Hello, my name is Matt about a week ago I just bought a 2011 SuperLow Sportster. Im a pritty new rider and have just been rideing around the neighborhood/town. I don't know if I am just paranoid or not, but I am a bit scared to ride around too far. I am trying to get a good feel for it, but when I'm in traffic the cars don't seem to see me and get right up on me etc. I hope I'm doing it right getting a feel before going out too far? I am excited to join the forum and hope to learn alot.

I have a Sportie, as well. I'm not 'scared' in the common sense of the word, but let's just say I'm cautious around cagers, crazy redheads and tax-and-spend liberals.

Which size is your Low?

Hey Matt Welcome to the Forum.
As for being a new rider just keep in mind its a lot easier with practice. If it is available in your area check out the MSF riders safety course. I took a long long time ago to get the discounts on my insurance, and to this day those basic lessons still keep me safe and give me the confidence to maneuver my bagger through LA traffic. We can legally split lanes here, meaning you can ride between the lanes of cars on the dotted lines and move through slower moving car traffic. It's sometimes un-nerving when an SUV with a BimBo at the wheel is yacking on the cell and isn't paying attention drifting into your space but that's just one more reason loud pipes save lives. Worst is the "you can't pass me Bit Ch" I watched her see me in the mirror and then intentionally block me by driving as far to the left of the lane as possible. Time is on my side, the cars next to me eventually space out and I can leapfrog her, but not before I punch the heated and led lit mirror off. Left it dangling by the wires as I continued on my putt.
Basic rules:
Never ride behind what you can't see around.
Always look where you want to go, not where you are going.
Hold your line all the time.
Always let someone know where you're going, if you got anybody that cares.
Always make sure you got fuel before you need it.
Never assume the road is safe around the corner.
Best of luck kid.

RK, LOL, let's not scare him/her all at once! Let's drag it out like enjoying a fine wine...

If I learned anything about motorcycling it's that patience is a good teacher, stop worrying--it does no good, getting your nose broken doesn't hurt as much as you'd think, redheads really are crazy (in a good sense of the word) and guys in general population do have lots of money and they cannot play Hearts for shiit.

Wiping your bike down daily after a jaunt is quite calming, better still with a friend, better yet with a brother. You'll hear crap about yourself, guys with small dicks gossip. You can get more with a smile and sharp knife than you can with just a smile. Buying micro-fiber cloths is a serious addiction. Do not eat high fiber cereal the day before riding on a bumpy road. Fight when you can, run when you have to.

Oh, and I have two theories on redheads, neither of which has worked for me...

Thank you all, yes I want to take that Training course this month as a wallk on as it is all full til September. And what is up about all the redhead cracks, I don't see myself as that crazy. Did mma for a bit, so not really afraid of the pain mostly screwing up my bike on a fall, unless of course it is a high speed fall then I would be worried. Thanks all

LOL. I never said they weren't fun! In fact, one of them was "my favorite mistake."

Everyone can use some additional education. For example, I've recently come to find out that there is a small "training wheel" on RK's jiffy stand. I thought all of this time he was simply riding with it in the down position...

Hey MattSuperLow,

Some good advice here. With time and practice you will get good at it, just ride safe and watch out for the other guy.

Glider

The other guy has been making me frustrated trying to practice. I just don't see why no one cares to see you riding and cut you off. I don't think I was ever like that when I drove a car, people are in their own world I guess which makes riding more challenging.

Thats not really a training wheel, I call it my crazy red head wheel, you see I put that on there some time back when I had this crazy redhead girlfriend that just loved to do it while we ride, but I kept loosing my balance during the fun. With that wheel we go to a deserted parking lot I drop it into first and then we get rolling... Those crazy red heads... whew...

When I started I use to bee line it to an empty parking lot and practice my slow speed turns. no cars and all the room you need to thread that needle.