Newbie screws up!...please help.

[earwig]

dude, don't sell it and don't listen to the pansies. A newbie can handle your bike... just take it easy. just because your bike has 103 peak horsepower doesn't mean you have to use all of it or even come close. be careful.

[Koss]

Hi all,

I'm back and want to thank ALL of you that helped me.

It was tough to not ride, but i kept myself in check. passed the "HELL" out of my MSF and now feel MUCH more confident on my Gixxer.

The smoke problem stopped, and i am taking it in for service later this week. just to make sure my baby is ok.

So other than an Ego injury and some "character scratches" Me and the bike are just fine.

I'm learning my bikes personality and taking everything slowly for now while i adjust. It's definitely a different beast from the 250's at the MSF class, but i'm doing great so far.

Thank you again.

Patient

Thanks for comming back and keeping us posted on your progress. I hope you come to find a long riding career ahead of you! Good luck.

[intotherain]

Ouch!!!!! A brand spankin new 07 GSXR-600.. I wouldnt want to even touch it lol!! I rode my friends 600 CC and I had the same problem... The brakes on these sportbikes are too strong for our own good and can seriously kill us. Anyways, good thing you didnt kill yourself.

Actually I think its really risky that you got a 600CC as a first bike. Just dont kill yourself!

Earwig, I personnaly think you have limited experience on a bike, because of what you said. I dont want to explain why but go read that "ur a noob and want a 600cc sportbike?" thread..

[Patient]

Yup, it sucked.

But it wasn't a matter of "doing something wrong" as much as it was simply a lapse of judgement. I did not know how to ride a bike...i was excited and overconfident. And i learned exactly what happens...

Needless to say, i've had my wake up call.
I never intended to be irresponsible, and luckily i was going very slow when i fell. Nothing is damaged beyond my ego.

I was also forced to park the bike for almost 2 months before i finished my MSF class, a great lesson in patience.
I do not regret anything, and i am happy to say that i understand how to ride and am currently spending my time learning my bike.

As someone posted earlier, "just because you have a lot of power doesn't mean you have to use it." I think this is great advice as i've been taking it very slowly while i learn how my bike reacts. (Beyond the fact that i'm in my "break in' period of 600 miles at < 6000rpm"

Again i want to thank everyone for their "constructive" advice. it's great to have a forum where i can get honest and helpful feedback

[flynrider]

As someone posted earlier, "just because you have a lot of power doesn't mean you have to use it."

Don't let that lull you into a false sense of security. IMHO, the greatest risk in learning on that bike is that you will inadvertently unleash the excess horsepower or braking capabilities. Check out the videos posted in the "First Ride Woo-hoo" thread in this forum. Those are excellent examples of what happens when you make a noob mistake on a powerful bike. I've seen similar gaffs happen dozens of times. This year, a neighbor pulled a similar stunt on his new sportbike. He shot across the road and ended up in a tree before he could get the bike back under control. Things can happen very fast.

I don't tell people they can't learn on a high powered bike (I get asked a lot), but I do try to get them to realize that their noob mistakes (which everyone makes) could be greatly magnified. That's all.

[Patient]

No doubt, and please don’t let my comments make it seem like I’m overly confident.
...I’m not.

I learned a very good lesson when I dropped my bike the first time. I felt first hand what "too much power, not enough skill" felt like. I'be been humbled.

My point in quoting that phrase was that I’m very aware of my actions now.
I'm in no rush, and in no way trying to show off or be "cool"

As for inadvertently unleashing power,...I’m sure it'll happen, but I’m making every attempt possible to stick to my guidelines during my "break in period" This restricts me to speeds which are street legal, and I intend to use this time to it's fullest as I learn as much as I can about my bike. Once I’m more comfortable I will be more inclined to "unleash the power" but while I’m learning I have no intentions of pushing myself nor the bike.

Thank you for your concern, I really appreciate the time it takes to read these posts and make competent replies.

[Shorts]

Hey Patient, good to hear the riding is coming along. Congrats on getting MSF done.

If I may say so, and not meaning to pick on you, but rather compliment you on being a classy example, admitting your mistake, but asking for help and following good advice. Keep following through on practice and good technique, use your brains, you're doing alright