[Spike45]

Hi all!

I've been wanting to get a bike for a few years now, and last week, I bought a 2013 Candy Red Stryker! I just completed the MSF BRC today and had a great time. I learned a lot more than I thought I would. I rode my Stryker for the first time today, but only to the end of the block and back (doing some home improvment projects in the garage, and needed to put her someplace out of the way).

I'm a bit nervous riding it due to the fact that I've never ridden a motorcycle before the BRC (been riding ATVs all my life). My biggest fear isn't getting hurt, its hurting the bike... Its so pretty, that I'm afraid my dumb a** will mess it up!

 

[beth75kiss]

Congratulations, and welcome to the forum! You'll find all kinds of good info here. And you got the best color, too! Just remember what you learned in the safety course, take your time, and don't outride your confidence. I had never ridden before I bought my first bike (a '79 Yamaha XSF, not the prettiest but still awesome to me,) took the course, and am now on my 4th bike, first new one, 9 years later. Enjoy!

 

[wayne]

Congrats on the new bike. Take your time, keep your eyes moving all the time. Always assume that every other driver out there DOES NOT SEE YOU. Watch for slick spots at busy intersection where stopped cars have left oil, antifreeze etc. Take it easy and build up your confidence. Above all enjoy the ride.

 

[J4patrice]

Congrats and welcome from Chicago. Take your time and go at your own pace. After I took my course I spent the first few weeks just riding around my neighborhood. Then ventured out for a few miles from home. Each time I went out I went a little further. Before you know it you will be riding all around. Ride safe.

 

[DraEagWol]

Congrats on your Ride & Welcome to the Forum ~ May you enjoy Both!

 

[Dewd]

Welcome and Congrates

 

[RetiredUSAF]

Congrats and take your time.

 

[nogard]

Big congrats. I have only been riding 3 years, so I can def tell you to take your time. This bike is very smooth, but it requires you to lean a bit more than other cruisers. Just go slow, and always double check behind you when you are going to change lanes. No driver is perfect, so you have to ensure you do everything you can to keep yourself safe. (leaving it in 1st at a stop light is a good example)

 

[Spike45]

Thanks for all of the tips guys! I definitely have a plan to ride around near my house for a while before I venture out into the busier streets.

 

[Strykeback]

Welcome and congrats. The Stryker was my first bike as well but I was fortunate enought to rent a HD locally for a weekend as my maiden voyage to get my skills up.

My recommendation is if you have a business park that is local to you, go there on Saturday or Sunday morning. Normally it's a ghost town in these parks and you do not have all the hazards of a neighborhood with fewer cars backing out or parked cars on the street. I found a remote cul de sac and did a couple hundred of figure 8s just re-learning counter steering, counter balancing, the friction zone, and how low I could go before I scraped the pegs (which I did a lot). This way I was not to freaked out when it happened out on the street. For me it was not only learning to ride but learning the bike.

I also spent like 15-20 minutes taking it to various speeds and doing panic stops in a huge parking lot. I did not want experience my first emergency stop not to be under my terms and not know how I or the bike would react. I would take it to 15mph, then 25 and then 35, pick a object in the distance (normaly a parking stall line) that I pretended was a hazard and hit both brakes hard enough to the point I would come off the seat. Then I would see (at safe speeds) what happened if I locked the rear or if it hit the front to hard. There was a risk I would dump it but I figured it was better to do it now than in traffic. Came close a few times but I gained some confidence in wrestling a 640lbs bike to a sudden stop.

 

[11Stryker]

Welcome to the Forum. Just don't get complacent in your riding and you should be OK.

 

[Spike45]

Welcome and congrats. The Stryker was my first bike as well but I was fortunate enought to rent a HD locally for a weekend as my maiden voyage to get my skills up.

My recommendation is if you have a business park that is local to you, go there on Saturday or Sunday morning. Normally it's a ghost town in these parks and you do not have all the hazards of a neighborhood with fewer cars backing out or parked cars on the street. I found a remote cul de sac and did a couple hundred of figure 8s just re-learning counter steering, counter balancing, the friction zone, and how low I could go before I scraped the pegs (which I did a lot). This way I was not to freaked out when it happened out on the street. For me it was not only learning to ride but learning the bike.

I also spent like 15-20 minutes taking it to various speeds and doing panic stops in a huge parking lot. I did not want experience my first emergency stop not to be under my terms and not know how I or the bike would react. I would take it to 15mph, then 25 and then 35, pick a object in the distance (normaly a parking stall line) that I pretended was a hazard and hit both brakes hard enough to the point I would come off the seat. Then I would see (at safe speeds) what happened if I locked the rear or if it hit the front to hard. There was a risk I would dump it but I figured it was better to do it now than in traffic. Came close a few times but I gained some confidence in wrestling a 640lbs bike to a sudden stop.

This is pretty much what I plan on doing but the nearest office park requires me to travel on the busier roads for about 3 miles to get there. Once I feel confident enough to ride on that street, I'll be practicing pretty much everything covered in the BRC with my bike for a while.

 

[kllrbee]

Hey...Congrats!

I just got my stryker 2 months ago....first bike ever.

I took the Msf course and the next day I picked up the bike. Rode it home 35 miles in the evening rush traffic.....man my head was on a swivel...haha.

The msf course is good but it doesn't teach u how to ride in traffic at various speeds. And that's what really matters...other drivers.

To be honest...just jump right in. Thats what I did. As a matter of fact...the only time I dropped the bike was when I was practicing the msf stuff in an empty lot. This was about 2 weeks after I got the bike and already put 500 miles on it. I dropped it doing a figure 8.....how often are u gonna do that in real life?

Practice your turns, some swerving, and quick stops....but u can do all those while your out riding.

Believe me...I am no expert by any means...but I think if u just go right out and ride on the street u will learn quicker AND gain confidence.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[jmules]

Complacency kills! Confidence and experience, just get out there and keep riding!

 

[StrykerSmith]

Congratulations and welcome from UT. I also found the BRC to be useful, and am considering taking the ARC. I never knew how important the counterweight steering technique was until I bought a Stryker.

 

[Spike45]

I plan to ride all weekend in an empty office parking lot. I've noticed that this thing doesn't turn anywhere near as tightly as I thought it would at low speeds...

 

[Dewd]

I plan to ride all weekend in an empty office parking lot. I've noticed that this thing doesn't turn anywhere near as tightly as I thought it would at low speeds...

Good choice . Just get familiar with the bike. Take your time and Enjoy the ride .:thumb:

 

[Stryker2012]

I plan to ride all weekend in an empty office parking lot. I've noticed that this thing doesn't turn anywhere near as tightly as I thought it would at low speeds...

It will. You just have to learn how the bike handles. It will all come with patience and time.

 

[ryderjay]

Considering the length of the bike and angle of the forks this bike turns really well. It all takes time. Even it you had been riding for years you would have to learn to ride the bike. I raced bikes for 5 years, been riding bikes for 11 years and every time I bought a new bike there would be a learning curve. Going from sport bikes to cruisers there was a much larger learning curve, but over time you adjust and get used to how it handles.

Take it easy, only ride within your comfort zone, and practice. If you have friends who are experienced, ask them to mentor you. Back home I was in a motorcycle club called wulf pak riders, we would adopt new riders and mentor them, and if they were interested after riding a while they could join our not join, but they were always welcome on group rides. It was a lot of fun and received quite well on the regional forums we operated thru.

Search YouTube for motorcycle cop training / maneuvers and watch what they can do on 900 lbs Harleys, that'll remove any doubt to the ability of your smaller ride lol

 

[mr.groove]

Congrats and welcome to the most awesome lifestyle in the world!!!

I used to ride many many years ago, and for my re-entry I took the BRC 2. It is a great course, and you should take it. It would complement the BRC 1 and help build your confidence.

One thing, though is really important:
- Fear can cause accidents!

There is a big difference between respecting your limits, your skills, etc. and being afraid.

Be confident each step of the way, no matter how low that step it. The confidence will take you to the next step, and sooner then you can say "I Love My Stryker" you will be gliding freely and safe!

And one more thing: you can always fix the bike a lot easier than you, and you need to keep fresh in your mind that your safety comes first, before your bike. Hopefully it will never happen, but if you need to make a choice in a fraction of a second, this concept may destroy your bike, but save your life!!!

All the best, enjoy and be safe!!!!

Cheers!