Help me advise my new rider friend | GTAMotorcycle.com

Help me advise my new rider friend

Takano

Takano

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I am no where near an expert on riding or instruction. I try my best to pass on the advice given to me when I started, but I am currently stumped.

My friend wants to start riding this coming season. Booking the course with RTI as soon as it warms up again. I originally suggested that he start on a 250cc, SV650, or something else beginner friendly. He's 5'1'', 140lbs, and wants a Monster 696.

I have no idea what to tell him. Is the Monster easy to ride? Is the power/torque too much? Alternatives? I don't even know what questions to ask for him.

Anything helpful I can pass on would be great.
 
Monster isn't horrible for a beginner. Alot like a SV650 in many ways. I would however suggest they get an insurance quote.
 
depending on his age you might not have to say anything insurance will tell him a number he wont wanna pay unless he has deep pocket
 
agreed, look at insurance first. There are many factors and debates on who should start on what. This is just general, and purely opinion but here are some things that keep in mind. 1.) many new riders drop their first bike. I did, most do. Your friend is not special or somehow exempt from this. Everyone thinks they will be "super careful". Hope he's the exception and not the rule. I suggest anything pre-rashed (as in minor costmetic damage) or pre-owned, 500cc or less and $5000 or less. How upset would your friend be if they dumped their new monster at a stop sign going 10 mph on a gravel patch and rashed the front, side and tail fairings, case covers, lever, mirror, peg, etc. 2.) mistakes are magnified by new riders, not by intention, just pure lack of experience. Hit a pothole, crack the throttle. Too much front brake, slip the front wheel, too much gas with cold tires, wet paint line on the road, etc. 3.) maintenance and replacement part price for a duc. Seriously, go price out what a crash would cost to fix with the parts listed. 4.) Harder to sell than the average 250

IMO, do what everyone else does, buy a 250, get some experience, turn around and sell it for nearly what you paid for it. Not saying a monster couldn't work as a first bike, but risk vs reward. After 2 years of riding exp, then buy it. He'll learn a lot and correct many riding mistakes in those first 2 years.
 
It really depends on your friend's maturity level. You can learn to ride on anything if you approach it with a responsible attitude. My friend started on a monster S2R (800cc) and did fine. Agree with smergy, most everyone drops their bike first season, usually while stopped or at low speed. It hurts so much more to see a mint bike fall.
 
I'm glad I started on a 250 and then moved on to an SV650. I got the whole "I'm on a motorcycle, let's rip the throttle!" thing out of my blood (mostly) on the 250.
 
Thanks for the tips. I'll pass them along and see how his riding attitude is after the course. Hopefully the speed bug doesn't get him too hard if he is set on the Monster.
 
I would say a 650 over a 250. But for sure not a 600. If he does get a duc may as well be the 796.
 
Takano said:
Why the 796? He seems pretty set on a Monster. Should I suggest the 796 over the 696?
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I wouldnt recommend the 796 as a first bike. The 696 is more than enough, however I would personally grab a 250 for the first season and learn proper control first. I rode my 250 for 2 seasons before getting a 796. Even then it was like learning how to ride again.

The monster takes alot of finesse of clutch and throttle to keep her happy, especially from a stop. As a noob i think I would have had trouble with that. I would learn the 250 save on insurance and then grab a 796
 
Keep in mind all ducs have dry clutches right? If so, I wouldn't really recommend one to a beginner, unless they want to replace it after a year or two, esp if they have never driven anything manual before in their life.
 
conundrum said:
Keep in mind all ducs have dry clutches right? If so, I wouldn't really recommend one to a beginner, unless they want to replace it after a year or two, esp if they have never driven anything manual before in their life.
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I think they are moving away from them. The last time i rode a monster i did not recall hearing a dry clutch

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dieselxx said:
The 696 and 796 are wet slipper clutches. I think the 1100 is dry
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The 848 & 1098 are wet, right?

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M696 wet
M796 wet
M1100evo wet
M1100S dry
848 wet
1098 dry
1198 dry
1199 wet

Diavel and strada wet
 
Start on 250 or 500. Like most have said, people will drop there bike (especially first time riders) and it hurts to know it went down.
If you drop a bike thats not as nice, its ok but dropping a mint bike hurts (your pockets too). Good luck to him and be safe
 
The monster would be cool for posing. If he really wants to ride he will deal with anything, so let him make his choice. If he loves how it looks he will want to ride it more and improve faster as a result. In some ways a twin with a bit more torque is easier to learn on than a tiny little screamer. Just my opinion of course.
 
you can't go wrong with a 250, they hold their value pretty good and they are very forgiving. Maybe the new Ninja 300 would be a good alternative. They look a little more aggressive then the 250 if looks is what he's going for.
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