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So I work with a younger guy who i'll call "Squid". Squid is about my age in his early 20's and he desires a crotch rocket. A friend of Squid's rides a GSXR1000 but had been riding dirtbikes since he was very young. So of course Squid wants a supersport to start with because he isn't really interested in learning and attaining a new skill, but rather just to look cool in front of his SportRider friends and the ladies. I'm not one to preach about your choice of starter bike. Ride your ride, right? If you are stupid enough to start on a 600cc race replica with no regard or awareness of the capabilities of such a machine, than so be it.

But of course he asked my opinion about it because he knew I recently started riding. I recommended the MSF course above all. I told him to wear all his gear all the time and suggested starting on a smaller bike. I explained to him that a ninja 250 or 500 would feel fast enough for him entering this sport and that his first bike will not be the last. And then I claimed that if he insisted on getting a supersport, that he should not buy anything more than a 600.

A 600 is wayy too much power anyway, but it's obviously not as capable as a 750 or 1000. Surprisingly enough, squid announced at work yesterday that he was picking up his new GSXR750 today and that he could not wait!! At that point I didn't care to argue with him about riding over his head, but I asked if he passed the course. Well he didn't take the BRC and obviously had no clue about riding a bike. I then asked if he had insurance. He wasn't sure about all that non-sense..he was just buying a pretty new bike! All that Squid knew was the color of his new GSXR. He couldn't tell me the MSRP he was willing to pay, or really anything about the bike he desired. I doubt he knew the number of cylinders the motor encased. I doubt he knew what a cylinder was.

Sadly the beginning of his riding career has already come to a sudden halt. Earlier this evening, some other co-workers just broke the news that Squid wrecked his new bike today while he was riding it home (probably from the dealership). He is in the hospital now and called work to get his shifts covered for the weekend. I really hope he is okay because he is an alright guy who just didn't know what he was getting into. Frankly, i'm not at all surprised about what happened though. I'm guessing he popped the clutch or target fixated on something.....but a number of things could happen riding ANY bike without any previous instruction. Sad.....

Okay i'm done typing now.

This is a common story, sadly.

Hope your friend is doing good though.

Should've recommended a Ninja 650. It has the looks and also the Ninja name but with newb friendly feel to it.

It's a shame it happened though. I would like to think he'd come out ok with a new outlook on doing things gradually.

Or he might become those "motorcycles are dangerous" types because of one wreck they had when they were younger which is the last thing we need.

Its amazing how people can be so ignorant. Trying to teach yourself to ride, with zero experiance, on a race bike on the way home from the dealership? Thats one of the craziest things ive ever heard. The sales guy who sold him that infernal machine should be ashamed of himself.

I think the US should impose stiffer regulations when it comes to first getting a bike to avoid situations like this. The MSF course should be mandatory, and you should be restricted to 250cc for your first bike like they do in europe and many other parts of the world.

Ian522 wrote:Its amazing how people can be so ignorant. Trying to teach yourself to ride, with zero experiance, on a race bike on the way home from the dealership? Thats one of the craziest things ive ever heard. The sales guy who sold him that infernal machine should be ashamed of himself.

I think the US should impose stiffer regulations when it comes to first getting a bike to avoid situations like this. The MSF course should be mandatory, and you should be restricted to 250cc for your first bike like they do in europe and many other parts of the world.

I have to disagree with more government regulation. It was never the intent of the founders of this country that the federal government be in the business of protecting people from themselves.

As far as the sales guy...greedy, yes. Reprehensible? yes. But the ultimate responsibility for your friend's situation lies with him. Sometimes lessons in personal responsibility are expensive and hard to learn.

It's horrible that things like this happen. Unfortunately we learn best when making mistakes, or when others make mistakes. It's called the School of Hard Knocks for a reason (namely the knocking of one's own head against a wall, then realizing that it's not such a good idea).

I've had friends jabbing me to get a 600cc sport bike, and that I'll be so sick of a 250 within four months. Well, I'd rather be alive and sick of a 250 than severely injured and happy with a 600.

The government regulates just about everything else in our lives, I hate the idea of more government interference with my life. If I want to do something stupid, let me do something stupid and learn my lesson. That's the only way we'll truly learn: by making mistakes.

Motorcycle salesmen unfortunately need to sell bikes to make money. And selling a little 250 isn't going to give them a lot of cash. However, that doesn't excuse the man who sold an inexperienced rider a bike that was too powerful for him. Instead of trying to make a quick, easy, meaty sale, he should have taken the "well, perhaps something a bit smaller would be good for you" approach.

I hope he recovers and will be willing to try it again with a smaller bike instead of becoming a preacher.

gliderider wrote:

Ian522 wrote:Its amazing how people can be so ignorant. Trying to teach yourself to ride, with zero experiance, on a race bike on the way home from the dealership? Thats one of the craziest things ive ever heard. The sales guy who sold him that infernal machine should be ashamed of himself.

I think the US should impose stiffer regulations when it comes to first getting a bike to avoid situations like this. The MSF course should be mandatory, and you should be restricted to 250cc for your first bike like they do in europe and many other parts of the world.

I have to disagree with more government regulation. It was never the intent of the founders of this country that the federal government be in the business of protecting people from themselves.

Well, yes and no. I agree with you about excessive government regulation, but we have to remember that riding a motorcycle (or driving a car) is not a right, but a privledge. Technically, anything you have to prove proficiency in (like taking a test) before recieving an official 'license' to participate in that activity is a privledge...which is only granted by the government....State, Federal or otherwise.
Because of that, tightening up the limits or requirements for new riders doesn't really come under the heading of government regulation.

You can't go into a car dealer and drive a car off the lot without a driver's license, but you can go into a motorcycle shop and (attempt to) ride a motorcycle off the lot with absolute zero experience.

BMK wrote:

gliderider wrote:

Ian522 wrote:Its amazing how people can be so ignorant. Trying to teach yourself to ride, with zero experiance, on a race bike on the way home from the dealership? Thats one of the craziest things ive ever heard. The sales guy who sold him that infernal machine should be ashamed of himself.

I think the US should impose stiffer regulations when it comes to first getting a bike to avoid situations like this. The MSF course should be mandatory, and you should be restricted to 250cc for your first bike like they do in europe and many other parts of the world.

I have to disagree with more government regulation. It was never the intent of the founders of this country that the federal government be in the business of protecting people from themselves.

Well, yes and no. I agree with you about excessive government regulation, but we have to remember that riding a motorcycle (or driving a car) is not a right, but a privledge. Technically, anything you have to prove proficiency in (like taking a test) before recieving an official 'license' to participate in that activity is a privledge...which is only granted by the government....State, Federal or otherwise.
Because of that, tightening up the limits or requirements for new riders doesn't really come under the heading of government regulation.

You can't go into a car dealer and drive a car off the lot without a driver's license, but you can go into a motorcycle shop and (attempt to) ride a motorcycle off the lot with absolute zero experience.

What about people who buy SUVs but don't know how to handle them or think they own the road with them? Or the irresponsible kid who drives around in their tuned up cars imitating those popular movies? There are just as many as them as squids on bikes but only the bikes are scrutinized (at least that's how it works in my neck of the woods). Not all teen or new drivers are this way, I was a responsible rider when I first got my bike and some people I know drove their cars with care when they got their license. The state has to train better road users all around.

I'm fine with the 250 - 500cc restriction but it really shouldn't go below that since traffic in the US is very aggressive even in small towns.I also feel new license holders stay with compact cars for a few years. It's reasonable since a car in America is a necessity so why get a more powerful one? I mean that's how the government and the general population feels about bikes so why not cars as well?




I've been a bit agitated recently so forgive my harshness or incoherent babble.

I agree that a motorcycle endorsement should be required to ride a bike off the lot because motorcycle riding involves much more skill than driving ever will. But the government should not go as far as limiting the motor size or model of one's starter bike. The bike I started with is a larger CB650SC Nighthawk, but it's really tame compared to current 600cc supersports.

It's not so much about your engine displacement, but more so horsepower. But whatever the capabilities of the motor, the government should not have any right to dictate what you can and can not purchase.

However, I do think limitations should be imposed against dealers because I experienced numerous occasions when a dealer suggested I start on a liter bike "as long as I take it easy at first". Until I found this motorcycle forum, I thought a larger sport bike would be the smartest option. I think many new, younger riders naively assume salesman have their best interests in mind, instead of their bank account only. I understand everyone must make money in this country and their commission would be much higher from a $10,000 liter bike instead of a $3,000 250R. But while salesmen aim for a larger payout, they aid the buyer's decision to enter a dangerous situation. I think the pressure that dealerships impose have partly caused the continuous increase of rider fatalities and injuries in this country.

However, there are a number of factors leading to such unfortunate numbers. Many riders who end up in the hospital only have one person to blame because they often ride above their limits while wearing a t-shirt and shorts.

BMK wrote:You can't go into a car dealer and drive a car off the lot without a driver's license, but you can go into a motorcycle shop and (attempt to) ride a motorcycle off the lot with absolute zero experience.

In what state can't you buy a car without a license? If that's the case in your state (doubtful), why would a motorcycle dealer let someone buy a motorcycle without a license? Do they have special rules for bikes?

The point I'm trying to make here is that you don't need a license to buy a car, plane, bike, whatever... Owning something is entirely different than operating it. It's not a dealership's responsibility to ensure that you are qualified to operate a vehicle. If they have no interest in the vehicle (i.e. you bought it outright), why should they care if you are experienced, or licensed for that matter. They are not the cops. They are salesmen.

Requiring useless regulation (like having dealerships check the license of someone departing on a new bike) will not conquer stupidity. For example :

Zero experience Bob buys a brand new 'busa. Bob gets his licensed buddy to ride the bike out the driveway and across the street from the dealership. Bob takes over and rides the 'busa until his untimely death. The letter of the law was followed, and yet the bonehead is still dead.

Stupidity always wins and more regulation only burdens the law abiding non-stupid people.