Some n00b bike questions.

[SFDMALEX]

Well I know nothing about bikes so I have so very dumb questions so I have some basic knowledge.

What are top bike brands? Like what are "exotics" of the bike world.
Who makes the fastest bike currently? And by fastest I mean track bike.

What would be a good bike for a beginer like me? My experiance is very small with bikes. Rode a few adult size dirt bikes back when I was about 13, and a few sprints up and down the street and some random stuff that I dont even know the name of anymore.

[T-Bird]

well I can tell you if you are looking for exotic bikes rather than just faster then you would go for Ducati, Aprilia, and MV Agusta to name a few of the really exotic ones all from Italy BTW. I would Honestly say Honda has the nicest overall bikes though.

[5vz-fe]

Suzuki 1300R is one of the fastest, I think it was featured in Discovery Channel before, but those are heavy bikes (i.e. will not be as good on handling)

I personally love Ducati's.......a red one is to die for.
http://img344.imageshack.us/img344/3036/2005duc999r0218cf.th.jpg (http://img344.imageshack.us/my.php?image=2005duc999r0218cf.jpg)

[RC45]

Suzuki 1300R is one of the fastest, I think it was featured in Discovery Channel before, but those are heavy bikes (i.e. will not be as good on handling)

This "bad handling" big bike idea is a very relative statement.

By todays standards a current open class hyperbike lik the Busa is a "bad handler" compared to the GSXR600/750/1000 brigade.

But - compared to a 'hot 750 from the mid 1990's the modern Busa would still (in the right hands) eclipse it.

[5vz-fe]

hahaha.....damn it......I hate that "in the right hands" statement. Hard to argue on that u know!!! :twisted:

[RC45]

hahaha.....damn it......I hate that "in the right hands" statement. Hard to argue on that u know!!! :twisted:

:lol:

[mindgam3]

I'd say the fastest common road bike that you could take on track would be the GSXR1000. Closely followed by the Honda CBR. Exotics aren't as quick as the japs on the road but generally have sumblime handling, the modern ones anyway. For me, the duke Vtwins sound so much better than the japs.

In superbike racing, the ducatis and hondas usually take up the top places but the Suzukis are the weapon of choice in most sunday cups or lower leagues.

Most people who track their bikes use 600's though as they're much more nimbler than the litre bikes.

All IMHO of course ;)

[Minacious]

What would be a good bike for a beginer like me?

I don't care what anyone says, the best beginner bikes are 250cc bikes. The most important thing about riding a bike is learning to ride the bike. Sounds crazy but I am very serious. I have met so many people who claim to be good riders but can barely control the bike properly. Sure they can twist the throttle and turn the bars, but past that...nothing. The reason I say 250cc is because they are far more forgiving when trying to learn the dynamics of bike riding. Body position, smooth throttle and brake control, proper shifting, where to look, all very important to riding and quite a bit to all take in when first learning. Sure, you can get hurt on a 250cc just the same as any other bike, but snap the throttle on a 250 and then on a 1000 and there will be a huge difference.


Who makes the fastest bike currently? And by fastest I mean track bike.


When you say track do you mean drag strip (quarter mile times) or race track (fastest lap times)?

In real world conditions any of the modern day Liter (1000cc) bikes will be neck and neck with the defining factor being the rider. Many think the Hayabusa is the fastest and it is according to the record books, but as far as getting to a set speed of say 180mph, the current GSXR1000, R1, CBR1000 and ZX10 will be right there with it.

[Shameless Plug]
My R1 will kill a Hayabusa, but then my bike isn't stock either. :D :D
[/Shameless Plug]

[TransAm]

Any pics of your R1, Min?

As for Alex's original question, I cannot add much to what Min has already said. In countries with tiered licencing you are forced to start out on a small cc / low hp bike, and work your way upwards.

Occasionally, an older 'new rider' can get away with jumping straight onto a larger bike, especially if they have a bit of dirtbike experience. Riding on dirt is vastly different to road riding however.

Alas, the way the licencing is structured here, most seem to think a 600cc is a suitable size for a 'starter' bike :shock:

I am not dissing corpse grinder (or anyone else that jumped straight onto a 600) here BTW, given the chance at 17 in the UK I wouldn't have been riding a 125cc :mrgreen: but with hindsight I am glad I was restricted to that size while I learnt to ride.

On the sport rider forums, a guy has in the last day or two posted: I just got a CBR900RR as my first bike and have just passed the training course.

Everyone is saying, "WTF? :roll: :shock: :lol: " as their initial reaction! This guy is 29 BTW.

[Minacious]

Any pics of your R1, Min?


Right here. (http://www.motorworld.net/forum/showthread.php?p=497423#497423)

[corpse_grinder0]

wow thats one of the cleanest bikes ive ever seen. Reminds me of Ilogiteks bike from SCS, well until we went riding, and he totalled it of course.

[TransAm]

On the topic of noob bike questions please note we now have a 'useful links' thread:

http://www.motorworld.net/forum/showthread.php?t=28798

:)

[gtx28]

I know you have the links and all but i wanted to ask some more experienced riders before i make a purchase. I was considering an early to late 90's Honda CBR 600rr. Originally i wanted either a Yamaha r6, r1 or a Honda CBR900rr or CBR954rr. Then I got a some input about novice riders picking up an r1 for the first bike and then taking a helicopter ride to the hospital. A close friend has an older honda 1000 early 90s i think, not sure on the year. Anyhow he says he cant even keep up with the modern 600s. So after looking about i was thinking of getting an older Honda CBR600RR its a bit older and sluggish by compairison but i could grow with the bike and there are alot of aftermarket mods for it when my skill grows. Ive ridden street bikes but like i said i learned on a dirtbike. If I make this purchase this will be my first sport bike. My goal with the bike is to learn and grow in skill, till eventually i can put my knee down then think about a more powerfull toy. Comments ideas??? Cautions??????

[TransAm]

I think they have only been making the CBR600RR since 02 or 03.

The 'other' CBR is the CBR600F, which they have been producing since the early 90s.

Anything with plastic fairings costs a lot to insure, so you might want to consider a Suzuki SV650/Bandit 600 or Honda 599 instead of the CBR. These are all cheaper to buy and insure than the faired models.

If it was me, I'd be looking to buy a 4 or 5 year old (or older) bike and insure it liability only. I think you'll find insurance costs to be quite shocking for full coverage.

You learn more and gain more skills by learning on small bikes than jumping straight onto a big one for sure.

[gtx28]

Wasnt the f4i a CBR600rr? im gonna go look

EDIT:NM i was thinking of the mid 90s CBR600 F3 you were right, anyhow im 6' tall and 220lbs so isnt my size somewhat of a factor in a bike this small. A friend of mine aj rides an 05 r6 and hes only 130lbs soaking wet. Surely your size has something to do with the controlability of the bike.

[TransAm]

An F4i is just that, a CBR600F(4I), the RR is the sportier model of what was once a sportsbike in it's day (and the original 600F was more than the limits I'd ever reach riding in terms of its ability). This goes for most of todays bikes. You'll get your knee down on my DR650 with the right rider and tires on it...

I remember the ZZR600, or what we here stateside know as the ZX-6E, being the best 600 SPORTbike! This was in 1990 of course. I'm thinking of changing to a sportbike myself and am considering one of these just on pure cost :wink: Ok I'd love an 05 636 or an earlier R1.

As for your size, sure it has a little to do with things but it's more about technique -especially throttle control.

To some extent, a 600 is a 600 - it'll be a quick bike whatever you pick (assuming 4 cylinders now) If you are going to ask will you be safe on an F4 but not on an RR, I think you can pretty much guess that the extra 15 or so HP of the RR won't get you into any more trouble than the 100 or so of the F4 will in the first place!

People have started out on R1's and survived, but it doesn't mean its a good idea :wink:

[corpse_grinder0]

does size matter? it all depends on what you plan on doing with your sportbike. If you want to go race down the freeway and see who can go 100+ mph in a straight line the longest and fastest, than by all means you will want a literbike. If you want to dragrace, youll want something bigger than a liter bike... if you want to be able to turn and go fast, then you will want something smaller than a liter bike. As for body size... I am 6' 240lbs, and you can see how I can handle my CBR 600 F1! ...yes thats an F1... as in 80s... and yes I can destroy alot of ppl on their brand new 05 600rr... even when they weigh 130wet... its all technique.. and who has the bigger balls.

[RC45]

its all technique.. and who has the bigger balls.

Just remember, there are old pilots, and bold pilots - but there are no old bold pilots :)

Unless you count the ones that retired as farmers.. after they bought the farm - that is :P

[TransAm]

I bet your dad taught you that expression about the pilots!

It is very true though.

[RC45]

I bet your dad taught you that expression about the pilots!

It is very true though.

Yessiree - that's correct. You don't rack up 10,000 and who knows how many hours in a variety of airframes, be check ride certified on just about anything that doesn't carry bombs or guns and consult on many things aviation related without having proven to be a safe and reliable aviator :P

My old man has been known to leave startled passangers on the side of an airstrip in Armpit Africa because they wouldn't comply with take off weight requirements :)

You be surprised how quick people ditch the extra crap when they are faced with the prospect of being house guests to the Hutus or Tootsies if they get left behind :P

[Banchi105]

I'm kind of in the same position as the starter of this thread.

I have absolutely no bike experience at all. However, I have recently become infatuated with the hayabusa. I've been hunting people down that own them and reading all about it. Everything about this bike makes me want it. I really don't want any other bike.

But I know I am going to need several years of riding under my belt before I can make the leap to my dream bike.

So I need to find a good bike to learn on right now. I've been looking at some GSXR's I think they are 600cc. I know that still sounds like alot, but would it be managable for a beginning rider?

Either way give me some good options to look into.
Thanks

[gobs3z]

1st - go to rider school
2nd - check on insurance for 600's, it doesn't matter what brand or type of bike.
3rd - get a bike that you don't mind dropping, so nothing to fancy.
4th - my list of starter bikes, SV650, Katana 600 (can handle any drop, i know!!), 99 GSXR-600, Honda 600 Camel Edition(great bike but not too expensive).
5th - Busa is boring next to the liter bikes that can go just as pointlessly fast but actually turn and the Busa is for riders that want the women and never break 60mph.
6th - A 600 can keep up with a Busa up to about 120-130, so who really needs it?

[exhausted mules]

i scare myself on my mountain bike riding on the road.

[TransAm]

im not a bike expert by any means. but im pretty sure that a gixxer is not the best starter bike. maybe a little too much power. i could be wrong tho.

Believe me, you're not wrong!


6th - A 600 can keep up with a Busa up to about 120-130, so who really needs it?

Which 600 is this and where can you buy one? :lol:

[TransAm]

I'm kind of in the same position as the starter of this thread.

I have absolutely no bike experience at all. However, I have recently become infatuated with the hayabusa. I've been hunting people down that own them and reading all about it. Everything about this bike makes me want it. I really don't want any other bike.

But I know I am going to need several years of riding under my belt before I can make the leap to my dream bike.

So I need to find a good bike to learn on right now. I've been looking at some GSXR's I think they are 600cc. I know that still sounds like alot, but would it be managable for a beginning rider?

Either way give me some good options to look into.
Thanks

Yes, it is a lot for a first time rider.

Ninja 500 (GPZ500S in Europe) is going to be more than fast enough for you.

Other options - Suzuki GS500, or any older 600 (1995 or older, the new ones are too skittish for a newb IMHO, and certainly too fast)

[gobs3z]

Well i'll put it this way. I rode an 04 GSXR-600 (sadly not mine ofcourse) with some other people and two of them had busa's and at 2 am ride some people like to speed. I was able to keep up with the liter bikes and busa's up to about 130mph but after that the power difference really shows. I've talked to Busa riders that would tell me that with an all out straight line race it was like they would slowly pick off all the bikes. First you'de see the the 600's start to fall back at about 120-30 and then the 750's at about 150 and the liter bikes at about 165-70. I also realize that the rider is a huge variable but if you look at 1/4 mile times i usually see the 750's ahead of the liter bikes, and i assume that has to do with wheelie issues :) .