Moped Experience

[gquinns]

Hi guys, I have always had an infactuation with motorcycles and I always knew I would get one at some point. I cruise around town on a Yamaha Zuma moped and was wondering if experience on this would translate to experience on a real motorcycle at all. I am 20 years old and am wondering if I take the motorcycle course and already have moped experience would a Honda CBR600F4i be way too much power for me? Should I just stick with a Ninja EX500? I definitely think starting at 250cc would be a waste of time but I also realize that too much power would be stupid for me to start on. What do you guys thinks...would moped experience help me with a sport bike?

[TechTMW]

I think you should still stick w/ a smaller bike. Clutch/throttle control are some of the most important things to learn to properly handle a sport bike, and you don't have much of this on a Zuma, since it has a CVT transmission.

[Sev]

Take the ninja they have a lot more grunt then most people are willing to give them credit for.

CBR600Fi still gives me the willies when I throw a leg over. I've test ridden one, and I have to say I didn't like it that much.

[RedZRX12]

I had zero experience when I started riding 3 years ago. Hadn't even been on a bicycle in years. After I passed the MSF course I bought a Buell Blast which is close to 500cc.
I think the Ninja is a good move.
Just keep it simple in the beginning and go at your own pace.
You will know when you are ready to move up. Just don't buy a Buell Blast like I did cause you will never be able to resell it.

[Vit0r]

Go Ninja, go Ninja GO!

[storysunfolding]

It's like asking if your go kart experience and drivers ed will let you drive a formula 1 car... It sure would be one hell of a blast.

I was just given the opportunity to ride a busa and then an R1 after about two months road experience. Both bikes were amazing, but I can tell that I'm not ready for them yet. One day though... until then I'm keeping it real with the Vision.

[gquinns]

Just wondering if the Kawasaki Ninja EX500 would be comfortable for me. I'm 6 foot 190 lbs. Or would there be another beginner bike that would fit me better?

[Sev]

Just wondering if the Kawasaki Ninja EX500 would be comfortable for me. I'm 6 foot 190 lbs. Or would there be another beginner bike that would fit me better?

No one can answer that question but you. Someone my exact height and weight could hate any bike that I love. Some people prefer to stretch their legs out, others like to tuck them up under themselves when they sit down. Some people like to lean forward, some like to lean back. Some sit up straight and some curl their spine.

What you HAVE to do is head down to the bike store and sit on a bunch of bikes. Take the list of suggested begginer models and sit on all of them. Don't limit yourself to just sport bikes either, that'd be like limiting yourself only to futons when you're buying your bed. Sit on all of them and decide what fits the best.

Ignore the salesman that tries to push you into a bigger bike, all he cares about is his commission. My size seems to be a pretty popular joke here on the forums, I'll live with it. But when I went shopping for my first bike I had a guy trying to sell me a vstar 1100... I barely felt comfortable with something as big as a v-star 650. It doesn't cost them anything if you wreck, and who knows you might buy another bike if you wreck this one, right?

[sapaul]

I am not knocking your age, or your experiance nor am I saying do not get the 600, but I will give you some facts.

600 sportbikes are wicked
They have massive power to weight ratios
They are more nimble than bigger CC bikes and therefore more twitchy
The power bands when they kick in are insane and can propel you quicker over a short stretch than any sport car.
Everything happens quickly on a 600, you have to be as quick, they are not forgiving.

I have said it before and will keep on saying it, if this is what you want, be prepared to commit to the price of riding and learning on a 600. You will need to get expert training. The streets are not the place to learn by yourself even after an MSF course. If you can buddy up with an experianced rider and commit to the slow learning cure, then nothing wrong. If you want to be up and riding quickly you have to choose something that is going to forgive the little mistakes you make while learning

[storysunfolding]

Wicked and twitchy.

You make a 600 sports bike sound like a girlfriend on lithium.

I guess you would need the same degree of caution though.