[EYELESS]

OK, since the numbers of those who had balls big enough to make the M109R their first bike and not waste money on a "starter bike" seems to be on the rise, I figured I'd start this thread to see how many of us crazy people there really are (seriously, people WILL call you crazy)

With that being said, you've gone aganst the consensus and decided to make your first bike one that will either make or break you, most agree that this is too much bike for the beginner. Post some info that might help out those who are considering the same move. :bigthumbsup:

With my one year anniversary of 109 ownership on the horizon (April 15th) I'll start.
So far, I've got just under 9k miles in my first year and all I can say is RESPECT THE POWER, this bike can kill you if you let it and it can get you into trouble before you can blink, but, if you take your time the ride just gets better as you go:bigthumbsup: Low speed maneuvers can get tricky, that big back tire tends to lean you into the direction of the pavement you are on.
:congrats:

 

[jdmitchell]

The 109 is the first bike I have owned also, and I picked it up February 1st and put 1400 (Coooold) miles on it that month. I have put 2700 miles on my 9 for a total of 13800. And I still can't help but smile when I crack the throttle and hang on. I used my 9 when I went to the basic riders safety course and some of those guys thought I was crazy for bringing my first bike to the MSF range since it was so big. But I had a great time and got pretty good at low speed manuevers that I would have not even tried before. Next week I go to the advanced riders course and that is supposed to be really fun. I scrape pegs on occasion (not that I enjoy it) but leaning hard into a high speed sweeper is just to much fun to pass up. And when the guy on the CBR 600 can't keep up till after 80 mph thats just gravy. But usually I just cruise and enjoy the ride. I love it and am happy with the choice I made.

 

[dirtym109r2]

also first bike for me, friends do say i'm crazy. they still ask how big the engine is even though i told them the size over and, over and, over again. then i get (if i were you i would start with something smaller, thats too big for a first bike). i'm 6-2, 230lbs. What should i start with? a sportster. lmao

 

[LuciousBlvd]

first bike... I actually purchased it and had to have my father ride it home.. I didnt have a license yet. So no test ride for me haha

not ashamed at all!

 

[jtjohns]

You guys starting on a 1800cc bike, dam!! I started on a Ninja 250cc . Have a blast and keep the shiny side up.

 

[ghostm109]

My 9 was my first bike. Had to have it delivered because I had not taken the rider's course yet. I said :edit: it,you only live once, this aint no dress rehearsal. But, I did take my time with it the first season I rode it. Never have regretted it. It still puts a smile on my face when I twist the throttle.:clap2::drool: I'm 6'4", I didn't want to look like a sissy on something smaller. Plus, once I saw the 9, it was a wrap.

 

[tizzle75]

My first bike ever. Picked it up and road it home 60 miles through nashville traffic in the dark on Valentines Day 09. I love it and am pleased with it. I don't have anything to compare it too so when i read all the stuff on here about clunky tranny, and jerky takeoffs, etc.....i don't see it but thats a good thing. It's heavy at slow speeds but smooth at cruising speeds. It's a blast to nail it through the gears and will turn heads.

 

[Robert May]

First bike was between the V-Rod and the 9. I fell in love with the 9 but wanted to buy American. After sitting on the V-Rod I realized at 6'3 and 280 pounds I looked like a gorilla [email protected]$%^+g a football or Grape Ape.

So 9 it was and I am not sorry at all. Everybody tried to tell me to start with a small bike. I'll have to say that it was the friends who had Harley that told me to get what you want cause you'll always want more and wish you would have gone big even if it is that metric you like. :doorag:

So here I am.

 

[silverreaper9]

First bike was between the V-Rod and the 9. I fell in love with the 9 but wanted to buy American. After sitting on the V-Rod I realized at 6'3 and 280 pounds I looked like a gorilla [email protected]$%^+g a football or Grape Ape.

So 9 it was and I am not sorry at all. Everybody tried to tell me to start with a small bike. I'll have to say that it was the friends who had Harley that told me to get what you want cause you'll always want more and wish you would have gone big even if it is that metric you like. :doorag:

So here I am.

same here i went back and forth between the harley v rod muscle and the 9 finally went with the 9 due to it being half the price and more powerfull and just a better feeling ride

 

[Noshest]

First bike for me, had no license when I bought it, when I saw it I just had to have it. :drool:

Followed my life motto: "never go for second best, you'll only regret it"

Did ride dirtbikes in my wild youth, but that is barred under the statute of limitations :cop:

​

 

[joshjaf]

I myself am in the same boat as most of you. The 9 is my first bike. I think most people believe that the 9 is to big but for some of us the 9 fits us better. I am 6'4" and I looked a lots of other bikes. I looked at the Vrod and the Mean Streak but they were all to small and made me look like a bear riding the little bike at the circus. I picked up my bike brand new from the shop at the end of last summer and have only put 2500 miles on it but I love it. I have been deployed since last fall and can't wait to get back home and in June and have some good one on one time with it.

 

[M109Dreamer]

This was my first street bike. I looked around for about a year before I bought one and when I saw the 9 I knew that I didnt care just wanted the bike. Bought the bike in Feb09. Within the first 6 months I had over 13K miles on her. I love every ride I do. I like the cruiser style but like to drag pegs quite a bit. The one thing I learned was when exiting a corner you have to be careful when accelerating. The rear got loose on me once and that told me right there who was in charge. I learn more and more every day I ride it. If I would give any advice it would be to respect the torque of the bike. It can get you in trouble quick.

 

[5111]

The 9 was my first bike. I didn't even have any riding experience. I had to have my father-in-law ride it home for me. I took the MSF course the first weekend after I bought it. Then I started slowly riding it around the neighborhood. For the first month or so I regretted the purchase. It was really too much bike for a beginner. Several times I had the handle bars nearly ripped out of my hands due to the touchy throttle. I took it very carefully. My first couple hundred miles were probably never over 40mph. Eventually I started leaving the neighborhood and getting out and up to speed. Then it got easier and my confidence grew. In the next 11 months I put 7000 miles on the bike. Riding a bike on the highway is easy, but the low-speed maneuvers are what's difficult. Had I simply hopped on the highway at the beginning I probably would have gotten more confidence sooner, but I probably would not have ever worked on the low-speed maneuvers. My way was more difficult and stressful, but I think that it was better in the long run.

I'm 6'3" @ 300lbs. I could not do a little bike. That's why I bought the big one first. I'm not sure that it was the right move, but I know that I would have been bored to tears on something smaller after 6 months. Since everything has worked out okay, it's easy to say that I made the right choice, but I think that it easily could have been the wrong choice.

The SAFEST move is to start on something smaller and less powerful. Maybe a used Honda Shadow 750. But know that if you are my size, you will look ridiculous and will want to sell it after a couple thousand miles.

 

[109Mike]

Same here, 1st one. I was used to driving high hp cars, though. You learn to respect the power. I have had it 18 months and have put 12k on it. I'm too fat for a smaller bike

 

[Chilly Rock]

I bought my 07 LE about a month ago without any riding experience. I had a friend to test ride it for me, trailered it home, and took MSF course a couple of days later. After taking the class, I was intimidated by the size of the bike after learning to ride on those 250 runt bikes. For a couple of days I started in my neighborhood practicing shifting gears, stopping, cornering, and u-turns. On the third day of riding I rode on a stretch of main road with low traffic up to speeds of 40 to 50 mph. Afterward, I felt comfortable with the bike. On my 4th day of riding, I rode about 12 miles to work of which 5 miles is highway with speed up to 65 mph, I wanted to go a lil faster but the wind was too strong.

I bought the 9 because I didn't want to buy a bike I didn't want to have. I'm 6'1" 220 lbs and didn't want a small bike to only be embarrassed by 5'2" 120lb female riding a big Harley. :redfaced:

I'm happy with the choice I made to start with the 9, now I don't have to worry about selling an unwanted bike to purchase a 9. :bigthumbsup:

 

[vinnytheb]

Count me in!!!!!!!

The 9 is my first road bike. Lots of motocross in my earlier years. I just got her delivered last Saturday after a long wait, and have spent every day since on the bike. I now understand the combination of performance, sheer brut strength, but combined with amazing stability and confidence. What a bike!!!!!! I have posted a couple of first pics of my baby below, early morning here in the desert. Vin:drool:

 

[Krusher]

We're all big boys here as far as maturity and age is concerned. I've heard a lot of the first time, smaller bike theories. I looked at riding my Nine like any new task I'm about to tackle . . . first time slow and methodical; subsequent jobs faster with less effort and gained knowledge. I gather a lot of the experienced riders providing this advice began on smaller bikes because they were younger (hence the word experienced). I, like most young people, remembered I liked things fast without giving cause to reprecussions. Now that I'm older (much older), I still like fast, but now caution and saftey comes first. With that being said, I took MC courses, rode the Dragon within the first six months of ownership, & 13K miles later never looked back. This is a great bike . . . but then again, I have nothing else to compare it to . . .

 

[BiggerStretch]

I thought the 9 was a starter bike ....


come on , it's got some jam but any rice rocket I have ever owned got me into more problems than the 9 ever has or ever will ...

Thats why I bought the 9 , to slow down a bit ....

Now when I get the NOS or turbo installed and find a way to get another two gears into the beast I may change my mind ...

 

[maitre]

First bike for me, had no license when I bought it, when I saw it I just had to have it. :drool:

Same here :2excited:

 

[heatseekerpoe]

yes sir 1st here!

lol My 9 was my first bike... i took a class in 2006 and was looking at a V-Rod but didnt pull the trigger (thought it was to much money for my 1st bike wanted to buy a used bike in case i wasnt into it like i thought) later the next yr i say a blue LE and said wth is that? asked couple guys about this bike i saw and they said it was a m109. got the itch again but was way to busy too look and still just wanted something to try out. to make a long story shorter transferred to a new Engine house and a guy had just gotten his 2008 orange and another guy there had a 2006 burple dont remember who it was but someone said buy what you want or you'll just regret it! so i pulled the trigger on a 2008 LE and almost have more money in mods than i paid for it! lol