Total Motorcycle Community Forums

{I did read the sticky at the top of the fourm}

I have been eyeing cycling for awhile, but have never driven a bike, only riden as a passenger a couple of times. I have found an 89 Suzuki Katana 1100 for sale. Is this too much bike for a begineer after taking the two day riding course? I would take the riding courses and all other precatuion of learning and gear that I could. For the first year I would plan on riding in low traffic, rural conditions. Maybe then I would ride to work, or wherever I wanted.

The Katana is a sport/touring class bike weighing about 550 pounds and the bike has been dynoed at 120hp at the wheel. Quite a bit of bike.

I am 34 years old, and people who ride at work think it would be okay in mature hands. One guy has riden the bike and knows the owner, the other person rides all types of bikes and is quite experienced and a mature rider.

I am prepared to get a lashing from all of you and be told to go get a 500cc bike.

Am I deluding myself thinking that I could start off on such a bike?

Thanks in advance for your comments.

Sorry, man. I can't in good conscience give you the green light on the big Kat. I really think you should be looking for a nice, light bike that makes 50 horsepower or less. Preferably a lot less. Start off small, hone your riding skills on a forgiving bike and work your way up. That's the best advice I can give, besides a firm recommendation for a MSF course. We want you to grow to be an old biker someday.

So, what's the question now that you have the answer first? The sticky reflects our opinions, beyond that you are on your own.

No support here either, my friend. The Kat eleven is way too much bike for a first timer, mature or not. That's like going in for your private pilot's license and being told you have to solo in an F16.

Even if you wanted to attempt to handle such a bike do you really want to? I went from a dirt bike to a KZ-900. When you go from even a few hundred lbs to something 500+ lbs it's a totally different animal. i did like it on the open road. It was very comfortable and powerful, but once the speed junky stuff woreoff i was left with this hulking thing that was no fun at stop lights and tight parking lot manuvers. I hated it. Luckily it was the bike to have during that time and was easy to get rid of. i got a ducati 450 and really started to enjoy street motorcycling. Don't buy yourself a job that will turn on you the first time you make a mistake.

ya i agree with everyone else, its too big. the samller katanas make good learning bikes but not the 1100 in anyones hands. youll learn to survive on it rather than learning to ride properly.

Thanks for the replies. I was just trying to get some balance in the decision, even though, in my heart, I knew the answer in advance. The specifics of your replies was helpful.

If it helps you any, I started riding a year ago at the ripe old age of 32.

I bought a 1983 Suzuki GS650GL, which weighs in at a rather robust 506lbs wet and cranks out a whopping 67hp (when it was new. probably a bit less now).

Like you, I am a 'mature' rider, in the sense that I know I don't have the skill or ability to handle a bike that weighs 40lbs more than my current ride and has almost double the horsepower. When I was shopping for my bike, there were a few things that I knew to look for:

1: it had to be used. I knew I was going to drop it at least once or twice while I was learning, so no sense in getting some shiny new (expensive) plastic busted up.

2: displacement and horsepower were going to be low. I hadn't originally thought about getting anything over 400 - 500cc, but the price was right on the 650 and it felt good sitting on it.

My advice, having been in your shoes, is to go out and sit on a few bikes, even some oldies if your local shops have some old used bikes on hand, and see what is most comfortable for you. If you are comfortable with the weight of the bike (can you move it around when it isn't running, can you pick it up if you drop it?) and the price is within your budget, then go for it.

Like body size, age isn't a factor when deciding how big (displacement/power wise) a bike you should be starting off on. Even a 'mature' rider, with his/her head screwed on straight can make a mistake, and a powerful bike is more likely to make you pay dearly for that mistake.

anyway, enough rambling from me. good luck on your bike hunt, and stay safe.

Owen

I have had allot of experience with the Katana 1100 & even though I was a very experienced rider at the time....I was in awe of that Machine!

SO....If you have the money & you really MUST have it....Then Buy it....

Then put it in storage for about 3-5 years & or until you have the ability to handle it safely.

In the meantime, buy something sane to start on, like the others say....

My second bike has around 120 hp and it still blows me away when I hit the throttle hard. Way too much power for a beginner bike. You're just asking for trouble with that.