Newbie from Connecticut

[EasyRider]

Hi everyone. I am Newbie on the board from Connecticut USA.  
 
My son and I are about to get our first bikes after we both take beginner and intermediate bike courses before getting our licenses.  

I am thinking of getting a 07 FJR1300 for a first bike. I had some bike riding experience on a Night Hawk 750 20 years ago.

My 17 year old son wants a sport bike. A Suzuki GSX600R  I'm not to sure I want him on a high powered sport bike for his first ride. We can take the intermediate course on a sport bike provided by the driving school and take additional private lessons at the same school. The instructor can also go out riding with my son on his first ride with his new bike. This may be very helpfull because he will listen to the instructor but is not likely to listen to me much.  

Opinions on our plans for getting started are welcome.

[RBEmerson]

Uh, my snap reaction, not knowing you, is to suggest the FJR is probably not a good idea for the first bike in 20 years.  Riding then and riding are different and coping with that and a bike that can bring you to a religious experience   if you let it... not a good idea.  And the Gixxer as a first bike for your son?  Really not a good idea.  Uh, uh...  

Take the basic MSF (yes, I said "basic" - I know you rode "back in the day") with your son.  It'll be a good shared experience and you'll know where his skill level is.  The bikes are supplied (even though they're usually small cruiser style bikes with forward controls).  With that experience behind you, looking for your next bike and your son's first bike will be a little more informed process than just taking advice from some bozo on the Internet.  

[EasyRider]

Thanks for the advise. I do like to hear what experienced guys have to say about anyting I'm new to.

I only rode the Night Hawk 750 for about 10 miles 20 years ago. And I had maybe 40 hours on a moped.

We both spent allot of time on our Yamaha Grizzly 700s last fall. My son was better than I was at recognizing where to be the most carfull. I rolled my quad twice and he is quick to remind me when I tell him to slow down that he has not rolled his at all.

We will both be taking the beginner course and the intermediate level courses together on the schools bikes.
My son will be able to use a sport bike that belongs to the school for the second course. We will have both courses done before we get on bikes out on the road.

If I'm cool with the throttle for a long time do you all think the FJR will OK for a responsible 44 year old fart like me?

My teenager on a GSX600 may not be a good idea even when he has a lot of seat time on another bike until he is older and less aggressive.

Is the concern for a newbie on a large high powered bike the size and wight of the bikes or is it that we will not be able to resist the temptation to use too much power and speed for our skill level?

What do you guys think?

[blackbeltrider]

Here are my thoughts:

1. take the course together with your son and talk to him about the things they teach, and why do both of you think they teach them. It will be a good shared experience and you'll both learn a bit about how each of you think.

2. as far as a a sportbike for him goes, use your judgement based on what you see and hear from him in 1 above, as well as talk to the course instructors and get their feedback on his attitude/behaviour.

3. FJR 1300 will be a good bike for you providing you bear in mind the facts it:

    is a much larger bike than you appear to have ever had any experience with, so it will be easy to tip over while you're moving it around at low speeds, especially of your foot slips a bit in oil or sand while stopped or trying to push it.

    will have a LOT more power than you're used to - real easy to get in over your head with the throttle, unless you treat it with respect in the early going (first season)

    will have a LOT more braking power than you're used to - easy to get yourself in over your head with the brakes trying to get yourself out of having gotten in over your head with the throttle as above.

If you are careful, and if you avoid high traffic density situations until you are used to the way the bike handles, how it responds to emergency maneouvres (braking, accelerating, swerving - practice in an empty parking lot), and you observe road surface conditions (oil patches, sand, antifreeze spills, etc) where you are going to place your feet while stopped at a stop light (or sign), then you'll probably be all right.

Having said all that, you might want to consider a smaller bike to start - you probably won't use the touring capability the FJR provides in your first season.

Understand, I am not trying to be critical of you or your son - I'd just hate to see someone new starting out have a bad experience from choosing too much machine initially, and get turned off of motorcycling all together, or worse, have an accident.  It's a great pasttime and I hope you and your sone enjoy decades of it.

Good luck with your choices.
 
     

[Rigger]

In my humble opinion, the 2 of you should go and get older bikes that don't have the capability the new ones you have mentioned do.  You are both new riders and those bikes are, again my option, way too much for you.  If you slip just once and your hand accidently twists the throttle you are in for trouble.  Another thing is go and find out how much the body panels cost to replace on the bikes you desire.  Chances are that you will both drop your bikes within the 1st couple of years of riding. An older bike is getting dropped is easier and less costly than a new bike to stomach.  This year will be my 3rd season and I ride a 22 year old Nighthawk 750 and it has plenty of jam for me. It will do for the both of you as well.  You should be able to find them used.  If you are looking for the hottest and sweetest ride going, the best thing for you is an older bike.  Just my humble opinion.  Best wishes on your course!

Rigger

[denydog]

My first thought on reading the opening post was, you're just joking, and looking for a reaction.   I mean, we are really talking zero experience here.  The learning curve is more than just taking a riding course or two, and taking it easy for a while.  Why start it with a large, heavy, powerfull bike, and "be cool with the throttle for a long time".  Wouldn't it be more fun, not to mention safer, to start with a bike you don't have to hold back so much, just to survive?  I don't know you, or your goals, so I have no idea why you want to start at the upper end equipment wise, during your lower end learning period.  A more modest bike would be just as much fun, if not more so, in my opinion.  Being caught in a situation over your head, or experience level is definitely not fun.  Even after 30 years of riding, I still prefer a little bit lighter and/or tamer bike myself, for general use.  Just because they're easier to ride day in and day out.  

Yes, people can and do start with bikes that are way above their ability, and many do survive relatively unscathed, both the people and the bikes.  Good luck, whatever you do.

[RBEmerson]

+1 on Rigger.  

10 miles on a Night Hawk (or anything else) doesn't count as riding time.  That's just enough time to maybe figure out the controls.  

There are "mopeds" and mopeds.  The things rented on Block Island, for example, are low end scooters but often called "mopeds" (or "no-peds" by the locals).  Then there are slightly over-sized motorized bicycles.  I suppose riding either of these in traffic teaches a certain sense of vulnerability and sense of coping with traffic but... uh, well... I'd still count you as a near never-ever.  Sorry.  

For either of you, getting into the bikes you're talking about would be on a par with going from high school drivers ed courses to hitting the road in a serious Porsche.  Do your family and yourselves (and your wallets) a favor.  Find something used that won't cost a fortune to fix if you drop it and won't be quite so quick to, at the very least, add "skid marks" to your shorts if you grab too throttle or jam the brakes on.  Neither of these bikes is a prudent first bike.  

[happybusa]

EasyRider,
Maybe a used Suzuki Bandit 1200s for you,-
 has some (wind)protection and parts are available
on ebay or local?  Yes, you will need parts, it is the
first riding SEASON for ya.

Your son will do well on a USED Suzuki SV650;
the fun factor and again, the availability of parts
is an advantage. I noticed the price of GSXR's
reflects the wants instead of needs of young riders.

I thought awhile before I posted this reply.
This will be my 35th year of riding motorcycles;
I travel on a busa 1300 because Im comfortable on it
and I can get close to 50 mpg. It does haul a**, (mine)

I own other bikes as well, I've had Bandits and Sv's(650 & 1k)
and I've ridden many bikes of different makes and models.
The info available to a beginning rider today is awesome-
This web forum and the riders on it are the best.
Become familiar with this phrase- ATGATT

All The Gear All The Time

Sullybusa  

[bikerfish1100]

i'm going to be blunt in my recommendations and analysis.
your 10 miles of experience 20 years ago constitutes NO experience whatsoever. really.
your desire for a FJR1300 is fine. but NOT as a first bike. it's way too big, way too powerful, way too heavy. just way too too. something of that size will slow down your learning, not advance it.
look for used bikes for both you and your son. it won't hurt your wallet quite so much when you fall over (most all noobs do, usually within the first 3 months or so).
something like the aforementioned SV650 would be a great choice for BOTH of you. upgrade when and if you feel the need to do so- it's such a great bike that if you decide to move up, you'll have no problem whatsoever in selling it to another noob needing a first or second bike.
you really don't want to start off on ANY powerful inline 4 (as in, forget the recommendation for a Bandit 1200S)- their power delivery is a bit more difficult to manage than is that of a twin- again, it will slow down your learning, not advance it.
just out of curiosity, where are you looking to do the "intermediate" course? i know it's nothing offered through the MSF, and (unless things have just changed recently) no one else is operating in CT.
good luck. remember, you're in this for the long haul, right? have patience, and learn to walk before you try to run.

[keithwinlouisiana]

I upgraded from a 2003 Nighthawk 750 (CB750- first bike after not riding for 25 years after selling my previous bike in my twenties) to a 2005 FJR after about 3 thousand miles. Trust me - they are not comparable. The FJR is much heavier and much more powerful. You need practice to handle the weight in slow manuevers, and good throttle control given the power. You may not intend to, but if your right wrist gives it too much throttle at the wrong time you are in trouble fast. Practice with osmething that will not get you in trouble as fast.

I don't regret starting back on the Nighthawk 750. Enough power and size to be enjoyable for someone with some prior years of riding, but not so much as to be unforgiving of a small mistake. Good luck.

[Grainbelt]

I also hoped this was a joke.  I won't repeat what everyone else has said, just offer my experience.

I bought a '93 Suzuki GS500 in March '05 at age 23. I took the MSF class, spent the first month in my neighborhood and parking lots, and gradually worked my way up to day trips and commuting on it. about two months into it, I ran thru the gears WFO to 'see what she'll do'.  Thank God it was a GS500 and not something else, as I had never experienced acceleration like that. Great fun. Fast forward two years, and I have a Kawasaki Ninja 650R, the motorcycling equivalent of an SV650 or Monster 620.  It will throttle wheelie in first gear, hit 60mph in 2nd gear, and is more than enough for me as a novice rider.

Used SV650's would be great for both of you. Set the example for your son by making a responsible decision for YOU.

[hobbes]

Why not get used Honda Nighthawk 750s for the both of you? They would be great learning bikes, bring you around full circle, and resell for a similar amount if you both want to get other bikes in a year or two?

Plus you could both have the same bikes and learn to wrench on them together!


BTW...I grew up in Vista NY, not 5 mins from Ridgefield CT. If you want to shoot the shit for a few hours lemme know. My dad is in the area as well and he rides a Honda Valkyrie. (I'm 27) We both can be of help I'm sure.

[Lon]

    is a much larger bike than you appear to have ever had any experience with, so it will be easy to tip over while you're moving it around at low speeds, especially of your foot slips a bit in oil or sand while stopped or trying to push it.

    will have a LOT more power than you're used to - real easy to get in over your head with the throttle, unless you treat it with respect in the early going (first season)

I agree with these.  The other thing to note that not only is it really - REALLY powerful, but it's also buttery smooth.  You can very easily hit "license losing" speeds - quite seriously - without noticing.

I'd get ABS to offset brake oopsies if this if your first bike in awhile, esp. if it's on something as big as an FJR - and even more importantly if you intend to carry a passenger.

[Tejasbusa]

I agree with everything that has been said before.  When my sons wanted to get a first street bike, it took all I could muster to get them off of the 600 Sport Bike want.  They finally settled on a used GS500.  That bike was a blast for them.  It kept up with me on Miss Busa on the highways (I couldn't act stupid in front of my boys now could I) and it taught them the skills they needed to graduate to bigger/faster machines.  If I could have afforded it, I would have kept the GS500, because around town it was a blast.  Small, easy to ride and cheap.  No need for high dollar insurance, just liability.  It is also cheap to fix when it gets tipped over.  (stupidity when putting it on the stand)

If your son wants a sport styled bike,the Ninja250 and the 500 that Kawasaki have are nice looking, inexpensive and very easy to ride.  The new GS500E is also a nice looking faired bike.

[hobbner]

I have been loving my 500GS and would highly recomend it. Like to add that by no means are they slow in any way, Plenty of get up and go for me and my second season of riding, the handling is very good.  The bike only weighs 367 pounds so its very easy to walk it park it, or hold it up at a stop light, If you are looking for a more aggressive stance swap out the stock handlebars for a sports bar. The 500 twin is a great engine and still has plenty of power to get you into trouble.

Mod's are also cheap and easy to come by, put a smaller sprocket up front, get a exhaust and a intake and it will be plenty fast for you.

[Motocentaur]

Not to continue "harshing your mellow," but I think the FJR is more of a good second or even third bike. Start out with a couple of used, mid-size standards or even (*gasp*) cruisers. When you bang them up, they damage will be minimal and unimportant, and the easier-to-ride  machines will be a little less intimidating and let you concentrate on honing skills.

BTW, I've been living in CT for about 7 years now; the riding here is surprisingly nice compared to lower Michigan where I was born and raised (not so flat and straight).

[Clair]

+1 to the sentiments expressed above.  Is it "possible" that you and your son can learn to ride the bikes you mentioned and survive long enough to actually enjoy doing it?  Yes, sure.  As stated already, plenty of people learn to ride on bikes way larger and more powerful than they should start on.  QUestion is, are you one of those lucky riders?  Do you want to test that luck?  If so, just insure you don't take anyone else out if you go down.

Realistically, both bikes are WAY TOO large to start on.  The FJR is a rocket, great bike mind you, but a ROCKET.  A micro move on the throttle has the engine flying.  That is NOT a good thing for a new rider.  Hit a pot hole, blip the throttle, and you could be doing an unintentional wheelie or flying through a window.  Also, any bike is somewhat easy to ride on fairly straight roads at speed.  That's the easy part.  It's getting to these roads were real skill lies.  Swerving, maneuvering around traffic, slow riding, hard fast braking, learning how to SEE and getting your spidey senses on high alert ... this is the real skill of riding.  As a new rider, and you both are, neither of you have the skills yet for this, and the bikes you're thinking of are NOT good for learning.

Try a Ninja 500 or something similar.  A standard posture, good power, will break the speed limit easily enough, but is much lighter and much more forgiving.  Ride the bike for a year.  Take and PASS teh BRC and the ERC classes held by MSF.  Do a TON of parking lot practice.  Learn how to properly stop a bike at speed. then maybe, MAYBE,think about going larger.

[carpe_diem]

As someone new to the sport and also from connecticut (Stamford) I can honestly tell you that starting smaller is the way to go.

Check out these sites. The folks their helped me through my learning curve:

http://www.beginnerandbeyond.com/
http://www.beginnerbikers.org/

For a 17 year old, any of the 600 Supersport bikes are bad idea (Suzuki GSXR-600, Kawasaki Ninja 600/636, Kawasaki ZZR-600, Yamaha R-6, Honda CBR-600F4i, CBR-600RR, or even the Triumph Speed 4 or Daytona). I would recommend a smaller easier to control bike. Bikes that come to mind include the Kawasaki Ninja 250, Ninja 500, or the Suzuki GS500. On the high end of the spectrum, the Suzuki SV-650, Kawasaki Ninja 650 and the Yamaha YZF-600 (Not R-6) are ok.

I started on a Ninja 250, and it is powerfull enough to beat most cars off the line. I learned a heck of a lot from the bike. As an added bonus it is fun as hell in the twisties around Danbury (especially heading towards Lime Rock/Kent).  Besides you can pick up a used Ninja 250 for under $2000, and probably sell it in a year for $1800 or so.

[Bodhi]

I have to agree with the first response: if you haven't ridden in 20 years, and in fact have spent ten minutes on a bike in your entire life, do yourself a favor and don't go out and buy a big, heavy and/or really fast bike. I would in fact recommend you acquire another Nighthawk and work on refreshing and polishing basic skills for a year or two. You don't ever want to play the part of a statistic on a government chart.

[county]

Get a pair of SV 650's or a pair of BMW F650 GS's after you take the class......because if you do what you are suggesting, the Gixxer 600 and the FJR you or your child or both of you will be killed or maimed learning how to ride, i.e. the first 10k miles on your new bikes.

The reason them Harley people get away with starting out on them big bikes is because they only got 60-70 HP whereas you are talking about a pair of bikes with over 100 hp.