Regular Motorcycle vs Crotch Rocket?

[MaverickBP]

Originally posted by: Safeway
Crotch Rockets are NOT first-time-rider bikes. They suck at turning. They are too much power for a novice to control.

Like I said, get something practical like a car. If you want a bike, get a Touring style bike.

I've heard the exact opposite from everyone I talk to...everytime. I actually liked my buddies ninja over my old regular Yamaha.

 

[JDub02]

Originally posted by: Safeway
Crotch Rockets are NOT first-time-rider bikes. They suck at turning. They are too much power for a novice to control.

Like I said, get something practical like a car. If you want a bike, get a Touring style bike.

😕

I've spent plenty of time on sport bikes. They turn pretty darn well. As far as the power is concerned, it's all up high in the RPM range, so as long as they keep it <6K RPM's, they can't get it much trouble.

I wouldn't recommend one to a novice solely on the high seating position. Makes it harder to control the bike at slow speeds.

 

[JDub02]

Originally posted by: Fenixgoon

Originally posted by: Safeway
Crotch Rockets are NOT first-time-rider bikes. They suck at turning. They are too much power for a novice to control.

Like I said, get something practical like a car. If you want a bike, get a Touring style bike.

not even a ninja250?

A friend of mine has a Ninja 250. It's a fun litlte bike .. for a weedwhacker. 😉

 

[RichUK]

Motorbikes:

No safety - No thanks.

 

[teddyv]

If I were you I'd get the new BMW F800 ST - take two weeks off of work, load it up and head for Newfoundland.

 

[Superwormy]

Personal taste.
Though generally sportbikes are geared towards faster acceleration/faster speeds, while cruisers are generally more comfortable on long rides.

 

[Superwormy]

Originally posted by: JDub02
A friend of mine has a Ninja 250. It's a fun litlte bike .. for a weedwhacker. 😉

I have a Ninja 250, it's an amazing little bike. Lots of fun, nice and light and low to the ground... and more than fast enough for street riding. Over 110mph on a motorcycle on the street is just insane.

And it's definitely a good choice for a starter sport-bike.

 

[jhayx7]

Originally posted by: JDub02

Originally posted by: Fenixgoon

Originally posted by: Safeway
Crotch Rockets are NOT first-time-rider bikes. They suck at turning. They are too much power for a novice to control.

Like I said, get something practical like a car. If you want a bike, get a Touring style bike.

not even a ninja250?

A friend of mine has a Ninja 250. It's a fun litlte bike .. for a weedwhacker. 😉

Ninja 250's are great little bikes for starters. One impressive thing is how well they hold their value. It is like the Civic of motorcycles 😛

 

[ValValline]

To answer the original posters question....You need to determine for yourself what type of riding you want to do, and get a bike that fits your needs.

Sport bikes are very single purpose. they are race machines with enough parts (lights and emissions equipment) on them to make them street legal. These machines do not suffer fools lightly, and there is a reason why insurance is so high on them. For most riders/passengers they are extremely uncomfortable for any kind of distance riding, and on the street you can barely use 10% of their potential without breaking the law. These bikes are built to go fast, and are not much fun to maneuver at slow speeds when parking or in stop and go traffic. I personally love Sport bikes, but there are some realities to owning them that each rider needs to consider before taking the leap.

Standards and Cruisers are much more practical (more comfortable, more forgiving of mistakes, cheaper on insurance).

The best advice I can give you is to take a rider training course. http://www.msf-usa.org/ Then pick up a used smaller bike (Ninja 250/500/650R, Suzuki GS500 and SV650 are great choices). While learning the odds are you will tip over at least once. It is much better to to that on something cheap and forgiving with on a brand new bike you are making payments on. Also while learning you will get a much better idea of the type riding you really want to do. This more than anything else will help you make the best decision on what kind of bike to settle on.

Don't make your first bike your last bike. Don't get something that is too uncomfortable to ride, something that you are too scared to ride, or something that you cannot afford to ride. The classifieds are full of bikes with low mileage that people are trying to unload, because they made a mistake.

Keep the rubber side down!

 

[teddyv]

Agreed - the SV650 is a great starter bike and the MSF (and ERC) are critical to learning how to ride (plus you'll have a nice insurance disount out of it...)

No-one has really mentioned that buying and wearing good gear is also a critical part of starting to ride, and needs to be a definite part of the budget. Personally I wear a custom-fit Aerostich (my third, the second saved my life and was destroyed in the process, and the first is now my backup), a full-faced Shoei helmet, and BMW Gore-Tex riding boots and gloves. At the VERY minimum you should have a good motorcycle-specific jacket, boots and gloves and a well-fitting helmet. Everything except the helmet can usually be found used for exceptionally good prices - never wear a used helmet.

 

[Boonesmi]

i loved my suzuki gsxr 750 (sold it about 3 yrs ago 🙁 )

 

[funboy6942]

I really hope air bags become standard
on more then just Honda Goldwings..

Airbag video not in English but you get the idea on how it will save lives.

 

[MaverickBP]

Originally posted by: ValValline

To answer the original posters question....You need to determine for yourself what type of riding you want to do, and get a bike that fits your needs.

Sport bikes are very single purpose. they are race machines with enough parts (lights and emissions equipment) on them to make them street legal. These machines do not suffer fools lightly, and there is a reason why insurance is so high on them. For most riders/passengers they are extremely uncomfortable for any kind of distance riding, and on the street you can barely use 10% of their potential without breaking the law. These bikes are built to go fast, and are not much fun to maneuver at slow speeds when parking or in stop and go traffic. I personally love Sport bikes, but there are some realities to owning them that each rider needs to consider before taking the leap.

Standards and Cruisers are much more practical (more comfortable, more forgiving of mistakes, cheaper on insurance).

The best advice I can give you is to take a rider training course. http://www.msf-usa.org/ Then pick up a used smaller bike (Ninja 250/500/650R, Suzuki GS500 and SV650 are great choices). While learning the odds are you will tip over at least once. It is much better to to that on something cheap and forgiving with on a brand new bike you are making payments on. Also while learning you will get a much better idea of the type riding you really want to do. This more than anything else will help you make the best decision on what kind of bike to settle on.

Don't make your first bike your last bike. Don't get something that is too uncomfortable to ride, something that you are too scared to ride, or something that you cannot afford to ride. The classifieds are full of bikes with low mileage that people are trying to unload, because they made a mistake.

Keep the rubber side down!

Ya I agree. I have experience riding...was just looking for other people's opinions. Got rid of my old Yamaha years ago and have been considering a new bike. I'm liking the look of the Kawasaki Mean Streak ( http://www.kawasaki.com/Products/Detail.aspx?id=210&content=photos ) and the Coucours 14 (http://www.kawasaki.com/Products/Detail.aspx?id=220) but we will see.

 

[Kirby]

I like Harley Fat Boys, but then again the only thing I know about bikes is how they look and sound.

 

[Alienwho]

Originally posted by: markgm
I consider my bike a 'regular' motorcycle. It has an upright seating position so I can take it on trips and not want to kill myself after riding it 15 miles. I just put 750 miles on it this weekend, I can't wait for the nice weather to stick around!

Text

I also have an FZ6. It's a great bike, the perfect middleground between sporty 'crotch rocket' and upright comfort.

 

[Fenixgoon]

Originally posted by: Alienwho

Originally posted by: markgm
I consider my bike a 'regular' motorcycle. It has an upright seating position so I can take it on trips and not want to kill myself after riding it 15 miles. I just put 750 miles on it this weekend, I can't wait for the nice weather to stick around!

Text

I also have an FZ6. It's a great bike, the perfect middleground between sporty 'crotch rocket' and upright comfort.

have either of you been on the YZF-600R?

 

[Red Dawn]

Originally posted by: MaverickBP

Originally posted by: ValValline

To answer the original posters question....You need to determine for yourself what type of riding you want to do, and get a bike that fits your needs.

Sport bikes are very single purpose. they are race machines with enough parts (lights and emissions equipment) on them to make them street legal. These machines do not suffer fools lightly, and there is a reason why insurance is so high on them. For most riders/passengers they are extremely uncomfortable for any kind of distance riding, and on the street you can barely use 10% of their potential without breaking the law. These bikes are built to go fast, and are not much fun to maneuver at slow speeds when parking or in stop and go traffic. I personally love Sport bikes, but there are some realities to owning them that each rider needs to consider before taking the leap.

Standards and Cruisers are much more practical (more comfortable, more forgiving of mistakes, cheaper on insurance).

The best advice I can give you is to take a rider training course. http://www.msf-usa.org/ Then pick up a used smaller bike (Ninja 250/500/650R, Suzuki GS500 and SV650 are great choices). While learning the odds are you will tip over at least once. It is much better to to that on something cheap and forgiving with on a brand new bike you are making payments on. Also while learning you will get a much better idea of the type riding you really want to do. This more than anything else will help you make the best decision on what kind of bike to settle on.

Don't make your first bike your last bike. Don't get something that is too uncomfortable to ride, something that you are too scared to ride, or something that you cannot afford to ride. The classifieds are full of bikes with low mileage that people are trying to unload, because they made a mistake.

Keep the rubber side down!

Ya I agree. I have experience riding...was just looking for other people's opinions. Got rid of my old Yamaha years ago and have been considering a new bike. I'm liking the look of the Kawasaki Mean Streak ( http://www.kawasaki.com/Products/Detail.aspx?id=210&content=photos ) and the Coucours 14 (http://www.kawasaki.com/Products/Detail.aspx?id=220) but we will see.

Wow does that Mean Streak sell with that paint scheme?

 

[Alienwho]

Originally posted by: Fenixgoon

Originally posted by: Alienwho

Originally posted by: markgm
I consider my bike a 'regular' motorcycle. It has an upright seating position so I can take it on trips and not want to kill myself after riding it 15 miles. I just put 750 miles on it this weekend, I can't wait for the nice weather to stick around!

Text

I also have an FZ6. It's a great bike, the perfect middleground between sporty 'crotch rocket' and upright comfort.

have either of you been on the YZF-600R?

I have not, but I'd love to ride one. Looks like a good bike.

Someday I'll get a Ducati Monster, I've always liked that bike.

 

[MaverickBP]

Originally posted by: Red Dawn

Ya I agree. I have experience riding...was just looking for other people's opinions. Got rid of my old Yamaha years ago and have been considering a new bike. I'm liking the look of the Kawasaki Mean Streak ( http://www.kawasaki.com/Products/Detail.aspx?id=210&content=photos ) and the Coucours 14 (http://www.kawasaki.com/Products/Detail.aspx?id=220) but we will see.

Wow does that Mean Streak sell with that paint scheme?

[/quote]

To each his own 🙂

 

[markgm]

Originally posted by: Fenixgoon

Originally posted by: Alienwho

Originally posted by: markgm
I consider my bike a 'regular' motorcycle. It has an upright seating position so I can take it on trips and not want to kill myself after riding it 15 miles. I just put 750 miles on it this weekend, I can't wait for the nice weather to stick around!

Text

I also have an FZ6. It's a great bike, the perfect middleground between sporty 'crotch rocket' and upright comfort.

have either of you been on the YZF-600R?

I was on one this weekend. A buddy of mine is trying to determine what bike to get for a cross country trip we're taking this summer. It's not a bad bike, though I personally think it's starting to show its age.

www.sportbikes.net has a good FZ6 forum if you're not already on it Alienwho.