Why own a bike far beyond your abilities?

[FzerozeroT]

Yeh,that's the other major issue,the small (sub 500)bikes are generally physically smaller....

with the exception of suzuki's 'new' GSX250, that thing is HUUUUGE. i suppose they've got to use all those leftover GSXR750 fairings from the 80's somewhere

[What?]

... I own my 400 for exactly the reason of wanting to master it! And to be perfectly honest i know ive got a good 5 years at least ahead of me on it! Ive test ridden 600's/ an older gsxr750, the old gs1000 and other numerous things... and have to say that they are all fun but man my 400 is just as much if not more!

Anyone doubting the abilities of a 400, go for a ride with Digsaw...

[Mooch]

Why own a bike far beyond your abilities?

Coss people got sick of me drooling over their nice bikes.

[NordieBoy]

I could be blowing smoke but it seems to me that our NZ scratching roads actually seem to suit smaller more nimble bikes rather than out and out horsepower

Sounds like you need to have a go on a motard mate

[Kwaka-Kid]

whos digsaw?

[Bob]

Is my SV "a bike beyond my abilities"? I don't know - but I don't use its full potential (or close to it) much of the time (got 'chicken strips' in place, but then I work hard on my positioning etc, so I don't need to get it really leaned over that much).

But back to the question - I reckon if your bike can do more than you, then in that hopefully ever so rare occasion when you're asked to push yourself harder than ever before, the bike will be able to cope with the demands suddenly thrown at it. If your bike is pushed to its limits and then you need a little more... it isn't going to be there to use!

But that is just my thoughts... of course, it'd be interesting to see what Rossi thinks on this point!

[Joni]

Was talking to a friend of mine yesterday - he lives in the states - he was saying that you would battle to find a bike smaller than a 500 in the US.

Now I am thinking whaaaatttt??
You want to learn to ride, so you buy a lets say an R6 - looking for trouble I think!!!!

[wkid_one]

Meh - when I bought the VTR it was WELL beyond my abilities (and I mean well) - yet it gave me heaps of room to improve.

I believe you buy a bike beyond your abilities for one reason: I would rather be riding a bike at 60% of its capabilities, the riding one at 110% of its capabilities - why, it is safer. Having a bike beyond your skills provides a safety buffer as the bike can more than handle how you ride.

Everyone assumes because the latest bikes have 150+ that they are dangerous - which is crap - the RIDER is dangerous, not the bike (unless it is a piece of engineering crap with defects).

My argument is more like - why would you bother buying a modern thou (eg: 180hp R1) for the road? You are never going to use the bikes potential on NZ roads? Why spend $24k on a bike, where say a $16500 CBR600RR will more than perform on NZ roads?

This is a more valid question in my mind

[Joni]

"My argument is more like - why would you bother buying a modern thou (eg: 180hp R1) for the road? You are never going to use the bikes potential on NZ roads? Why spend $24k on a bike, where say a $16500 CBR600RR will more than perform on NZ roads?"

I agree with that as well!!

[DEATH_INC.]

I don't.I used every bit of power the ZX12 had on the road,never found it excessive.Only the handling let it down,which the new thou's have sorted.

[Two Smoker]

I don't.I used every bit of power the ZX12 had on the road,never found it excessive.Only the handling let it down,which the new thou's have sorted.

This coming from a guy that owns a bike with over 200+hp LOL......

But yeah FzerozeroT, i know what you mean, for one thing it jumps around alot mid corner (especially on jennian ) and the pegs are a problem on my bike too..... where did you get your rearsets from??? But i agree to a certain point about having a bike where you are using it at 60% of its capabilities and on the freak situations have plenty of reserve to get out of trouble, where on the RG where im pushing it past its limits, im screwed.....

[Big Dog]

My argument is more like - why would you bother buying a modern thou (eg: 180hp R1) for the road? You are never going to use the bikes potential on NZ roads? Why spend $24k on a bike, where say a $16500 CBR600RR will more than perform on NZ roads?

This is a more valid question in my mind

Why buy A 32" plasma when a 32"crt will do the same job?
Same question. Same answer. Because you want to and you can.

Do I want a ZX10? Hell Yeah!
Can I afford one? (No, but thats not the point)
If I could would I shell out or save the money and get a 636? Hell Yeah!

Would I be any faster on the thou on nz roads? NO!
Would I be any faster on the track? Dunno, I don't race.
Would there be any benifit other than bragging rights? Yes because:
* It is actually possible for me to get on without putting my head over the tripple clamp.
* I would be less exhasted by a long w/e ride ergo be able to ride for longer.
* The ratio of my mass to the thous mass is actually less than 1:1 when in full gear. (meaning braking is less hairy)

But ultimately someone elses old signature line best describes what I would get out of it (sorry don't remember author): "You can't reason a man out of what he wasn't reasoned into in the first place"

Vehicle purchase is 75% an emotional decision. Don't beleive me, ask your self two questions,
1) have I ever gone out to look for a car / bike and come home with something else?
2) Have I ever bought a new vehicle without actually going out looking for one?

I have on both counts.
People are constantly asking themselves how they would feel about their car. Smart manufacturers play on this, eg a TLR feels fast stationary, harleys market a lifestyle not a machine etc.

The other 25% are your deal breakers.
Can I get on / in it?
Can I get insurance for it for less than the purchase price per annum?
Can it tow the horse float?
Is it a really wrong color? (I'm in no hurry to get that ZX10 in hot pink, in fact my available funds for such a purchase would be about half!)
Will the wife leave me for this? (could be an incentive or disincentive)
Will I pick up more / better chicks?
Will other bikers laugh at me. (if you have to ask the answer is yes!)

[Big Dog]

But i agree to a certain point about having a bike where you are using it at 60% of its capabilities and on the freak situations have plenty of reserve to get out of trouble, where on the RG where im pushing it past its limits, im screwed.....

Ditto, I kinda like the feeling when your tipped in so far the blobs get shorter, but hate when this is the only way to get around a corner.

[Kwaka-Kid]

two smoker - thought could be improved with suspension, what prolly also happening is that ur suspension is so soft (street litle 150) that with the force around abend it bottoms out - my vfr's old soft setup was a classic example, and i bet the 150 is worse, putting you so much closer to the ground etc that the pegs scrape way to easy. I also suggest maknig rearset plates, go get a bit of 10mm thick alloy plate and cut out a shape, relocate the current rearsets 1inch up and 1inch back.
whats wrong with dragging pegs anyway? they have little kicker mechanisms in them and everything, they are yet another RP for how far over you go, a changing RP at that as they get ground more and more! hehe./

[Big Dog]

whats wrong with dragging pegs anyway? they have little kicker mechanisms in them and everything, they are yet another RP for how far over you go, a changing RP at that as they get ground more and more! hehe./

Cos that's the guide for when if it has to get any tighter your F&*%ed