R1 as first bike

[Arinze]

was at a dealership to pick up some gear earlier today. One of the sales guys was trying to get this dude to buy a 2 year extended warranty for like 1 grand. I got him to a corner and told him not to bother about it cos the manufacturer usually covers the first couple of years. he thanked me and pointed out a sweet R1 as the bike and I asked him how long he had ridden for to which he responded never. My jaw dropped to the floor and when i got my mouth working again, I just told him to invest in a lot of good gear. I think he got the message cos he looked at me funny and asked what I thought about his decision. I told him I started with a 250 and i'd advice him to do the same and he said he wasnt into the p!@#y rides. wished him luck and went to another store. Dude was like 5"5"

[Jiggles]

My r1 can crash faster than your 250 can

[austexjg]

Listened to the sales guy and got "up-sold".

[blink]

what a fool

[alex.s]

good for him! theres a shortage of busted up R1 parts. glad to see someone taking the initiative

[xSean13]

Did you catch his name? If so, keep an eye on the obituaries.

[EsrTek]

Lol watch Craigslist.. it'd probably be up there for half price w/ a reason of "it scared me too much"

[Sigma.40]

Originally Posted by EsrTek

Lol watch Craigslist.. it'd probably be up there for half price w/ a reason of "it scared me too much"

^I see that like once a week. Makes me laugh.



-This thread reminded me of something I was curious about. Would it be possible to upgrade to a liter bike from the 250r? Not planning on upgrading that high, but just wondered if the Ninjette would give you the skills necessary to handle 1000cc+ of sport bike.

[choneofakind]

Originally Posted by Sigma.40

This thread reminded me of something I was curious about. Would it be possible to upgrade to a liter bike from the 250r? Not planning on upgrading that high, but just wondered if the Ninjette would give you the skills necessary to handle 1000cc+ of sport bike.

Yes. But make a point to work seriously on throttle control and smoothness with the 250 before you hypothetically get the larger bike. Same physics, same skills. Only difference is the liter bike is less forgiving than the 250.

[caps]

Originally Posted by choneofakind

Yes. But make a point to work seriously on throttle control and smoothness with the 250 before you hypothetically get the larger bike. Same physics, same skills. Only difference is the liter bike is less forgiving than the 250.

^this

[Sigma.40]

Originally Posted by choneofakind

Yes. But make a point to work seriously on throttle control and smoothness with the 250 before you hypothetically get the larger bike. Same physics, same skills. Only difference is the liter bike is less forgiving than the 250.

Thats cool. I don't plan on getting a liter bike, but I do plan on getting a ZX-6R at some point next year. Its good to know that the skills I've aquired on the 250r will transfer to a liter bike, that way my jump to a 600 SS will be ok.

-Of course I'll be keeping my Ninja

[choneofakind]

Yeah you'll be fine. Many people do it. Just don't continue in the habit that many of us have of wacking the throttle wide open right away. Larger bikes with moar power and moar responsive throttles are all about small, precise throttle inputs. They'll reward you greatly for being smooth and controlled, but if you want to see what they do when you wack the throttle open, see youtube

[Boomstick1491]

I know a dude who bought an R1 as his first bike. Before I took the MSF and bought my Ninjette, we were talking about my plan to start on the 250R and "upgrade" at some later date. He basically called me a "small cat" and informed me that throttle control is all that is needed to prevent oneself from crashing into the back of a semi or cutting oneself in half on a guardrail. Fast forward a couple months and I never see him ride, whereas I am on my Ninjette every day.

Incidentally, he also told me he rides in a t-shirt. I think he is missing a chromosome (no offense to anyone on here who doesn't ATGATT, but in DC, that seems suicidal).

[Arinze]

Originally Posted by austexjg

Listened to the sales guy and got "up-sold".

I think the dude just wanted to feel bigger than he was cos he had a hummer cage. I mean who drives hummer now?

Originally Posted by blink

what a fool

same thought that went thru my head

Originally Posted by xSean13

Did you catch his name? If so, keep an eye on the obituaries.

wish I got his name. when i was driving away, I really wished I had a printer and my laptop. could have printed out some sound advice from this forum and slipped it into his car. i really wanted to talk sense into him but the sales guy was hovering around with a fake smile on his face. i knew he didnt like the fact that i was talking to his mark.

Originally Posted by EsrTek

Lol watch Craigslist.. it'd probably be up there for half price w/ a reason of "it scared me too much"

lol..i see a lot of those too. 500 ok...stretch it to 600 but r1..thats suicide in my opinion

[xSean13]

After 2 months on my ninja 250...I think i'm gonna get a busa.

[psych0hans]

Originally Posted by xSean13

After 2 months on my ninja 250...I think i'm gonna get a busa.

The busy's my dream bike too... Really wanna get that monster after the ninjette... Tho I probably won't sell the ninjette... And yeah, getting a liter class bike for learning on is asking for, no begging for trouble...

[Jiggles]

I know a guy who inherited a zx12r and I told him to come ride with us he said "Nah man, I'm scared of that thing" So I told him to sell it and get a 250 "Nah man, that's a little girls bike" It's funny cuz my 250 goes faster than his zx12r

[choneofakind]

...not anymore. They're both just sitting around now.

[EthioKnight]

If you've got the dough but haven't done the research...you get an R1. I just hope the guy, like a small fraction of motorcyclists who start out big, has the self control and intuition to ride it safely.

[EsrTek]

Originally Posted by Sigma.40

Thats cool. I don't plan on getting a liter bike, but I do plan on getting a ZX-6R at some point next year. Its good to know that the skills I've aquired on the 250r will transfer to a liter bike, that way my jump to a 600 SS will be ok.

-Of course I'll be keeping my Ninja

I was thinking same thing honestly... but be very honest in your riding. Your skills will carry over, but your mistakes will be amplified.
I need to work on throttle control and smoother shifting before I follow through on that plan. I am 3x's better, I think, now than 1yr ago but may give myself 1 more yr on the 250 too.
Sadly though, I won't be able to keep 2 bikes, so ninjette will have to go when I upgrade.

[csmith12]

hmmmm... I see the weak/unprepared being upsold more easily at the dealer. Sad but true. Like Alex above, no matter your first bike, I hope he rides with self control and safety in mind until he can afford to take a few chances and open it up a little.

It's easier said than done........... as the power is intoxicating.

[Boomstick1491]

Originally Posted by EsrTek

I was thinking same thing honestly... but be very honest in your riding. Your skills will carry over, but your mistakes will be amplified.
I need to work on throttle control and smoother shifting before I follow through on that plan. I am 3x's better, I think, now than 1yr ago but may give myself 1 more yr on the 250 too.
Sadly though, I won't be able to keep 2 bikes, so ninjette will have to go when I upgrade.

+1 to this...

[choneofakind]

Originally Posted by csmith12

the power is intoxicating.

Squished eyeballs and a stiff neck are better than any drug

[Sigma.40]

Originally Posted by xSean13

After 2 months on my ninja 250...I think i'm gonna get a busa.

This was actually my original plan. Ride the 250 for a year and then jump to a Hayabusa. I've since completely fallen in love with the looks and feel of the ZX-10R, but since a liter bike has WAY more power than I will ever use or need, I will settle for the ZX-6R. They are close enough in looks to me.

[xSean13]

I personally like the R6, followed by the cbr600rr. The zx6r's are just too expensive for me, versus an older r6 or cbr. But, I haven't actually had the chance to sit on any of them, so that will probably change

[Malicious Logic]

Originally Posted by xSean13

I personally like the R6, followed by the cbr600rr. The zx6r's are just too expensive for me, versus an older r6 or cbr. But, I haven't actually had the chance to sit on any of them, so that will probably change

Haha, almost caught me until I saw the last part of that statement. As far as brand new 600s go among the big 4, I think the Kawasaki is the cheapest.

[nst416]

wow, He doesn't even consider an R6 much less, a 250cc bike....and goes straight for an R1.... Just wow...

[Xoulrath]

Originally Posted by choneofakind

Yeah you'll be fine. Many people do it. Just don't continue in the habit that many of us have of wacking the throttle wide open right away. Larger bikes with moar power and moar responsive throttles are all about small, precise throttle inputs. They'll reward you greatly for being smooth and controlled, but if you want to see what they do when you wack the throttle open, see youtube

You'd be surprised just how much you can wack open the throttle on a 600 without bad things happening. Just sayin'.

Arinze, where you at in Georgia and what dealership was this?

[choneofakind]

Originally Posted by Xoulrath

You'd be surprised just how much you can wack open the throttle on a 600 without bad things happening.

Yes I'm aware; I've ridden one long-term

Just putting in a cautionary word of advice for someone who's looking to transition to a larger bike.

[Xoulrath]

Originally Posted by choneofakind

Yes I'm aware; I've ridden one long-term

I know, which is why I was surprised to see you type that.

[choneofakind]

I mean I'm 19, it's not really possible for me to ride a bike without snapping the throttle open in 1st and 2nd once in a while! But not before I knew how it felt at WOT by gradually getting there. I never snapped it open while leaned over though. I wasn't that daring...

[Xoulrath]

And your advice is sound, Chris. I agree with you 100% that no one should be snapping open the throttle while leaned over if they are not familiar with the bike. And that is esepcially true when talking about a less experienced rider moving from a Ninjette to anything with more oomph.

Take the time to adjust to a bike's individual characteristics and then let the snapping open commence.

[EthioKnight]

I just got back from a group ride where I met two fellows, one who has a '11 gixxer 1000 for a first bike and another who said he rode a zx-14 for his These people are more common than I had thought previously...

[Malicious Logic]

I bet they're really common. This summer will be more first season riding but I'm willing to bet 90% of any riders I meet will have either started out on a 600 or a liter bike.

[Whiskey]

Starting on a thou is just asking for trouble, a mate of mine had a gixxer 6 for a few years when he moved up to the thou he flipped it ob the 1st day.

He had been doing well on twisty backroads, but when he pulled into a carpark for some slow control practise he found it was a gravel pit. He decided to turn & leave but the throttle response caught him, back spun up & threw gravel everywhere, the wheel then found the concrete surface gained traction & upended itself on the spot.
Posted via Mobile Device

[Arinze]

Arinze, where you at in Georgia and what dealership was this?[/QUOTE]

I live up in Kennesae. do you live in GA??

[adouglas]

Originally Posted by Sigma.40

-This thread reminded me of something I was curious about. Would it be possible to upgrade to a liter bike from the 250r? Not planning on upgrading that high, but just wondered if the Ninjette would give you the skills necessary to handle 1000cc+ of sport bike.

My $0.02 (having never owned a literbike and having no particular interest in one):

It's not about the bike. It's about your attitude towards acquiring skills. The 250 doesn't "give you the skills." Your own desire to learn and your experience do that.

If you never put in the time and effort to become a better rider, then no… you won't have the skills to move to a literbike IMHO. If you become a student of the art and science of motorcycling and really pay attention to improving yourself, then sure.

My 250R is my third bike… every one has been smaller than the one before. I'm now more skilled and ride harder and faster than I ever have not because the 250R is tamer than my old bikes, but because I'm more interested in being a better rider.

Having finally gotten the opportunity to ride a supersport yesterday at a Kawi demo day, I now know that I can easily go there if I want to. (It was a ZX6R and I felt right at home immediately.)

[gt_turbo]

i know ppl who started on R1's. not a big deal really to start on a liter or 600. don't really know what all the fuss is about. it all depends on the individual. but most of us prefer to ride a slow bike fast, rather than a fast bike slow!

[Malicious Logic]

Originally Posted by gt_turbo

i know ppl who started on R1's. not a big deal really to start on a liter or 600. don't really know what all the fuss is about. it all depends on the individual. but most of us prefer to ride a slow bike fast, rather than a fast bike slow!

I love when people like chime in with things like this.

*grabs popcorn* This is gonna be good.

[Skippii]

Originally Posted by adouglas

My $0.02 (having never owned a literbike and having no particular interest in one):

It's not about the bike. It's about your attitude towards acquiring skills. The 250 doesn't "give you the skills." Your own desire to learn and your experience do that.

If you never put in the time and effort to become a better rider, then no… you won't have the skills to move to a literbike IMHO. If you become a student of the art and science of motorcycling and really pay attention to improving yourself, then sure.

My 250R is my third bike… every one has been smaller than the one before. I'm now more skilled and ride harder and faster than I ever have not because the 250R is tamer than my old bikes, but because I'm more interested in being a better rider.

Having finally gotten the opportunity to ride a supersport yesterday at a Kawi demo day, I now know that I can easily go there if I want to. (It was a ZX6R and I felt right at home immediately.)

Yeah, this.

I went from a Ninja 250 to a Ducati Supersport. I did a few trackdays with the 250, and felt very comfortable when I first got on the Duc. Doing those trackdays (and really listening and paying attention to the instructors) is what made me feel confident on the larger bike.