Okay, I know it's not a Harley but...

[Fulldresser4]

An older gentleman at work is bringing me his much loved Honda 360 sometime in the next few weeks. It hasn't run in a few years but DH is going to try and fix it so I can learn to ride. I am thrilled and terrified at the same time. Anyone have any experience with this bike? Is it a good starter bike? DH says I can learn to ride it at his Dad's and if I fall down it will be a short fall, LOL. I have short legs and am overly endowed in other areas so I hope I don't tip it over.

[Jazzed_N_MD]

Originally Posted by Fulldresser4

An older gentleman at work is bringing me his much loved Honda 360 sometime in the next few weeks. It hasn't run in a few years but DH is going to try and fix it so I can learn to ride. I am thrilled and terrified at the same time. Anyone have any experience with this bike? Is it a good starter bike? DH says I can learn to ride it at his Dad's and if I fall down it will be a short fall, LOL. I have short legs and am overly endowed in other areas so I hope I don't tip it over.

I had an old CB450 and the "Scrambler 350" back in the day. I also had an old 550 Supersport as a courier bike. These are very reliable machines, great starter bikes. You can get some basic repair experience doing the carb clean BEFORE you start it as well. Dont forget to flush the tank, too. You want ALL the old fuel (varnish) out of it first.

Have fun!!

[Fulldresser4]

Thanks Jazzed, how are YOU doing????

[frstnm]

These are very reliable machines, great starter bikes. You can get some basic repair experience doing the carb clean BEFORE you start it as well. Dont forget to flush the tank, too. You want ALL the old fuel (varnish) out of it first.

Have fun!! [/font][/quote]

All of the Hondas I have ever owned or just was exposed to are very reliable
from a mini trail 50 to a Shadow 750.
Like Jazzed said before me said it all - indepth cleaning and tune up is always recommended.
Enjoy - Its finally spring !!!!

[Freedom1990]

If it makes you feel any better, I learned how to ride on a Yamaha 400 Enduro, aka the bike from hell!

That thing had the touchiest clutch I have ever dealt with.

Now a little funny about the consequences of irresponsible behavior, a dirt bike, and too much time on my hands.

My husband at the time was gone to work, and I happened to notice that he left the keys in the yammy. I was just learning to ride.

I got this brilliant idea I'd go pick up a friend and we'd party for a bit.

Mind you, she was maybe 4'8" max, 90 pounds perhaps, and I figured I'd have no problem backseating her.

Well, I picked her up without incident, but then we headed onto the main drag of the city I lived in at the time. It was a warm Saturday afternoon, and everyone and their dog were out driving around.

I was starting to get really nervous, and the damned bike died on me at a stoplight, right at the intersection of the main drag and the hospital. There was a car load of teenagers next to me and they were laughing their asses off at me.

I got the damned thing started again, and because I was so afraid it would die again as I let the clutch out, I really goosed it and as we turned the corner to head to her sister's house, I hit a patch of sand and laid it over!

I couldn't even get the bike off of me I was so shook up, I was looking around for my friend Mary, and there she was hobbling over to the hospital screaming 'You broke my foot you b*tch!'

When I finally managed to get the bike off of me, I was so shook up I couldn't get it pulled up and off the street. Some nice guy finally stopped his car and got out to help me get it out of the way.

I hobbled into the ER then, and Mary was already getting patched up.

No, I didn't break her foot, but we had some pretty good road rash and bruises.

Damage to the bike? One broken turn signal and a ding in the gas tank.

Bill from ER for me and the passenger? $700!

Priceless!

Two wheels is good gal, regardless of the make!!!!!!!

PS. The hubby NEVER left the keys in the bike again and I got grounded!

[harleyrunt]

Congrats!!!!

[Hurricane]

Good bike, I've had a 350 and a 250.
Mid controls are a better way to start, in my opinion anyway.

[toad]

Fulldresser4...........just what you need. Another addiction........LOL

May you have many many blessings as you get in the wind.

[BillJ]

A Honda!?! What are you thinkin', girl?

Just kiddin'. Two wheels beat four: any brand, any day! You're gonna love it!

[TonyB]

A good friend of mine in CA used to say this to me all the time when I would roll up on my rice burner. "Hey man, at least you are on two." In the wind, is in the wind no matter how you go about doing it.
Good luck, ride safe.
TB

[recoveringnky]

Originally Posted by Fulldresser4

An older gentleman at work is bringing me his much loved Honda 360 sometime in the next few weeks. It hasn't run in a few years but DH is going to try and fix it so I can learn to ride. I am thrilled and terrified at the same time. Anyone have any experience with this bike? Is it a good starter bike? DH says I can learn to ride it at his Dad's and if I fall down it will be a short fall, LOL. I have short legs and am overly endowed in other areas so I hope I don't tip it over.

Way kewl!!! My first bike was a Yamaha 650 basket case that my dad and I put together. Such fun!! Where that bike lacked in "curb appeal" it made up for on the road...man, I could really lean some turns!! I miss her!

Today I have a Honda, yes, BillJ, a Honda Pacific Coast 800cc. It's GREAT! It's a shaft drive, liquid cooled machine that gets me every where I want to go....and doesn't look bad either!! My tastes lean towards the sport touring bike and Harley doesn't make one that suits me. Right now I'm drooling over the Honda ST1300.....man, what a beauty! Her seat height is 31 inches and that's too tall for me! I'm trying to find out if she can be lowered an inch or so.

Enjoy working on your "new to you" ride!! You'll love it!!!!! I sure did!

Ain't sobriety grand???!!!

Big hugs,
Kym

[BillJ]

Originally Posted by recoveringnky

Today I have a Honda, yes, BillJ, a Honda...

And yet, I still manage to love you. Will wonders never cease?

Hey, if you check my sig line you'll see I'm not a purist, myself. There's a hefty bit o' sauerbraten stuffed in amongst all that American pork in my garage!

[best]

Just realized something...

I have never rode a Harly. I have sat on them, even started one up (old kick start) but never rode one.
Only American Made bike I rode was the mini bike that was built in a guys back yard *LOL*
Honda, Honda and Cow A saki (that looks like a Harly)
Same wind, same 2 wheels.
Maybe my sons are right... Hey Dad when you grow up, you can own a Harly some day *LOL*

[Astro]

I'm the proud owner and rider of a Sooz-eee-Q mid-range cruiser, and my first bike was a Honda Rebel 250 that I had in the late 80's. Yep, as long as you're on two wheels and catching bugs in your teeth who cares what you're riding? Enjoy it FD4!

[Hurricane]

Some Honda models have been assembled in the US, up until the recent shutdown. I think anyway.

[Fulldresser4]

OMG, you guys are making me LMAO (which certainly can't hurt me
I am really excited. Rod said that he was bringing the Honda and a Yamaha 750 over this Sunday on his trailer that he just wants to get rid of. He says that the Honda hasn't been started in a few years, but that the only problem he ever had with it was something about a float in 1 of the 3 carborators (sp?) and it would probably need new tires. I just crack up laughing when I think about DH on the Dresser and me trailing behind in the Honda. I have been pretty spoiled riding "b**ch" for a few years now, and I do enjoy my radio and daydreaming. I wanna RACE!!!

[Jazzed_N_MD]

Originally Posted by Fulldresser4

Thanks Jazzed, how are YOU doing????

Not nearly as bad as a couple of weeks ago. Almost packed up and ran back to AZ. See the PM...

[Astro]

Originally Posted by Jazzed_N_MD

Not nearly as bad as a couple of weeks ago. Almost packed up and ran back to AZ. See the PM...

We've always got a seat for ya here Jazz! But I'm glad to hear things have improved for you.

[Rodney]

Sounds like a good deal have fun learning.
Please be sure and wear appropriate clothing when riding, even if its just around the block.
I've skinned and burned myself on the hot pipes by "not thinking" and only wearing shorts and no boots. If your going to be a biker dress the part

[Fulldresser4]

Rodney, too funny that you say that...My "biker" experience is this, and NO laughing at me...Just kidding, you can. When I was in my younger wilder days, I dated this guy that was a biker wannabee. That's how I got the fever. I had never drank until I met him, and then I started dating him and he hung out with all these "hard core bikers". I remember going to a booter party and the big attraction for the night (I was 16) was, and putting, and I quote here " a Yamazukasaki" in the literally burning bonfire and everyone was taking bets on when the fly wheel(?) would come off. When I got hooked was when I heard those , and I do NOT exaggerate here, those 100 Harleys going off for a beer run, and the rest of us passing around a gallon of homemade peppermint schnapps. Then, I met another guy who had a bike, couldn't tell you what kind to this day. He was a big guy, me only about five foot five. I know it was a Dresser. He let me "drive" even though I was wasted. I remember not remembering to put in the clutch and almost tipping us over. Thank God he was tall. But I digress. Fast forward 10 years, I was engaged to first DH (read AH, the wife and girlfriend thing just doesn't work out because the wife (me) didn't know how to play softball. Anyhow, one of ex AH's BF
s had a Fatboy. After a really long night of drinking, and believe me, I could put the boys to bed, I decided it was a good idea with a leather mini-skirt on to sit on the Fatboy. BAD idea. I still have the scar from the pipes burning my nylons into my lower leg. Lesson learned? Don't drink while sitting on a Fatboy. And Please don't worry, I always wear jeans and booter boots when riding, and I am quite sure I will do it when learning, along with bubble wrap, LoL.

[BillJ]

Originally Posted by Fulldresser4

I have been pretty spoiled riding "b**ch" for a few years now, and I do enjoy my radio and daydreaming. I wanna RACE!!!

Why not? Why should boys have all the fun?