"Nonster" (noahnic)
12/07/2015 at 10:59 • Filed to: None
1
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"Nonster" (noahnic)
12/07/2015 at 10:59 • Filed to: None | 1
| 18 |
A friend just recently got his motorcycle license after taking the MSF class and he’s shopping for bikes. I let him practice riding my Buell Blast this weekend so he could get some seat time and practice on actual roads. Now he’s shopping for a bike and found this
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He wants its and I think its way too much power for a beginner. His only riding experience is the MSF class and an hour of riding my Buell around the neighborhood. I’ve been pointing him to bikes like the SV650, but the Hornet caught his eye. Anyone have any experience with this bike?
Xyl0c41n3
> Nonster
12/07/2015 at 11:09 |
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Sounds like your friend is looking to become a squid. Does he at least have gear? He should be shopping for gear before he shops for a bike. Helmet, jacket and gloves, at the very least.
Point your friend to this post by Peter Black. In it he links to his entire series of posts about beginner bikes, gear, riding... everything.
http://oppositelock.kinja.com/motorcycle-pos…
Aaron M - MasoFiST
> Nonster
12/07/2015 at 11:09 |
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I wonder if this is the sort of thing where pointing out this bike has literally triple the power of the Buell and probably around 5x the power of the MSF bikes would help. 100hp doesn’t sound like much, especially coming from a car, but putting it in the context of the bikes he’s already ridden may help.
Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero
> Nonster
12/07/2015 at 11:12 |
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Hope his organ donor card is sign. I’m sure there’s a nice kid who needs a new liver somewhere
FazeRacer
> Nonster
12/07/2015 at 11:17 |
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This your friend responsible? If not than that bike will turn him into a smear on the pavement.
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Nonster
> Xyl0c41n3
12/07/2015 at 11:19 |
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He has a DOT/Snell rated helmet. I don’t think he has proper armored jacket and gloves yet, but I think he knows he needs that at least.
Yep Peter’s articles were super useful for me when I was getting my first bike and gear, so I’ll be sure to point him to those
SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
> Nonster
12/07/2015 at 11:21 |
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Yeah. He really needs a ‘Busa or GSXR for his first bike.
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Nonster
> FazeRacer
12/07/2015 at 11:21 |
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I think he is, but my concern is even if he’s careful an inadvertent twist of the throttle mid corner might spell disaster
iSureWilll
> Nonster
12/07/2015 at 11:22 |
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I wouldnt recommend a 919 as a first bike. I would get an SV650 and ride for 1 season, then sell it in spring time for basically the same price he paid since there won’t be much if any depreciation. THEN buy the 919 at essentially the same price they are listed for now. 100hp is a LOT when you first start riding and if you don’t really have your wrist control down, it will bite you in the ass. QUICKLY.
BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast.
> Nonster
12/07/2015 at 11:24 |
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Look for a 599, perhaps.
Same bike, de-tuned CBR600 motor, rather than detuned CBR900 motor.
Frankly, an SV650’s torque would be better... not a off, off, off, ON, ON ONNNNN!!!! light-switch like behavior with most supersport-oriented I-4 motorcycle engines. Hornet/599/919 is tuned a little more humanely, than the CBR equivalent, but it is still a bit low on torque down low, and a big rush of horsepower up high.
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FazeRacer
> Nonster
12/07/2015 at 11:30 |
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True. If he gets that bike make sure he gets good gear with armour built in.
Future next gen S2000 owner
> Nonster
12/07/2015 at 11:31 |
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Most people will jump in and tell you your friend is a stupid idiot and you are dumb for being his friend. Honestly though, are they mature enough to respect the power and practice on the bike before they go out and play on the highway and back roads? Are they capable of restraining themselves to the lower half of the tach?
If they can’t be a mature, responsible adult, they need something small. Everyone is different.
bob and john
> Nonster
12/07/2015 at 11:42 |
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YES BAD BAD BAD.
liter bikes (esp ‘detuned’ nakeds) have SO much torque, its not even funny. that bike will pick up the front wheel at 60mph if you dont know what your doing.
get him away from anything that is over 500. a 650 MAYBE. no 600s. (yes, there is a HUGE difference between a 600cc supersports and a 650cc sports touring. about 25 hp worth)
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Nonster
> Future next gen S2000 owner
12/07/2015 at 11:42 |
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I think he’s a mature, responsible adult so I don’t expect him to be ripping wheelies down the highway or riding way too fast. My concern is more about what happens if or when he gets into a tight spot or has a close call with traffic and accidentally reacts and grabs too much throttle or brake or if he hesitates to react because he’s scared of the bike.
Ssfancyfresh
> Nonster
12/07/2015 at 11:45 |
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My first bike was a Yamaha FZ-6. Prior to arriving at the showroom and handing the salesman the cash to buy it, my only experience on a bike was an MSF class.
While I realize the FZ is not as powerful as this 919, I’m sure there are a bunch of people in internet forums that would say my purchase was unwise and that I should have bought a 10 year old Ninja 250.
I still remember the feeling when I rode it home from the dealership and grabbed a fist full of throttle. Front wheel got light, my heart skipped a beat, and I had a new and continued respect for the power of the bike and my responsibility to keep myself safe. All gear, All the time, stay focused on the road, respect and be aware of all the critical systems on the bike.
The bike isn’t going to kill him. His brain will. Might as well ride a cool bike.
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Nonster
> bob and john
12/07/2015 at 12:13 |
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yeah he really likes the look of the Hornet, so I’m trying to at least get him down to the SV650, but I think thats probably a little too much to start with for most.
Theres a GS500 for cheap on craiglist I’m trying to get him to check out. He seemed to like my Blast a lot so maybe I’ll sell him mine....
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bob and john
> Nonster
12/07/2015 at 12:15 |
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just saying, blast to SV650 is a great jump to do. *cough*
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Ssfancyfresh
> Ssfancyfresh
12/07/2015 at 12:22 |
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I also want to add that I was fortunate enough to have access to roads with less traffic for my 35 mile work commute. As I gained more confidence and experience, I took on different challenges: highway riding, weekend trips, and eventually a cross-country trip from Detroit to Las Vegas.
I was a novice, so I avoided riding with friends or in packs of more experienced riders. I think that alone kept me from overriding my own abilities.
Also deer. F deer.
Snuze: Needs another Swede
> Ssfancyfresh
12/07/2015 at 12:53 |
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I think the best first bike depends so much on the responsibility of the rider. When people ask me bike advice I always do a quick mental rundown of all the stupid, irresponsible things I know of that they’ve done and how those could translate into riding a motorcycle. That’s why for some people I’m like “You should probably look at a Ninja 250” and other people I tell “An SV650 is a great starter bike”.
I went from a Nighthawk 250 to a CB-1 (400cc) to a CBR1000RR in a relatively short amount of time. It probably wasn’t the smartest thing ever, but I lived. But I think the issue, and the reason so many people urge restraint in buying a first bike, is like your story about your first ride, you pushed the limits and it ended up being pretty no-drama and you learned from it and respected the bike after that. A lot of people aren’t as smart or at least as conscious of the machine. They might not feel the front end getting light, or if they do they think its no big thing and don’t realize how it translates into reduced steering and braking ability, and next think you know they wreck.