how hard is it to ride a ridgeback?

[bunkerbeer]

Hi
I ride for about 2 years now. my rides are a 2008 street bob and a 2009 cvo road glide. I am 6.1 and 215lb.
would like to add a used ridgeback. love the looks not sure if i can handle it... any ideas?

 

[bigdadygrif]

sure u can went from HD superglide 2 a k-9 luv it:2thumbs:

 

[Dr.Love38]

Hey Bunker, welcome to the site. The RB is a joy to ride and a real head turner. A little longer than what you are riding now.
You may want to go to the intro section and tell everyone a little about yourself and I am sure you will get a lot of advise on the matter

 

[bunkerbeer]

Thanks guys... I have being riding the past weeks a friend who rides a k9. he seems very happy with it. there is just something about the look of the ridgeback that keeps calling me....lol...

 

[V]

Welcome, I have a 08 Ridgeback and am 6'0" 210/215. Nop problem hadlin the bike:2thumbs: If you have a dealer near you, you should try tp get a test ride on a couple just to see and feel the differences. Might be a open house or event near you that BDM will be attending with bikes.

V

 

[KnotSo]

After tossing up your INTRO, then how about headiing down to your local dealer and test riding all the Big Dogs you are interested in?

Curious though, you would buy a bike just because it looks cool and not because you want to ride it everywhere?

 

[Eric]

you'll be fine,, just take it easy till you understand the power,, dont just jump on & hammer it right off.. you'll love it..we all do

 

[tbone]

Not a problem just taker easy till the turning and power come second nature. I have a 08 ridgeback and there definatley was a learning curve coming from a roadking. no worries and the ride is very manageable for a rigid.

 

[HOOLIGAN]

you'll get used to it. It won't carve up the blacktop like your HD's but it will handle great when you get used to it.

 

[Moespeeds]

I test rode a ridge back as I was contemplating rebuilding my Chopper on a rigid frame. I'm glad I did because it changed my mind. It's fine on smooth roads or highways, but around town you really feel the bumps and it would be a killer for the passenger.

 

[KLRDOG]

I drive my 08 in Wisconsin and the roads are horrible. Worst thing for these bikes is the uneven pavement you get from semi's rolling over hot asphalt and making hills in the road...other than that they handle just fine.

 

[K9Anniv]

I assume you're prepared for the hardtail riding on a Ridgeback? Hope so!

Aside from that big issue, getting used to the turning radius, lean angles and turning in general on these 9' long monsters will be the hardest part to adjust to - it sure was for me anyway, transitioning from 2 Harley Roadkings and a Lowrider before my '05 Chopper and now my '09 K9.

Once you get confident with turns, you should have no problems.

It's a different but very FUN kinda ride! ENJOY!!!:2thumbs:

 

[BIKERDAD61]

Best thing is to test ride different Big Dog models. I thought the RidgeBack looked cool also, until I test rode it and went across the first set of railroad tracks I ended up buying the Chopper model.

 

[2004BC]

04 Ridgeback here and 81 shovel hardtail. Hardtails are just that. Hardtails. If you want a pleasant no surprises predictable ride don't buy one. Like said earlier if the road isn't very smooth you will know it. HOWEVER, If you want to become apart of your motorcycle, the road, and experience absolutely everything(good and bad) about riding then get a Ridgeback. Just be aware that your ass and back will be earning that "cool" ride.

 

[barhopper]

Its very hard. Most here are trained professionals with years of schooling and thousands of $$$ tuition. Many don't make the cut. I would say if your nervous about it, stand back and walk away slowly and never look back. Walk to you nearest Honda dealership and take baby steps. It OK to realize that your not man enough to do this and move on. Not every man is a Real man.

 

[2004BC]

Its very hard. Most here are trained professionals with years of schooling and thousands of $$$ tuition. Many don't make the cut. I would say if your nervous about it, stand back and walk away slowly and never look back. Walk to you nearest Honda dealership and take baby steps. It OK to realize that your not man enough to do this and move on. Not every man is a Real man.

What doesn't KILL you makes you STRONGER!

 

[Ridgeback Boy]

Like everyone said, ride a few. Personally I love mine and I probably will ride a rigid till I cant ride anymore. FWIW I am 6'1 and 220 and I fit great on mine.

 

[bdmridgeback]

I have owned a 2004 and a 2005 Ridgeback and the wife has spent about 10,000 miles on the back of them as a passenger and doesn't mind. She has spent about 400 miles on it at one time is about the longest. She now has her own bike, but I'll never give up the Ridged. I am 5' 11" and about 175 lbs and no issues here. Actually I put a seat on it that sits me back further and some Chopper bars on it that don't reach back to me as far just so that I could stretch out and get comfy!!! 400 miles on it on back country roads or the big city roads here in FLA is great!!!

 

[linkoln]

What doesn't KILL you makes you STRONGER!

but you will hurt like hell..im tossing around the idea of giving mine up....road in dallas sux ass drove from dallas to kemp and dam just driving down 175 suc, especailly when you get to a bridge. they put asphault ovelay on the highway before and after the bridges but not on the bridges..so im hopping like a lowrider on atleast 10 bridges :down:

 

[littlef66]

As far as the rigid frame goes, I have an 08 pitbull and I love it. Everyone says it must be a hard ride but I am used to it and can out ride most guys on HD's. I still have youth on my side though. You will feel the bumps a little more, but you just have to expect that and know that more shit is probably going to rattle loose and break. I would not trade it for anything. I love BD and I think the RB is a pretty cool ride as well.