A serious question for the more experienced riders amongst you.

**madbikeboy** · 11th February 2009, 16:16

Originally Posted by jrandom

I had a real 'waaaay hey hey!' moment on my Trek 1500 (alloy frame, Ultegra all round, rolling on Mavic Aksiums and Continental GP Attack/Forces) in the rain yesterday. Honking down a hill in Glenfield toward a sharp left-hand bend, the rear tyre flatted without me realising it (I was crankin' the MP3s at the time, Fun Lovin' Criminals for the muthafuckin win y'all). I turned into the bend and waaaaay hey hey, the back end came straight around! Just about highsided my arse into the middle of the road.

But I stayed on the gas, looked where I wanted to go and rode it out.

And I gotta say, it's all the experience I have riding 600s and other bikes of similar moderate power that enabled me to do that. Gotta build up to it, y'know? If I'd gotten straight onto the pushbike without that practice, who knows what coulda happened.

Motorcycles only do what you tell them to, and that's all there is to it.

Friends don't let friends, ride Trek.

Quit being sarcastic. Oh, right...

**sinfull** · 11th February 2009, 16:21

Originally Posted by Sky-hi

occasional trackday.

Litre bike ! But define litre ! Mines a 1050 ! Does that make it a litre bike ?
Its 20% heavier an 20% less Hp than say a CBR thou RRRRRRR (however many)
Aint super fast and i watch the thous dissapear in the distance (st8ts that is bwahahaha) but on the street it would be more n ample !

Originally Posted by jrandom

I turned into the bend and waaaaay hey hey, the back end came straight around! Just about highsided my arse into the middle of the road. Ummmm had a moment myself on thursday

But I stayed on the gas, . Ummm no
And I gotta say, it's all the experience I have riding 600s and other bikes of similar moderate power that enabled me to do that. Gotta build up to it, y'know? If I'd gotten straight onto the pushbike without that practice, who knows what coulda happened.
I blame the road tyres (not to mention the litre bike i was gonna have coming out of T1

Motorcycles only do what you tell them to, and that's all there is to it. True !! As i was kissing the gauges with legs flailing behind me, i told it to take me back to the pits ! It did !

Originally Posted by madbikeboy

Well, shit, it gets easy in that case. Go ride the RSV, that'll help you reach a decision very quickly.

RSV's are excellent fun, and very easy to ride with all that torque. And so forgiving... And cheap to service, and great to commute on.

Fun on the track !!!

**jrandom** · 11th February 2009, 16:21

Originally Posted by madbikeboy

Friends don't let friends, ride Trek.

Good thing I'm not your friend then.

**madbikeboy** · 11th February 2009, 16:25

Originally Posted by jrandom

Good thing I'm not your friend then.

Yep. Good thing.

**Gubb** · 11th February 2009, 16:26

Originally Posted by jrandom

I had a real 'waaaay hey hey!' moment on my Trek 1500...And I gotta say, it's all the experience I have riding 600s and other bikes of similar moderate power that enabled me to do that.

They sound like very underpowered 600s.

**The Stranger:Me** · 11th February 2009, 16:28

Originally Posted by cowboyz

Other thing to concider is thous are a real PITA to commute on in town.

Why's that cowboyz?
I've never had any problem commuting on a 1000.

**The Stranger:Me** · 11th February 2009, 16:30

Originally Posted by jim.cox

Yes

How do you figure that?
1000 IL4 will generally have more torque and pull across a greater range.

**Racer X** · 11th February 2009, 16:36

Not at all. If you asked the question (seriously) then you are probably fine.

Still, I would recommend a 600

**johan** · 11th February 2009, 16:38

Try a big twin, you might like it, a lot!

(the big il4 1000cc scare the shit out of me)

**Squiggles** · 11th February 2009, 16:42

Yes it can be done, its all about how you decide to ride the bike, and how quickly you learn how it handles...
Today's Gixxer thou puts out alot more power than my 97 TL ever will...

**testastretta** · 11th February 2009, 16:47

I would say you should buy some thing in the 70 - 90 hp range before stepping up to an RSV.If you want an Aprilia maybe a Shiver or Dorsoduro may be a good option especially for commuting.

**toycollector10** · 11th February 2009, 17:00

It's your decision but I agree with the posters who think that you should ease into it. There's no rush and there's a lot of enjoyment to be had out of a 250cc bike or even smaller.

I spent 3 years on a 50cc step-through then 250cc, 650cc, 750cc and now up to 900cc.

Back in the 1970's, (yes, I'm an old fart), if you rocked up to your dealer and he didn't know you he wouldn't sell you a large capacity bike. He'd advise you to start off on a BSA Bantam or something like a Honda CB200, come back for a 350cc a year later then after that period of consolidation all bets would be off.

Good luck with whatever decision you make. It was a good call to ask the question.

**ManDownUnder** · 11th February 2009, 17:04

Originally Posted by Sky-hi

DO you think a 1000cc bike is "too much" for someone as their first "big" bike (ie, first bike on a full license)

Almost certainly - yes.

Jump on a 400, take it for a squirt and see if you like it, or if it's too small/slow for some reason. Dollars to donuts you'll drop a thou within 3 months of owning it. I't a proven formula that means you'll spend more on a bike, more on insurance, be more in pain, and boost your future insurance premiums.

Try something smaller - see what works for you. It needs to be fun but in control and that balance is totally individual, but impacted by the level and nature of experience you have. Take some IL4's for a ride, and some V-Twins. See what feels good to you. Must be good - must be safe.

The other things I'd suggest are
1) Learn to brake on the bigger machine when you get it. Sounds dumb but twin disks on the front behave a lot different to other systems and grabbing a handful of brake will get painful if you're not practiced at it.

Brakes on bigger bikes are better... ready yourself for that
2) Ride for a while below... 4000rpm, then below 5000 etc. I found that learning a bike takes me about 3 months. I mean really getting my mojo back on it so I know what it's going to do. I strongly encourage you to do the same.
3) Trackdays - after doing one and 2 above. They'll take you up another couple of steps again - and are worth their weight in gold.