first ride on my ridgeback

[nick52]

well fellas, it was a long time coming, i first introduced myself in october of last year as i was pulling the trigger on my 04 ridgeback from the moment i saw the big dogs i wanted this bike, well many years later( as i am 52 yrs old)
iwas able to buy and now own a bike, that is truly a beast on the rode, since i bought this bike ive heard guys asking hows the ride well its amazing aside from the wind that reached gusts of 50 which really had my attention the bike was great! i have more trouble with right hand turns than going to the left but im sure as i continue to ride everything will fall into place. this week im taking the msf course which im sure will clear some questions i have about certain riding techniques.
thanks fellas, for all the support and i look forward to eventually catching up with some of you guys on the road

 

[moog5050]

Most have a bit more difficulty with turning right because the turning radius on the road is tighter. Just slow it down a bit and, in no time, you won't think twice about it. Enjoy.

 

[MN K9]

I rode an 04 Chopper before I bought my 07 K9. The 04 was noticably heavier on the left side. It made it feel like it was hard to lean to the right. 05 and up have much more even balance.

 

[TimNY]

Nick.
Awsome congrads !
Where in NY are you ?
Always looking for another rider in the pack .
Love the advatar !
Tim

 

[nick52]

thanks fellas, i think if i position myself better in my lane ill be able to tighten it up going right,someone told me be proud to go slow, so for now ill fall back, leave myself plenty of room and as my experience level increases so will everything else, as for enjoying the ride, thats a given, its great no regrets, just caught youre post tim, im on long island, suffolk county, lindenhurst would jump at the oppurtunity to ride,with someone with a big dog

 

[Th3InfamousI]

well fellas, it was a long time coming, i first introduced myself in october of last year as i was pulling the trigger on my 04 ridgeback from the moment i saw the big dogs i wanted this bike, well many years later( as i am 52 yrs old)
iwas able to buy and now own a bike, that is truly a beast on the rode, since i bought this bike ive heard guys asking hows the ride well its amazing aside from the wind that reached gusts of 50 which really had my attention the bike was great! i have more trouble with right hand turns than going to the left but im sure as i continue to ride everything will fall into place. this week im taking the msf course which im sure will clear some questions i have about certain riding techniques.
thanks fellas, for all the support and i look forward to eventually catching up with some of you guys on the road

thanks fellas, i think if i position myself better in my lane ill be able to tighten it up going right,someone told me be proud to go slow, so for now ill fall back, leave myself plenty of room and as my experience level increases so will everything else, as for enjoying the ride, thats a given, its great no regrets, just caught youre post tim, im on long island, suffolk county, lindenhurst would jump at the oppurtunity to ride,with someone with a big dog

Is there your first bike? I have never taken a riding course I assumed the majority are geared towards new riders..

Been riding since I was a little one and road a street bikes afterwards. Riding a Ridgeback is a bit different, you just have to get some saddle time and you will be more comfortable with turning. You got a decent rake on the Rigid and turning at low speeds will be the most difficult to get used to. Take it slow and you will eventually get it. Don't expect to be doing any quick U Turns on a single lane road on a chopper, 3 point turns are your friends! :2thumbs:

In this class will you be riding your bike? I imagine most of the classmates will be riding crotch rockets or sportster..you will be in a class of your own :up:

 

[Roidz]

Congrats man. Let's see some pics!

 

[JR03CHOPPER]

Congratulations. Post up some pics of the new ride when you can!

 

[nick52]

well i didnt want to say it at first, because even my wife thought i was crazy, but yeah this is my first bike and yes im a new rider, the course was suggested by some of the members here thats coming up this friday, and the 2 following fridays after that, i wont be using my bike since this is the course for new riders although there is an advanced course and then i can be given instructions on the ridgeback, i wouldnt mind taken the 2nd course but cash is an issue, in the meantime ive taken a couple of short rides around the neighborhood to work on turning, out on the highway to get the feel for being in traffic, so im taking it easy going slow, and loving every minute of this, and im not afraid to ask you guys if theres any questions concerning technique who better to ask than someone who owns a big dog, the smartest thing i did was become a member of this forum
you guys and youre riding skills are priceless
thank you

 

[nick52]

one more thing
someone asked how hard was it to ride a ridgeback, and one answer to this day i wont forget! never when i considered buying this bike was i nervous! never did i think about walking away! and never did i consider a honda for my first bike, i was more than man enough, i was born for this

 

[toodie]

enjoy..it would be some funny chit if you roll up on the Ridgeback to take your beginner's course on their 250 honda shadow

 

[KnotSo]

Is there your first bike? I have never taken a riding course I assumed the majority are geared towards new riders..



In this class will you be riding your bike? I imagine most of the classmates will be riding crotch rockets or sportster..you will be in a class of your own :up:

Generally, with the MSF, the course provides the bikes, usually in the 250 - 500cc class. Good bikes to learn on. I never met anyone that came out of the class that did not learn something, and many will say "had I known that (fill in the blank) riding would have been much easier. The course teaches the basics to riding, but do not expect your hound to do the same course easily.
If you take the Harley course, they prolly use larger scoots, not sire.

Either way, they teach the basics and over time the hound will become the bike of choice.

Good to see you enjoying the Ridgeback and look forward to hearing about your riding in a pack exploits.

 

[stlmikie]

You're not alone Nick. Although I have riden dirt bikes a lot as a younger myself. The Bigdog was my first street bike. I did not take a msc but my bride recently took one. She's really happy she did. Do you drink beer Nick?

 

[New Boots]

Hello Nick, I have been ridding my whole life (57) all street and highway yet it took me about 4 weeks of riding everyday on my K9 before I would give my wife a ride and feel safe about doing it. Then after another 4 weeks I was no longer insecure in u-turns and just general right and left turns. Now it’s like I was born on the bike and love it more and more every day. Keep your eye on every cage on the road with you. The cell phones out there now make it double dangerous. :2thumbs: :flag::flag::flag:

 

[Trainguy]

thanks fellas, i think if i position myself better in my lane ill be able to tighten it up going right,someone told me be proud to go slow, so for now ill fall back, leave myself plenty of room and as my experience level increases so will everything else, as for enjoying the ride, thats a given, its great no regrets, just caught youre post tim, im on long island, suffolk county, lindenhurst would jump at the oppurtunity to ride,with someone with a big dog

You said it yourself:2thumbs: Welcome 2 da pound

 

[erldawg]

Welcome aboard Nick and congrats on the scoot...There is a few members over on LI....

 

[nick52]

thanks alot guys, as soon as my daughter gets back ill post some pics, im not computer savvy, dont drink anymore part of the reason it took to become a bike owner, do smoke a rollede ciggarette but not if im taking the bike out later on in the night to unwind, my wife is loving the bike and looking forward to riding with me, but i wont put her on the back yet, maybe a month or so , so for now even though im learning the ropes i kind of like riding alone unless im riding with other riders im good, kind of like therapy, me my bike and the road

 

[nick52]

okay fellas after going thru this whole process of uploading pictures i still dont get it too many years of abuse anyway heres a picture of my bike

 

[Trainguy]

okay fellas after going thru this whole process of uploading pictures i still dont get it too many years of abuse anyway heres a picture of my bike

Very nice Nick Ride safe:2thumbs:

 

[Th3InfamousI]

okay fellas after going thru this whole process of uploading pictures i still dont get it too many years of abuse anyway heres a picture of my bike

Love it!!! Got the same exact bike Black and Chrome and some Billet


I started with the same slate as stock everything and and a few mods later...