I will be a first time motorcycle owner! I'm buying a 2007Honda Gold Wing. Please give me tips on how to start

Question

taking good care of it from the very start & how to protect it from damage , theft or parking accidents & hits.
Ex: What oil is better, how many miles on it till the next change, what helmet is better, what alarm,..etc.
Tell me all you could to help !
I appreciate it !!!

also ; do motorcycles hold their values over the years or get devalued fast ?

i did ride bikes a lot, but never owned one. Just to clarify.

Answer 1

most importantly. take the MSF course (motorcycling safety foundation.) i dont have to explain it to you as you can google it. but even experienced riders take it over and over again. it teaches you so much about riding and safety and defensive driving skills. an acccident on a bike is a very different thing than one in a car.

remember, ATGATT; all the gear, all the time. never go for a ride without proper attire. helmet, gloves, jacket, boots, pants. not regular gear, but motorcycle gear. all it takes is one accident to completely alter the rest of your life. less chance of injury if youre properly equipped. a simple fall on a 800lb bike can be a huge thing.

also, instead of buying that as a first bike, get a small cheap throwaway bike to learn on first some $1000 beater. why, you will drop your bike. thats not an if, its a when. it will happen. and it happens more with new riders than old. so until you get used to the particularities of bikes, just get a cheap bike that you wont worry about if it falls. after a few months you can get on the big bike

get a lot of riding time. start when its not busy, like at night on parking lots and slowly venture out into busier traffic.

as for your actual questions.

buy a motorcycle magazine. all sorts of ads for alarms and maintenance items in the back. simple as that. do some research about the various ones. im sure honda has a security system for thier bike, and you can use lojack as well.

parkin accidents can be prevented by using common sense. its a big bike and you can park it in a regular spot if you need to. make it visible, dont park in that little grove that tires make when a parking lot is used a lot. park in an end space iff possible, your bike can only be dinged from one side. its a heavy bike, but account for wind direction. i dont know where you live, but here in los angeles county we can get 50mph gusts when the santa anas are blowing.

oils and oil change interval will be outlined in the owners manual. change oil hot and often.

do research on helmets. look at all the manufacturers websites. at the very least it should be DOT and snell certified. but remember, there is a lot more to a helmet than passing a regulatory test. how hot does it get inside. how loud is wind noise. does it get fogged up (if its a full face helmet!) does the chin strap irritate/ rub me in the wrong place. can i fit earplugs/ phone earpiece/ stereo earphones comfortably? does it leak in the rain. theres a lot of intangibles. but a name brand like arai is bound to have better intangibles than a cheap chinese helmet.

im planning to buy an BMW R1200 GS Adventure (just as big, but not as heavy as a goldwing) ive ridden briefly before but that was a long time ago (17 years) so im essentially a first time rider just like you. im doing my MSF course next month. my beater bike is in the works already, my friends know to buy me a BMW savannah suit for my birthday, the helmet is going to be a schuberth full face ($500, ouch!!!!! but worth every penny.)

safety is paramount on a bike. defensive driving skills have to be razor sharp. theres a lot of cell phone using drivers who are idiot drivers before they even put a cell phone to thier ear. take as many bike courses as you can, read as many books, join clubs, get good insurance.

Answer 2

if it were me I'd get a "starter" bike to learn on and get comfortable riding in traffic. goldwings are heavy and very powerful machines.....a sport bike with bags. you can easily get way over your head on one of these things. this is what i would do:

1. take a MSF (motorcycle safety foundation) riders course. you don't need a bike, they will provide one. when you pass...

2. buy a USED cruiser bike in the 650~750cc range. ride it for six months minimum....a year would be better. and i don't mean own it for 6 monhts...RIDE IT!

3. if you feel comfortable enough riding in traffic and on the highway then go rent yourself a wing for a day or two and ride it! like 300 mi days and see how you like it.

4. if after all this you think you are ready then go for it.

you may not like what i have to say but I've seen too many people go out and buy big, powerful bikes and get racked up within a week because they didn't know what the hell they were doing. motorcycle riding is an on going learning process...you can't be too sure of yourself, this is when bad things will happen.

if you want to learn more about goldwings there is a message board call delphiforums.com go there and do a look up for goldwings. all you questions about oil and whatever will be answered there.

good luck

dc

Answer 3

Good Luck ! Take motorcycle safety course, fall off there bike a few times. Buy a used dirt bike, learn to crash in the dirt. buy a used street bike, learn to watch cars aiming for you !!! But first get a subscription to Motorcycle Consumer News. that will answer your oil, helmet, alarm questions.
A new goldwing for a first bike is just dumb, the salesman wont tell you that.

Answer 4

Other then BMW's and Harley's, all bikes depreciate quickly.

As far as being a first time bike owner... I wouldn't get anything as big as a Goldwing. Start with a smaller, lighter bike until you have some good miles and allot of experience under your belt. You'll be glad you did.

Answer 5

First time motorcycle owner - i would suggest something SMALLER than a GOLD WING !! maybe a Super Hawk or an ST 1300 at least.

Answer 6

Most all of your questions will be answered by trial and error, talking with your rider buddies, as well as the owners manual.

Wow, if you're asking questions like that, you might want to start with a smaller, cheaper bike.

Answer 7

All the answers above are very good but I have one to add. How about making me the beneficiary on your insurance policy. By the way, did you tell the dealer this is your FIRST BIKE?

Answer 8

For oil, hands down, Mobil 1. Your warranty should not void if you change out the original oil and filter as soon as you get it. Check to be certain.
Be safe...the other guy is a potential accident waiting to happen. Stay out of their blind spot.

Answer 9

take a rider safty class first. if you live in the states google motor cycle safty foundation they will have links to schools in your area. also try google for ccrider

Answer 10

most of your questions will be answered in the owners manual

they hold their value depending on what you buy and your upgrades your dealer will be the best info on that