How much experience do you need for a voyager?

[jlreeves]

Thats a lot of bike to begin with. Look for a used Vulcan 900 or similar and ride it for a year then reevaluate. Cheaper and you will get beat around by the wind, drop it in a parking lot, etc a little before getting all that additional expensive fiberglas to scrape up. The 900s are always available because they are a great stepping stone bike. My rule of thumb is double your CCs every two years; only a year to go before I get that 3200 cc monster.

[bibendum]

Don't buy a smaller bike than you want, but don't buy a bigger bike than you think you can handle. Nothing wrong with starting big.

[ToeJam]

I went straight into the Nomad 1700 from nothing, but I'm 6'3" and weigh in at 230. The test ride at the dealership was a little, worrisome. But like Netnorske said, "Sink or Swim". I jumped on, took off and after 2 miles and a couple of stoplights, I said, " Oh yeah baby, I got this!

Sign where?

[Netnorske]

Originally Posted by ToeJam

I went straight into the Nomad 1700 from nothing, but I'm 6'3" and weigh in at 230. The test ride at the dealership was a little, worrisome. But like Netnorske said, "Sink or Swim". I jumped on, took off and after 2 miles and a couple of stoplights, I said, " Oh yeah baby, I got this!

Sign where?

That's what I'm talkin' about.....!

[aeropilot]

Sept 2010 I started riding after attending a bike show in town. I took the MSF course and learned on their 250cc bike. At the end of the course I tried a V-star 650 and the Honda Shadow 750. I bought the shadow as it felt better and handled really well. 5 months later I started riding 2-up on it with my wife and the 750 just wasn't the best for long rides. As a cruiser, riding for short hops around town was alright, bit not the day trips we wanted to try and do.

Then, we read about baggers and started looking around. I tried the Nomad and it was great! Very heavy at slow speed compared to my 560lb shadow. Great on the open road. I bought it 84 miles from home and was alright for that I initial ride after practicing for 30 min in the dealer parking lot. That was June of last year, and after taking a few nights a week practicing at the local church lot and around town solo, I was getting the hang of it and the weight wasn't really an issue anymore. Just be patient, ride it like you are re-taking the MSF course and learn how it handles in those basics, and soon enough you will be comfortable with it.

[jasperboy]

I have been riding for years, and bought my first bike after graduating college. Started small with a 350, next a 600, then 800, 900, 1500 and now 1600. Not sure you need that many steps, but I'd suggest a "learner" bike.

Get something used that you won't be heart broken if it tips over in a parking lot. That way you'll get a season of experience and be better able to gauge your interest and desire to go bigger. Then next spring after you've cleaned it all up, you can sell it to the next noob and probably make money on the deal.

I know new big and impressive is hard to resist, but better to make a few mistakes on one that you're not making payments on. I did the same thing with boats. You won't feel near as bad scuffing up a 1895 whatever.

My $0.02

P.S. Welcome from Ohio.

[Netnorske]

This debate seems evenly divided....some say "just do it"....others say...."work your way up". This is kind of the same debate as the famous "break in period". There are those who say...."take it easy for the first 500 miles...", and those who say "ride it like ya stole it". I rode mine out of the dealership like a bucking bronco fresh out of the chute. So far so good (knock on wood ). 45,000 trouble free miles! If there was a NIKE symbol ...I would add it here. Just Do It!

[Netnorske]

Originally Posted by Top Cat

I don't think I would want to start out on a Voyager or a Nomad but you have to make that decision for yourself.

Geez TC....that's the same reasoning that got you to your 23rd birthday before kissing your first girl....!

[Loafer]

Some have missed the part where he says he 'has been practicing on an older Ninja'. He will be
'taking the MSF course later this month'. I think having been on two wheels and the course
coming up, he should be fine with anything he desires. Going slow and gaining experience
would be a plus for anyone.

[ringadingh]

I think it all depends on the individual, I'm glad I worked my way up from smaller bikes since I have a bit of a speed streak in me. Too much too fast would have been trouble for me.

[usranger74]

Welcome from Nebraska. Looks like you alrady have some good advise and I have nothing to add.

[ToeJam]

So, RonJr - with all this advice, have you come to any conclusions?

[coacha]

My first bike was the KawaTanker. Bought it, took the MSF course a month later and 70K miles later, still smiling about the ol' girl. Got a BMW 1200LT in the garage right next to her.

[BandC]

Welcome from Northern Minnesota! Sounds like have some good advice to consider already.

[Stump]

Welcome from southern Ohio.