Yamaha YBR-125 to YZR-1000R: bricking it but excited!

[rideslikean00...]

Well I'm a pretty new rider but have taken to it like a duck to water, still a little loose but loving the challenge. I put nearly 4,000 miles on my YBR-125 from new in 2 months because I wanted to get good quickly, half of that is my work commute and the rest is leisure. Other than the odd hairy moment it's like nothing else.

So I was looking to trade up to a Thundercat. Some may say, little premature, you're still a new rider but I don't do anything by halves. I booked my direct access with the same good lot who did my CBT (so well it's saved my behind on numerous occasions) and started foraging around for a bike - Gumtree, eBay, Freeads, speaking with other riders (have a lot in my immediate family and close friends groups) and so on. Sadly, all the good ones were tucked away in Wales, or the north. Too far to go for a quick test ride. The local fare was pretty weak, there was one just round the corner from me but it was a state - rusted swingarm looking ready to split at any moment, heavily worn tyres, a chain so corroded it couldn't have seen oil in thousands of miles. All dogs.

Then out of interest based on some tips from my uncle (20 year plus rider, co-owns a Yammy dealership) who suggested I stop obsessing over this one particular bike, I decided to consider Fazers and other beloved Yamahas, maybe even look at some Hondas too in time. And just out of luck I stumbled across a gorgious, clean looking Ace with the kind of service history that had careful fairweather bike lovers written all over. The current owner, a well respected mechanic and all-around top bloke, told me on the phone all the work that had gone into it, a lot recently. I ran the checklist - is the exhaust rusty? No, new aftermarket can. How are those downpipes? Pretty much new, replacements taken from a newer bike. Is 2nd gear notchy? Nope, clean as a whistle. Chain and sprockets? Again new, barely a few thousand miles riding clocked on them. How's that infamous soggy rear suspension? Aftermarket replacement with stiffer setting to iron out those potholes and manholes. Useless dim headlamp? Replaced with Xenon LEDs and brighter than most cars. So the conversation went. And I just had to see it. He knew where all the weaknesses were and had corrected the lot.

I pulled up outside the place and my heart nearly stopped. It's beautiful. Nothing like the death traps I've been seeing dotted over the local map. This is one of the great mid-90s sportsbikes, not quite mint but so close to pristine you know it's been treated like a lady. The sort of bike you grow up lusting after... seriously, I was 14 in the year this was made.

The mileage is around 42K, the price is well below 2K and considering all the aftermarket mods is just too good to resist. A test ride on the pillion confirms the sheer power and I find myself grinning from ear to ear in a way I haven't for quite a while. 80MPH feels like 40MPH on my 125, she's pretty smooth.

Anyway, I digress.

---

I bought the bike and immediately garaged her with a close friend of mine, just a few miles from where I live. Not easy to do... the temptation to gingerly slip her out of neutral and gently open the throttle was huge, but cooler heads prevailed and I decided to settle for just opening up the throttle in neutral before tucking away.

So yeah, I'm excited. But as a new rider in his late twenties, I'm also bloody scared by what is an incredibly powerful superbike even by modern standards. And so I was hoping some of the riders here can help keep me out of trouble, and more importantly keep me alive by giving tips on what to do - and more crucially what stupid things NOT to do - when making the leap from a gutless 125cc which loses speed up small hills to a powerhouse 1002cc which could bury my head in the tarmac if I were ever stupid enough to fully open the throttle from a standing start.

All the parts of my direct access are spread out over the next 4-8 weeks. Plenty of time to learn how to respect such a machine.

So... what do I need to know?
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Previous/Current Bikes
2013 Yamaha YBR-125ED -> 1997 Yamaha YZF-1000R Thunderace -> 2009 Yamaha XJ-6 Diversion -> 2007 Yamaha FZ6 Fazer S2

[Nobby the Bastard]

Can you let us know when you are going to ride it so that we can all come and clap and cheer at the inevitable train wreck?
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trevor saxe-coburg-gotha:"Remember this simple rule - scooters are for men who like to feel the breeze on their huge, flapping cunt lips."
Triumph Sprint ST 1050

[rideslikean00...]

[m3-paul]

It will only go as fast as you want it to go, you are in control of it. Sure it is a big jump but just take your time to learn what it can do. Don't do stupid things like yanking on the throttle mid corner etc, be smooth, anticipate and if riding with others just ride at your own pace.
Litre bikes are not scary in the slightest, I prefer them over 600s as there is more torque to play with. The weight will be one of the biggest things you will notice.

If you try and run before you can walk it will bite you and being a bigger bike, the likelihood of it being a bigger bite will obviously be there.

Just remember that you control what the bike does, so if you take it sensibly you will enjoy the experience immensely. But conversely, if you try and ride like Guy Martin from the off you will possibly learn how hard a litre bike can bite.

Enjoy it, assuming you pass that DAS soon!!
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Yamaha TZR250 - love the smell of TTS!!!!
CBR900RR Fireblade - so much fun

[MC]

Erm... ok Well you'll gain some big bike experience on your DAS, but the oh $hit phase when you open the throttle on a big bike takes a while to get over on a standard 600, let alone (I imagine) on a litre sports bike.

What you need you should learn on your DAS, you'll need to hold the power back a lot more using the clutch, have more respect for the throttle and also the brakes. People do go from having no experience > DAS > R1's etc. & survive it's just not something personally I'd recommend. Good luck with your tests etc.
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Yamaha MT-03 '08 (crashed)
Honda XR-125L '04

[Conzar]

[rideslikean00...]

[Conzar]

[Rogerborg]

You'll be fine.

Now, do you have a nubile young wife or girlfriend, and if so, please send me her details so that I can do nothing in the highly likely event that you're fine.
____________________
Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[trevor saxe-coburg-gotha]

[m3-paul]

[deadwolf]

Don't get too intimidated by the throttle, just wind it up slowly and smoothly and in a relaxed manner. You can practice your quick launches once you get through your DAS.

In terms of speed, it's just whether you can control yourself.

Will you be able to 'back off' if you find yourself giving it too much throttle, or will the power and sheer thrill of speed get to your head and stop you from having proper awareness of the situation?

Once you're on your DAS you'll pick up a lot of big bike skills, and your instructors should be able to call you out on any bad habits such as eager speeding.
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Motorsapien Art

[trevor saxe-coburg-gotha]

[P.]

Check the oil regularly. Some of these may or may not like to consume oil.

What is with the horrendous paint though, adding the 1000 stickers too... I personally think that side of it looks tacky

However, its pre R1, and the R1 was fun but likely a little lighter and more nimble, I loved it, hopefully the same for you with this one

Have to max it out though.

[weasley]

[P.]

[stevo as b4]

Agreed the Cat colour scheme's were bloody good compared to most Ace colours, but It's loads of bike for the money, roomy, fast and comfy. I'd have one over an Early Blade, just to avoid early blade lunacy kicking in!

Shame this doesn't look more std paint wise, but condition is everything with a big powerful old beast like this. If the chassis and suspension and brakes are all tip top, (they need to be!), then It will be a very nice ride IMO.

I'd want my Blue spots to be spotless and with good pads, braided lines and properly bled for rider confidence and for reining in a panicked big handful of throttle too!

[rideslikean00...]

[MC]

To start with your not going to be revving the nuts off your bike, so there's an argument to it only going as fast as you want it to, I think the issue more is if any of the characteristics of a big bike will catch you out.

IMO the step from tiddler to big bike is the biggest jump, rather than big bike to bigger bike (if that makes sense). You have to remember not to mash the throttle, and you need more respect for the weight of the bike as you can't drag the thing round a corner.

Having less steering lock might take some getting used to, maybe the riding position too. Just take baby steps Maybe go out for a few Sunday rides before hooning into rush hour traffic.
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Yamaha MT-03 '08 (crashed)
Honda XR-125L '04

[Boris the spider]

Oh FFS.

I went from 6 months on a DT 125.
6 months of no bike.
Direct access over a weekend.
Straight onto a CBR 600. Ok it was back in 1993... Still a fast bike back then.
I'm still here in one piece.
Best advice came from my dad.
Get out on the bike in all weathers. Go canny with the throttle and brakes in the wet.
Get used to the weight and power.

Above all...

Take it easy until you feel able to use the power of it.

Just be sensible.
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Yes I'm a pig....And yes... The working public do pay my wages. Tho I contribute to your benefits you lazy c##t. You do not pay my wages. So go fcuk yourself.

[metalangel]

Don't ride faster than your guardian angel can fly.
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Previous: 2002 Honda CB500 (sold), 2007 Suzuki SV650SK6 (crashed), 2005 Yamaha FZ6 Fazer (sold). Currently bikeless
"A faired bike will get you 10x more clunge than a unfaired one." -Marlboro Matt

[Teflon-Mike]

If you did DAS without time on a tiddler.... some folk wouldn't even contemplate the 'leap' before they made it.
Meanwhile, its an 'old' thou... one wiv that quirk so often called 'torque'.
With a large raft of low and mid-range stomp, and a less pronounced 'wake up' into the buzz-belt....
While not exactly my top recommendation for a DAS fresh new licence holder... ACTUALLY....possibly not SUCH a poor call as many 600's, many might say were a 'better' post DAS selection.

Yup it has a lot more than 100bhp... but nature of the beast is very different. 600 offering 100bhp has to be revved, and tends to be in much higher state of tune; to get one shifting needs you to dial in the revs and make it sing, and not having much beneath the buzz belt, is more likely to encourage you to try and keep it up there to keep it shifting.

The thou, with much stronger bottom end, is more likely to not just be easier to ride slower, but be less eager to encourage you to ride it so quick. And heavier, will demand more effort from you to try going quick, discouraging you from trying to chuck it around with SO much abandon, as a 600 might.

Certainly what I found when I stepped up to a thou... and I'm still here.

You'll be all-right for the first month or so while novelty is still there, and its awesomeness still awes you.....but after that?

You probably WILL get cocky with it at some point... so remember, cock-ups occur when confidence outweighs competence... and THAT bike has a shed load more competence than you do and are likely to have for a very long time.... in fact more than many riders are likely to acquire EVER.

Also, it WILL spoil you. The surplus of power and all-round poise will, especially after a tiddler, tend to make you 'lazy', and you will probably get used to relying on its weight and brakes and acceleration to not bother paying as much attention, planning so far ahead or worrying so much about the road.... bikes demand your full attention, and laziness tends to get punished painfully.

It will tend also to make smaller displacement machines you ride later, some-what under whelming, and can incline you to treat them with some what greater contempt than they deserve... this can be dangerously deceptive.... especially if they are something like an R6, and you end up ragging the arse off it like it was a 125 in consequence!

Its a relatively 'friendly' machine, but just remember, more folk get killed by their friends and family than do by scary strangers! Don't get over familiar with it, and NEVER take it for granted or try taking liberties with it.

Otherwise.... enjoy!
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My Webby'Tef's-tQ, loads of stuff about my bikes, my Land-Rovers, and the stuff I do with them!
Current Bikes:'Honda VF1000F' ;'CB750F2N' ;'CB125TD ( 6 3 of em!)'; 'Montesa Cota 248'. Learner FAQ's:= 'U want to Ride a Motorbike! Where Do U start?'

[rideslikean00...]

Some excellent advice so far, thanks, especially the last post. I want to get it insured but I believe I have to wait until I've done the direct access to completion is that right?
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Previous/Current Bikes
2013 Yamaha YBR-125ED -> 1997 Yamaha YZF-1000R Thunderace -> 2009 Yamaha XJ-6 Diversion -> 2007 Yamaha FZ6 Fazer S2

[Teflon-Mike]

[Rogerborg]

Bikesure will cover you on your provisionaL entitlement. Other insurers, such as Hastings, won't ask to see your license, and so you could (and I stress could, not should) insure it as though you had a full license. In neither case should you ride it, it's just to get it on the MID, get the DVLA off your back and get you fire/theft/fully comp cover.

If you just want that cover against something happening to the bike, then have a search for "laid up motorcycle insurance". I cannot stress enough that this does not let you ride it on the road, and nor does it satisfy the requirement to be either insured (for third party liability) or SORNed.

Personally I'd SORN it, shackle it to the earth's core, and insure it after you're licensed up.
____________________
Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike