I normally don't copy and past stories from other sites anywhere, but this one kind of touched me. Its sad that someone would do this to somebody that has no idea what they are purchasing. So Newbies, beware!!! Not everyone here is trying to steer you into buying something that your not capable of handling, its the fact that we KNOW the difference, and unfortunately sometimes you don't get 2nd chances on motorcycles. So please, when you decide to buy a bike, make sure you buy it to understand your riding techniques and get proficient before getting yourself into something you don't understand or can't control. The only reason I'm posting this, is to make newbies think twice before running out and getting the "coolest" looking bike before you are proficient to ride it. I hope this may help someone in making a decision on what would be good for them.

This came from the Cycle World Forum.

This may seem a bit redundant, but I have recently had a few experiences that many newbies should know about. I have recently started working at my local honda/suzuki/yamaha motorcycle dealership as a mechanic. I get to test drive many of the bikes that come in for service (to make sure they don't fall apart when the person picks them up), as well as many of the brand new bikes for the same reason. Within my first day there, we sold a brand new gsxr600 to a kid that has ridden dirt bikes for about a year. Of course the salesman had no arguement against the kid getting the 600, because it "wasn't a 1000, so it was a good bike to start on" and he was getting paid to sell it. The bike left at noon. It came back at 1:00. There was blood all over it, the whole right side plastic was gone, and the kid was a mess. there was 42 miles on the bike. We had to make him go to the hospital because he was dripping blood on the floor.

Its easy to forget that the new 600's are NOT FOR BEGINNERS. Period. they are 100 hp, and closer to a race bike than any 17 year old has any right to own. I have goten a chance to ride many of them. I currently ride a suzuki bandit 1200 (obviously not a beginner bike) and I have been riding for about 7 years now. After swallowing my pride, i had to admit that the 600 scared me a bit. My bandit is certainly much faster as a whole, way stronger throughout the rpm range, but the 600's were more than I expected. The power band hits hard around 45 mph on most of them, and to some it may come as a surprise. Back in the 80's, a 500 ninja or interceptor, or maybe even some of the 600 fzr's could be considered beginer bikes. Not anymore. Not by a longshot. Since the first kid wrecked his bike, I have seen the exact same scenario play out twice. I have been working there for 2 months, and 3 bikes have been wrecked with less than 100 miles on them.

Why should anyone care? because of insurance. I pay $1000 per year to insure my bandit because people wreck sportbikes. It gives our sport a bad name, and people think that bikes are "dangerous", when they really don't have to be (except for the cage drivers).

Maybe this whole novel I wrote is worthless. People will always be attracted to fast bikes that push thier skill level too far. But Please, if you are looking to get in the sport for the first time, consider a gs500, or maybe a ninja 500. Heck get a honda rebel or nighthawk 250, all are fantastic bikes for beginners. Even with the smaller bikes you probably won't be able to ride them to their full potential for a year or so, and it might save your life when you start out.

 

Good read

 

I agree with it, and oden is right, very good read I say.


I am one of the "newbies" who rode dirtbikes for quite awhile. I then purchased an '03 CBR 600RR in january of this year. After riding a dirtbike, the 600's of today feel like a rocketship. I never touched the powerband for the first 1,000 miles after I bought it. When I began to get more and more comfortable (I still know I cant even come close to running this bike at full potential, not even close to 80%) I started "playing" with it so to speak. But throughout the 1/2 year Ive owned my crotch rocket, NEVER have I abused the power. It definately is NOT a play thing, and can put you in a world of hurt within a split second. It's nuts. Everytime I push my bike half-assed even, I wonder what the hell people do with 400 or more cc's :O how in the heck can you handle that.

In closing, the only time I have to dissagree with your article is when it comes to the "select few". There are those out there that are 16, 17, 18, that CAN start on a newer 600. They just have to be mature about what they are doing. They have to respect the power of the bike, know that if this bike were to come out 10 years ago, it could probably mop up the competition in the MotoGP class... Definately not something to play with.

So to the general public of beginners, yes, get an older bike, or one with a smaller displacement. Get something that, if dropped, you wont bawl your eyes out. Youll be able to look at it as a learning experience, one more line on the chalk board. Youll be able to think "man, can you imagine if I made that mistake on my brand NEW 600???" instead of "man, I wish I would have listened to the ones who have a little more experience>"

there is a reason this topic keeps coming up, and a reason the answer is almost identical in every instance.... It rings true.



thanks for the read bud, take care,


Chris