advice

[Ibrahim]

hey, basically...im 18 and drive an aprilia rs125 and want to go straight to the big boys, i saved enough for a second hand suzuki hayabusa. i know its a bit too soon for it, but im a good driver (i like to think so that is) and im in love with bikes. if i do buy it ill drive to the speed i feel comfortable with and as i get to know the bike better ill be more relaxed on it. What do you think?

[Feasty]

I think you need to learn to RIDE a bike first...
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Previous: Aprilia Habana Retro 50cc (beauty), Yamaha SR125 (fell apart), Honda XR125 (nippy little commuter), Honda SLR650 (Geewhizz), Yamaha Diversion 900S (Smoooooth) written off courtesy of a stupid escaped horse.
(7 year gap), BMW F650 (Relaxing ride). Aprilia Caponord ETV1000 (Big and bold). Yamaha FZS600 (got me in trouble too quick!).
Current: Yamaha TDM 900 (Comfy, light but big, power when needed).

[Alexio]

I have to agree, it's far better to learn to ride and progress up more slowly than going from a 125 to a hayabusa. I had a small go on a bike 6 times as powerful as my 125 (no where near as powerful as a busa) and definitely wasn't able to control the thing properly.
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will never give up his CG. I look at my fuel gauge more as a progress bar than a fuel gauge.
G: With my GSXR I do often effectively use it as a scooter with a clutch in town.
ms51ves3: why does it need 500 miles? Are you teaching it how to be a piston?

[crackfinder]

insurance will probably be enough to buy a small house

[Alex A]

'busas suck!

And if that's all you want at the age of 18, having only owned a 125, then you have no imagination.

It's also illegal for you to ride anything over 33bhp for two years after passing your test. Many people risk it on sports bikes and get away with it, but riding a 'busa on an A2 licence is just about as conspicuous as it gets.
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Current: Ducati Panigale R / Ducati Streetfighter S / Suzuki GSX-R1000 L5

[OssY]

Buy a Blade they are much more fun to smash your face off on...

[Ingah]

I think you should get some insurance quotes and get back to us.

We could do with a good laugh

If you can somehow afford it, then you should probably buy a house instead, but feel free to blow it - being your money after all.

Methinks you should test ride some bigger bikes somehow (if you can afford so much money for hayabusa insurance at 18 i'm sure you can somehow get / pay for a ride (or even pillion!) on a few big bikes out of the free change you have in your pocket) - maybe something like a 500 at first to scare you (assuming you haven't been riding one before, which would remove the shock factor as relatively speaking to a superbike they are very slow). Followed by maybe a sports 600 test by which time i'd expect you to kack yourself, or be riding very very slowly indeed.

Maybe when you've proved to yourself you're not a total liability on a sports 600, you may be ready for another big step up. I kind of doubt you'll get that far (no offense, but riding a 125 does not prepare you for the mental experience of a bigger bike - let alone one as focused as what you're talking about).

I could've got you completely wrong (always a slim chance...), but i suggest what i've said applies to pretty much everyone (and no matter what you may think, you are very unlikely to be the special/extremely lucky one that is able to do what you're proposing, afford it, and survive).
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-- Ingah

[Ibrahim]

ye i thought of insurance and thats the main thing thats holding me back.

[OssY]

There are much easier and cheaper ways to kill yourself than going out and buying a busa...
If you are going to buy a bigger bike go up slowly.

Gotta learn to walk before you can run...

[That_Hornet]

Cheapest quote online for uk is £4462.50

[Ibrahim]

im not willing to spend that much for insurance anyway, although im sure its cheaper in Cyprus. i might call for a quote just for the sake of knowing. I do have other bikes in mind which im intrested in and smaller than the busa. The busa was just a crazy idea and i think thats were its going to stay. Thanks for the enlightenment guys

[borolad]

[Frost]

Technically you do both. Riding is the position your are on it, driving is having control of it. Just like you can drive cattle, a train or whatever.

Trust me there are systems in place to make getting a bike like that difficult at a young age. Of course there is the power issue, but even if you get around that insurance will be high wherever you are in the world. Think of it as 'How many other people my age will have safely owned on of these?' if the answer is not a large number its going to be expensive. Insurance companies like making money not risking it.

If you do manage to get one, good on you! I'd have loved one at your age and think i could have handled it safely.

[Adrian]

[Ibrahim]

[Kickstart]

Hi

While there are no race track, there aren't really any fast long roads either in Cyprus. The 'busa is built to be pretty comfy and pretty quick for long fast journies (that, and going silly speeds on drag race strips).

Trouble with a large jump in power like you are suggesting is that you don't really have the experience of a larger bike to know if you will be OK on it. And finding out you are not when you arrive at a corner 50mph faster than you expected with very little effort is likely to be painful.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[Ibrahim]

[Kickstart]

Hi

Larger bikes go quicker with very little effort. At least the 600s are a fair bit less flexible so you are less likely to find yourself doing silly speeds without trying or even noticing.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[OssY]

I wish someone had said that to me a few years ago... LoL...

[Ibrahim]

eek, i see the dangers on the road with a 125 i can just imagine how much more alert you should be on a motorbike with higher power.

[OssY]

Its just one of those experiences that we almost all have had or will have. The feeling of OH SHIT, when you realise you are carrying much to much speed into a bend and you really have got to force the bike round.

Kind of like squeaky bum time....

[calyx]

[Ibrahim]