Why wait on bigger bike??????

[Kal]

Last September a work colleague high sided his bike at 30mph, came down awkward snapped his neck, was pronounced dead at the scene.

In May I low sided the CeeGee, landed awkwardly and snapped my wrist. That was again 30mph on gravel.

July I assisted at an accident by shutting the guys engine down and lifting his bike off of him. The exhaust was cooking his leg.

If you are unlucky then a drop at any speed will seriously harm you. Some bikes, usually the smaller ones, are more forgiving than others.

Shaun dropped his dragstar at very low speed just after he got it, he wasnt used to the weight of the thing. As it happens Shaun had fitted it with foot boards - the foot board saved the bike and was later tapped back into place with a sledgehammer.

[stock28]

It would be impossible to tell you how much damage and cost you will incure if you drop the bike. It depends on how and what it hits. However, just look at the price of a set of mirrors or pipes and you will get the idea. Also keep in mind that people will tell you how they started on a bigger bike and have had no problems but few will admit that they went against all advise and crashed their brand new bike . You have to make up your own mind, but I'll say again, you will and will always be a better rider if you start small and work your way up.

[Lion_Lady]

I haven't heard anyone say that it will be life threatening or even physically dangerous

I hope nobody actually has to tell you that dropping a 700 pound motorcycle anywhere on your body is physically dangerous.

For crying out loud, RIDING Is dangerous. Being a NEW rider is more dangerous than being an experienced rider, but you gotta start out as a new rider to GET to the 'experienced' level.

Riding a 700 pound bike ups the ante for a newbie all way around.

P

[ZooTech]

Riding a 700 pound bike ups the ante for a newbie all way around.

The V-Star 1100 weighs in at 571lbs and has a 27.2" seat height. If it helps your argument to exaggerate the specs then, by all means, have at it. Having actually ridden the bike in question, I can attest to its handling attributes and found it almost identical to my dad's 800cc Suzuki C50. It's not a bad bike to start on, especially if you're taller and/or heavier than average.

[cb360]

I don't have to exaggerate anything. Just hazarding a guess on what a big bike would weigh with fluids in it. I got close too. For what it's worth, Motorcycle Consumer News says that every test bike they've ever received exceeded the manufacturers weight claims on the high side every time. So unless you have a scale, we're all guessing because the specs we're given are low. Whatever - everybody buy the bike you want the most. Keep in mind that the ones that weigh less than 600 don't hurt when you drop them. I wouldn't recommend starting on an 1100 but obviously some people do. Ride safe and have fun.

[Sev]

Riding a 700 pound bike ups the ante for a newbie all way around.

The V-Star 1100 weighs in at 571lbs and has a 27.2" seat height. If it helps your argument to exaggerate the specs then, by all means, have at it. Having actually ridden the bike in question, I can attest to its handling attributes and found it almost identical to my dad's 800cc Suzuki C50. It's not a bad bike to start on, especially if you're taller and/or heavier than average.

Dry weight, in which they're willing to remove ALL fuilds including oil, gas, fork oil and sometimes the springs, as well as the battery. Don't forget the shaft drive fluid.

All told it might not be 700lbs, but manufacturers will do everything they can to make a bike seem lighter then it actually is.

[Vit0r]

People do learn on larger displacement bikes and if that is your choice then no one here will wish you anything but the best of luck.

Your question was why not start on a bigger bike to start with?

Same deal as learning to drive a car. Technically you can learn how to drive in an 18 wheel articulated rig, the controls are pretty much in the same place - gear shift, clutch, steering wheel, accelerator.

Most people dont because it is easier to learn how to drive in a 4 wheel car and once they know how to drive adapt that knowledge to a large truck. Same deal with bikes.

Good analogy. I also like the airplane one earlier - you don't start flying in a 747 as a pilot. Again as I said, it isn't about too much power (usually) with cruisers, but more about size and control.

I respectfully disagree with that analogy. Comparing an 18-wheeler to a commuter car is like comparing apples and oranges. Truck drivers need a different endorsement on their driver's licenese, they even go to truck driving school.

I think a more fitting a analogy would be a Ferrari to a Civic. If you can't control the clutch, you'll be screeching the tires and taking off like a bullet in the Ferrari as opposed to merely screeching the tires on a Civic. I think it's more dangerous to start with a higher displacement bike in the sportbike models where you'll be accidentally popping wheelies but I don't think the problem is as severe on a cruiser.

[scan]

People do learn on larger displacement bikes and if that is your choice then no one here will wish you anything but the best of luck.

Your question was why not start on a bigger bike to start with?

Same deal as learning to drive a car. Technically you can learn how to drive in an 18 wheel articulated rig, the controls are pretty much in the same place - gear shift, clutch, steering wheel, accelerator.

Most people dont because it is easier to learn how to drive in a 4 wheel car and once they know how to drive adapt that knowledge to a large truck. Same deal with bikes.

Good analogy. I also like the airplane one earlier - you don't start flying in a 747 as a pilot. Again as I said, it isn't about too much power (usually) with cruisers, but more about size and control.

I respectfully disagree with that analogy. Comparing an 18-wheeler to a commuter car is like comparing apples and oranges. Truck drivers need a different endorsement on their driver's licenese, they even go to truck driving school.

I think a more fitting a analogy would be a Ferrari to a Civic. If you can't control the clutch, you'll be screeching the tires and taking off like a bullet in the Ferrari as opposed to merely screeching the tires on a Civic. I think it's more dangerous to start with a higher displacement bike in the sportbike models where you'll be accidentally popping wheelies but I don't think the problem is as severe on a cruiser.

I respectfully except this as a good analogy. Except my point was about the weight issue between a big cruiser and a small cruiser - instead of a sports bike to a cruiser. Most cruisers are not that hard to control power wise (at least not for me) but the weight of the different cruisers is very different. IMHO. A 650 to 1100 will feel different power wise, but the weight issue is more signifigant and the top end power (or should I say available power?)

[Doggy Boy]

CB huh?
"Whatever - everybody buy the bike you want the most. Keep in mind that the ones that weigh less than 600 don't hurt when you drop them."

so a vstar 650 that weighs 544+-lbs is going to hurt less than an 1100 that weighs 600+-lbs a difference of 56lb+-?

I think if any bike lands on you it is going to hurt regardless no? I don't think I would feel the difference of 56lbs.

Sure I would probably feel the difference in handling-might affect whether I drop it or not.

Downscaling could be just as dangerous - the confidence factor in reverse.- it weighs less therefore I can ride the crap out of it even though my skills aren't there.

db

[shane-o]

When I warn peeps about getting big bikes for their 1st ride I never include cruisers in this context.

Cruisers power to weight are low and therefore apart from the issues already explored with the newbie handling the extra weight at slow speed, I dont have any issue with a new learner learning on a big cruiser.

I take issue with newbies grabbing high powered super/hypersports bikes.