[Rab]

Yes SBL, many beginners are pretty sure they could control a bigger bike, and many have been proved wrong.

Some of them are dead now.

Seems like there’s hardly a day goes by here in the S.F. Bay Area that I don’t hear on the radio traffic report that a motorcycle has been involved in an accident on the freeway.

You’ve definitely got the right idea. Start small, learn how to ride that smaller motorcycle to its limits and you’ll be a better rider for it in the long run.

[somebadlemonade]

Yea the Bay Area, is a pretty dangerous place to ride, or drive for that matter, with all the crazy truck drivers, and the people that shouldn’t even have a license.
I have lived here my whole life and I am not looking forward to my first time on the freeway, let alone something like what highway 4 used to be, 1 lane in each direction and no divider.
But I bet I will end up getting comfortable on the bike at freeway speeds in the middle of the night with hardly anyone on the freeway, of course after I get my M1. I don’t want to have a bike token away, even if it’s a cheap as hell bike.
—
Just call me SBL.

[dcJohn]

Actually, the depreciation is one of the reasons I was also thinking of the 1250. The long commute will mean that I’m putting lots of miles on the bike, and my understanding is that higher CC engines, by being under less stress, have longer lifespans (very general rule of thumb of CC x 100 miles). If that’s the case, the Bandit has twice the expected engine lifespan, at very far from twice the price.

Obviously, safety is a key issue. There’s extra need for throttle control. Weight wise, we’re only talking about 20lbs difference between the 650 and 1250, and with the 1250 there’s the option of ABS. I’m looking at getting the bike in early Spring, so I’ll have several thousand more miles on my Ninja before moving up, and my MSF coaches, who advised most students to start small, all agreed I’m set for whatever bike I’d like to ride. (Some folks on the forums here remarked that autocross and BMX racing experience wouldn’t have carry-over skills for the motorcycle, but that hasn’t been my experience.)

I’m not at all sure about this mind you. Just sharing my thoughts right now for more input and and views.

[ranette]

In my thread where I outlined how I started on a larger bike, the one thing I neglected to mention is that I stand about 5″6″ and that is on a good day. I will say that not being able to flat foot the bike is something I have to consciously think about from time to time, but it is nothing major. Of everything I’ve had to deal with as far as being a new rider and starting on a large bike, that has turned out to be by far the least worrisome.

When I am at a stop I usually have my left foot flat on the ground and my right foot on the brake. If I need my left foot on the shifter, for instance when I am at a stop and need to put the bike into gear I simply slide to my right, put my right foot down and use the front brake to keep me in place. Sure being able to flat foot the bike would be nice, so would being able to dunk, but I would urge you not to let that one aspect keep you from looking further at the Versys if you think it would suit your needs, or more importantly if it seems to be calling your name.

[Author]

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