fist bike

Is the s3 forgiving enough for a beginner/first bike? thanks

[AaUuuuGaa]

Some will tell you "yes"; that's it's ALL up to the individual.

While it is certainly within your power to control the Speed Triple, I think it's beyond your experience level. Not trying to disparage you at all... just trying to give sound advice.

Also, in my un-educated opinion, 99% of new riders drop their bikes at one time or another. You wouldn't want to drop a shiney new Speed Triple now, would ya?

I suggest getting a more modest machine first, preferably used. Earn some real-world experience, and move up as you feel comfortable.

Thnx for the advice. I was planning on getting a used speed four, but found that the styling could not compare at all to the speed triple. My budget would be around 5 thousand dollars. How is insurance on one of those things? I am 20 and single.

[Yoshi]

but on the other hand.....I got a kawasaki zx6r as my first bike as someone advised me to learn on a smaller capacity machine first. I rode it i got bored and now have an S3. As long as you take it easy and get to know the bike slowly and build your skill slowly I think its better to get the a bike you wont grow out off. And if your worried about binning it then buy a cheap older model fit crash bungs and enjoy........

[ This message was edited by: Jaya on 2005-08-03 01:01 ]

[Sy]

Hi Jaya
Hmm difficult question of how reasonable you are and how you cope with the power this bike offers. If you do it careful enough, maybe having race tracks or security trainings in addition, you might be fine. If you try to explore the limits of physics which is usually the case looking for your age, might be dangerous and expensive.
In general I feel very comfortable with this bike where I clearly have to state, that it could be a ***** as well. If you do not open the throttle carefully enough in a deep turn an lower gear, you might flight out of the turn… If you are surprisingly frighten and just go in to the breaks you might get of your bike instantly…

… but that’s the case with other bikes as well?
Be careful in handle the power (as usual..) and it will work fin.
Regards
Sy

[GoodJava]

I choose a speed triple to reactivate my riding after a long 15+ years off a motorcycle. The power is amazing, even frightening at first. However I find the bike pretty easy to ride as long as you have a mature throttle hand. The big triple makes good torque down low and is easy, maybe even docile, around town as long as you keep the RPMs below 5K or so. Riding the twisties is also easier because you can just leave it in a single gear and let the engine grunt you around allowing you to focus on your cornering skills rather than deciding what gear to be in. The bike is a tad heavy but has a good seat height (I'm 5'11") and handlebar position. Another thing to remember is that the bada** look of the bike is the price paid for the lack of wind protection. If you plan to commute regularly on the highway then perhaps you need to reconsider your choice.

You're the only one who can decide if the Triple is right for you. Being that you are 20, and have no experience, I would say no. The S3 is not for you. I say that thinking back to when I was 20. I doubt I would have lived to see 21 if I purchased a bike like the S3, or any super sport street bike sold today. Start with a dual purpose bike and have the time of your life.

[ This message was edited by: GoodJava on 2005-08-03 10:01 ]

[crudmop]

On 2005-08-03 00:51, Yoshi wrote:
but on the other hand.....I got a kawasaki zx6r as my first bike as someone advised me to learn on a smaller capacity machine first. I rode it i got bored and now have an S3. As long as you take it easy and get to know the bike slowly and build your skill slowly I think its better to get the a bike you wont grow out off. And if your worried about binning it then buy a cheap older model fit crash bungs and enjoy........

NO offense - but if you got bored riding a modern 600, you weren't riding it right. A 600, when ridden to its potential can hand a good olde fashioned smackdown.

For most of us, on the latest-greatest liter bike, in a race on a track against the SLOWEST stock 600 privateer(who normally gets lapped by the rest of the pack of 600s) would still get smoked like we weren't moving.

A 600 for a new rider is not a good idea. A triple is CERTAINLY not a good idea for a first bike, nor an s4. Where a few riders might be ok starting out this way, I'd be willing to bet most aren't. Some people skydive, parachutes don't open, and they fall 5000 feet and manage to live - would you suggest to people that they jump without a parachute? Of course not. Some are lucky. Some arent.

Take the time to learn on a bike that is a bit more forgiving, with less power and less opportunity to bite you in the ass while you are learning all of the new reactions necessary to ride a sportbike. It's not the instant-gratification answer you might want to hear, but it's the smart decision and can certainly help keep you riding motorcycles for years to come. Get some good gear too.


[ This message was edited by: crudmop on 2005-08-03 10:27 ]

[AaUuuuGaa]

Not to beat a dead horse, but... a lot of people say that as long as you're mature and even-keeled with the throttle, you'll be OK. And as I've already said above, I think that's true. As long as you refrain from "pushing it" and never do anything remotely aggressive, you will be fine. And probably safe.

But I think that person would also become an untalented rider. Why? Because, in my opinion, in order to become a skilled rider, one MUST "push" it once in a while. One must explore the outer edges of one's abilities. One must experiment with being aggressive with the throttle, and with diving into curves.

And that's why a bigger bike (heck, even modern 600 super-sports) are a bad idea to start on. When an inexperienced rider tries anything aggressive on a bigger bike like a Sp3, they can get in over their head MUCH faster.

So start on a smaller bike, and "push" it until you can say that you've mastered it. And even then, I guarantee that the bike is still more capable that you realize. But become skilled with a more modest machine first. Then move up to the Sp3 challenge.

[ This message was edited by: AaUuuuGaa on 2005-08-03 12:06 ]

[Martin_R]

On 2005-08-02 23:34, Jaya wrote:
Is the s3 forgiving enough for a beginner/first bike? thanks

I think the '05 is a very good pick for a first bike. As stated it has very good torque low down, so you do not have to be so picky about gears. Also it has the back torque limiter thingie, so you do not have to worry about the rear wheel locking on deceleration. And the seating postition is much more natural than the one on any clip-on sporty.

I think it is best to start with a big bike straight away as you will crave after one within a year anyway if you buy some lazy beginner bike like Kawi ER or such. And changing up will make a dent in your wallet.

The S3 is not quite the animal some in here make it out to be. It is no GSX-R or a liter sportster. It will not powerkick the rear tyre out from under you like a Hayabusa or similar. The S3 is quite a mellow bike if you just keep reasonable restraint on your throttle hand at the start of your biking career.