finally got my first bike

mikdivad · Jun 14, 2002

I live in Northbrook, which is about 20 minutes away from you. Actually I have a friend that lives in that Fort Sheridan subdivision. Always wanted to play golf on that course... but whatever. PM me if you ever want to go for a ride. I don't know of any good places to ride around here, but perhaps we can go for the occasional squid ride.

cherrypicker · Jun 14, 2002

Sandman said:
An R6 for a FIRST bike? I'm sorry, but I would have strongly advised a friend or family member not to do that for many valid reasons, but hey, you're already there with the most intense, focused, race oriented, 155mph 600 sportbike made.

I'm going on record as seeing broken plastic, levers, pegs, engine covers in your future. Odds are there, just reality- not personal.

Nothing anyone can say will mean anything at this point, so good luck to you. Your own judgement, choices, respect, and maturity will determine your survival.

That wasn't very nice. My F4i was my first bike. If you have common sense, keep focuesed, and don't let you're pride or ego dictate the pace, a new rider will be fine on a 600. They are very refined, forgiving, well balanced bikes. I've done a lot of stupid things but only once did it get away from me.

Hell, I'd go so far to say that aside from probably Ducman, I'm the fastest rider in the area after only riding for less that a year. show up to the NESBA trackday at BHF on July 7th. I'll prove it.

I think if I had started on a slower bike, I would never have learned to puch my limits because the suspension and brakes are shit on some of those bikes compared to the new 600's. I would have outgrown and gotten bored with a slower bike wihtin a couple weeks.

Ha... watch me crash and burn going into 1.. I jsut ginxed myself.:twofinger

Lupi · Jun 14, 2002

cherrypicker said:
Hell, I'd go so far to say that aside from probably Ducman, I'm the fastest rider in the area after only riding for less that a year. show up to the NESBA trackday at BHF on July 7th. I'll prove it.

WOW....now there is a brass balls statement. Hmmm.....Ody, Jim, Jeff, Kruz, ayone else want to take Mike up on this one? :twofinger

vtr996 · Jun 14, 2002

cherrypicker said:
That wasn't very nice. My F4i was my first bike. If you have common sense, keep focuesed, and don't let you're pride or ego dictate the pace, a new rider will be fine on a 600. They are very refined, forgiving, well balanced bikes. I've done a lot of stupid things but only once did it get away from me.

Hell, I'd go so far to say that aside from probably Ducman, I'm the fastest rider in the area after only riding for less that a year. show up to the NESBA trackday at BHF on July 7th. I'll prove it. I think if I had started on a slower bike, I would never have learned to puch my limits because the suspension and brakes are shit on some of those bikes compared to the new 600's. I would have outgrown and gotten bored with a slower bike wihtin a couple weeks.

Ha... watch me crash and burn going into 1.. I jsut ginxed myself.:twofinger

I agree and disagree.

I think 600's are Ok for a new street rider if you keep your head screwed on strait(which IS asking alot of a newbie) and take your time getting a feel for the machine.

But the racetrack is a different story, and I don't think you appreciate the things a smaller and lighter bike can teach you Cherry. I've been riding since around age 5-6 and I can tell you first hand I'm benefiting greatly from riding the HawkGT on the track. A "small" bike doesn't HAVE to have bad suspension or brakes (ever ridden a CB400F or a GPZ550 or a GS500/EX500 or HawkGT or a SV650???) they handle and brake pretty damn AWESOME. Notice how ALOT of the really fast guys started out on small bikes(125GP) learning to brake late and carry insane cornerspeed.......

BTW--- Sorry bro but I'm calling bullshit on the "fastest local rider" claim. LMAO

I'd have to give that one to DanO or OmniGLH having personally seen them running in the 1:21's around BHF. I think the fastest I've seen Cherry was in the Doc/Ody/Cherry train and they were pulling 1:26-27's if my memory is correct. ( although I've never seen a few others Sandman/Racesbikes..ect and for all I know they could be sub 1:20???):twofinger :twofinger

jibaro69 · Jun 14, 2002

I'll give you one good piece of advice if you don't want to wreck your bike, when you go on a group ride do NOT be bike #5 if rabbit is right in front of you :evil

Ricochet · Jun 14, 2002

Congratulations on your new bike!!!

I started on a Honda w/ a 250 cc engin (I was 16 yrs old then), so just be careful.

I live in Highland Park and also take rides along Sheridan road (looking for a new place to live). Let me know when your riding and I'll join you.

cherrypicker · Jun 14, 2002

I never said faxstest local rider. I just said fasteest rider that only has less than a year under his belt. Although Doc and Captain Peabody could make the same claim I suppose. I wasn;t trying to brag, but I've had a lot of poeple blow me off as a newbie because I only started riding last July. I put down 4 year in my profile mostly as a joke because I rode a dual sport one weekend 4 years ago and raced bicycles inbetween.

Am I going to get any faster, maybe, but to drop another 6 seconds at BHF, I will need to get a lot smoother and learn to trial brake better. I migth need a high mount too, since its's mostly right handers.

125's aren't safe on the street, the Ninja 205 is too little and ugly, the SV650 is fine if you like twins but isn't a lot lighter, doesn;t have btter brakes than the R6 and has 2nd rate suspension wiht less adjustment.

I just think everyone makes too big of a deal out of getting brand new 600 as a first bike. I'm just not convinced that the other alternatives are any better.

I guess everyone has their own opinion on this... it's just one of those topics.

YZFRabbit · Jun 14, 2002

cherrypicker said:
Am I going to get any faster, maybe, but to drop another 6 seconds at BHF, I will need to get a lot smoother and learn to trial brake better

Naah, just get a litre bike, then you will blow everyone away!:laughing :laughing

I am pretty impressed with Mike's riding after one year, he is the only guy I have seen grinding down his rearsets so soon so far.

The way I figure it, a nice current 600 sportbike is ok for a new rider if his or her head is screwed on straight, if anything, it is ideal as the powerband is friendly enough that the bike wont put them on thier head when the squiddley moments arise, and the suspension and tires are high quality as well, so they can concentrate on riding the bike rather than compensating for shit tires or suspension. I remember what it was like learning to ride my first bike, a new 93 Nighthawk 750...looking back at that I was doing alot of compensating for the bike vs. actually learning to ride better. An added benifit to a current 600 for a first bike is that the want to upgrade wont come about as quick.

cherrypicker · Jun 14, 2002

I always heard that Ducman (now in CT) started rding jsut 5 years ago and was racing regularly after the 2nd year I think. Last I heard, with a properly set-up R6, he could down to 1:15 or better at BHF. I think he has a lot of natural ability, mush more than me.

I ride mostly usuing my head, and thinking through things. I don;t have very good reflexes or coordination, so it takes me a while ot get smooth at something.

My crash was mostly due to poor judgement not the biek I had. A typical newby crash usually includes locking up the brakes, panicing, hitting gravel or looping the bike. Basically riding I was trying ot really push the biek on the street wiht cold tires. There wasn't smooth run-off and I wasn;t leaving enouhg room for error. I went wide and tagged the curb. I would have saved it if I had 6" more road. I've never completely lost traction on the front or rear tries.

nakedsv · Jun 20, 2002

The only thing wrong with an R6 as a first bike is that it will be expensive to fix when you drop it compared to an ideal 20 year old 250cc terd of a starter bike. Those bikes you don't even have to fix (much). I think if you're careful, your accidents will be at parking lot speeds and will mostly just piss you off and cost you money.

Like someone else said, it hasn't got enough balls unless you open the throttle. By then, you know what you're doing and whatever happens is your own fault.

If you do manage not to drop it within the first few months, you won't have wasted any money on a starter bike that is obsolete quickly.

finally got my first bike

mikdivad

cherrypicker

Lupi

vtr996

jibaro69

Ricochet

cherrypicker

YZFRabbit

cherrypicker

nakedsv

Top Contributors this Month

Recommended Communities