[Ramccall]

Just bought a 2005 Kawasaki ZZR 600 w/o a license... impulse buy lol. I've been riding now for 3 days in a parking lot behind my house. I know the debate on what CC to ride first and all that, but it's carbureted not fuel injected so its no SS, so just leave that be please, what's done is done. Anyway, I have been practicing throttle and clutch position out of first and braking and minor turns.. ya know the basics. My inquiries are:

1. Besides the hand protection gloves give, do they serve another purpose? (grip,padded?,etc). Been thinking about getting some but dont care too much. Only need them for the MSF course.

2. Tips on turning. I have read the threads throughout the site but I would like some input on my situation please. Mind u these turns are made at <20 mph. I find myself turning the handlebars some and leaning also. I was told that I shouldn't turn the bar AT ALL, just all lean... I find this almost impossible (for now). But, I am new at this so educate me. Any tips will be greatly appreciated.

3. Anything else that you have or may have experienced in my position. Particularly if you started off with a bike like mine or similar 500 - 600. If you went from 250 and so on.. try to hold off on too many comments about the progression lectures please since I can't relate but thanks! It'll be 2 more weeks before I take the MSF course so it's just me and the parking lot. I haven't even redlined it and dont plan to.

4. Any good drills and/or "tests" you can offer for me to perform on my bike to help me learn the power/weight control of it. Well... management of it.

I sincerely thank everyone who reads this and look foward to your comments. Thanks!!!

 

[binx_19]

Total Control by Lee Parks.

 

[rockscaler]

Reading that book after 8 years of riding doubled my skill level I am sure , my learning curve was faster then than ever not counting my first 3 weeks
ZZR was the race rep. less than 10 years ago, Id still consider it a SS, definately not a standard. ZZR guys chime in is it hotter than the sv650?

the sv650 is just a sport bike, and not a supersport, right?

 

[acalliste]

Isn't protecting your hands a good enough reason to wear gloves? Could you live comfortably for a few weeks with the skin and some meat scraped off your hands?

 

[ANORXIC'51]

Total Control by Lee Parks.

+1


I won't be getting a bike until springtime (living in MN, FTL)...so I'm in the education phase for the winter.

Out of all of them, Total Control is the best for giving actual drills to do on your own that can be easily set up in a parking lot.

 

[OldSchlPunk]

Not the best starter bike, but there are much worse.

Carbs do not determine whether a bike is an SS or not. All of the current SS bikes are FI, but anything before around '02 was carbed (R6 may have been the FI leader in '00?). What determines an SS bike is if it was the factory racer in it's day. In this case, the ZZR was the factory racer ZX6R and rebadged when the model was revamped.

Point 1: As AC said, why the hell wouldn't you want to wear gloves. Having dumped bicycles on the pavement, with the associated hand skinning, I couldn't imagine not having gloves on if I ever go down at speed.

Point 2: For slow speed turns (typically associated with parking lots), you will be turning the bars and typically leaning outside to help counter-balance the bike. Only once you get to street speeds will you countersteer to initiate turns. Total control does a good job of explaining.

 

[binx_19]

Isn't protecting your hands a good enough reason to wear gloves? Could you live comfortably for a few weeks with the skin and some meat scraped off your hands?

maybe he doesnt have to masterbate :dunno

 

[MINI NSX]

Just bought a 2005 Kawasaki ZZR 600 w/o a license... impulse buy lol. I've been riding now for 3 days in a parking lot behind my house. I know the debate on what CC to ride first and all that, but it's carbureted not fuel injected so its no SS, so just leave that be please, what's done is done. Anyway, I have been practicing throttle and clutch position out of first and braking and minor turns.. ya know the basics. My inquiries are:

1. Besides the hand protection gloves give, do they serve another purpose? (grip,padded?,etc). Been thinking about getting some but dont care too much. Only need them for the MSF course.

2. Tips on turning. I have read the threads throughout the site but I would like some input on my situation please. Mind u these turns are made at <20 mph. I find myself turning the handlebars some and leaning also. I was told that I shouldn't turn the bar AT ALL, just all lean... I find this almost impossible (for now). But, I am new at this so educate me. Any tips will be greatly appreciated.

3. Anything else that you have or may have experienced in my position. Particularly if you started off with a bike like mine or similar 500 - 600. If you went from 250 and so on.. try to hold off on too many comments about the progression lectures please since I can't relate but thanks! It'll be 2 more weeks before I take the MSF course so it's just me and the parking lot. I haven't even redlined it and dont plan to.

4. Any good drills and/or "tests" you can offer for me to perform on my bike to help me learn the power/weight control of it. Well... management of it.

I sincerely thank everyone who reads this and look foward to your comments. Thanks!!!

You're already getting bad advice. Leaning is a reaction of the bike to input to the bars by you. You can't turn a bike without pushing/pulling on the bars to turn. Get a book, read it and don't listen to the doofus who gave you the advice about turning.

 

[Stick N Move]

Just bought a 2005 Kawasaki ZZR 600 w/o a license... impulse buy lol. I've been riding now for 3 days in a parking lot behind my house. I know the debate on what CC to ride first and all that, but it's carbureted not fuel injected so its no SS, so just leave that be please, what's done is done. Anyway, I have been practicing throttle and clutch position out of first and braking and minor turns.. ya know the basics. My inquiries are:

1. Besides the hand protection gloves give, do they serve another purpose? (grip,padded?,etc). Been thinking about getting some but dont care too much. Only need them for the MSF course.

2. Tips on turning. I have read the threads throughout the site but I would like some input on my situation please. Mind u these turns are made at <20 mph. I find myself turning the handlebars some and leaning also. I was told that I shouldn't turn the bar AT ALL, just all lean... I find this almost impossible (for now). But, I am new at this so educate me. Any tips will be greatly appreciated.

3. Anything else that you have or may have experienced in my position. Particularly if you started off with a bike like mine or similar 500 - 600. If you went from 250 and so on.. try to hold off on too many comments about the progression lectures please since I can't relate but thanks! It'll be 2 more weeks before I take the MSF course so it's just me and the parking lot. I haven't even redlined it and dont plan to.

4. Any good drills and/or "tests" you can offer for me to perform on my bike to help me learn the power/weight control of it. Well... management of it.

I sincerely thank everyone who reads this and look foward to your comments. Thanks!!!

1. Yes, they offer very good protection. What happens when you go down on the bike? You place your hands out to vreak your fall. If you search around you can find pictures of hands that have seen accidents without gloves. Gloves can also offer a good amount of warmth too. If your riding in the cold your hands are going to be very cold. Its smart to wear gloves, hopefully you will realize this before your accident where you fuck up your hands forever.

2. How can you really move a bike at low speeds with just leaning? you need to press as well. I am curious as to who you are recieving this advice from. If you really want to get better try an MSF figure 8 in a box. And if you know this person who is telling you to only lean, you should have him do it. That way you can watch him press or tip his bike all the way over.

3. Practice braking as well. But dont get too far ahead before your MSF date. Get a good amount of fimiliarity but dont overdue it before the class.

4. Braking, turning your head, and The Box. When you get the Box down really tight then you will know that you've become a much better rider.

 

[benroe]

Damn, another future totalled motorcycle. I am beginning to think we need to go to a tiered licensing system. Just do me a favor and don't get insurance on it. My rates are high enough.

 

[Ramccall]

Damn, another future totalled motorcycle. I am beginning to think we need to go to a tiered licensing system. Just do me a favor and don't get insurance on it. My rates are high enough.

I pay $60 a month for insurance and it's financed.

 

[Stick N Move]

I pay $60 a month for insurance and it's financed.

Your proving his point...

 

[usernamedoug]

Does that look a lot like your bike only in a different colour? because thats the supersport from 2002, and it is the EXACT same as your bike, i would know i have one.

Who ever your friend is you either completely misunderstood them or they dont know the first thing about riding a bike. People saying "go take the msf coure" isn't just them preaching. You do not have the skills to pilot the bike you have safely on the road, and an msf course will provide with the absolute basics of these skills. It will also lower your insurance with most companies so it literally pays for its self.

Otherwise if you're just interested in looking cool drive directly to the local hangout, park your bike, get a coffee and try not to ride any farther then you absolutely have to.

As far as gear, my favourite saying that i was told when i was starting out and debating how geared up i should be. Go to your favourite parking lot, run as fast as you can in a straight line and then throw yourself head first at the pavement. What would you rather be wearing? I seldome wear less then full race gear on the street, including pants, race boots and gauntlet gloves.

 

[rockscaler]

those pucks should have orange instead of red