So I pulled the trigger today - UPDATE -

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: DVad3r

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
I hope this isn't your first bike?

Sort of. I used to ride scooters and a Russian made dirt bike back when I was a kid during my summers in Poland. I also took a riders course which was good on 250 cc yamaha cruisers. I'm going to practice on my dads 1984 v65 sabre before I hop on the rod, but I'm thinking Ill kill myself quicker on that than the rod lol. His bike has like 120 hp and was apperently the fastest bike in the world for 2 years (84-85).

I'm going to be super relaxed and careful when riding, probably just around my local residential streets at first and then gradually expand my terrain as I build confidence. I'm pretty sure it's going to be alright, my main goals are not to drop the bike and not destroy myself in the first month.

I think the v-rod is a lot more tame than some people think. It can open up pretty quick off the line but that's only if you crank it, which I don't plan to do. I think the bike has a lot that it can help me out with, like a slipper clutch which should make downshifting smoother. I've also watched the ABS video disc that comes with the bike and it's an awesome system for emergency breaking, there was a pretty big difference in stability and stopping distance with ABS vs non-ABS.

We'll see what happens lol, wish me luck 😀

I'm already having visions though riding it around, one of which is the look on my principals face in the staff parking lot as I pull into work in the morning 😉 Or just cruising around the city, downtown and near the lake at night, no traffic and taking it all in...Mmmm can't wait!

You're aware that you will drop it at some point, right? I'm not talking about laying it down on the freeway or anything like that, I'm talking about <5mph in a parking lot and leaning the bike a little too far. Something that will scuff the bike up and be embarrassing but not life-threatening. This is really the biggest reason I tend to recommend people starting with an older bike. It's a lot less discouraging to scuff up an old bike than it is to scuff up a brand new one. It took me about 6 months to drop mine after I got my first bike, but then I did it three times in three weeks. Haven't since (knock on wood).

The V-Rod has 125 hp and about 85 ft-lbs of torque, which place it pretty much in a dead heat with that V65 of your father's (with the V-Rod holding a slight advantage in horsepower and a decent advantage in torque, but also being heavier by about 100 pounds). The V65 Sabres also have slipper clutches (Honda called it a "one-way clutch") so the Sabre should actually be about perfect in terms of getting you accustomed to a bike of the V-Rod's size and power.

As far as anyone calling the V-Rod "tame", you guys are out of your ever-loving minds. Sure, you can say "just don't twist the throttle too far", but hell, my old Honda 450 has enough beans to get squirrely. The V-Rod can certainly unsettle a novice. Just be sure to respect the bike, OK? The V-Rod has more than enough power to really punish a rider if he panics.

One thing that is definitely worth watching for is the Harley turn signal arrangement. Honda in the 80's used a single switch on the left side (slide switch left to signal left, slide it right to signal right). Harley has a button on each side (press on the right to signal right, press on the left to signal left). If you're not used to this and you have rather grippy gloves it's easy to unintentionally blip the throttle when signaling for a right turn during the first week or so as you adjust to the Harley layout.

ZV

Ugh, I hate that. A friend of mine had a BMW with turn signals that operated that way and it used to bug the hell out of me when I rode it.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: Fenixgoon

Originally posted by: Greenman

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
I hope this isn't your first bike?

Why do you want to rain on the guy's parade? A V-Rod is the perfect first bike (for a man). Low center of gravity, easy to handle, smooth power delivery from idle to 9k rpm's, and it's world class cool.
If he was adding a super charger I'd recommend riding it for a few months first, but a stock V-Rod is a very tame machine, as long as you don't twist the throttle all the way open.

He's going to love that bike.

because as great as it is that there's another rider on AT, jules (and probably everyone else) wants to make sure he's a *safe* rider. part of that involves choosing the right first bike so you don't kill yourself.

:thumbsup: Yes, that was where I was going with this.

Big heavy bikes with a lot of power don't make great first bikes for anyone. I think it's better to start small and then figure out what you want in a bike. Get a small cheap used bike and learn on it. If you drop it, who cares? You can probably still sell it for what you paid for it or close to that anyway.

A friend of mine bought a brand new Suzuki Boulevard cruiser with an 800cc v-twin engine. He hadn't ridden in years and he went on a ride with my friend and I a couple summers ago and he looked extremely uncomfortable getting it to turn in to the corners and ended up going down later in our ride. We think he went wide and hit some sand and low sided. I found out later that he only had about 50 miles on the bike when we set out on that ride.

He still has that bike and has dropped it twice since then and last summer he bought a smaller bike to commute on and learn on...which is what he should have done in the first place. Thankfully, he didn't injure himself on it but he easily could have. At the very least it has cost him many thousands of dollars in repairs.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: halik

Originally posted by: DVad3r

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
I hope this isn't your first bike?

Sort of. I used to ride scooters and a Russian made dirt bike back when I was a kid during my summers in Poland. I also took a riders course which was good on 250 cc yamaha cruisers. I'm going to practice on my dads 1984 v65 sabre before I hop on the rod, but I'm thinking Ill kill myself quicker on that than the rod lol. His bike has like 120 hp and was apperently the fastest bike in the world for 2 years (84-85).

I'm going to be super relaxed and careful when riding, probably just around my local residential streets at first and then gradually expand my terrain as I build confidence. I'm pretty sure it's going to be alright, my main goals are not to drop the bike and not destroy myself in the first month.

I think the v-rod is a lot more tame than some people think. It can open up pretty quick off the line but that's only if you crank it, which I don't plan to do. I think the bike has a lot that it can help me out with, like a slipper clutch which should make downshifting smoother. I've also watched the ABS video disc that comes with the bike and it's an awesome system for emergency breaking, there was a pretty big difference in stability and stopping distance with ABS vs non-ABS.

We'll see what happens lol, wish me luck 😀

I'm already having visions though riding it around, one of which is the look on my principals face in the staff parking lot as I pull into work in the morning 😉 Or just cruising around the city, downtown and near the lake at night, no traffic and taking it all in...Mmmm can't wait!

Two things:
1) get frame sliders or cage or whatever devices that make for harleys that make sure you won't fuck up the fram when you drop it

2) make sure your insurance premium is at the minimum

Buying an expensive brand new first bike leads to an expensive exercise in sourcing parts for when you lowside it in your neighborhood

<- rides many a sport bike

Agreed, I have frame sliders on my SV and have dropped it once. Stupid mistake, just moving the bike around in my garage and lost my footing...went right over. Frame sliders saved my bike from any damage.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: Greenman
ZV, you should take a V-Rod for a spin. Tame is the right word to describe them. To light up a Rod you have to want to, it takes active driver participation. There is no power band, it's a heavy bike that's surprisingly nimble for it's size. The only twitch it has is the front end tends to want to flop over in very low speed tight turns. It's something you figure out the first time you ride one, and it isn't a surprise. The only time someone would have difficulty with one is if they were very light or in very bad physical condition. Add a blower and I'd agree that only an expert rider should go near it, they're flat out dangerous at that point.

I don't even consider my 1200 Sportster "tame" and it has a good deal less power than the V-Rod.

I'm well aware that the V-Rod is a well-behaved bike, but if my old ~35 hp 450cc Honda had enough power to get squirrely, then the V-Rod sure as hell has enough. The V-Rod is a great bike. Quite forgiving for its size and power. But I've seen enough novice riders panic and unintentionally give the throttle a big ol' twist to be leery of saying that a 125hp bike is a good first bike. Do that with a 250 or a 450 and you get a little scare. Do it on a V-Rod and the consequences have the potential to be a little more severe.

I don't mean that every novice does that, but it's common enough to be a legitimate concern.

ZV

 

[Greenman]

Maybe "tame" is the wrong word, perhaps well behaved is the better description. Regardless, I'm convinced that with some caution and an easy throttle hand, he won't have any problems at all. I jumped on mine and rode it without a hitch after thirty years of not being on a bike.

 

[halik]

Originally posted by: DVad3r

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: DVad3r

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
I hope this isn't your first bike?

Sort of. I used to ride scooters and a Russian made dirt bike back when I was a kid during my summers in Poland. I also took a riders course which was good on 250 cc yamaha cruisers. I'm going to practice on my dads 1984 v65 sabre before I hop on the rod, but I'm thinking Ill kill myself quicker on that than the rod lol. His bike has like 120 hp and was apperently the fastest bike in the world for 2 years (84-85).

I'm going to be super relaxed and careful when riding, probably just around my local residential streets at first and then gradually expand my terrain as I build confidence. I'm pretty sure it's going to be alright, my main goals are not to drop the bike and not destroy myself in the first month.

I think the v-rod is a lot more tame than some people think. It can open up pretty quick off the line but that's only if you crank it, which I don't plan to do. I think the bike has a lot that it can help me out with, like a slipper clutch which should make downshifting smoother. I've also watched the ABS video disc that comes with the bike and it's an awesome system for emergency breaking, there was a pretty big difference in stability and stopping distance with ABS vs non-ABS.

We'll see what happens lol, wish me luck 😀

I'm already having visions though riding it around, one of which is the look on my principals face in the staff parking lot as I pull into work in the morning 😉 Or just cruising around the city, downtown and near the lake at night, no traffic and taking it all in...Mmmm can't wait!

You're aware that you will drop it at some point, right? I'm not talking about laying it down on the freeway or anything like that, I'm talking about <5mph in a parking lot and leaning the bike a little too far. Something that will scuff the bike up and be embarrassing but not life-threatening. This is really the biggest reason I tend to recommend people starting with an older bike. It's a lot less discouraging to scuff up an old bike than it is to scuff up a brand new one. It took me about 6 months to drop mine after I got my first bike, but then I did it three times in three weeks. Haven't since (knock on wood).

The V-Rod has 125 hp and about 85 ft-lbs of torque, which place it pretty much in a dead heat with that V65 of your father's (with the V-Rod holding a slight advantage in horsepower and a decent advantage in torque, but also being heavier by about 100 pounds). The V65 Sabres also have slipper clutches (Honda called it a "one-way clutch") so the Sabre should actually be about perfect in terms of getting you accustomed to a bike of the V-Rod's size and power.

As far as anyone calling the V-Rod "tame", you guys are out of your ever-loving minds. Sure, you can say "just don't twist the throttle too far", but hell, my old Honda 450 has enough beans to get squirrely. The V-Rod can certainly unsettle a novice. Just be sure to respect the bike, OK? The V-Rod has more than enough power to really punish a rider if he panics.

One thing that is definitely worth watching for is the Harley turn signal arrangement. Honda in the 80's used a single switch on the left side (slide switch left to signal left, slide it right to signal right). Harley has a button on each side (press on the right to signal right, press on the left to signal left). If you're not used to this and you have rather grippy gloves it's easy to unintentionally blip the throttle when signaling for a right turn during the first week or so as you adjust to the Harley layout.

ZV

Good advice man, thanks. I'm going to practice on the Sabre as much as I can before I hop on the Rod. I'm fully aware of the "You will drop your bike" thing, but I am going to try extra hard not to fuck up. I'll cry if it does happen, not because of injury, but the shiny bike 🙁




halik: You're talking about highway bars? Like this http://www.motorcycle-journal....hway-bars-100_0782.jpg

?

Yeah they must make something little nicer for the V-rods though. All you need are some bars that stick out on the frame and the swing arm.

 

[Dr. Detroit]

VROD's are so bad-ass!

I'm not a fan of Harleys at all but when these came out boy was I suprised. Tremendous power & comfort on a gorgeous bike!

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: Greenman
Maybe "tame" is the wrong word, perhaps well behaved is the better description. Regardless, I'm convinced that with some caution and an easy throttle hand, he won't have any problems at all. I jumped on mine and rode it without a hitch after thirty years of not being on a bike.

I think he's got the right stuff too. Both from having the V65 Sabre to ride for a while before delivery of the V-Rod (the V65 Magna and Sabre have long been favorites of mine) and especially from having taken the MSF course already. I just want to make sure he doesn't overlook paying attention. 🙂

ZV

 

[Pliablemoose]

The Night Rod is an awesome bike...

 

[Greenman]

Originally posted by: Pliablemoose
The Night Rod is an awesome bike...

There are two versions Moose, the VRSCD Night Rod, and the VRSCDX Night Rod Special. Most people like the Night Rod Special, that's the one with drag bars, forward controls and no chrome. The basic Night Rod is the same engine and frame, but it has mid controls, a more upright riding position and a bunch of chrome and polished Aluminum.
Both are sweet, but I'm old school and need some chrome on a Harley.

 

[DVad3r]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: Greenman
Maybe "tame" is the wrong word, perhaps well behaved is the better description. Regardless, I'm convinced that with some caution and an easy throttle hand, he won't have any problems at all. I jumped on mine and rode it without a hitch after thirty years of not being on a bike.

I think he's got the right stuff too. Both from having the V65 Sabre to ride for a while before delivery of the V-Rod (the V65 Magna and Sabre have long been favorites of mine) and especially from having taken the MSF course already. I just want to make sure he doesn't overlook paying attention. 🙂

ZV

Yea I'm going to be extra careful. I'm a pretty quick learner and I always had/have a relaxed approach to learning curves. When I first started driving a car I never sped or did any crazy shit till this day, even though most 16 year olds get over confident and do exactly just that. It's a big machine, I respect it. I don't plan on being one of these guys that gets the hang of it in a week or two and then goes on some twisties.

Walking the bike around and stuff shouldn't be a problem for me. I'm 6 foot and 280 pounds, I have pretty huge legs and push a lot of weight at the gym, to be honest I walked the bike around the showroom a bit and at a bike show and it felt pretty nimble and well balanced. I like the low profile of it and the fat tire makes it stand somewhat upright pretty well. We'll see what happens lol, if I do take a dive Ill be sure to post here with pics 🙁

 

[DVad3r]

update!

 

[Fenixgoon]

where are the pics? 😛

 

[MixMasterTang]

Originally posted by: DVad3r


UPDATE:

So it's been a few months since I got my bike. During this time it sat in the showroom, and then sat in my garage for a few weeks. Till this time I've been practicing on my dad's bike, and in the meantime took another MSF course as a refresher.

I finally decided it was time to pull out the rod this weekend and let it rip, and boy does it ever rip lol. The last bike I rode before it was the MSF 250 CC Yamaha, which is a bicycle compared to the rod. The thing is a total beast and I am really happy with it. I didn't get past 2nd gear yet but that's about all I need for city streets. Tomorrow I plan on going for a longer ride into some country roads after work.

Only issue I'm having right now is remembering to tap the brake light when I'm downshifting, cause this thing pretty much stops dead in it's tracks when I downshift, I haven't had to use the brake yet.

Just wanted to share that with you guys, and to anyone who hasn't ridden a bike yet, you have no clue what you're missing. Getting into my car afterwards I feel like I'm getting inside a garabage can with wheels and an engine.

Ill post some pics of my bike and me later on, but all I can tell you is that I feel like Batman on it (the fat version LOL).

😛


EDIT: Oh and I def need a full face helmet, and if riding around in my half helmet than goggles. My glasses = fail and getting teary eyed sucks.

If you haven't been getting past 2nd gear, you probably don't want to be downshifting too much!

 

[BZeto]

Have not ridden a v-rod but that must be a tall 2nd gear. Engine braking rules though.

On my CBR I can cruise at 40mph in 6th gear lol. Yes, I know it's a completely different type of bike 😉

 

[DVad3r]

Originally posted by: BZeto
Have not ridden a v-rod but that must be a tall 2nd gear. Engine braking rules though.

On my CBR I can cruise at 40mph in 6th gear lol. Yes, I know it's a completely different type of bike 😉

I think it is tall, then again it's a Harley, maybe it doesn't matter what gear your in? lol.