Bye Bye R1

[cale]

I love the people telling the OP that if he's cautious they too can learn to ride on a sport bike let alone a litre bike. I'm willing to put dollars on it that those people themselves can't ride for shit. There's a difference between being able to get from point A to B in one piece and being able to actually ride those bikes how they're intended to be. There is nothing natural about the geometry to them, and I question any new riders ability to react to a dangerous situation as effectively on a sport bike hunched over vs sitting upright on something like an enduro or touring bike.

I'm also willing to bet those same people are also the guys who ride around in parking lots with their feet down because they can't ride their bikes at 5mph. If you can't control something slow what makes you think you can fast? Sure it's easier to stay upright, but it's immensely more difficult to be proficient at speed.

Keep telling yourself you're a good rider because you've managed to stay on your 1000 thus far.

[Ryan Stewart]

Again, my first street bike is this MV that I have been riding for a year now so I cant judge the OP. Like said before I was considering a more reasonable bike but this one fell into my lap. Yeah, I've still not used it to its full potential. My track season "starts" this month. Not everyone has to be one of those douchebag wannabe stunters or old farts on a bike to make them feel young again.

If the guy takes it easy and stays out of the power band he should be fine. Be smart, wear all the gear. Then immediately invest $500 in the 3 primary MSF classes, go ahead and ride their bikes for the first one because the lower-speed maneuvers are easier to master on something that responds differently at low speeds.

Ive never subscribed to this bullshit about everyone has to start on a Vespa and then buy bikes on their way to the bike they really want. Its the rider, not the bike.

[imsotyerred]

Hit this guy up...

aside from the "it's a 750 AND 600" comment, I don't see what they''re 'calling him out' on

[Mr. Burns]

Ibrip

[Ryan...]

Again, my first street bike is this MV that I have been riding for a year now so I cant judge the OP. Like said before I was considering a more reasonable bike but this one fell into my lap. Yeah, I've still not used it to its full potential. My track season "starts" this month. Not everyone has to be one of those douchebag wannabe stunters or old farts on a bike to make them feel young again.

If the guy takes it easy and stays out of the power band he should be fine. Be smart, wear all the gear. Then immediately invest $500 in the 3 primary MSF classes, go ahead and ride their bikes for the first one because the lower-speed maneuvers are easier to master on something that responds differently at low speeds.

Ive never subscribed to this bullshit about everyone has to start on a Vespa and then buy bikes on their way to the bike they really want. Its the rider, not the bike.

I do agree with this, to an extent. For instance, I started on a 600 (after years and years of mini-bike and the occasional dirtbike experience), and I did just fine. Granted, it was a 91 CBR F2 that was in very poor shape.

I see no reason why anyone should "need" to start on a 250, sell it a month later, then buy a 500, sell it a month later (at a loss), then buy a 600.. If you take the proper classes and actually commit a little time to learning how the bikes react in varying conditions (rain, objects in road, riding at night, heavy traffic, etc...) you can start on a 600 just fine.

However, starting on a 150+ HP R1 is just a recipe for disaster, especially if you have no 2-wheeled experience. All it takes is 1 second of "holy shit what do I do right now???" to twist the throttle a little too much, and the OP will be flat on his back and the bike is ghost riding down the road. These bikes are not toys, and they do not suffer fools..

[Ryan Stewart]

None of them suffer fools. The MV has, near as makes no difference, 140hp. Yeah, throwing it into the stop halfway through second might fill the back of your pants but its not like its THAT easy to do. At least on mine it takes a pretty deliberate twist to achieve that. I find it hard to believe that an extra 10hp/ft-lbs is going to make a bike wholly unridable for all but the most fit/experienced of riders.

Its pretty easy to ride like a bitch. Honestly, I still do it all of the time. When in traffic I see no need to go above 6,000. At 6,000 a hard twist might jolt you a bit but its not the shit your pants experience. That is probably why he cant "tell a 600 from a 1000," because he isnt in the power band of either.

Not being in the power band doenst make him an asshole, acutally the ones who are in traffic bouncing off 13,000 plus are the assholes, save that shit for the track.

As far as suffering fools, I had some pretty spectacular wrecks on my old KX250. At 50mph its pretty easy to kill yourself. Just head for your nearest tree or light pole. That can be done on a F4RR CorsaCorta or a Honda NHX110 scooter. The only difference is when you hit the tree on the F4 people will also mourn the loss of the bike.

[quickervicar]

The only difference is when you hit the tree on the F4 people will mourn the loss of the bike.

f1xed

If the OP doesn't understand what all the "fuse" is about with learning on a liter bike, I'm afraid the point of having the bike is already lost on him. It reminds me of the 17 year-old I met who was complaining how his new R1 wouldn't wheelie. :???:

[profbooty]

I love the people telling the OP that if he's cautious they too can learn to ride on a sport bike let alone a litre bike. I'm willing to put dollars on it that those people themselves can't ride for shit. There's a difference between being able to get from point A to B in one piece and being able to actually ride those bikes how they're intended to be. There is nothing natural about the geometry to them, and I question any new riders ability to react to a dangerous situation as effectively on a sport bike hunched over vs sitting upright on something like an enduro or touring bike.

I'm also willing to bet those same people are also the guys who ride around in parking lots with their feet down because they can't ride their bikes at 5mph. If you can't control something slow what makes you think you can fast? Sure it's easier to stay upright, but it's immensely more difficult to be proficient at speed.

Keep telling yourself you're a good rider because you've managed to stay on your 1000 thus far.

My first bike was an 1994 honda vfr750. I kept it for 11 years and just sold it a few weeks ago. I never went past half throttle for the first 6 months I owned it. Yes, I eventually did fall off it.... 3 years of riding experience later doing 25mph on a stretch of brand new pavement as the front tyre lost adhesion and the bike simply would not turn.

The smart thing that the OP should have done, was gone and taken a motorcycle safety foundation class. They're relatively cheap, and you learn on their bikes. Some states let you waive both the written and road test if you take it. You will at least find out if you like riding or not, and will learn how to do it safely on someone elses bike with little power.

Unless you are on track, a light tossible bike is more fun anyways.

[Ryan...]

None of them suffer fools. The MV has, near as makes no difference, 140hp. Yeah, throwing it into the stop halfway through second might fill the back of your pants but its not like its THAT easy to do. At least on mine it takes a pretty deliberate twist to achieve that. I find it hard to believe that an extra 10hp/ft-lbs is going to make a bike wholly unridable for all but the most fit/experienced of riders.

The 2005-2008 R1s were actually rated at 180bhp (link), with the 07-08s having a bit more torque than the 05-06s. Also, the literbike is going to make quite a bit more torque/hp throughout the RPM range than the MV. Even with my liberal beliefs regarding starting on larger bikes, the post-04 R1s are an absolutely terrible choice.


BTW, you should post some recent pics of the MV, still think they're the sexiest bikes out there right now. The F4rr is absolutely gorgeous :bow:

[Ryan Stewart]

Well, given that 140 is still "up there" (especially by 2002 standards when the bike was made) the point does stand that you can pilot one of those without killing yourself. Yeah, the R1 is bigger and more powerful but at 4,000rpm would still be dogshit slow (well, not compared to most cars) enough to safely drive.

Its really down to the rider. If someone doesnt feel the need to use all 160hp in traffic then they are probably fine. More than likely youre gonna get taken out by some bitch that turns left without looking so its not really going to matter what you are driving.

I'll update pics in the motorcycle thread, nothing major though. Right now money is in maintaining it and rider mods.

[Ryan Stewart]

The smart thing that the OP should have done, was gone and taken a motorcycle safety foundation class. They're relatively cheap, and you learn on their bikes. Some states let you waive both the written and road test if you take it. You will at least find out if you like riding or not, and will learn how to do it safely on someone elses bike with little power.

This is true, best money spent. They let you use their little 250s for putting around the parking lot, they weight nothing so if you get off balanced you can easily catch yourself, etc. The class is worth it just for taking the "figure 8s in a box" test on those bikes. MUCH easier than trying to do it on a 400lb sportbike with steering geometry that doesn't lend itself to tight, 5mph turns.

[mulletman]

Well, given that 140 is still "up there" (especially by 2002 standards when the bike was made) the point does stand that you can pilot one of those without killing yourself. Yeah, the R1 is bigger and more powerful but at 4,000rpm would still be dogshit slow (well, not compared to most cars) enough to safely drive.

Its really down to the rider. If someone doesnt feel the need to use all 160hp in traffic then they are probably fine. More than likely youre gonna get taken out by some bitch that turns left without looking so its not really going to matter what you are driving.

What's the goal, though? Just to survive owning a motorcycle? Sure, it can be done with a first time rider on a liter, if survival is the only measure of failure or success. If the goal is to have fun, progress quickly, and become a proficient rider... then I'd say a first-timer on an R1 is doomed to failure.

No one said that everyone has to buy a moped, then a vespa, then a 125, then a 250, then a 500.....

All it takes is something like an SV650, a little time, and then on to the bike you really want. If the person is smart, the SV650 will hold it's value so well that they basically come out even on the deal. Hell, even an old F2 or F3 isn't an awful choice. Maybe not ideal, but the chassis on my old F2 flexed so much that it gave amazing feedback to the rider.

[LuckyHenriksen]

I had fun on my WR250 supermotard, newer 600 for a while, and did a few rides on a borrowed liter. Lots of fun, but regardless of the bike and power band I was most worried about being taken out in traffic. I tried really hard not to be a squid, but every few days I would hear about someone getting hit by other motorists. This is what led me to sell all the toys and spend it on cars haha

[CabbE30]

I already posted a thread but I too just got a bike, a 500cc Buell, and I can't imagine riding an R1 without shitting myself. I have a riders course this week, totaling 15 hours, and you get to waive the riding test at the DMV. I honestly can't wait for the courses because, even though I've been riding a scooter around since I was 15, the tips & tricks about safety that they have from experience is worth the $150.

[evandael]

My girlfriend got an sv650 as a first bike. She took the PA motorcycle safety course and got a nice helmet and is very serious about it, but I'm scared shitless of the bike, and even moreso by all the incompetent drivers on the road who might hit my girl.


How anyone can strap themselves to a 1000cc splat bike, while wearing no gear and weaving in and out of traffic absolutely defies any of my self-preservative logic.