Nice vlog you done there, I passed my test in 1975 on a Yamaha RD 250, then went onto a Suzuki GT550 (bag of crap). A Suzuki GS750 dohc followed in which my friend totalled, leaving me out of pocket & paying the finance co for 3 yrs. I went to Oz in 1980 for 25 yrs & the first bike I bought there was a brand new Laverda Jota in 82, nice bit of kit, various multicylinder large machines followed. Towards the end of my stay in Oz I always wanted a Harley but could never afford it, I had to return here in order to care for my ailing mother, & eventually bought bought a new Fatboy Lo Special (the lowest Harley ever produced) in Feb 20017, it was a superceded model & handles like a pig, no ground clearance etc but it puts a smile on my face every time. Enjoying your channel & of you're ever up around Mid Wales you should drop by. All the best for Xmas 👍👍😎
@@alancrane4693 I loved the old 2 strokes, the Kawasaki KH 250 was a nice bike as was the 750, very very fast. If I ever won the lottery I'd have a stable of pristine 70s Japanese bikes, good memories.. My 250 Yamaha was imported from Holland by Mitsui, & was the only one in the UK for a few months 👍👍
@@geoffozevans4500 oh to win the lottery 😁. Wow having the first RD this is the fun of motorcycling even with the crap bikes we owned it leaves a impression good or bad. Not the RD brilliant machine whatever the model. Got to say though with a harley I've had stuff falling off having to retight certain bolts do more engine breaking but still grinning from ear to ear on the bloody thing. On the sportster get off the bike and your voice wobbly for a bit 😂and rear view mirror spinning around the other one fell off 🤣gripping on for dear life over 60mph reach your destination you still shaking but you have a massive smile across your face already thinking where to go next when the felling returns to your hands and feet. 😄
@@alancrane4693 I've only done a 1000 mile on my Fatboy Lo Special, I had a big 7hr back op 6 months ago so that laid me up for a bit, but I love my Harley , always wanted one so treated myself to one for my 60th birthday, I had a lot to do with them in Oz, I was there for 25years ,& a brilliant place for riding. Down here in Wales it's always bloody raining. Have a great Xmas & all the best 👍👍😎
@@geoffozevans4500 due to medical issues is why I have a softail now it's more civilised than the xl1200c sportster I had. Mainly its less vibrations. More comfy and much better for taking a pavilion. I wanted the nightrain but got the blackline instead due to harley stopping the production of the nightrain. I love it to bits I got it in 2013 last one in a dealership. Got it for same price as the dyna streetbob and it has a custom paint job done by the dealership. I also have low mileage due to medical reasons now. I roughly do around 4280 miles yearly all down to how I feel and weather. I bet you miss the weather don't worry you know when summer gets closer the rain starts warming up. 😂 Fat boy is one of the few harley models that give you the feeling of sitting in the bike and not on top. Great bike. Can't get on with floor boards controller due to medical issues also prefer the feet forward and rake to the 70s chop look of styles. That reson of why i didn't go for the new softail slim and fat boy and hunted for a blackline. Hope you have a better new year and a good Christmas to 🎄🎅🎊
Harleys are great bikes to start will but even more than engine size I would go with fit. When you are first learning, touching flat footed meaning heels on the street at a stop is important for both confidence and safety. Lots of people talk about sportsters for first bikes but they sit taller than people may realize. That said, my first was a '97 Sportster Sport 1200
Its all about how feel on the bike. Like you said, most talk about sportsters as good first bikes but they are higher. Nothing wrong with a Sporty but there are plenty of others that can "fit" a person better 👍
A great video. You made some solid points. A Harley is a perfect first bike. If a person realizes what they are getting into. What the ramifications are if a person acts like an idiot on it. ( Or any bike ) thanks for sharing. !
Here's the ticket. Get a beater to learn on and make all your mistakes. You will learn basic skills and maint on the beater, skills that will come in handy when you get the bike you want. In the meantime, go to the dealers and test ride everything you can. That way when the right one comes along at the right price you can jump. Everyone is different, but learning to throw a 600lb bike around is different than a 400lb. Everything from the heavy clutch pull to the kickstand sinking in hot tar and toppling the bike are the things that will eventually come your way. Watched my neighbor dump his new sporty in the 1st 10 feet. Tank dented, cases scratched-the works.
Managed to get mine out the other day too! Must be cold riding around Somerset atm, low lying ground just feels so much colder than it does in the areas around. Harley is a great first bike I'd have to say, I've owned pretty much everything apart from the latest sports bikes and they're safe bikes to ride it has to be said! However, it is good to gain experience on all things and learn how to ride in all conditions as your centre of gravity will be different. If you have that confidence you'll be able to easily adapt to the rear wheel drifting out with no issues which is an issue I had with my old Nightster 1200 using Dunlop tyres in these low temps.
My Dunlops scare the crap out of me in the wet and these months of the year. New tires have been ordered!! Agreed, I think riding different bikes definitely improves your riding. Not ridden any sports bikes yet. But my friend passes his test in January and is in the market for a sports bike. Said Id take him down to HD to test ride some Harleys and some Italian sports bikes! Gonna be an interesting day for us both I think!
I just brought a 2014 harley dyna fatbob as my first harley/cruiser never rode a cruiser before and haven't been on road since 2013 had a honda cbr250r then haha
Money couldn't afford harley when I got my full motorcycle licence. 1991 luckily a lot of 250cc two stroke motorcycles from £200-500 and insurance was manageable. Wasn't till my 30s I could afford a 883 harley it's not just the cost of the bike it's the insurance parts accessory running costs. I could have had a softail nightrain in 2006 but insurance was ridiculous £1000 plus access of £500 compared to the 883 i was paying around £125 with £80 access. That was fully comp on both bikes. Got the 1200 custom sportster instead insurance was basically the same as my then five year old 883 it wasn't rubber mounted. Is a harley a good first bike depending on the model majority of my motorbike experience was from two stroke models but I was thankful for the experience of owning them when I got the 883 it was not in till I got my softail that I wish I could have afforded a softail or the wideglide when I passed my test. I COULDN'T EVEN AFFORD THE POSTER. 😂. Any bike is really a good first bike having fun with but think about costs etc how much and easy to get replacement parts running costs ie sports bike go through tyres and chain sprocket needs replacing and maintenance more regularly than ie commuter model suzuki 600gsx bandit compared with 600gsxr fully spec race model. Many many factors but it all down to affordability and your own mindset. Knowing someone who had finance on a brand new suzuki gsxr and stacked it in a couple of weeks and took a long time before he could afford to get back on the road caused him a lot of grief. Main advice stay within your financial means and think ahead can you afford it for example lost your job or have to take a lesser income job. Shit happens and if you can still get out and ride you can still smile and tell the world to suck your big con rod. 😜
Have to stay within your budget. You're right, any bike is a good first bike. If I had passed my test when I was 18, Id have only been able to afford the poster hahaha! Insurance for me was more than I wanted to pay but after a year it will drop a lot so im not worried too much. But insurance would be a huge factor as I know companies love nothing more than to hit new riders hard with huge premiums on any bike, let alone a monster 1800cc HD or 600cc Crotch Rocket 👍
SuperDeadRooster no regrets for me as I knew what I wanted out of my bike. My intentions from the start were to have a bike I could customise into club style. A bike I could have tonnes of fun on and a bike that had enough power to take a passenger and overtake out of trouble. I only wish the tank was bigger for longer distance. If distance was more of a factor, the low rider was my next choice. But too much chrome for me. The money I’ve spent I could have got a Sports Glide which again is a great all rounder bike. But in the end I love my bike. I don’t see me ever changing it. Buying a touring bike one day...if I get the money together, 100% I’m getting one. The Softails offer soo much...test ride them and see what you want out of your bike 👌🤘
Enjoying your videos. I’m gonna order the RRI 1157 running light/indicator LED for my 2018 streetbob -where did you purchase the 1157 housings or did the dealer have them?. I live about 10 miles east of you so use the same dealer. Also really tempted to have stage 1 maybe v&h staggered short shots. What do you think?
bartubing nice! Will have to go for a ride when the sun returns! So you will need the inserts for the 1157 bulbs. You don’t need the whole new housing. But wiring it up is a pain in the arse. Go and talk to the guys upstairs about the parts and then head downstairs to talk to the guys about fitting as the guys upstairs don’t seem to have a clue in my experience with them. If you are gonna get a Stage 1 I’d get Riders to install them at the same time. Won’t cost you much and it’s under warranty if anything goes wrong. Yeah the V&H short Shots look and sound great! I nearly went with them! Would recommend you get all V&H stage one parts. So their breather and FP3 fuel pak. Or you have to get the Screamin Eagle breathers and go Dyno Jet Power Vision like I did. Highly recommend either or 🤘 When are you from then?
StreetBobberVlogger Thanks for the info I’m in Street - nice to get a ride in the new year/ compare notes after I get stage 1 !!! Have a good Xmas and ride careful
is the weight difference between a sportster and street bob or not so much? im 5’5 165-170 muscular. i ride a 2015 sportster and want to move up to a street bob
Yep HD is a bitch when it comes to prices and finance. Then you have the Harley TAX to pay...like Stage 1, new seat and anything else you feel you really need lol
Hi I’m just wondering what tests I’ll need to do, I’m 21 and I’ve never Road a road bike before. Just need to know what I need to do to get on the road
Hey buddy assuming you are from the UK...you will need to do your CBT then Theory Test. Then you can go for your A2 licence which means you can ride a restricted Iron for 2 years before you can take your "A" licence...hears the link www.gov.uk/ride-motorcycle-moped/bike-categories-ages-and-licence-requirements
hey man I wanted to see if you could share with us how much you got you bob for, I'm actually looking to get me a street bob as well I'm just waiting to take my safety course.
@@GJRICHY1990 Ive heard that the primary is much smaller on the new bike which makes it a bit more balanced. Always wise to wait if you can hold out that long. Improvements are always worth the wait.
man i have a question i hope u answering. i play with the idea of buying the new fat bob. its my first bike. du you think thats a good idea or to manny power? i would say i can handle it. im a good car driver hahaha
Chris k haha driving and riding are not the same thing hahahahaha! But yeah a fat bob would be fine. Nice and light bike. The forwards are not crazy forward. The best thing to do is test ride a few bikes. I was set on an iron 883...then a 48 and ended up with my bob. Fat bob is nimble and light so great for first bike if you arnt crazy in the first week of riding😂😎
Krazed Rider yeah they are ok...much more comfortable than the street bob, but I found the handling way different. Personally I didn’t like it...the Fat front tire gave me problems controlling the bends smoothly. That said a great bike, would recommend you test ride one and get the 114 if you can 👌
@@StreetBobberVlogger I tested ride it a couple time, but it costed like US $ 10,000 more than the Street Bob at the beginning of this year, so I could only afford a street bob. The mini ape though looks cool, but it gets quite tiring on long trip + I have to reach forward for it since I'm a shorter guy. I find normal handle bar at stomach level more comfortable (like dirt bike) I also found Street Bob gets very slippery in rocky sands. I tipped over once last month downhill from concrete into the rocky sands in the mountains... a few minor scratches on the rear brake / right mirror (right tip over).... which I think wouldn't be a problem with bigger tires like a Fat Bob's or my Rebel (maybe it's not true)
I bought a new street bob 8 weeks ago, passed my full license yesterday! Love it! Great first bike
Same fear, just don't want to get in over my head. New rider but this video does inspire some confidence.
Street Bob (FXBB) is my first bike and I have no plans to move up.
Nice vlog you done there, I passed my test in 1975 on a Yamaha RD 250, then went onto a Suzuki GT550 (bag of crap). A Suzuki GS750 dohc followed in which my friend totalled, leaving me out of pocket & paying the finance co for 3 yrs. I went to Oz in 1980 for 25 yrs & the first bike I bought there was a brand new Laverda Jota in 82, nice bit of kit, various multicylinder large machines followed. Towards the end of my stay in Oz I always wanted a Harley but could never afford it, I had to return here in order to care for my ailing mother, & eventually bought bought a new Fatboy Lo Special (the lowest Harley ever produced) in Feb 20017, it was a superceded model & handles like a pig, no ground clearance etc but it puts a smile on my face every time. Enjoying your channel & of you're ever up around Mid Wales you should drop by. All the best for Xmas 👍👍😎
@@alancrane4693 I loved the old 2 strokes, the Kawasaki KH 250 was a nice bike as was the 750, very very fast. If I ever won the lottery I'd have a stable of pristine 70s Japanese bikes, good memories.. My 250 Yamaha was imported from Holland by Mitsui, & was the only one in the UK for a few months 👍👍
@@geoffozevans4500 oh to win the lottery 😁. Wow having the first RD this is the fun of motorcycling even with the crap bikes we owned it leaves a impression good or bad. Not the RD brilliant machine whatever the model. Got to say though with a harley I've had stuff falling off having to retight certain bolts do more engine breaking but still grinning from ear to ear on the bloody thing. On the sportster get off the bike and your voice wobbly for a bit 😂and rear view mirror spinning around the other one fell off 🤣gripping on for dear life over 60mph reach your destination you still shaking but you have a massive smile across your face already thinking where to go next when the felling returns to your hands and feet. 😄
@@alancrane4693 I've only done a 1000 mile on my Fatboy Lo Special, I had a big 7hr back op 6 months ago so that laid me up for a bit, but I love my Harley , always wanted one so treated myself to one for my 60th birthday, I had a lot to do with them in Oz, I was there for 25years ,& a brilliant place for riding. Down here in Wales it's always bloody raining. Have a great Xmas & all the best 👍👍😎
@@geoffozevans4500 due to medical issues is why I have a softail now it's more civilised than the xl1200c sportster I had. Mainly its less vibrations. More comfy and much better for taking a pavilion. I wanted the nightrain but got the blackline instead due to harley stopping the production of the nightrain. I love it to bits I got it in 2013 last one in a dealership. Got it for same price as the dyna streetbob and it has a custom paint job done by the dealership. I also have low mileage due to medical reasons now. I roughly do around 4280 miles yearly all down to how I feel and weather. I bet you miss the weather don't worry you know when summer gets closer the rain starts warming up. 😂 Fat boy is one of the few harley models that give you the feeling of sitting in the bike and not on top. Great bike. Can't get on with floor boards controller due to medical issues also prefer the feet forward and rake to the 70s chop look of styles. That reson of why i didn't go for the new softail slim and fat boy and hunted for a blackline. Hope you have a better new year and a good Christmas to 🎄🎅🎊
@@alancrane4693 many thanks , all the best & take care 👍👍😎
My first bike was is a iron. Picking up my street bob next week. Only lasted 6 months with the iron. Thanks for your videos
Feels nice to winter ride. Beautyful ride bro. Stunning landscape. Be safe brotha.
Harleys are great bikes to start will but even more than engine size I would go with fit. When you are first learning, touching flat footed meaning heels on the street at a stop is important for both confidence and safety. Lots of people talk about sportsters for first bikes but they sit taller than people may realize. That said, my first was a '97 Sportster Sport 1200
Its all about how feel on the bike. Like you said, most talk about sportsters as good first bikes but they are higher. Nothing wrong with a Sporty but there are plenty of others that can "fit" a person better 👍
A great video. You made some solid points. A Harley is a perfect first bike. If a person realizes what they are getting into. What the ramifications are if a person acts like an idiot on it. ( Or any bike ) thanks for sharing. !
I literally just got a 2016 street bob yesterday and am happy with my purchase and am excited to ride
Here's the ticket. Get a beater to learn on and make all your mistakes. You will learn basic skills and maint on the beater, skills that will come in handy when you get the bike you want. In the meantime, go to the dealers and test ride everything you can. That way when the right one comes along at the right price you can jump. Everyone is different, but learning to throw a 600lb bike around is different than a 400lb. Everything from the heavy clutch pull to the kickstand sinking in hot tar and toppling the bike are the things that will eventually come your way. Watched my neighbor dump his new sporty in the 1st 10 feet. Tank dented, cases scratched-the works.
Price is the only reason why Harley is not good as first bike.
Price is relative.
@@MrMann-gt1eh I agree. That was a very sweeping statement Chaohsiangchen made.
Managed to get mine out the other day too! Must be cold riding around Somerset atm, low lying ground just feels so much colder than it does in the areas around.
Harley is a great first bike I'd have to say, I've owned pretty much everything apart from the latest sports bikes and they're safe bikes to ride it has to be said! However, it is good to gain experience on all things and learn how to ride in all conditions as your centre of gravity will be different. If you have that confidence you'll be able to easily adapt to the rear wheel drifting out with no issues which is an issue I had with my old Nightster 1200 using Dunlop tyres in these low temps.
My Dunlops scare the crap out of me in the wet and these months of the year. New tires have been ordered!! Agreed, I think riding different bikes definitely improves your riding. Not ridden any sports bikes yet. But my friend passes his test in January and is in the market for a sports bike. Said Id take him down to HD to test ride some Harleys and some Italian sports bikes! Gonna be an interesting day for us both I think!
great review ! I’m about to have this beauty in a few days (2nd Harley / third bike)
cheers from France 🇫🇷 ✌️
Thank you i just wanted to know if it was a good first bike
I just brought a 2014 harley dyna fatbob as my first harley/cruiser never rode a cruiser before and haven't been on road since 2013 had a honda cbr250r then haha
Money couldn't afford harley when I got my full motorcycle licence. 1991 luckily a lot of 250cc two stroke motorcycles from £200-500 and insurance was manageable. Wasn't till my 30s I could afford a 883 harley it's not just the cost of the bike it's the insurance parts accessory running costs. I could have had a softail nightrain in 2006 but insurance was ridiculous £1000 plus access of £500 compared to the 883 i was paying around £125 with £80 access. That was fully comp on both bikes. Got the 1200 custom sportster instead insurance was basically the same as my then five year old 883 it wasn't rubber mounted. Is a harley a good first bike depending on the model majority of my motorbike experience was from two stroke models but I was thankful for the experience of owning them when I got the 883 it was not in till I got my softail that I wish I could have afforded a softail or the wideglide when I passed my test. I COULDN'T EVEN AFFORD THE POSTER. 😂. Any bike is really a good first bike having fun with but think about costs etc how much and easy to get replacement parts running costs ie sports bike go through tyres and chain sprocket needs replacing and maintenance more regularly than ie commuter model suzuki 600gsx bandit compared with 600gsxr fully spec race model. Many many factors but it all down to affordability and your own mindset. Knowing someone who had finance on a brand new suzuki gsxr and stacked it in a couple of weeks and took a long time before he could afford to get back on the road caused him a lot of grief. Main advice stay within your financial means and think ahead can you afford it for example lost your job or have to take a lesser income job. Shit happens and if you can still get out and ride you can still smile and tell the world to suck your big con rod. 😜
Have to stay within your budget. You're right, any bike is a good first bike. If I had passed my test when I was 18, Id have only been able to afford the poster hahaha! Insurance for me was more than I wanted to pay but after a year it will drop a lot so im not worried too much. But insurance would be a huge factor as I know companies love nothing more than to hit new riders hard with huge premiums on any bike, let alone a monster 1800cc HD or 600cc Crotch Rocket 👍
Where do you live Alan👍👍😎
Thanks so much I just bought my first bike....2018 Harley breakout 114.. so awesome ..
🤘😎🤘
Any second thoughts or regrets at all? Curious because I'm thinking of a Harley Softail for my first bike. Thanks
SuperDeadRooster no regrets for me as I knew what I wanted out of my bike. My intentions from the start were to have a bike I could customise into club style. A bike I could have tonnes of fun on and a bike that had enough power to take a passenger and overtake out of trouble. I only wish the tank was bigger for longer distance. If distance was more of a factor, the low rider was my next choice. But too much chrome for me. The money I’ve spent I could have got a Sports Glide which again is a great all rounder bike. But in the end I love my bike. I don’t see me ever changing it. Buying a touring bike one day...if I get the money together, 100% I’m getting one. The Softails offer soo much...test ride them and see what you want out of your bike 👌🤘
Enjoying your videos. I’m gonna order the RRI 1157 running light/indicator LED for my 2018 streetbob -where did you purchase the 1157 housings or did the dealer have them?. I live about 10 miles east of you so use the same dealer. Also really tempted to have stage 1 maybe v&h staggered short shots. What do you think?
bartubing nice! Will have to go for a ride when the sun returns! So you will need the inserts for the 1157 bulbs. You don’t need the whole new housing. But wiring it up is a pain in the arse. Go and talk to the guys upstairs about the parts and then head downstairs to talk to the guys about fitting as the guys upstairs don’t seem to have a clue in my experience with them. If you are gonna get a Stage 1 I’d get Riders to install them at the same time. Won’t cost you much and it’s under warranty if anything goes wrong. Yeah the V&H short Shots look and sound great! I nearly went with them! Would recommend you get all V&H stage one parts. So their breather and FP3 fuel pak. Or you have to get the Screamin Eagle breathers and go Dyno Jet Power Vision like I did. Highly recommend either or 🤘 When are you from then?
StreetBobberVlogger
Thanks for the info
I’m in Street - nice to get a ride in the new year/ compare notes after I get stage 1 !!!
Have a good Xmas and ride careful
bartubing nice one, you too 🤘
What handle bars do you have on your bike
street500 a good first bike
is the weight difference between a sportster and street bob or not so much? im 5’5 165-170 muscular. i ride a 2015 sportster and want to move up to a street bob
remyflvcko nah not much in it, the bob is lower in the seat so easier to handle
i know i want one lol,its the price that kills me right now,cause i know the payments will be large
Yep HD is a bitch when it comes to prices and finance. Then you have the Harley TAX to pay...like Stage 1, new seat and anything else you feel you really need lol
Hi I’m just wondering what tests I’ll need to do, I’m 21 and I’ve never Road a road bike before. Just need to know what I need to do to get on the road
Hey buddy assuming you are from the UK...you will need to do your CBT then Theory Test. Then you can go for your A2 licence which means you can ride a restricted Iron for 2 years before you can take your "A" licence...hears the link www.gov.uk/ride-motorcycle-moped/bike-categories-ages-and-licence-requirements
hey man I wanted to see if you could share with us how much you got you bob for, I'm actually looking to get me a street bob as well I'm just waiting to take my safety course.
£12,300 from new, then the extras like stage 1 and 2, bars etc im up past the £15K mark now
StreetBobberVlogger
Awesome I’m thinking of holding up and seeing what the
2020 street bob is going to be like.
@@GJRICHY1990 Ive heard that the primary is much smaller on the new bike which makes it a bit more balanced. Always wise to wait if you can hold out that long. Improvements are always worth the wait.
man i have a question i hope u answering. i play with the idea of buying the new fat bob. its my first bike. du you think thats a good idea or to manny power? i would say i can handle it. im a good car driver hahaha
Chris k haha driving and riding are not the same thing hahahahaha! But yeah a fat bob would be fine. Nice and light bike. The forwards are not crazy forward. The best thing to do is test ride a few bikes. I was set on an iron 883...then a 48 and ended up with my bob. Fat bob is nimble and light so great for first bike if you arnt crazy in the first week of riding😂😎
Unless $ is not a problem, whatever.
Always the only problem hahaha
Hey mate, I'm thinking about turning my Street Bob (after finishing my installments in another 3 years) for a Fat Bob
Any thoughts?
Krazed Rider yeah they are ok...much more comfortable than the street bob, but I found the handling way different. Personally I didn’t like it...the Fat front tire gave me problems controlling the bends smoothly. That said a great bike, would recommend you test ride one and get the 114 if you can 👌
@@StreetBobberVlogger I tested ride it a couple time, but it costed like US $ 10,000 more than the Street Bob at the beginning of this year, so I could only afford a street bob.
The mini ape though looks cool, but it gets quite tiring on long trip + I have to reach forward for it since I'm a shorter guy. I find normal handle bar at stomach level more comfortable (like dirt bike)
I also found Street Bob gets very slippery in rocky sands. I tipped over once last month downhill from concrete into the rocky sands in the mountains... a few minor scratches on the rear brake / right mirror (right tip over).... which I think wouldn't be a problem with bigger tires like a Fat Bob's or my Rebel (maybe it's not true)