GL1200 GOLDWINGS

I want to learn how to ride on a goldwing everybody keep telling me that a wing is to big for a starter bike I have decided not to buy a new 1800 but will buy a used 1200 please give me your opinions.

I highly recommend a driver training course, either MSF or CSC, depending on where you live. It will give you the basics and help build your confidence. A Wing will feel comfortable very quickly. There is a certain amount of mental adjustment to having a fairing in front of you instead of a bare bike but it comes quickly. Try to ride with friends for a while until you are comfortable.

Enjoy!!!

I'll second the recommendation to take a training course. They are reasonable and if you learn one thing that will save your butt then it's worth it. Most programs supply the bike so you will get to learn on something more manageable.

I'll third the riding course recommendation. If you're first-timer, a 'Wing would be a wee bit too big as a starter in my opinion.

Welcome to the site, by the way!

Welcome to the Site!!

The rider's course everyone's talked about is definitly the way to go especialy the ones that will supply the bike for you to learn on. Also keep in mind that the GL1200 has a smaller engine size than GL1800, it is NOT a smaller lighter bike by any means!! I believe the both bikes weigh roughly the same with the 1200 being a touch more top heavy than the 1800. Still, a fantastic ride once you get used to her!!

Good luck!!

Welcome to the Site coltrane. I would say take the riders course for sure no matter what bike you start with. I think that the GL1200 is one of the best bikes ever made and I wouldn't trade mine for anything but it is a big bike to learn on. You would not be the first person to learn to ride on a wing but it is a lot of bike for a first time rider.

I think a 1200 is too big for a first bike. It's big and heavy and requires some experience to have it under control all of the time. As has been said, not that it can't be done, but why set yourself up for a potential failure.

It's just my opinion, but that's what you asked for. I set my son up with a CX500 to learn on even though he could use my gl1000 for this very reason.

Ride safe

After 10 years of not riding, my first bike was a VT 700. I quickly out grew the bike, but the experience I gained was invaluable. I should have kept it for short rides around town. There was an adjustment to The Lady( 87 Aspi) , but I definitely needed the experience on a smaller bike. Since I acquired The Lady, I have had the opportunity ride several other bikes. Nothing rides like a wing. I recommend getting the wing and a smaller bike to learn on. You will appreciate the smaller bike around town, especially in metro ATL.

I got back into riding after a long spell of no motorcycle...17 years I think. Anyway I got my 1200 from my Dad and had no real problem re-learning how to ride. Yes the 1200 is a large bike, but it is easy to ride and quite forgiving. I passed my riding test first try after only a couple of months on my permit. Coltrane, do what you are comfortable with and take the rider's course I don't think you'll regret it.

Having little background info makes this is a tough thing to advise on... Have you ever ridden a motorcycle.?? If not, then I would not suggest you obtain any street bike without obtaining some ride time first... As stated above, there are many training courses you can get into that supply the bike... Depending on how well you do should give you a much better idea as to where you stand... This will be a most valuable experience in your choice of bikes...
As for me and my opinion goes, learning to ride a motorcycle on the streets is a very dangerous way to go about it... I strongly feel that learning the mechanics of riding needs to be obtained in a place that vehicle traffic is not an issue... As for my kids, they will learn to ride in the dirt before any talk of street riding is entertained... If they dump it in the dirt, they are likely to survive the incident... Dumping on the street is not nearly as survivable, or at least it is much more likely to involve hospital time...
I feel to be reasonably safe riding in traffic, you first need to have instinctive reactions to events that occur (other drivers not paying attention)... Much of the time you are not awarded the time it takes to think about what needs to happen in order to avoid a wreck...
I get a feeling from your post that you have a strong case of the “I wants a’s” that many be clouding your better judgment… Just my two cents worth….

You might be wise to join a local chapter of GWRRA and then ask the chapter director where and when the driving courses will take place. If you need more info on GWRRA or you want me to send you a membership form just drop me a note.

coltrane Wrote:I want to learn how to ride on a goldwing everybody keep telling me that a wing is to big for a starter bike I have decided not to buy a new 1800 but will buy a used 1200 please give me your opinions.

And now, from a Woman's point of view :mrgreen:
I took my drivers test on a 650 Benelli back in the mid 70's. Road brothers dirt bikes growing up around horses and cranberry bogs. Married, 2 children, bought 1 1986GL1200I off the showroom floor in July 1987. Decided I didn't like riding on the back any more and found my "Lady"; Wineberry 1986 GL1200I in March of 1988 with 3500 miles. I took the Riders course 3 months later and practiced, practiced, practiced. What a thrill riding that "Lady". Every 3 years I take the Experienced Riders Course and ride, and ride, and ride. The "Lady" and I have rode 145,000+ miles together. Raised 2 kids on the back of those Wings. Now, I am riding the granddaughter so she can have the thrills and adventures of what this country has to offer in beautiful countryside roads as her mother did years ago.

I say "Go For It".
Oh, forgot to mention, I am 5'6" and 130 lbs and still have my "Lady" today! 8)

Here's my two cents.

Having never ridden a street legal bike before I also had many veterans that I should get the training course AND start on a smaller bike. My experience was limited to a honda trail-90 when I was young and maybe had 100 hours on, then a Aermacchi-HD SX 75 dirt bike in my late teens or early 20s that I might have put 20 hours on during a couple deer seasons. All off-road but atleast I felt as if I was familiar with two wheels and a motor. None the less I don't really think any of it was a reasonable substitute to real street experience.

After searching for several weeks I began to home in on several 1200s and given everything I've read about them I was "stubborn" to the point that this was going to be the bike I re-started with.

My dad was also concerned and hed had recently purchased a 250cc scooter so we went to a local parking lot and did a lot of riding around there, maybe 2 hours, to help ease his fears about his grown up son getting on a big bike.

I was fortunate enough that the wing I purchased was driven home by the PO and I was able to garage it and do some general maintenance on it first. Within a few days I got my learners permit and took to going to local parking lots and practicing for the test. I setup what I believed to be the test course and my dad and I practiced running through it. Him on his scooter and me on the wing. Needless to say the training course we set up put a big dent in my confidence and I couldn't navigate the cones to save my life. Little did I know I had the cones way too close together. After getting the proper measurements I ran through the course some more and much to my satisfaction I was able to safely navigate the course. Early on I stuck to open, straight interstate for short drives to increase my confidence. To and from work mostly. Yeah, I did some pretty dumb stuff to start with, like braking with the front brake when coming up to a stop sign while turning out of a parking lot. The wing got sucked down like a giant magnet just turned on under it After several months of the easy stuff I felt confident enough to start going on smaller winding roads.

With that said, I'm not going to disagree a whole lot with anyone. It definitely depends on your experience level, age, and willingness to pick up an 800lb bike from it's side A course would be great and would certainly help with confidence and catching "bad" things you might try to do. I'm also not going to bad-mouth the Harley courses, but I would read up on the MSF vs the Harley course and see which suits you based on reviews.

As it stands now I'm completely comfortable with leaning hard enough to scrape the running boards but I'm sensible enough not to do it in unknown corners or when conditions arent favorable. The biggest thing that still scares me is inattentive cages and intersections. I know that wing is capable of stopping on a dime as I've praticed that a lot but no-matter how good we are there's still a cage out there somewhere who's eventually gonna try to kill us.

So, do what feels right and sensible for you. If you have no experience I definitely feel like everyone else is right.

bob NE In. Wrote:By your own admission,you started out on a 650 Benelli. You did not "learn how to ride on a goldwing".
I don't think commercial pilots "learn to fly in a 747".
An 800 lb. bike doesn't come with training wheels...and I sure wouldn't feel right about encouraging a beginner to start with one.

By my own admission, I took my test on a borrowed 650 Benelli, an Italian bike with the clutch, throttle, shifters, and brakes on opposite sides of American bikes. In reality, I learned how to ride growing up riding brothers dirt bike. And I also said when I got my Wing, I practiced, practiced, practiced. At another time in my life, I became a certified MSF Instructor of both beginners and experienced riders, because I asked, and someone said "Go for it!". Am a member of the over "100,000 accident-free miles" rider, and also stated I continue to sharpen my skills by enrolling in the Riders course every 3 years.
So, does it make a difference of what size car I learned to drive through the driving school before I bought my own? ie: 6 cylinder vs. 8 cylinder; 2 door vs. 4 door; automatic vs.manual transmission.

Why not? As I said before, "Go For It"!