Total Motorcycle Community Forums

I agree with Shane-o to a point.

It's easier to learn slow speed control on a lighter bike which is an excellent reason to not start on an 1100.

The other good reason to not do so is cost, they cost a hell of a lot more and what happens if you decide you don't like to ride, or you don't have time for it?

Doggy Boy wrote: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 "crumb" out of it even though my skills aren't there.

db

Hey Doggy - I was being sarcastic I think they all hurt

I'm 17, 245lbs 6'1"...I took a MSF course to get my permit, First bike I ever drove, this summer was a katana 1100.., bought it the next week.. was used and already had a couple tiny scratches on it, was a beautiful bike tho.. I've dropped it twice, once just coming to a stop and lost my balance, second one was me turning around on an incline and lost my balance, I've downed it twice, first time going into a corner at night with no expirence night driving at a high rate of speed, and went off the road doing about 60 with the bike on its side.. down a dirt driveway, scratched the hell outa the bike, easly $400+ in damages.. and got a bunch of road rash on my shoulder/arm/leg and a soar hip for a week.. Second time I was showing off and did a quick zip 0-70 and a van pulled out infront of me and I did'nt have time to slow all the way down and I went off the side of the road and did a front flip with the bike off an embankment, bike got a crack in the faring from a tree stomp and I was a lil winded, but I got back on it 5min l8r and drove it to football practice..

I hav'nt dumped it since, I've put 6,000+ miles on it in 3 months... I've got the balancing down, I'm used to the power response (wheelies if I haul on it anywhere from 6000rpm-8000rpm).. I'm glad I started with an 1100, granted that I have had some accidents.. I feel comfy on the bike.. altho I have yet to drive anything else, so I guess htis is bias

I speed to much tho still :-\ and its only gonna get me in trouble

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Read above...I rest my case

That right there should be reason enough not to start with a bigger bike.

A lot of people prefer to learn without having accidents, as they are painful, expensive, and rake up your insurance (more kinds of expensive).

I'm about your size (just about 15 lbs less, and 4 years older), and started on a GV250 (250ccs), and I have not crashed, dumped it, or even tipped it over by accident. Yet, over the 6 months or so I've had it, I became confident and able enough to move up to a KZ650, and now I feel like I can safely move up to a Shadow 1100 with no worries if I can handle it or not.

Did it cost me more? Nope, not really. I'm losing a little money selling my GV250, but the bike wasn't that much to start with. Because I didn't wreck, my insurance is going down, not up, I havent had to pay any money on damages, injuries, tickets, etc... and my KZ650 was only $700 (gotta love UJMs). Any depreciation of the starter bike you sell should be written off as money well spent on experience.

BTW, when I got my KZ650, I was really glad I started on a smaller bike... just the added weight was definitely a new challenge, and being a much quicker bike, I was very glad to already have experience with throttle and clutch control.

I would just like to point out that a smaller bike does not make you invulnerable. It just makes it easier to do slow speed stuff, and it will most likely be more forgiving of any mistakes that you make in handling.

Not invulnerable by any means... it is just a hell of a lot easier to control while you are learning!

Slow speed stuff is definitely easier, and handling... but also throttle and clutch control. A bike with a nice light clutch allows you to get used to using your friction zones, and making sure you dont just dump the clutch (which can be much more dangerous on a bigger bike). On my 250, if I accidently over rev when switching gears, and just drop the clutch out, nothing much happens... If I do it on my KZ, it bucks, hard!

Forgot about the other stuff. I concur!

Damn Mr. X - you've downed that thing 4 times since this summer? You are resilient, I'll say that for you. Take it easy now, we want you to keep posting for a while.

I think the biggest thing about liter bikes other than the weight at slow speeds is distance and the braking power that it takes to stop all that weight.

in my country learner riders (those who are in the process of obtaining their full bike license) are forced by law to purchase from a range of bikes that meet an accepted power to weight ratio, also you must complete a 2 stage rider skills/education courses (learner course and full license course) in order to be issued a motorcycle license.

Although this system is not perfect, it does address the issues surrounding num nut di.ckhead newbs who have no skills from legally being able to ride zx14r's and gsx1300r's and things of this ilk