Any motorcycle riders?

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I bet the h2 is out of my price range... but damn. Sexy!
 
I hear yamaha redesigned the r1 in 2015. If I had the $ I'd have more than 1 bike.
 
shinyedges said:
I hate to be stubborn but I have always wanted a sport bike. I am not getting any younger either. My wife would feel better (me too actually) if I wore hard shell stuff something along the lines of this maybe for warmer months:

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Along with a good helmet and pants and boots.

Maybe a good leather jacket with hard shell protection for cooler months.

I've been doing a crap load of reading over the last month or so on TC and abs, some makers have better TC than others apparently. I don't know, I wouldn't say it is a deal breaker if it doesn't have TC. But I can see the value in abs keeping the front wheel from locking up in an emergency. I am very excited, been wanting one a long time now, but I am not rushing into anything, I am still doing a bunch of research on bikes and want to make an informed purchase.

ETA: A safety course is absolutely in my near future. My good friend at work rides a honda 954? I believe it is and has been an advocate for good safety gear and the course. He hit a deer on his bike last year! That is probably my worst nightmare, I live in the country and deer/wildlife is plentiful. I looked at deer whistles but IDK most seem gimmicky.
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Armor vests are a good idea when paired up with a jacket. Abrasion protection first and then impact is the key. Going to a local dealer and building a rapport is a great thing to do. But that said if you go online Revzilla is the way to go. Even just to watch their review videos.

I''ll have to post something in W&C. I can't say if it fits you to a T but it's the traditional talk of a new rider on the street who wants to go big. You can always get a bigger bike. A mid displacement ride makes a great trade in. A bashed in litre bike that's been streetfighter'd less so.
 
Danke42 said:
Armor vests are a good idea when paired up with a jacket. Abrasion protection first and then impact is the key. Going to a local dealer and building a rapport is a great thing to do. But that said if you go online Revzilla is the way to go. Even just to watch their review videos.

I''ll have to post something in W&C. I can't say if it fits you to a T but it's the traditional talk of a new rider on the street who wants to go big. You can always get a bigger bike. A mid displacement ride makes a great trade in. A bashed in litre bike that's been streetfighter'd less so.
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I got thick skin, lay it on me. Tag me when you post it.
 
I will concur with those on the liter bikes, they can get away from you fast. I'm not one to follow this advise but the sport bikes outright suck in traffic and really aren't well suited to most road riding. This is more towards the race replica models, my biggest dislike is that many have inline 4's and those usually need to hit the RPM's harder to take off than something like a v-twin or v-4 which tend to have better take off torque. Speaking of torque, you ride torque and race HP as some of the older guys I've ridden with have mentioned.

Are you riding with someone else? If so, a sport tourer could be good but it does help justify the larger bikes because of the torque thing mentioned before.

If you can outride a 600, you're a pretty badass rider. The current 600's have a lot of power... but the 750's or bigger don't cost much more anymore either. 600's are a little easier on rear tires too... seriously. Liter bikes, in my experience, require rear tires with nearly every oil change.

For the back protector, I've been a fan of the alpinestars track vest.
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Still have this one
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Pretty sure I was playing with death on this one a few times. Track bikes do not belong on the road, especially if you're already a shitty rider. Track riding got me into cycling, similar adrenaline rush but a heck of a lot cheaper.
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Danke42 said:
No problem, it's more only W&C appropriate than a shot at you.
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The video was hilarious. I feel a little like hitler right now in that I am holding fast for the bike I want, but I completely understand where everyone is coming from.

I did after all open this conversation up with the request for any and all thoughts/suggestions/advice.

I guess, I feel a little better about a liter bike that can essentially be neutered to a 600. It is 3 bikes in one, and has the best safety technology. Of course that doesn't replace experience/awareness.
 
bikerector said:
I will concur with those on the liter bikes, they can get away from you fast. I'm not one to follow this advise but the sport bikes outright suck in traffic and really aren't well suited to most road riding. This is more towards the race replica models, my biggest dislike is that many have inline 4's and those usually need to hit the RPM's harder to take off than something like a v-twin or v-4 which tend to have better take off torque. Speaking of torque, you ride torque and race HP as some of the older guys I've ridden with have mentioned.

Are you riding with someone else? If so, a sport tourer could be good but it does help justify the larger bikes because of the torque thing mentioned before.

If you can outride a 600, you're a pretty badass rider. The current 600's have a lot of power... but the 750's or bigger don't cost much more anymore either. 600's are a little easier on rear tires too... seriously. Liter bikes, in my experience, require rear tires with nearly every oil change.

For the back protector, I've been a fan of the alpinestars track vest.
6508417_10_track-vest_web.jpg


Still have this one
40694_1554651071461_617748_n.jpg


Pretty sure I was playing with death on this one a few times. Track bikes do not belong on the road, especially if you're already a shitty rider. Track riding got me into cycling, similar adrenaline rush but a heck of a lot cheaper.
199476_1960284812051_5862674_n.jpg
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In looking at prices, the 600's are not significantly cheaper and have no ability to switch to higher power modes. The liter bikes I am looking at have the ability to limit power to 60%. From what I gather the drop in power is substantial. It would have to be if it takes 40% of the power out of the bike.
 
For comparison a 600 weighs 420 pounds roughly, the liter bike weighs 440 pounds roughly. The gap between them is closer than ever with liter bikes having the ability to cut power, as well as being smaller than they were in years past.
 
Been riding for over 20 years and I can tell you for sheer enjoyment I prefer to thrash smaller displacement bikes (SV650) than go 6-8/10's on liter bikes. It's why a 250 supermoto can pass anything on a twisty road, light and flickable beats heavy and powerful any day. My favorite bike of all time was the VFR800, then SV650, but now I ride longer distances so BMW 1200GS and 2nd Kawasaki Concours 1400.

The looks on people riding R1's, Gixxer 1K and ZX-10's when I passed them comfortably on my VFR800 at a track day was priceless. Their looks in the paddock when they found out what passed them was photo worthy indeed. With Ohlins suspension the SV650 was uncatchable in the twisties.

FWIW if you've ridden mostly dirt, I would suggest a smaller lighter version of the liter sportbikes you are looking at. There are many out there reasonably priced when a mistake won't cost you a $10K+ motorcycle or worse. Coming from dirt to an expensive top tier liter bike without a few years of riding experience is not the wisest choice and certainly not going to be the most fun. I would submit you would go faster more comfortably on a smaller bike pretty much guaranteed.
 
Well, I can't disagree. Everyone seems pretty consistent in their opinions, for good reason I am sure.
 
Ive got several bikes as well and concur with what Danke has said.

Id stay away from the Panigale - probably the last bike, Id recommend anybody in your circumstances.

Great bike though.

A note on gear; Ive used Forcefield gear for several years. For a back protector, the FF Pro Sub 4 is hard to beat. Well rated and outright comfortable.

Ive bought hard turtle back protectors in the past but Forcefield is way better IMO.

Danke42 said:
I have a few bikes. Riding gear is critical. Full face helmet, boots, gloves, jacket and pants. Leather or ballistic material and made for riding.

What other bikes have you had?

For me I feel ABS is awesome (maybe not on dirt though). Traction control not so much; its for 10/10ths track riding.



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Danke42 said:
Skip the sport bikes and get a motard. You'll wreck less stuff including yourself adapting to pavement.

Look for used, check out SuperMotoJunkie, and very seriously take a MSF course to help remap yourself for the street.

I was a self taught rider back in the 70s in the sink or swim school of learning and crashed a lot, wrecked a lot of stuff and would not recommend.
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It's interesting no one seems to notice the liter bikes can be powered down to run at 600cc. That makes the difference between a liter bike and a 600 only 20lbs... with the liter bike having more power available later down the road.

None the less, all contributers are appreciated.
 
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