I know damn well this is stupid for a first bike...

[MichiganMan]

...but it is soooooo seksi!  Thank God I'm broke or it might well end up in my garage!

http://detroit.craigslist.org/mcb/mcy/3198876667.html

[tigertim955]

Not stupid at all. I taught a friend to ride this summer and he went out and bought a VTX 1800!He's an ex football player,very strong,so the wieght's no problem. He later took a course (to reduce his insurance and feel more comfortable with the bike) and is having the summer of his life.
I'd taken him to look at "sensible" first bikes but he fell in love with the VTX. He had never even sat on a motorcycle before that day.

As long as you trust your common sense the power will surprise you,just don't let it overwhealm you. When I've shown someone how to ride (on any displacement bike) I tell them to prepare to be shocked by the power in 1st and 2nd gears.

[Knoxy]

Don't worry I had a 500 for about 3 months then bought a 92 gsx1100g I thought that was a bit much for pretty much a first bike also

[1KPerDay]

You could do a lot worse. A LOT worse.

[2RR2NV]

(wondering when the chromed Turbo NOS Busa comment is gonna show up)

[expatbrit]

It's still not a good first bike, however much I love them.

(Yes, you could do worse, for sure. But /still/ -- sportbikes are not good first bikes)

Heavy, powerful, etc -- you have more to focus on than you need.

Under 50hp, under 500lbs.  Guidelines, not rules, but they're a good starting place

[coucours grad]

Ride what you love


Respect what you ride


And dont let your wrist and your limited abilities write a check your ass doesn't want to cash!


   Have fun!

[Baz]

I have been riding a motorcycle on the street for 39 years now, and from the time I started I have rode one which Horsepower capabilities have been much higher than my riding abilities.

Only fell down a couple of times, which by the way had nothing to do with the throttle.  

(had everything to do with an elk  and on the other occasion a shoelace and a kickstand).

I am pretty sure I could have survived a Busa starter bike due to my fear of the Darwin theory since birth.  

[expatbrit]

I have been riding a motorcycle on the street for 39 years now, and from the time I started I have rode one which Horsepower capabilities have been much higher than my riding abilities.

Only fell down a couple of times, which by the way had nothing to do with the throttle.  

(had everything to do with an elk  and on the other occasion a shoelace and a kickstand).

I am pretty sure I could have survived a Busa starter bike due to my fear of the Darwin theory since birth.  

Yup. I went to a big bike too fast -- and it hasn't been a decade.

Can you do well with a sportbike? Sure.Will you probably learn faster with a smaller, lighter, easier to handle bike? Yes.

Should I, perosnally, have stayed with the smaller machine longer? Yes.

Today, the bike I ride on the track to improve my skills is a WR250X. It probably has less horsepower and torque than the bike I started on in 2006.

[Stripes]

To each his own. Advice is great, but in the end do what you feel is best for yourself.

[2RR2NV]

Yup. I went to a big bike too fast -- and it hasn't been a decade.

yep, took me 4 years... 1300cc. WOOT!

[02Tac]

It is not a matter of the size of the bike (unless it physically to big for you). It is a matter of the rider being "big" enough mentally for the bike in question. I have known folks who I would have no problem with having that bike as a first bike. I have also known people who I would be afraid to see on a GN125!

[expatbrit]

It is not a matter of the size of the bike (unless it physically to big for you). It is a matter of the rider being "big" enough mentally for the bike in question. I have known folks who I would have no problem with having that bike as a first bike. I have also known people who I would be afraid to see on a GN125!

Absolutely true. There are people who are fine and learn well on anything.

I think -- for the /majority/ of folks -- under 500lbs, under 50hp are good guidelines. You're probably in something with a slightly softer throttle response, no immediate and abrupt brakes, and so on in tha. It'll also be cheaper, so if you have the classic zero-speed driveway drop it's less traumatic.

The lighter weight will make it easier to handle, and it not being quite as 'edgy' as some of the other bikes out there will make it all around easier to learn on. If you're battling a heavier bike, snatchy ('responsive') throttle, and grabby ('immediate') brakes, you've got less brain pizza slices available for riding skills, traffic management, etc.

[timdow]

Sure if you respect it you might not wreck it, but you will learn to ride better/more quickly if you get a light, easy to handle bike. You will have more fun, too.