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New Rider ForumsJust joining the motorcyclist hobbie? Looking to get some information about a first bike? Or have some newbie questions. Are you new to the website?
I am debating on which bike to purchase next. I have 4 years experience riding dirt bikes (enduro trails and such) and 6 months experience on the street. My current (and first) street bike is a '93 GS500. I have been riding the GS back and forth to work and have put about 2500 miles on it so far. Occasionally I like to go for a little ride on the curvey back roads. I really try to be safe and ride within my comfort zone in the twisties. Plus, I don't know how far the GS will lean in the corner without hitting the foot peg, and I don't want to find out. I like to save most of the adrenalin rushes for the dirt bike, where mistakes can be much more forgiving. The dirt is a whole lot softer. In 8 months, I want to get a faster bike. Compared to my 2 stroke dirtbike, the GS has always felt slow. By then, I should have another 4000 miles on the GS. What I really want is a sportbike--a 600, 750, or 1000. I am afraid that a 600 will not have enough bottom for in town driving and that I will have to rev it out to get any power out of it. A 750 (or Triumph 675)seems like it would be a better ballance of low end torque and high end horsepower. A 1000 would have way more low end torque but might just rip my head off if I every tried anything. Having never ridden any of these bikes, all I can do is speculate. The fastest bike I have ridden is my brother's Superhawk and I want something lighter than that. Any opinions are appreciated. They will help me make up my mind 8 months from now.
i've got a 06 kawasaki ninja zzr600 and its more than enough for around town anything else seems stupid,you cant use a sport bike to its full potential on the road.Also grind those footpegs down you can replace them
I forgot to add that I have completed the MSF course and it was really easy--probably bacause I spend lots of time threading my way though enduro trails on the dirtbike. One guy I took the MSF course with did a lot of wobbling and bobbling and he owned a ZX9 for several years?!?
Posts: 14,694
Casino Cash: $555
Sportbike: 2008 KTM Super Duke
stick with the 500. You cannot ride that thing anywhere near it's limits. You are not experienced enough to jump up and will only severely hurt your learning.
So you are saying that I need to learn how to push a bike to its absolute limates before getting another one? I am going to ride the GS for the next 8 months. I do want more power for the highway and also a windshield.
Posts: 14,694
Casino Cash: $555
Sportbike: 2008 KTM Super Duke
Quote:
Originally Posted by nater
So you are saying that I need to learn how to push a bike to its absolute limates before getting another one? I am going to ride the GS for the next 8 months. I do want more power for the highway and also a windshield.
No, I am saying you haven't grown anywhere near your current bike's capabilities. Why would you need to move up? How would you justify it?
Passing power? Downshift. Your bike is not a slug. Most cars are in the 15-16s. You are in the 12-13s.
You can buy a windshield and a Ninja isn't exactly a Goldwing as far as wind protection. It's not even a GS.
Why would you need to move up? How would you justify it?
The justification is easy--I have the "get another bike" itch. But I suppose I can ride this one for awhile yet. I will also be moving in about 8 months and another bike will make moving more difficult. As it is, everything I want to move will fit in my pickup. Living simply has its advantages.
I think sometimes the chorus is a little too over-the-top here with this "you're not riding your 250/500 to 100% yet, so you have to keep it for another 37 years before moving up to a 600" refrain.
No, 2500 miles isn't a helluva lot; it's an ordinary 4 weeks for me. BUT, this guy has 4 years of experience with enduro/trail riding. I think he knows how to operate a throttle and brakes and handle a bike. He's also not a kid; I'm assuming he has over 10 years of driving experience (i.e., the vagaries of traffic and rules of the road aren't something new to him).
First off, I categorically reject this notion that you have to be riding your current (250/500) to its limits before you can safely move up. Public roads are no place to be probing the limits of any sportbike, and there is absolutely no need to be able to ride a motorcycle at 9/10 on public roads in order to be a good, safe rider.
Nater, if you're not still making clumsy control input mistakes, and are not having "close calls" in traffic anymore (again, 2500 miles not being much street experience), then I don't see why moving up should be a problem. IMO, the "I want a new bike itch" is justification enough.
Posts: 534
Casino Cash: $1310
Sportbike: Soon to be 08 Ninja 250
Quote:
Originally Posted by F&D
I think sometimes the chorus is a little too over-the-top here with this "you're not riding your 250/500 to 100% yet, so you have to keep it for another 37 years before moving up to a 600" refrain.
No, 2500 miles isn't a helluva lot; it's an ordinary 4 weeks for me. BUT, this guy has 4 years of experience with enduro/trail riding. I think he knows how to operate a throttle and brakes and handle a bike. He's also not a kid; I'm assuming he has over 10 years of driving experience (i.e., the vagaries of traffic and rules of the road aren't something new to him).
First off, I categorically reject this notion that you have to be riding your current (250/500) to its limits before you can safely move up. Public roads are no place to be probing the limits of any sportbike, and there is absolutely no need to be able to ride a motorcycle at 9/10 on public roads in order to be a good, safe rider.
Nater, if you're not still making clumsy control input mistakes, and are not having "close calls" in traffic anymore (again, 2500 miles not being much street experience), then I don't see why moving up should be a problem. IMO, the "I want a new bike itch" is justification enough.
Ahh finally someone makes a post for his case and didnt hop on the normal bandwagon.
The real question is: what do you want to do with the bike? It might not make sense to get a sport. Maybe you should get a dualsport, or a ST. Before reccomending anything regarding what you do with your bike, I think you should definitely tell us what you want to do with your bike, first.
Posts: 14,694
Casino Cash: $555
Sportbike: 2008 KTM Super Duke
Quote:
Originally Posted by F&D
I think sometimes the chorus is a little too over-the-top here with this "you're not riding your 250/500 to 100% yet, so you have to keep it for another 37 years before moving up to a 600" refrain.
No, 2500 miles isn't a helluva lot; it's an ordinary 4 weeks for me. BUT, this guy has 4 years of experience with enduro/trail riding. I think he knows how to operate a throttle and brakes and handle a bike. He's also not a kid; I'm assuming he has over 10 years of driving experience (i.e., the vagaries of traffic and rules of the road aren't something new to him).
First off, I categorically reject this notion that you have to be riding your current (250/500) to its limits before you can safely move up. Public roads are no place to be probing the limits of any sportbike, and there is absolutely no need to be able to ride a motorcycle at 9/10 on public roads in order to be a good, safe rider.
Nater, if you're not still making clumsy control input mistakes, and are not having "close calls" in traffic anymore (again, 2500 miles not being much street experience), then I don't see why moving up should be a problem. IMO, the "I want a new bike itch" is justification enough.
None of this makes any sense.
First off, enduro doesn't mean a thing on the street as there are things called cars on public roads. These make it a bit different of a discipline.
Secondly, no one is saying push a bike to its limits except you. The point is you can't ride what you've got as its beyond your skillset. Getting a bigger bike is purely an exercise in excess. It's also a recipe for disaster at the early stage of riding as inexperience on the road and larger bikes have proven to be a deadly combo.
As for your comment about older, apparently you've missed the fact that the average age of motorcycle fatality is now around 30. Age is a poor indicator.
The NEXT bike purchase (2nd one)
