I've never ridden a motorcycle and am thinking of taking a course.?

Question

Any advice? I was told that cruisers are pretty good for long rides. I'm over 40 and my children are old enough for me to have a life.

Answer 1

A general rule seems to be if you're comfortable on a cruiser you can ride it all day. You'll want to sit on a few and see if you are, indeed, comfortable on them, because some riders aren't. With cruisers, the usual thing that can be trouble for a beginning rider is the weight. I've got a simple rule of thumb there: If it's light enough for you to pick it up with no help when it falls over, it's light enough you shouldn't have trouble holding it upright too.

The place to take a class will depend on the state (I presume you're in the United States). The most common class is the Motorcycle Safety Foundation's Beginner Rider Course, which is designed so you can learn even if you have no riding experience. They'll supply the bike for the class, and you can see if the bikes they have (usually 250s) are the right size for you or if you'll feel comfortable with something bigger. In some states it will be a different organization running the training program. Check with the office that issues drivers' licenses for a list of approved training programs.

I'd recommend taking the class before getting the bike if possible. And book early; classes fill up fast. The private classes like Harley Rider's Edge often seem to have shorter waits but higher prices.

Answer 2

For long trips I agree a touring bike is the way to go. But if your just going to be around town an trips less than 200 miles the a cruiser would been fine. I have a cruiser an trips more than 200 miles i tend to be a little sore but not as bad as when i had a sports bike. Also if you've never ridden before def take a MFC course so you can get the basics down. Good Luck

Answer 3

take the msf course. u wont regret it. they showed me the proper way to use the brakes in an emergency situation, and also on what not to do on a bike.
i ride a sportster, and i can put in some very long rides. my current 'record' is 600 miles in a day. it's all in the seat. a cruiser would be the best choice for long rides. that's what they're built to do. and to the guy that suggested a vfr, ummmmmm, that's a high powered crotch rocket. if u value ur life, stay away from that 1.
i suggest u look up the bikes that some of these clowns suggest, because alot of them seem to insist on suggesting crotch rockets. to do this, just hold the left mouse key and drag over their 'suggestion'. that will highlight it. then do a right click on the highlighted part, and then click on 'google search for'. that will take u to sites where u can actually get a look at the bike. as a new rider, u dont want a 600cc and up crotch rocket...reguardless of what ricers say.

Answer 4

A course would be nice to take. A cruiser is easy to ride but if you want to ride when cool or may start raining the thought of a detachable winshield would be good. You can always add later. If going with a metric cruiser start with a 1100 they are no harder or easier than the 650-700 range and will be happy with the power. A little easier I think to start off with mid mounted controls in stead of forward foot controls. Have fun.

Answer 5

a msf course can give u a discount on insurance, and get the endorsement easier. and u'd learn how to use ur brakes alot better. i'm also 40, and i ride a harley xl1200r roadster sportster. alot here will say they would be worthless on any trip longer than 50 miles, or around town. but i can tell u from 2 years of saddle time on this scoot that i can easily put in 400 miles in a day. all i did was change the seat to a touring seat...a sundowner, and put on a detachable windshield.

i'm not very familar with metric bikes, but from saddle experience, the bigger the bike, the better the ride. in comparison to the sportster, a bigger bike like a heritage or a road king feels like riding on glass. the bigger cruiser's are also lower in center of gravity....they make slow speed handling just as easy. a heavy weight bike will soak up the road bumps alot better than a paper weight sport bike.

Answer 6

Never ridden? Then yeah take the course and get a mid-size -- 650cc -- twin at most for your first couple of years. I'd suggest a Suzuki DL650, aka Wee-Strom which is both comfortable and allows you to go into turns more aggressively than a cruiser.

Two years down the road when you've convinced yourself that you're more into riding miles of slab in comfort than roads-less-travelled, you can start to look at cruisers. The other way is sport-touring which I'm fond of, but I'm ok with suffering from long hours of being in the fetal position.

Answer 7

Course is a must.
Period.
You will know it when You'll avoid your first accident.
This is the forth Bike. I have Right now I ride a Ducati monster s2r1000 which the best machine I ever rode. I started with a Kawasaki Spectre 550cc.

Do not start with the Goldwing!
Here is some suggestions as your first bike if you wanna do everything
Get a Honda VFR800
This is probably the best bike to buy this year, and it has been for 10 years.
-This is a good starting bike
-Value is very good
-Reliable(honda)
-Beautifull
-Comfortable
-Easy to use power (very practicle to bring momma)
-Goood braking ABS (unlike cruiser)
-Serie saddlebags to fit on the bike.
Gooog luck and be safe
P.S. There is no bumper and airbags on a bike

Answer 8

Your height should not be a concern. We at the instant had a 4' 10" female student effectively finished the Riders' component software on a Buell Blast with the low seat put in. the two the MSF software or the particularly longer Riders component attainable via HD sellers could meet your desires, as they have been designed with the completed amateur in recommendations. maximum MSF courses are performed making use of a style of motorcycles, and the insurrection is regularly certainly one of them. Max seat height allowable for a bike utilized in MSF preparation is 30" so maximum are relatively low. verify alongside with your college-of-determination and notice what their "reliable" incorporates, and what lodging they could make once you're nonetheless in touch approximately height subject concerns.

Answer 9

Cruisers are pretty cool bikes, but most are not very comfortable for rides more than 400 miles.... since most of the weight goes on your rear. You get what they call "monkey butt" after a while!

Start out with a used Standard bike - 650 cc or less - and get you sea legs. A Honda Nighthawk, or a Suzuki GS500 are good example.

Once you have the hang of riding, you'll have a better feel for what kind of bike you want, and you can move on from there...

Answer 10

yes ,a great idea. you just can't hop on an go.
no matter what anybody says. take a course, you'll learn stuff you either never knew or refresh your own memories.
talk to people that have ridden a while. they'll tell stories of things or incidences you would never think off. always keep an eye out ,be prepared for the worst, an ride smart. don't put yourself in trouble..
good luck ride safe...