Wahoo - first bike a 1200??!!!

[lewis_walker]

Does everyone think I'm barking mad? - I've bought a nice shiny new Bandit 1200 for my first bike. And I do mean first - I did Direct Access course last week and have my test on Friday. Before that I had never ridden..

I was looking at something sensible but then I discovered the ludicrously low price of brand new suzukis. Then I found a dealer with a 1200 that someone ordered and then cancelled. So there it was, 0 miles on the clock and only 4500 quid.

How could I resist its shiny chrome and big muscley engine??..

Bit scared now..

[merv]

They only go as fast as you want them to. While you are getting used to it just go easy on the throttle and you'll be fine.

[Storm]

Ride within your limits and you will be fine. Well scored on the bike

[FROSTY:Me]

Does everyone think I'm barking mad? - I've bought a nice shiny new Bandit 1200 for my first bike. And I do mean first - I did Direct Access course last week and have my test on Friday. Before that I had never ridden..

I was looking at something sensible but then I discovered the ludicrously low price of brand new suzukis. Then I found a dealer with a 1200 that someone ordered and then cancelled. So there it was, 0 miles on the clock and only 4500 quid.

How could I resist its shiny chrome and big muscley engine??..

Bit scared now..

Please dear god let this be another piss take thread.
If its not --dude be bloody careful.
Any monkey can ride a big grunty bike in a straight line. -Its all the other stuff ya need to know when ya aint riding in a straight line that scares me.

[Ghost Lemur]

Congrats on the baby. You sound reasonably level headed, and a health helping of fear is good to keep you within your limits.

Remember it'll only go as fast as you make it.

Hope you have very good gear too.

Be sensible, be safe, have fun.

[カワサキキド]

Is the SR125 the wifes?

[lewis_walker]

Is the SR125 the wifes?

The bit I didn't say is that my wife and I did the direct access course together, and whilst at the end of it I ended up failing due to not cancelling a left-hand indicator on the approach to a roundabout - she passed!

So she's justifiably smug and in fact the 125 is what I'm riding to get a little more practice before my next test on Friday!! My wife wants a Kwacka VN800 custom. Very sexy. I quite fancy tootling around on it myself.

In the UK if you pass on a 125 then you are restricted to 33bhp for two years (I don't know if it is the same in NZ). I took, and will be re-taking, the test on a Kawasaki ER5, so when (if??) I pass, I get an unlimited license.

[bear]

Good luck, that thing will go like a mad thing if you make it, or if it takes control.

[Sniper]

Can I have it if you dont make it? Ride safe buddy.

[Sparky Bills]

Congrats on the buy.
You best have Good Gear! Theres nothing worse than a newbee buying a big bike and binning it at high speed without gear!
Enjoy the feel of riding life dude!
Just ride smooth and ALWAYS look out for EVERYTHING!

[MOTOXXX]

perhaps the sales person should have sold you a burial plot and a head stone when he sold u a 1200 for a first bike.

has he no soul?

[rodgerd]

Does everyone think I'm barking mad?

No. Just bloody stupid. I know people with years of experience on sports bikes who reckon the big Bandit can be a bit of a handful.

Why ask? Are you expecting a bunch of people to pat you on the arse for being a moron?

[Motoracer]

Does everyone think I'm barking mad? - I've bought a nice shiny new Bandit 1200 for my first bike. And I do mean first - I did Direct Access course last week and have my test on Friday. Before that I had never ridden..

I was looking at something sensible but then I discovered the ludicrously low price of brand new suzukis. Then I found a dealer with a 1200 that someone ordered and then cancelled. So there it was, 0 miles on the clock and only 4500 quid.

How could I resist its shiny chrome and big muscley engine??..

Bit scared now..

I just want to ask you one thing. Other than the cheap price tag. What made you buy the big bandit? Just because it's big and powerful? With cars you can get away with it but when you are entering the world of motorbikes, you are playing a dangerous game. I don't mean to ruin your fun and joy of owning your first bike (not to mention a brand spanking new one!) but I just hope you will take care. It is possible to avoid any misshaps and still have a good learning time on the 1200 but it all depends on how mature you are in the head and how lucky you are as well. When you start out new, you'll be experementing with a lot of things. Sometimes you get it right and sometimes you won't. Bigger/powerful bikes can be very unforgiving when you do get it wrong though.

With anything, it is wise to take it 1 step at a time. You don't start on a short board when surfing, as you'll end up on your face every time without being able to stand on it. You build your skills on the big malibu to begin with and then eventually go where you want to go from there.

Do take care and all the best.

Congrats on the new bike BTW.

[gman]

maybe thats why so many people refer to bikers as "temporary citizens" ?????
take it easy thats alot of bike to come to grips with.

[lewis_walker]

Well - thanks everyone for the responses. A varied bag. On the whole I'm choosing to look at it as positive. To answer some specific issues - I have been driving for 15 years, am well into my years and have a wife and two kids. I see the way some kids ride on their sporty little 600's and it makes my blood run cold in my veins when I see how the potent adrenaline / testosterone (no offence, ladies) mix makes them risk obliteration with such apparent glee.

Sounds cheesy, but I love my family too much to be an irresponsible pillock. Some (most?) riders see big bikes as a sort of progression / earn your stripes thing. I might have it wrong, but isn't this because they think you've got to grab a hand-full of throttle at every opportunity, and so need to out-grow your current power-level before getting a bigger bike with more horses?

I learnt on a 53bhp bike, and I discovered that despite the fears of some of my younger and more enthusiastic 125-cc rider colleagues, it was easy to ride smoothly and safely. It amounted to not winding the throttle back as far as it would go. I found the power was easy to feed in gently with a bit of clutch and back brake, and that it only went as fast as you made it. It seemed this was a revelation to some sportsbike riders I know!!

So - I honestly did want people's opinions, as I'm not so arrogant as to think I know it all.

I shall get on the bandit when (if!) I pass, and I'll let you know.


Thanks everyone!!
Lewis.