Bikes - Please Enlighten Me
1. Definitely take an MSF course.
2. Do not buy a sport bike bigger than a 600cc motor.
3. Do some dirt riding if you want to learn the ultimate in bike control.
4. Anyone telling you to get anything bigger than a 600cc is contributing to your eulogy.
5. Sign up for some track days when you feel confident enough.
I've been riding longer than most of you have been driving so I know what I am talking about.
2. Do not buy a sport bike bigger than a 600cc motor.
3. Do some dirt riding if you want to learn the ultimate in bike control.
4. Anyone telling you to get anything bigger than a 600cc is contributing to your eulogy.
5. Sign up for some track days when you feel confident enough.
I've been riding longer than most of you have been driving so I know what I am talking about.
I just got my first bike in March. First thing I did was I took the MSF course, it was the intermediate course. The beginner course they atually have you WALK your bike through the cones using your CLUTCH, just to get the feel of how it works.
Then In the Intermedite course ,, they said about 200 times,, your clutch is your frined use it, slip it,, ect. Along with LOOK where your going NOT where you been!
Best thing to do when learning on a bike,, or just brushing up your skills and mind set.
Also if its too hot to wear your GEAR,, it tooooo hottt to ride.
However , the feeling of the open road, and total control you have with this thing under your leggs/buttt, cant really be explained. Alot of FUN
And remeber,,,,,,, you only live once, and dont live too cautiously only to arrive at death Safely!
LOLOLOL
with the ducati parts can be pricey and take severals days if not weeks to get in... the aprilia is also a nice bike... they are awesome bikes for track days... just make sure you have plenty of insurance.
the honda repsol is the honda race bike replica... there are several for sale on ebay and what not, but can be pricey
the honda repsol is the honda race bike replica... there are several for sale on ebay and what not, but can be pricey
I guess I should clarify that it's only the plastics that are different. Mechanically, the Repsol Honda is exactly the same as any other CBR 1000RR. Suzuki had the Mat Mladin special edition, Yamaha the yellow/black anniversary, etc. They all cost more, but it's just for the special edition plastics. Mechanically, all the same as the 'regular' versions. Well, there WAS a version of the R1 that cost a **** ton and had full ohlins suspension, etc.
its all rider
there has been a lot of good info and I'll add my 2 cents/experience. *fter never riding a bike before I took a ride on a ZX7 and decided I would take the plunge. I got my permit and registered for the MSF course. then bought a new bike. While practicing on the streets I realized that I was neber going to learn a lot riding around with a bunch of guys that learned themselvs riding on the streets. I was having fun on the bike but knew I was nowhere near as good as the machine and had a lot to learn. I signed up for a track school and was all set to go the weekend after my MSF course and hopefully had a motorcycle license. Al went well at the MSF course and
i was legal to go kill myself on a Busa if I wanted. Being intimidated by my 600 I rode a little more and hit the track.
It was a crazy experience, getting fitted for leathers bots, gloves teching the ike and making adjustments to make it easier / moe comfortable to ride and making sure my tires were at the best possible air pressure All things I never did before. The first session is to get familiar with the rack' brakingan turn in points, apexes etc. The coaches said we'll go slow. I remember going down the back straight single file a foot from a concrete wall and sneaking a peak at my speedo (a big no-no) and seeing 90 miles an hour. I thought, Slow my *** I'm not going faster than this! Each session meant a new drill and more confidence. By the time the allowed passing I couldn't wait to get around all of the biks holding me up. +I was "the man" trucking through the pack when my bars were shook by the coach that passed me like I was standing still. He then turns around and waves to me to "come on". The next corner i learn about the limits of traction as the tires start going. The coach. at a much faster pace, was still looking back and saw the whole deal. My bike was sliding and the truth is I was over my head and to scared to panic and do anything. Eventually the tires grabbed and I was on my way. Afterwards the coach came over and said, nice save you must have a lot of dirt experience. I told him I never rode before and decided to get a bike a few months ago, maybe rode 1000 miles since and got my license a week ago. From then on I was his personal project since I didn't learn any bad habits on the street. I was dragging a knee and passing the field by the end of the day.
The next season (2005) I ran out and bought a 92 F2 track bike knowing I would crash it and nowing that as good lap times came they would be because of a good rider. + worked my way up to an expert level last year on that pig and bought a better bike. Now I have a lightweight litre bike with 175hp (over 8K in motor work alone), not the R1 brochure HP, but real power that pulls on any new moded liter bike. When copared to the F2 I run lap times a couple of seconds quicker on the big bike but still only have the skill to use maybe 80 percent of the machine.
Circulating around with expert racers shows you how slow you really are. I still have a lot to learn and am very cautious on the street where I can't come close to using a bikes capabilities and ill never have as much fun. Last year I bought a nw street bike GSXR 600, and I laugh when I hear guys talk about growing out of a bike. It is more bike than I'll ever need on the street and I could buy hatever bike I wanted. Hell I never sold ne s I still have 4. It really is all rider and a smart, skilled rider will e faster on anything. There are way too many people that get their license on a scooter, buy a bke they will never fully use and upgrade when someone is faster because their bike is to slow. Be smart and be safe!
Go to the track first, learn what a bike can do and you may have the skill to avoid the soccer mom's that want you dead. Get a used steel framed, pig of a 600 so you learn how to ride. Trust me its much more fn having the guy on the new litre bike that would laugh at your pig come over and say "your riding that" when he finally catches up.
i was legal to go kill myself on a Busa if I wanted. Being intimidated by my 600 I rode a little more and hit the track.
It was a crazy experience, getting fitted for leathers bots, gloves teching the ike and making adjustments to make it easier / moe comfortable to ride and making sure my tires were at the best possible air pressure All things I never did before. The first session is to get familiar with the rack' brakingan turn in points, apexes etc. The coaches said we'll go slow. I remember going down the back straight single file a foot from a concrete wall and sneaking a peak at my speedo (a big no-no) and seeing 90 miles an hour. I thought, Slow my *** I'm not going faster than this! Each session meant a new drill and more confidence. By the time the allowed passing I couldn't wait to get around all of the biks holding me up. +I was "the man" trucking through the pack when my bars were shook by the coach that passed me like I was standing still. He then turns around and waves to me to "come on". The next corner i learn about the limits of traction as the tires start going. The coach. at a much faster pace, was still looking back and saw the whole deal. My bike was sliding and the truth is I was over my head and to scared to panic and do anything. Eventually the tires grabbed and I was on my way. Afterwards the coach came over and said, nice save you must have a lot of dirt experience. I told him I never rode before and decided to get a bike a few months ago, maybe rode 1000 miles since and got my license a week ago. From then on I was his personal project since I didn't learn any bad habits on the street. I was dragging a knee and passing the field by the end of the day.
The next season (2005) I ran out and bought a 92 F2 track bike knowing I would crash it and nowing that as good lap times came they would be because of a good rider. + worked my way up to an expert level last year on that pig and bought a better bike. Now I have a lightweight litre bike with 175hp (over 8K in motor work alone), not the R1 brochure HP, but real power that pulls on any new moded liter bike. When copared to the F2 I run lap times a couple of seconds quicker on the big bike but still only have the skill to use maybe 80 percent of the machine.
Circulating around with expert racers shows you how slow you really are. I still have a lot to learn and am very cautious on the street where I can't come close to using a bikes capabilities and ill never have as much fun. Last year I bought a nw street bike GSXR 600, and I laugh when I hear guys talk about growing out of a bike. It is more bike than I'll ever need on the street and I could buy hatever bike I wanted. Hell I never sold ne s I still have 4. It really is all rider and a smart, skilled rider will e faster on anything. There are way too many people that get their license on a scooter, buy a bke they will never fully use and upgrade when someone is faster because their bike is to slow. Be smart and be safe!
Go to the track first, learn what a bike can do and you may have the skill to avoid the soccer mom's that want you dead. Get a used steel framed, pig of a 600 so you learn how to ride. Trust me its much more fn having the guy on the new litre bike that would laugh at your pig come over and say "your riding that" when he finally catches up.
there has been a lot of good info and I'll add my 2 cents/experience. *fter never riding a bike before I took a ride on a ZX7 and decided I would take the plunge. I got my permit and registered for the MSF course. then bought a new bike. While practicing on the streets I realized that I was neber going to learn a lot riding around with a bunch of guys that learned themselvs riding on the streets. I was having fun on the bike but knew I was nowhere near as good as the machine and had a lot to learn. I signed up for a track school and was all set to go the weekend after my MSF course and hopefully had a motorcycle license. Al went well at the MSF course and
i was legal to go kill myself on a Busa if I wanted. Being intimidated by my 600 I rode a little more and hit the track.
It was a crazy experience, getting fitted for leathers bots, gloves teching the ike and making adjustments to make it easier / moe comfortable to ride and making sure my tires were at the best possible air pressure All things I never did before. The first session is to get familiar with the rack' brakingan turn in points, apexes etc. The coaches said we'll go slow. I remember going down the back straight single file a foot from a concrete wall and sneaking a peak at my speedo (a big no-no) and seeing 90 miles an hour. I thought, Slow my *** I'm not going faster than this! Each session meant a new drill and more confidence. By the time the allowed passing I couldn't wait to get around all of the biks holding me up. +I was "the man" trucking through the pack when my bars were shook by the coach that passed me like I was standing still. He then turns around and waves to me to "come on". The next corner i learn about the limits of traction as the tires start going. The coach. at a much faster pace, was still looking back and saw the whole deal. My bike was sliding and the truth is I was over my head and to scared to panic and do anything. Eventually the tires grabbed and I was on my way. Afterwards the coach came over and said, nice save you must have a lot of dirt experience. I told him I never rode before and decided to get a bike a few months ago, maybe rode 1000 miles since and got my license a week ago. From then on I was his personal project since I didn't learn any bad habits on the street. I was dragging a knee and passing the field by the end of the day.
The next season (2005) I ran out and bought a 92 F2 track bike knowing I would crash it and nowing that as good lap times came they would be because of a good rider. + worked my way up to an expert level last year on that pig and bought a better bike. Now I have a lightweight litre bike with 175hp (over 8K in motor work alone), not the R1 brochure HP, but real power that pulls on any new moded liter bike. When copared to the F2 I run lap times a couple of seconds quicker on the big bike but still only have the skill to use maybe 80 percent of the machine.
Circulating around with expert racers shows you how slow you really are. I still have a lot to learn and am very cautious on the street where I can't come close to using a bikes capabilities and ill never have as much fun. Last year I bought a nw street bike GSXR 600, and I laugh when I hear guys talk about growing out of a bike. It is more bike than I'll ever need on the street and I could buy hatever bike I wanted. Hell I never sold ne s I still have 4. It really is all rider and a smart, skilled rider will e faster on anything. There are way too many people that get their license on a scooter, buy a bke they will never fully use and upgrade when someone is faster because their bike is to slow. Be smart and be safe!
Go to the track first, learn what a bike can do and you may have the skill to avoid the soccer mom's that want you dead. Get a used steel framed, pig of a 600 so you learn how to ride. Trust me its much more fn having the guy on the new litre bike that would laugh at your pig come over and say "your riding that" when he finally catches up.
i was legal to go kill myself on a Busa if I wanted. Being intimidated by my 600 I rode a little more and hit the track.
It was a crazy experience, getting fitted for leathers bots, gloves teching the ike and making adjustments to make it easier / moe comfortable to ride and making sure my tires were at the best possible air pressure All things I never did before. The first session is to get familiar with the rack' brakingan turn in points, apexes etc. The coaches said we'll go slow. I remember going down the back straight single file a foot from a concrete wall and sneaking a peak at my speedo (a big no-no) and seeing 90 miles an hour. I thought, Slow my *** I'm not going faster than this! Each session meant a new drill and more confidence. By the time the allowed passing I couldn't wait to get around all of the biks holding me up. +I was "the man" trucking through the pack when my bars were shook by the coach that passed me like I was standing still. He then turns around and waves to me to "come on". The next corner i learn about the limits of traction as the tires start going. The coach. at a much faster pace, was still looking back and saw the whole deal. My bike was sliding and the truth is I was over my head and to scared to panic and do anything. Eventually the tires grabbed and I was on my way. Afterwards the coach came over and said, nice save you must have a lot of dirt experience. I told him I never rode before and decided to get a bike a few months ago, maybe rode 1000 miles since and got my license a week ago. From then on I was his personal project since I didn't learn any bad habits on the street. I was dragging a knee and passing the field by the end of the day.
The next season (2005) I ran out and bought a 92 F2 track bike knowing I would crash it and nowing that as good lap times came they would be because of a good rider. + worked my way up to an expert level last year on that pig and bought a better bike. Now I have a lightweight litre bike with 175hp (over 8K in motor work alone), not the R1 brochure HP, but real power that pulls on any new moded liter bike. When copared to the F2 I run lap times a couple of seconds quicker on the big bike but still only have the skill to use maybe 80 percent of the machine.
Circulating around with expert racers shows you how slow you really are. I still have a lot to learn and am very cautious on the street where I can't come close to using a bikes capabilities and ill never have as much fun. Last year I bought a nw street bike GSXR 600, and I laugh when I hear guys talk about growing out of a bike. It is more bike than I'll ever need on the street and I could buy hatever bike I wanted. Hell I never sold ne s I still have 4. It really is all rider and a smart, skilled rider will e faster on anything. There are way too many people that get their license on a scooter, buy a bke they will never fully use and upgrade when someone is faster because their bike is to slow. Be smart and be safe!
Go to the track first, learn what a bike can do and you may have the skill to avoid the soccer mom's that want you dead. Get a used steel framed, pig of a 600 so you learn how to ride. Trust me its much more fn having the guy on the new litre bike that would laugh at your pig come over and say "your riding that" when he finally catches up.
That has to be one of the best write ups I have seen on this forum. Now if only your computer had spell check
I bought my first bike last march, got a new 07 600rr, I've taken my MSF, wear gear all over the place, and going to do track days probably next year.
Definitely attend a motorcycle racing school. I went to the California Superbike School. It's pricey, but you'll learn a ton. A few hundred bucks here can save you life, literally. You ride long enough, you'll have known guys that have died.
As they saying goes, there are two types of motorcycle riders, those that have gone down, and those that are going to go down. There's no getting around it, wear your gear at all times!
As they saying goes, there are two types of motorcycle riders, those that have gone down, and those that are going to go down. There's no getting around it, wear your gear at all times!
Yes, take a safety course. Beginner, intermediate or advanced courses will teach you skills that will improve your riding considerably. I bought my first bike (98 honda superhawk 996) not knowing how to ride. I took the beginner and intermediate course for the basic fundamentals on how to ride also the beginner course takes care of the pesky drivers portion for your license. Everybody said I was going to kill myself having a bike that big for my first and here I am accident free for 5 years. Now I have a higher performing bike that I feel comfortable with. I protect myself all the time with gear and try to keep a cool head with others around. Most people I talk to tell me its not if you have a accident its when so safety is a must. Lots of good advice in this thread. Good luck and ride safe!
getting this in 2 months...
i took the safety rider course back in cali about 1 1/2 years back..It was DEFINETELY worth it and was very inexpensive ($150?) I had a blast learning on those tiny honda 125s. It was such a stress reliever. After the course, I told myself I'm getting 1 of these...after a bad day, just take a nice cruise and all is well. But yeah, I dont plan to rip the r6 for atleast 2-3 months. I'm going to take it very slow. I just want to cruise on it
aside the fact that these things get like 40+mpg
i took the safety rider course back in cali about 1 1/2 years back..It was DEFINETELY worth it and was very inexpensive ($150?) I had a blast learning on those tiny honda 125s. It was such a stress reliever. After the course, I told myself I'm getting 1 of these...after a bad day, just take a nice cruise and all is well. But yeah, I dont plan to rip the r6 for atleast 2-3 months. I'm going to take it very slow. I just want to cruise on it
aside the fact that these things get like 40+mpg
Last edited by RalliArtEvoVIII; Aug 18, 2007 at 10:51 AM.
If you really like the best of boths worlds then buy a Dual Sport bike. Since you are by the beach the dual sport bike would be ideal for you.
I do have a BMW dual sport F650GS (652cc), it takes me everywhere I want it to go, desrt, mods, rivers,sand,city, hwy, you name it.
I did not got the sport bike because the competition is too much, you buy the newest japanese import sport bike and 3 months later they come out with the newest version RR or RR "cup" or repsol replica and that kind of crap, not to mention that the competitors are all over.
Get yourself a dualsport, they are also fast, they get great mileage and you have the freedom to go anywhere you want.
My .2c
Carlos
I do have a BMW dual sport F650GS (652cc), it takes me everywhere I want it to go, desrt, mods, rivers,sand,city, hwy, you name it.
I did not got the sport bike because the competition is too much, you buy the newest japanese import sport bike and 3 months later they come out with the newest version RR or RR "cup" or repsol replica and that kind of crap, not to mention that the competitors are all over.
Get yourself a dualsport, they are also fast, they get great mileage and you have the freedom to go anywhere you want.
My .2c
Carlos
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Smogrunner
Evo Engine / Turbo / Drivetrain
19
Mar 4, 2006 08:07 PM