Total Motorcycle Community Forums

As i have posted i got a bike saturday and have already ridden about 150 miles, and thanks to the lessons and topics reviewed here i knew exactly what to expect.
haha countersteering scared the crap out of me before i got a bike cause i read so much about it but i got out there and just did it. From one beginner to another - just go for it ; if you work yourself into a cold sweat about it you will never do it

thats just a topic that i worried about

And one of the biggest topics dicussed on this site is "Is a 600cc+ bike to much for a beginner?

I have never ridden a street bike before but i do have knowledge of riding dirt bikes. I have done just fine on my Ninja ZX 7R.
Now im not trying to tell someone to go purchase a 600 sport bike just cause im doin all right with one. Im just wondering why everyone here preaches against sport bikes?

All well im getting off subject. I just wanted to say thank you to everyone here for the help and advice. enough said

I wouldnt say that people here "preach against sport bikes" as much as they give friendly warnings to newbies about the power these bikes have. You seem to be doing alright so far, but just dont get overconfident and respect the bike's power. I would sign up for an MSF course if you havent already.

The reasons for that thread are explained quite clearly in that thread. It has nothing to do with sportbikes in general (I picked my first bike, a sportbike, off of advice from this forum, among other places) and everything to do with 600+ supersports and people riding beyond their ability. it's as simple as that.

There are people who are cautious enough or skilled enough or mature enough or all three and who can control themselves and their bike well enough that a stronger bike is perfectly fine.

I had no idea if I would be one of those people and there is nothing a ZX7R does that I need that my 500 won't do.

You still have a great bike, no doubt! But if you really want to know the 'why' behind anything, then spend a few minutes reading and it will become quite clear.

I have read almost all the posts because as a beginner i wanted a clear view of what im getting into. And everyone of them have helped me in one way or another; i guess im just sayin if someone has one of those three characteristics that Septimus mentioned then theres no reason not to get a bigger bike. Now im not trying to be the odd ball and cause a bunch of kids to go bye bikes they cant handle; im just saying if you are a beginner and can handle it then go for it. I am also not trying to come off arrogant and im definitly not over confident on my bike. I respect its power and ability and if i can do that why cant anyone else. i dunno

Riding definitly the closest thing to a high you can get legally and now that ive started im never lookin back. haha o and all the other bikers on the rode wave at you when you go by. Makes you feel like your apart of something.

Thanks again

We all know that someone can get on a big bike and ride. The point we stress (that many seem to disregard) is that SKILLS are developed BETTER with a friendlier, EASIER bike; the learning curve favors the rider.

If you look around, plenty people here ride sportbikes. So don't be saying that everyone around here is anti-sportbikes. That's NOT true.


Anyway, there's a difference in riding a bike that gets you up to cruising speed in 1st gear and a bike that takes getting through at least 3 to ride. The difference is that you develop the shifting skills. Being busy at shifting to continuously find the right gear for the situation makes you better at shifting. You don't get that when all you gotta do is twist the throttle for the right speed. Anyway, just one example of what a smaller bike teaches the rider. But whatever, enjoy your bike.

What's that old quote? Something like...you start out with a full pot of luck and an empty pot of experience, the object is to fill the experience pot before the other one runs out.

Be safe.

MattC13 wrote:im just saying if you are a beginner and can handle it then go for it.

If your a beginner...... how do you KNOW you can handle it?

MrShake wrote:

MattC13 wrote:im just saying if you are a beginner and can handle it then go for it.

If your a beginner...... how do you KNOW you can handle it?

You don't hence us recommending you don't start with a super sport.

I've seen very competent people start on their own with a 250cc nighthawk/rebel and get pretty messed up. Proper training would likely have prevented it or allowed it to happen in a more controlled environment, a super sport would have made it much worse.

I think the saying goes:

A guy jumped out of a 30 story building. At about the 3rd floor, he says, "This isn't so bad."

MattC13 wrote: I respect its power and ability and if i can do that why cant anyone else. i dunno

When people say this, it sounds to me as if they believe that throttle control, brake control and rider input are choices.
They are not.
They are skills. And skills can only be earned over a period of time.
There are no exceptions.

I wish you well with your new bike, but yeah, you dunno.