Buying my first motorcycle today, a 99 Valkyrie Interstate

[Rocketman]

Texas won't even license new riders without the course, as of a few years ago.  I took it when I started, as well, even though it was not technically required.  There were parts of it that I regarded as inane, most memorably the time spent learning how to operate a clutch (which I already knew, but the instructor assumed no one knew).  However, there are gold nuggets in amongst the silt.  One thing I learned certainly stuck with me, since I am convinced that it turned a potentially very bad day into a small bruise and a few scratches on the bike.
I usually take the "learn as you go" process, but the usual cost for that process is spending more time than necessary to learn.  In this case, it can be remarkably painful, remarkably fast.

Mark

[Willow]

Congratulations on your purchase and what I hope will be a long, rewarding relationship.

  I did check into a riding class when I bought the helmet and it was going to run $275 dollars. 

Spend it and get signed up quickly before the Spring classes are filled.

$275 won't make a small dent in what it will cost to repair the ABS on that bike if you put it on the ground.  Three years ago I bought an Interstate that had been totaled in a low speed let down.  The only metal damage was a bent engine guard on the right side.  I repaired and repainted one bag, the fairing, the trunk, and odds and ends at over $1000 dollars.

Spend the $275 and, more importantly, the time under quality instruction.  I'm not telling you you can't do it without the MSF course, but I'm guaranteeing you it will cost you more.  You spent $6000 on a twelve year old bike.  Don't pinch pennies on your safety.

Incidentally, beginners truly do drive the bike.  If and when you develop into an accomplished rider there will be a moment when you realize that you and the bike have melded into a single rolling unit.  In that moment you'll know what it means to ride the bike rather than drive it.     

[hubcapsc]

I'm the last house on a dead end street and have two blocks of open road with no intersections and only four driveways to worry about.  I was nervous but succeeded in riding the bike.  After about 10 times of starting and stopping I started working on turning in and out of my driveway.  I have been trying to keep the bike moving as slow as possible and keeping my feet on the boards.  She is heavy, but so am I and we seem to be getting along better all the time.  I know its only been one hour of practice and I have only ventured out two blocks from my house but hey, WTH!  I did drive around a four square block towards the end of the hour and so far so good.  The bike hasn't dropped and we are now introduced to each other. 

That all sounds pretty good to me. Anyone who can manage to  get it into fifth gear can drive all day down a straight road
and mostly not learn a thing. Stopping and starting and turning in and out of the driveway over and over again will teach you
a whole lot of stuff.

-Mike "MSF course and then counter steering in the mountains  "

[toetruck21]

Signed up for the Basic Rider course here in Nebraska with the National Safety Council.  Soonest I can get in is the weekend of May 13th.  The class is bought and paid for!  I rode the bike to work this morning, top speed 45 mph, one mile from where I live.  I made it, but if was riding the bike right or not I have no idea.  I'm guessing not.  Now just to get it home and park it for awhile.   

[Daniel Meyer]

I did check into a riding class when I bought the helmet and it was going to run $275 dollars.  I'm guessing that's money well spent, but I'm a stubborn 375 lb. gorilla who is going to give this the good old college try.    

Ya just paid $6000 for the machine to ride...and you're balking at $275 for the lifesaving techniques that will make sure it (and you) last the year?

Swallow your pride. There are a couple VERY important things that you WILL NOT LEARN just running around the hood till you are comfortable.

Take the course. In Texas stats anyway, the single biggest determining factor in fatal motorcycle accidents is that course. Seriously, you reduce your change of death or serious injury by 90% by taking the course...

Then, after you do a few thousand miles, take the advanced course too. These machines (ALL motorcycles, not just the Valk) take some skills to handle them correctly and with confidence and pride.

Countersteering is one thing you MUST understand and learn...it is not intuitive. Some manage to ride for years without knowing what's happening but the first serious emergency and they are going to turn the wrong way...and probably die.

Essentially, to go left you push on the left handlebar (turn the wheel right). To go right you push on the right handlebar. Seems backwards but it is how these things work. Don't believe me? Try it.

Another practice thing if you are too proud to take the course...do a bunch of turns, accelerations, slow downs, figure 8's etc with only one hand...the throttle hand...seems stupid, yes? But this is an essential lesson...it teaches you to be able to manhandle the bars around when needed WITHOUT twisting the throttle unless you want to.

Braking is important too. Take a couple days and a couple hundred bucks and learn how to do it right.

I've close to a million miles on motorcycles, possible much more...I don't always give folks advice because, simply put, some of the places and times I take my machines probably isn't advisable...but one piece I will give you that I suggest you listen to is...TAKE. THE. COURSE.

You bought one of the best bikes on the planet...now learn how to ride so you can do it right and for a long time to come.

[Daniel Meyer]

Signed up for the Basic Rider course here in Nebraska with the National Safety Council.

Outstanding decision!

Soonest I can get in is the weekend of May 13th.  

Not so far away.

The class is bought and paid for!  I rode the bike to work this morning, top speed 45 mph, one mile from where I live.  I made it, but if was riding the bike right or not I have no idea.  I'm guessing not.  Now just to get it home and park it for awhile.  

Spend the time getting familiar with it and the controls, polish some chrome, show us some pictures. Toodle around the 'hood...but with purpose...practice the slow handling techniques and NOT accidentally twisting the throttle.

After the course you will approach the wider ride with more confidence and MUCH greater pleasure.

A little knowledge is a powerful thing.

Welcome to the VRCC! Did you notice the signup for Inzane right over HERE?

[X Ring]

Signed up for the Basic Rider course here in Nebraska with the National Safety Council.  Soonest I can get in is the weekend of May 13th.  The class is bought and paid for!  I rode the bike to work this morning, top speed 45 mph, one mile from where I live.  I made it, but if was riding the bike right or not I have no idea.  I'm guessing not.  Now just to get it home and park it for awhile.   

Smartest thing you could have done.  The Basic Rider Course will not only teach you how to physically ride the Valk, it will teach you how to mentally ride.  Little things like lane position, looking 12 seconds down the road, different strategies for handling situations.  After you've done about 6 months, take the Experienced Rider Course.  It's only one day and you will perform a lot of the same exercises except you will be riding your bike not theirs.  If you're going to do slow speed riding in an empty parking lot, slip some pipe insulation over your engine guards to protect them in case you drop the Valk.

Marty

[RainMaker]

Signed up for the Basic Rider course here in Nebraska with the National Safety Council.  Soonest I can get in is the weekend of May 13th.  The class is bought and paid for!  I rode the bike to work this morning, top speed 45 mph, one mile from where I live.  I made it, but if was riding the bike right or not I have no idea.  I'm guessing not.  Now just to get it home and park it for awhile.   

Thank you!  That was a great decision.  Thanks for listening to the mob on this one. 

You can still polish her while you wait.   

This is really a tough decision, to wait with that beautiful bike in the garage, but it is absolutely the right thing to do.  I am taking an advanced rider class (Ride like a Pro) on April 2nd and I've put over 200,000 miles on various bikes throughout my life.  That makes me a lightweight in the VRCC, but I usually can keep up with other riders. 

I've taken 3 motorcycle safety courses before so this will be my fourth.  So we don't only talk the talk, we walk the walk about such things.

Looking forward to sharing wind with you in the future (after your basic rider course!).

RainMaker

[toetruck21]

For those wishing to see the bike, here she is:

The previous owner did keep those whips hanging on the handle bars.  Other then that the bike is as seen!  I'm going to get her home and leave her in the garage until I take the class the weekend of May 13th!  If I can't wait I may just wrap the engine guards in pipe foam like someone has suggested and drive in circles at a nearby parking lot.  Thanks for caring, its good to know this group of people is out here.  Hopefully see some of you soon on the road, after the class of course!

[Willow]

   If I can't wait I may just wrap the engine guards in pipe foam like someone has suggested and drive in circles at a nearby parking lot.  Thanks for caring, its good to know this group of people is out here.  

I like your plan 'truck.    

Join us at InZane in July.  You'll have a great time.   

[Hoser]

It's a beauty, Toe truck, my favorite IS color, here's my favorite Tourer.  Hoser  

[T-Bird]

For those wishing to see the bike, here she is:

The previous owner did keep those whips hanging on the handle bars.  

Be glad he did that...

[Chiefy]

Beautiful bike!  As long as you drove it to work today, what did your co-workers have to say?

[VALKIFIED]

Nice bike, ya lucky dog. I pick mine up May 7th with a long ride home. Good luck with it and great choice taking the MSF class. Then take the advanced with YOUR bike, but thats probably already mentioned.

[RainMaker]

Great looking bike.  Congrats!

[X Ring]

Hey Truck, didn't you mention buying a Ride Like A Pro video?  When you call them, order their learning to ride video also.  I bought it and it helped me until I could the BRC.

Marty