permanent scars (it could be much, much worse, but a get-off at residential speeds is easily survivable, but without abbration resistant gear, you'll get chewed up pretty good).

+1 i have been down on my bike 4 times. 3 times it was other cars/a big red truck. one time it was 100% my fault and i when for a slide. i was luck cuz i wasn't going to wear leather that night. and i even got as far as starting my bike b4 i thought... what the hell ill just put my full suit on just in case.
if i wasn't wearing my suit my life would have over. if by chance i would have lived then i would have to oil my scars every day.

make sure to get gear thats armored

live and let live

[BUBLHED 0]

I've had everything from dirtbikes to Hayabusas to Harleys. The Sportster is a very common first bike, the 883 or the 1200 really doesn't matter theres not that much of a weight differance. As far as the power you have to remember that Harleys are V-twins and the power is early in the rpm range. They are very low on horsepower compared to the other (rice burner) bikes and will not get her into as much trouble as quickly. A 1450cc HD engine in stock trim is only about 68 horsepower. The HD Dyna series is a good choice for beginners as it isn't as top heavy and handles well. For shorter riders it is easily lowered. My buddy is 5'8" tall and the dyna line fits him the best of all the HD products. my current ride (It is for sale)
2008 Screaming Eagle road King

ATTACK LIFE ! IT'S GOING TO KILL YOU ANYWAY!!!!

[LongWayToFall 0]

Don't forget, buy something used, its going to get dropped. I'm doubtful she will be able to pick up the sporty. I would say buy a lightly used blast and ride it for about a year, then get the sporty 1200 if she wants to be an all american girl.


Are you sure the 1400cc harley engines are less than 70hp? The buell xb I ride I thought was around 100hp.

[kbordson 8]

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Don't forget, buy something used, its going to get dropped. I'm doubtful she will be able to pick up the sporty. I would say buy a lightly used blast and ride it for about a year, then get the sporty 1200 if she wants to be an all american girl.


Are you sure the 1400cc harley engines are less than 70hp? The buell xb I ride I thought was around 100hp.

All American girl? But guys ride sporties too and I know a couple of Brits with them. (and mine is technically a Nightster, not a Sporty)

As far as my experience:

I learned on a dual purpose Kawasaki. Easy, light, not intimidating AT ALL. Even had great fun tearing it down and then putting it all back together again.

The first bike that I bought is a 2008 Nightster. I LOVE it. (and I'm considering it my "first" bike)

But... what she wants or likes might be different.

[BUBLHED 0]

Are you sure the 1400cc harley engines are less than 70hp? The buell xb I ride I thought was around 100hp.



Just looked it up to double check. Stock 96 cu in 1584 cc Harley engine max HP is 68.

As far as picking the bike up, if she is taught the correct way to pick it up should be no problem. I have seen a 130 lb girl pick up a 900 lb Ultraglide by herself. It's all in the technique.

ATTACK LIFE ! IT'S GOING TO KILL YOU ANYWAY!!!!