They're hypocrites I say! Hello all by the way!

[adam LC]

Hi all, been reading here for a while, very cool forum.

Several years ago (I'm 32), i attempted and failed my DAS (huge roundabout and wasn't far enough right for a right-hand turn.), I didn't get a chance at another go for time and money. Anyway, I suggested to my friends recently that I was going to have another go. The usual first question from them "what bike?"... now, after my reply; I expected a lot of "you shouldn't get that for a first bike" (I have read and appreciated the first bike sticky in this forum btw).

Now this is where I kind of feel a bit belittled. I consider myself a very careful driver, I've been driving 32t trucks for about 5 years so my observation/positioning/anticipation skills are pretty good (without sounding bigheaded ). I've owned numerous fast cars like RS's; St's; Cosworths etc. and only had one speeding ticket since I was 17 for doing 50 in a 40. Okay, enough defending myself and get to the point.

Out of my four friends who ride 2 of them have ZZR1100's (their first bikes, btw and still have them), another has an R1 which he bought a couple of months after using a GSXR600 SRAD as his first bike, and finally the the last one has a GSXR750 K6 which he bought new.... as a first bloody bike! The R1 guys brother got a Hyabusa as a first bike 

Back to earlier, my reply to what bike was a GSXR 750, to which my friends said "nahhhh, you want a Fazer/SV/Bandit....  I'm not knocking those bikes in anyway, but I just find that a bit hypocritical from people who bought supersports bike also. I would never ride beyond my own ability, I want to get old ya'know!

Makes me wonder how many other people bought these bikes when they are new riders and are actually happy with their decision. I don't want to buy a bike and then a month or so after wish to myself I got something bigger.... I'm not that rich!

Ok, rant over. Sorry my first post is a whinge, hope to join the ranks soon.... whatever bike I get! 

[Lean]

Welcome to the forum.

Maybe your mates are giving you this advice in hindsight, because they now know how scary having a supersports bike is as the first bike.

Or maybe they dont want you to be faster than them.

[adam LC]

Or maybe they dont want you to be faster than them.

Knowing their ego's... more than likely!

[Mr Mandy]

i wouldn't recommend a full on sports bike to anyone as a 1st bike.


I've been there, done that, got the t-shirt and the bruises.


I bought a spanking new R1 at 17 and I don't think I was ever in charge of it, merely a pillion in the front seat.


Looking back, i'd have kept the FZR400RR until I had more experience and then gone for maybe an R6 instead.


The newer non-SRAD GSXR750 is a wild machine and difficult to tame in less experienced hands. More fun than the thou though.

The SRAD 750 is a bit more sedate than it's successor but is still a beast and will quickly throw you off if you're not careful.

Without wishing to sound in any way derogatory, do you not think that the 600 would be a better choice, even for only a few months?

I would also recommend an older bike to begin with as any drops won't be such a strain on the wallet. The last thing you need is to fork out £6k+ on a bike and then another £1k+ on new plastics if you drop it

I would say that the GSXR600 would not be too bad for a first bike, not ideal really though. Parts are commonplace so prices for these will be pretty low compared to other bikes. They are cheap to insure also because of this.


At the end of the day, I for one cannot be hypercritical about such a subject, so I would say that the choice is yours and you should get what you are comfortable on, what fits your budget and what you can afford to insure and run.


Best of luck matey

[notoriusb.e.n]

Hey there.

Nobody but you can decide what bike your gonna start on. And its totally possible to go out, by an R1 as a first bike, and ride it quite competently and safely. Rule of averages says its been done before.

However, it might be easier on yourself to buy something based on your ability to ride it, rather than "it looks nice".  Sv's, bandits, fazers etc are recommmended as first bikes, as they usually light enough, simple enough to ride, and dont cost as much to insure and repair, as say a litre sports.

The only ay you'll know whats right is by sitting on, and riding on, as many bikes as you fancy. and you can get bored with a bike after a while anyway, even if it seemed perfect at first (125's are a prime example) so be prepared to want to change bikes at some point. Unless you're the one lucjy person who ends up buying their perfect bike straight off.  

[zaksv650s]

yeah they may have the fast bike but if you go out for a ride with them you'll notice the rider can't keep up with the bike thats why everybody say's fazers and sv's because they will teach you to be a better rider so that when you get a years or so practice you'll know how to kick complete ass on the formentioned bikes good luck with your test if you do it.

[psyko]

Greetings - welcome in - never mind the rant, we all have a go now and then!

[adam LC]

Thanks for the replies. I'll definitely be doing my test again, but not until the end of the year (I'll tell you all what the yard maneuvers were like!, same with the HGV test I guess).

I was in the bike shop the other day and felt most comfortable on the GSXR's 600/750, the 750 which felt a lot easier to handle than a SV I tried (short legs and the SV felt heavier). I was in the mind of a 1 or 2 yr old bike, until I saw that Suzuki are were doing £99 insurance fully comp with their 600. When I finally get my license I'll think a bit more about what offers are available, maybe the £99 offer isn't valid to new riders? idk.

Wheelies and stoppies aren't my thing btw, but I do want to keep up and have the overtaking power when I need it.

[zaksv650s]

buy what suits you most if the sv wasnt right it'll never be right for you and if you have a gixxer take it steady for a bit they have got to be the most forgiving road bikes of the supersports class and don't try to play catch up with your mates ride safe dude.

[lukey]

Ignore all the safey nazis,. and just buy what you really want.  At the end of the day its down to your ability to control your right hand that will stop you getting into any trouble whethers its a 125, 400, 600 or 1000cc bike.  A lot of it has to do with your level of maturity, this might sound stereotyping but i would say the younger the rider the greater the chance of them doing something stupid (apologies in advance to all sensible younger riders) as for some reason I dont think they have the same appreciation of risk.

I bought a GSXR 600 as a first bike (aged 45) after learning and riding a 125 for 6 months and have never had any issues at all on the power and handling but im sensible and know my limits.

[notoriusb.e.n]

Ignore all the safey nazis,. and just buy what you really want.  At the end of the day its down to your ability to control your right hand that will stop you getting into any trouble whethers its a 125, 400, 600 or 1000cc bike.  A lot of it has to do with your level of maturity, this might sound stereotyping but i would say the younger the rider the greater the chance of them doing something stupid (apologies in advance to all sensible younger riders) as for some reason I dont think they have the same appreciation of risk.

As a younger rider, I have to say I totally agree. I'm far more likely to get tempted to push it more than say, a middle aged chap with family and kids, they can exercise greater levels of self control than me, they have more to lose than me. Of course there's always folks who can be level headed and restrained. Maybe I'm just the mental type. But god help me, I keep taking the pills.

[Lennylad]

I think there is a large degree of hypocrisy and there are a couple of main views

1) People have learnt their lesson and dont want you to fall foul of what they learned the hard way
2) People have short memories, and want to be (better, faster, etc) than their new peers, so they discourage you so they will be ........(better faster etc)
I am sure there are many more that can be added

I bought my Daytona as a first bike and I do not regret it. I will admit that it has taken be a while to get used to it and I am only now starting to ride it more like it should be ridden. I have also been back to my old instructor and had some more advanced training to keep improving, I did the RHRS and I have been out as much as possible to practice with lots of different groups

Partly the sense that it is a full on machine keeps me sensible, I have no question if I would have bought a "more sensible" bike I would pushed it too far by now and possibly myself.

My only sentiment is that if you do buy something take it steady. It is true that it will only go as fast as your right wrist

HTH

That's my 

BTW Welcome in fella