Just dropping in...

Had to stop in and say hey. I've been riding for over eight years on my own. Had been going for rides since I was old enough to climb on, though. Anyway, husband owns a harley and I ride it periodically, but I really find that I'm not happy with it. I'm too into the whole speed and adrenaline thing and that bike doesn't corner at all. I know that I shouldn't expect much from an 88 Heritage though. I have owned a little Virago, a little Honda that was dying, a little Intruder, and my last bike was an 1100 Honda Shadow. I find that I keep moving up and am currently looking at the 1800 VTX. Still haven't made up my mind which one though. I think that I will probably end up waiting until I have lost some weight before rushing out and buying one. Might use it as a little reward for reaching a milestone. Anyway, I've written a novel and it is 2 am, so I am off to bed. Hope to hear from some of you soon.

GOOD MORNING.I AM NEW TO THE WHOLE MOTORCYCLE FORUM.I START MY BASIC RIDER COURSE TOMORROW AND I'VE NEVER BEEN ON A M/C AS THE ACTUAL OPERATOR.I'VE WANTED TO DO THIS FOREVER BUT BECAUSE OF MY WEIGHT I DIDN'T DO ALOT OF THINGS.NOW BEING 2 YRS POST-OP AND LOSING 162LBS AND CURRENTLY WEIGHING 162LBS I'M READY FOR EVERYTHING.ANY POINTERS? SATURDAY AND SUNDAY THE CLASS RIDES ALL DAY AND I'M A LITTLE APPREHENSIVE..THANKS..

Hi Katrina! Hope you did well on the motorcycle course...it's kind of like "boot camp for bikes" . But, it's wonderful and really gives you the basics and confidence. I completed the course in Sept., the Sat. & Sun. before my surgery on Monday, would you believe! But, here in New England, I felt the need to get everything done before the cold sets in. Come the spring I'll be all set with my new self and my new bike! At least that's the plan..... I bought a 04 Honda Shadow and I love it. Hoping for a warm Nov./Dec. day and I just may venture out before spring. So, write back and let me know how you made out with the course>.

Sorry that it took me a bit to respond. I'm up to my eyes in homework and it is all due by Sunday. Anyway, I went through the basic rider course a few years ago. I was in the class with lots of people that had never ridden before. I had been riding for years, but I learned a lot from the class. My mother had never been anything but a passenger either. After the class, people thought that she had actually been riding for years. The only pointers that I would offer is listen carefully to the instructors, go in with an open mind, and just try to relax. The instructors do wonderfully at teaching everything. You'll start off really slow and easy. If you can look at this as being a fun learning experience, you'll do fine. Just drop a message in here to let us know how you did.

Veronica, I have the Honda Goldwing, GL1800. It will get up and move, I got up to 90 coming back from Daytona this weekend, it will cruise at 80 with plenty of throttle left to spare, so the 1800 would be a great choice in my opinion.

Thanks Steve... I was hoping that it would be good and fast. I often worry about the cornering on the 1800. I'm sure that it will corner better than my husbands Heritage, though. I really can't wait to get a bike again.

Hey Veronica and Steve - I have a question and a comment. How long did you wait after surgery to start riding again? I'm pre-op for an RNY lap, so I expect to heal from the surgery during the winter when were not riding anyway. But were you riding when you were still losing the majority of your weight? In regard to the VTX, Veronica - its a very nice bike, but it will likely be heavier than what you've been riding. The heavier the bike is, the harder it will be for slow speed maneuvering. The first "big" bike I rode was a friend's VTX 1800. I was looking to replace an '83 Suzuki GS850 which was plenty quick, but kept putting my hands to sleep in 5 to 10 miles. I needed something less buzzy because of carpal tunnel but big enough to tour with. I've settled on a Vulcan Nomad 1500 - still a heavy bike (750# dry), but a little lighter than a GW. If your looking for quickness, agility and speed instead of long distance cruising/touring - I'd also consider some of the lighter sport or sport touring bikes. Good luck on your search!

Matthew, I'm afraid that I'll have to let Steve answer the question about riding after surgery. I'm still in my pre-op stages too. It is a very good question, though, and one that I would also like to find out about. I will admit that the VTX is a heavy bike. I have sat on a few and leaned them in the showroom. If I were to ever drop the thing, I would have a heck of a time standing it back up on my own. My husband and I really enjoy going long distances though. That is one of the main reasons why I was looking at a cruiser. Another huge reason is that I have really bad arthritis and knee problems. I'm afraid that once I hoped onto one of the sport bikes that I would never be able to get back off again. My husband and I traveled all over to different dealerships so I could sit and get the feel of all of the different types of cruisers. The Vulcans are nice and all, but it just doesn't feel comfortable. I will say that the Vulcan would be my second choice in bikes though for many different reasons. My father's last bike was a Vulcan and his current one is as well. He had nothing but positive things to say about them and I know that they have plenty of speed and power. Thanks for the response and I hope to hear from you again.

wow..another forum I hadn't run across yet. As for me, make it the Yamaha Road Star, or as we affectionately call it a "YamaHawg". I bought it Ebay a couple of years ago and have loved every minute of riding on is since. Last summer a group of my firefighters & I did a 3300 mile "8 states in 8 days" western swing and at the end of the day, my Harley riding buddies were butt-soar and tired....the RoadStar ( with the addition of a Cobra touring seat) had me still ready for another 100 or so. I'd say if you can hoist the GS bikes from the Suzuki line, and the Heritage, you should have little problem feeling in control on a GTX. But, for me, I can't get past that big old radiator hanging our there...so the Road Star became my first choice. As for post-op riding..I'm praying I can tell you all about that come spring!!

Hey Matt.. I have an 1800 Gold Wing that I started riding 6 weeks after open RNY. Just short rides of 25 miles or less but I did a 2800 mile ride 12 weeks out with no problems. I think the GW is heavier at 850 # with a higher CG. I do have a back rest which certainly helps on the long rides. Best Wishes, Rich