Suzuki GSX-R Motorcycle Forums Gixxer.com banner

Essential Knowledge

38K views 98 replies 91 participants last post by  agnt_kruger 
#1 ·
I figure that many people want to get a bike, and want to just jump on it, and ride.

Here are a few things that I tell people.....

1) Gear

Buy loads and always wear it !

Your skin is really easy to wear through when you fall off, at 30mph, on an average road, skin will last about 1.1/2 inches per layer - given that you have 6-9 layers, as soons as have slid maybe 14 inches, you are down to wearing out flesh, and bone.

Jeans last all of 6 inches at 30mph, the higher the speed, the shorter the distance they last, and the faster you wear out your skin and bone.

Your ankles are vulernable if you ride in sneakers, socks have very little abrasion resistion, and wear through faster than jeans. Walking without ankle bones, or with shaved ones, is extremely difficult.

Your head is easy to protect, you need a helmet.

German military style helmets offer no facial protection, even if you are extremely ugly, you will be worse off after your first face plant.

Chewing is tough with a broken jaw bone, or no teeth, and baby food sucks after the first couple of months.

Budget for a lot of gear
Boots - $150-$200
Jacket - $300-$400
Riding pants $200
Gloves $150
Helmet $200 - $600

Then there are things like adding CE armour, under-leathers for the summer, spare gloves for when you get you favorites wet, and maybe a 1-pice if you go to the track.

2) Training.

In the US you can take an MSF course, and many states accept successfull completing of the course as a license waver.

For what it costs ($free - $250) and the time it takes, its more than worth it. Do it yearly.

Now you are ready for your first bike.

First Bike

Ask yourself a few questions....

1) Did you "ace" the MSF course ?
2) Have you ridden dirt bikes since before you could walk ?
3) Are you Wayne Rainey ?
4) Did you "get your knee down" on the slalom test ?

If you answered yes, to all of them, maybe, just maybe, you are ready for a GSXR600/R6/CBR6/RX6R etc.

If not, and I doubt that many people can honestly answer all of those "yes", may I suggest another set of questions ?

1) Is Survival more important than style?

(If not, go by a GSXR1000)

2) Do you care about learning to ride ?

(If No - you are a squid - and beyond help)

3) Like the look of the SV650 ?

4) Do you mind if you drop your chosen bike a few times in the next two years ?

So, if you want to learn to ride, and you are not bothered about image, buy something that is not going to kill you as soon as you open the throttle.

My I suggest an EX250, EX500, GS500, SV650 ?

maintenance

Learn how to fix your bike, in general dealers will ass-rape you, especially if you come over as a clueless newbie all the time.

Essential home fixxors are....

Clean and lube the chain
Adjust the chain
change oil and filter
inspect and replace brake pads
Adjust bearings (head race)

For these jobs you need a good torque wrench, a selection of sockets, a couple of small 10mm and 12mm wrenches.

For the head bearings your bike came with a tool.

Front and rear stands are more than usefull.

Again - budget about $500 for tools, stands, manual etc.

Still want to own a bike ?

Good, lets talk about insurance.....

You need it, and if you are 16, trying to insure a GSXR1000, you had better hope that your daddy is rich. There is a reason that people under 25 find sports bikes tough to insure, and the reason is that they make a lot of claims, they are a high risk.

Set your sights on an older, slower, cheaper to insure/fix machine, and get full coverage.

Get a quote before you buy a bike, this way at least you will not be stuck with something that you cannot afford to insure.

Finally you are ready to hit the road, you have your bike, your gear, insurance, a license, and a clue (training).......

[ 01-13-2003, 01:07 PM: Message edited by: fRaGgLe ]
 
See less See more
#8 ·
If not, and I doubt that many people can honestly answer all of those "yes", may I suggest another set of questions ?

1) Is Survival more important than style?

(If not, go by a GSXR1000)

2) Do you care about learning to ride ?

(If No - you are a squid - and beyond help)

3) Like the look of the SV650 ?

4) Do you mind if you drop your chosen bike a few times in the next two years ?
1) not really, i want to live but style is very important. If you were really concerrend about survinal you would drive a Hummer rather thatn a sport bike.
2)yes i want to learn how to ride, but i want to take it slowly, i am not a mad man
3)no, i like 2001+ gsrx 600 and 2000+ gsxr 750 and honda RC51 (but i aint a moron, aint no way i and going to get of for atlease 4 years)
4)no, if it drops it drops. it can always ge repaired or replaced

so would i do alright on a GSXR 600?
 
#9 ·
Just my 2 cents, worth less than that but the economy might get better!
Coming from a perosn that has taught every type of "newbie" you can imagine.
When first learning to ride there are key things to keep in mind...
If you plan to rid e asport bike once you have learned, learn on a sport bike. If you are small in physic get a 250. If you are average size get a 600. (this goes for guys and girls. If you look like leonardo Dicapprio or Christina Agulara get the250. If you are average szed man or have an ass the size of J-LO get a 600)
I suggest the Kawa-Sucki ZX6. Not the r! Thas bike sits very low in the crotch. It will help you to have both feet flat on the ground. This is key.
GO TO A NON-TRAFFIC AREA!
Next, spend at leats 10 actuall hours starting and stopping. That means put the bike in first and get a feel of the clutch. Once the bike gets moving pull in the cluth. Also use the front brake to stop. once you havea feel for the front brake and the pressure it takes to stop the bike you will a safer rider. WHile doing this exercise keep your feet OFF of the foot pegs.
Once you have reached a comfort level yu are now ready to put your feet on the pegs and get use tothe bike balancing ITSELF. Yes the bike does this on its own for the most part. Once you are able to do this up and down the street, ( with your teacher turning the bike around for you) you are ready to practice changing gears. This will get you use to were the gears are and make you count the gears and knwo were you are @ all times.
Now, the last one should all but 2 hours to get down. If you can not count to 5/6 forward and back sell the bike, you are to stupid to ride! AND PLEASE DO NOT BREED!
Now it si time to practice turns. If ou can balanc a bike @ low speeds it will be 200% easier @ high speeds. The side of the tires are smaller in circumfrence. This means it takes less distance to go all the way around the tire. By leaning the tire will pul to the side you ar leaning toward. Start by going in a straight line an putting pressure on one of the pegs. Push your foot down hard on the left peg, the right. You will see hat the slight change in weight makes the bike swirve. It really is that simple. Now, do this for at least 10 - 15 hours on the bike time.
Once you have done all of this you are now ready to THINK about the street. get on the back of your instuctors bike and watch what he/she does. Now you get on ethe bike and ride the bike around your block for a few hours.
After doing all of this you will see how 10 feels like 100 and it will mve up to 20 feel like a 100, then 40 .. 50 ... 60 ... etc..
ALWAYS REMEMBER...
If someone makes fun of you for going slow always reply, "What does your sponcor pay you? I ffigure you must havea sponcer sine you are the only rider int he world that did not have to learn how to ride and were just able to get on and go!" Also look @ thier bike. Just how many times have they crashed?
Ifyou are ina ack that is going 120 miles an hour for 1 mile it takes them 30 seconds to get there. If you go 60 it will take you 1 minute. How can not think of any regular roads that do not have a stop light at leats every mile! IF it does not, it is a highway and newbies should not be on a highway.
If you staw your bike @ a light and peopel are yelling and beeping do NOT get embarrised! You will never see those peoepl again. Who cares. Think about it, they are Soccor Moms and Dads that are pissed they are in a mini van! Cut them some slack!
Showing of to get chicks etc... is dumb. All chicks love live dorks rather than dead studs!
DO NOT GIVE ANYONE ON YOUR BIKE TIL YOU HAVE 100% CONFIDENCE THAT YOU ARE READY., Then wait another 500 miles. The girl you think is hot will be butt ugly when they peel road out of her face! Leave the lot Lizards in the lot. Besides, they havebeen ridden by everyone else anyways!
There is much more, but I am sick of typing!
 
#97 ·
Start by going in a straight line an putting pressure on one of the pegs. Push your foot down hard on the left peg, the right. You will see hat the slight change in weight makes the bike swirve. It really is that simple. Now, do this for at least 10 - 15 hours on the bike time.
Personally I'd recommend riders to learn to steer using the handle bars, and understand counter-steering. You shouldn't need to use the foot-pegs or be leaning to steer a bike...
 
#11 ·
i'm a fairly big guy..6' about 230 pounds. I've been wanting to learn to ride and will be taking the MSF course this coming May. I've been reading alot about beginner bikes and i definitely want to learn on a smaller bike. I have a friend with a ex250 and it seems really small, for my build atleast so i dont know how comfortable id be riding around on one of those. I was also told that starting on an older 600 like a CBRF2/F3 might suit my build a little better than the 250. what would be the best route for me? thanks for the help. peace
 
#12 ·
TypeSiK said:

i'm a fairly big guy..6' about 230 pounds. I've been wanting to learn to ride and will be taking the MSF course this coming May. I've been reading alot about beginner bikes and i definitely want to learn on a smaller bike. I have a friend with a ex250 and it seems really small, for my build atleast so i dont know how comfortable id be riding around on one of those. I was also told that starting on an older 600 like a CBRF2/F3 might suit my build a little better than the 250. what would be the best route for me? thanks for the help. peace
one reason why beginners are encouraged to start on smaller bikes is because bigger bikes can get you into trouble quicker. take the msf course (they usually use small bikes like 250's) and see how it goes first. a 250 will probably feel like a bicycle to you, but that's not a bad thing for someone just starting out. you'll have plenty of other larger displacement choices in the future after you've gotten the basics down - don't forget the kawasaki ex500 (ninja 500).
 
#13 ·
RUKUS said:

Just my 2 cents, worth less than that but the economy might get better!
Coming from a perosn that has taught every type of "newbie" you can imagine.
When first learning to ride there are key things to keep in mind...
If you plan to rid e asport bike once you have learned, learn on a sport bike. If you are small in physic get a 250. If you are average size get a 600. (this goes for guys and girls. If you look like leonardo Dicapprio or Christina Agulara get the250. If you are average szed man or have an ass the size of J-LO get a 600)
I suggest the Kawa-Sucki ZX6. Not the r! Thas bike sits very low in the crotch. It will help you to have both feet flat on the ground. This is key.
GO TO A NON-TRAFFIC AREA!
Next, spend at leats 10 actuall hours starting and stopping. That means put the bike in first and get a feel of the clutch. Once the bike gets moving pull in the cluth. Also use the front brake to stop. once you havea feel for the front brake and the pressure it takes to stop the bike you will a safer rider. WHile doing this exercise keep your feet OFF of the foot pegs.
Once you have reached a comfort level yu are now ready to put your feet on the pegs and get use tothe bike balancing ITSELF. Yes the bike does this on its own for the most part. Once you are able to do this up and down the street, ( with your teacher turning the bike around for you) you are ready to practice changing gears. This will get you use to were the gears are and make you count the gears and knwo were you are @ all times.
Now, the last one should all but 2 hours to get down. If you can not count to 5/6 forward and back sell the bike, you are to stupid to ride! AND PLEASE DO NOT BREED!
Now it si time to practice turns. If ou can balanc a bike @ low speeds it will be 200% easier @ high speeds. The side of the tires are smaller in circumfrence. This means it takes less distance to go all the way around the tire. By leaning the tire will pul to the side you ar leaning toward. Start by going in a straight line an putting pressure on one of the pegs. Push your foot down hard on the left peg, the right. You will see hat the slight change in weight makes the bike swirve. It really is that simple. Now, do this for at least 10 - 15 hours on the bike time.
Once you have done all of this you are now ready to THINK about the street. get on the back of your instuctors bike and watch what he/she does. Now you get on ethe bike and ride the bike around your block for a few hours.
After doing all of this you will see how 10 feels like 100 and it will mve up to 20 feel like a 100, then 40 .. 50 ... 60 ... etc..
ALWAYS REMEMBER...
If someone makes fun of you for going slow always reply, "What does your sponcor pay you? I ffigure you must havea sponcer sine you are the only rider int he world that did not have to learn how to ride and were just able to get on and go!" Also look @ thier bike. Just how many times have they crashed?
Ifyou are ina ack that is going 120 miles an hour for 1 mile it takes them 30 seconds to get there. If you go 60 it will take you 1 minute. How can not think of any regular roads that do not have a stop light at leats every mile! IF it does not, it is a highway and newbies should not be on a highway.
If you staw your bike @ a light and peopel are yelling and beeping do NOT get embarrised! You will never see those peoepl again. Who cares. Think about it, they are Soccor Moms and Dads that are pissed they are in a mini van! Cut them some slack!
Showing of to get chicks etc... is dumb. All chicks love live dorks rather than dead studs!
DO NOT GIVE ANYONE ON YOUR BIKE TIL YOU HAVE 100% CONFIDENCE THAT YOU ARE READY., Then wait another 500 miles. The girl you think is hot will be butt ugly when they peel road out of her face! Leave the lot Lizards in the lot. Besides, they havebeen ridden by everyone else anyways!
There is much more, but I am sick of typing!

Now im all for riding safe and what not, hell, i bought a katana for a first bike, but c'mon, 10hours of stopping and starting? Have your instructor turn the bike around for you? Its riding a bike not a gad damn Shuttle landing.
 
#15 ·
Amen! One thing that I will add is that we have all heard the arguments against why someone should get a smaller bike for a begginner. These include: "I'm too big for a small bike" or "I am a natural at this riding thing and will be as good of rider as Mat Mladin in a few years (squid)," or my all time favorite "I have rode my '03 gix6 for 2000 miles and haven't had a problem so far."
DOn't get me wrong I am not trying to make myself out to be a more experienced rider than what I am, and I should have taken the time to learn more than what I did before I bought an "R" bike.
WIth that said, unless you are 400-500lbs and feel a need for high insurance, costly repairs and you are Mat Mladin, a SV650(s) is more than enough bike to start out on. Many veteran riders ride the SVs and love them. Also many other will steer you away from the SVs because they are very easy to wheelie.
If you are a vertivally challenged rider, go for the EX500 or EX250. They are both have very low seat heights and are enough to reach freeway speeds with relative ease. A freind of mine just bought an EX250 for his first bike. He is short and felt that he could touch ground better on the 250 than the 500. He is taking it slow and doesn't care what other people think about his progress. He hasen't dropped it...yet. I have heard some of my other friends say that he is still riding too slow, but I always tell them that "we all have to start somewhere," and I make sure to tell him that too.
That brings me to another good point. When you start riding with groups, after you have learned the basics of course, don't try to keep up if they set a pace faster than you are comfortable with. I personnaly like to let the newbie ride in the front of the pack, though this is a highly debated issue. With them riding in the front, they won't be worried about keeping up, and hopefully they will set a pace that they are comfortable with.
Some newbies and veterans for that matter are too worried about impressing others and they make dumb decisions. If the people that you are riding with are even half-way intelligent, they will not rip on you for going too slow or doing what you are comfortable with. However, I think it is good to offer advice and help the person along. Everyone that I know that rides has a bad habit or two, the quicker you can get a newbie away from a bad habit, the sonner they can learn something that will help their riding.
Being a good rider is all about control. Not only in turning but every aspect: turning, power deliver, braking, riding postition ect.. Being a good rider is not about how far of a wheelie you can ride, how fast of a stoppie you can do or whatever, all of that is for an EXPERT rider. If you don;t consider yourself and expert and feel completely comfortable with your bike, it is still to early for tricks. Get good on two wheels (and fast if that is important to you) then learn tricks. "Fast" should also be left to people that feel completely comfortable on their bike but, are not yet ready for tricks, but, know how to control the bike thouroughly. I know I don't mess with tricks yet. Anyways I hope this adds a bit. Great write up fraggle!
 
  • Like
Reactions: AlleyFontSoul
#18 ·
What do you thinks about the Joe Rocket Atomic Jeans? I have ordered a pair and want to know if these are good enough to take a spill. I have been riding dirt bikes for about 15 years now and within the last year bought my first sport bike a ninja ZX-6R. I like riding and have given up dirt for street. I am about to buy a GSXR 1000 and yes I respect the power and danger of a liter bike. I have been riding my friends Busa while he was away and I love it. It is just a little to much for me. I am also going to take courses at the new track we have here (Barber Motosports). I have just been waiting to buy my bike to sign up. I have all the gear but the boots. I have been using Columbia boots that are made for snow. They have good protection but I am wondering what kind of boots to get. Well let me know about the JR Atomics.
 
#19 ·
You cannot beat motorcycle specific gear .

For boots, I always wear my faithfull old Sidi Strada's - not the high-est tech looking boots, but they have protection in all the right places, and I can actually walk in them....

For jeans, I wear leather motorcycle specific ones, either my lewis (English) ones with no sliders, or my Apline Stars with sliders (pucks).

Gloves are either Akito, Joe Rocket or A-Stars.

I have numerous jackets, and they range from my Joe Rocket mesh thing, up to a choice of leathers.

I would not trust anything that was not motorcycle specific.

A friend of mine wear goatskin gloves when riding, as they have very soft palms, but offer zero abrasion resistance, falling in a parking lot put a hole in them !!!
 
#20 ·
Hello - 1st off, I think what you people are doing is a good thing. Explaining the dangers of riding and helping newbs understand that it's better to be ride safe & smart then trying to look cool!

But with that being said, i have some problems with it all. Scaring the shit out of people isn't going to make them better riders!

I am a brand newbie, & basically did everything wrong. I rode my friends 93 yamaha 600 for about 45 minutes total on about 4 different rides around the neighborhood. I stalled all the time & almost dropped his bike a few times. Then I went out & bought a new 03 gixxer 600. I know, I am a freaking idiot right! Well maybe I am. But now I have 300 miles (i know , that aint shit!!!) on it & I feel somewhat confortable. More confortable on some days then others. The 1st thing i did with my new bike was had my friend ride it home from the dealership. I wasnt gona pull out & get slammed before I even got it out of the dealership. We went straight to an industrial park & i just practiced learning the clutch spot, starting & stopping for about 30 minutes until i felt like I could pull off without stalling. I wasnt gona pull out & stall in traffic so i could be a sitting duck for that car doing 55 mph that was not anticipating me to be sitting there in the middle of the road like a fool. Then i stayed to backroads & away from traffic & intesections for a while. Next i road to work for the 1st time. It was the day after a hurricane & i got blasted with 30 mph wind & then it started raining on my ride home. I was nervous but stayed at slower speeds & i made it home alive. I think i am a better rider for it now! I am building more confidence every day, however I always respect my bike & it's power & I'm not about to get cocky! I have never lifted the front wheel, I am gentle & consistent on the throttle & I use both brakes & I am gentle with them too. I'm not trying to grab a handfull of front brake & go over the bars!

So - the jury is still out on me. I could crash tomorrow & I may very well regret even writting this post! But this is one thing I know... when i THINK TOO MUCH or RIDE SCARED I am at much greater risk of dumping my bike. My best rides are when i don't think about what could go wrong & I just ride.

SO AM I A FREAKING IDIOT? PROBABLY!
But i just wanted to make the point that scaring the crap out of people isn't going to make them a better rider. You may just be planting the wrong thoughts into their head! Someone who is in this section of the forum to begin with is obviously intellegent enough to care about safty and knowledge of riding. So why not give them good info without trying to scare them out of riding!

Maybe these types of posts should be in the Tricks & Stunts section. Thats the 1st place an idiot newbie is gona go! Like me, I'm gona check it out next


But anyway - I just wanted to argue the other side of the coin. I respect what you folks are doing - you just make me NOT WANT TO RIDE after i read these types of posts!!!

Maybe I should mention that I am 28 not 18 so maybe that helps a bit. I have driven a manual car for years so i do understand shifting and all that. Not saying I know everything about shifting on a bike, but the concept is not new to me. I did'nt even take the MSF course yet. I'm, not proud of that - it's just booked for the next 1 1/2 months. I have insurance & a bike permit, not full coverage insurance though so if i dump my bike (and i'm sure I will) it's gona come out of my pocket


So now maybe someone could help me a lttile bit so I'm not as much of an idiot. Since I know I am a rookie rider I think I should be protected the best I can. Today I want out in sneakers & shorts & a t-shirt. Once again excersizing bad judgemeant! SO here is my deal - I am looking for a jacket. i think i want one of thos AlpineStar jackets. the other 2 jackets i liked were out of stock so it's taking me longer than expected to get one. I'm gona call on Monday for the AlpineStar. I wil look into gloves as well, I like my shin! But here are my questions. I was gona ride in jeans but i would rather have better protection. I was gona get a pair of boots, but not riding boots. I feel like if I were to go out & ride in full riding gear that I would look silly because I'm not that good of a rider. I know that sounds dumb but If saw someone all hooked up in their gear i would think that that dude must be doing some serious ass riding & anticipates that he may go down because he is pushing his limits. I intend to always ride within my limits & I havent even had my bike over like 63 mph yet because I'm just not confortable at those speeds yet. SO - should I just say screw em all & get a full set of gear??? Or would my helmet, glovers. jacket combo along with jeans & a pair of workboats be sufficent? If I could ride my ass off i would not feel silly being all geared up!!!

Today I had people yelling at me to "GET IT UP!!!" I just shook my head at them. Then and the next light all i hear is "WHAT ARE YOU SCARED OF THAT THING??" Grrrr I just yelled back "I only been riding for a week! Where is your bike?? Let me see you get your car UP!!!"
That shut them up!! But i feel like i would be getting way more of that shit if I was wearing full gear!

OH Ya - one more thing, I'm on my tippie toes! Shoudl i lower my bike. I been hearing differnt things. "The bike is setup for the avegae dude & your the average dude." That's what the dealer told me. hmm I'm 5'5 and 155 pounds, I always considered myself small. They also said it could effect other things & Suzuki has it dialed in for optimal performance so i should leave it alone. Other peopel tell me to lower it so I am flat footed!
What should I do????????

And to the guy who teaches all kind of newbs how to ride - i hope you teach better than you spell!! - Haha


PS>> I'm from Philly! That's just how we do!!!
 
#21 ·
how about a "changing gears 101", also, downshifting while blipping the throttle is kinda tough, how about fraggle or someone write up something about all the basics of gear shifting (how to use the clutch, when to shift gears, downshifting smoothly, ect) ? please? =)
 
#23 ·
Damn your good!!


You are definetly one of the best informational writers on this website.


Keep up the great write ups


Peace
Dumax
 
#24 ·
wow both of those were great....first, i AM getting the sv650 haha, but im getting the sv650s with the front fairing...pretty sweet ass bike...but first i must check with the insurance, and ya i did ace my rider's training course, got the 2nd best score...the 1st best was a guy who;'s been riding for 30 years...ya im not going to be dumb trying to impress...im getting full gear, wearing it all the time...i get mad when i see people riding in shorts and a tank top, pisses me the F OFF! anyway...i am a newbie, but i think im a rather smart one....im reading forums on this site everyday to gain knowledge and hinters (the reason y i changed my bike choice from a gixxer to an SV, gotta stick with suzuki u know!) i plan to ride like a lilttle BIATCH for the most part...practicing at my school's parking lot when no one is there..u know, stopping, turning (i need to work on low speed cornering but i kicked ass in weaving hehe) so that's about it right now, gotta go to work!
 
#25 ·
I totally agree with rukus... In 2 days I am getting my bike, 04 GSXR 600, its my first bike, like everyone here says... the driver controls the throttle. I dont care about going fast as of yet. The majority of people get in a wreck on bikes in their first 6 months. I will worry about going fast after that.
 
#26 ·
Speed doesn't always = crash!

Stay within YOUR limits!!! Not mine, his or hers, BUT YOURS! There is no right time limit or wrong time limit!!! Time will not make you ready for the world... only you control that! When you're new on your 600, you'll have good days ridding and mistake days ridding, but always stay within you limits or else your bike will be at the dealership more than you want. (mistakes I mean wide turns or a wobble) Graduate from the driveway to the parking lot to the NON-busy street and so on.... Same thing with speed. The throttle you need to respect. Expect the unexpected "bump" on the throttle, so you don't flip off the back of your bike!! It does happen.... I know of people that have gone backwards off the bike with it and without it! (neither looked like much fun!) Relax and enjoy! Respct the bike, respect the pavement, and watch out for the morons of the world! They took my friend and his bike.


Have fun and enjoy!! The new 600 is F-U-N!!!


Rob
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top