Every time I ride a crotch rocket, I can't imagine the difficulty one must go through in learning the fundamental skills of controlling a motorcycle. By that I mean a recent generation of the usual YZF-R/CBR/GSX-R/ZX#-R.
My 1994 ZX6E is, in my opinion, reasonable to learn on as a first bike. It was the top-of-the-line 600cc sport bike back in its day, but now overshadowed by today's 600cc-class bikes. By today's standards, it's a sport-touring bike.

Take, for example, z3german's 2010 GSX-R 750 he just got; it's more than a handful for him.


I think that your best plan of attack would be to take the course like you're saying and see how comfortable you are on a bike from there. I'll guarantee your confidence, but it's your final call whether you'll want to jump straight to the Nightrod.
To get used to a bike that size, I might suggest picking up a smaller cruiser like a Honda Shadow or Yamaha V-Star. You can get them with roughly half the displacement of the HD you're looking at, and they're definitely a lot more comfortable. It'd serve as an excellent intermediate stage.

Ordered a 2013 vrod muscle in matte white.

Going to grab a crotch rocket too. Which one should I get? R6 or should I just go for the ducati diavel

Congrats!

Ride safe!

so.. you havent got your L yet? and about to get 2 bikes?

damn.. I wish I could do that too..

err ducati diavel is not a crotch rocket. It is a direct competitor to the vrod.
I say cancel the 2013 vrod...get the diavel. :)

sorry I keep confusing names of these bikes. I was looking at the ducati 848

http://www.speedscycle.com/images/PickUp/3368.jpg

get 848! going from 1200 cc to 600cc might be a big step down when you decide to go crotch rocket style.

I would suggest getting a dirt bike to learn on, like a suzuki DRZ-400, you drop the bike, dust yourself off, pick up the bike and keep going. you drop the night rod or diavel, or any crotch rocket damage will be quite expensive.

i can guarantee that you'll have a bitch of a time learning to ride on an 848. ducati sport bikes are notoriously finicky and aren't nearly as forgiving as their japanese counter parts.


a 600 supersport will still wipe the floor with the vrod in straight line speed though lol. well top end speed anyways.

look at the list of cars in his sig lol. don't think a few G's of repair bills will dent his wallet.

ducatis are a bitch to ride on the streets... the monsters are a lot easier and fun, but they are better to be ridden on the hwys. IMHO

Ducati 848 hp is apx 115 and torque 62

Ducati 848 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

V Rod 125 hp torque 85

Harley-Davidson VRSC - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

LOLLL the guys rocking Lambo's and Ranges a dozen and people are suggesting dirt bikes...

I beg to differ, I street mine and I don't particularly notice anything. :thumbs:
I'm sure rk604 would chime in on this as well. *Shrugs*

While its true they have different characteristics, be that the most noticeable being the motor, but other than that they ride just like any other bike.

The new generation of Ducati's as my co worker would say, are like Cadillacs compared to the ergonomics of the older generations. The 916/996/998 especially, those things were torture racks to street. Ducati's have come along way and are much more refined than they once used to be to cater to a larger market.

i wouldn't recommend going 848 to learn though...i'd definitely bail if i learnt on the duc first hand. It took quite a bit getting used to the raw/aggressiveness of the bike. it's definitely less forgiving that the japanese bikes, with the torque, the clutch play, etc... i'd go with honda, yamaha, kawasaki or whatever if you wanna learn as learners bike...go for 600cc for sure, as anything less, you'll probably just get bored of it in a week or so.

if i had the money, i certainly wouldn't as heck ride the ducati in the street, i'd get something like a harley/motard/monster with better riding position. ergonomics blows on the ducati super bikes...lol

So ws6ta, how is your course going ?

Was out for a ride with Bob & Pam on Sunday.

the slow speed stuff is exhausting! I was literally drenched in sweat. the theory course made me reconsider even buying a bike. i have day 2 of parking lot to do along with the MSA test and then onto road driving. kevin has been teaching the class really nice guy.

I took the course in January (2012) and was sweating too.

Then bought one of the 250 cc from the school and put on close to 1500 km in Feb, The first week of March I was on the Warrior, very similar to a V Rod.

The month of Feb was a lot of time in a parking lot going all the slow speed stuff and then riding around PoCo on quit streets till I got used to it, then ventured to Vancouver and beyond.

It was not easy, but I can do a U turn on the Warrior in two and a half parking stalls and easily ride a circle in 3 spots, working still on getting it down to 2 parking spots. Yes I still try to make out to the parking lot every week or two to practice.

The Virago / V Star 250 are great bikes to learn on, they are not easy to ride but on then you have to do everything correct, which makes riding a bigger bike that much easier.

Yes start with a small bike and have fun on it, then move to the big bike and enjoy it. OR you can get the big bike, look cool in the parking lot but can not ride it there for you can not enjoy it.

Finish the course, pass the test, by a cheap small bike for a month or two and move on up when you are ready.

Stick with it, it is worth it.

I'll even go out and ride with you when you have the small bike.