[RuoskaNZ]

Brilliant write up. Pretty much said all that has been going through my head.
Been on a ninja 250 for 4 years and 25000km so finally stepping it up.

 

[Woodiekd]

Very good write up! I'm 35 been riding for 15 years dirt and cruiser I just bought a gsxr 600 my first sport bike and the thing scares the shit outa me at least ones every ride the power and handling can make you think your so much better then you realy are!!!!


Sent from my iPhone using MO Free

 

[Rinpoche]

New riders would do well to take the OP to heart, I recently got an 07 GSX-r600 after a few years riding a 750cc sports-touring bike, and I am still getting used to handling this new beast. I shudder to think of how terrible a driver I would be had I not had a few years previous road experience. It really is not the kind of thing you can learn on.

 

[getameapizza]

Thanks Ride for the thread. I rode my LS650 for a while before even thinking about a gixxer 600. In fact, I purchased the sport bike for my son, but after riding it, I knew he wasn't going to get it until he rode the LS 650 for a while. Even then, I think I am going to keep it, but I am glad I didn't start with it. It still takes my breath away. I just have to hold back and remember I am not on the track. Yeeha :burnout

 

[Zixxer2Gixxer420]

I'm not missing the point of this thread. It all depends on the person if your prone to accidents, have bad balance or are retarded you should start out on say a 250 to see if bikes are even for you. Me personally I am not "surviving" I ride my bike hard through the turns, turned 11.691 @ 118mph on my 3rd pass at the track. I bring the front wheel and back wheel up whenever I want to so I am riding my bike pretty well for 4 months of experience. btw I have not dropped it either. so my point is it all depends on the person.

That's with barely 2 months of riding under my belt.

I started on a 1997 zx9r(first streetbike besides my yami enduro 125 2smoker), so following this guys logic and reasoning I should be able to ride circles around Nicky Hayden by now?(circle wheelies I should say since this kid likes to squid eerr I mean stunt with no gear). I mean if it took 4 months for him to turn pro on a 600, then I should be on the motoGP grid pretty soon since I started on a 900cc lol. Well that dude made that post in 07 so hopefully he has learned by now if he is still alive and not a para/quadrapalegic or so brain damaged he cant even wipe his own ass... While I started off on a 9r and didn't get seriously hurt/killed, I DEFINITELY wouldn't do it again, a bike with damn near 140hp and more weight than some Harley bikes is well, lets just say less than ideal for a noob. And I DID drop it, only once tho when coming to a stoplight, I had the bars slightly turned and I grabbed the front brake causing the front to dive forward and to the right, and yeah it was quite embarrassing doing that infront of a bunch of people. If I was giving advice to someone who is set on getting a 600+cc supersport as a first bike, I would try to steer them towards a supermoto if they HAVE TO have a fun bike.. wheelies like none other, I had a KTM 250xc 2 stroke that would rip the front tire off the ground 1st thru 4th... re-gear that bitch and you will have quite a fun little dirt/streetbike

 

[Agent26]

My first bike was a Honda CBRF4i. Loved it.
2nd bike was a Yamaha YZF6R. Loved it.
My current bike is a Suzuki GSXR1000. I love it everytime I get on it. Everytime.

I feel the only thing that has kept me shiny side up and walking is respect for the machine, alertness while riding and that wonderful MSF course I took before I got started on the Honda. Starting on a 600 can be done. Recommended by the general public, no. But it can be done.

 

[bk_600]

Great Write Up. As someone who recently completed a riding safety course and being the only one there who has ridden a bike before, ya I would never let a true beginner on a 600. Most of the people in that select group should never be on a bike let alone a road in any vehicle.

 

[BanditGreg]

[Hey folks! New Guy here.. BanditGreg, from other forums like SV Rider and Cycle World, etc. Right now doing my 10-post "Time"..intro later!]

While some guys are "naturals", most of us aren't. I'm an older guy...been riding, oh, a LONG time; started on a Honda 50 when i was a kid, gradually moved northward through 100's, 125's, 250's, 500's, yadda yadda. Each time I moved up it seemed like a Quantum Shift of speed and power.

I worked in three Suzuki dealerships in the past. We'd get kids coming in and saying, "I've got CASH. What's the fastest thing ya got?"
We'd ask what the squid..oops, kid...had been riding before and too often the answer was, "Oh I used to ride my brother's old dirtbike around the yard".
Kool. And now you want a GSXR1300 Hayabusa.
BUT... Cash Talks and so yon master would nervously wobble out onto the highways on a shiny new 160 HP rocketship. Sometimes we'd see them come in for First Service with road rash on one side... sometimes they never showed back up at all...

I'm a firm believer in starting small and working up.
AND.. there's a lot to be gained by going DOWN in cc size! Small bikes... RIP!

:cheers

 

[tsonksen]

What an amazing and perfect post. Unfortunately I think the guys who need to grasp it the most believe they are 'above' it, convinced it doesn't apply to them and their awesome riding ability. (sigh)
First ride was a Honda moped. LOL
First real bike was a Honda CM400 that was in fairly beat condition. Was the beginner bike for almost everyone in the neighborhood though.
Two bikes later was the first sport bike. Little Ninja 250.
My favorite was a 91 Katana 600, though cleaning the carbs so often kept it in the garage more than on the street.
I definitely prefer the riding position and the abundant performance of a sport bike, but loved those old rides!
Might not have been glamorous, but they were a ride!

 

[-Q-]

I recognize this is an old thread, but a great one. I'll share too.

I am a vehicle accident reconstructionist with a specialty in motorcycle accidents. I've worked many many motorcycle accidents. I will say the VAST MAJORITY of motorcycle accidents that are fatal or near fatal fall into two categories:

- Middle-aged folks who are either re-entries or rare riders, frequently intoxicated, usually on cruisers.
- Youngsters on supersports, at least half of which don't even have their endorsement yet. Typically owned it for months, not years, and was reportedly their first bike.

Of those two groups, the latter is the largest.

 

[spike52]

I recognize this is an old thread, but a great one. I'll share too.

I am a vehicle accident reconstructionist with a specialty in motorcycle accidents. I've worked many many motorcycle accidents. I will say the VAST MAJORITY of motorcycle accidents that are fatal or near fatal fall into two categories:

- Middle-aged folks who are either re-entries or rare riders, frequently intoxicated, usually on cruisers.
- Youngsters on supersports, at least half of which don't even have their endorsement yet. Typically owned it for months, not years, and was reportedly their first bike.

Of those two groups, the latter is the largest.

That's a lot of blame on the rider.

 

[-Q-]

That's a lot of blame on the rider.

It's the nature of what I do. If the car/truck/van/dump truck is at fault, there's no need for an accident reconstruction. I get called when it's unclear.

Motorcycling is an unforgiving sport.

 

[Atiroocky]

Every new customer should read these lines before buying hypersport for first time.
I've just bought one with only 2 years riding experience but...
In France, riding licence is quite hard to get. 20hrs lesson and less than 30% success at the final test. Then you can't ride a bike with more than 47.5 hp, for 2 years, no matter your age.
Then, after these 2 years, if you want to get an hypersport bike, your insurance requires that you had minimum 2 years of previous insurance contract. So you can't just get your licence, wait 2 years, and get what you want. It is a bit frustrating as a rider, but i think it can save lives...
In my case, I've done lot of practice, braking, swerving, tight turning, then knee dragging and trackdays.
I bought my GSXR1000 because I felt ready. Was not the case one year ago. These trackdays help me to know my limits, mainly in corners. I could have bought a smaller bike, but this one is special for me and I contemplate it each time I go to my garage.
On this 1000cc, corners are coming very fast, most often than on my previous. But I know how to handle it. I make all my possible to not be surprised by a corner (never pushing on unknown roads), but if it happens, I've got the tools to manage it.
Last thing, I always wear full gear, even in hot summer. Safety first. I've read this sentence "always show the skin you want to loose". So true.