Need Advice for a First Time Rider

[DemonaL 10+ year member]

Depends... Take a course, they usually train you on some shitty 200cc cruisers... The shittiest bikes in the world lol.. I myself was crazy in the head and my first bike was a hayabusa... I've had about 200 people call me sick and crazy... But it wasn't that hard for me... Usually it might depend on your size, my friends just about to get a 1000 for his first bike, or what's comfortable.

 

[Pl8er 5,000+ posts]

Some good advice in here. Get to the MSF class before you even think about riding a bike. Check out AD Farrows if there is one around you, it is private, more costly, but I think an overall better class than the state run ones (those also have large waiting lists). Next, try out some bikes. Don't just go with a 250 because that is what you were told would be "good for you". If your tall or a bit larger "fluffy LOL" then a 250 is a horrible choice, as it won't fit you correctly.

600's are good bikes but as stated, are VERY quick. Look at a bike that you won't cry about dropping. Statistically, there is a good chance in your first 6 months that you will drop or crash the bike.

Always respect your bike and never think for a second that anyone on the road can see you or gives two craps if you are there.

 

[myvanpounds 10+ year member]

I've been riding for over about two seasons now and I will offer my advise:

BUY A HELMET

that's rule number uno, it must fit properly too.

now on to bike choice... obviously you want a crotch rocket, we all do but the reality is your not ready for a 1000cc bike... nor or you even ready for a 600cc supersport bike. ya we would all love too have an R6 or cbr600rr or gsxr600 as our first but even those are WAY too much bike for a novice. you wouldn't let a 16 year old larn how to drive in an enzo right? I don't care how much confidence you have in yourself or how cocky you are... a new rider is a new rider. some have a better grasp on it than others but there are some things that can only be learnt with seat time.

START SMALL

ya we want to do 9 second quarter miles, 3 second 0-60s and 180mph but that shit doesn't happen in the real world. corner carving and rider control is where the fun is. I can out corner my buddies R1 on my 32hp single.. its quite comical to see him drop soo far behind. you don't have to buy a 250 and look like a tool, there are a lot of cool looking bikes out there that are easy to ride and handle great, sure they lack power on the straits but that's not important with your first bike, SVs are good first bikes... honda makes the 599 and there are a few onther.. mostly 500-600 singles or twins. really you want something under 75hp... I'd actually recommend under 60 depending on prior riding experience (or lack there of).

I ride a 500cc single Buell Blast and have had more people gawk and stare at my bike parked outside at work than all the harleys parked right next to it. it an odd little bike, and everyone is always confused by the single cylinder. the only problem is it has less than 40 horse... its enuff for a first season but I'm personally ready for something in the 50-75 range. the key is to start small and become a better rider. which brings me to my next point:

YOU WILL LAY YOUR FIRST BIKE DOWN!!!

its not a question of if... its a question of when, you will make mistakes your first season. some will be obvious some won't, most can put you in a ditch. I'm just glad I layed mine down and got it out of the way. I was being stupid and it put me in a ditch. I learnt my lesson and know what my mistake was. I'm just glad I knew it was coming and now its out of the way... this is one of the reasons I bought my bike. it was cheap and built like a tank, I layed it down picked it up and rode it home, no expensive parts had to be fixed, just the turn signal, and plus if I DID mangle the bike it was only 2000... not some 8000 crotch rocket.

start small, start slow and work your way up. just because you bike SHOULD be able to do it doesn't mean you'll be able do it, control is key on a bike slow or fast. I have a good friend that bought an R1 as his first bike. and he's ready to sell it cause he knows he can't control it. plus he can't keep up with me in the twisties.... kinda hard to believe a 125hp 1000cc sport bike can't keep up to a 32hp single but its all the rider not the bike, I personally know 4 guys in our little group of about 10 that bought liter bikes because they thought they could handle it.... and now most of them don't ride anymore. one can't. yet all the guys that started small are still riding

becoming a good rider takes time, and a level head. having ultimate control should be your goal. not going fast and looking cool.... that's a good way to end up 6 feet under you will know when your ready for that 600cc 1000cc rocket after you've been riding for a while

oh ya, your invisable on the road, cars pulling out in front of you or cuting you off is not uncommon, I had a bus push me into oncoming just the other day.

 

[Doingstuffwell 10+ year member]

a lotta smart things in here..

get your moto class, license and maybe ride with a friend to get used to it. (helps if you can find a single chick who rides and will take you, let you ride with her on it)

buy something off craigslist for under 2k and ride it out..

everyone lays down a bike. usually when youre new at it. might as well lay down an older, POS.

 

[bizflawless 5,000+ posts]

 

[HitManSE 10+ year member]

I can out corner my buddies R1 on my 32hp single.. its quite comical to see him drop soo far behind. you don't have to buy a 250 and look like a tool,

the key is to start small and become a better rider. which brings me to my next point:

YOU WILL LAY YOUR FIRST BIKE DOWN!!!

its not a question of if... its a question of when, you will make mistakes your first season.

start small, start slow and work your way up. just because you bike SHOULD be able to do it doesn't mean you'll be able do it, control is key on a bike slow or fast. I have a good friend that bought an R1 as his first bike. and he's ready to sell it cause he knows he can't control it. plus he can't keep up with me in the twisties....

becoming a good rider takes time, and a level head. having ultimate control should be your goal. not going fast and looking cool.... that's a good way to end up 6 feet under you will know when your ready for that 600cc 1000cc rocket after you've been riding for a while

oh ya, your invisable on the road, cars pulling out in front of you or cuting you off is not uncommon.

I trimmed it down a bit //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif

This is what you'd call, a SMART rider. Learn from what he just posted. Ive heard it many times on several bike forums, the slower your 1st bike is, the better a rider you becomes. That way your abilities will be greater then your bike, start on something like a 600 and your not going to be better then your bike & you'll never master the 600, its abilities are far beyond what 99% of riders can use on the road. Yet alone a 1000.

Thats why you can go to a local track, and as described, what the slower bikes keeping up with the larger CC bikes with less experienced riders. They'll only pull away on the straights & you'll always catch or pass them on the corners. Imagine what you could do on a 600 once you get to that point, because the bike can make the turn.

 

[myvanpounds 10+ year member]

oh ya one last thing, don't even think for a second that you can drag your knees through the corners on public roads... I've pushed my little bike as far as I feel comfortable and I still can't get that last quarter inch chicken strip gone.... and by comfortable I mean getting the rear end squirrely mid corner... scares the living crap out of you the first time. I gotta get to the track to scrub that last little bit off

I'm really pissed they tore up my two favorite corners on my way to work. I used to take this S turn at about 30 in the first turn and 40 coming around the second and then they decided to ruff up the surface.... sad think is I didn't know this cause I ride to work at night... ya that was a little hairy, now I can't go through ther doing any more than 25 //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/frown.gif.a3531fa0534503350665a1e957861287.gif oh ya stay away from grated bridges

now I want a faster bike.. mine tops out around 85-90.. which sucks cause I usually do 70-75 around the on and offramps, oh well it keps me out of trouble

 

[Max_Power 10+ year member]

I've been riding for over about two seasons now and I will offer my advise:
BUY A HELMET

that's rule number uno, it must fit properly too.

now on to bike choice... obviously you want a crotch rocket, we all do but the reality is your not ready for a 1000cc bike... nor or you even ready for a 600cc supersport bike. ya we would all love too have an R6 or cbr600rr or gsxr600 as our first but even those are WAY too much bike for a novice. you wouldn't let a 16 year old larn how to drive in an enzo right? I don't care how much confidence you have in yourself or how cocky you are... a new rider is a new rider. some have a better grasp on it than others but there are some things that can only be learnt with seat time.

START SMALL

ya we want to do 9 second quarter miles, 3 second 0-60s and 180mph but that shit doesn't happen in the real world. corner carving and rider control is where the fun is. I can out corner my buddies R1 on my 32hp single.. its quite comical to see him drop soo far behind. you don't have to buy a 250 and look like a tool, there are a lot of cool looking bikes out there that are easy to ride and handle great, sure they lack power on the straits but that's not important with your first bike, SVs are good first bikes... honda makes the 599 and there are a few onther.. mostly 500-600 singles or twins. really you want something under 75hp... I'd actually recommend under 60 depending on prior riding experience (or lack there of).

I ride a 500cc single Buell Blast and have had more people gawk and stare at my bike parked outside at work than all the harleys parked right next to it. it an odd little bike, and everyone is always confused by the single cylinder. the only problem is it has less than 40 horse... its enuff for a first season but I'm personally ready for something in the 50-75 range. the key is to start small and become a better rider. which brings me to my next point:

YOU WILL LAY YOUR FIRST BIKE DOWN!!!

its not a question of if... its a question of when, you will make mistakes your first season. some will be obvious some won't, most can put you in a ditch. I'm just glad I layed mine down and got it out of the way. I was being stupid and it put me in a ditch. I learnt my lesson and know what my mistake was. I'm just glad I knew it was coming and now its out of the way... this is one of the reasons I bought my bike. it was cheap and built like a tank, I layed it down picked it up and rode it home, no expensive parts had to be fixed, just the turn signal, and plus if I DID mangle the bike it was only 2000... not some 8000 crotch rocket.

start small, start slow and work your way up. just because you bike SHOULD be able to do it doesn't mean you'll be able do it, control is key on a bike slow or fast. I have a good friend that bought an R1 as his first bike. and he's ready to sell it cause he knows he can't control it. plus he can't keep up with me in the twisties.... kinda hard to believe a 125hp 1000cc sport bike can't keep up to a 32hp single but its all the rider not the bike, I personally know 4 guys in our little group of about 10 that bought liter bikes because they thought they could handle it.... and now most of them don't ride anymore. one can't. yet all the guys that started small are still riding

becoming a good rider takes time, and a level head. having ultimate control should be your goal. not going fast and looking cool.... that's a good way to end up 6 feet under you will know when your ready for that 600cc 1000cc rocket after you've been riding for a while

oh ya, your invisable on the road, cars pulling out in front of you or cuting you off is not uncommon, I had a bus push me into oncoming just the other day.

excellent info. listen to him. also the Buell blast is a fantastic starter bike.

 

[dkmesa 10+ year member]

Your best bet is to start on a Ninja 250 or 500 and sell it once you get the hang of it. Make sure you always wear full gear and become perfectly comfortable with the controls before riding. A lot of problems new riders will have is panic-revving when they get nervous...yeah you'll want to stay away from that. I've got an SV650s which is more subtle than 600cc sportbikes but still very fast that would be better to learn on than a gixxer 600 or cbrrr

 

[Astyl 10+ year member]

well im 6'2 and 200 pounds, i dont wanna be the big dude kocked over a little *** bike like a 250 which would probobly be pretty small for my stature

 

[HitManSE 10+ year member]

well im 6'2 and 200 pounds, i dont wanna be the big dude kocked over a little *** bike like a 250 which would probobly be pretty small for my stature

Consider an SV650 then (check out Gixxer.com and do some research), its the size of more normal bikes out there, and a V-twin with a 650cc engine. The bigger motor will make it more torqey then the 250 or 500, but it doesnt have that insane rush of power up top. Still a nice bike to learn on, but I wouldnt suggest going past that bike as far as a starter bike goes.

 

[DemonaL 10+ year member]

Yeah I'd consider a nice 600, maybe just maybe a 750... That might be a bit overboard...

 

[myvanpounds 10+ year member]

the sv650 would be a good bike for a bigger guy, I wish I had started on a sv, I'm acually looking for a ***** vtwin for my second bike. my problem is I'm only 5'6" and 170. makes reaching the ground hard

 

[Pl8er 5,000+ posts]

the sv650 would be a good bike for a bigger guy, I wish I had started on a sv, I'm acually looking for a ***** vtwin for my second bike. my problem is I'm only 5'6" and 170. makes reaching the ground hard

X1000. SV650 is a GREAT first bike. If you got a bit extra cash go with the bike I have as my first bike (Ducati 900ss). It's a bit heavier but not overall quick, but handles great.