To some, a row of motorcycles looks like a sea of homogeneous, indistinguishable machines. But to riders, enthusiasts, and hopefuls, motorcycles come in all different shapes, sizes, and flavors. But not every variety of motorcycle is right for a new rider. So, just how difficult is it for a new motorcyclist to ride a Harley-Davidson? Are the MoCo’s bikes too much for an unseasoned rider? 

A Harley-Davidson cruiser might not have the reputation for being difficult to ride, but it could be a handful for a new rider

I grew up with high-revving Japanese and Italian motorcycles lining my dad’s garage. And dear ol’ dad had opinions about Harley-Davidson. While he appreciated (and wanted) a handful of the Bar & Shield’s bikes, he would repeat a cheeky nickname he had heard riding with his motorcycle buddies over the years. “Harley-Davidson? More like Hardly-Dangerous!” While it’s a silly moniker, it’s not necessarily true for every rider.

In short, a Harley-Davidson is no more difficult to ride than other types of motorcycles. But the sheer mass and dimensions of a fully-laden Road Glide Limited and its 932-lb wet weight might not be the best idea for a new rider. And granted, while older twin-cam and Evolution Harley-Davidsons aren’t teeming with horsepower, a newer model with a 117-cubic-inch Milwaukee-Eight V-Twin can produce 128 lb-ft of torque. That’s pretty thrusty.   

New riders make mistakes. They, for instance, nose into a parking spot facing a curb downhill with no room to maneuver. Big mistake for a bike weighing nearly 1,000 lbs. Worse yet, riders who get too confident too quickly might find that a large Harley-Davidson with floorboards or a shallow lean angle will run out of room to maneuver. And that could mean running off the road. Not exactly ideal.  

So can a new rider ride a Harley-Davidson? Or should they seek a different bike?

Put simply, a smaller, cheaper motorcycle is always a better bet for a new rider. But that doesn’t remove a Harley-Davidson from the realm of possibility. A cash-sale Harley-Davidson Sportster 1200 or Dyna could be an excellent first motorcycle for a new rider. With a caveat, of course.

Specifically, new riders should seek training early in their riding experiences, whether they want to ride a Harley-Davidson or any other bike. For instance, the Harley-Davidson Riding Academy or another Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) Basic RiderCourse can teach new riders good habits right from the start. Better yet, graduates may be able to earn their license or motorcycle endorsement just by completing the course.