Whew!!!! Hey I'm starting to get the message so thanks for all your considered words.

I just didn't realise riding was so much fun. God I really love it, well at this stage anyway. I reckon if I love it on a little 150 scooter I'd be in 7th heaven on a HD. I ride a cycle regularly and I'm reasonably fit for my age so health isn't an issue fortunately.

Without getting too self focused here I guess one of the reasons I asked was because 12 months seems like a long time to wait for it. I've always been impulsive and I WANT IT NOW!
We've just retired recently and bought a caravan and ordered a Toyota Landcruiser to do some 'nomading'. Spending the kid's inheritance so to speak.
I did ride my little VS 150 for a while without a license but was paranoid about being pulled over.
What I wouldn't want is to do the Harley thing and (say) get pulled over for a breath test and find myself without any license at all. Have the LC and the caravan sitting around unused.

The other thing is and this was part of the reason I asked the question in the first place, on Saturday last I took my little 150 for a run down the coast. I went up to a lookout at Coolum and when I came back down to join the highway I had to stop. The road was steep and fell away quite sharply to the left and when I stopped I almost dropped the bike due to being unbalanced. Now my little scooter is 140kg and HD's are sort of 250-350kg from what I can see so I'm wondering just how hard it is to keep that weight upright when stopping at less than desirable spots? It frightened the crap out of me on Saturday nearly losing it as I did.

Unfortunately I don't know anyone with a 'proper' bike that I could get some practice with and I really don't want to go and buy one that will be redundant in 12 months.

Better off waiting till your fully licensed before you get your HD, last thing you want is to be noticed by Mr. Plod.
Not to mention the insurance etc............
P.s. the Sporty is a great starting point, It'll still out handle and out brake the bigger Harley's.

Most blokes manage to keep their bikes the right way up most of the time, so it can't be too hard, can it?!

I think there's always gonna be some chance a bloke will make a mistake/miscalculation/poor choice at some stage and drop it, but that's just part of it. I've only done it twice so far, touch wood.

You'll be riding that little scoot for a while yet, getting the one thing that's really gonna help the most....experience!! Just look out for the all too common idiots in cars......

I used to ride a Moto Guzzi Norge... it was silver, had a big vibrating air cooled twin motor (although sideways) had a pair of panniers on the back and a screen on the front (sort of sounds like an italian version of my Switchback Harley doesn't it).

The Norge GT and the Harley Switchback weigh about the same amount, in fact the Harley is actually a few kg heavier but I dropped the Guzzi twice in 2 years because my right kneed is stuffed and my leg strength isn't what it used to be and the Guzzi carries it's weight up high.

The Harley on the other hand is lower and the weight sits lower so it's not near as top heavy as the Guzzi was.

The Switchback let me keep riding a full size bike (even with my short arse legs and increasing age) when I was thinking about going back to a lighter mid size bike (which I didn't want to do... and yeah I'm waiting for the " it's not full size bike it's a 'road queen' comments"  LOL).

So don't let the weight of a Harley scare you... they are easier to manage at low speed than they seem at first glance and it doesn't matter much once you're moving.

OK, I think I can see what was going on when I almost dropped the scooter. I've noticed that when I stop and throw my left leg out to balance the bike I need to stretch a tad (vertically challenged). I measured the seat height from the ground just then on the scooter and it comes in at over 750 mm (75cm). I note that most HD's seat height is 100mm or more lower than the scooter so it obviously provides more and muscle power to stabilise weight upright. (I think)

There are a few things happening when you try and balance a bike and they interact...

Leg length is obviously an issue, if you can flat foot a bike on both sides then you can apply full leg strength to the process if needed (it won't be unless something goes wrong).

How high above the ground the centre of gravity of the bike is, if it's higher then it's harder to balance generally.

How much total weight there is, if it's more it's harder to balance (other things being equal).

How centralized the weight is, if it's a fair way forward then it can be harder.

Technique and skill set, practice helps and you'll get better over time.

Hi Mate go for it i'm 65 still rideing and i reckin it keeps me going

just watch out for those F==K==S in landcruisers towing caravans.

Crookneez, a couple of years ago I saw a 250 Suzuki cruiser in the street and decided it would be a neat toy for just hooning around occasionally. I'd had a licence 36 years before but never used it. I got in just before the laws changed and was able to do the tests and go straight onto an unrestricted licence without really having a clue. Bought a very battered Kawasaki 250 cruiser, got over it in a few months, then a HD Iron (883 Sportster) and dropped it the first time I rode it, then a few months later the Fatboy I have now which I've never looked like dropping in two years.

I'm 63 now and can't begin to tell you how it has improved my life at every level. When people ask my wife why she lets me do it she says it's because I'm at my happiest on the bike. 

And I can assure you people look at you with new eyes when they hear you ride a HD. 

Ive settled with what I want now, just local riding and taking it easy. I'm not in a hurry to break any bones and bad luck aside, at this age you're not going to be trying to break any speed records so it's pretty safe.

A long post...but you can see why. This is the best decision you've make in a long time and you won't regret it. Only thing is I'm a bit startled that you think your age is somehow old. When the heck did that happen? Youll feel twenty years younger on that HD!

Hunter S Thompson said: the secret of life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out shouting "Holy s**t, what a ride". 

TIP: wear a full face helmet so the cute girls assume you are a young stud. Works for me! 

crookneez...my mate, who has turned 70, bought himself a Fatboy when he was 69. We have done some great rides together, including over nighters. I enjoy my HD every week....even at 65. (F*ck...I became a pensioner this year. Time flys while your having fun).

Mate just buy it and be happy, i actually dropped my 2012 bob i have a bad knee and came to a giveway and was about to take of and then a car comes flying thru so i hard braked and the left leg was a little slow to get down and when it did i put it on sand so she slipped a little and the bike just laid down for a rest. Picked her up and rode on shit happens i kept worrying fuck what if i keep dropping her and did! Now i don't worry and the more i ride it the better i get just make sure im getn the leg down faster and not on sand.

Cheers mate

 Hey crookneez,

Dont worry about the age thing, go buy the best blingiest one ya can, and just remember that theres allways PLAN B.

You can allways park it in ya lougeroom, extend the exhaust pipe out through the window and facing the old prick in the retirement unit next to you, and whilst smoking cockcroaches through your water pipe, rev the beast as hard as you can, Do this when your family come around annoying the crap out of you as well, They just think gramps has lost his marbles again, but at least it gets rid of em stops the pricks wanting to discuss your will.

 In fact, I dont know the old prick livinig next door to you, but theres allways an old prick living next door to someone .Actualy, where i live, im the old prick living next door to someone.

Well as an older rider myself (50+) I say F@#$ em,
The one thing my neighbors can always tell me is what time I got home, what nights I couldn't sleep and how long I went out for.
In fact at any street parties they delight in telling me, better than neighbourhood watch some of em.

Only ever had one complaint and this was from a guy who had a 67 corvette that was garaged right outside my bedroom window.
I simply advised him to grab a cup, get off his arse and actually take the corvette out for a spin. Not sure why but they moved.
The new neighbors are great, I don't even have to speak to em.

I like my neighbors at the back of me the best, its a bush park.

One of the guys I ride with from QLD is in his 70's and still rides a rigid panhead. Its never too late just be carefull, as we get older we don't heal so quick.

Ride Safe
Nigel

Hi Crookneez.,

I'm 58, spring chicken hehe.

I've got Crook knees, crook hip and 2 crook ankles but still ride.

Remember to always go the high side when your puting a leg down and you'll be fine.

If you have a crook ankle or knee etc, put a support on before you go on a ride.

I just bought a bike unseen and its sweet as.

Only prob is my feet only just make the forward controls.

Getting pains in parts I never new I had, but I'm learning to know the bike.

Mind you, I only got it yesterday, lifes an adventure mate, have fun.

 

Exactly mate.

If the drop off is too far, go the other way.

If you put your leg down where the road is falling away, you will bring the bike with you as you descend and it will land on top of you.

I've never had a High Side problem bro and I do 250ks peak hour per week in Sydney.

Plus I have "Duck" syndrome, meaning my arse is clost to the ground.

When you get your Black license, get the Harley and join Ullysees or some other Harley club close to you that Cruises.

You'll love it mate.

Cheers

Did anyone mention that it's worth the money just to have it in the shed to ogle at?.... or is that just me?!?!

...and chicks love Harleys.

 OK thanks guys. I'm as definite about doing the HD thing as one can be that needs to wait 12 months before I can ride it.

At the moment my bike of choice based on 1) Reviews 2) Price and 3) Looks (according to the pics on the HD site) is the HD Sportster 1200 Custom.

Is this how the STANDARD Sportster 1200 Custom comes in Aus for around $18,000?

T

 That's the one! Fantastic. And the custom has a bigger fuel tank which is very handy compared the the peanut tank on the 883 which is a HD classic but you'll be filling up every 160k s. one good thing about the peanut tank is that when you ride you won't have to worry about fuel because the ones with that little tank are always looking for petrol stations LOL.

You'd probably find the seat height is a little lower on a softy.....although I'm not really up with Harleys made in this century...