Sorry guys I know there is a lot of these threads all the time, but I need some other opinions. I've been wanting a sport bike for a while now. Decided to start looking for one and finally talked my wife into it also. So I haven't been in a real big hurry since its getting into the winter season, but I figured hell now would be a good time maybe I could score a deal.
Well I found a pretty sweet deal. This guy has a nice bike. Its a 1997 with a fresh motor rebuild. New paint job with no stickers on it.
Heres the kicker though. Its a yzf1000. Thats a bigger bike then I was looking for. I've ridden bikes before but not a crotch rocket like this and certainly not a 1000. He just rebuilt it and its bored to a 1040cc.
What do you think? Would I just be insane to pick that bike up? I'm thinking about passing the deal just for the fact its too big of a bike for me. I need a 500 or a 600 is really as big as I was plan on going.
the power you can control.. that part is up to you so saying a 1L for that reason is to much for a first timer isn't to accurate (to a point) its more the size and weight of the bike compared to the size of you... 1L's require more upper body strength ... so take me for example... im 5'11" 185lbs and i got pretty good upper body strength from hockey working out.... but i dont even think i have enought o muscle around a 1L smothly and enjoy it... on the other hand i LOVE! my 06 R6 as i can muscle that around like no tomorrow and its fun to ride beacuse of that... and the R6 was my first bike, never riden any other bike other then when i raced Down hill mountain bikes... and it was fine
The First Twin Charged jbody
blue car (R.I.P) - 240whp @7psi..
silver car - 305whp 315lbs.tq @15psi (91 Octane) or 420whp & 425lbs.TQ @20psi (94 octane+Alcohol Injection)
All dynos run on a Mustang dyno
New motor + fresh paint = accident bike. I don't think it'd be too big but 600 should be plenty.
FieryOne wrote:New motor + fresh paint = accident bike. I don't think it'd be too big but 600 should be plenty.
He said its been dropped over twice thats why the paint. That doesn't bother me really. If someone tells me they are selling their first bike and its never been dropped over I would have to start to wonder. Really as far as the motor work/paint i'm not worried about that.
Josh F made me a little worried though about size. I'm a small guy I dont want man handeled by my bike. I'm only 5'8" 115lbs. That thing would probably kick my ass. Its just a good deal and I got excited. Still dont know. Part of me says jump on it other part says its too big motor and physical size.
If you're that small I'd say sit on it first. If it feels too big and heavy for you, it probably is.
a 1997 yzf1000 is a big bike. not motor, but physically large. 436lbs dry (probably 500lbs loaded with fuel, antifreeze, oil, etc.) and 56.5" wheelbase. for comparison, a Hayabusa has a 58" wheelbase and weighs nearly the same. that's why i would personally not start with that particular bike.
Yea, i'm sure you're right. Gosh, that sucks I really want it. I know I need something smaller though. Yea the guy lives a bit away. He said he'd bring it out here but its a decent drive and i'd feel bad if he brought it all the way out here and then I was like "ehh sorry too big" maybe i'll go over to the dealer and sit on one. Atleast that'll give me an idea. Seems like they might frown upon letting people just sit on them though. Everyone I know has a 500 or a 600. The only big bike is a harley and that thing is a fat pig.
the weight factor comes into play when your going threw a corner... if you dont have the upper body to hold it.. that bike is coming on on you and your not going to be able to lean and hold that corner properly just because of the motion of the pistons and what not wanting to bring the bike upright...
i say a guy of your size would be happy on a 600cc... get somthing like
- 2005/2006 Honda 600RR
- 2006 YZF-R6
- 2006 GSXR 600 or even in this case you MIGHT be able to get away with the 750cc
these bikes have ALOT! of kick for a 600cc trust me... they can still hold their own not bad with a 1L if you know how to ride but as soon as the twistys come up and if you know how to handel them you will leave the 1L in the dust most of the time
The First Twin Charged jbody
blue car (R.I.P) - 240whp @7psi..
silver car - 305whp 315lbs.tq @15psi (91 Octane) or 420whp & 425lbs.TQ @20psi (94 octane+Alcohol Injection)
All dynos run on a Mustang dyno
i have a cbr929 have had it 5 years this is not my first bike all i ride with are 600s and one 750 we are all about the same skill level and i can kick the butts all over the place they wish the had a bigger bikei have been on a cbr600rr and it is a very good bike it does ride the corners better than my 929 but for me it does not have the power i need or expect but after 25000 ks it is what i like i am 5'11" 200lbs so i have no problem with the bigger bike
for a smaller guy on about his first sportbike i think you would be happy on any 600 but if you like power and get on a 1000 it will be vary hard to go back
P.S. 1000 are alot harder on those black round things to
hey Rabbit...you DO realize that you can get used bikes rather inexpensively, right? watch craigslist.com for your area for motorcycles.
R.I.P. Brian St.Germain
you know, i love when people like to criticize others about their behavior,
but turn around and do the same freaking thing months later...
Yea I know you can usually get them pretty inexpensive used. Thanks for the address never heard of craigslist.com though. I'm gonna pass it up and stick to a 600 like I had planned. I might wait it out a bit anyways since i'll be gone for a while. I just know with seasonal items its a little easier to get a better deal during the off season. You just have to wait to play with it, lol.
Oh yea and i'm not worried about a 600cc not having enough power. I know it'll be fine. Hell I dont even really want a fast bike. I just want to putt around and drive to and from work with awesome gas mileage. A glorified scooter. I know that'll change once I get on one though. Thats why i'm going for a used 600 instead of a brand new 250.
a great idea for a starter bike would be a Suzuki sv650(not ABS)...anything around that range, provided it's not known as a race bike. don't be a squid.
R.I.P. Brian St.Germain
you know, i love when people like to criticize others about their behavior,
but turn around and do the same freaking thing months later...
definitely an SV650. they are great (just check my profile
). the only thing i'd worry about is that the throttle on them is very touchy for a new rider, and they have a lot of low-end torque compared to a 4-cylinder, so it's actually not hard to wheelie without even trying, especially being only 115lbs. also, the front forks are kinda junky, so the front end dips a lot when you smash the front brake too hard, and can easily cause you to drop it over at low speeds. other than that, i'd definitely recommend it. comfortable, powerful, sounds great with a D&D exhaust (personal preference, but you have to at least get rid of the stock one, it sounds terrible), looks good, and with about $10 in fork oil and 1/2 hour of time can handle well, too
couldnt decide wether i wanted to comment on this or not.
there are always the people who say, i started in a 1000 and it was fine, dont be a wuss and just go for it blah blah blah
its all BS.
myself and most others will agree that no new streetbike rider should be jumping on a 1000cc bike.
youll be happier and safer on a 500-600
have fun and ALWAYS wear FULL gear no matter what.
Creative Draft Art Media Forums
Nathaniel O'Flaherty wrote:couldnt decide wether i wanted to comment on this or not.
there are always the people who say, i started in a 1000 and it was fine, dont be a wuss and just go for it blah blah blah
its all BS.
myself and most others will agree that no new streetbike rider should be jumping on a 1000cc bike.
youll be happier and safer on a 500-600
have fun and ALWAYS wear FULL gear no matter what.
^ Took the words right out of my mouth. I have a YZF600r and its a blast and not too heavy. Good luck on finding a bike though.
The real problem with starting on a 1000 is that your skills will suffer. In order to be fast all you have to do is find a straight piece of road and open the throttle. The new 600s are not at all slow, but the 1000s will leave them in a straight. A truely skilled rider must know how to corner well, when to brake etc. A litre rider can skip all that for straight line speed. That isn't what always happens, but far too often. Then there's the death factor. Accidents happen, they happen much faster on a litre bike.
I ride a 600, it saves me money big time on insurance and some on tires. I ride with a guy on a ZX10R (very fast bike). He only ever gains on me in a straight line. When we hit the twisties, he's fighting hard to keep up. Something to think about.
I think a mature rider can be just fine starting on a 1000, but I still don't think it's a good idea. I really do think that skill suffers because of the roll on capability of the 1000. Think about this. Your apexing a corner, getting on the gas.. Either a 600 or a 1K will spin up the rear at this point with just a little too much throttle. The 1000 will put down about 40% more power from a the same tiny throttle mistake. That makes 1000 riders (how are fairly green) get gun shy on corner exits. I take them everytime, around the outside often, with a bit of wheel spin
OK, not every time because there are skilled 1000 riders out there, but far more squids than actual riders.
There are other problems too. 1K bikes are far more prone to "headshake", they wheelie when you don't want them too and often have to be muscled into corners. You need to throw your weight around a lot to keep the front down. Catch the WSBK race this week? See JT getting his head up beside the windscreen? That was to get his weight forward, keep the front down and drive out of a corner with some front traction. He is a former world champion and knows how to ride a 1K and still had to resort to those tactics.
When pricing bikes leave yourself some money for Gear. Good gear saves lives and is expensive. The upside is, if you do everything right, you'll have your gear longer than the bike. Also consider ins. costs. 1000cc bikes cost a lot more to insure here, I don't know what your area is like.
I have ridden all kinds of bikes, dirt, enduro, street, small, big, slow, fast etc. The most fun I have ever had was on smaller bikes, they are a lot easier to ride and therefore you try more stuff and test yourself more. That adds up to a better experience and more skills as well as fun. 1 litres are a blast to ride, but they make you work for it.
I choose 600cc from the last 10 years, you won't regret it.
PAX
