Sportbikes are Not beginner Bikes

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Nice blurb by Keith Code on this in the June Motorcyclist magazine.

Have to laugh at how many people think that they are responsible enough to have an SS as a first bike.

Hopefully, they live long enough to learn their mistake.

Don't forget to buy enough term life insurance, it would add insult to injury for your family to have to pay to bury you too.
 
If you are experienced the extra power can get you out of trouble....if you arent it can get you into trouble. 'nuff said!
 
I started on a cbr600 f2, yes carbs but hey I survived. If you wanna go ss for a first bike then so be it, but my suggestion is get a older bike. I have a f4i now with a power commander and so on, and she gets going quick, so my bike right now the way it sits is definetly not a first timer bike. Carbs are a little easier to get use to then fuel injected. Thats my 2 cents, SS are not that bad to start on, as long as you have self control
 
I just got my first bike about 5 days ago; an 04 kawi zx6r. Yeah its fast but its all about being smart and easing into the process. I took it to an empty parking lot to get used to emergency braking and handling and all that.

At first the power was like holy s**t!!! but just taking it slow and getting used to the bike is important before you go taking on traffic on the roads.

I just didnt want to get a 250 then get bored of it and two weeks later go get a 600. the buying and selling process is cumbersome at best.

be smart and ride safe! thats what I'm doing!
 
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S_D said:
I just got my first bike about 5 days ago; an 04 kawi zx6r. Yeah its fast but its all about being smart and easing into the process. I took it to an empty parking lot to get used to emergency braking and handling and all that.

At first the power was like holy s**t!!! but just taking it slow and getting used to the bike is important before you go taking on traffic on the roads.

I just didnt want to get a 250 then get bored of it and two weeks later go get a 600. the buying and selling process is cumbersome at best.

be smart and ride safe! thats what I'm doing!
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careful north of 7K. totally different animal.
 
First bike is/was a GSX650F. Wouldn't change anything, perfect beginner bike.
 
Bought a 05 cbr 600RR as my first bike which i purchased a week ago....

As long as you don't rev above 7K it isn't too bad. As many others mentioned its all about throttle control and clutch control...only thing that is hurting is my wallet. Paying $290/month >.<"

*flame suit on*
 
jkim said:
Bought a 05 cbr 600RR as my first bike which i purchased a week ago....

As long as you don't rev above 7K it isn't too bad. As many others mentioned its all about throttle control and clutch control...only thing that is hurting is my wallet. Paying $290/month >.<"

*flame suit on*
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Just make sure you don't get a false sense of confidence, because that son of a ***** will humble you right, quick and in a hurry lol

Ride Safe!
 
Well my first street bike was a 77 kz650! I'm only 26 now and had it when I was 16. I also had regular access to my dads 98 zx9r which I put 15000km on and now have a zx10 with 20000 km (all my mileage). No speeding tickets.....yet. If your responsible and respect what your on you can ride anything, it's when you get comfortable and get caught out and don't know how to react is when your in a world of trouble. I've been riding since I was 10 in the dirt and that is by far the best way to learn how to controll your bike.
 
This discussion is on every bike forum i belong to in some variation or another and to be quite honest i'm sick of hearing it. My .02 cents; buy what you want (chances are your going to anyways) if you can afford it and afford to insure it. I've seen new riders crash out on CBR125's just as much as i've seen new riders crash out on sportbike 600s and liters bikes the same. My advice, would be to know what your capable of on your bike and ride within your skills. Don't try keepin up with the pack if your pushing your riding skills. Most riders respect the fact that your a new rider and will end up waiting for you at an intersection or crossroad. I personally would way rather wait for a new rider a few miles up the road, then turn around and wait for an ambulance and a tow truck. Take track days, (and don't be worried if your slow on the track either) courses try to get as much experience you can. It's not the bike thats going to hurt you, its your descsions you make on the bike that will hurt you. And have fun, we need more sport bikes out there! We're a dyin' breed!
 
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Most of us buy the best we can afford that suits our pocket and riding style! I've had all sorts of bikes over 30 years of riding. Two months ago I got tired of my Buell lightning (had it five years) and tired of my Honda VTR 1000 (a great bike, but fancied a change)...
I traded BOTH plus some cash and bought a Victory Vegas (pics attached).
Never had a cruiser before...had to convince myself...but is has 95 hp and 90 ft lbs of torque and runs a low 12 second quarter, so not bad...and the big V twins have all their power right off the bottom end of the rev range...suits my style. I have to say though that the Honda was easier to ride than the Vegas...seriously!

You can kill yourself no matter you ride, best advice is don't ride faster than you can handle, and assume all the cagers are out to get you. Get what you like, just remember it hurts bad when you fall off (and yes, I have, many times).....
 
An interesting read, however in the end we make our own decisions and we must live by them.

My first bike was a '99 CBR F4 and I have absolutely no regrets having it as my first. I was able to learn quite a bit about riding on the F4 simply because it was so forgiving. I currently have a '07 600RR and I firmly believe the time I spent of the F4 allowed me to properly delevop my skills, build confidence and gain valuable experience before I jumped on one of todays modern machines.
 
Its interesting for me to here about everyones first bike as far as what choice of bike that you all got as your first bike and so on ---- didn't anyone start riding motorcross before they got a road bike??
it seems everyone gets a bike, takes a course, gets their licence --- then vola...... they are on the road with the rest of us....then...a season or two later -- they have confidence and some experience... are they not still beginners? Maybe they only have 2,000 or 3,000kms in 1 or 2 seasons of riding....

Anyway --- the riders that I grew up with....we all had dirt bikes some of us at 10yrs old -- the rest around 13yrs old -- and all summer we would ride --- giving us lots of 2 wheel experience before we go o the road.

I still say, anyone who has never riden a bike before - should put 100hrs on a dirt bike before they hit the road
 
FZ1Oakville said:
Its interesting for me to here about everyones first bike as far as what choice of bike that you all got as your first bike and so on ---- didn't anyone start riding motorcross before they got a road bike??
it seems everyone gets a bike, takes a course, gets their licence --- then vola...... they are on the road with the rest of us....then...a season or two later -- they have confidence and some experience... are they not still beginners? Maybe they only have 2,000 or 3,000kms in 1 or 2 seasons of riding....

Anyway --- the riders that I grew up with....we all had dirt bikes some of us at 10yrs old -- the rest around 13yrs old -- and all summer we would ride --- giving us lots of 2 wheel experience before we go o the road.

I still say, anyone who has never riden a bike before - should put 100hrs on a dirt bike before they hit the road
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Yep, I wish people would do that too. I started on 3 wheelers, at 9, sleds at 14 and dirt bikes soon after. By the time I finally got a street bike I already had 16 years of time riding. The lessons you learn on dirt are invaluable on the street.
Learn a feel for a bike with all the sliding, bumping, jumping etc. Emergency situations, and fine clutch, throttle and brake inputs in bumpy situations... The first few times I hit a whoops section with a twist throttle were interesting...

Due to the experience I was 100% comfortable having a 600 as a first street bike and could concentrate on learning how to ride on the street with it's dangers and not worry about what I was doing with the bike... Braking was a new experience however with the added traction.
 
hey all, newest (?) member to GTAM..

my first ride?..... 21-speed 2-human-leg powered bicycle! >:] *evil laugh*
sorry, just wanted to post that... lol

can't wait to get CBR125...
 
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