Sportbikes are not beginner bikes

[Usmc1968]

Hey all-

First post here on this site! I was "warned" about getting this type of high performance racing bike as a first bike.  I heeded that advice and purchased a very nice black 1986 Honda Shadow Vt500C for $700 .  This bike is sweet to ride and in almost perfect mechanical condition. It is Comfortable, pretty forgiving.  A few weeks ago I passed the BRC (well worth it).  The more I get out the more I enjoy riding.  one of my riding buddies told me to "ride like you are invisible".  Anyhow, there are very nice worthy bikes out there that you can build your skills and confidence.  I practice almost everyday on my 1000ft paved driveway, especially that darned tight u-turn  Looking forward to many posts and learning from you all

Safe riding

Semper Fi
Andrew

[Triple88a]

Dude take the Intermediate course.. I just took it and i gotta say it was worth it.

[Sailariel]

I got my first bike in 1958 and it was an NSU 250 Special Max. I rode it for three years and bought a 500cc Triumph, followed two years later by a 650 BSA Lightning. The BSA was followed by a BMW R-60 with which I logged 230,000mi. In the early 70`s I became a Norton, Benelli, Jawa dealer and rode a Norton 750 (Dunstall). I stopped riding in 1984 when I married a woman terrified of motorcycles. We got into sailing and lived aboard our boat till 2004. This past June, I decided to get back into motorcyling and bought a new 2008 Ninja EX250R. Calling that bike a "beginner`s" machine, in my opinion is stretching it. I managed to go on a 1200mi tour with two friends--one riding an 1100cc BMW, and the other riding a 900cc Honda Sport bike. I had no trouble staying with them even in an etremely mountanous terrain. I just had to keep my RPM over 7000. With 50 years of riding experience, I do not consider myself as a beginner--even though I learn something new every day. Most of the new stuff I learn about is the clothing (people wear armor these days) All I can say is that the Ninja 250 is one fast bike. It is hard to believe that it is a 250--plenty big for me at age 67.








 




50 years of riding experience, I don`t consider myself a beginner--although I feel I learn something new each day.

[Ferine41]

My first bike was a 81 Yamaha 400 special. The 2nd one was a 80 GPZ1100. The GPZ was fast enough to walk away from most every car even heavily modified ones. That bike is slow compared to the 600cc Sportbikes coming out today. I'm not sure why anyone would think about getting one of those for their first bike. It actually shows how little they know about bikes. Yes, the 1000cc bikes are crazy fast, but 600cc sportbikes are heavily engineered performance bikes.

I don't think new riders who think this way really understand how you physically interact with your bike, and how you can't just lift up your foot to reduce power. OOOORRR how the pavement feels when you smack it (I've had 4 knee surgeries, 1 shoulder, and going in on March 2nd for my other shoulder from a wreck over 20 years ago).

On a lighter note ... can't wait to take the bike to the mountains this weekend  

[jfurf]

My co-worker was telling me the other day how a year ago he bought a brand new 07 GSXR 600 with dealer financing, had a friend ride it to his house, then proceeded to wheelie it out from under him in the driveway. Promptly decided the bike thing wasn't for him.  

The best part of his story was when I asked him why he bought what is essentially a race bike... "It was a 600 cc bike. They didn't have anything smaller!"  

I almost felt sorry for him because maybe he really would have enjoyed riding if he took the time to find a better starter bike.

[Ti954]

Cliff notes??


Anyone?

Anyone?

[Ferine41]

To summarize ....

It's your money; buy what you want, but in that split second before you impact the pavement, remember we told you 600cc sportbikes aren't for beginners.

[UFO]

Cliff notes??


Anyone?

Anyone?

1)  Advice asked.
2)  Give advice.
3)  Wash hands.

At least that's how I approach it, because most of the time people who ask for advice tend to ignore it.

[birdrunner]

1)  Advice asked.
2)  Give advice.
3)  Wash hands.

At least that's how I approach it, because most of the time people who ask for advice tend to ignore it.

What do you think we should do about this?

[Hickey]

What do you think we should do about this?

Legally?  Nothing.

I think we should just try to be consistent and well meaning with our suggestions, while at the same time setting a good example.  This is probably a case where mentoring is more valuable than legislation.  

[chimera]

Ron White: You can't fix stupid.

[Bamaboy]

Anyone that can't figure out that a 500 lb. 100+ HP motorcycle is not a good beginners bike should not ride any kind of bike IMO.

I still ride very carefully on my 600 cc 45 hp dual sport.  A 125 cc bike can kill you just as dead as a Hyabusa can.  

[Ferine41]

The dry weight of a CBR1000rr is 360lbs with 167 HP.

[GrayAuthor]

Thanks for posting Matts work! Awesome! I really enjoyed it! I wish that I had read it before the purchase of my GSX 650F. Don't get me wrong, I definitely enjoy riding my motorcycle; however, I can see how learning would have been much easier on a 250cc or lighter motorcycle.  As a youth, I played on a yammie 100. During motorcycle training, I was instructed on 250cc's. However, my motorcycle is 656cc's, and I am much older. Honestly, I am glad that my parents never purchased a motorcycle for me. I probably would have injured myself or worse. This posting occurred in 2007. I purchased my first motorcycle in 2008. I have been riding 1yr/1mo/1day as of today. I made (1) one 6hr touring ride which was awesome. I only have 3300mi on my Chariot. I believe this information is helpful, and I will pass it on to as many as will read it.

Thanks Again

[JamieK]

A couple years back I was at a Honda dealer and listened in complete disbelief to the salesman as he was talking to the prospective donor umm...buyer. The dude was in his early 20's with a trophy girl hangin' off his elbow. He was concerned as it was his first bike about shifting and such, he really didn't want to shift too much. To which the salesman replied "The CBR100RR has more torque than the CBR600RR so you won't have to shift as much"   Although he didn't lie, I feel the advice given certainly wasn't going to help this chap make it to his late 20's

[Ferine41]

Just get a modified Hayabusa, that way he can just stay in first!

[Ferine41]

Perfect example:

http://www.Break.com/index/first-motorcycle-ride-goes-poorly.html

[jdgretz]

My step son picked out a Ninja 250R for his first bike - he is a touch over 6' and probably weighs in at about 130lbs.  He loves (loved?) that bike and it's a good fit for him.  Unfortunately he got hit by a Sheriff's Deputy Cruiser (fortunately at low speed) and is now waiting for the County's insurance to pay him for a replacement.  In the mean time he is riding a 1976 CJ360T that I was given for my wife to learn on.  Other than it keeping him from walking, he is not happy.  He has never had to deal with a kick starting, real basic carburation which is not electronically monitored and drum brakes. On the other hand, he is learning to ride without having an overabundance of torque and horse power at his finger tips, as well as how to turn on a bike that requires a bit of thinking to make it all work out correctly.  Overall I think it's good for him (though he would disagree   ).  I enjoy riding that little thing - then again I've always enjoyed standard bikes.

"Back in my day" a 250 was a good intermediate bike and a 750 was big ('64).  I started off on a Suzuki 80, then a Honda CL42 (250), Harley 250 and finally a Sportster (complete with magneto starting system).  During that time I also got exposed to the joys of British motorcycles (Royal Enfields, BSAs and Triumphs) and have had the pure enjoyment of rebuilding and riding a mid '70 Moto Guzzi V7 something or other.  Now I'm looking to buy a new Norge and a pre-owned Triumph Bonneville.  The wife wants something bigger than the 360T once she gets comfortable riding, so she may end up riding the Bonne - you never know.

So the CJ will be passed along to someone else to learn on, and the price will be right (probably give it away as it was given to me).  Hopefully it will still introduce many more people to the joys of riding motorcycles.

jdg

[Kootenanny]

...In the mean time he is riding a 1976 CJ360T that I was given for my wife to learn on.  Other than it keeping him from walking, he is not happy.  He has never had to deal with a kick starting, real basic carburation which is not electronically monitored and drum brakes. On the other hand, he is learning to ride without having an overabundance of torque and horse power at his finger tips, as well as how to turn on a bike that requires a bit of thinking to make it all work out correctly.  Overall I think it's good for him (though he would disagree   ).  I enjoy riding that little thing - then again I've always enjoyed standard bikes.

Hey, my first bike!

[Westy]

Funny how that is, "young & dumb" or the "I'm to mature for a smaller bike, I want the 800# harley"  the norm... All states should limit new licensees to 250cc bikes or less for a period of 1 year and if you get a ticket, you lose your M license forever....of course a few drops of bleach into the "Gene Pool" benefits society and is somewhat entertaining on youtube.

Of the original 8 of us that got into biking, 3 are dead-all rider at faults, all head injuries. 1 other has no left leg and limited use of right...thats 50%....thats a hard lesson to learn.

Lots of "Joe Rockets" in the graveyards or now drooling all over themselves and gimpers shuffling around...glad I grew out of that mindset, save alot of money, bones, skin and life  (I place myself in the "gimper shuffling around" catagory)...I wasn't always this old....