First big cruiser?

[P38]

A mate of mine at High School went from a TY50 to a GSX1100 virtually the day his licence went full.

He died two weeks later on that bike.

Wore a Truck radiator grill head on at about 180kms when he crossed the center line on a slight bend.

The Truck driver recieved serious injuries too.

My advise is to start with a bike that suits your current capabilities and move up once your skills and experience improves.

You'll live longer that way.

Cheers
P38

[GrayWolf]

How do you find the speedmaster? compared to the sporty?

That is close to my situation, Im either thinking the speedmaster or a T-Bird storm, but I am worried that the T-Bird might me too big.

my first 'big' cruiser was in the mid 80's, the venerable Tart's boudoir (Virago 1100),,, after a Kwaka thou, it felt like a friggin moped for the first 2-3 months. Then I settled down into 'cruiser mode' for riding style. I quickly found as Maha has stated 'torque' was the key.
The T-bird storm performs very similar to Mjolnir.... (my MT).. if you can get your feet down easily, the big cruiser will not be overly difficult to manhandle in traffic, parking etc. What you will find is that cornering may need to be revised on big inch cruisers (though the T-bird seems to be quite acceptable for ground clearance), also the length will feel like a truck n trailer at first.
What is likely to take 'adjustment' on a low revving big twin, is the sensation that feeling the 'thump' of the motor, you are not going 'quick' then suddenly you'll hit a bend and realise 'oh shit, I am actually honking along here'. Mjolnir revs @ 2.5k for 110kph, I dont think the T-bird is too much higher.

An America/Speedmaster or 1200 sporty should'nt be difficult as a 'jump' from the S40, a T-bird or 'big inch' motor would just take an adjustment period. As long as weight isnt a factor.