stay up and bucky are dumbasses and I can gurantee that I know more about bikes than they do. Statistics don't lie. Teens on motorcycles have life expectancies measure in months, not years. If you don't believe me then ask an insurance agent or NTSB official.
This is my advice. Its good advice because its the safest, albeit slower way to go about riding a motorcycle (and motorcycling is all about rist mitigation/management). Anyone who tells you anything different is suggesting a more dangerous path.
• If you don't know any responsible riders that have been riding for years (at least 5) that will be there to teach and ride with you through your first ~400 miles then DEFINITELY TAKE THE MSF. MSF costs ~$300 and will take 3 days (~30 hours) of your life.
• Do NOT start on a 600cc bike. There are certain 600cc bikes which are suitable for people with some motorcycling/dirbiking experience, but from your post I am guessing that you are not one of those people. 500cc and below for at least 4 months or 2000 miles (that refers to the engine size). 40hp should be the hard limit on what you learn on.
• I *reccommend* (this is a suggestion) not getting a new motorcycle. new bikes are much more expensive and unless you are one of the lucky few (like me), then you will drop your bike at least once learning. Statistics say that 1/2 of bike drops/accidents happen in the first 6 months of riding. Assuming most people ride ~5 years this means that new riders are 10x more likely to have an accident/drop as other riders. Fairings are expensive (replacing fairings costs almost as much as a paint job on a car), and you will *NOT* recoup your investment on a new bike. Conversely, I made money on the sale of my first bike/accessories after riding it 8 months (and upgrading).
Like I said, I have never dropped my bike, but I can remember 3 distinct instances when I was learning when I would have either eaten pavement, a curb, or the grille of an SUV if I'd been on a 600cc bike. Small bikes like the GS500, EX-500, and ninja 250 are *extremely* maneuverable. I also gurantee that 3 months in, you will have better skills than someone who started the same time as you on a 600cc sportbike.
• Gear. Helmet, jacket, gloves, boots (riding boots are best, but anything that will protect your ankle in a get-off will suffice), and pants if you can afford them. Believe me when i say that putting the money towards decent gear instead of a new bike will make you happier when you finally upgrade.
• Crotch rocket envy. I'm not going to lie... you'll have it when you're putting around on your starter bike. I have it now even though I ride an R6. (The new GSXR and ZX6R body styles look sweet). Unless you're seriously rich, there will always be a toy out there that you lust over. If you are dead set on something that looks sporty, then 100% get a faired GS-500. This is a photo of the GS500 that I learned on... so you can be certain that there are sporty looking starter bikes around.
• Maturity. I've never met you, so I am unable to judge whether you have the right temperament/mentality to ride a motorcycle. Personally, I don't think teens should ride bikes unless they 100% have the financial means to do so themselves without food/room/board help from mom and dad. A bike is a toy that can easily get you killed or crippled... and I don't believe that responsible parents buy toys like that for children.
• Advice. You will hear lots of arguments one way or the other about why fast bikes are good or bad for first riders. The bottom line is that they are more risky, no matter how they are ridden (powerband, rake, trail, etc). The reason they are bad choices for new riders is that they are less forgiving when mistakes are made (and we all make mistakes, new rider or old rider)... and new riders don't have the experience or reflexes to make the right choice/correction as fast as experienced riders do. This is the essence of why less powerful bikes are better for new riders.
In comparison... the Air Force has enough fighter jets to train their pilots in F-16's/F-22's if they wanted.... but they don't. New pilots train in smaller, weaker jets so that they don't FUBAR themselves when they make an error (and trash a multi-million dollar jet vs one that costs a few hundred K). I highly reccomend that new riders follow a similar philosophy. Unless you have terminal cancer (do you?), the risk vs reward for a dangerous jump to a race-ready bike isn't worth it.
• Last. This is a judgement call (and my personal opinion). If you dont' have the discipline to forego a 600cc sportbike then you dont' have the discipline to be a responsible rider. Stay up's comment about lifting his front wheel on his GSXR should be an example of that. Better riders than him have gone down for smaller lapses in judgement.
That is my advice.
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Originally Posted by Tarzanman
he no nothing about me and he is like I no more. What a prick i am just trying to save the dude from getting anything under 600 cause i no as soon as he rides it for 2 months he will go Damn i need a bigger bike i have had mine for 3 months and i am already trying to get a gsxr1000 i wish i would have listen to those guys that told me to go ahead and get 1.
or maBYE NOT EVEN THAT WAS IT A PW90,scooter,bycycle or mabye u just think u no everything well i dont but the thing i do no is u want power to scare u not feel free with it cause thats when u get heart i no considering i use to race quads.
