New rider, new to motorcycles, feels like new to everything.

[dalamah]

Hello everyone, how you doin today? Me, I'm great. So, I'm new to the motorcycle scene and just turned 18. I have a few question I hope can get answered here by you professionals. I live here in lovely Las Vegas (har har) USA and used to be into the whole street race scene; you know, the cars that go vroooom and named Honda, Toyota, and most imports. Well I have a 1986 BMW 325ES and I've found that it is rediculously expensive to fix up an old car just to make it run in the high 9s to 10s. Then a good friend of mine, incedentally having the same name as me, Phil, told me I could just get a stock motorcycle and burn almost anything on the street without breaking a sweat for nearly a 6th of the cost of upgrading some of these import rides. I went to a place called Desert Motorsports and a real nice guy talked to me and ran some interesting numbers to me and since then I have been addicted to cycles. In April, I'm enrolling in a motorcycle riders class because I've never ridden one before and it will give me a lot of tips and my M liscense. Having already been a "street racer", I'm looking for the fastest bike with the phattest stock look. So here's my questions :
1. I'm looking at 6 bikes to get, however I've narrowed it down to 2; a Honda CBR954RR 2003, and a Suzuki Hayabusa 1300 2003. The HayaBusa weighs around 500 pounds but the look is so tight, and the CBR is only 370 pounds and super clean looking. Which should I go for?
2. I'm a speed addict and I absolutly feel the need to go faster than anything else out there, I've heard of Triumph motorcycles proving to be the ultimate street machine, but I can't seem to find prices on them. Do they even sell them in America?
3. USA'ers would know this hopefully. The bikes I'm looking at have "CA models". Living in Las Vegas, is that what I'll be looking for? Or can I just get the normal model? Does the "normal model" exist in the USA? Las Vegas even?
That's it for now, I'll check back later for your replies. I appreciate it guys, thanks a lot!
____________________
CRX is a nice ride to fix up, if you have nothing better to spend 50 grand on.

[Phoenix]

First of all, if you get a Hayabusa or a Fireblade at 18, for you're first bike, and you're into street racing, I gaurantee you, you WILL kill either yourself or someone else. If you don't kill anyone someone will get seriously hurt.

Start out small, I understand the US doesn't have similar rules to here (UK) and you can jump on pretty much anything, but at the very most I would suggest you don't exceed 500cc. And when I say 500cc that means something de-tuned like an Ex500 or CB500. A race rep 400 is very fast and still is really not an ideal learner bike but you can prolly get away with it IF YOUR SENSIBLE. And you will have to be sensible on a bike.

As for living in California, your bike has to conform to emission regulations I believe, which is why there's usually a seperate CA model for most bikes in the US. You'll have to ask someone else about that who knows more.

And lastly I've heard something about an MSF course, which is motorcycle safety....if that's what it is DO IT!

[Ste]

I agree with Phoenix, as will everyone on here (I hope!).

To get on something like a busa or a blade as your first bike is absolutly nuts. You most likely do not appreciate quite the power these machine have. Ive just got a 600, and it is so fucking powerful, I would never want to learn on a machine like that.

If all you are wanting to do is be the fastest bike on the roads, then get something which you cant do that on. If you are trying to race, and have massive amounts of power, then it will all go horribly wrong.

Get something small, easy to learn on, and forgiving. Preferably something which wont wheelie off the power either!

[Doddmaster]

If it is mainly for street racing (ie going in a straight line) then the Hayabusa is your best bet.

You dont need a CA, as Phoe said they have well tight emission laws there and a lot of models need modification to be legal (a CA GS500 for example is nearly 10bhp lower than a normal one!)

[zaknafien]

/me jumps on the phoe and ste bandwagon

pretty much same thing as the R1 thread on that other board.
____________________
02 Firestorm.

[G]

IF going fast in a straight line is your thing then the 'Busa is the one to go for. It is a fair bit more 'tuneable'...
No stock bikes will do a standing quarter in less than 10 AFAIK, *but* most of the new models will get damn close
To reduce the standing 1/4 time a bit the first mod probazbly has to be an extended swingarm, this means you can get more power down without wheelieing. NOS can be added pretty cheaply as well.

2. Nope, they do sell them in the US afaik, but there's no way they're 'ultimate' bikes, they're generally quite 'nice' allround bikes, though they 'naked' bikes tend to be a bit more extreme than the competion because they haven't detuned them, but are basically the sports bikes without the fairing.


If you're only going to be going fast in straight lines, then it shouldn't be /too/ bad, providing you take it easy while yuo learn where the bike's likley to wheelie etc. However if you're gonna be going fast around corners as well, then a smaller bike would definatley be reccomended as a first bike. It's very easy to tap the throttle a bit too much while leant over and be on your arse before you realise you've done anything wrong.

From what I've seen of the US sports bike scene, it's much more focused on stunts etc rather than racing... in the end any 400cc+ bike will beat 99.9% of cars off the lights anyway, so less empasis is put into outright speed/accelration.

One thing that you amy well notice is you actually get less of a sesnation of acceleration on a bike.. probably because you are more in line with the acceleration due to the seating position. Doing 0-60 in 3secs just doesn't feel fast anymore

[Mr C]

If you want to go really quick then a busa or a Kawasaki ZX-12 is the answer. See your mates in the car racing fraternity for where to go for bike suitable turbos and NOS. You should get one of these beasties up to around 400bhp and 230mph for $20,000 including the stock bike.

Then get good life insurance (with suicide cover), get a suit which inflates on leaving the bike, an indestructible helmet and an infinite improbability drive with maximum protection forcefield and go for it.

Seriously, listen to the others ^^^^ bikes are not cars and you can't just hop on a 200mph machine and twist the throttle (or can you Miss Lucky.??). It'll take a few weeks of expert coaching if all you wanna do is go fast in a straight line and a few years of experience if you wanna survive the traffic.

Mind you, are there ANY corners in Nevada that don't have traffic lights on 'em...???
____________________
187.3bhp = 201mph

[Sproketjockey]

Hallo everybody - thought I'd just add my 2 cents I think that you can guess what I am gonna say!!!

Why not get an nsr125 to learn on for a short time, they are slow - yes but they will begin to give you a very small feel for what bigger bikes can be like. However you won't be able to wheelie off the power or wheelie at all unless your pretty damn good like most of the other riders here - ste, demonic, zim, kornel, retro, kev etc. (sorry if I didn't mention someone). Also, they don't have anywhere near the acceleration but for stuff like traffic and gear changes they're great. Also, gettin an nsr will help you to establish good habits before you jump on a bigger bike. I have had my nsr a year and a half, I am eighteen and I definitely wouldn't even consider jumping on even a zx6 or cbr6 let alone a busa or blade.

My uncle has an R1 he is well into his fourties but he is absolutely massive 6' something and built like a brick shithouse and he still has trouble keeping the front end down.

Thanx Matt
____________________
Carlsberg don't make motorbikes but if they did they'd probably be the best motorbikes in the world!

[Sproketjockey]

Hallo everybody - thought I'd just add my 2 cents I think that you can guess what I am gonna say!!!

Why not get an nsr125 to learn on for a short time, they are slow - yes but they will begin to give you a very small feel for what bigger bikes can be like. However you won't be able to wheelie off the power or wheelie at all unless your pretty damn good like most of the other riders here - ste, demonic, zim, kornel, retro, kev etc. (sorry if I didn't mention someone). Also, they don't have anywhere near the acceleration but for stuff like traffic and gear changes they're great. Also, gettin an nsr will help you to establish good habits before you jump on a bigger bike. I have had my nsr a year and a half, I am eighteen and I definitely wouldn't even consider jumping on even a zx6 or cbr6 let alone a busa or blade.

My uncle has an R1 he is well into his fourties but he is absolutely massive 6' something and built like a brick shithouse and he still has trouble keeping the front end down.

Thanx Matt
____________________
Carlsberg don't make motorbikes but if they did they'd probably be the best motorbikes in the world!

[Bendy]

I think an NSR is overkill on the cautiousness front... but something sub-100hp is probably a good idea for a whiley

[G]

[TiN]

Having a fast bike is one thing, but being to ride fast is quite another. All of the top racers may have some natural flair for riding fast, but even they started out on modest machines. Even drag racing requires some level of skill and control - you can't just twist the open the throttle on a Hayabusa and expect it to behave...

[Kickstart]

Hi

Getting a large bike straight out just means that you are likely to spend a long time in hospital (if you are lucky). Try reving a large bike hard and dumping the clutch and you wont just sit there with the driving wheel spinning (unlike a car), instead you will land up with the bike going where it wants probably with the front wheel somewhere above your head. Oh, and remember that as you slide down the seat and loose grip in the throttle, you are likely to be opening it even further.

Seriously as a first bike aim for a GPZ500 / EX500 or the like, and maybe a CBR600 when you have a little experience

All the best

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

[Ste]

If you have self control and you understand quite what you are getting on, then a sports 600 could be ok. Have you riden bikes before outta interest?

Take lessons and training.

If you put too much power into a car, it will spin off and slid. A bike will crash and slid, and so will you.

[Deano]

First off do you have to wear a lid out where you are? for fuck sake if you dont just bloody wear one anyway, please you'll understand after your first crash, trust me and anyone on this site will agree with me you are gonna crash your bike, iits not if youare it when you are and if your racing your bike, which to be honest everyone does anyway! get some proper kit not jeans like Big Dave wears from Superbike Magazine.

Hmmm the blade and hayabusa Im dead sure you there are better machines than these for what you are looking to do. If you wait just a little longer as Kawasaki are going to launch their new ZX10r and if its anything like its little brother the zx636r its going to be the bike you going to want to buy and Honda next year are going stop developing the blade and start selling the successor, I cant remember the name of the bike but its a 1000cc RCV lookalike, have you also considered the Yamaha V-max, 1300cc which was specifically made just for straightline racing (Ahem drag racing, even though Yamaha will never admit to that) and by the way if anyone disagrees about that comment I'll be to show the issue that Streetfighter magazine quoted that .......

Erm Triumph, Im sure there are better ways of spending your money as the only half decent bike that they produce at the moment is the Speed Triple....

Anyways happy shopping and tell us what you decide on?
____________________
Dean Stone #777
EMRA 2012 final standings, Formula 600s 3rd, Superstock 600s 3rd.
www.triplesevenracing.co.uk: www.ljmotorcyclerepairs.co.uk www.gettaylored.co.uk BN RaceScience, Now officially run out of money to carry on racing

[G]

A lot of Americans don't wear helmets, everysingle one of those that I've seen that has had a serious crash has said somethign along the lines 'OMFG why was I so stupid to think I would be okay without a helmet'.

The 'busa /is/ ideal for straightline racing, more so than 1000cc 'proper' sports bikes, just because it has a longer wheelbase, if nothing else.
From everything I've seen the V-max aint actually that great (well compared to today's bikes) unless you tune it.

[Mr C]

G's right. V-max, looks fast, not fast, no aerodynamics, no handling .. pile o' shite really.

Sports bikes like Blade 2, ZX10R built for circuit racing, not straightline speed.

Best bikes for speed = loadsa power and aerodynamics as the requirement for power goes up as a factor of the square of speed and the drag coefficient.

Best bikes for speed today straight out of the box Hayabusa and ZX-12, they have no serious competition.

Let's face it, a nation that thinks the Harley Davidson is the pinnacle of motorcycling is probably best off without crash helmets ... natural selection innit....!!
____________________
187.3bhp = 201mph

[Robby]

you your gonna die. seeing as whatever we say you'll buy a 100bhp plus bike and flip it, or try and pull some cool stunts and land with your head between the road and bike.

to get an idea of whats gonna happen, hit a watermelon with a sledgehammer.

have a nice funeral.

[Deano]

I totally agree with you MR C and G but i get the feeling that this guy wants too look Cool!! and personally my personal feelings for the Busa and ZX12r are more on the that they have been hit with the ugly stick and of course you cant look cool without doin a few wheelies.... which the bikes I suggested would probably be able to do easy enough!
____________________
Dean Stone #777
EMRA 2012 final standings, Formula 600s 3rd, Superstock 600s 3rd.
www.triplesevenracing.co.uk: www.ljmotorcyclerepairs.co.uk www.gettaylored.co.uk BN RaceScience, Now officially run out of money to carry on racing

[G]

If he actually is going to be doing wheelies etc, then what robby said.
Of, infact if he's gonna do anything but go in a straight line for 1/4 mile .

I'm not a great fan of the busa's looks (or the new blades for that matter) but as these are the two he's chosen I'm guessing he likse them/isn't bothered.

[Danny]

[Mr C]

neither the busa nor the 12 were meant to look nice

imho they look like exactly what they are meant to look like - bikes that you don't want to fuck with or they'll eat your liver
____________________
187.3bhp = 201mph

[Wingchunal]

Busa's are fucking fast i was riding with one for a bit today and hmmmmm it flew dodgy silver colour though!

[Deano]

well personally im my opinion anyone who gets on a bike with no protection has a bloody death wish but if the guy does buy suitable protection then he will have a chance thats the make or break of this how many people have you heard of do thier DAS then buy a GSXR1000 or busa and still are sensible enough not to go too mad?
____________________
Dean Stone #777
EMRA 2012 final standings, Formula 600s 3rd, Superstock 600s 3rd.
www.triplesevenracing.co.uk: www.ljmotorcyclerepairs.co.uk www.gettaylored.co.uk BN RaceScience, Now officially run out of money to carry on racing

[Demonic69]

Not nice? What? They're both sexy bikes and none of you would say no!
Are you all mad?

https://www.ninjazx12r.info/2003/zx1200b_09.jpg

https://purtic.tripod.com/suzuki/haya_silver.jpg
____________________
Back on a Blade. Just feels so right.