I learned to ride on a 98 R1, not because I wanted to, but, because I had no other choice. I was fed to the dogs. I really had the desire to ride and I was determined to learn and ride this bike. I have to say that I really enjoyed it. I had no problems with it. I had the desire to do it and I did. I just wanted others to know that not all of us "kill" ourselves on these 1000cc bikes. It is a respect that you must have for the throttle and the bike itself. You can "kill" yourself just as easy and as fast on a 600. I enjoy riding and I dont wheelie or do stunts. I love to corner, however I am always cautious about what I am doing. The 1st and most important rule is to respect the throttle {on any bike}. http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

okie dokie... welcome to the boards http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/flipa.gif

That's GREAT!!!!!! http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif

-But, that doesn't mean shit for new riders looking for advice. You were one of the lucky FEW.

-How many miles do you have in the saddle? Just curious, because like they all say it's not a matter of whether or not you go down, it's a matter of when.

-And the fact that you learned on an R-1 probably equats to the fact that you are a slower rider than somebody that has learned on a smaller bike and has had more of an opportunity to explore the limits of the machine. Unlike, the R-1 which you claim you must respect the throttle and are "cautious" in what you do.

A liter bike is not a starter bike PERIOD. No ifs and or buts about it. But what do I know, I've only been riding for 6 years and I'm still stuck on a SLOW 600. http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/punk.gif

My point for my entry is not that everyone should buy a liter bike. I just wanted to make the point that you can GET KILLED on a 600 just as fast as a 1000. It all depends on the rider and RESPECT for the bike, any bike. Oh, by the way I have been riding for 5 years and holding and remeber I am not trying to ride like Kevin Schwantz, I'm a girl. http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/banana.gif

WTF?? I'm not trying to flame you or anything. But come on....You've been riding for 5 years and you THINK that "it depends on the rider and the respect for the bike" BULLSHIT!!! It has about 2 % to do with the rider and respect for the bike and 98% experience. Look, when you learn to ride for the first time the LAST thing you want is a big liter bike or even a supersport high performance. You need a bike that is going to be forgiving when you make squid mistakes. And a new rider will make squid mistakes. That being said, if you have one of these forgiving bikes your learning curve isn't as steap and you will be able to learn to truly ride by building on the basic building blocks. If you are on a bike that responds to the slightest push of the bars, and the slightest touch of the throttle like a super sport, high performance motorcycle your learning curve is drastically increased and you are forced to worry about things other than the basics. Your mind is preoccupied by the power and the agility you are now forced to CONTROL rather than enjoy. So put a new rider on a super sport bike of any CC and another new rider on a more user friendly machine, I guarantee a year later the supersport rider is still strugling to control the bike and be careful, while the rider on the more friendly bike is testing the limits of the machine and carving corners around the supersport.

queenbee600 said:

My point for my entry is not that everyone should buy a liter bike. I just wanted to make the point that you can GET KILLED on a 600 just as fast as a 1000. It all depends on the rider and RESPECT for the bike, any bike. Oh, by the way I have been riding for 5 years and holding and remeber I am not trying to ride like Kevin Schwantz, I'm a girl. http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/banana.gif



There's a bit more to this than meets the eye..so to speak...i.e. define learning how to ride..

Your idea of learning, and mine, may be different..not flammin ya here, just trying to point something out...IMHO..your more like "surviving" on a liter, or even a newer 600 sportbike..I think you'll have to admit, that you were pretty scared of the bikes power, for a long time..so in essience, you wern't truly learning to ride i.e devloping skillz, but you were learning to survive on it...On a smaller bike such as a 250 , or a 500...the weight, and power is such that these type of bikes are much more "user" friendly, hence your not as scared, and not nearly for the lenght of time as you are/were on a bigger bike...so, you instead of surviving, you learn to "ride" it...as it's both easier to handle, easier to brake, easier to get use to...once your past the "scared" phase..then you start devloping skillz, wether you re4alize it or not..Once again, not everyone is the same...some more natrualy talented will "out grow" a 250, 500 fairly quick...But, they will be better riders for having learned on the smaller bike..i.e. being able to carry more corner speed, ect..this is assuming they practiced these things...So in realty, it's not always about "respecting" a bike...there are too many variables in the picture...For example, pro racers that go to racing schools, that practice sliding, do so on 100cc honda dirt bikes..why not use 250's, 460's, ect...because the ease of handleing a 100 makes the learning curve that much faster..Hope this sheds some light on te subject ...Just for the record, I use to teach new riders, when I worked for yamaha...the biggest bike I ever put someone on, was a 125cc dirt bike... http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Hammer 4 said:


queenbee600 said:

My point for my entry is not that everyone should buy a liter bike. I just wanted to make the point that you can GET KILLED on a 600 just as fast as a 1000. It all depends on the rider and RESPECT for the bike, any bike. Oh, by the way I have been riding for 5 years and holding and remeber I am not trying to ride like Kevin Schwantz, I'm a girl. http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/banana.gif



There's a bit more to this than meets the eye..so to speak...i.e. define learning how to ride..

Your idea of learning, and mine, may be different..not flammin ya here, just trying to point something out...IMHO..your more like "surviving" on a liter, or even a newer 600 sportbike..I think you'll have to admit, that you were pretty scared of the bikes power, for a long time..so in essience, you wern't truly learning to ride i.e devloping skillz, but you were learning to survive on it...On a smaller bike such as a 250 , or a 500...the weight, and power is such that these type of bikes are much more "user" friendly, hence your not as scared, and not nearly for the lenght of time as you are/were on a bigger bike...so, you instead of surviving, you learn to "ride" it...as it's both easier to handle, easier to brake, easier to get use to...once your past the "scared" phase..then you start devloping skillz, wether you re4alize it or not..Once again, not everyone is the same...some more natrualy talented will "out grow" a 250, 500 fairly quick...But, they will be better riders for having learned on the smaller bike..i.e. being able to carry more corner speed, ect..this is assuming they practiced these things...So in realty, it's not always about "respecting" a bike...there are too many variables in the picture...For example, pro racers that go to racing schools, that practice sliding, do so on 100cc honda dirt bikes..why not use 250's, 460's, ect...because the ease of handleing a 100 makes the learning curve that much faster..Hope this sheds some light on te subject ...Just for the record, I use to teach new riders, when I worked for yamaha...the biggest bike I ever put someone on, was a 125cc dirt bike... http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif



Very well said...I think that's what I was trying to say....But definately very well put to words there... http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/punk.gif