I'm new to motorcycles and need some help.

[redmosquito1]

My advice to you 2000 would be to start slow.

I was pretty much in your shoes about a year ago. Longing for a bike that I could grow into, afraid of buying a 600 because at the time I was 265lbs (now down to 240lbs) and thought it'd be way to slow. I had my mind set on 1000cc crotch rocket, much to the chagrin of many of my riding buddies. I did many hours of research and managed to convince myself that I was superman and completely indestructible.

After several months of my buddies insisting I start small with a vintage 500cc honda, I settled on the "smart thing" and wanted to find an old triumph. I searched and searched the classifieds for months looking for that perfect deal, the perfect bike.

I stumbled on a nice Sprint ST, even though it was not what my advisors suggested I foolishly convinced myself that the "low" HP (for a 1000cc bike) and my own common sense would make it safe for me.

Oh how wrong I was. I said to myself "how hard could it really be to ride a motorcycle" and "even though it has some power I'm not stupid, I'll go slow." Well being that I'm young (25) and inexperienced, that didn't happen. And I highly doubt it will happen for you as well.

I'm writing this thanking god daily that I am even able to type. I did all the dumb things, shunned the MSF courses saying they were for girls and pussies. I pushed the bike to the limits all the time, and the cops caught up to me (15mph over, no license almost had my bike impounded and I was nearly arrested. Luckily the officer was a motorcyclist himself.) When I bought the bike I swore I would never go over 80 for the first year, within a week I hit 130mph. Sure enough my inexperience caught up to me and I crashed, badly. I went down in a corner going 75mph, bike was a total loss (with the help of the many generous folks on this forum I was able to repair it) and I could barely walk for weeks. The mistake I made wasn't a problem with the bike being to big, but lack of experience. The bike just made the crash that much more horrific.

I knew eventually I would lay down my bike, majority of people do on there first ride. Its part of the learning process. But had I been on a smaller bike, an old honda or triumph, it wouldn't have been so expensive, and the slower speed would've had a much bigger part in my not dying. Frankly I should have been paralyzed or dead and I got unbelievably lucky that I didn't.

I hope you heed the advice of the many knowledgeable folks on here and start small, that Daytona you are looking at is a fairly popular bike. It'll be there in a year when your ready. I wish I waited and started small, taking the MSF course. My ankle still hurts on days, and my shoulder (which was pretty much shot already) aches so bad now Motrin 800 is a daily routine, never before.

In total I'm about $1500 in the hole to get my bike back on the road in stock trim, not to mention the insurance hike from my ticket.

Best of luck on what you decide, but you'll be just as cool on an old Triumph as on a newer one.

[wannab]

Originally Posted by redmosquito1

My advice to you 2000 would be to start slow.



I knew eventually I would lay down my bike, majority of people do on there first ride. Its part of the learning process. But had I been on a smaller bike, an old honda or triumph, it wouldn't have been so expensive, and the slower speed would've had a much bigger part in my not dying. Frankly I should have been paralyzed or dead and I got unbelievably lucky that I didn't.

as stated: their are 2 types of motorcycle riders. those who have went down, and those who are going to go down. Good post Red, glad you came out alive. I bet it opened your eyes to riding like the rest of us who have survived. I thank God I can still ride a motorcycle. keep the shiny side up.

[Calliway]

wannab,
I think your last few posts have been your best since you have arrived on the forum. Good advice and backed with facts. Great posts and sound advice.

[2000sprintRS]

Yea i fell once but it wasnt going fast (20mph) I got really lucky
If i didnt let go of the bike I would have messed up my leg alot.
Ikno the sprint RS has alot of power and I havent gone over 95mph which I'm very suprised at myself.(I thought i would of gone faster)
But im ordering the parts for the triumph thursday so i can get it running again.

I wasnt hurt lucky.
I looking into supermoto bikes right now. Like the Aprilia Dorsoduro.


or a hypermotard or a DRZ400.

[TripleWithCheese]

I was going to ask if you had looked at the Hypermotard, it rides much more upright is smaller/lighter but still has the fun factor that you're looking for. If not something along those lines I've ridden my brother's F4 CBR and it's tons of fun but much more nimble than my RS. I'm 6'2" 200# so I can relate to bikes not fitting me. My advice is no matter what you buy, get a used bike. With the money you save versus a new bike you can take some training classes, buy some gear and customize the bike to your liking. Chances are that you'll sell your "starter" bike within the next couple of years so why buy a brand new bike just to break it in for the next guy.

[2000sprintRS]

Like this bike as well

[redmosquito1]

What kind of bike is that?

Make sure what ever you do wear gear. Jacket pants boots gloves and of course a helmet.

[2000sprintRS]

Originally Posted by redmosquito1

What kind of bike is that?

Make sure what ever you do wear gear. Jacket pants boots gloves and of course a helmet.

The first one is a aprilia dorsoduro 750 and second bike is a BMW G650 Xmoto.

I always wear my helment,gloves,jacket and pants.

[2000sprintRS]

I have been riding my moms 250 enduro again untill I fix the sprint RS.

[wannab]

Man those Motards are SICK, in a good way. just be careful on them too. you are not going to have the straight line speed. but they have some crazy amounts of lean angle. you will be sitting up higher on them, so when you lean, you will initially feel like you are leaning further over than you actually are, compared to sitting low on something like a cruiser. It took some adjusting for me, going to sitting up higher on the sprint than my warrior. however, if you get used to that motard for a few years, then go ride someone's harley and you will bring back their cruiser with a lot less running boards Hell, the 1000cc first bike crowd will beg you to ride their bike so you can get rid of their chicken strips
the motard is like a super dirt bike made for the street. We have a local up here that converted a KX 110, yep a mini-bike into a motard. He is impossible to keep up with in the really twisty stuff. of course in the longer straights you can reel him in easily. but through the tight stuff, he just does not let off, nor has to. I cant say if a super motard would be a great first bike, but it beats the hell out of a ZX-14 for a first bike. atleast you are going in the right direction. And I can promise you, you will smoke tons of people on a motard once you get good at riding it. I would say check out the 400 DR-Z suzukis but they are single cylinder and get quite buzzy for a one bike garage. parts are fairly cheap to fix them though.

Thing is 2000, everyone new to bikes wants the biggest, baddest thing. "go big or go home". I was guilty of it too. but most bikes now days have so much power as it is, that we are well past overkill. The Busa, The B-king, The new V-max, etc..etc.. hell the Triumph Rocket III with a turbo LOL. Most people (here anyway) have ridden enough to know, that you dont really need (or can use) all of that power. Rossi, Ben Spies, and a few others can tame a bike with that much power, but you and I can not ride one like they can. Only a handful of people can ride like that. Yet so many people try, and fail. Honda had a good slogan for a while "stupid hurts" especially in motorcycles. No matter what bike you get for your first bike, you are going to remember it forever, just make sure they are good memories. and research, research, research. thats half the fun of buying a bike. oh and thanks Calliway for the compliment, although I would prefer to go back to being crotchety myself now