Lifting a bike and what type of bike.

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Shiv · #1 Unread post by **Shiv** » Thu Sep 15, 2005 9:23 am

So I was reading the beginner's motorcycling guide on this site and got to the part about the lessons learned the hard way.

The person had his bike fall over in the middle of no where. Ok, cool. So I was thinking 'well why doesn't he just pick it up?' but then he said it weighed about 500 pounds.

Then I got to thinking "Ya know, this won't be just a bicycle I'm picking up. If my bike were to ever fall over..."

So then he talked about the proper technique to lift your bike back up but he never explained it, just hinted that there was one.

So what is the proper technique?

Also how would a SV 650 be for a first bike? And could i get one relatively cheap (less than 8k or so.)

DivideOverflow · Thu Sep 15, 2005 9:26 am

http://www.sswow.org/pickupbike.asp

Do you have previous experience riding? A lot of people recommend an SV650 for a first bike, but I would probably recommend something a little smaller (depending on the size of the person, age, etc). It definitely has enough power to get you in trouble if you aren't careful, but it isn't as twitchy as sportbikes, so it is managable. I would recommend it as a good second bike.

8k is a lot for a first bike in my opinion. I spent 3k on my first bike, and $700 on my second (I still ride both).

Shiv · #3 Unread post by **Shiv** » Thu Sep 15, 2005 10:09 am

Ah, 3k is much more in my price range.

No I don't have any previous experience riding. I'm taking classes though.

I'm not planning on buying a bike any time soon, just getting ideas at the moment. I heard an SV 650 is a great beginner's bike, is fuel efficient, and has the best 'bang for the buck' thing going for it.

I'm 18 but own a car. So the bike would be more of a hobby/getting around town than on long trips (can't haul much on a motorcycle...).

Edit: By the way, I weigh 140-150 pounds (dependent on when I last ate, fast metabolism...). Would a 125-150cc be excessive?

#4 Unread post by **ZooTech** » Thu Sep 15, 2005 11:08 am

Shiv wrote:I heard an SV 650 is a great beginner's bike, is fuel efficient, and has the best 'bang for the buck' thing going for it.

The SV650 would be a great first bike, provided you can flat-foot it okay. It has plenty of power for a seasoned rider, but lays it down smooth with no power peaks to speak of.

Shiv wrote: Would a 125-150cc be excessive?

For a toddler, yes.

iwannadie · #5 Unread post by **iwannadie** » Thu Sep 15, 2005 2:58 pm

ZooTech wrote:
Shiv wrote:I heard an SV 650 is a great beginner's bike, is fuel efficient, and has the best 'bang for the buck' thing going for it.
The SV650 would be a great first bike, provided you can flat-foot it okay. It has plenty of power for a seasoned rider, but lays it down smooth with no power peaks to speak of.

Shiv wrote: Would a 125-150cc be excessive?
For a toddler, yes.

id put an aprillia 150 against your bike any day on the streets

engine size is very much related to what kind of riding you plan to do.

Shiv · #6 Unread post by **Shiv** » Thu Sep 15, 2005 4:30 pm

Around the city and maybe on the highway (if the gas tank can take a four hour trip back home. I know that they're small but also the motorcycle can't use THAT much fuel, or at least I'd hope not).

I'm a freshman in college and th elongest distance I could think of would be to go back home, which is four hours away.

Any further roadtrips with friends and what not and I'd probably take the car. Maybe not dependent on what kinda gas mileage I get. I'll figure all that out as I ride more, though.

I don't plan on doing off road crap (moto cross, dirt bike, etc). Just around town, maybe back home too.

#7 Unread post by **Kal** » Sat Sep 17, 2005 10:23 am

ZooTech wrote:For a toddler, yes.

Aparently I am a toddler... Make note to 'get' Zootech for that later...

I run a 125, have done for over a year and plan to be trading up to a 250 maybe 400 soon (read when I get around to putting one of them on the road)

My 125 isnt exciting. It has done somewhere between 7 and 8,000miles, will run up to 70mph eventually and has been a lot of fun.

Totally, I dont regret buying her at all.

I've learned how to really ride and gotten over a morbid fear of Bike mechanics, dropped her, rebuild her after she was vandalised and really enjoyed myself. I'm not a morning person but everyday I roll up to work she has put a big ol' smile on my face.

Like I said a lot of fun, and when I pass her on I wont have lost any money on her sticker price because of the work I've done.

Would I recomend the smaller bike experience? Hell yes.

As a 'Blade owning friend said after he took her out "I'd forgotten how much fun little CG's could be."

A four hour bike trip which I've done, leaves you feeeling a little bit vibrated, not sure I'd recommend it as a regular event. (My tank's range is about 300 miles)

Most bikes in the 250-500 range ought to cope with the sort of riding you are talking about and still be good machines to get your early miles in.

Oh and just to really kick out at the toddler comment, I'm 32, 190lbs, 6'4 and have had a lot of fun...

Find a bike you are comfortable with and ride it to your limits.

bigswifty · Sat Sep 17, 2005 12:49 pm

Find a bike you are comfortable with and ride it to your limits.

yes..one's limits.

i think the best learning experience is to have a bike which you can take to IT'S limits before you exceed your own. I know not everyone is trying to explore the cold dusty edges of the envelope, but i think that it does make you a better rider, IF you can accept the risk of one day punching through that envelope.

i'm toward the end of my rookie season on a moderate 650cc ujm, which is nasty fast when ridden right, and i know how that moto feels when it's very close to lowsiding,very close to locking either brake, and how it feels at maximum acceleration. Aslo I know that it is unnerving wobbly at top speed, which is 3 mph slower than advertised in 1983...lol. Somehow i've figured this out without a hospital bill to prove where those limits lie, but that is probly an obscure combination of luck and natural ability.

My point is, the best way to learn to really ride is by challenging yourself to match the bike's capabilities.If the bike's capabilities are very high, you will either decline to do this or you become very likely to be hurt/killed in that way, due to inexperience.
so consider that...
ive never ridden one, but the sv650 seems allright for a newb..IF you trust your natural abilities/sensibilities.

#9 Unread post by **ZooTech** » Sat Sep 17, 2005 4:49 pm

Kal wrote:
ZooTech wrote:For a toddler, yes.
Aparently I am a toddler... Make note to 'get' Zootech for that later...

Easy now...he asked if it would be "excessive". Do you find your 125 excessive in any respect?

ronboskz650sr · Sat Sep 17, 2005 4:56 pm

Today I saw this guy riding around his home town on a moped...having a total blast. I stumbled onto his town by getting lost out in the country. It was about 20 miles from everywhere, and quite nice...people driving the lawn mower to the gas station, etc.

This kid was probably 14 or 15 and he was a reminder of why I ride. He was thoroughly enjoying himself...find a bike that lets you do that.