Was anybodys first bike huge? - Page 2

BP03 · 01-30-2013, 02:06 PM

It all depends on the person really...If you're 5'6 and tiny maybe you shouldn't start on a loaded Road King, lol. If you have little experience maybe an M109R isn't the best, but obviously there is always exceptions.

I started on a 1200 sportster with 0 riding experience and out grew it in less than a month, lol. I don't think it's a matter of how much CC's as much as it is a matter of weight and size... You can control how much power is getting put to the ground, but if you get a big bike that weight and size will always be there

Gold5th · 01-30-2013, 02:56 PM

^-- very good point, I'm a big guy at 6'3" and with me sitting on my C109RT, which is a huge bike, doesn't look that big. I hop on and take it off the side stand without using the handle bars, sometimes I even hop on, put up the stand while putting on my gloves, so my first touch to the bars is to start it, or clutch to put it in gear if it's already running.

I had a Virago 1100, which might as well looked like a 250 with me on it.. it's only a touch smaller than a 1200 sporty(physical size anyhow)

Mudflap · 02-02-2013, 02:58 PM

I started on a 750 and bought a 1300 weeks later. I should have skipped the 750, but I listened to a little too much advice from various sources. Im a big guy so handling the bigger bike was not a problem.

MONI · 02-02-2013, 03:15 PM

Funny how just a few thousand miles changes our minds. I thought my bike was too big, seat height is tall & it weighs 500+. I'm only 5' 2". Anyway, I'm so glad now that I didn't start on a smaller bike.

Mudflap · 02-02-2013, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MONI

Funny how just a few thousand miles changes our minds. I thought my bike was too big, seat height is tall & it weighs 500+. I'm only 5' 2". Anyway, I'm so glad now that I didn't start on a smaller bike.

We were at the bike store today asking about first service on the newer ones, and both my wife and I were stunned at how tiny the 250s looked now (TU250X, V-Star 250). My wife while staring at the V-Star made a comment like "looks like a little kids toy, doesn't it?" heh

We sat on a few Victorys. I was fond of the Cross Country, the wife liked the Cross Country Tour and the Vision...

MONI · 02-03-2013, 10:56 AM

Mudflap, if you plan on really touring that Cross Country Tour has way more storage room than any bike out there. The saddle bags are huge. We have a friend that has 1 & loves it. I still like the fixed fairing on the Vision & the movable windshield. Hubby says it's a shame they don't put that size saddle bags on the Vision.

Yep, I agree, those 250's do seem like a kids toy now. Funny how intimidating they were to a couple of the folks in my BRC.

Mudflap · 02-03-2013, 10:11 PM

We'd like to do some touring, but in reality neither of us has a job we could escape from for more than a week at a time, and we don't have that much vacation to begin with. As such, I am not convinced spending so much on a touring bike would be worth it really, but we'll see...

MONI · 02-03-2013, 10:19 PM

Only a week or so a year...You'll do ok on the Vulcan...that is what we had before the Vision...But we were taking 3 to 5 trips per year from 5 to 18 days and 900 to 4500 miles...That is why we went to the Vision. We wanted more of a touring bike for comfort.

I guess part of the reason I am not looking harder for another bike is that traveling on the Vision is so comfy. I'm still not sure my back would handle that many consecutive days of riding that many miles. Besides, someone has to take the pictures.

Mudflap · 02-04-2013, 02:06 AM

Yeah thats why Im tempted to just add a Harley Wide Glide or a Victory Vegas or something and keep the Vulcan...

MONI · 02-04-2013, 02:28 PM

We put a trunk with a luggage rack on our Nomad & have a bag that fit on top of that. I could pack almost as much on it that I can the Vision. Our saddle bags had chrome luggage bars on top of them and we strapped our coats to them so we had both sides for other things. Can't do that with the Vision so the coats have to go inside the saddlebags.

rsels · 02-06-2013, 12:00 AM

Yeah my first bike was a Yamaha R1. Great bike but I would reccomend getting some ride time on a small bike because a small mistake on a bigger bike means bigger consequences. I have done alright though. The first day I got my R1 I was cruisen around the neighborhood and I tried to U turn and layed it down. Broke the clutch & the shifter right off...Be carefull if you get a bigger bike.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

01-30-2013, 02:06 PM	#41
BP03 Verified Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 15	It all depends on the person really...If you're 5'6 and tiny maybe you shouldn't start on a loaded Road King, lol. If you have little experience maybe an M109R isn't the best, but obviously there is always exceptions. I started on a 1200 sportster with 0 riding experience and out grew it in less than a month, lol. I don't think it's a matter of how much CC's as much as it is a matter of weight and size... You can control how much power is getting put to the ground, but if you get a big bike that weight and size will always be there

01-30-2013, 02:56 PM	#42
Gold5th Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Athabasca, Alberta Posts: 434	^-- very good point, I'm a big guy at 6'3" and with me sitting on my C109RT, which is a huge bike, doesn't look that big. I hop on and take it off the side stand without using the handle bars, sometimes I even hop on, put up the stand while putting on my gloves, so my first touch to the bars is to start it, or clutch to put it in gear if it's already running. I had a Virago 1100, which might as well looked like a 250 with me on it.. it's only a touch smaller than a 1200 sporty(physical size anyhow)

02-02-2013, 02:58 PM	#43
Mudflap Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Evergreen, CO Posts: 472	I started on a 750 and bought a 1300 weeks later. I should have skipped the 750, but I listened to a little too much advice from various sources. Im a big guy so handling the bigger bike was not a problem.

02-02-2013, 03:15 PM	#44
MONI Female Rider Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Missouri Posts: 3,038	Funny how just a few thousand miles changes our minds. I thought my bike was too big, seat height is tall & it weighs 500+. I'm only 5' 2". Anyway, I'm so glad now that I didn't start on a smaller bike.

02-03-2013, 10:56 AM	#46
MONI Female Rider Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Missouri Posts: 3,038	Mudflap, if you plan on really touring that Cross Country Tour has way more storage room than any bike out there. The saddle bags are huge. We have a friend that has 1 & loves it. I still like the fixed fairing on the Vision & the movable windshield. Hubby says it's a shame they don't put that size saddle bags on the Vision. Yep, I agree, those 250's do seem like a kids toy now. Funny how intimidating they were to a couple of the folks in my BRC.

02-03-2013, 10:11 PM	#47
Mudflap Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Evergreen, CO Posts: 472	We'd like to do some touring, but in reality neither of us has a job we could escape from for more than a week at a time, and we don't have that much vacation to begin with. As such, I am not convinced spending so much on a touring bike would be worth it really, but we'll see...

02-03-2013, 10:19 PM	#48
MONI Female Rider Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Missouri Posts: 3,038	Only a week or so a year...You'll do ok on the Vulcan...that is what we had before the Vision...But we were taking 3 to 5 trips per year from 5 to 18 days and 900 to 4500 miles...That is why we went to the Vision. We wanted more of a touring bike for comfort. I guess part of the reason I am not looking harder for another bike is that traveling on the Vision is so comfy. I'm still not sure my back would handle that many consecutive days of riding that many miles. Besides, someone has to take the pictures.

02-04-2013, 02:06 AM	#49
Mudflap Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Evergreen, CO Posts: 472	Yeah thats why Im tempted to just add a Harley Wide Glide or a Victory Vegas or something and keep the Vulcan...

02-04-2013, 02:28 PM	#50
MONI Female Rider Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Missouri Posts: 3,038	We put a trunk with a luggage rack on our Nomad & have a bag that fit on top of that. I could pack almost as much on it that I can the Vision. Our saddle bags had chrome luggage bars on top of them and we strapped our coats to them so we had both sides for other things. Can't do that with the Vision so the coats have to go inside the saddlebags.

02-06-2013, 12:00 AM	#51
rsels Banned Join Date: Feb 2013 Posts: 4	Yeah my first bike was a Yamaha R1. Great bike but I would reccomend getting some ride time on a small bike because a small mistake on a bigger bike means bigger consequences. I have done alright though. The first day I got my R1 I was cruisen around the neighborhood and I tried to U turn and layed it down. Broke the clutch & the shifter right off...Be carefull if you get a bigger bike.