[Rob]

I remember reading about that car just after it was released, the engineering that went into it is insane. 407K…in a car…*shakes head*…it’s mind numbing. I’ve hit 265k (err, about 165 miles) on a bike, and you have to plan so far a head it’s crazy, I can imagine what that would be like in a car, going that fast. it would be difficult the think that fast.

[Rob]

that last one is a fake, just look at the gear that’s around him, are you going to tell me he had two jackets on, and had one boot and one running shoe on? not to mention the lack of blood considering there is only an upper torso there.

[Rob]

eternal05 nailed it just about right, full suits are in general very impractical and uncomfortable for general street riding. Mine is reserved for track use only. On the street I find a nice two-piece suit works well. I still feel like I have lots to wear through before I get road rash, but when we stop for food, break etc. I can take my jacket off and relax a bit.

[Rob]

I’m not overly concerned as to how people look at me, I just don’t like to hide my background. I am for the most part a safe rider, but I do admit, sometimes I do like to stretch the old R1’s legs.

For me starting on a larger bike did slow me down a bit in the beginning, but to me it was worth it, I’m a VERY quick learner, and I’m glad I had a bike that had enough headroom to let me develop skills without hampering me in any way. I also like to push limits, and I think starting on a 250ish sized bike would have me very bored very quickly.

IMO it wasn’t a death sentence at all, but a challenge to me, and I’d say I’ve done fairly well. I’ve been riding for about 5 years now and have only dropped one bike, but that was at a race track, where everything is pushed to the absolute limits, so it’s understandable.

[Rob]

Better whack a dirty big turbo on that bad boy to go with that swing arm, just to make sure she’s not too slow!

[Rob]

Take it from someone who owns a fast bike, girls aren’t impressed by a fast bike, they’re impressed by someone who knows how to handle their bike. Someone who can fly through the corners without even breaking a sweat is a lot more appealing that someone on a fast bike that crawls through corners with a road-rashed bike.

If you’re already scared of bikes to start with, a big bike will just make that worse, listen to these guys and start small, build your confidence and your skills, and then worry about big fancy bikes.

[Rob]

like I said, I don’t usually recommend it, I do see where you’re coming from. it’s a little bit of a different course to start on a big bike, especially a sport bike, first thing I did was take a course and learn the basics of riding on their smaller bikes, then applied it to my big bike, and I can’t count the hours I spent online reading and studying how to properly handle a big bike, took about 3-4 months before I really got comfortable on the bike and could get well into the power band without being hesitant. at about a year and a half I starting going to the local track, and it wasn’t until then that I really got a hold of how to handle one of these things.

What I’m trying to say is that it DOES take a longer time to learn how to ride one, and I can definitely confirm that aspect of it, and you have to A) realise the throttle is not an on and off switch be willing to take the time like I did and read hundreds of pages of proper riding and C) have the mental ability to stop yourself before you try and ride outside of where you skill level is.

that survey you mention reminds me of pictures I’ve seen of brand new sportbikes (often less than 10 miles on them) that have been completely written off. All of them new riders, didn’t know how to handle that big bike fly down the first straight road and crash them at the first turn.

[Author]

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