Moving to a more powerful bike, what are the dangers?

[Crazy Assed Goose]

I have an Nc30 at the minute at about 60bhp (not tested). I want a quicker bike for a number of reasons but just need to know something from people who have riden a lot of different bikes.

The only problems I can see occurring from having a faster bike are:
- Unexpected wheelies (NC30 won't power wheelie)
- High sides (I don't know if you can even get my bike to do this in the dry unless you tried lol since often I come out of corners full throttle).

I just wanted to know where each of these problems would happen in terms of power.

Would a '00 R6 wheelie off the power if I didn't want it to, or be easy to highside compared to the vfr?
What about an old GSXR 750 (130ish bhp), an old R1 (140ish?) etc?

Just wanting to get a feel for what size bike I should go for next, play it safe and get an older 600, or get a more powerful bike that I won't want to move up from in a while, more expensive now, but possibly cheaper in the long run.

Also bike I have been looking at if anyone wants to comment on them are, 99-01 R6, SRAD 600 and 750, K1 and 2 600, 92-98 firblades (900cc ones), zx7r, zx9r, cbr600. But then I quite like having a bit of a different bike like the vfr so am open to suggestions, daytona 955i, TT600, SV1000, but like a faring since I tried without and didn't like the strain above 100, should be at most 2500 pounds.

Cheers

[Whosthedaddy]

An 'old' GSXR 750 producing 140? My 1998 ZX7R was putting out 114bhp on the dyno a year or so ago.

A fast bike wont kill you, just be gentle on the right hand and you'll be fine.
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Current : MSX 125 Past : CBR 900RR Monkeybike : c50 LAC : ZXR750 H2 : FZR600 : ZX7R P3 : YW100 : TRX850: Trophy 900 T309 : GSXR 600 L0: Monkeybike : XJ6S Whosthedaddy

[Fisty]

I went from a 69BHP ZXR400 to a 140BHP ZX9R without a problem

It will only do what you tell it to with the throttle, just take it easy and you will be fine.
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Quietly and consistently taking the piss.
TL1000R | Hayabusa | ZXR400 | TL1000S | Bandit 400 V
Fatter and faster than Fret

[Crazy Assed Goose]

Then there is the whole restriction thing, the police probably see a 400 and are more likely to think it's fine than a 750, but haven't even been questioned about it yet. That will all be over soon though, all the worry, the sleepless nights, the tears.

[Crazy Assed Goose]

[iooi]

The only problem is the throttle to brain interface......

Bike is not a issue no matter how many BHP it produces

[Fisty]

[Crazy Assed Goose]

[MarJay]

I'd say that you've probably got enough experience now to get onto a reasonably fast bike.

I went from an NS125R, to a VFR400 NC21, to an SV650 to a Daytona 955i.

However, I suspect after a while on an R1 or similar you'll find you had more fun on the NC30, but as I've found before its more of an itch you have to scratch than something someone can tell you.

Just take it easy and you'll be OK, but I would reccomend moving to an R6 or something first. It'll seem fast but it won't catch you unawares. An R1 could very well catch you unawares if you find yourself trying to ride it like an NC30.
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British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[doggone]

I don't think the stats bear out that bigger bikes have more accidents although it's possible for a variety of reasons the consequences of crashing a bike which is heavier are going to be worse.

In practice the extra acceleration might get you out of danger as often as putting you in it.
With a smaller bike I often found myself riding it flat out whenever possible, a bigger bike might make you more inclined to use 'appropriate' speed - if you want o survive long

[Black Knight]

Had a cbr1100 putting out 162bhp at the wheel within 18 months of getting on a bike.

Easy to ride, just go steady in the wet.
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Where does a turn end? 'Where you can do anything with the gas you want to, where you are brave again, where your attention is free from the turn, where you are sure you can do it better next time; that's the end' - Keith Code.

[G]

It does depend how you ride.

Also, if you have an 'unexpected wheelie', presuming you aren't going massively faster than you have before in similar situations, it will probably be small and non-threatening.

I managed several unexpected wheelies on a CG, though all were due to cack-handed clutch use I'm sure!

You've got less power on tap, but a VFR certainly will highside if you wind on the power in a corner, then shut off harshly after a decent slide.

An early R6 particularly is likely to get in to a tank slapper, but again if you don't suddenly get a lot faster than you have previously, it shouldn't be a big issue.

Oh and the late ZX9Rs are listed as having 20kgs less weight than the ZX7R.

If you did want similar sportyness, but a fair bit more so, the R6 is a good choice.
Something like a zx6 from a similar year offers not too far off the speed if you try, but a more 'comfortable' position and less sharp manners.
If you want easy grunt without the the sharpness of the R1, I'd consider a ZX9 or CBR900, possibly also a TL (I've always seen the SV as a watered down TL, might as well go with full-fat coke to go with your burger ).

[Fisty]

[Crazy Assed Goose]

[G]

I haven't ridden an early model ZX9, but would probably go for a late model over a TL-R.

Both have fairly plain power delivery, zx9 is smoother low down and a bit more on top. TL-R possibly has slightly better handling, but not much in it to, just a bit different I reckon.

To the OP:
First off, no doubt you (and the rest of us) could get on the power earlier/harder and go quicker on your current bike. Top speed given a long enough straight shouldn't be too far off 140mph.

It was the TL-S dubbed the 'widdow maker', they had mostly sorted problems for the R and there was some question if it only affected certain weight people with certain riding styles.

I think a test ride on an R6 is definitely going to be a good shout - like an nc30 'on steroids' I'd suggest.

[Fisty]

[Crazy Assed Goose]

[G]

If you're young or the dealer doesn't consider your serious, they may tell you to go away.
However they should have insurance to cover you.

A GSXR600 is also a good choice - I'd try and go for a K model if you can, should be able to get an ok one.

[Crazy Assed Goose]

That does worry me slightly being 19 when I plan to buy the bike than they will laugh me off the premises lol

I have bought the NC30 from a dealer so if I go back they might be more accepting.

[stevo as b4]

The R6 will do the precision handling and quick steering thing that you can with the VFR400, but i think that later R6's are hard work like alot of newer 600's. Personally i would consider how important handling and agility is to you, compared with relaxed high speed cruising, effortless acceleration and character. I'm not saying the R6 lacks character, i mean it must be one of the most characterful 600's period.

But your other slightly left field choices sound much more appealing to me. A nice 955i Daytona could be a really great bike with loads of grunt and character. The 2002-2003 R1 would be just as interesting but even better IMO. In fact the first injected R1's are still one of the best ever and most relavent litre bikes to road riding compared to the newer stuff i would say. They are silky smooth and fuel beautifully and have loads of bottom end power compared to the newer litre bikes too!

[G]

Personally I'd say that if you compare all the 600cc sports bikes from a similar year, you can notice big differences; if you compare them to bikes of other categories, they are actually pretty similar.

If you don't mind the riding position, while the R6 engine can feel quite 'revvy', I think it's fine for high speed or low speed cruising.
While it doesn't have the midrange go of bigger bikes, it's midrange still matches peak power of the VFR.

Personally I think the newer 600s included the R6 are a bit 'tamed down', even though they are faster than the older ones.
Bikes like the early R6 had a particular 'sparkle' about them that the later bikes seemed to have ironed out.

[Hockeystorm65]

...I would say that the main risk of a bigger bike would be......

https://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/Hockeystorm65/Honda/FirstVisorTest.jpg


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Good judgement comes from experience.....experience comes from bad judgement!

[SamJL]

I went from nothing (quite a few years of motocross though), to a 2006 R6, and then after 12 months, I got a 2009 CBR1000RR.

I haven't had any problems, and find both bikes pretty easy to ride and also lots of fun, I actually find the CBR easier to ride then the R6, even though it has a load more power, you don't need to give a fast bike full throttle everywhere, and they don't just randomly wheelie everywhere for no reason! At the end of the day, they only go as fast as you turn the throttle. Its not an on/off switch!
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2009 CBR1000RR
2004 KTM 200SX
2004 KTM 65SX

[Billy Balthorpe]

GSXR750 SRAD or a ZX9RC1/2, they can both be had for just over a grand, and, if you can ride, you wont get dropped much by kit costing 10 times as much on the road.

Plus the fact that you dont have to worry about the odd scratch and scrape at that money.
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M.O.B. Successfully taking the piss since 2014.

[colin1]

It's a lot easier to ride fast, so you may find yourself riding closer to what you could do safely if it was your private road, but actually is a bit unsafe when little old ladies look once before slowly pulling out of a junction.

The good thing is overtakes are a lot safer.

Not sure how much slipping the clutch you do on your 400, but I'd say that makes more difference than engine size with sports bikes.

Usually sportsbikes are a bit gutless midrange and have all the power at the top. This is why twins feel grunty. However, if you get into using fairly high revs like 80%, and letting the clutch out gradually over about a second, any bike feels more powerful, as you dont need to give so much throttle, and have more torque.

Maybe you do this already, but I only realised the full potential of this about a year after I got my 600.

I'd suggest a 600 rather than a thou, as its nice to be able to rev a bike to unlock the power. Thous just feel lazy, unless you ride like a complete nutcase.
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colin1 is officially faster than god