Different versions of beginners...
I rode on dirt my entire childhood. I rode on the streets of LA for 2 yrs about 20 yrs ago.
I would consider myself a beginner getting back on a bike after those years off (even though it's like riding a bike : )
When I took my MSF class I remember sitting at the table during classroom portion listening to all these folks going on and on about the bikes they were going to get, most discussing 600 plus CCs. Only one girl said she had never ridden and was only interested in a scooter.
Anyway, a couple of days later in the parking lot, I was blown away. With the exception of the girl who had never ridden (she dropped her bike no less than 5 times) and one guy who was fairly proficient, everyone else were only barely skilled enough to be dangerous.
Sooooo, needless to say, everyone (including the girl who wanted a scooter) passed....
IMO there are people that are really at risk on the road, not to mention the size and difficulty of the bikes they are riding....That's when ego starts to cloud everyone's vision as to what bike they should "Begin" on.
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Yes cbr500 is a learner bike.. but a ******************** expensive way of learning when an old Ninja 250 for $2000 will do the same job with alot less heartache and expense.
I agree, although if one plans to keep it a while, its a longer term investment. I see the CBR500R as a good step up from my "learner" present state: it is (likely to have at ~50hp) about 60% better power to weight ratio compared to the CBR250R. This appeals to me as I can easily see myself wanting a bit more oomph and a bit bigger bike, and being able to use this in a controlled fashion soonish. I do like to have some decent fuel economy as well.
Yeah it's still a "LAMS" bike, but a significant step up. I do hope it has better/better set up front shocks than the CBR250R though. Had the CBR500R been available 5 months ago (when I got my license), I might have seen how far I could push my wife ;-) knowing that this would save a second bout of negotiations a few years down the track...which I might loose LOL.
While I think a 600SS would be "fun" I also see it as a bit OTT for me as it has tooo much oomph soooo very temptingly available on the street. Also my back doesn't fancy the 40+ degree lean angle when I sit on a SS....I really just ride for pleasure :-) Diito my bank account re the $ for a 600 ;-)
Yes I know the Ninja 650 is much more upright than other 600's, and more "sedate", but its way more expensive than the CBR500R is going to be.
my 2c
Dave
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Eleven hours in a tin can?
God, there's got to be another way!
if what you really want is a SS just cut to the chase and get one. Although SS bikes are not recommended to start out on there are a couple of exceptions, the 08+ GSXR 600 and the new 13 kaw zx6r, both of these bikes have power modes A,B and C, mode C has the least amount of power. from my understanding, and I may be wrong, in the UK, beginners can start on a SS bike as long as it has power restrictive feature.
If I had to do it over again I would have just got a 08+ gixxer 600 and started on C mode and worked my way up to full power mode A. The Gixxer and the CBR are really not that much heavier than our bike with ABS. Although I love the cbr250r I feel I've grown out of it rather quickly.
I'd wager that the CBR250R is a much more capable bike in terms of outright performance, than 99.9% of beginners can really handle... when you can out brake someone like Aufitt going WFO into a 50 mph corner, stuff it inside, and get on the gas sooner exiting the corner, then maybe you'd be ready for a more powerful bike. Maybe. "Beginners" who think after a few months and a couple thousand miles on a 250, that they're ready for a bigger bike are just blowing smoke out of their ass, and talking smack. Word.
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I'd wager that the CBR250R is a much more capable bike in terms of outright performance, than 99.9% of beginners can really handle... when you can out brake someone like Aufitt going WFO into a 50 mph corner, stuff it inside, and get on the gas sooner exiting the corner, then maybe you'd be ready for a more powerful bike. Maybe. "Beginners" who think after a few months and a couple thousand miles on a 250, that they're ready for a bigger bike are just blowing smoke out of their ass, and talking smack. Word.
Word indeed. After about 3 months I started dreaming of an SS. Two months later and I don't at all. I can totally see how I am not even getting 70% out of the CBR250R...sure I can flatten it is straight line, but corners...what a laff. I have 5-6mm of "chicken strips" on the right and 7-8 on the left LOL. This recent self awareness actually makes me not want a SS...sounds like a can o' whoop a$$ waiting to slap me.
However, I stand by my CBR500R desire: in a few years I'd like something a little "bigger", by then I'll be closer to "using" that bike. And it fits the bill as described in my post above. I don't think I have to be knee dragging to enjoy the 500R for what I want: a little bit of fun, with more acceleration / hill climbing ability, not pushing it (me!) to its (my!) outer limits .
Dave
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Eleven hours in a tin can?
God, there's got to be another way!
Last edited by CBR_Dave; 11-14-2012 at 11:50 PM.
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I'd wager that the CBR250R is a much more capable bike in terms of outright performance, than 99.9% of beginners can really handle... when you can out brake someone like Aufitt going WFO into a 50 mph corner, stuff it inside, and get on the gas sooner exiting the corner, then maybe you'd be ready for a more powerful bike. Maybe. "Beginners" who think after a few months and a couple thousand miles on a 250, that they're ready for a bigger bike are just blowing smoke out of their ass, and talking smack. Word.
I don't disagree with what you are saying, but it's a limited view of the motorcycling world. It's not everyone's goal to ride a supersport bike on a track or fast on the street.
Some folks may want to simply ride a larger heavier bike someday and the CBR250R is just the first step in that process.
It would be a really bad idea to take the MSF on the weekend, and Monday morning get your license and hop on a Goldwing. People told me to start small and that's what I'm doing. But after a couple of years I will be wanting to move up to a bigger bike.
Not because my skills have exceeded the capabilities of the CBR250 or that I can ride it like a race professional. Simply that my new found abilities make it possible to ride a bigger bike without killing myself.
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I'd wager that the CBR250R is a much more capable bike in terms of outright performance, than 99.9% of beginners can really handle... when you can out brake someone like Aufitt going WFO into a 50 mph corner, stuff it inside, and get on the gas sooner exiting the corner, then maybe you'd be ready for a more powerful bike. Maybe. "Beginners" who think after a few months and a couple thousand miles on a 250, that they're ready for a bigger bike are just blowing smoke out of their ass, and talking smack. Word.
While I do agree with you that it is wise to start on a cbr250r and gain skills on the bike and take the bike to it's full potential before moving up to a bigger bike BUT I will also disagree with you too, everybody is different and some people are hard headed and don't like to be told what is best for them. With that being said many people start out on a SS bike and do very well.
Here is a prime example, her youtube name is Ashfoot, she bought a 2007 gsxr 600 (doesn't even have the power modes) as her first bike before she even took the MSF class. After she took the msf class she took to the streets and the track on her 07 gsxr600. Check out her track vids, this little lady would probably make some of you guys eat her rubber.
With that being said, many of you newbie 'rebels' might do as well as this little lady if you decide to get a SS bike as your first bike. I may not be as brave as her but she just might be an inspiration to newbies out there with a hard head.
However you may want think twice about getting a gixxer, they are not as reliable as Honda bikes. My buddy at a dealership tells me he sees gixxers in the shop more than most other bikes.
Here Ashfoot's gixxer left her stranded on the highway...
if what you really want is a SS just cut to the chase and get one. Although SS bikes are not recommended to start out on there are a couple of exceptions, the 08+ GSXR 600 and the new 13 kaw zx6r, both of these bikes have power modes A,B and C, mode C has the least amount of power. from my understanding, and I may be wrong, in the UK, beginners can start on a SS bike as long as it has power restrictive feature.
If I had to do it over again I would have just got a 08+ gixxer 600 and started on C mode and worked my way up to full power mode A. The Gixxer and the CBR are really not that much heavier than our bike with ABS. Although I love the cbr250r I feel I've grown out of it rather quickly.
only 08 to 10 have A B and C for the gixxer. The 11 12 and 13 models only have A and B which are quite more powerful than C. The ninja 636 only has High and Low but the low isn't ultra low, it still has more power than something like a cbr500r or 650 ninja.
They can limit the hp with a restrictor kit in the UK i believe, but you can't ride a full powered gixxer on C mode because there is no guarantee you will always be in C mode, people can change it out to A mode but with actual restrictors you can't, well you can but just not with a button on the handlebars you have to get inside the bike and do it manually
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2012 CBR250R ABS Red/Silver
- Black Adjustable Levers
- HRC Carbon Fibre Tank Pad
- Hotbodies FE Kit
I wouldn't buy a gixxer anyways, they are unreliable and too many hood rats/ghetto bangers have these bikes. They like to ghetto them out with chrome and an extended swing arm.
The gixxer forums are loaded with problematic threads like this:
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