Triumphrat

MrMoJoRisin63

I posted in the Rocket Science forum that I was a new rider and we looking to purchase the RIII Touring. It was suggested that would likely be to much bike for a new inexpierenced rider. It was also suggest I look into the America, problem is over I do not like the look of that bike, and don't have tons of cash to make a mistake on. By nature I am a very logical and cautious person. I tend to research before I jump, and while I live life not to far from the edge I damn sure ain't close enough to fall off. Do you feel the Thunderbird is to much bike for a new rider?

engage

MoJo - I just starting riding last spring (more accurately, I hadn't ridden since high school, which was over 30 years ago).

I started on a 2004 Bonneville in March. Put 2,000 miles on her and then purchased the Tbird. The Tbird isn't as agile as the Bonneville around town, but handles better and is more comfortable on-the-road.

I had no issues with the transition and I love the Tbird, but I think the conventional wisdom is to start smaller.

I'm sure others with more experience will respond, but I wanted to give you my input as a newer rider.

Edit: My strongest suggestion as a new rider is to take a weekend MSF safety class. That will get you some seat time before you get on your bike (better to drop theirs) and they cover a lot of other topics/situations a new rider should know.

MrMoJoRisin63

I am without a doubt going to take the Motorcycle Safety Class. I really am trying to avoid buying a bike I have to trade in and loose money on. I was hoping the T-Bird might be a suitable starter then maybe in five years trade in and get the Rocket III touring.

Professor Mike

Mr MoJo:
If I may,I would like to ask a few questions.

(1) Your Height & Weight?

(2) Have you ever ridden any kind of motorcycle?

(3) What kind of riding will you be doing?

(4) Your age?

(5) Who is the other person(you said "WE" )

(6) Have you test ridden a T-Bird or any other motorcycle?

(7) What is your inseam and arm length?

Donot feel obligated to answer any of these question,however it would be a great value in aiding in my evaluation.

Kindest Regards


Professor Mike

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Matter Can Neither Be Created Nor Destroyed

MrMoJoRisin63

Height 5'11" Weight 222 lbs, rode little dirt bikes as a kid, most riding will be to and from work five miles each way, then weekend ride on county roads no freeway riding, currently 47 years of age, I will solo ride for at least a year then wife may ride not likely, no test rides yet gonna take classes first trying to do some homework before I committ, inseam 30", arm length armpit to finger tip 31".

Professor Mike

Mr MoJo:

Excellent. Take the safety course and then test ride the Bonneville first,the SpeedMaster second,then the T-Bird. I firmly beleive you'll buy the T- Bird when all is said and done. Good Luck and keep me posted on your progress.

Kindest Regards

Prof. Mike

__________________
Matter Can Neither Be Created Nor Destroyed

MrMoJoRisin63

Thank you for your help. It helps a lot when a new rider actually get's responses. Thanks to all the replied.

argyle

Doing your homework is good - saves lots of problems and money along the line.

The last time I didn't own a motorcycle was in my destitute college days in the early 70s - I've had one (or more) continuously since then, and my gut feel is that the Bird is too much bike for a beginning rider who doesn't plan on many highway miles. I have barely 100 miles on mine so I'm not in a position to make a very informed judgment, but I was really glad I have as much riding experience as I do before climbing on a bike as heavy and with as much power as the Bird.

Personally, I think the Bonneville family would make a much better starter bike for what you have described. I'm making a couple of assumptions here, and one of them is that you will have the bike on the ground sooner or later. At right at 750 lbs, you will probably not be able to get the Bird back upright by yourself. Plus, you are talking nearly twice the cost - a very expensive bike to make a noob's mistakes with.

My suggestion would be to go for one of the Bonneville-level bikes - like a Speedmaster or America. Used ones can be had very reasonably - $4,000-$5,000 - and still have plenty of power and street cred.

Not everyone loves riding as much as they think they will. There are tons of bikes sitting in garages under tarps with <2,000 owner miles on them. If you have tons of money, maybe you could afford to do that with a T-Bird and find out that motorcycling just isn't as much fun for you as you thought it was. But, if you can find that out at 1/3 the cost... that ain't bad.

DruAde

Mojo. I am a Motorcycle instructor in my spare time. All I can say is that I would not want anyone to ride a $13k bike (im in the UK but for easy translation ) if they have no experience in handling a bike. I know its different over there and your roads are wider, less traffic ect but that isnt the whole problem. Both the Rocket and the Tbird are 700lb plus bikes which while standing up are easy to manouver if they start to go over for any silly reason they are gone and you with it. Ive seen peoples feet slip on the road and the bike tip over soI guess it can happen to anyone.

Ok you might not do yourself much damage but if you fancy a huge repair bill to your new expencive machine then cool. Getting carried away on a Rocket or even the Bird and youll be hitting something in a panic at 100 mph without knowing it , well knowing nothign at all ever again in fact so you will have to be extreemly disaplinned.

I wouldnt say dont though . If you are confident and your not a luney wanting to push it to the edge and take things easy then you can have many happy early years learning your craft.

I knew a guy passed his test after a weeks intensive training and went and bought a Rocket 111 and was fine with it.

Me? Id suggest getting some road practice on something managable and get all the training you can. Get a second hand Bonnie or speedmaster for a year you wont lose much on it and trade it in for the machine of your choice and be safe in the knowledge that you have had some experience and indeed some experiences on road bikes . The experiences turn out to be more important than the experience lol . You learn a lot from experiences and having them on a more managable bike is a lot safer than a beast.

Do what you feel is right but keep it safe and get training .

engage

I second that. I picked up a mint Bonneville for $4800 last year and learned on it and then sold it. If you buy a bike in the spring and sell it later, you'll likely take a bit of a hit, but shouldn't be too bad and if you do drop it, at least it's not a brand new bike.