Who on here bikes?
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From: IN DAT CALI LIFE
Found this in another thread. Pretty good read. Answered all the questions I had.
https://my350z.com/forum/motorcycles...irst-bike.html
https://my350z.com/forum/motorcycles...irst-bike.html
got this off of www.gixxer.com. Quoted the entire thing. Very true and realistic for new riders...thought this would belong in here for those looking into getting their licence and the first bike.
http://www.gixxer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=47265
If you want to ask about an "r" bike as a first bike PLEASE do not post ANOTHER new thread about it, just read this, and ask a question, myself or someone else will be glad to answer your questions.
I've been seeing a lot of posts in this forum lately asking about success stories for "R" bikes, and "Im new but I got a gsx-r 1000, is this okay?"... "Is it okay to buy a gsx-r 600 as a first bike"
No. Plain and simple. The stickies in this forum offer you a wealth of information on why this is a bad choice. If you don't feel like reading them, lets break it down for you.
1.) Speed: I'm starting with this one because it's the most popular. Even a gsx-r 600 will out-accelerate, out-turn, and out-brake all but the most heavily modified sports cars (we aren't talking civic here, we're talking like modified corvette, or a modified viper, or maybe a 700hp streetcar). I hear many people saying they may get bored on these bikes. You won't get bored, ever. And it is very difficult to master these bikes by learning on them, they are just too much bike.
2.) Brakes: The brakes on any R bike are race-type brakes. They are made for setting up into corners while travelling very fast. This means, on the street, when you grab even a little bit of brake (as a new rider you make mistakes) you will lock up the wheels. Hope you enjoyed the ride, because it's over.
3.) Throttle: I hear people saying if they are responsible and control the throttle, they will be okay. They will only turn it a quarter turn... Hate to tell you, but a quarter turn is almost if not all the way full-throttle. We are talking 1/16ths of a turn or less for regular acceleration. You have to literally turn this thing by quarter centimeters if you dont want to accelerate hard.
4.) Cost: Insurance, initial investment, and repairs. SVS Posted something about one right-side lower fairing being ~450$. This means you can spend upwards of 1500$ for a low-speed crash. Imagine what happens when you highside and need to replace fairings, clutch/brake lever, bar-ends, etc etc.
5.) Responsiveness: The clip-ons ("handlebars") have a very very limited range of motion compared to what you are used to (if you ride dirt, atv, bicycle, etc). They travel a VERY short arc. This, in turn, means that R-type bikes respond to millimeters in inputs. They are designed to do EXACTLY what they are told, and if you are telling it to do something wrong, it will do it, and it can kill you. These bikes are made to be very nimble with a small input to the clip-ons.
6.) Learning: It is so much easier to learn on a slower bike. You can learn position, throttle control, clutch control, shifting techniques, emergency control situations, collision avoidance, and turn control. On an R bike, you will be watching the throttle, the brakes, and the input you are giving to the bike. You won't be able to leave that as second nature and learn how to whip that bike around.
In conclusion, it doesn't matter if you have ridden dirt for 10 years (I rode dirt for 8 years before I got my first bike; and it is TOTALLY different) or have driven the lingelfelter corvette to taiwan and back. You don't have enough experience for sport bike riding. They are just too powerful. You are not going to be able to deal with it, and you will be a worse rider than you could have been. Everyone thinks they are the exception, you aren't.. Believe me.. If anyone is the exception, they are already professional racers.
I hope I can sway some of you, I know you will do what you want in the end, but know that you are making a big mistake, one that may cost you your life.
http://www.gixxer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=47265
If you want to ask about an "r" bike as a first bike PLEASE do not post ANOTHER new thread about it, just read this, and ask a question, myself or someone else will be glad to answer your questions.
I've been seeing a lot of posts in this forum lately asking about success stories for "R" bikes, and "Im new but I got a gsx-r 1000, is this okay?"... "Is it okay to buy a gsx-r 600 as a first bike"
No. Plain and simple. The stickies in this forum offer you a wealth of information on why this is a bad choice. If you don't feel like reading them, lets break it down for you.
1.) Speed: I'm starting with this one because it's the most popular. Even a gsx-r 600 will out-accelerate, out-turn, and out-brake all but the most heavily modified sports cars (we aren't talking civic here, we're talking like modified corvette, or a modified viper, or maybe a 700hp streetcar). I hear many people saying they may get bored on these bikes. You won't get bored, ever. And it is very difficult to master these bikes by learning on them, they are just too much bike.
2.) Brakes: The brakes on any R bike are race-type brakes. They are made for setting up into corners while travelling very fast. This means, on the street, when you grab even a little bit of brake (as a new rider you make mistakes) you will lock up the wheels. Hope you enjoyed the ride, because it's over.
3.) Throttle: I hear people saying if they are responsible and control the throttle, they will be okay. They will only turn it a quarter turn... Hate to tell you, but a quarter turn is almost if not all the way full-throttle. We are talking 1/16ths of a turn or less for regular acceleration. You have to literally turn this thing by quarter centimeters if you dont want to accelerate hard.
4.) Cost: Insurance, initial investment, and repairs. SVS Posted something about one right-side lower fairing being ~450$. This means you can spend upwards of 1500$ for a low-speed crash. Imagine what happens when you highside and need to replace fairings, clutch/brake lever, bar-ends, etc etc.
5.) Responsiveness: The clip-ons ("handlebars") have a very very limited range of motion compared to what you are used to (if you ride dirt, atv, bicycle, etc). They travel a VERY short arc. This, in turn, means that R-type bikes respond to millimeters in inputs. They are designed to do EXACTLY what they are told, and if you are telling it to do something wrong, it will do it, and it can kill you. These bikes are made to be very nimble with a small input to the clip-ons.
6.) Learning: It is so much easier to learn on a slower bike. You can learn position, throttle control, clutch control, shifting techniques, emergency control situations, collision avoidance, and turn control. On an R bike, you will be watching the throttle, the brakes, and the input you are giving to the bike. You won't be able to leave that as second nature and learn how to whip that bike around.
In conclusion, it doesn't matter if you have ridden dirt for 10 years (I rode dirt for 8 years before I got my first bike; and it is TOTALLY different) or have driven the lingelfelter corvette to taiwan and back. You don't have enough experience for sport bike riding. They are just too powerful. You are not going to be able to deal with it, and you will be a worse rider than you could have been. Everyone thinks they are the exception, you aren't.. Believe me.. If anyone is the exception, they are already professional racers.
I hope I can sway some of you, I know you will do what you want in the end, but know that you are making a big mistake, one that may cost you your life.
Not really true. Me and most of my friends started on 600 SS bikes. I never had a problem leaning the bike over or keeping up at the track. The learning curve is based on you, not the bike
To the OP dont get the 1000, stay with a 600. Learn throttle control and you should be ok. Also for the first few months do allot of riding by yourself. That way you dont push yourself too soon trying to keep up with others.
To the OP dont get the 1000, stay with a 600. Learn throttle control and you should be ok. Also for the first few months do allot of riding by yourself. That way you dont push yourself too soon trying to keep up with others.
Do you seriously think a 16 yr old with karting skills could drive a ZR1 just as good as his Cavalier? In the SS case we have adults making bad decision sby choosing bikes that look good over what they should be riding. You are an exception
Learning curve is based on you and your machine.
Do you seriously think a 16 yr old with karting skills could drive a ZR1 just as good as his Cavalier? In the SS case we have adults making bad decision sby choosing bikes that look good over what they should be riding. You are an exception
Do you seriously think a 16 yr old with karting skills could drive a ZR1 just as good as his Cavalier? In the SS case we have adults making bad decision sby choosing bikes that look good over what they should be riding. You are an exception
Headed up to the dealer to check this out after work --> http://www.atlanticcycle.com/new_veh...ModelYear=2009
Alberto
Why couldnt he if he praticed? Problem is young kids do not have CONTROL. Thats what gets you in trouble. True you are driving a faster machine but with control it can be learned. Do you know how old nicky haden was when he started riding for the honda factory team? 17. Age is not a factor in comparing skill, to a degree. Now im not talking about some extreme age like a 5 yr old or a 90 yr old.
Why couldnt he if he praticed? Problem is young kids do not have CONTROL. Thats what gets you in trouble. True you are driving a faster machine but with control it can be learned. Do you know how old nicky haden was when he started riding for the honda factory team? 17. Age is not a factor in comparing skill, to a degree. Now im not talking about some extreme age like a 5 yr old or a 90 yr old.
Even if they do have practice, it doesn't matter. 16 year olds clearly do not have the same judgment as a 20 year old does as a 25 year old does.
The chances of the 16 year old doing something stupid, even if they can easily drive the car are still very high. The likely hood of him screwing around and showing off to friends or other random nice cars is MUCH higher then of an older person.
Either way, it's not my life, anyone can get anything they want. As long as they dont hurt or kill anyone I know.
As to Nicky Haden, we're talking about a TRACK, not street. My insurance guy is a track instructor, he refuses to ride on the street, I grew up with Travis Pastrana, I asked him a few years back when he was going to get a GSX-R, he said are you crazy? do you know the odds of crashing and getting hurt on the street?
In Europe some kids start racing mini bikes at a super young age, like 5. that doesn't mean at the age of 16 even if they're the best damn riders out there, that they will have the maturity level to ride on the street.
Tracks = going all out, you can do what you want to do. street = having to play by the rules, screw around too much and you're dead. either from a guardrail, tree, or another car.
Last edited by jeffie7; Jun 21, 2009 at 07:01 PM.
^^ Cant guess at what age people get judgment. Some its 15 so it 50. How does pratice not matter? Some people are born with higher levels of skill and judgment.
All I am saying is that people on here are free to do as they wish. But members cannot assume that because the majority of people shouldnt do something at certain ages, that everyone is the same. Many feel that RR bikes are not good for there first bike. Me and others have had RR as first bikes and have not had any issues on the street or track. Thats all I was stating to alberto when I started this conversation. As far as you jumping in, sure why not.
All I am saying is that people on here are free to do as they wish. But members cannot assume that because the majority of people shouldnt do something at certain ages, that everyone is the same. Many feel that RR bikes are not good for there first bike. Me and others have had RR as first bikes and have not had any issues on the street or track. Thats all I was stating to alberto when I started this conversation. As far as you jumping in, sure why not.
I agree, people should be free to do anything they want. However, its nice to at least let people know the truth. Almost everyone who starts on a RR style bike as a first bike WILL go down. The chances of a 16 year old in a vette crashing is VERY high.
Does that mean no 16 year old can do it? no, it means your AVG 16 year old will have issues.
There's always exceptions to the rules. however, for most people....
Almost bought the Kawi 250R on Saturday but the dealer wouldn't budge on $4,740. I tried to get him to throw in 2 helmets at that price but he wouldn't. It took a while for me to even get him down to that price. The first price he came out with was around $5,450. I laughed when he told me that. MSRP is $3,999. Oh well, I'll check out Coleman Powersports when I get a chance.
Almost bought the Kawi 250R on Saturday but the dealer wouldn't budge on $4,740. I tried to get him to throw in 2 helmets at that price but he wouldn't. It took a while for me to even get him down to that price. The first price he came out with was around $5,450. I laughed when he told me that. MSRP is $3,999. Oh well, I'll check out Coleman Powersports when I get a chance.
The bike is a stepping stone, spending 5K on a 250..... it just seems crazy. That bike will be the big buy/lean/sale bike so the value is going to tank.
As of right now the new body style is cool and harder to find, give it a year.....
market will be flooded with people moving up.
I'd never spend over $2000 for a 250, no matter how new it is.
P.S that house is still for rent, I think its one hell of a deal. A guy directly across from it has an SV1000....
just sayin...
Last edited by jeffie7; Jun 22, 2009 at 01:03 PM.
IMO the learning curve is directly related to how scared of crashing you are. If you have no fear of going down, you will always be ready to push it. Have a closecall or two and finding the limits of your bike becomes much less appealing. Either that or have to drive a friend to the hospital after they wreck and you may get some perspective as well.
A 250cc seems too small, may as well just get a 50cc. A 400cc seems about right to learn what you want. I learned on a 250cc and it was a huge jump to the 600cc FZR I stepped up to. Besides, if you lay the bike over, it all hurts the same, it just costs less to fix the bike.
A 250cc seems too small, may as well just get a 50cc. A 400cc seems about right to learn what you want. I learned on a 250cc and it was a huge jump to the 600cc FZR I stepped up to. Besides, if you lay the bike over, it all hurts the same, it just costs less to fix the bike.
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