Triumphrat

peter_s

Hey Everyone
I am a new rider that has completed a rider saftey (weekend) course that basically started out with "this is a motorcycle" and ended with a road test that granted me a liscence to drive, despite having never rode a motorcycle prior to that weekend.

I am picking up my first bike in the next few weeks.

I have bought a 2004, 790cc Bonneville and am getting some mixed reactions. Firstly, poeple that don't know me, but do know bikes, tell me it is far too big and far too powerful for a first bike.

The guys I work with, (all Harley drivers) assure me that is nonsense and I wil be fine. Their advice is to get started early mornings when traffic is light by putting around the suburbs (I live north of Toronto) until I get a feel for slow control and proper signalling and all that goood safe stuff. Then they suggest taking the bike out to the farmland (five-ten minutes ride from here) and getting it up in speed on the nice quiet, straight country roads we are blessed with here. I am talking about no more than 80-120 KMH.

I should add (and I know we all think we are great drivers!) that I am a very mellow car driver with 18 years, no accident experience and try to be as attentive snd alert when I drive a car as I possibly can.

I realize this isnt a car, but I do think I can carry over some of the good habits to my bike riding.

I am just wondering if any of you have actually learnt to ride on a Bonneville?

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Iceseven

Congrats! You will be fine with the Bonnie. The power delivery is smooth and the power is there but not enough to rip your tail. Just be carefull and enjoy, it is a great bike and one you can have for years.

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2006 Scrambler, Previously had 2004 Bonnie Black, 1995 T-Bird, 1974 Trident, various street and dirt bikes.

fender

I also just picked up a 05 Bonnie after not having ridden for 15 years. I took one of the courses similar to what you went through as a refresher. You won't have any problems with the bike as was mentioned the power delivery is smooth and easy to control. The bike is also very easy to maneuver and handle.

A friend of mine also took the class with me and never rode a bike prior. He went for a spin on the Bonnie and found it to be quite approachable and easy to ride and control.

Enjoy!

davidc

I think you'll like the Bonneville - a lot. I learned to ride on a two stroke Yamaha 400. Paid the guy, got on the bike, and took off. Not the best way to learn. But your Harley buddies gave sage advice: ride that thing around your neighborhood many, many times. Learn the controls; clutch, throttle, brake, blinkers, horn. Lock up the brakes more than once [not going fast!], see how it feels. Man, you've got to feel the calm comfort of control before the highway. Oh, and DO take a safety course before you take to the big roads. You're in Conn? A lot like Jersey: many cars, nutty drivers, crummy roads. [Oh, you're in Canada, well, that's like Jersey: trees, people, number two pencils].

What you said about using your previously developed good driving skills will help much. My credo for the whole bike thing has been this: RIDE AWARE. Now, over thirty years later, I still RIDE AWARE. No crashes.

Good luck and take your time.

[ This message was edited by: davidc on 2007-05-10 09:35 ]

bobmig

Hi Peter! I don't think you'll have any problems with the Bonnie (in today's world of motorcycles it's not really a 'big' bike). Why not try to find another Toronto area member who'll ride along with you first time out? Might make you feel more comfortable with another Bonnie rider there to provide moral support, answer questions, and ride interference for you if needed. There's a bunch of them on THIS thread.
Bob

lindsayt

Well, I do think the Bonneville is too heavy to be an ideal first bike - but if you're in your thirties, are a cautious and careful rider (indicated by your claim to be a cautious and careful driver) you'll be fine. Just be careful to avoid potentially difficult situations - avoid any hills that you might have to stop and start on for quite a while, avoid road construction, avoid anywhere you may encounter gravel, and avoid highways for a while.

If you've taken the course and got your endorsement, you've got a good start - presumably the class was on lighter bikes, so you got introduced to the basics on a light bike. Just remember, though the power on the Bonnie is a lot for a beginner, that's not what will cause you trouble (if you're smart and paying attention) - it's the WEIGHT. Despite what the Harley guys say, a Bonnie is a heavy bike for a beginner, and you have to countersteer a lot more than on light bikes. Despite your class (on a light bike), leaning in turns on a bike as heavy as the Bonnie will seem incredibly counter-intuitive for a while, so PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE. Preferably, find a relatively slow road with lots of twisties (often parkways are good for this), and just practice rolling through curves. That will help a lot.

And although driving experience CAN help when you start riding, it also can be a detriment - a lot of things we all continuously do in our cars are REALLY BAD on a bike. For example, the tendency of car drivers to go into corners fast and exit slow. Bad idea in a car, but everybody does it anyway - it's the norm. On a bike that will kill you - not CAN, but WILL. Also, a lot of car drivers let in the clutch to go through low-speed turns - like when turning off a fast street onto a side street. On a bike, this is a bad idea. So forth and so on.

Good luck, and have fun!

[ This message was edited by: lindsayt on 2007-05-10 11:42 ]

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2005 Aegean Blue Bonneville - stock, Ikon front fork springs

DanInMA

LindsayT, Is there a Standard type motorcycle you WOULD recommend as a first bike. I am pretty much in the exact same position as the original poster. I know my limits and I don't intend to coming close to testing them if I do get a bonneville. I have a 2005 bonneville black pretty much at the end of my line, but I get mixed reactions about the size as well.

bonniegreen

Congratulations on your first bike! Like you, I came to it later in life (just last year). I took the Canadian Motorcycle Assoc.
weekend course. As good as it is, it's still just a license to get into trouble. So I began slowly, just as those Harley guys suggested. I bought a Bonneville for my first bike and no regrets whatsoever. It just might be the only bike I ever own. What others here have said about the power coming on smoothly is really the key. This bike will do exactly what you tell it to do. Ride within your limits and you will have fun. A year later I'm learning new things all the time. I had a couple of crawl-speed drops in the earliest days, both on gravel and nothing hurt but my pride. Now I'm gaining more confidence and ease out there, but I'm still very careful and always wary of other drivers.

Take it easy and the Bonneville will definitely be your friend. If you want to ride together anytime, I'm in the Hamilton area.

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letsxplor

I started riding last November when I took the weekend MSF class and bought an '06 Bonnie in Goodwood Green. I love the bike and am glad I started on her. I gotta say that a lighter, lower bike would have been much easier to start with - but if I had gotten a smaller bike I'd be bored and ready for something else by now.

After I rode it home from the dealer, my next few rides were in the neighborhood and in the parking lot of the elementary school - starting, stopping and braking. I never had a lot of problems at speed, but I still don't feel completely comfortable at low speeds, particularly in tight turns. I think that's where the weight and higher center of gravity becomes an issue. I'm about 5'9" btw.

All that being said, even though a Rebel or Virago would have been an easier first ride, I'm happy I've had Bonnie to keep up at highway speeds and wander the backroads - I wouldn't change a thing! 'sides, she's the one that spoke to me!

Lori

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lindsayt

Good First Motorcycles
I think Chuck Hawks is a pretty smart guy, and his list is great, if perhaps a little too conservative.

I learned on a two-stroke scooter and a friend's CB360. I think the best way to learn is to buy an old used Honda CB (125/250/350/360/400) or similar, ride it for three to twelve months and master the basics. After that, sell it for what you paid for it (they're worth little, which means they absolutely hold their value), and THEN buy your dream bike. Buy that beater with the express intention of selling it once you've mastered the basics, and keep your eyes on the bike of your dreams all along. That way, if you drop the bike while you're learning, it'll be an old beater - not your beautiful new Bonnie.

As a bonus, the old Japanese standards from the 1970s and 1980s were explicitly designed to clone the British standards, so you'll find that they feel almost identical to your new Bonneville once you get it - it's just heavier and more powerful.

Chances are, you'll be fine learning on a Bonnie. But you'll have a much easier time of it if you master your skills first on something that's easier to manage. Also, it'll make you appreciate the Bonnie that much more when you do get it.

Just my $.02.

[ This message was edited by: lindsayt on 2007-05-10 14:10 ]

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2005 Aegean Blue Bonneville - stock, Ikon front fork springs