- This topic has 21 replies, 10 voices, and was last updated 14 years, 11 months ago by jojobeans316.
I think I made my decision on my bike…
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May 10, 2009 at 5:21 pm #18308THErookParticipant
JoJObeans
Of course everyone wants to be able to start on a 600cc but at the same time, would you want to learn to drive a stick in a lambo? In short the answer is of course… what people fail to realize is a lambo has a syncro-mesh tranny and a throttle more sensitive than asphalt in road rash. You’ll be at 80 mph before you’re across the intersection. Not to mention an oil change is ten grand. Obviously the comparison in price is drastic but with a bike like a Gixxer, yamaha R series, or a kawi ZX all of these bikes are NOT FOR BEGINNERS. Plain and simple. I too am a beginner and am more than happy to ablige to the THOUSANDS of PROFESSIONAL and vetran riders alike pleading for beginners to get a smaller bike. I rode a ninja 500 last weekend and let me promise you that you will not be sick of the power that bike can deliver in 3 days. Don’t become another statistic. Rethink your choices and take the 5-7 grand you will save on buying a smaller bike first and buy some really good gear for when you do upgrade. Just my $.02
May 10, 2009 at 8:08 pm #18313Big Sky GirlParticipantI was in the same boat, “they” said “you’ll get tired of a 250 or 500 in a month”. So I started looking at the SV650 and Yam FZ6R and Ninja 650. They are all ‘tame’ sport bikes, and more upright. However, they all felt heavy to me. Top heavy, wider. I REALLY want an FZ6R – it’s so pretty! But after reading this forum, I decided to start with a 500.
I just bought a Ninja 500 and love it. Been on a couple rides, and parking lot practice. Did slow maneuvers with ease, enough power to put you back in the seat, but easy to handle and not too heavy. I thought about the 250 but plan to do some long rides, freeways, mountain passes, and didn’t want the bike to be pushing too hard. The 500 should handle it fine.
I’m so glad I took the advice on this forum. My MSF coach said I could prob. handle the FZ6R, the dealers, other bikers, but the thing is I had to listen to my gut. I felt like it would be too much (plus the cost!), and I knew I’d be too nervous on it. I’m completely comfortable on the 500.
From what I’ve read, those who suck it up and start smaller become better, faster riders. I’d rather do that and be on my 2nd or 3rd or even 4th choice of a bike for a year and become skilled and have FUN, rather than get something larger, that I could probably handle, but that would make me nervous, I’d be afraid to drop, etc.
Just sharing the conclusion I came to. I just bought my bike last week and love it! Good luck! The best advice I can give you is to listen to your wise self and what your gut is telling you.
Big Sky GirlMay 10, 2009 at 11:33 pm #18317jojobeans316Participantim lookin at the sv650 and ninja 650r. after all the research im leaning more towards the ninja 650r cause of the more upright postion and it also is a attractive bike!! so mayb ninja 650r?
May 11, 2009 at 12:26 am #18318Big Sky GirlParticipantFrom what I’ve read, the Ninja 650R is ‘tamer’ than the Gixxer 600, so I think that would be better – but again, I’m a newbie, so I’m no expert. Just sharing what I’ve read. I’ve sat on the SV650 and Ninja 650 and they seemed similiar for riding position. They both seemed nice. I believe the SV650 has less fairing, if I recall correctly.
Even though I liked all of those, I still went smaller with the 500. It just felt more balanced and lighter and easier for me to handle. So part of it is what do you feel comfortable with? Many told me I could handle a detuned 600, but I still didn’t feel comfortable with the idea, so I went with what my gut told me and went smaller and I’m very happy I did.
May 11, 2009 at 7:16 am #18330eternal05ParticipantAlright, I just about made this exact same post in another thread.
I have both Ninja 250R and GSX-R600. Yes, BOTH. Did I EVER get tired of the 250R? No. In fact, around the city it’s WAY more fun to ride because you get to shift! If you don’t get on the highway and aren’t blowing the speed limit to shit, you will not get out of 2nd gear in the city on a gixxer. On a Ninja 250R, you can get lots of practice shifting, learning to carry speed through turns, and learning to really control the bike. Add to this the absurdly good 250R mileage, ease of maintenance, far lower MSRP, etc. and you have a lot of reasons to put the gixxer on hold.
When I started out I came within a hair’s breath of buying a gixxer. I loved the look, and the hours of daydreams I’d had zooming around on that thing was really pushing me to get one. Then a friend of mine, who had a GSX-R, loads of miles under belt, and more wisdom than I, spent about 2 hours with me in a parking lot teaching me how to ride on the 600. That was enough to talk me out if it. Throttle control is hard to learn. It’s especially hard when, unlike on the Ninja 250R or the bikes used in most MSF courses, first gear will easily get you past the freeway speed limit, and faster than you can tie a shoe.
There are a ton of ways to kill yourself on a race bike, but believe me, the ones you hear most (target fixation on a telephone pole, running wide on a turn, etc.) are just the tip of the iceberg. For instance, if you’re starting a nice turn at 40mph, casually leaning in, and when you get back on the gas you do it just a bit too hard, you’ll chirp the rear tire and start it spinning. If you were Valentino Rossi at Mugello, you might get the bike under control, but you’re freaked the F@#$% out. You’ve lost traction at 40mph, there’s a concrete barrier to your right, and there’s a truck running wide in oncoming traffic. You’re done. Either the rear tire suddenly catches and you highside, or you lowside into concrete at 40mph, or get hit by a truck. Good times.
Ok ok, you ask, so why do I have the GSX-R then? Well, because I am like you in at least one way. I think sportbikes look freakin’ sweet. I love zipping through corners leaned over, races, and everything that goes with them. Nobody on this forum will tell you not to ever get a supersport (just look at Ben and his ZX-6R). They just want to make sure that you know what you’re getting into, and that you have the requisite experience under your belt before you do. Be safe, and keep your need for speed in check as long as you can.
May 11, 2009 at 7:28 am #18331eternal05ParticipantThe Drive Mode Selector switch that you refer to is not going to make life easier for a complete newb. If you put it in C mode, it will be easier to ride, but “easier to ride” means around 65-70hp (i.e. the same as an SV650 or Ninja650R). That still means 0-60 faster than a Porsche 911.
May 11, 2009 at 1:29 pm #18334jojobeans316Participantim gonna probly go wit the ninja 650r maybe later down the road with more experince ill go wit da gixxer!!
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