Pan America 1250 Special with ARH as a first bike?
I’m a 28-year-old guy, about 5’10” and around 185 pounds. I’ve been interested in getting a motorcycle for a long time, but I’m still probably a few years out from actually buying one. For a long time I thought I wanted an Iron 883, but lately the Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250 Special has really been catching my attention, especially one with Adaptive Ride Height.
I’ve never owned or ridden a street bike. I’ve ridden 4 wheelers and stuff like that, but I know riding a motorcycle on the road is a whole different thing. I’m not trying to jump straight into something I can’t handle, so I’m mainly just trying to learn and get a realistic idea of the process.
For those of you who ride a Pan America 1250 Special, would it be a terrible first bike if someone took the MSF course first and got some proper practice in? Does ARH make it more manageable for a beginner at stops and low speeds, or is it still just too big, tall, and powerful for someone new? I like the idea of eventually taking the wife on some cool scenic trips, maybe doing some camping and such with the bike, which is part of why the Pan America looks so appealing.
I’m also curious how people here got started. Did you take the MSF course before buying a bike? Did you use the bike they provided, or did you already have your own? Did you start on something smaller and then move up, or did you buy the bike you actually wanted from the start?
I’d also like to hear what gear you bought first and when. Did you buy a helmet, jacket, gloves, boots, etc. before the MSF course, right after, or only once you bought your first bike? Any gear you wish you had bought earlier or skipped entirely?
I’m especially interested in hearing from people who came from no street-bike experience, or people who got into riding later rather than growing up around motorcycles.
Not looking to buy right now. Just trying to understand what the smart path looks like and whether the Pan America 1250 Special with ARH is something to keep dreaming about or something I should work up to after starting smaller.