big bikes scare me :-(

[steppen22]

I know some of you will find that an amusing thing to read.

But I'll be honest, I was a little unnerved yesterday bike shopping. I parked my crappy ybr125 at a dealers next to all sorts of sports bikes, and I was a little worried by the obvious difference in size and power.

The ybr looked like a fucking toy, by comparison.

I feel total mastery over my ybr. I can keep it balanced at any speed above 0. Hell, I can keep it balanced at 0mph for about 5 seconds before needing to put a foot down. balance is one thing I do well. I have an intuitive understanding of how far I can safely lean it when cornering etc. I feel that the bike is completely tamed: it's a whimpering pussy under my control.

That's why I'm bored of it.

But a 4-600cc seems another sort of beast altogether. Fucking scares me, if you want to know the truth. I wanted to castrate a 600cc to 33bhp - see sig - but now I'm not so sure.

I don't really feel that my training and mt test have prepared me for riding a proper bike. I'm a sensible sorta guy, I'm too old to be reckless, but I'm also a puny sorta bastard, and I'm not sure I can handle a big bike as expertly as I can the ybr. They look twenty times as heavy and 100 times as powerful as my trusty ybr.

I like the bandit, and I like the cbr, both look a lot more managable than the fazers and gixxers etc.

I guess this is all part of the excitement of riding: that virgin feeling of "fuck me. What the hell have I got myself into here"

Ps: I'm not a girl!
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[colin1]

you are right that 600's need to be treated with a bit of respect

i think the weight, and locking the front wheel by braking at low speeds instead of using the back brake are more likely problems, well they were for me

if you are sensible, and careful, you will be fine

always remember that you need to be able to react to the unseen

you need to go at a speed that will allow you to do that
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colin1 is officially faster than god

[nick606]

stop being a fag. You will get use to a bigger bike in a couple of weeks and wonder what all the fuss was about. At 33bhp its not that massive a step

[Blau Zedong]

Meh. Other than size and weight issues bigger bikes are often easier to ride. Use a bit of common sense getting into the swing of things and you shouldn't hurt or scare yourself too much.
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18:54:48 Rob Fzs: jews don't give away stuff for free

18:54:59 Rob Fzs: unless its their clothes/ hair/ golden teeth

[KevTM]

the weight will disappear quickly, too.. once you learn how to manage it.

[bazza]

[Nicky-Jano]

I'm 5 ft 1 and rode a CG around for over a year.
I then jumped on a 400 with over 50 bhp.
I now have an SV650 and one day while he's sleeping I'll nick the TL for a midnight ride .

[Seb]

Big bikes are not necessarily a handful. Once I got used to the torque my Futura was about as scary as a box of kittens and effortless to ride. Considering it's basically an RSV Millie it really goes to show what a bit of tuning and a different exhaust can do for a bike's behavior.
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2010 Triumph 1050 Sprint ST

[Ariel Badger]

Bazza.
You can be an awful nob at times.
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Bikers make great organ donors, get 115 on your licence today.

[The Tot]

Respect is the key word.

Well, i've been weaned on a crop of IL4's from 250's to 900's. My XR125 was a toy by comparison!

Their physical size takes some getting used to, but if you can respect your riding limitations and ability, you'll stand a better chance of making the most out of your machine.

Why not prove yourself that you can ride by doing Bikesafe.. even if you're on L's, it's worth a punt - i was a smug little bastard and even I got humbled - i thought i knew everything there was about control etc, but that means jack diddly squat.

I guess it's a matter of adaptation and evolution. In the space of years, i've gone from a 125cc learner to pretty much a superbike.

Your fear of figures might be what's stopping you from getting a big bike. Take it in it's stride and you'll get used to it. The ZXR250 was a major step up from the XR since it had IL4 power delivery. ZX6R was major step up from that because it was physically heavier - but i got used to the weight quickly. The blade! That's probably the most clinically refined bike i've ever ridden. 125ish bhp rear wheel - 175mph performance... lighter than the 6R and more compliant!

9bhp->33bhp is nothing. 33bhp to 90bhp is nothing; the only thing that differes is the rate of change of scenery. 90bhp to 130 bhp IL4 is a DEFINITE change in my opinion - so much more usable torque to keep control of... it makes riding fast all to easy.

Treat your right wrist and your brakes with a little respect and the machine will treat you right, It's nothing to be scared of.. just man up really!
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[lurker]

i went from a cg125 to a 636 in 2002.
it takes alot of hamfistedness to upset a 600, they've got a nice balance of power.
as it happens it was not the power or extra weight(which was hardly noticeable) but the front end which i had no confidence in.
slapped on a set of bridgestones and the bike was transformed.
having moved up again and bought a new fireblade last summer the 600 now feels like the "safe" option when going for a ride.

[Howling Terror]

Hi, I kinda understand where yer coming from, but i'd say choose the tool for the job and your level of ability.

Waste of time me getting an R1/R6 etc They're far too powerful for a relative novice like me, and even if i wasn't a novice i'd never get many chances to use the full potential on the roads.

Fear doesn't come into it really, go in small stages if you want, but i know that it comes down to ability and common sense.
Have you ridden any of the bikes on your wishlist? If not then find some kindly soul to let you have a tryout. I've tried a few now GPZ500 CB500 R6 GSX600 Z10000 ....only tootled about but it puts a few ghosts to rest.

Big bikes are a piece of piss balance wise, it's just picking them up or walking them around thats difficult if yer puny

Happy bike shopping


Pat
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[MinhDinh]

Having ridden my RS 125 for a few years, and now on a ybr125 hire bike, you will notice a huge difference in speed and power. I mean my bosses cbr125 was kicking my ass. I've ridden a gs500 and cb600 s and they are actually okay. Easier to work than the rs because you don't need to revs there balls. I sports 6 must be crazy but fun. I would love one but need to do my das again!
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Hit the G spot.

[Skudd]

I think little 125cc are dangerous. I normally ride a Varadero 1000cc but had a go of a little XR125, never felt so vulnerable, larger bikes are so much safer.
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Petty Anarchists look at "1984".............. The Visionary looks at "Animal Farm".

[bazza]

[iooi]

[Thom]

I've ridden a fair quantity of different bikes for short durations and owned a few since my test in april just gone.

I've now just bought an xj600s and to be honest it's taking some getting used to! It's physically bigger than a sportsbike, its considerably heavier than my little 400 which i thought was heavy!

However it balances amazingly well and has no scary powerband to worry about catching you off guard.

The bandit would probabaly be the 'tame' 600 of choice if i was in your position but i think your worries come from all the media hype of 600's being fast.

Theyre only as fast as you want them to be, and until you can ride it properly i dont expect that would be 150mph.
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Current Bike: 1996 Yamaha TRX850 (The Japanese-Ducati One).
Previous Bikes: 1990 Honda NSR125 'Rothmans' (The smoking one), 1990 Suzuki GS500e 'Caf? fighter' (The loud one), 1987 Kawasaki GPX400r (The quick one), 1997 XJ600s Diversion (The reliable one), 2000 Kawasaki ER-5 (The spontaneously combustive one)

[c_dug]

Why not look at some sort of 250? Even something similarish to what you're used to, along the lines of a CB250 maybe.

I figure if u make smaller step ups it will be alot less daunting and given a few years you'll be up to the big bikes, I think alot of people on here (myself included) had large quantities of youth and ignorance when they/we moved on to bigger bikes, i don't know how old you are but either way its probably a good thing that your respectfull of a bigger bikes size and power.

c_dug
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[hellkat]

I agree with cdug, plenty of 250s, and even 3-400s that you can get old of, to make slower steps up into the realms of more powerful bikes on.

Pointless trying to run before you can walk properly.

I sat on a 125 for the first 3 years because I knew I would be crap at handling a bigger bike in London traffic. I did jump to bigger (eventually I moved up to much bigger bikes: 550s, 600s, 750s and 900s).

But when I lost my bottle to ride a few years ago, it took me ages to get back on the XJ900 - and I know I would be happier with a smaller bike, hence why I bought the 250. If it was WORKING I would be happy riding that. I'm a bit funny about going back to riding a 900cc at present.

Stick with what you feel safe(r) on - not what you think you are "expected" to have the minerals to ride.
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Not nearly as interesting in real life.

[Wooly R6]

I went from my Cagiva Mito onto an R6 straight after doing my Direct Access - i loved the looks of the R6 and when i rode it home i really wondered what kind of animal i had bought.

It does take a few rides out to get used to whats going on etc, but its all down to using your head. If you jump on a big bike and nail it everywhere your gonna end up with a big insurance bill and probably in hospital.

Once you are used to it you can explore more of its potential and you will find it more fun - the throttle works from your brain!!!

And anyway there are plenty of big friendly bikes out there to get more practise on after your test etc, Bandit/Fazer/Hornet/ER6 etc etc.

I now ride a VFR800 VTEC which tips the scales at 215kg anyway - and i toured NZ on a VFR with the wife and full luggage - its easy when you get used to it
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R6 has been sold - 2004 Honda VFR VTEC now sold too - no bike at the moment

[AL-]

[Kal]

GPZ500s, GS500f or CB500s ftw!

Sportier looking than a naked, significantly more performance than you currently have and more importantly as well mannered as you want them to be.
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Kal...
I Like To Hoon It Hoon It I Like To Hoon It Hoon It I Like To Hoon It Hoon It Ya Like To (HOON IT!).
1984 GB250 Clubman,1983 CB250N Superdream, 1999 GPZ500S

[Dalemac]

dont be scared! once you get the hang of it it will be fine. once i had been on the gpz for a few months it was going back to the ybr that scared me. so tiny, fragile, and no way near as "planted" to the floor.

trust me just take it easy and you will be fine.
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YBR125 -> GPZ500S -> SL1000

[Blau Zedong]

GSXR1100K FTW
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18:54:48 Rob Fzs: jews don't give away stuff for free

18:54:59 Rob Fzs: unless its their clothes/ hair/ golden teeth

[RS2MATRIX]