Why should a new rider go for low-powered bikes?

[94ZZR1100]

I am pretty much a newbie I only rode a 250cc ZZR for 1 year or so then I got a 1100cc ZZR and I really am starting to think it's a myth that you will kill yourself if you start on a high powered bike.

It's pretty much the same but harder on the handling but still if you don't ride like a mad man I don't see how it is suicide. The front wheel does come up by mistake sometimes but it's never caused me to crash or any grief as such you simply lay off the throttle.

What is your thoughts on this? I reckon an idiots an idiot and will kill themselves on a anything > 50cc anyway.

[Milts]

Well, I'm sure the research would show otherwise.

The attached image has some common arguments. There are many more.
Here are some in video form.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKsOGFh3Efk
http://bikerpunks.com/mediaviewer/39...e-crashes.html

Now it's possible that those people would have munted themselves even on a smaller/less powerful bike. But it is both less likely, and when it happens, it is less likely to be at high speed. So although you can't say that in every situation beginning on a smaller motorcycle will save life/injury, overall it saves a large amount of both.

[94ZZR1100]

Well, I'm sure the research would show otherwise.

The attached image has some common arguments. There are many more.
Here are some in video form.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKsOGFh3Efk
http://bikerpunks.com/mediaviewer/39...e-crashes.html

Now it's possible that those people would have munted themselves even on a smaller/less powerful bike. But it is both less likely, and when it happens, it is less likely to be at high speed. So although you can't say that in every situation beginning on a smaller motorcycle will save life/injury, overall it saves a large amount of both.

What about going from a 250cc to 1000cc > I really think it depends on the type of bike. The ZZR models seem to handle much the same and they not a heavy bike even at the higher power range.

[paturoa]

Have you noticed how it is only the people who have had the experience of learning to ride bikes, and now own large grunty bikes recommend this for newbies?

Ditto with planes and helicopters too.

[Madness]

At 233Kg dry I can't agree that the ZZR1100 isn't a heavy bike.

[94ZZR1100]

Have you noticed how it is only the people who have had the experience of learning to ride bikes, and now own large grunty bikes recommend this for newbies?

Ditto with planes and helicopters too.

I wasn't really meaning a high powered bike as your first bike what I meant was going from a 250cc to a 1000cc> rather then going 400,600 ect. I think what ever bike you have you learnt THAT bike is what you know. I think I would kill myself if I jumped on someone else 250cc and tried going full tit.

I myself went 50cc scooter, 125cc scooter, 250cc zzr, 1100zzr. The 125cc scooter to 250cc bike was the biggest learning curve.

[Mushu]

It depends on the rider and the bike, a ZZR is a pretty easy bike to ride but it is also quite heavy which can get you in trouble at low speed. Even the 250s are kinda heavy when compared to CBR250, ninja 250 etc... and you would have learned a few things without realizing it.

I still have my 6L but I made the decision to upgrade when I felt I had the necessary skill and over 10000km later I know for sure that I would be lucky to be alive without all the experience gained on my little ninja and theres no way my R6 would have survived this long (or even the ride back from Auckland) without that previous experience, the biggest lesson I learned was actually due to crashing the little ninja about 3 months after buying it (brand new)

Sent from my XT535 using Tapatalk 2

[94ZZR1100]

It depends on the rider and the bike, a ZZR is a pretty easy bike to ride but it is also quite heavy which can get you in trouble at low speed. Even the 250s are kinda heavy when compared to CBR250, ninja 250 etc... and you would have learned a few things without realizing it.

I still have my 6L but I made the decision to upgrade when I felt I had the necessary skill and over 10000km later I know for sure that I would be lucky to be alive without all the experience gained on my little ninja and theres no way my R6 would have survived this long (or even the ride back from Auckland) without that previous experience, the biggest lesson I learned was actually due to crashing the little ninja about 3 months after buying it (brand new)

Sent from my XT535 using Tapatalk 2

That is very true it was HEAVY as hell for a 250cc sportsbike. Maybe that is why my 1100 feels light.

I did the same with my 250cc about 10 low speed crashes. ZZR250cc don't make very good adventure tour bikes and hate 4wd tracks...

Even I didn't ride my 250cc for very long I rode arould whole NZ on it so I guess that is a bit more experience then someone riding for 5 years to work in Auckland alone.

[ducatilover]

It only goes as fast as you tell it to. I've ridden Hyabusas slow


Sent from a bubble gum factory

[94ZZR1100]

It only goes as fast as you tell it to. I've ridden Hyabusas slow


Sent from a bubble gum factory

I agree with this. I think weight is more important factor.

[tigertim20]

my thoughts on it are that its a total waste of time trying to explain to inexperienced riders why they should start out small. They simply won't 'Get it' until they figure it out themselves from a combination of experience and mistakes

I went for a ride with a friend of mine not long ago - he has a 600, and has been riding 600's for 5+ years, but he hadnt ridden a litre-bike.
I swapped bikes with him (GSXR1000) and we carried on heading down hill. He's an experienced rider and he still got a bit of a shock when he went to nip past a car, put a little bit of throttle on, and the bike stood up on the back wheel and went past the car - wasn't what he was expecting, nor was it intended. He commented later that to him, going from his 600 to the gsxr, was like going from his old vt250 to a 600.

You either get it or you dont. hopefully you get it before ignorance kills, or maims you.

[BMWST?]

He's an experienced rider and he still got a bit of a shock when he went to nip past a car, put a little bit of throttle on, and the bike stood up on the back wheel and went past the car

a little bit of throttle? yeah right

[tigertim20]

a little bit of throttle? yeah right

The point is that a little throttle on one bike and the same amount on another are not the same thing - which is where mistakes/accidents can happen.

[94ZZR1100]

The point is that a little throttle on one bike and the same amount on another are not the same thing - which is where mistakes/accidents can happen.

But like I said before this is more of riding someone else bike thing. I have to give my bike a lot of throttle at 7-10rpms range to make the front wheel come up and it's 1.1L.

Unless he was overtaking in second gear or something...

[tigertim20]

But like I said before this is more of riding someone else bike thing. I have to give my bike a lot of throttle at 7-10rpms range to make the front wheel come up and it's 1.1L.

Unless he was overtaking in second gear or something...

he probably was in 2nd gear, but we are talking about an 80km zone, and a bike that will do 140km/hr in first, but thats beside the point.

the question you asked was about newer riders riding powerful bikes - it doesn't matter who the bike belongs to, what matters is whether or not the rider has enough experience, on enough different bikes, across a variety of situations to know how to ride the thing safely. Accidents happen when a dog runs out at you as you round a corner at an intersection - do you have the experience to know the difference between a gentle input, at low speed that enables you to ride it out safely, or do you give it a little too much input and end up skating along on your arse?
These situations can rely on the instinct you have learned from experience - it's not just about whether you are sensible, and make good decisions when cruising along the open road at 100km and spotting potential hazards from 100 metres away, its about whether or not you have built up enough skills to know you can rely on instinct, rather than uncontrolled reaction when something happens suddenly.

thinking ahead and being sensible will reduce the number of dangerous situations you find yourself in, experience, skill and instinct will save you from the rest.