As a fellow beginner I can tell you this: start on a smaller bike and be bored, it’s better than going out and buying some 80+ bhp monster that will, most likely, scare you into leaving it in the garage. Ignoring the fact that it will more than likely leave you in a full body cast, having a bike that can get you up to 40-50 mph while still in first or second gear is not going to be a confidence inspiring affect on you. Also from a financial stand point it’s a more sound idea aswell. Why go out and spend $9k+ on a bike that you are going to drop; also factor the insurance in. If anybody is willing to insure a beginner on a 600+ cc bike it’s going to cost you alot. Probably 900+ / year (just called a broker and asked for a quote for a beginner on gixxer, he laughed at me and said “sure I can get you insurance, for about $1,200 / year”) with a $1,000 deductable and the lowest possible comprehensive coverage available. So yah, it doesn’t make sense even from a financial stand point, unless your dad is Donald Trump or Paris Hilton is your sugar momma. Add to it the fact that you will have no where near the skill level needed to control a beast like that, even after 1 or 2 years of riding. And also the fact that you even considered wheelies and stoopies possibile and all I can do is stare stupefied at my computer screen and wonder if we’re even on the same planet, much less that we’re same species. So, honestly, if you’re dead set on getting some 600 cc 4 inline cylinder sportbike after only 3 months of practice then all I can ask is this: will you put me in your will? Hell even after 3 months you’ll still be having trouble counting gears (was that 1 down 4 up or 4 down 1 up? will probably go through your head many times). Just like any other sport, skill, craft, or hobbie, in motorcycling practice makes perfect and this goes doubly so when the fact that you lack practice will most likley mean your death. So, even if you don’t value your life, respect the fact that you will leave others in pain both physically and emotionally if you start out on a bike more meant for the track than the street and bite it. Imagine the pain you will cause your parents both financially and emotionally if you bite it at 70-80 mph by crashing into a driver or pedestrian. Since you will most likely have only minimal insurance coverage, guess who will get left with the bill for the lawsuit and funeral costs? Your parents. They bought the bike, they still have you down as a dependant on tax forms, and they raised you; so, at the least (exagerating a bit), that’s a case for negligence in a criminal court and a multi-million $ pay out in a civil court. Also, think of others, imagine the pain, anger, sorrow, and strife you would cause to the family of the person you murdered (yes it would be murder, so even should you survive you would end up in jail for 30% of your life at least). Also imagine how much of a back-step it would be for the riding community, the headlines “Motorcyclist kills 2 injures 4 while attempting to do a wheelie at 70 mph in a busy intersection” would pretty much destroy the positive image the riding community has gained after decades of being considered outcasts and outlaws. These are not exagerrations; these are the things every motorcyclist needs to consider every time they flip up the kickstand. And it is an immense responsibility, but it’s one that I and every other person when we are considering learning to ride and buying a motorcycle. I’m roughly the same age as you (I’m 23) and I’ve just decided to get into motorcycling aswell, heck we even live in the same area. And, while I don’t have a Superman syndrome, I do still have the armor of youth that we all wear around this age. While I wouldn’t consider myself Superman I do, sorta, align myself with Flash Gordon. He wasn’t invincible and he knew it, he considered the risks to himself and to everyone else every time he took action and that is what we need to do if we are to be considered responsible motorcyclists.
So everytime you get on a bike ask yourself these questions:
1) Am I rockin’ the gear?
2) Is this motorcycle right for me?
3) Is it properly maintained?
4) How well do I know this bike?
5) Do I know my limits?
6) Do I know how to handle most, if not all, dangerous situations that could arise while riding this bike?
7) Do I have the ability to handle them?
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If you have answered “No” to any of these questions then you are going to be a danger to yourself and others and should:
1) Always rock the gear.
2) Get a bike that will fit you and won’t scare the crap out of you.
3) Follow the M.O.M.’s advice and keep your bike in the best shape possible.
4 & 5) Take your bike out to a deserted parking lot with little to no obstructions and practice, practice, practice, and then practice some more. Don’t stop practicing till your left forearm is the size of Pop’ eyes’.
6 & 7) READ. Buy every book, magazine, and guide about motorcycling. Read them till your eyes bleed. Then take what you have memorized out to the parking lot and again; practice, practice, practice.
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These are all the rules that I could think of and I plan to follow them like a madman. Hopefully you will follow them or something similar.
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Btw, sorry no one will tell you what you want to hear. But what you need to hear isn’t often something you’ll like.