Help with sportbikes!?

Question

I am 17 years old and am want to get started into street riding. I have ridden dirt-bikes for about 5 years and know how to shift, brake, ect. I have had my fair share of falls and have learned from what I have done wrong in the dirt. I have also been driving for a year without any crashes and have no trouble driving manual cars. I am looking at the 600cc bikes such as the cbr's and the gsxr's. I know that most people suggest a 250cc ninja for a beginner but I already have alot of experience riding motorcycles on the dirt. I am going the take the MSF motorcycle safety class in order to learn the quirks of driving on the road. I understand that defensive driving is a must because motorcycles are literally invisible to cars. Do you think this is the right way to get into street riding or if not what do you suggest. Please don't flame or call me a squid solely based on my age. Thank you for all responses.

Answer 1

I question why you wish to get a 160 mph four-cylinder racing motorcycle when you state you want to get into "street riding." Do you intend to exceed 100 mph on a regular basis?



Driving for a full year without crashes -- excellent. This leads to confidence, and overconfidence. In the U.S., 18-year-olds have the highest fatal accident rate -- when they have gained confidence and start going too fast.



The four-clinder 600cc class of road racing motorcycles are excelent for what they are designed for -- going fast. For street riding, almost anything else is better. And much cheaper to buy and insure.



Insurance companies know that purchasers of racing machines tend to go too fast and crash. You may want to check on insurance *before* purchasing a motorcycle. Cruisers have the lowest insurance rates.

Answer 2

From other answers and what i understand about MSF, you've definitely taken the right approach.



Your right about the 250 too, it is suitable for MOST people, then again there are a lot of 251cc+ bikes that are suitable for learners as well (mostly singles & twins). However seeing as you've got a pretty good idea of what's going on and what sort of control is required on a roadbike, i don't think that would be too much of a concern for you.



The biggest concern would be the increase in power available and increased weight may take some getting used to. But seeing as i jumped from a 140 kilo bike (450cc twin) to a 180 kilo 750cc to a 203 kilo 900 and survived with not much more than minimal wobbles, i think you should be pretty alright in the long run. JUST remember to respect that you can get into a lot more trouble in more ways than just one with a bigger bike. By the way, have you considered the Ninja 650? It has a pretty nice power delivery and from all reports is quite fun to ride too.



p.s. don't forget to break that dirt habit of foot out in the corners, that'll only end in tears.

Answer 3

You have done everything right and have a fantastic attitude. Your previous dirt bike experience is the best training and experience you could possibly have. It is the very thing most who get seriously injured on the street didn't do. You should have no trouble at all on the 600cc sport bike of your choice. All you need is the riders course you mention to learn a few survival skills pertaining to the street and traffic. I predict a lifetime of safe motorcycling in your future.



Another good read is Proficient Motorcycling by David Hough (pronounced "Huff"). It offers the equivelent of a rider's course and then some in street survival theory.

Answer 4

Your not going to like my answer, so be it. 17 year olds should not get a 600cc rocket, period. It would be neglect on your parents part if they allow you to get one. I have a 600cc CBR it will still go 135mph even with it geared down for better acceleration. You do not have a clue as to what you do not know about riding yet. I do not know you at all but I do know that. You even sound fairly level headed, but these things are not child's toys. I have a few bikes in my garage and would not consider letting a kid ride either of the CBR's. I would let you take a dual sport bike or and older standard say a 550 out if you were my kid but that's about the fastest bike I would let you ride. I would also bet insuring a rocket at your age would prove to be extremely costly.

Answer 5

Absolutely the 600. I've rode dirt bikes since age 6 (uncle was a motocross racer) and that is the most valuable experience you can get. Just knowing the quirks of riding on two wheels puts you ahead of the everyone else riding. My first street bike was a 600. Good to start with.

Answer 6

MSF motorcycle safety class is a good start. I recommend reading: Twist of the Wrist: The Motorcycle Road racers Handbook By Keith Code.



Lots of good usable info there.



I know lots of guys that have started on 600cc bikes without too many problems. Just practice in turning off the hooligan in you to keep safe & alive.



Learn those survival skills well & execute them daily.

Answer 7

There are some really great answers to you here and do take the time to read them all. To me the biggest factor here is for you to be honest with yourself about your degree of self-control and maturity. Too many street riders try to emulate stunt riders in the one mile wheelie, stoppies, rolling burnouts, eternal penis length contest etc. The performance of modern sportbikes is extreme to say the least. Another factor you did not mention is what do you want to do in your riding, how tall are you? Ride to school or travel around, take your girl friend out on a nice day? The CBR's and GSXR's are awesome track day bikes if you are not very tall or don't want to ride for a very long distance, also it would take a pretty tough girl to sit on the back of one for very long on bikes like these, (my wife calls it the gynecologist riding position) !

Another thing some people have touched upon, that is this cost to (fully)insure one of these bikes at your age, WOW! Save/borrow enough money to pay cash for a decent used bike, check e-bay. This way you are not paying obscene insurance rates for full coverage ins., just the legal min. of ins., (be sure to ask how much additional medical ins. would be though, don't ask why I say this!).



Check out supermotard style bikes, then you have limited off-road cap.



Check out Ducati's too. For example a good running Monster isn't that much and is a hoot to ride, handles and stops very well and with pipes sounds awesome, look at e-bay item #260547561858! Besides, when you roll into your favorite bike hangout on a Duck there won't be any other of them, unless you are at the Rockstore in Malibu, or the base of the Crest in La Canada/Flintridge CA.



In the end good luck kid and ride safe. Superior mental attitude always wins in the end.

Ricky Gadson, when he was a kid they called him 9 on a nine, nine years old on a 900 Kaw.

Answer 8

depends how sensible your gonna be..lots of people will tell you a 600 is too much but i was ridin an 88 gsxr 1100 when i was 19! has a tl1000 since, a thunderace, a 750srad, r1 and 2 more gsxr 1100's,..iv just turned 32 now..im still here!

personally id suggest a cbr 600, two of my mates started with them in there early 20's, there fast enough, handle well and being a honda there really forgiving and easy to ride, i rode dirt bikes for 6 years before road riding, just BE CARFULL!! even a honda will kill!!

Answer 9

MSF course teach some basics. But it still doesn't prep you for real life traffic. Sorry some of you are going to flame about this. MSF courses are help at a controlled environment running circles, with bikes that are extremely underpowered, compare to what you are planning on buying.

Most people say you shouldn't buy a bike like the ones you want. I say as long as you have the right attitude and self control go for it.

Answer 10

There are so many bikes between 250cc ninja and CBR600rr/GSXR600s, I think that a smaller (displacement), less powerful bike benefits any novice road rider. It is all very well assuming that your right hand is enough of a control to “respect” the bike, but your off-road experience will not have prepared you for a 600cc sportsbike. And any short introduction class is not going to teach you all you need to know, there is a steep learning curve that will follow.

Answer 11

Crashing on ANY motorcycle hurts. It makes no difference on the bike. Circumstances of any crash are going to be different. Mostly speed, if you hit anything with your body, and what safety equipment you are wearing. True story. I had a friend jump a curb with a street / trail bike doing about 45 MPH. He did a superman over the handlebars and took out a 15 MPH speed limit sign on a 4X4 post with his face. Fortunately, he was wearing a full face helmet. He only broke both kneecaps going over the handlebars. It could have been much worse. This guy wasn't riding a sport bike and still flew face first. Keep the shiny side up.

Answer 12

If you taking a MSF course and have experience riding dirtbikes, you will be able to handle a 600cc sportbike with no problem.



I had no experience whatsoever and I started with a Ninja ZX6R after a took a MSF course with no problems.



I won't flame your age, but the insurance companies will...unfortuntely.



Good luck!

Answer 13

I started with a 750cc and i had no bike exp AT ALL! The only thing you need to do is TAKE YOUR TIME! I have never been on a dirt bike and probably never will but i hear its a big difference. I've been riding for 3 yrs and never crashed. This summer i finally got my knee down in a turn. Take your time, ride for yourself. If you crash, the only one going to the hospital is you.

Answer 14

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