Question from a newbie

[micstumpf]

you give excellent, pertinent advice, I cannot say any better! This should help many many newbies. I would add, humbly, to take advanced riding classes.

[HDshane]

Thanks to everyone for the input. Thanks Dale for all your input as well. Your info was the most valuable by far.



I decided to go with the V-strom 650. I love the sound of the Harley's and they look awesome. But I am a newbie and I do not think I have any business driving a Harley at this point. Maybe someday, not now. The V-strom looks good and I sat on one and loved the position on the bike. It fit me just right, seat wise.



I also boaught and have started reading Street Strategies and Proficient Motorcycling. Awesome books. They are a good dose of reality. In addition I am talking with lots of people like Dale who know what they are talking about and gaining some great insight. Next week I am going through the 3 day Basic Riders Course. Then I will start riding!



Yay!

[camogreg]

Wow- Great read and excellent choice Shane! New member to MO here and had the same delima 3 years ago as a newbie-again after a 15 year bike hiatus. I was thinking Harley for the cool factor as well but ended up after lots of web surfing and some friends imput on a '95 KLR650. Gawd awful paint scheme was changed immediately.



My last mount in '88 was an '84 Honda Interceptor. A few broken bones followed later by some road rash and trying to be a responsible family guy kept me caged until the KLR. I thought I might upgrade after a year or so but the KLR has been so much fun that a Harley has lost all appeal for me.



I've spent 3 times the money on gear and mods than the cost of the bike. One of these days I might actually ebay the extra gear I've assembled that just didn't quite work to my liking. That's been part of the fun too.



Sites like this have helped tremendously. A riding partner of mine tells me it just isn't fair - I should have had to suffer through much more trial and error than I have. The KLR has too much of my personality now to ever consider getting rid of it.



If I can manage the month off work, I'm planning a big west trip this spring. The KLR will be with me until the day the single gives out and the rest will get scattered in the ebay wind. I may be on a new Strom this summer. After this Spring trip, I will have tallied over 40K on the KLR. That puts it over 50K - a little long in the tooth for the big single. I'll put some more aggressive off road oriented tires on it and keep it for local fun runs.



Congrats on a great and wise purchase. Hope to also be on Strom soon. Keep me posted how you like it.

[BikerMom]

You missed my point. Yes, 90% of the motorcycles are Harleys, but the fact that the bikes are Harleys does not contribute to the fatalities. What does is that there are lots & lots of inexperienced riders on great big cruisers. Their big cruiser of choice is Harley. It is scary to watch these guys drift into the other lane on curves because they don't know how to handle a big bike. In short, my point is, a Harley is too big for a beginner. All of them. Even the Sportster.