Ok, I ate ALL the pies? Bike v Weight.

[Funky Monk]

Main points: I'm 20st, 6' 3" (Big! ) and 32yrs (should be sensible on the road?! )

I'm going to do my DAS very soon, and am thinking about my first bike. £1500-£2500 - sensible money for first bike?!

I've decided to go for 600cc or over, but would like your opinion(s) regarding Sports, Street-fighter, insurance, power and changing setup for my frame, etc. Should I get some miles on the road on a Bandit first before getting on a sports? I am aiming to get on the track asap !

P.S Be aware that the salad-bar isn't an option , neither is giving up beer!


This isn't in the New Bikers section as I need some big bike / big boys advice and experience.

[mr.z]

most importantly is what sort of thing you plan on doing with it 99% of the time, i/e/ touring, commuteing, filtering, country lanes, city streets?

what about the bandit would you change if you could, what could it do better... that will give you an idea of what you want out of your new one
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>RidingSkills<->Tech Tips<->MyBikes<

[TheShaggyDA]

I had a friend in my local MAG who was about your same build, who had a CBR600. He did many miles on it, touring, scratching, commuting, and although he did make it look like a 125, never complained. Don't recall him doing any trackdays though.
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Current: CB500 Previous: CB100N, CB250RS, XJ900F, GT550, GPZ750R/1000RX, AJS M16, R100RT, Enfield Bullet

[i:6e3bfc7581]But still I fear and still I dare not laugh at the madman...[/i:6e3bfc7581]

[Johnny GSX-R]

Find a Bandit 1200 and use CIA insurance........
With a Bandit you can put a screen kit on if you need protection from the elements, belly pan and allsorts of other bits n bobs.
My first bike was a ZX10 Kwak, as you'll see in the pic, i aint a lightweight either and i'm 6'2", loads of room and more than capable also available for the money you have.

[bish777]

FJ1200 is good also.

Whatever you get, for the heavier person, myself being 18 stone, you really want a 750 or up to get good torque as being 18-20 stone is like an average rider with light pillion.

[Scotsman37]

I think you need a bigger bike than a 600cc for your height & weight!

You'd be better going for something greater than 1000cc like a cruiser or a tourer !

[Bendy]

My CBR's handled fine 2 up with both me and the passenger being fat bastards... think we were pushing 30 stone total load once.

[Zoffo]

Think I would tend to go for something with a good midrange rather than stretching the horses too far up the dial. So probably a Bandit or a Fazer or even a twin. Lots of torque is what you want.

[bish777]

[Milo]

I know I'm biased...but that continuous strain on the chain and sprockets has really got to reduce it's life.
Shaft driven bike's aren't your normal track day bikes though...so it's probably not an option.
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Shaft drives rule.

[bish777]

fjr1300 goes like the wind and thats shaft driven!

I like shaft drive, just check/change the oil now and again.

[Wave2k]

when i have a pillion on my CBR combined weight of 22 stone
if anything it felt more planted
although it will go slower

btw i have a little CBR400
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Ducati 1299 Panigale
2009 Corvette C6 z51
RS125->CBR400->RXS100->GSXR750K2->Ducati749S->CBR600RR5->TL1000R->DRz400->RSVR1000->Honda VTR SP1->CBR400->GSXR1000K6->Honda H100->CBR600RR3->Ducati1299

[Dusty]

[Claud 14.7 to 1]

2s up on Cbr400 is ermmm poor...

Very very very slow. Brakes poor. Both less than 1/2 as good compared to riding solo.

Still handles great though. Planted, stable as anything round corners, you can really crank it over and it quite happily takes it

[stinkwheel]

Big BMW
Big (1000cc plus) XJR or FJR
Triumph trophy 1200.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[kasandrich]

I weigh 24 stone but I'm a bit shorter than you at 5'11" or so, I bought a CBR1000fm, after my DAS.

It has ample torque & power, looks a bit dated and doesn't have much bling available for it, but it goes well and I'm fairly happy.

However in hindsight I think I may have been even happier with a 1200 Bandit, but it could be a case of the grass is always greener.......... If I'd had a 1200 bandit I may have wished at this stage that I'd had a CBR1000?
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Richard

CBR1000FM

[Funky Monk]

Thanks for ALL your replies.

Thank to Johnny 'X X' cool pic! - ZR10 looks ideal, but track days? A ZX10R was more to my thinking, got a picture of me at Alley-Pally on a ZX6r but it looks like a scooter with me though.


If I'm looking for a real screamer for the track., what about suspension 'Dusty'? I've got no problem with getting behind the fairing, just what'll the weight do, help/hinder the handling?

[MarJay]

[Ste]

I really wouldn't advice getting a TL1000 of either kind, unless you have a fetish for regular large repair bills.

[BLOFLY 636]

or try a ZX-12R they seem capable of carrying the biggest of fellas!
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Those bloody footpegs......they ought to do away with em!

[Scotsman37]

I pity the medics that would have to carry him off the road if he crashed !

[mchaggis]

And here was I thinking that the 12R was a massive bike!? That guy's huge!
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I must not be a troll...
Mmmm, Guinness
Discovering the delights of Hammerite and a 3/4" brush.

[Ninja]

@mchaggis - literally took the words out of my mouth ...
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James
4 wheels transport the Body ... 2 wheels transport the SOUL

[Funky Monk]

Big Fella! just call me Twiggy! Good lad!

Yeah! 600 - 1200cc Bandit was a thought, just wanted to keep my options open for track days!

MarJay - Blame Swaffs! I was thinking of the sensable option, Bandit to start. But having raced Brands Hatch in a car years back, I saw him and a friend on a track day and wanted a piece of that fun! Believe it or not - 'er in doors is worried about me on the road (car drivers! ) but has insisted she's fine with me on the track. Quote "I'll even come and watch you!" Top bird!

[MarJay]

Interestingly enough Mr Monk sir, I was harangued at my first Cadwell trackday by a trio of crazy 1200 bandit mounted nutters. They had obviously had the suspension tweaked, and various other less sensible and more tasteless mods... (anodised gold on a maroon bike? )

And if you are considering a sportsbike, you will probably need to get the suspension 'looked at' anyway - so a 1200 Bandit would probably be made better for *you* and faster for *you* on the track for the same money or less than you might spend on a sportsbike.

Ask Keith - his bandit isn't slow in any sense of the word!
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British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F; Cheap project: CBR900RR FireBlade
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.