Triumphrat

hootieST · 02-10-2007

A dear friend of mine is turning the half century mark this year and has decided to take up motorcycling. While I'm thrilled for him (and his wife), I'm also very concerned for his life.

An irresponsible salesman has sold him a Yamaha Royal Star Venture! This machine is huge, especially for someone with zero ride time! Even with my 30+ years of motorcycling experience I would feel intimidated by this bike.

He has said he is going to take a riders course, but that may not be enough the first time he is faced with an emergecy situation and has to deal with 850+ lbs of motorcycle.

Perhaps I'm being biased about his choice of bike, I just don't think it is the right way to enter the sport.

May the God of Motorcycling keep an eye on him.

Mark

joe82325 · 02-10-2007

No my friend, you are rightfully concerned, make him take the course and discourage him from riding during high risk times of the day. :-g

doodledog · 02-10-2007

I dont know about that tank but etter that than an R1 or blade, only you and he will know if he has the temperament to not run before he can walk. If he does the course and maybe if you accompany him for a while he will be ok.

MES · 02-10-2007

this thread will generate quite a few comments I'm sure.
Why don't you give people a few days to comment and then show your friend this thread.
It is a poor choice for a first bike and you are right to be concerned.

tba-golfer · 02-10-2007

I'm very much like your buddy. I bought my first bike at age 52.
Had it delivered to my house, and didn't even touch it until I had taken the MSF class, which I found to be less of a challange than I expected, actually. But there is a big difference between putting around a parking lot at 14 miles an hour on a lightweight 125, and hitting the real world of traffic, full of blind cagers, signs, lanes, and other distractions on a heavyweight bike.
I started inching my way around the block. 20 MPH was a big feat, at first! I gradually improved my skills and my confidence, and I have a long way to go. I have spent any number of early Sunday mornings riding around empty school and shopping center parking lots. My first time on a freeway (for about 5 miles) going 70 was a scare and a half.
I have enjoyed every second; but in retrospect I wish I had left the TBA in the garage for a season, bought a used Honda Rebel 250, or some such bike, and had a go with that for a year. Come to think of it, a smaller bike like that would be fun in any event.

My 2 cents.

Tbirdnz · 02-10-2007

He'd better do the course and have some riding time under his belt before he sets out on that machine. Looks very expensive to drop, even to overbalance. It's not the bike to learn on.

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Ride on !

Silverado57 · 02-10-2007

Before taking the MSF course I had looked at HDs and then spotted the Speedmaster.

After passing the MSF course again sat on many of the Triumphs and HDs. I could have had any bike I wanted but went with the Speedmaster and have never regretted it. It is a bike very accomodating of a new rider.

Like Scott, I started out very slow and worked my way up to more challenging roads as my skills and confidence progressed.

It could work out for your friend, but at the very least he may make his riding experience more difficult with a heavy bike. If you can't change his decision, try to be supportive and help him learn the right way to ride.
Good luck!

Speed3 · 02-10-2007

hootie, show your friend the new rider threads and stickys at this forum. A lot of good, knowledgeable advice/info there
http://www.sportbikes.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=6

hinkleyboy · 02-11-2007

my dad is 56 and he took his test last year and bought a BMW r1200c cruiser i was dead against it cos i thought it was to big and heavy for a first bike, but he bought it anyway and hes out on it all the time, he's dropped it a few times in car parks at slow maneuvers but generally hes doing well on it and did 2000 miles in a week when he went to germany, however i never ride with him as it terrifies me, but he is getting there

i also posted a thread on here a while back about a mate of mine who wanted a gsxr 750 as a first bike, luckily he saw the light and bought a suzuki sv650 however now he wants a duke 916

[ This message was edited by: hinkleyboy on 2007-02-11 05:51 ]

MattTriumphs · 02-11-2007

Being 26 I still remember when I was 16. I was so excited to get my drivers license. Then I got my license and was kinda nervous to get on the road by myself. No matter how good drivers ed is there is no replacement for experience!

No one in there right mind would give a 16 year old the keys to a new corvette, it's asking for trouble. The corvette is an advanced car. A big, powerful, heavy motorcycle is an advanced bike.

Why wouldn't someone (a new rider) do everything in his power to be as safe as he can when doing anything dangerous?

I had a girlfriend and her dad always wanted to ride. He thought he knew what he was doing when he climbed on his friends Harley to around the block. He ended up hitting a curb went through the bikes wind shield and into a "for sale" sign on a house. He busted his head open bled everywhere and almost died. All from a trip around the block!

I second whoever said you should print out this thread and give it to your friend. It could save him from serious injury or death!