From Cg125 to YZF1000 Thunderace

[APNess]

Passed my test last week, I'm in the position where whatever bike I get is going to have to be kept for 4-5 years (then car AND bike are paid off, and I'll change both again).

After deliberating over GSF1200s Bandit, ZZr1100 Kawasaki and the Thunderace, picked up the bike today. An ebay job, blind bid, but description was good, price ok (saw some newer same mileage bikes but they were usually gone when I rang up). Drove down to derby with the wife n kid in tow and handed over the cash.

Very very nervous. I'd only ever sat on one and played with the throttle before, never ridden it, but I do my homework on whatever I am going to buy and pretty much read every review about the bike I could find. Also, first time I'd ridden since the test, first time riding in the rain (thankfully it stayed light), first time on the motorway, first time riding the 'ace, so I had to be careful, and the longest single journey I've made on a bike without a break! Lots of firsts today!

I decided when I sat on the bike for the first time to limit myself to 6k rpm - it's still torquey and reasonably powerful up till then and the throttle is nice - it won't buck you off unless you're ham fisted.

Rode the 85 miles back to Leeds, bike was stable on the motorway and 6k rpm is around 100mph - more than fast enough for now! (Mostly stayed at a steady 70-80 mph, with the traffic flow).

Bottom line - torquey, powerful big bikes aren't great for beginnners like me, but hopefully treating it with respect and taking things steady, building up confidence over time, and I'll be ok! Fingers crossed!

[steveh]

They only go as fast as you make them, keep it upright and dont get over confident, as it will get you into alot of trouble really quickly.

ride safe.
____________________
Current : 06 Zx10r, 07 Wr450f SM, 74 850 norton commando, 63 bsa b40, 1962 Triton 650, 67 Triumph Tr6r, 1955 Triton 750, 1978 TY250E.

[APNess]

Thanks for the advice - I intend to! My days of travelling fast everywhere (ok, nearly everywhere) ended a few years ago, when my uprated Audi turbo ate its' gearbox for lunch, prompting me to slow down for the new car (about 1/2 of the hp at 190), and I need my license for my job. Reasoning behind getting a 145hp first bike? It's an excellent 'sporty' tourer that only needs a tickle of the throttle to purr along at 2-3k rpm in traffic, and hums along at 5krpm at motorway speeds. Lazy, like me

Need some soft luggage, and some trouble free riding this year, and hopefully, all being well, off abroad on it next year! Just have to convnce my 600 owning nutta mates that they REALLY want a VFR, ZZR, YZF, CBR bike with the emphasis on comfort - the thought of doing 3k miles on a ZX6r gives me backache :S

[darrens_here]

you wnat a thundercat...................


https://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Thundercat-Yamaha-Yzf-600_W0QQitemZ4648364582QQcategoryZ9809QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[Black Knight]

Good stuff mate. I'ma great beliver in buying whatever bike you want.

There is plenty of advice out there, though you seem sensible enough with it.

Just have a bit of self control and learn progresivly.
____________________
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.

[suzi_bandit]

[darrens_here]

lol.........thats what happens when you try a sneak a look at the website during worktime.you never read FULLY the thread...... thought he was contemplating getting an ACE......... MHO was that a cat would be better straight after test (if I read that right)......................

i'll get me coat..........

[APNess]

Done 200 miles on it in the last 2 days. 45mpg, trundling about, lot of motorway, some city/rush hour, some country lanes, starting to get used to it. Broke my self imposed rev limit 3 times today, once in 2nd, once in 4th and once from a start - bloody hell this things shifts when it gets over 7k rpm!

Needless to say I had a reality check (as the space time continuum started to break down around me) and resumed normal 6k rpm limit cruising

I think bit by bit, I'll build it up - I know my inexperience and limitations, no need to spoil things by falling off or riding through a hedge/wall/car!

That said I was hacked up twice today.

Once by some fat sow in a clapped out Mondeo who gave me the evils as she slashed (slowly) right across me - like I was the one in the wrong?

And another woman in a Jeep 4x4 - indicate, change lane in one fluid move - I had just enough time to slam the brakes on as I was in the outside lane at the time going with the flow of traffic - a simple case of "i didn't see you"? No - she didn't bloody look....

Nnnnngh. Must. Survive. Against. Woman. Driver. Threat.*

All part of the "fun." Thinking about it now, being trapped/squashed against a motorway crash barrier by a 2 ton 4x4 with sparks and plastic flying from the bike, and body bits from me, doesn't quite fit my description of fun.... Some people are just bad drivers - I've driven for 20 years and done some daft things myself, but at least I'll admit it. The worst drivers are those who think someone else is in the wrong no matter what...

*Or reps on the phone and writing with other hand and eating a sandwich, old fella peering over steering wheel who never indicated in 114 years of driving and doesn't see why he should, or fat tosspot in Beemer/Audi who, even though he's on hands free, doesn't seem to be taking any notice of anyone else/anything else on the road.... nnnngh

[tatters]

Make sure you keep a liter of 10w40 oil and a funnel under the pillion seat for when the oil light comes on so you can put 500ml in.
____________________
Past:NRG50,AF1125(x2),NSR125RR,ZZR250,CX500,VFR400,KR1S,ZZR600(x2),CB400N,YZF1000(x2),KH125,Z200,FX400R,CBR954RR(x2)GPZ500S,GT550,VFR750F(x2),RD350N,XR650R,CBR600F,CB250,KDX250,YZF750R,CRM250,400EXC,KLR650,TTR600RE,DR350S,R100GSPD,RGV250,VMAX1200,DL650,KZ750 Present:G650XC,C12,CRF450X,1190ADV

[APNess]

I'd heard they use a bit - will do, cheers for the reminder. Now, how to squeeze in a litre with the other bits in there...

When the oil light comes on, I gather it's a case of "don't panic" and more of "i want a top up please"?

[tatters]

[APNess]

Ah right - will put it on the list of 'stuff to get then' - ground anchor, big chain, fit the garage defenders, alarm garage, cleaning/polishing stuff for bike, replace all phillips fairing screws with allan key stainless bolts, get shorter dog bones to increase rear ride height a bit (anyone know where I can get some for a Thunderace?) and spare key cut/spare plipper from an alarm place.

Hmm - let's see - last month:

Take DAS £600
Extra lessons £100
Clothing/Safety gear £600
CG125 £400
Insurance for above £150!!! (nnngh)
Fuel for car 100 mile round trip to bike place £150
Fail test, take it again+lessons £155

This month:

Buy Thunderace £2100
Grin on face: Priceless
See shopping list of things still to buy... grin steadily drops ...
Get back on bike again:

[kawakid]

[feef]

[APNess]

[feef]

[APNess]

Wanting to raise the seat height a bit - it's low, lower than most of my friends' 600s, and I'm the tallest out of us all :S When the seat height is changed I presume I'll have slightly more room for my legs when they are on the pegs, yeah? (6'4, so could do with a bit more room)

[feef]

[APNess]

Ahhh right. In that case there's little point in me changing ride height - even higher off the floor won't make much difference with me being tall, and handling is far beyond what I use at the moment (though I did have a go at 'knee down' on a sweeping slip road the other day, stayed with a mate on his GSXr and left another behind on his ZX6r. Only afterwards did I wonder how the hell I'd done it, and lost the bottle to try again later )