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Tbs_stunta
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 01, 2004 - 09:22 am: | 
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Thepup, are you into this for the joy of riding or are you just into posing? You will become a better rider faster if you start on a small less intimidating bike, Fact. Justify it all you want but a bike with a steep rake, short wheelbase, ferocious brakes, and stomping torque is not, and I repeat NOT, a good first bike. Can you start on an XB and be fine, yes, but you are far more likely to wrap yourself around a tree.
If you want an XB you do not have to get a Blast as your first bike. Get a used GS500 or Ninja 500 for around two grand and spend a year on it. They will have more than enough power for any situation you can think of as a new rider; both will out-pull any car under 50 grand. We have a GS500 in our garage and I still really enjoy riding it.
No one on this group is going to disown you if you don't buy a Buell for your first bike, its just not that kind of group. Work up to it, this is your first bike not your last. |
Firebolt020283
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 01, 2004 - 10:30 am: |
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"No one on this group is going to disown you if you don't buy a Buell for your first bike"
yea we still have dyna on here and he dont ride buells no more. (i dont have my buell nomore eather though that will change when i get back from iraq) |
Xb9er
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 01, 2004 - 11:43 am: |
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This argument can go in circles forever unless you specify parameters. From what has been posted so far, it seems we are all assuming the lowest common denominator of a 16 year old punk squid wannabe who will go wfo out of the dealer parking lot straight into a brick wall across the street.
What about an average rider in the 18-36 age range, interested in sportbikes who has researched different bikes, has friends with bikes, has sat on lots of bikes, maybe ridden pillion, has passed the MSF course, then maybe test ridden some bikes?
First bike or last bike, it still holds true that "It's the Rider Not the Bike"
A more interesting topic to discuss is - Does the MSF class truly prepare a rider for riding any of the best selling street bikes available today?
Mike. |
Light_keeper
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 01, 2004 - 01:44 pm: |
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All I can add is that in 2003 I bought the Blast as my first in many years off. (First time around could not understand why alcohol and bike did not mix but that was thirty years ago.)I would like something bigger but current finances (Last kid in College) prevent that at this time.
last spring I demoed the XB's and love them. I am very glad to have started where I did. First year stock. This year exaust, carb work ergonomics etc. If I can figure uot the how I will get something bigger next year with no regrets at all at having started where I did. The only one who has poked fun and that is good natured fun is a friend with a Goldwing. The sport bike people wave the Harley people wave. People are interested in asking questions. I have no problems keeping up in a group at reasonable speeds. I took the advanced rider course this year. Great idea, given by riders for riders. Ego wise it will be easyer to start smaller and if you find that you can move up rapidly great. If you start big and it is to much then what? Will the bike sit idle like some I know of because the rider is reluctant to go a step down and is intimidated by the bike they got?
Sandy |
Thepup
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 01, 2004 - 06:17 pm: |
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TBS I have a XB9S with 20000 miles in 14 months,I don't think I'm posing,I bet I have more mileage on my XB than most other ppl on here with an XB.My argument was,not everyone needs to start on a small bike. |
Thepup
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 01, 2004 - 06:30 pm: |
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I don't believe I ever said anything bad
about hot rodding his bike,I was just making a point.I guess you see what you want in a post. |
Ezblast
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 01, 2004 - 06:42 pm: |
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LOL - the reason I hot rodded the bikes are the same reasons I used to hot rod VW bugs - because its fun, different, and people don't expect it - what better reason is there - its the Amurican way!
GT - JBOTDS! EZ |
Thepup
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 01, 2004 - 06:45 pm: |
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Let me repeat,"nothing wrong with hot rodding your bike." |
Glitch
| | Posted on Thursday, December 02, 2004 - 10:00 am: |
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Sorry there Pup.
If your Blast is so great,why are you working so hard to change it and make it faster.
I just read it like it was a kind of a put down.
Glad we're all on the same page now.
We're all Motorcyclists, Buellers, and enjoy The Ride, that's all that matters.
20,000 in 14 months, sounds like you ride as much as I do. Just another few miles and I hit 30,000 in just over 18 months. |
Volkswagenfreaky
| | Posted on Thursday, December 02, 2004 - 10:37 am: |
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20,000 in 14 months, sounds like you ride as much as I do. Just another few miles and I hit 30,000 in just over 18 months.
Boy you guys must buy new tires every month. |
Glitch
| | Posted on Thursday, December 02, 2004 - 11:25 am: |
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So far, 1 set of OEM Dunlops, 2 sets of Dunlop 208s, 3 sets of Maxxis Super Maxx, 3 sets of Metzler M1s, the next set will be the Diablos. |
Thepup
| | Posted on Thursday, December 02, 2004 - 03:28 pm: |
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no offense taken Glitch,I am on my 3rd rear and 2nd front.I am now using the Conti Road Attacks,I have 9500 miles on them,I figure I have about 2 to 3 thousand left on the back.I have had no problems out of them,if you do a lot of commuting,you may want to check into them. |
Thepup
| | Posted on Thursday, December 02, 2004 - 03:34 pm: |
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I may have come off wrong,but I am a realist when it comes to things.I call it like it is,ppl think I was putting down Buell,I love my Buell,I don't necessarily like the way dealers treat us,i think there should be certain parts dealers should stock,and i think Buell/H-D should reprimand dealers who do not meet certain minimum standards when it comes to Buells.I don't believe many dealers would drop H-D for it. |
Thepup
| | Posted on Thursday, December 02, 2004 - 03:43 pm: |
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One other thing,I think the Blast is a wonderful beginners bike,my point is there is a lot of things that goes into that.there are ppl who don't have a problem controlling a bigger,more powerful machine.Take a 5'2",110# women,put her on an XB as her first bike,not a good idea.Now take a man 6'0" 200#,pretty athletic,active guy,put him on an XB,probably will never have a problem.Now on the other hand,I know several guys,I wouldn't recommend them drive a 50CC scooter.Just the Point I was making before I was called a Poser and a Johnny come lately that doesn't know anything about Buells |
Toadboy
| | Posted on Thursday, December 02, 2004 - 08:21 pm: |
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I think I might chime in with my first (significant) post here. I'm actually the 30'ish year old man 6 foot (close, 5'11" 200# athletic active guy (played college & semi-pro soccer, college basketball, several centuries and competitive rides on a bicycle, won one or two 5K races, and still do all that active stuff), so I fit the profile of what most would think as the ideal non-squid to start on an XB. I must admit that starting on a Blast is all about the education of motorcycling. I'm learning what it means to be a rider, and I'd recommend a mildly powered bike like the Blast as a first bike. It's so much easier to learn about things like ergonomics, signal controls, using mirrors, etc., on a bike that's not eager to pull your arms off. Yeah, one of these days I'll get an XB (probably an S2 first!), but I see this as a lifetime of riding, and I advocate enjoying the entire journey. |
Trenchtractor
| | Posted on Friday, December 03, 2004 - 02:36 am: |
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How about this for something a LOT different to the usual...
Buy yourself a 400cc dirtbike, get a set of 17" wheels laced up and go supermotarding...
I started on a 250 GPX (dunno if you guys got these in the USA), I've had a MC21 NSR250, R6, and some dirt bikes before I decided to have a shot at the SM (not S&M).
Seriously, I got to put all my road and dirt knowledge to use on one bike, it was awesome fun, and because the nature of an SM is low down grunt, you can have all your fun at road legal speeds...
This is my last bike before the XB12...
I bought this as a KTM200EXC for $3,000AUD. I bought the wheels and put a pipe on it, dressed it up with some plastic... It's only 200 but I used to make a few people on much 'better' race rep stle machines look very silly...
Seriously, what good is an $18,000AUD bike when a $6,000AUD (including all the trick parts) chook chaser is quicker in the twisty stuff... After all, that's where all the fun is at.
This is the sort of thing you can practice your stoppies, mono's, cornering and passing on while feeling safe in the knowledge that dirt bikes cost heaps less to repair when you stuff it up... They weigh around 110kg and are torque orientated, so they aren't intimidating. Play with gearing, mess about with ergo's (and ego's!!).
I know 200 isn't going to be the penile extension the XB9 (or any other big bike) is, but you'll really learn to ride on one...
Every ride I had on this thing the grins were huge... Remember I used to have an R6... I will swear on (insert dead Relo here)'s grave that I had way more fun on the 200 than the R6, it was a third the cost and was a real individual machine. |
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