| Author | Message | ||
     Broncofan27 |
Well just kind of wanted to introduce myself and say how excited I am to become a member of the family. Purchased a 08' 1125r yesterday. This is my first bike so any advice is welcome. Definitely excited to start riding which won't happen till after next weekend when I do my training course. | ||
| Hogs |
Broncofan27, Welcome I hope thats a riding course, MAN thats alot of bike for your first one... Please take it easy I`m sure you will see many of the same replies herein.. Be careful Buddy | ||
| Broncofan27 |
Yea I know it's a lot of bike but I am probably one of the most cautious people you would ever meet so it's definitely something I am going to take very easily. It is a riding course I am taking. | ||
| Court |
Slow, easy and with great caution . . . that is a handful of bike for a first bike but use your head, listen in class and you'll have a ball. Welcome aboard! Court | ||
| Geforce |
Bronco, welcome to the family and congrats on your 08! Here's a list of things that I did shortly after buying mine. Read The Owners Manual - Get to know your new friend and she will appreciate it when you know how to fix her. *I would go to www.buell.com and register with your VIN for the owners section. Once you do you can download the new owners manuals. The NEW manuals have adjusted tables for suspension tuning.* Adjust Suspension - It's really not as hard as you think. Take your body weight with all your gear on as well and find it in the tables, I would print that section out from online and read the instructions on how to adjust the suspension. It only takes a few minutes and is a lot of fun to do, plus the bike WILL handle different. All the tools you need to do it are in your tool kit. Invest in good gear, if you don't have some already. I like textile for street riding, and I have a set of Celtic Leathers that are very nice for track days or "spirited rides". All the gear, all the time. I'm glad that you sound humbled and cautious on this bike. People might give you guff because you didn't start on a 250 Ninjette or a 600cc. Screw em, if you as a person are responsible enough to learn and respect the hp/tq you now have, you made the right choice. Take things slow, get on you tube and watch videos. Watch videos about turning, braking, see how other people ride. Make good mental notes of what are good habits and what are bad habits. Later in the season work on wheelies a little if you feel comfortable, not for showing off persay, but when you do get comfortable enough to crack that throttle open you are going to do one anyways. Might as well learn how to control them and be used to that so you don't jerk the handle bars that first time this bike stands up on ya and tank slap it. Watch motorcycle races... watch the pros and how they control the bikes and mainly their body position. From head to toe. It all really depends on how you like to ride and what you want to do with your new baby. Just understand that when you ride in groups with more experienced riders, don't feel pressured to go as fast as them, or try and look as cool. DO it safely and have fun! Find some good Buellers near you and learn from them. I think that's about it, I had coffee this morning and I am feeling long winded. lol | ||
| Carbonbigfoot |
Good post. What he said! Take it easy, and welcome to the party! Rob | ||
| Marcodesade |
Awesome. I started riding, last July, with a Buell Blast - the same bike you'll take your course on (if you take the Harley class). In October I got a demo ride on 1125R, and it was mine about 2 weeks later. I haven't a single regret. The 1125 is not just a bigger bike, it's an entirely different animal altogether. It has made me a better rider (although I'm still a beginner, to be sure). I'm looking at doing a track class later this year. Can't wait. Welcome! Marco | ||
| Ridenusa4l |
Hey bronco, Dont worry about a thing my 1125r was my first nike too, the key to it is that u dnt have to use the power all the time, just when u need it, because it is SO SMOOTH, well just be careful bud and congratulations!!!! and GIT-R-DONE Jake P.S.- the riding course is an amazing improvement, before that i was very intimidated of the bike but afterword i was COMPLETELY changed in my feelings toward the bike, ENJOY!! | ||
| Broncofan27 |
Geforce thank you for the well written response. I will definitely take your advice on the suspension adjustment. A big reason I went with this bike is because it is american made. That is very important to me. I also will be riding with my Dad and his buddies who are all harley guys so there won't be any of the hot dogging stupid crap you see guys doing on sport bikes. I believe it will be a great influence. I am excited about riding but at the same time nervous as hell because I know what it's capable of and want to be extremely cautious so I don't hurt me or my new investment. I am just going to soak it in and just enjoy riding. I am not the kind of person to test limits as a first timer. It's like when I took road racing lessons in my car. I was so scared when I first started and didn't push anything at all until I became more comfortable with it which still the cautious side of me keeps me from taking any chances | ||
| Geforce |
Sounds to me like you are going to have a wonderful road to ride down in your future. I ride with some of my HD cruiser buddies here in town because my bike can fit in with them or the sport bike crowd. And when we go out on a ride I am more than content to enjoy the open road and ride in the pack as a team. I would also check with your dealer and verify that your 2008 was updated to the latest ECM flash revision. It most likely already is, but check it out and see. Also maybe the oil, fuel, spring update as well. If your left rear passenger peg has a black tube that comes out the bottom of it, you are good to go. If not, check with dealer about updates. | ||
| Broncofan27 |
Yea dad has been riding my entire life so I look forward to learning from him. Him and his friends will be great to help keep me grounded. I wanted a bike to ride and feel the wind and open road. I am not so much concerned about speed. I just really liked the look of the 1125r over the firebolt or other buell models. | ||
| Court |
By the way . . . . we have a number of top level riding instructors here (DGomo and Babired come to mind right off the bat) so don't be shy about asking questions. I also have about every book ever written about motorcycles and riding them so if you need to borrow one just ask. I'd echo what was said above . . . get to know your bike. Funny but I'm coming to grips with the fact that I am getting old. I took my first ride of the season last weekend and made no less than 10 STUPID mistakes. I used to do LOTS ( a couple thousand miles a week) of riding and test riding and had well developed street skills. Time, time off the bike and age erode those. I'm going to spend this afternoon taking the same advise I used to dispense in my magazine column once a year about getting tuned up. I'm going to start by re-reading the manual and spending 20 minutes on the bike with my eyes closed going through every drill I can by feel alone. . . . You've already overcome the greatest hurdle and that is by associating with other riders and developing a learning dialogue . . . I predict you have nothing but fun. Court | ||
| Broncofan27 |
Thanks for all the great responses. I have been watching training videos on you tube and other sites. Since the weather is so crappy here in the south today I will probably read through my manual. I know they made all the changes buell released for the bike cause they went over those with me yesterday. | ||
| Broncofan27 |
BTW do you guys have any links to good training videos? I found some good ones the other day but now can't seem to find them again | ||
| Dtx |
Welcome Broncofan, Just remember to keep your right hand connected to your brain and you will be fine. You sound like a responsible person. | ||
| Choppercz |
Welcome Broncofan27, You made a excellent choice for a first bike. My 1125r is my first bike also, and I wouldn't have it any other way. I remember being stuck in the parking lot at my dealer cuz I couldnt find the friction zone on the 1125r because I learned how to ride on a 250 Kawi cruiser. (MSF Class) This bike is totally different from those learner bikes. Trust.... Be careful, enjoy, and ride safely. Oh yeah. GO CHIEFS!!!! | ||
| Broncofan27 |
Oh choppercz that wasn't the best way to start off a new friendship. GO BRONCOS BABY! Yea I am taking the MSF class next weekend. I actually was working on finding the friction zone with the clutch in the drive way yesterday just to get an idea of how it felt. Thank you guys for the encouraging words and warm welcome. | ||
| Dalton_gang |
I really like the whole "1st bike being an 1125r" thing. It like saying "my 1st car was a cobra or corvette" Rock on Brothers!!! | ||
| Hooper |
I found that I had outgrown my 650cc cruiser (my first bike, a Yamaha V-Star) pretty quickly. Yeah, it was a bit underpowered for my size, but it also didn't have terribly strong brakes...those beginner bikes rarely do, and that's important. I was still riding that 650 when I rented a 88 cubic inch Road King in Florida for my first touring adventure. Arriving at the rental place, I was terrified that it would be so powerful I wouldn't be able to control it. Nahhh, it was all in the wrist and the head - I kept it cool. It was nice to have that power when I needed it. Heck, the WEIGHT of the bike was more the issue. Later, I added a 600cc sportbike to the stable and still had no problem with the power...it was all in the wrist and the head. Then I got smart and added my Uly - perfect amount of power and performance. After a 96ci Harley joined the family, the old 650 and 600 sat unridden, waiting to be sold. The graduation is logical. I think if you are a conscientious, aware, and cautious person in general, you'll be sensible enough to restrain your right wrist until your skills build. If I knew someone starting out and could tell they would be a good rider, I would advise them to get something a little bigger than the beginner bikes...they're going to want to turn around and sell it in a few months anyway, and the brakes/suspension/steering on the beginner bike may not keep up with their learning. A friend of mine won't "let himself" upgrade to a big Honda VTX from his 900cc cruiser because "he doesn't trust himself". That's not a good sign. You can get in just as much trouble on a 900 as you can on a 1500. Have a great weekend! | ||
| Hooper |
And a picture is worth...  | ||
| Broncofan27 |
Thanks hooper. I just finished my second day of the MSF rider course. Got some great knowledge and experience. I agree with you totally about it all being in your right wrist. My friends constantly call me the grandma driver in my car because I don't drive much more than 5 over the speed limit and take very few chances. I also have road racing experience which has really helped me to pay attention more to whats going on around me. Just like this afternoon in my car I was coming through an intersection. I saw one guy make a safe left turn in front of me but I had also noticed another car behind him. I already started thinking to myself I am sure this person is going to follow him right through and sure he the old lady did. Because I was already thinking about this and anticipating I was able to put on the brakes and prevent a crash that 90% of the time would have occurred. This is the same mentality I know I will have on my bike and in my riding career. I want to enjoy the freedom of riding not the speed just to end up a grease spot. | ||
| Choppercz |
I said that I wasn't gonna ride my bike hard at all when I first got it. 75 mph was supposed to be my max. That mentality lasted about 2 weeks. For some reason, it seemed like the 1125 starts talking to me while I am riding her. She says "Go faster, go faster." And in the heat of the moment I have to do what she says. LOL. Broncofan27 if you plan to baby your bike, then don't listen to what she has to say. EVER!!!!! LMAO. Oh yeah. Go Chiefs... | ||
| Broncofan27 |
Damn you and that chiefs crap Chopper! Yea I will be sure to ignore her. I just value my new ride and my life too much to take chances. I just want to enjoy this sweet ride and the freedom of the motorcycle. | ||
| Broncofan27 |
P.S. Let me tell you how excited I am to know that Kyle Fricken Orton is now my QB. | ||
| Steve_mackay |
P.S. Let me tell you how excited I am to know that Kyle Fricken Orton is now my QB.  (Message edited by Steve_Mackay on April 04, 2009) | ||
| Choppercz |
Don't u wish you'll would have got Matt Cassel... Oh, I forgot the Chiefs got em.... At least y'all got a lot of draft picks... | ||
| Hooper |
Alas...speeding tickets start to temper it all...I've gotten two on my Uly in 2.5 years (but it probably should have been more). You just never know when Johnny Law is going to be coming around that corner when you're hauling at 70mph when it's a 50mph zone, and you suddenly find yourself facing a Wreckless Driving charge (serious business in MD). Hasn't happened to me, but it happens to one or two drivers on my commute to work (come on...it's RUSH HOUR!). Anyway, THAT'S the voice I hear when I hear my bike's Thunderstorm talking to me (or my car's 328 horses). | ||
| Broncofan27 |
Well finally got to bring the bike home today. Did about 100 miles of riding. Had a blast. No incidents. Can't wait to ride some more | ||
| Usmoto |
Welcome to the fam Bronco, take it easy and learn the feel of the bike. | ||
| Broncofan27 |
Thanks usmoto. Definitely took it very easy today and plan on keeping that way. Clutch was a little tricky to me today compared to the bikes I trained on but I know I will get that figured out | ||
| Zac4mac |
It took me a little while to get used to the hydraulic. I rarely notice anymore. Welcome to the family, live long. Zack PS I can't stand Pat Bolin |
