For two years, I viewed Harley-Davidson motorcycles and didn't find anything that I truly loved. Then, as luck would have it, I found a 2016 Indian Roadmaster that only had 7,600 miles on it... was and is in perfect condition. After purchasing it, I immediately removed the heavy luggage rack and the front lower fairings. I installed custom Ultimate Seats, Rinehart slip-ons and a high-flow air cleaner. After installing the Rinehart pipes and high-flow air cleaner the bike immediately got an increase of 10 mpg, not to mention the deeper sound of the 111 Thunderstroke engine. I installed blinking red taillights so that motorists can see my bike anytime I apply either the front or rear brake and had Clearwater Lights install yellow riding lights to the front forks. I wish I could attach a photo of my Indian Roadmaster. Every time I take it out, someone walks up and tells me that this is the most beautiful bike they have seen... I purchased a SHOEI RF 1400 helmet and honestly believe this, for me, is the best choice I could make. A few days after purchasing the bike, I replaced the tires because they were 8 years old, and I had an Indian dealer go thru the entire bike and they replaced all the fluids and such... thanks for sharing your experiences. All of it seems to be common sense. Take care.
My first motorcycle was a Honda 305. Never ridden a motorcycle before but rode it 25 miles from where I bought it back home. I had driven a standard car and ridden a bicycle so.. I wouldn’t suggest it. One of the worst ride I had was in October, got caught in a rain storm and it was just above freezing. Taught me a lot about gear, if I’m on the rode long enough I’ve got gear for most any condition I might face. Been coast to coast and back again, 11 k miles, definitely one of my best memories and would love to do it again. I’ve been down once, I broke a collarbone and while they were doing X-rays, they found my lung cancer. Got to it early and have been cancer free since. A motorcycle saved my life.
I rode dirt bikes as a kid, then got into street cruisers as an adult. First bike was a Sportster 883, then a couple of Shadow 1100s. Took a 10 year break from riding, then jumped right into a Road King. I seriously underestimated the lost skills aspect, and having a touring bike really challenged me. I really should have gotten a smaller bike to build my skills back before jumping straight to the one I really wanted.
i'm 70 and just got back into riding after about a 10 year break where i hadn't ridden even once. i saw an ad for a 90s roadglide and went to look at it. the owner let me ride it, and i damn near dumped it leaving his driveway. i was okay going down the road ,but really shaky on maneuvers. i took the bike back to the owner and told him i really liked it, but it was too much bike for me. i wound up buying a 1200 sportster that was much easier to handle. and, at one time, i was actually a motor cop in a fairly big us metropolis. yes, skills erode when you don't use them.
I would say, personally, for me, taking a rider skills course was the most important thing I ever did. You're right about the spill. They say every rider goes down at least twice. That was certainly the case for me. Gratefully, it happened at slow speeds and the damage was minimized. I have no doubt it would have turned out worse if I hadn't taken safety rider classes.
I wish I had $1 for every time someone claiming to be an “expert” tells me “You will drop your bike.” I’ve been riding on the street since 1979 and have NEVER been down or even dropped any of my 12 bikes. I think people always claim this to make themselves look better.
So there hasn't been a single year in 45 years that you haven't owned a bike? There hasn't been years where the bike sat all year barely ridden? People who talk like this love to include the 20 years their wife didn't let them own a bike into their experience. And A bike sitting in the garage not ridden/broken down doesn't add to your experience. Someone who daily their bike has a greater chance of dropping their bike at some point over someone who only takes their bike out two Sundays a year..
All 3 of my bikes have been bought without a test ride.... 2013 883 bobbed out bought used at a dealership 20 minutes after seeing it... no license and no clue how to ride. Lol, but I absolutely loved it. 4 years after selling it because I moved out of the country, I got the bright idea to buy a 48 in 2022, but quickly realized I could buy a new indian for the price of a used 48. Ordered a scout rogue before they hit the showroom floor. Love the bike Added the 24' street triple RS from just sitting on it and have zero regrets. So, I've gotten lucky 3 times
I knew I wanted a bike to do street riding, freeway riding, and also take it off-road, too. I never knew that it was called Adventure bike riding. Then there's mid-bike ( 400-800cc) and bike bike ( 1200 cc+). Then there's the gear. Different types, CE1 vs CE2, leather, fabric, and best brands, waterproof vs water resistant. Different types of shoes/boots. Rider safety and rider knowledge was very important other than the MSF course. Where do you get that knowledge? Trail braking, down-shifting, rev-matching, squeezing the brake never just grabing it! There are so many different things to know in riding, books have been written...Fantastic video. Thank You
It's definitely can be an exercise in figuring out how you really enjoy riding vs some ideal you have in your head on what might be the most fun, if that makes any sense. And often you won't figure that out before simply spending seat time and determining what isn't working for you. I've owned 6 bikes in the past 3-4 years before landing on "the bike" for me and what I actually enjoy the most. For now :)
I sure hope that Hegshot Rides knew more about Guns when he started using them. I was taught how to handle guns at about age 5 by my Grandfather.. first a Crossman 760 Pellet Gun .. then a single shot bolt action 22 and a single shot .410 shotgun .. At Age 10 I had my own 20 GA over and Under shotgun . Truth is I did not learn 100% safety. I learned about keeping your finger outside of the trigger guard until almost ready to shoot. As a teenager I shot Trap quit often and was never warned of usage gun handling even one time so I guess I was doing it right .
I knew that I wanted a Motorycle , so I worked and saved money from age 9 to age 12. Then I bought a Brand new Yamaha GT-80 in 1972. My Father kicked in about $120. I think it was $380.00 new. It didn't take me long to realize a YZ-80-A would be more suitable to my needs so I sold it and bought a new 1974 Yamaha YZ-80-A .. which was 5.5 HP longer wheel base knobby tires.. a bit more suspension. Then a year later I put a GYT Kit in it that tripled it's power. Then I upgraded to a 1976 Yamaha MX-125-C which actually had decent suspension a lot of power and a 6 speed trans. Being that I am very short, I upgraded to a 1978 Yamaha YZ-100-E radial head .. monoshock suspension ect. I also bought a used 1976 Yamaha RD-400-C that would eat Harley Sportsters for lunch. 6 speed Trans front and rear disc brakes ect. Later I bought a used 1983 Honda XR-350 then a used 1984 Yamaha RZ-350 then a new 1998 YZ-400-F then a new 2016 Yamaha FZ-07 then a Used 2008 Buell Ulysess in 2022. I also purchased quite a few other used bikes I won't take the time to mention. Believe it or not. There actually was a way to Educate yourself on Motorcycles via Subscribing to various Motorcycle Magazines. I think some of those Magazines are still available online. In more recent years I have been subscribed to Snowmobile Magazines. Oh Speaking of Indians.. some of my friends had Indian Dirt Bikes they were ok but transmissions did not shift that well.
Some irony for you. My first bike was a Shadow 750, and older one. After three months I knew I needed something that fit my needs better, so I traded in for an NX500, literally smaller and lighter. The 750 was easier to do slow speed exercises for one reason only - the 500 has a MUCH more responsive throttle, and I have been struggling with control of the throttle. I’m getting better, but it’s sure frustrating!
When I started riding on the street, [1969] there was no safety gear. Maybe a leather jacket Construction boots, leather welding sleeves, And football face guard bolted on open face helmet.I bought one of first full face helmets the Bell Star. When I stopped for a traffic light, people would stare. I still ride...full gear been lucky,have not had to use it.
I just dropped $1200 on a Neotec 3 with the integrated Sena radio. So yeah. VERY comfy & quiet, though. Better than the Neotec 2 that it replaced. 3 things I don't skimp on: Tires, brakes, and riding gear. Pretty much in that order. Riding since 1961.
My first bike after 30 years. Did my basic training got my learner permit next morning. Made it to two dealers. Honda sat on a couple. They were nice enough. Next stop, Triumph, They had a red one, it looked pretty. So I bought it. Rode it round the block a couple of times then rode it home. Great bike was really happy with it. So no you don't have to be smart. 😀 Just get the shiny one.
There are several things I learned after buying my first bike that I definitely wasn't prepared for... The worst experience was my first Flat Tire... You should always make sure you always have a couple hundred bucks available for emergencies like this, and depending on the weather, time of the year and the area you're riding, you should have the appropriate riding gear with you, just in case of a break down. Unlike a car, when you get a flat tire on your bike, you're literally not going anywhere for an average of 1 to 3 hours, nor do you have any shelter from the weather!!! You're gonna have to call for roadside service from a flatbed truck to take you and your bike to a **Motorcycle Shop** because a regular service garage will not have the equipment or knowledge to fix or replace your motorcycle tire. The majority of them will refuse to work on your bike, I promise you that!!! In short, I suggest you always have a few basic things with you such as... 1-A can of tire foam for things like a nail or some other debris in the tire... 2-A small electric or manual tire pump 3-Rain Jacket Etc. Little things like these can make all the difference when you're stuck on the side of the road!!! Just Sayin'🤬
I bought a 2021 Honda monkey without checking out other bikes for my first bike. For my second bike I spent an entire year and a half going from dealership to dealership before I decided on a 2023 Indian scout rogue and i couldn't be happier with that decision. It was the complete opposite of my first decision
After taking 20 years off to raise my boys, I said it was time. I didn't want a big bike like the Goldwing I had. I did a lot of watching videos. I started test-riding. I don't know when it hit me, but I saw this bike online. I just had to see it. It was only a few miles away. We decided to meet at a local shopping center. It was even better looking in person. I rode it, and it was rough. I knew it had been sitting for years. I figured it just needed the carb cleaned. I made an offer, and it was accepted. One thing led to another and an additional 2k. It's finely running nicely. Oh, it's an 06 sportster. I hope it is as reliable as most people said sportsters are.
I knew I wanted an FXR from the first time I saw one. When I saw Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man, and found out the Black Death 3 was an FXR, I found my forever bike. I knew I could change the seat. I knew I could change the risers and bar if need be. Turns out the seat was all she needed. Custom Corbin seat, some Jaybrake goodies, and glory glory. I didn't care what I had to do, I knew the FXR was the only Harley for me. Then I found a V-max....
For two years, I viewed Harley-Davidson motorcycles and didn't find anything that I truly loved. Then, as luck would have it, I found a 2016 Indian Roadmaster that only had 7,600 miles on it... was and is in perfect condition. After purchasing it, I immediately removed the heavy luggage rack and the front lower fairings. I installed custom Ultimate Seats, Rinehart slip-ons and a high-flow air cleaner. After installing the Rinehart pipes and high-flow air cleaner the bike immediately got an increase of 10 mpg, not to mention the deeper sound of the 111 Thunderstroke engine. I installed blinking red taillights so that motorists can see my bike anytime I apply either the front or rear brake and had Clearwater Lights install yellow riding lights to the front forks. I wish I could attach a photo of my Indian Roadmaster. Every time I take it out, someone walks up and tells me that this is the most beautiful bike they have seen... I purchased a SHOEI RF 1400 helmet and honestly believe this, for me, is the best choice I could make. A few days after purchasing the bike, I replaced the tires because they were 8 years old, and I had an Indian dealer go thru the entire bike and they replaced all the fluids and such... thanks for sharing your experiences. All of it seems to be common sense. Take care.
My first motorcycle was a Honda 305. Never ridden a motorcycle before but rode it 25 miles from where I bought it back home. I had driven a standard car and ridden a bicycle so.. I wouldn’t suggest it. One of the worst ride I had was in October, got caught in a rain storm and it was just above freezing. Taught me a lot about gear, if I’m on the rode long enough I’ve got gear for most any condition I might face. Been coast to coast and back again, 11 k miles, definitely one of my best memories and would love to do it again. I’ve been down once, I broke a collarbone and while they were doing X-rays, they found my lung cancer. Got to it early and have been cancer free since. A motorcycle saved my life.
Glad you’re good….
Talk about lemons to lemonade!!!
Luckiest wreck ever.
Enjoy the holidays, PEEEACE!!
2" travel street glide rear suspension can be called lotsa things... comfortable don't tend to be one of them...
I rode dirt bikes as a kid, then got into street cruisers as an adult. First bike was a Sportster 883, then a couple of Shadow 1100s. Took a 10 year break from riding, then jumped right into a Road King. I seriously underestimated the lost skills aspect, and having a touring bike really challenged me. I really should have gotten a smaller bike to build my skills back before jumping straight to the one I really wanted.
i'm 70 and just got back into riding after about a 10 year break where i hadn't ridden even once. i saw an ad for a 90s roadglide and went to look at it. the owner let me ride it, and i damn near dumped it leaving his driveway. i was okay going down the road ,but really shaky on maneuvers. i took the bike back to the owner and told him i really liked it, but it was too much bike for me. i wound up buying a 1200 sportster that was much easier to handle. and, at one time, i was actually a motor cop in a fairly big us metropolis. yes, skills erode when you don't use them.
I would say, personally, for me, taking a rider skills course was the most important thing I ever did. You're right about the spill. They say every rider goes down at least twice. That was certainly the case for me. Gratefully, it happened at slow speeds and the damage was minimized. I have no doubt it would have turned out worse if I hadn't taken safety rider classes.
I wish I had $1 for every time someone claiming to be an “expert” tells me “You will drop your bike.”
I’ve been riding on the street since 1979 and have NEVER been down or even dropped any of my 12 bikes. I think people always claim this to make themselves look better.
So there hasn't been a single year in 45 years that you haven't owned a bike? There hasn't been years where the bike sat all year barely ridden? People who talk like this love to include the 20 years their wife didn't let them own a bike into their experience. And A bike sitting in the garage not ridden/broken down doesn't add to your experience.
Someone who daily their bike has a greater chance of dropping their bike at some point over someone who only takes their bike out two Sundays a year..
All 3 of my bikes have been bought without a test ride....
2013 883 bobbed out bought used at a dealership 20 minutes after seeing it... no license and no clue how to ride. Lol, but I absolutely loved it.
4 years after selling it because I moved out of the country, I got the bright idea to buy a 48 in 2022, but quickly realized I could buy a new indian for the price of a used 48. Ordered a scout rogue before they hit the showroom floor. Love the bike
Added the 24' street triple RS from just sitting on it and have zero regrets. So, I've gotten lucky 3 times
I knew I wanted a bike to do street riding, freeway riding, and also take it off-road, too. I never knew that it was called Adventure bike riding. Then there's mid-bike ( 400-800cc) and bike bike ( 1200 cc+). Then there's the gear. Different types, CE1 vs CE2, leather, fabric, and best brands, waterproof vs water resistant. Different types of shoes/boots. Rider safety and rider knowledge was very important other than the MSF course. Where do you get that knowledge? Trail braking, down-shifting, rev-matching, squeezing the brake never just grabing it! There are so many different things to know in riding, books have been written...Fantastic video. Thank You
These were incredibly great tips! I loved the insight.
It's definitely can be an exercise in figuring out how you really enjoy riding vs some ideal you have in your head on what might be the most fun, if that makes any sense. And often you won't figure that out before simply spending seat time and determining what isn't working for you. I've owned 6 bikes in the past 3-4 years before landing on "the bike" for me and what I actually enjoy the most. For now :)
I sure hope that Hegshot Rides knew more about Guns when he started using them. I was taught how to handle guns at about age 5 by my Grandfather.. first a Crossman 760 Pellet Gun .. then a single shot bolt action 22 and a single shot .410 shotgun .. At Age 10 I had my own 20 GA over and Under shotgun . Truth is I did not learn 100% safety. I learned about keeping your finger outside of the trigger guard until almost ready to shoot. As a teenager I shot Trap quit often and was never warned of usage gun handling even one time so I guess I was doing it right .
I knew that I wanted a Motorycle , so I worked and saved money from age 9 to age 12. Then I bought a Brand new Yamaha GT-80 in 1972. My Father kicked in about $120. I think it was $380.00 new. It didn't take me long to realize a YZ-80-A would be more suitable to my needs so I sold it and bought a new 1974 Yamaha YZ-80-A .. which was 5.5 HP longer wheel base knobby tires.. a bit more suspension. Then a year later I put a GYT Kit in it that tripled it's power. Then I upgraded to a 1976 Yamaha MX-125-C which actually had decent suspension a lot of power and a 6 speed trans. Being that I am very short, I upgraded to a 1978 Yamaha YZ-100-E radial head .. monoshock suspension ect. I also bought a used 1976 Yamaha RD-400-C that would eat Harley Sportsters for lunch. 6 speed Trans front and rear disc brakes ect.
Later I bought a used 1983 Honda XR-350 then a used 1984 Yamaha RZ-350 then a new 1998 YZ-400-F then a new 2016 Yamaha FZ-07 then a Used 2008 Buell Ulysess in 2022. I also purchased quite a few other used bikes I won't take the time to mention.
Believe it or not. There actually was a way to Educate yourself on Motorcycles via Subscribing to various Motorcycle Magazines. I think some of those Magazines are still available online. In more recent years I have been subscribed to Snowmobile Magazines.
Oh Speaking of Indians.. some of my friends had Indian Dirt Bikes they were ok but transmissions did not shift that well.
Start on a dirt/ duel sport bike.
I have been advising people for 45 years to start on a dirt bike.
Some irony for you. My first bike was a Shadow 750, and older one. After three months I knew I needed something that fit my needs better, so I traded in for an NX500, literally smaller and lighter. The 750 was easier to do slow speed exercises for one reason only - the 500 has a MUCH more responsive throttle, and I have been struggling with control of the throttle. I’m getting better, but it’s sure frustrating!
When I started riding on the street, [1969] there was no safety gear. Maybe a leather jacket Construction boots, leather welding sleeves, And football face guard bolted on open face helmet.I bought one of first full face helmets the Bell Star. When I stopped for a traffic light, people would stare. I still ride...full gear been lucky,have not had to use it.
I just dropped $1200 on a Neotec 3 with the integrated Sena radio. So yeah. VERY comfy & quiet, though. Better than the Neotec 2 that it replaced. 3 things I don't skimp on: Tires, brakes, and riding gear. Pretty much in that order.
Riding since 1961.
My first bike after 30 years.
Did my basic training got my learner permit next morning. Made it to two dealers. Honda sat on a couple. They were nice enough.
Next stop, Triumph, They had a red one, it looked pretty. So I bought it.
Rode it round the block a couple of times then rode it home. Great bike was really happy with it.
So no you don't have to be smart. 😀
Just get the shiny one.
There are several things I learned after buying my first bike that I definitely wasn't prepared for...
The worst experience was my first Flat Tire...
You should always make sure you always have a couple hundred bucks available for emergencies like this, and depending on the weather, time of the year and the area you're riding, you should have the appropriate riding gear with you, just in case of a break down. Unlike a car, when you get a flat tire on your bike, you're literally not going anywhere for an average of 1 to 3 hours, nor do you have any shelter from the weather!!!
You're gonna have to call for roadside service from a flatbed truck to take you and your bike to a **Motorcycle Shop** because a regular service garage will not have the equipment or knowledge to fix or replace your motorcycle tire. The majority of them will refuse to work on your bike, I promise you that!!!
In short, I suggest you always have a few basic things with you such as...
1-A can of tire foam for things like a nail or some other debris in the tire...
2-A small electric or manual tire pump
3-Rain Jacket
Etc.
Little things like these can make all the difference when you're stuck on the side of the road!!!
Just Sayin'🤬
I bought a 2021 Honda monkey without checking out other bikes for my first bike. For my second bike I spent an entire year and a half going from dealership to dealership before I decided on a 2023 Indian scout rogue and i couldn't be happier with that decision. It was the complete opposite of my first decision
After taking 20 years off to raise my boys, I said it was time. I didn't want a big bike like the Goldwing I had. I did a lot of watching videos. I started test-riding. I don't know when it hit me, but I saw this bike online. I just had to see it. It was only a few miles away. We decided to meet at a local shopping center. It was even better looking in person. I rode it, and it was rough. I knew it had been sitting for years. I figured it just needed the carb cleaned. I made an offer, and it was accepted. One thing led to another and an additional 2k. It's finely running nicely. Oh, it's an 06 sportster. I hope it is as reliable as most people said sportsters are.
I knew I wanted an FXR from the first time I saw one. When I saw Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man, and found out the Black Death 3 was an FXR, I found my forever bike. I knew I could change the seat. I knew I could change the risers and bar if need be. Turns out the seat was all she needed. Custom Corbin seat, some Jaybrake goodies, and glory glory. I didn't care what I had to do, I knew the FXR was the only Harley for me. Then I found a V-max....
Ride a Triumph Tiger before you purchase a duel sport! I have double the HP of a KLR with only 40lbs more weight.
I would say ride the bike first, most dealers usually have a demo to ride.
And if they won’t let you test ride at least something very similar to what you are thinking about, I’d go to another dealer.
What do you think of these new can am trikes Spyder Touring Like F3 or RT. Or better to stay with 3 wheel Harley. I can't balance on 2 wheels anymore.
You don't ride a sportster. Sportster rides you.