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Totallynoobular
| | Posted on Saturday, April 17, 2010 - 01:58 pm: | 
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You can't stop him from buying it but a 100hp superbike is about as far from a smart start as I can think of. I let an amatuer of sorts ride my last xb12 and now it's in a salvage yard and he has a cast on his arm. And he's been riding for a few years. I started on a 200 dirtbike that a ford explorer could smoke at a light and I rode it for 3 years. And I would recommend the very same for any noob. If you don't fully understand the power of something you have no business riding it. He might be careful for a few hundred miles, but sooner or later false confidence will kick in and he'll downshift into first gear at 45 mph and there will be one less xb12 in existence. |
Mbxb12scg
| | Posted on Saturday, April 17, 2010 - 07:21 pm: |
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I started with an XB12, and am still a relatively inexperienced rider. The power was intimidating at first, but after getting used to it, I like that it is there if I need to get into a jam, or just want to get out of blind spots quickly, etc.
Being out on the street in general seems to be the most dangerous part of riding, and being able to react to the unexpected. Horsepower doesn't have much to do with a cage cutting you off. I was on a Honda shadow in the safety class, and could pin the throttle on the small course and not get anywhere. I would probably be more reckless on a bike that I wasn't intimidated by than one that I was.
You can go into a corner too fast with any bike, regardless of HP, or grab a brake when you shouldn't, etc, etc. Too much HP in the middle of a corner could be a problem, but if you're already at the limit of the bike/tires that the HP gets you in trouble, you should A) not have been going that fast in the first place, or B) been experienced enough to know that was the consequence.
I would have been bored to tears with anything less after the first year, and buying, selling, buying just isn't how I want to spend my money.
If you go the way of the NRA: Bikes don't kill people, people kill people. Would we be asking the same question about a person buying a 400HP car that could get them in the same trouble? |
Pogue_mahone
| | Posted on Saturday, April 17, 2010 - 08:21 pm: |
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my 5 cents worth
no MC endorsement
no classes
never rode since late 70's early 80's dirtbikes.
i was 43 when i got my xb9s
first time rider,on first bike.
i just sold mine after 20K miles in 12 months.for money reasons, not wreck or anything.
i think just like car driving,you can have fun if you know where you can drive in a spirited manner.
i am also a cautious drive and rider.i also took advice from here,ride your ride.IE ride with in your skills and how you need to ride and learn.
and dont ride in groups....that can goad you into choices that can take your life at worst,and break your body at best.
yeah,that guy taking a MSF course great idea,and gear up from head to toe,get a will,get disability insurance and go live and feel it live and under full throttle...where ya can :P
scott |
Etennuly
| | Posted on Saturday, April 17, 2010 - 09:00 pm: |
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I say good on you for caring!
Several years back I took a concealed weapons course. Having been a hunter/varment/target shooter for many years I had nothing to prove to a bunch of folks I didn't know and would likely never see again, so I took a .22 Ruger semi auto pistol.
There were several idiots in the class of thirty or so. Never handled a weapon, had to be taught how to hold it and load/unload it by the instructor. They brought, 9mm, .357 magnums, .40 calibers, and one sixty year old guy who could hardly hold it up had a .44 snub nose revolver!
The retired officer running the deal asked me why I brought a .22 when I obviously had experience. He walked away agreeing that this was probably the most dangerous place I had ever been. Only a few of these people should have been near anything more than a .22. Perhaps they should have gone home to practice with a pellet pistol to be safe.
My point is the SS is in this scenario like a 9mm. It is not difficult to work with, not radical, not hard to control. But having a big bang and quit a bit of killing power the guy would probably be safer with a pellet pistol, then a .22(which I promote to every beginner) until he gets used to safely handling the weapon, ie; keeping the muzzle safely aimed, figuring out the safety switch, loading it, operating the trigger, aiming it, cleaning it, holstering it, and properly storing it. Sad to say, but his first mistake could be his or someone else's last.
Bikes are so similar. Let him buy it with a stern hearty recommendation that he ride a smaller, preferably a dirt bike(which I promote to every beginner) until he gets used to the clutch, shifter, brakes, throttle, handling, set up, maintenance/inspection. I recommend this because the Buell he is looking at may not be readily available to him in the coming years. |
Fltwistygirl
| | Posted on Saturday, April 17, 2010 - 09:00 pm: |
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"you're old enough to know your limitations"
Sorry, gotta rant. Unfortunately, age has nothing to do with self awareness regarding skill limitations. Some people just never get it and time and time again will bite off more than they can chew. Hopefully they don't get too hurt while figuring this out (some have the capcity to learn, some do not), and don't take anyone else out with them when they crash n burn.
It's amazing to me how clueless some people are regarding their own abilities. I had a friend who learned to ride street bikes close to the same time I did. Took the class and passed. Thought that MSF completion card elevated her to expert rider status. Followed me up to the college where we were going to set up a braking chute. Before we even made it to the college, less than a mile after leaving home, she downshifted while turning, death wobbled, then down. Good road rash, bruised and bleeding.
When asked what happened, she didn't know. Found out she downshifted while turning. Said she took her BRC at Honda, they never taught the class about when not to downshift or brake. In reality, she probably was not paying attention. She was probably too fixated on buying herself more pink studded chaps ("OOOO, I like that long fringe, the longer the better!") to be bothered with some silly techniques. Her motivation for riding (gotta look cool) is all wrong.
And no, she's never riding one of my bikes, (not enough chrome for her anyway) and no, we don't ride together anymore. In the five years she has been riding, and at almost age 40, she's never figured out that in order to be safe, you need to control the bike, not vice versa. Clueless. Rant off.
(Message edited by fltwistygirl on April 17, 2010) |
Metra6924
| | Posted on Saturday, April 17, 2010 - 10:18 pm: |
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Here's my thoughts on the subject. After lots of research I decided the Blast was the best beginner bike for me. I was 43 at the time, and finally in a financial position to consider motorcycling. And I thought I was "mature" enough to handle a motorcycle. This was in 2006. I bought riding gear, bought the bike (a Buell Blast) and enrolled in the a training program. During the class I saw one of the students lose control, wheelie, and hop the curb before going into the grass and dropping the bike. Keep in mind he was riding a Buell Blast. I learned more than I ever imagined in that class.
I traded the Blast three years later for a Uly. A year and 5000 miles later, the Uly still commands respect. There is loads of power available, enough to get me in trouble if I get careless or inattentive. A wheelie I didn't expect, the rear wheel stepping out in a turn when I applied a bit too much throttle. You get the idea. That wasn't a problem with the smaller bike.
About the same time I started, a friend (also a new rider) bought a 1200 cruiser (Yamaha I think). He took classes too, but after a few bad experiences, sold the bike and gave up riding.
I suppose I'm trying to say is that in my experience, it's better to start with a smaller bike and work your way up.
I think it's good that you're concerned about this new rider's well being. I would recommend trying to steer him toward a smaller bike for starters. |
Daschunk
| | Posted on Sunday, April 18, 2010 - 01:10 pm: |
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My MSF coach, which I ride with on a fairly regular basis, told my one thing when I was looking at bikes, " Don't get to fixed on engine size or HP. A beginner can ride anything, it's all in the wrist. 100 HP can kill you just as fast as 20 or 300."
I ended up with an STT about 5 weeks after that, 25000 miles later I am glad I didn't get a Blast or similar "beginner" bike, I would be board to tears now.
Now on the other side of this, if the guy seems like a goober don't sell it him! It's just that easy. Stress the MSF course, second best money I spent (helmet is best, gotta protect the dome!). |
Boltrider
| | Posted on Sunday, April 18, 2010 - 01:42 pm: |
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Sell it! |
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