So, a couple of weeks ago at Daytona Bike Week, my Dad bought himself a 2008 Harley FatBob, and Dave (my husband) bought a 2006 Softail Heritage. By default, I inherited Dave's Harley Sportster 1200...which I was scared to ride because I had never ridden anything bigger than a 550.
Last weekend though, I took the rider course (again) offered at the local Harley dealer here. I rode a 500cc Buell Blast for the course. I was still a bit apprehensive about the bigger bike (which is why it took me 5 days to just get on it), but today I did get on and ride it around the parking lot at my apartment complex. I felt much better after riding it. I was scared of the size and weight and forward controls which I wasn't used to, but that short ride did quite alot to calm my fears.
Actually, the only real issue I had that I didn't like was the large space between first and second gear...particularly when downshifting. The engine starts to lug in 2nd way before 1st seems to be an option...but that shouldn't be a real issue most of the time, because I am not planning on spending much time fiddling around parking lots driving slow! (And Dave says the main reason the difference is so big is because the Sportster has some Screaming Eagle parts to enhance performance and he thinks it has the upgraded cam as well.) Whichever...it's still great to be riding again! I am even thinking about riding to school some this next week...or actually, Dave will ride it to his morning class, then I will ride it home from my afternoon class (cause when we switch, the munchkin is with us...).
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