If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above.
You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed.
To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.
General SportbikesThis area is made for sportbikes in general. Posts that dont really belong anywhere else besides here. Questions can be answered and addressed to fully understand certain aspects. If your question is Manufacturer specific please post it there.
Sponsored By SoloMotoParts
How Many People here’s first bike was a 600cc or larger??
I got opinion from those who started on a smaller bike, but what about the people on here that started on bikes over 600cc. let me get your opinion on it as a first experience.
__________________
In life, you only need two tools - WD-40 and Duct tape.
If it doesn't move but should, use the WD-40.
If it shouldn't move and does, use the duct tape.
Quote:
Originally Posted by doggy69
Why is it that people jump on people assuming its their first bike...because they just joined the forum....maybe they just want to converse and ask questions...people can ride for eternity without coming here for our infinite wisdom
Quote:
Originally Posted by R.Brosnan
It's better to learn on a 250 for all the same reasons that experts can make a 600 do so much more. The design compromises that make a sportbike so responsive in the hands of an expert also make it amplify the mistakes of a beginner.
'91 zx750, fat as a pig, but stable in the corners, rode it for less than 3k miles. moved to a z1000('04) after the zx7 was stolen. logged 14k miles on the z1000 in the past 11 months and i love it. it is tuned for the street, but still has gobs of power, and isn't as painful as the SS's.
*Raises hand* I started on my FZR 600 5 years ago, and still rock it. I've learned more then I could have imagined about riding, and sportbikes in general, from that machine.
__________________ I have 600cc between my legs, what could you possibly have to offer me?
After lots of dirtbike experience (was helpful to me)...the first street bike I learned on was a ZRX1100. Heavy, lots of power, but I just took things slow and respected the machine.
Posts: 796
Casino Cash: $33537
Sportbike: What's not to like about Naked Twins?
started on my huge 1993 katana 750. if i could do it all again, i'd have gotten a 250 or 500 -- i just couldn't find any when i purchased and noone had really told me to start super small, so i just got what i could afford/find and took it really slow.
it's super heavy, and has been running on 3 cylinders for an unknown amount of time, so basically it was heavy and slow, but stable for long rides on the windy (as in twisting) backroads, not really good for twisties...
my girlfriend just started, and has a '97 ninja 250 that i've been blasting around on, and it's hilarious and awesome. i wish i could've started on it
My first street bike was my Busa, and I had no problems. Here's my take on the subject:
There's three mistakes from which you'll go down - newbie mistakes, stupid mistakes and general mistakes. Newbie mistakes are low speed screwups like grabbing a handful of front brakes in a turn, running too wide in a turn, panicking, freezing up, etc. I had prior experience with dirt bikes, so I was mindful but not too worried about these.
Stupid mistakes include all forms of pushing the limits too far - entering turns too fast, excessive speed, showing off - wheelies, burnouts, etc. I was past my testosterone stupid years, and never was one to show off, so I wasn't worried here.
General mistakes are things like not being mindful of your margin of safety - following too closely to other traffic, not anticipating unexpected moves from other people on the road, etc. I had 15+ years experience driving without a single accident (well, there was one time in my testosterone stupid years I spun my father's 'Vette off the road, but I credit that for giving me a healthy respect for high performance vehicles), so in general, I was OK with the general mistakes.
People will give all kinds of reasons to start small - upgrading gives you something to look forward to. Ok, I'll buy that.
Hit a pothole on a powerful bike and you'll instantly be catapulted to 186 miles an hour. Unlikely, and throttle response can easily be tamed by a higher gear and keeping the RPMs low.
You'll learn faster on a smaller bike. Maybe, maybe not. It wasn't a race, I was in no rush to learn fast, I had no expectations of being the next Rossi or Hayden, and there's something to be said about taking your time and learning something well as opposed to fast.
So there's my $1.50's worth. Would I recommend hopping on a big bike? Not necessarily. Am I endorsing the idea of starting on a big bike? Not at all. Are you generally safer on a smaller bike? Absolutely. But if someone's intelligent and mature, they can start on anything. The hard part is knowing whether or not you're intelligent and mature - because the lack of either makes you think you have both in abundance.
First bike was my 06 zx6r. Second bike is my 06 650R. The 650R is so much fun I wish I started with it instead of the 6R. Next bike will probably be a z1000 or a tiger.
You'll learn faster on a smaller bike. Maybe, maybe not. It wasn't a race, I was in no rush to learn fast, I had no expectations of being the next Rossi or Hayden, and there's something to be said about taking your time and learning something well as opposed to fast.
User Name, you can justify all day about starting on a bigger bike, but the simple fact is that you WILL learn faster on a smaller, slower bike. It has been stated and restated and proven time and again.
I started on a CBR600F2 in 1994. It was a poor learning platform then. At that time a CBR900RR was not a beginner's bike and EVERYBODY with an ounce of sense knew it. Any 600SS from the last 3 years will SPANK a 1994 CBR900RR. What screams 'learners bike' about that type of motorcycle?
edit: Someone pointed out to me that I may not be clear - a CBR900RR is NOT a good motorcycle to learn on.
Quote:
So there's my $1.50's worth. Would I recommend hopping on a big bike? Not necessarily. Am I endorsing the idea of starting on a big bike? Not at all. Are you generally safer on a smaller bike? Absolutely. But if someone's intelligent and mature, they can start on anything. The hard part is knowing whether or not you're intelligent and mature - because the lack of either makes you think you have both in abundance.
Maturity has nothing to do with your ability to start on a big bike. As a new rider, you have NO ability. The fact that many returning and new riders over 40 are starting out on big bikes and crashing them at a rate that is second only to the new rider 18-25 on 600cc and larger machines, speaks volumes about how much maturity aids in your ability to properly control and handle a powerful motorcycle.
When people with millions of miles of experience total tell you starting on a big bike is a bad idea and you do it anyway, it strikes me that you really aren't mature. Someone who is mature will listen to others with knowledge and experience in a given area.
This does not mean that you cannot start on any motorcycle. However, the more powerful/heavy/twitchy a bike you start on, the greater the chances of you making a newbie mistake and crashing it.
All we can do is provide insight and information. Ultimately the choice is yours.
Last edited by lemosley01 : 06-11-2007 at 08:44 PM.
This area is made for sportbikes in general. Posts that dont really belong anywhere else besides here. Questions can be answered and addressed to fully understand certain aspects. If your question is Manufacturer specific please post it there.
How Many People here’s first bike was a 600cc or larger??
