Shopping for my first real bike need some advice

cubbear

New Member
I am looking to buy my first real motorcycle and need a little advice on where/how to shop. I really like the K-9 and am leaning heavily toward it. I've scanned a few of the threads and I noticed that my local dealer doesn't seem to very well liked and has gotten some less than stellar reviews. I am located in Kansas City but I don't mind heading somewhere else to buy. What I want to know is first do shops negotiate on the price of the bike or is the price on the sticker what you will pay. Second does anyone have any recommendations on dealers in the midwest. Like I said this will be my first real bike so I want a place with excellent customer service that will put up with all the retarded questions that a newbie is bound to ask. Thats for you insights and recommendations.
 

skully

Active Member
Calendar Participant
you shop just like you are buying a car. lookup the dealers in the yellow pages or the web. go there, ask questions, speak with other people, test ride. what you buy is what FITS you, both in size and style.
 

cubbear

New Member
Also, not having ridden a motorcycle in over 20 years, am I biting off more than I should by jumping on a chopper right out of the gates? Sorry for all the stupid newbie questions.
 

barhopper

Another round please
First, you don't have to have it serviced where you bought it. Buy it as cheap as you can, low ball them, work them over good. You are giving everyone equal chance to give you a great deal. Then have it serviced at a great shop that is Big Dog certified. My service shop does not sell new Dogs, just works on them. Great guys.
 

skully

Active Member
Calendar Participant
Also, not having ridden a motorcycle in over 20 years, am I biting off more than I should by jumping on a chopper right out of the gates? Sorry for all the stupid newbie questions.
ride a chopper is no differant than riding most any bike. its the way the bike is balanced, and the rake and tail. if you can ride, then you can ride...although, i have seen crusiers that were harder to ride than a chopper.
 

Reaper

Well-Known Member
I am looking to buy my first real motorcycle and need a little advice on where/how to shop. I really like the K-9 and am leaning heavily toward it. I've scanned a few of the threads and I noticed that my local dealer doesn't seem to very well liked and has gotten some less than stellar reviews. I am located in Kansas City but I don't mind heading somewhere else to buy. What I want to know is first do shops negotiate on the price of the bike or is the price on the sticker what you will pay. Second does anyone have any recommendations on dealers in the midwest. Like I said this will be my first real bike so I want a place with excellent customer service that will put up with all the retarded questions that a newbie is bound to ask. Thats for you insights and recommendations.
My dealer is in St. Louis, Missouri, Gateway Bigdog 314-291-6333, the salesman's name is Tim. I bought my Ridgback from them in 05, and have had excellent service before, and after the sale.
 

woodbutcher

Mr. Old Fart member #145
Staff member
:hi: welcome. :2thumbs: and as in your situation, it was 30 yrs. between my riding back in the '70s until i bought a '07 K9. it only took a few miles until it felt like i had not stopped riding. yes, it is different for everyone; yes, it depends on your confidence level (mine was not very high); and yes, you can be too cocky. take your time and pick out the right bike for you, hopefully it is a dog, and get ready to have some fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! good riding:cheers: :cheers: :cheers:
 

Oscar Maldonado

Guru
Calendar Participant
Welcome to the site.

The only advise I have for you is "Don't let the time off between riding a bike discourage you." Also, get what you're going to feel comfortable on/riding. Everyone here is different in comfort and style.

So with that said good luck in your search.
 
Cubbear,
I agree with Skully, woodbutcher & Oscar. K-9's are very well engineered scooters & as long as you respect the power, the ride will treat you well.
Check out this fourum on the 300 back tire...lots of good info on the k-9:2thumbs:
question about 300 rear tire and daily riding
PS hope the last bike you rode 20 years ago was'nt a little 50 or 80 cc mini bike :lol:
 

T Mack

SUCKER FREE
Welcome Welcome...

Welcome Welcome...
I bought used and feel i got a great deal... I did not take the initial hit$$$ I got a 2006 Mastiff with a warrenty left until Dec of this year... Enough time for me to ride all summer and get any problems i may run into fixed before warrenty runs out...
 

BBChopper

Supports 2 Disabled Vets
Troop Supporter
I am looking to buy my first real motorcycle and need a little advice on where/how to shop. I really like the K-9 and am leaning heavily toward it. I've scanned a few of the threads and I noticed that my local dealer doesn't seem to very well liked and has gotten some less than stellar reviews. I am located in Kansas City but I don't mind heading somewhere else to buy. What I want to know is first do shops negotiate on the price of the bike or is the price on the sticker what you will pay. Second does anyone have any recommendations on dealers in the midwest. Like I said this will be my first real bike so I want a place with excellent customer service that will put up with all the retarded questions that a newbie is bound to ask. Thats for you insights and recommendations.
Lenexa my old stomping grounds graduated from SMNW!!!:eek:
Good Luck!!
 

LUPHOLE

Well-Known Member
welcome cubbear. if you like that k-9, that's where you want to end up. if you have not been riding for some time, have you thought about buying something used to get back into the comfort zone of riding?
i bought my k-9 on ebay, but i did kiss a lot of frogs before i found the princess. i saved some folding money by getting a nearly new bike with 1800 miles and a year and a half warranty left. so far i am happy as a pig in shit.
enjoy the site, lots of nice folks---chuck
 

lee

Well-Known Member
agree with everything said - just take it steady for a while until you get the feel for it and you will be fine
 

kcnjamie

Member
I recommend OKC Thunder Cycles in Oklahoma City. You aren't to far away, and they are absolutely top notch. You won't be disappointed!
 

MavMan

Member
Welcome Welcome...
I bought used and feel i got a great deal... I did not take the initial hit$$$ I got a 2006 Mastiff with a warrenty left until Dec of this year... Enough time for me to ride all summer and get any problems i may run into fixed before warrenty runs out...
I have to agree with TMack, look for a good used one. i looked under "cycletrader.com". there you will be able to list what you are looking for, miles and how far you are willing to travel to go look or pick up. i almost went to Kansas City from Dallas, TX to get mine until I finaly found my match. It is a 2006 Chopper and was only off the show room floor for 5 months so it had 1-1/2 yrs of wnty left and only had 700 miles. It had a sticker of $32,500 and I picked it up for $23,000. That's a 10K savings and with that savings I bought pipes, air cleaner mirrors, paid for insurance for a year and am fixing to get the chrome lowboy with struts and the pillian pad and will send them of to get tooled leather with my seat. The dog was out of Pennsilvanna and had no rust and was complety stock, all the stickers and reflectors were still on and the tires still had these FAT chicken stripes. So, it was a NEW BIKE!

Just my 2 cents. Good luck. I have owned 5 crotch rokets over the past 12 years and 8 months ago set off to get a cruiser. I wanted somthing fu**ing awsome and at a good deal. I have had mine for two months (it takes time to find the perfect one, you will know it when you come across it) and have no regrets and am so in love with it. It gets all the attention and people asking to take pictures of it, asking if it is like one of those like they see on TV.
Remember, your life is now and you never get today back. so don't settle and take your time.

 

Gas Man

Cool isn't cheap
Calendar Participant
I also agree with T-mack.. get one used... the money you save on the sticker will get you some insane sweet mods!
 

TSDAWG

Yes, it's mine.
Calendar Participant
I recommend OKC Thunder Cycles in Oklahoma City. You aren't to far away, and they are absolutely top notch. You won't be disappointed!
I agree. I bought my chopper at THunderCycles last year and love it. They do excellent service work too. Dale is an awesome sales person and is helpful as heck. He'll search the world over looking for the right bike for you. Call Brian at the Wichita Puppy Farm and he'll let you look at every K-9 they have in stock. They sell them there too.

Go test ride a K-9 and see if you like how it rides. It's all about how comfortable you are on any bike you ride. My chopper is the easiest, most comfortable ride I've ever had. LOVE IT!...not to mention they are bad to the bone!
 

surferdude

dry docked
Had a neighbor that had a 17 ft boat ... the next year he got a 19 ft boat ... we all told him all along to get what he wanted ... a 21 ft ...so the next year the got the 21 ft boat ... point is we suffered from the 17 ft to the 19 ft until he got the 21 ft boat ... then he moved !!!!! Get the bike you really want ... The 05 Ridgeback was/is my first real bike ... had 750 rice burner in 83 .. layed off for 19 years before getting my 05 BD ... it seemed like the 2nd biggest thing between my legs but now it seems regular and the 330 BD RB looks mighty fine ... so go for the bike really that fits and don't look back ... you will regret it if you could of but didn't .... my .02 :loony: :up:

good luck
 
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Cutter

Well-Known Member
Had a neighbor that had a 17 ft boat ... the next year he got a 19 ft boat ... we all told him all along to get what he wanted ... a 21 ft ...so the next year the got the 21 ft boat ... point is we suffered from the 17 ft to the 19 ft until he got the 21 ft boat ... then he moved !!!!!
What a prick - making you suffer like that, good riddence - I say :lol:


I am another - 1st bike = K9
The rear tire does take some getting used to...

Countersteering is not an option with the phat ass, it is a must.

They are very well balanced, and it will probably not take too long for you to get used to it.

I did not ride mine home from the dealer(I still dont like to ride in that part of town :down:), but a couple of cruises through the sub, and I was off and running(14,500 in 2 Michigan season's).:2thumbs:

Get the bike that fits you, take your time to get comfortable with and in control of the bike, and it will handle very predictably.

I logged a 1,300 mile weekend after my first 500 miles of riding experience.
 
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