My first ride on a literbike

[kabob983]

First off let me state, while I'm technically not a "new" biker, in the grand scheme of things I'm still a naive and inexperienced rider. I'm putting this in the New forum to hopefully inform a few potential riders...

I'm up in St. Louis with my wife's family for Thanksgiving and my brother in law has been trying to get me to take his R1 for a spin for quite a while. First off, I've never ridden a supersport, much less a literbike. So I was a bit nervous to say the least. I've been on a Kawasaki EX500 since May of '06 and I'm reasonably comfortable with the bike. It's predictible, it's forgiving, and it doesn't have a "freak" power band...

It was getting dark but seeing how this is the last day was going to be warm I figured I'd give it a shot. So I geared up and set out. Instantly, before I noticed the power, I noticed the steering geometry. It's so much different, not even the riding position but the rake/trail makes a huge difference compared to my EX500...changing direction takes barely a thought, to the point of being dangerously sharp. Had I not known the basics of riding it could/would have been much more scary.

They live about 30 miles West of St. Louis in a backwoods sort of area so the roads are relatively empty/curvy. I headed out and decided to see what it could do. I put it in 2nd gear and gave it some gas. Wow...this may be an "old" R1 (2000) but man there is no flipping comparison between a bike like it and my 500. I guess I'd equate it to bullriding when the bull just wants to go go go and the rider holds on for dear life. I looked at my speedometer and gasped, 101 mph in what felt like only a moment. It was a mix of thrill/gut wrenching fear all at the same time. I gently rolled off to slow myself down to a "reasonable" speed. I know I am no where near ready for that kind of power, so I played it safe, but nonetheless I certainly enjoyed the ride. Since I didn't know the roads very well I really went pretty slow (within the 60 MPH limit) just trying to feel the bike out. If you so much as touch the throttle it goes, there is no warning...unlike my bike this bike is made to react instantly hard.

Went about 5 or 6 miles down to a gas station and turned around and came back, all the while trying to get used to both the riding position and handling.

Both on the way and coming back there is a pretty long straight and there wasn't any traffic so in 2nd gear I hit probably 110, my only real "hooliganism" that I had. The bike will hit 100mph in the blink of an eye. Gas it too hard and your front wheel is hovering above the pavement.

I got back to the house and my brother in law was outside waiting for me with a smile on his face. I pulled into the garage and he asked "so, what did you think?" I sat there for a moment and the only thing I could say was "this bike is freaking scary!" He chuckled and nodded, tellin me that was what he thought when he got it (he's been riding since he was 12 or so and is now 28, didn't get this bike until about '02). His dad, who's been riding for 35+ years rode it one time and said it'd the only bike he's ever ridden where he didn't feel like he was in control, it scared him too.

I certainly have a new respect for these bikes. Anyone who thinks they can safely learn to ride on a 1000cc supersport or even a 600cc supersport is only fooling themselves. The razor sharp handling and on/off power is an accident waiting to happen for anyone who's not ready for it (and trust me, as a "beginner" who's learning everything at once you're won't be ready...), the handling for me was honestly more unnerving than the power. I've got reasonably good throttle/clutch control but there's no lever for steering control. I've been riding for a year and a half and even I was awestruck by the bike. There is absolutely no logical reason to have that much power in a street bike...but boy it was a thrill.

I'd like to take it out again when it's a little lighter just got get more of a feel for it. Hopefully I'll get a 600cc supersport next spring, but even that'll be a new experience.

The moral of the story, if you're new to motorcycles and think one of these bikes would make a great first ride you are crazy...the bike is absolute unforgiving. Stick to a "beginner" bike and build your skills so that when the day comes that you ride a bike like this you'll have the skills not only to somewhat control it but maybe, like me, even enjoy it.

[jstark47]

Excellent post. You just confirmed for me that there's no reason, outside of track use, that I'd ever need a litre supersport, and probably not even a 600cc supersport. My V-strom probably has a little more than half the horsepower of the bike you rode. Aside from merging onto the interstate, there's never opportunity to use even half of my bike's horsepower - there's just too much traffic and not enough room around here. (..'though the torque is nice to have when powering off the apex of a tight corner )

[NorthernPete]

Yar....those bikes are scary fast..I rode my buddies FZR6 with an engine upgrade and didnt notice how quick I was going untill I looked down and saw triple digits...in a 60 zone...... I wouldnt mind having a 600 some day, but like you said, its a good thing to have riding expirience before hopping on one.

[kabob983]

Thanks for the feedback guys. I live about 20 mins from Barber Motorsports Park so I do get some track time in, even the track guys I know though say a 600 is much easier to ride fast on the track than a 1000. Much more "usable" power, that's for sure. Most only use the lower 3 gears at Barber on the 1000's as it is.

600cc supersports are stupid-quick enough for me, don't know if I'll ever need/want a 1000 (or 1200 of the "trend" continues and they up the power on the I-4's to match the V-twins). Not terribly practical for street riding but I've pretty much maxed out my EX500 at the track (don't get me wrong, it's still a blast). I hate getting passed on the straights by the sportbikes and having to crawl behind them in the corners though.

[intotherain]

emmm... litre bikes.

[TKDean]

What about 1000cc V-twins like the sv1000s. Ive been riding for only a couple of months but iv already got like 3000 miles under me. But i feel really comfortable on my bike (GS500f). However that ive been riding for a little i find this unsatisfying. It feels to heavy and like i have to force it to lean. The power is also lacking. I want to upgrade but cant afford a 600cc sport bike insurance wise. So i was thinking something like the sv1000s. but they stop making it this year. So now im thinking of getting now. I guess my question is would the sv1000 feel like lets say the r1 or more like an r6. Now i know a lot of you here will tell me not to get this bike and instead get something like the sv650. But my thought is ill probably have this bike for the next 3 to 4 years and i cant afford to upgrade from a 650 in a year or two.

[dean owens]

hmmm, i've heard the term liter bike but never knew it ment 1000cc. just thought it was a term for sportbikes.

maybe i'm a pansy, but i just don't see the need for a bike that you can't actually use. i mean, buy up if you have the money, but not even getting out of 2nd and going faster than you can legally go on any road in the states.... just don't get it.

i almost wish they would make some bikes that look like these super fast bikes but put a smaller engine in them. i really like the looks of the fz6. but i don't know that i'll ever have the need for a bike to go that fast.

[ceemes]

hmmm, i've heard the term liter bike but never knew it ment 1000cc. just thought it was a term for sportbikes.

maybe i'm a pansy, but i just don't see the need for a bike that you can't actually use. i mean, buy up if you have the money, but not even getting out of 2nd and going faster than you can legally go on any road in the states.... just don't get it.

i almost wish they would make some bikes that look like these super fast bikes but put a smaller engine in them. i really like the looks of the fz6. but i don't know that i'll ever have the need for a bike to go that fast.

its metric....1000 CC = 1 litre 1500 CC = 1.5 litres

To give you an idea of size, my old '79 Mustang Cobra had a 5.0 litre engine or 5000 CC's...aka the Ford 302 CI, so a litre bike engine is roughly 1/5 the size of the engine powering older Mustangs.

As for stupid HP on a bike, I've been told that there is an RCMP Constable in the Richmond BC area who has put NOX on his GSX1300R (1.3 litre) Hayabusa street bike. I guess he is planning on using his badge to keep him out of trouble with his fellow Mounties.

[Wrider]

Heh Ceemes... Saw on Craigslist around here the other day a Hayabusa they were selling for 17.5K American. I had to click to see what was so special about it. Busa, big bore kit to 1450 ccs turbo, dynod at 257 RWHP. Also stretched to keep in on the ground, and for some unknown reason they put a 300 series rear tire on it... So yeah, insanity at it's finest! Also around here is a turbo'd nox'd, lowered R1 that's been chased several times by the cops, but not caught yet, last time they chased him through a speed camera that clocked him at 180 or some obscene number like that. Oh, and some moron videotaped himself driving his Lambo here on local highways at 219 MPH. Cops are investigating!
Wrider

[shane-o]

What about 1000cc V-twins like the sv1000s. Ive been riding for only a couple of months but iv already got like 3000 miles under me. But i feel really comfortable on my bike (GS500f). However that ive been riding for a little i find this unsatisfying. It feels to heavy and like i have to force it to lean. The power is also lacking. I want to upgrade but cant afford a 600cc sport bike insurance wise. So i was thinking something like the sv1000s. but they stop making it this year. So now im thinking of getting now. I guess my question is would the sv1000 feel like lets say the r1 or more like an r6. Now i know a lot of you here will tell me not to get this bike and instead get something like the sv650. But my thought is ill probably have this bike for the next 3 to 4 years and i cant afford to upgrade from a 650 in a year or two.

Hmmm, I ride a sports 1000cc V-Twin, and Ive ridden 1000cc rr bikes as well, there are a lot of differences as you could imagine.

Would I recommend a sports 1000cc v-twin to a begginer, NOPE.
For the same reasons I wouldnt recommend ya grab an RR bike as well.

V-twins have their peak power down low, which is why i ride one, cause I spend most of my riding in traffic and want to enjoy the odd power spurt here and there.

Trust me, you get harsh with the imputs on a sports litre v-twin, and they will get very very twitchy on you. They are not as forgiving as some people would have you believe. Best to build up skills, take your time, then venture up the horse power scale, whats the rush? they are always going to make litre bikes !!!

IMHO of course