I've had a few bikes in my life - Started with various Mini Bikes / Suzuki TC 125 / Honda XL 125 / Yamaha DT 125 / Kawasaki S2 350 Triple / Kawasaki KDX 450 / Honda CB 750F Supersport / Yamaha FZ 750. I worked on them all and rode them hard. The folks in town can tell you about a chase that involved a CB 750F and police from 3 municipalities and the State of Massachusetts, uh, but that wasn't me.... :-) I now have a '75 Shovel (FLHP) that, despite needing some attention now and then, is my all time favorite to ride. I am currently restoring a sidecar for it so Marty and I can ride together this summer (a whole new dynamic... see below).

I had never taken a riding course, my thoughts were that I have been cranking a throttle since I was a kid, what are these guys going to teach me ???? But, in order to get my endorsement in NJ, I had to take a course. It was the best class I have ever taken. They provided the bikes (450cc - I recommend the course you take does this also) and it was several days of class and riding but by the time we had finished I had a whole new appreciation for it. Believe it or not, I can whip that Shovelhead around like it was a bicycle and some of that was learned in that class. You will also learn dynamics that get applied every time you ride, and that most people don't understand. Matter of fact, I have argued counter steer with people that have ridden for many years and try to pass themselves off as the end all be all's of motorcycles. They apply it whenever they take a corner, but they won't believe you when you explain to them how it works. Understanding things like this makes you a better rider, believe it.

Is the course worth it, absolutely ! Even people that have ridden a long time learn something. If nothing else and your lucky, you learn to get rid of the bad habits ! It is also a blast flying around a big parking lot with someone elses motorcycle, trying to see how far you can go with it before the limit is reached !

TAKE THE COURSE ! If you don't, you can only ride behind me, and with the pipes I have, you're not going to like that :-) Unless of course you appreciate the sound a Shovelhead makes and then you'll be in heaven...