Triumphrat

HiDesert · 07-26-2007

For people with the right judgment and temperament, starting on a literbike is fine. Such people are very, very rare. Yes, any bike can get you into trouble, but bigger, faster bikes are much more dangerous to learn on. I've never heard an expert disagree with that statement.

The fact that advice isn't universally distributed doesn't mean it's not good advice.

I agree that trying a pass in a blind curve is industrial-strength stupidity. Especially on a road with as much traffic as the one in the video.

fivehundo · 07-26-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by trafficfixr

For those of you who want to trash everyone who buys a liter bike as a first bike I have a few things to say.
1. My first bike was a 2001 Sprint ST, and it is a great first bike.
2. Any motorcycle is plenty fast to kill yourself.
3. A dick is a dick and will act accordingly no matter what they ride.
4. Just because you would like to have all of the performance of a full on liter bike, does not mean you need to use it. It would scare the $#@! out of most people anyway.
5. Maybe the owner bought the bike for other reasons besides the motor. Like when I purchased my Sprint for its comfort, all around versatility, good gas mileage, and reliability.

just my $.02

Actually, you bring up an interesting point. Now, I'm not saying that anyone who buys a 1000cc bike from the get-go is a moron. It really depends on the style of bike. For example, the Harley sportster 1200. Is this a good learner bike? No, but I'd much rather see a new rider on that than an R1.

BMW 1200 GS, for example, is a great bike. It's obviously over 1000cc but isn't the worst bike for a new rider to start out on. The problems will come when (not if, mind you) the new rider crashes it. Then it gets expensive but the bottom line is the ability to accellerate like a full-flegged 1000cc sportbike isn't there and that's the important thing...

For the record, my Daytona was my first streetbike. That being said I had many years of dirt riding/racing under my belt. I've made a lot of mistakes before I felt comfortable with a literbike...

BombFactory · 07-27-2007

Steven, that video was intense to say the least! I might as well have broken the window next to me and jabbed a shard of glass into my heart! That looked quit familiar to my experience, only I got the heck out of there! Poor freaking bastards, both of them--the innocent one for having to live in a world full of idiots, and the idiot for being an idiot. That video really makes you check yourself back into the ugly reality that could always happen. As many have already said, ride safe ye Rats.