Sherroid
05-13-2008, 12:19 PM
Hey so I'm a newbie. I had a 50cc at 8 years old. Since then rode maybe three times up and down neighborhoods on friends bikes. I was in the market to get on again with a 600cc. I know/knew a 1000cc was too much for me right now because I did my homework.
Here comes this sweeeeet deal for a 1000cc. I could buy the bike and resell it for at least $500 more easily as it would still be well below average retail. Hey, I jumped on it! After all was said and paid for I just watched it and said I was just gonna resell it..... I let it sit in the garage that day til 12am at night and cracked...I jumped on it! Man I rode til about 4am.
It was sweeeeet!
Now I'm 35, super-cautious, no need for speed, and a seriously defensive driver. All that and there's just one thing any other newbie should take from my experience: The bike's are honestly too much. You can't have any fun on it or you're risking death. The things are just tooo fast and tooo responsive. So for anyone thinking about jumping on something big for the first time here's my list of negatives from hands on experience.
1. You can't have fun. You can't 'let it go'. Riding with friends is somewhat fun but you're sitting there slow-poking and everyone listening and watching you struggle through gears and what-not. Why? You're riding with what you've learned and not reflexes. Until you're riding with reflexes leave these things alone or have no fun.
2. You better be strong. I'm 225lbs. and no stranger to free weights. I've needed it. You're always one turn from dropping the damn thing and it takes away from the fun. Still, strength alone isn't enough to keep a bike up. U can't know this until you're on it. Slow and awkward turns are recipes for trouble. And going off pavement unto gravel??? Better watch out my friend.
3. Traffic. I ride at night when there is no traffic at all. Been in traffic a little. Your vision is limited on these things and it is scary (Strangely, your vision is like driving an 18 wheeler except you can pivot and look back...which is still dangerous). Not being able to ride in traffic means you can't go to certain places at certain times...no fun.
4. The throttle, clutch, brakes (front or back?) always leave you just one mistake away from crashing or dropping the bike. Plus, you don't have the experience at low speeds to get yourself out of a jam. Cars (and the bike itself) assume that since you're on a bike you can drive it like a car. This, for me, is the single reason I'm leaving the thing alone. As I'm working through the gears and brakes and what-not my mind is thinking on what to do next. When something unexpected happens, and they've already have, I'm left to the mercy of the other drivers or what's directly in front of me because I can't quickly shift gears and accelerate/brake as needed. The only reason I haven't crashed four times is that there wasn't anything in front of me or drivers were cautious and bailed me out. Seriously. The throttle....one bump and zooom! Hit it just a little too hard and zooom! Better keep your hand on that clutch cuz you're going to be holding on for dear life...and whatever is in front of you is what you're hitting...better hope it's open pavement. Been there...done that.
5. Fun. It's just not as fun because there are too many limits and chances to crash. If you try and have a little fun you're just asking for trouble. People come up on the side of you revving their bikes testing and playing with you. Girls want you to 'hit it' or get on the back (a big newbie no-no). Hey, it's not just skills that's tempting you. I mean, you finally get this bad azz bike and can't have fun...trust me, it'll piss you off (This is the true test, you either get off and get somethin' proper or you push your luck).
6. Bottom Line: You can't ride until riding is reflexive. Only luck will save a newbie on these monsters or you WILL CRASH AND/OR DROP IT.
Look I did my homework on what I should ride and knew this wasn't for me. But I also wanted to relay to others who're thinking about it and wanted an honest opinion on what it ACTUALLY is like riding something "too big." Fact is, you can ride these things if you're super careful, super lucky and have cash to fix it when you drop it (Did I say lucky?). I lucked out so far but I'm not pushing Lady Luck. Sadly, the Gixxer is going up for sale. (I was gonna keep it until I can ride but the goddamn insurance is $273/month from Geico!!!! Geeeez!!!)
It'll be sad to see it go but I know a 600 is in my sights. I got a few newbie friends on 600s and they all said they could at least have a little fun after a short while. I can't wait! With the sweet deal I got I should be able to clear a few pennies on this deal anyway.
Here comes this sweeeeet deal for a 1000cc. I could buy the bike and resell it for at least $500 more easily as it would still be well below average retail. Hey, I jumped on it! After all was said and paid for I just watched it and said I was just gonna resell it..... I let it sit in the garage that day til 12am at night and cracked...I jumped on it! Man I rode til about 4am.
It was sweeeeet!
Now I'm 35, super-cautious, no need for speed, and a seriously defensive driver. All that and there's just one thing any other newbie should take from my experience: The bike's are honestly too much. You can't have any fun on it or you're risking death. The things are just tooo fast and tooo responsive. So for anyone thinking about jumping on something big for the first time here's my list of negatives from hands on experience.
1. You can't have fun. You can't 'let it go'. Riding with friends is somewhat fun but you're sitting there slow-poking and everyone listening and watching you struggle through gears and what-not. Why? You're riding with what you've learned and not reflexes. Until you're riding with reflexes leave these things alone or have no fun.
2. You better be strong. I'm 225lbs. and no stranger to free weights. I've needed it. You're always one turn from dropping the damn thing and it takes away from the fun. Still, strength alone isn't enough to keep a bike up. U can't know this until you're on it. Slow and awkward turns are recipes for trouble. And going off pavement unto gravel??? Better watch out my friend.
3. Traffic. I ride at night when there is no traffic at all. Been in traffic a little. Your vision is limited on these things and it is scary (Strangely, your vision is like driving an 18 wheeler except you can pivot and look back...which is still dangerous). Not being able to ride in traffic means you can't go to certain places at certain times...no fun.
4. The throttle, clutch, brakes (front or back?) always leave you just one mistake away from crashing or dropping the bike. Plus, you don't have the experience at low speeds to get yourself out of a jam. Cars (and the bike itself) assume that since you're on a bike you can drive it like a car. This, for me, is the single reason I'm leaving the thing alone. As I'm working through the gears and brakes and what-not my mind is thinking on what to do next. When something unexpected happens, and they've already have, I'm left to the mercy of the other drivers or what's directly in front of me because I can't quickly shift gears and accelerate/brake as needed. The only reason I haven't crashed four times is that there wasn't anything in front of me or drivers were cautious and bailed me out. Seriously. The throttle....one bump and zooom! Hit it just a little too hard and zooom! Better keep your hand on that clutch cuz you're going to be holding on for dear life...and whatever is in front of you is what you're hitting...better hope it's open pavement. Been there...done that.
5. Fun. It's just not as fun because there are too many limits and chances to crash. If you try and have a little fun you're just asking for trouble. People come up on the side of you revving their bikes testing and playing with you. Girls want you to 'hit it' or get on the back (a big newbie no-no). Hey, it's not just skills that's tempting you. I mean, you finally get this bad azz bike and can't have fun...trust me, it'll piss you off (This is the true test, you either get off and get somethin' proper or you push your luck).
6. Bottom Line: You can't ride until riding is reflexive. Only luck will save a newbie on these monsters or you WILL CRASH AND/OR DROP IT.
Look I did my homework on what I should ride and knew this wasn't for me. But I also wanted to relay to others who're thinking about it and wanted an honest opinion on what it ACTUALLY is like riding something "too big." Fact is, you can ride these things if you're super careful, super lucky and have cash to fix it when you drop it (Did I say lucky?). I lucked out so far but I'm not pushing Lady Luck. Sadly, the Gixxer is going up for sale. (I was gonna keep it until I can ride but the goddamn insurance is $273/month from Geico!!!! Geeeez!!!)
It'll be sad to see it go but I know a 600 is in my sights. I got a few newbie friends on 600s and they all said they could at least have a little fun after a short while. I can't wait! With the sweet deal I got I should be able to clear a few pennies on this deal anyway.