In Need of Some Guidance

Message

#31 Unread post by **Wrider** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 12:31 pm

Yeah, I guess your first few posts came off a little strong. Your M3 does 0-60 in what? 4.5 Sec? Conservatively... Keep in mind that my cruiser, which weighed 550 lbs, I weigh 300, and it only put out 50 hp, and 50 ft/lbs of torque, yet it still got me to 60 in under 6 seconds... My friend's Hayabusa can do it in under 3. Either way, it's insanely fast for those who aren't used to it (I drove a 96 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo before that).
What you might want to do, since you're interested in speed, is start off on something like the Ninja 650R. That's got a nice seating position, is much quicker than my cruiser, and is still more or less nice enough to give you a break when you screw up.
Another thing to keep in mind... When you squeal tires in your M3, you're scraping pegs on a bike, and can't go any further. When you hit the brakes hard enough to activate the anti-lock brakes in the M3, you've just either locked up your rear wheel (very dangerous) or pulled a stoppie (just as dangerous).
It WILL take you some time to get used to it, and it will be more dangerous than in a car, we're just asking you not to be a squid and go out and buy the fastest bike around just to go fast. What you'll learn is that bikes are about the corners, dropping in, leaning, coming out, that's the best part of the bike...
Wrider
PS. Saw a test somewhere where the top speeds of the ZX-14 and the Hayabusa were tested. (ECU chips flashed to bypass governors.) The ZX-14 had more HP, but worse aerodynamics, so the Hayabusa is still the fastest production bike ever made...

Phoenyx · #32 Unread post by **Phoenyx** » Fri Jun 15, 2007 4:49 am

Hey,

Thanks for the replies, really appreciated

I know bikes are very different from cars, and it will take a long long time to perfect the leaning positions, dropping, when to use power and so on. I think I'm going to wait and take a few MSF courses, see if I can get some classes at a track, and so on, before I spend more than 20 grand on a bike and really push it.

I just want to say thanks for telling me this stuff, probably if I didn't I would have already got a Ducati 1098s and ended in the hospital by now, ha.

J.

-Holiday · #33 Unread post by **-Holiday** » Fri Jun 15, 2007 5:10 am

btw, there are only two MSF courses. the beginners course which is usually 4 days of riding and paper work, and an experienced course which is 5 hours for one day.

Aside from that you'd have to get more courses from a private company.

you mentioned you've taken some courses somewhere already. which ones?

Phoenyx · #34 Unread post by **Phoenyx** » Fri Jun 15, 2007 5:17 am

Ohh, well do you suggest any specific courses?

J.

Kal · #35 Unread post by **Kal** » Fri Jun 15, 2007 5:32 am

Get the basic MSF down. Then a few track days, put a few thousand miles under your wheels and then see if the advanced MSF has anything to offer you.

It's all good

You'll do fine. Oh and there is something no one here has mentioned yet, a bike - any bike, will put the biggest "poo poo" eating grin on your face.

I actually enjoy going to work, and I hate mornings.

Phoenyx · #36 Unread post by **Phoenyx** » Fri Jun 15, 2007 7:26 am

Yeah, will do.

On this other forum board, I asked about gear and so on... do any of you wear full "suits?" If yes, are they comfortable? Does it get hot? Hehe.

What kind of protection gear do you wear?

J.

Kal · #37 Unread post by **Kal** » Fri Jun 15, 2007 8:11 am

It depends on journey type and how I feel

I have under armour jacket with spine plate, leather jacket over the top, obviously an approved full face helmet, bike gloves, bike boots, Draggin jeans combats, hein gericke bike jeans with inserts, overtrousers including armour inserts.

Typically round town I'll wear my leather, lid, gloves, boots and jeans. For commuting I'll wear my over trousers over my work trousers. With more kit being worn in relation to my personal confidence and distance I am travelling.