Sportbike Question

[green meenie]

I ride a 600 (well; actually a 636) sportbike and I would never recommend someone start out on one. Can it be done or has it been done successfully - yes it has but the odds are against you (big time).

If you're a new rider and the SS type bike is what you're interested in riding, long term, then start out on a CBR 125 Honda or a 250 Kawi for at least a season or two then move up when you've mastered the basics at least. Those two bikes will give you the feel and handling of a SS bike without the unmanagable power.

While the 600 class soprt bikes are light and have amazing handling capabilities; throttle control is the main issue that will get you into trouble really fast and that is only amplified if you're a noobie. When you're young and invincible, having gobs of power with a slight twist of the wrist is a temtation that few will not yeild to, either by accident or by design.

(My 2 cents worth)

[TheRaceMaster]

I'm not trying to outwit anyone, I don't think newbs should start out on 600+cc sportbikes; I myself did not purchase one as a first bike and do not plan to.

I asked a very simple question and I don't understand why it's so hard for people to answer.

I just want to know who on this forum has ridden sportbikes more than just a tiny bit.

I would like to hear what people who actually have serious experience with sportbikes say about them.

I do respect the advice of people on this forum who have ridden cruisers or whatever else for 30 years regarding everything motorcycling; I am simply looking for what people who actually ride sportbikes have to say.

There's just a little something to be desired when someone who has done tons of research and talked to tons of experienced LSD users but never done the drug themselves tells you never to do LSD.

There's a little bit to be desired when people who have clearly never mounted a sportbike tell you never to ride a sportbike as your first bike.

Again, I DO NOT PLAN TO RIDE ONE AS MY FIRST BIKE, and I'm not an idiot - I understand the logic behind what the stickies say and I respect it.

If people could just get past the bull**** and actually answer my question, I would be content. I'm not looking for a sportbike rider to legitimize buying one as a first bike, I'm simply looking for their experienced perspective on the matter.

Thank you.

[dr_bar]

Gee...


Most people on this site list their current and past bikes in their signatures... What's that I see in your's???

[Kibagari]

I asked a very simple question and I don't understand why it's so hard for people to answer.

You asked a loaded question, nothing simple about that at all.

I just want to know who on this forum has ridden sportbikes more than just a tiny bit.

I would like to hear what people who actually have serious experience with sportbikes say about them.

You've already shown that you're experienced with motorcycles when you said "I myself did not purchase one as a first bike and do not plan to". I see no reason for you to need this information since you clearly are not a newbie.

There's just a little something to be desired when someone who has done tons of research and talked to tons of experienced LSD users but never done the drug themselves tells you never to do LSD.

There's a little bit to be desired when people who have clearly never mounted a sportbike tell you never to ride a sportbike as your first bike.

You just proved my point. You're trying to discredit people based on their riding experience, however veiled it is.

Again, I DO NOT PLAN TO RIDE ONE AS MY FIRST BIKE, and I'm not an idiot - I understand the logic behind what the stickies say and I respect it.

So are you a new rider or not?

If people could just get past the bull**** and actually answer my question, I would be content.

I, at least, am not here to make you content. The bull**** you speak of would have been lessened had you not made your first posts the way you did. You brought this one on yourself.

I'm not looking for a sportbike rider to legitimize buying one as a first bike, I'm simply looking for their experienced perspective on the matter.

...So you're looking for a sportbike rider to give their yea or nay on the situation. Their experienced perspective is probably going to be "Well, I did it, but I wouldn't recommend it" or "I didn't do it, but I ride one now and wouldn't recommend it" or even "I did it, survived, and think everyone should buy a hayabusa first off!"

In summary:

You've trolled to stir up some unrest, which you've accomplished.

You're trying to discredit the advice of those warning new riders against riding sportbikes REGARDLESS of the notion based on your own words that you, personally, did not start out on a sport bike.

You're attempting to cover this all up by saying that you respect the advice of the people on this forum who have been riding for years while disrespecting their advice.

As it has been noted, patience is wearing thin. Either raise some REAL concerns or get packin'.

[dean owens]

ahh, i'll take a stab and throw something in here....

i don't know if this person is bubba or not. and i saw their first post and agree that it's not a great first post for this board.

BUT, i think the question is a valid one. i trust all riders. and i've only riden a year and what i have is by no means a SS and i know from my bike that a SS is the worst thing to start off on. and i can trust other standard and cruiser riders on this. but i don't think it's a bad idea to hear from those who do ride them for their perspective. it would give more weight to people who might be on the fence with the issue.

[TrueFaith]

I don't think it's at all necessary to speak to only sportbike riders about sportbikes. If you know anything about motorcycles you know that newbies are always better off learning to ride on a parallel twin than an inline four. The difference in power and predictability is like black and white. Yamaha makes no bones about their R6 being a race bike that is street legal and Honda even puts the "RR" at the end of the model name. If someone thinks they can just hop on what is basically a race bike with mirrors and lights and be in complete control without any concern for biting off more than they can chew, well that's when Darwin's theory of evolution becomes your friend. At least the moron probably won't live long enough to procreate.

[JCS]

Ok, I'll bite.

Most people asking this question have absolutely no clue as to the actual potential of a modern SS bike, although many think that they do.

I have been riding sport bikes for over 20 years. Currently own a 750 and a 1000. Neither are current models. Both have way more potential than I would ever need on the street. The newer models have even more performance.

I have ridden many other SS bikes of various displacements and states of tune, from bone stock to full tilt race bikes to SS bikes converted to sport tourers. Ninjas, CBRs, GSXRs, etc.

Do I enjoy riding sport bikes? Obviously.

Would I recommend one for a beginner? Absolutely not. I did not let my wife or my daughters learn on sport bikes. After four or five years of riding regularly and putting on quite a few miles my wife now rides the 750. It is still way more bike than she needs but rides it almost daily. With a set of soft saddlebags it is now her commuter/tourer.

In fact, I just had this same conversation with a nephew today. He had went to a cycle shop as a beginner and was steered toward open class SS bikes first and then 600's. He asked for advise and probably got more than he wanted.

Bottom line, I told him that he was not ready for this type of bike and explained why. It looks like I will be going with him when he goes bike shopping next time.

My opinion: I believe that the manufacturers need to have more beginner and intermediate bikes in the US market but that does not seem to be happening.

[RhadamYgg]

I'm a total noob. I can say one thing for sure - at the MSF course and the first time on my bike...

I'm a total slob with the throttle. I make up for it with the clutch, but I'll tell you one thing - if I got on something with real power at the MSF course or as my first bike, I'd have dropped the bike in 10 feet.

Now, maybe I'm a x, y or z in terms of capabilities on the bike... That may be true and it may not. I can say usually I'm pretty good physically. I might upgrade I the future and I might not. Regardless, it won't be until I've got the little throttle I have under control.

So, no experience on a 600cc bike. My goal bike (if I upgrade) would be something like a Honda ST1300 or a Pacific coast - to do lost of highway riding.

RhadamYgg

[TheRaceMaster]

Thank you to those who actually decided to answer my question - I really appreciate the insight. Any other sportbike riders care to add their 2 cents?

[smakawhat]

I started off on a 2006 Ninja 500, I ride an F4i now.

Questions...? I'll be happy to answer them.

Supersports have the ability to simply destroy you if you make even the slightest mistakes.

That's why for sportbikes ideally you start off on either a 250 or the 500's, to hone your skills. (ie. Ninja 250-500, Suzuki GSF500)

Making mistakes on powerful inline 4 600cc engines, with insane braking potentials are amplified beyond belief. As a new rider you will make mistakes guaranteed, and I know if I made those mistakes on my F4i without first dealing with them after experienced riding on my previous Ninja 500 I would have ate it.

And you want a busa?