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Sprintst
| | Posted on Monday, March 21, 2011 - 08:55 am: | 
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Batteries today are more fragile than ever. As they pack more power into small and lighter packages, they become more fragile.
This isn't me saying it, I work with some battery experts and it's reality today, even in things like a C size flashlight cell.
I lost several batteries, my ATV, DR650 and Sprint all had batteries get toasted from a relatively short period of non-use.
I put everything that isn't driven daily on a tender now, just a lot cheaper. |
Rogue_biker
| | Posted on Monday, March 21, 2011 - 11:21 am: |
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Sprint, I'm not arguing battery life at all. What I'm saying is a vehicle should be able to sit unused for at least a month without the need for a battery tender. Of course all that is different if the vehicle sits outside in freezing cold but few of us would probably let that happen to our bikes.
So I guess I should say, an 1125R should be able to sit for at least a couple of months in a heated garage (no less than 45 degrees each night) and be able to start up easily.
However, yes I agree with you. If it's going to sit for more than a month, a battery tender is a good investment. |
Geforce
| | Posted on Monday, March 21, 2011 - 11:41 am: |
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My advice... buy the bike you want to ride. There is great wisdom coming from those here that say start with something smaller and for some people they need that limit to begin with. Do a self assessment, find out if you will HONESTLY behave on the machine and be disciplined enough take the required MSF courses (Army), wear proper PPE, and learn how to ride. Associating with responsible riders and riding with them and learning from them is also a big PLUS.
There is no snake oil to being a new rider on a powerful motorcycle. A 250cc Ninja can kill you just as quickly as a 1300cc rocket can, the primary difference is how much forgiveness a lesser cc engine will generally give a newer rider for mistakes.
I think the 1125 is a good platform to learn on if you are serious about riding it and plan on attending a few trackdays. Get some good gear and wear it, spend some time watching those gruesome videos on YouTube if you need a reality check.
Be safe over there, I @#$%!&* hate that place. |
Dktechguy112
| | Posted on Monday, March 21, 2011 - 11:03 pm: |
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In some cases a small bike can be a dissadvantage, my brother got really used to riding a ktm 690 smc (supermoto). He took it up to palomar mtn, and commuted on it for a while. he got used to working the throttle on it. When he got on the buell, he took it up palomar and wrecked it because he entered a corner to fast, he was used to the throttle pull of the smaller enigne ktm, and used that on the buell, the buell went alot faster and caused him to wreck. (he was ok and I fixed the bike up (new frame, engine, and many other parts))
I personally started with dirt bikes, then went to a sportster before the 1125. I still don't push the 1125 to its limits. If you are careful, and can have self control, you can make it work on an 1125. I wouldn't want to get used to a bike just to switch to a better bike once i got used to it. That being said, all it take is an extra inch or two pull on the throttle of the buell to get you into deep s$!t.
(Message edited by dktechguy112 on March 21, 2011) |
Stevek1125r
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 22, 2011 - 08:13 am: |
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AHhh Afghanistan, my 3rd home way from home desitination.....I really don't miss that place... though my currently location in Iraq, pretty much sucks the same...
UH60's ... I was a mechanic for 58's, 47's, 64's when i was active duty. did some work on 60's also, now i'm on UH-1's.....
As for the 1125 and first time riders... I resemble that remark..... First big bike and it is a 1125R... I have had no issues knocking down 7500 miles in about 7 months of riding.... (thank god for Vegas weather). Biggest difference between you and me.... Age. I know for a fact that if i had bought a bike like the 1125 10 years earlier... i would not be here today...
Ultimately, its your decision and your life....remember you control the speed, don't let others or your ego dictate the speed for you.
Thanks for serving.
One recommendation, look into the 160th. Great organization, spent 7 of my 9 years with them..... Greatest place in the military...IMO |
Rogue_biker
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 22, 2011 - 11:23 am: |
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Is that the 160th SOAR? |
Stevek1125r
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 22, 2011 - 07:20 pm: |
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IF you have to ask...................  |
Rogue_biker
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 22, 2011 - 11:38 pm: |
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Haha. Got it. |
Father_of_an_era
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 23, 2011 - 12:07 am: |
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A big bike take a big attention span. If you don't have that, then I would not recommend a bike like the R/CR. That being said, the R is the easiest bike I have ever ridden and something tells me that if you can handle yourself (like other have already stated) then (IMO) you should be fine with a large displacement bike. Just take it easy, you don't want to injure your self or worse when you finally get to come home. Thank you for all that you do and have done. You and those like you are truly appreciated by those of us without the balls to do what you do! |
Gsxrguy
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 23, 2011 - 09:14 am: |
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160th? |
Rogue_biker
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 23, 2011 - 11:22 am: |
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The 1125 is a fast bike no matter how you cut it. A 600 is a fast bike for any beginner. An SV650 is a fast bike too. But when you're young, feel invincible, and have some riding experience, and most importantly a good head on your shoulders that know when to say when, you should be able to handle it. It will take a long while but a beginner can handle it. Still, it's akin to handing the "keys" of an F-16 to someone with 100 hours of flight training in a Cessna 172. Sure they can fly it and land it with enough practice. But throw in a heavy workload like twisty roads, freeway traffic, intersections, and they may run into problems.
The 160th is an Army regiment. Hint: they were in Black Hawk Down (for real and the actual movie). |
Tpoppa
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 23, 2011 - 11:37 am: |
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I've had 20+ streetbikes and have been riding for almost 20 years. Most have been sporty or sportbikes. Even still, my first few rides on the 1125, the motor felt...well a bit intimidating. For comparison, you can go almost as fast on an CBR600 but you need to wind up the revs to get to the power, below 8k the motor is quite docile. The 1125 on the other hand is not docile anywhere. It pulls hard everywhere. You have to respect the motor or it can bite you.
Personally, I wound never put a beginner anywhere near an 1125. |
Thefleshrocket
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 23, 2011 - 11:41 am: |
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The 1125 isn't a very beginner-friendly bike. The power and torque of a liter-class twin notwithstanding, it takes good throttle and brake control to ride the bike smoothly and safely.
But I understand what you're saying about buying now while your wife and your budget are willing. I've known guys who have said "oh, my wife is cool with me buying the bike--we just need to get a few other things first", and then years go by and the bike purchase ends up being forgotten or budgeted out.
So, why not buy the 1125 that you want but also buy something smaller and more beginner-friendly? Blasts are cheap and easy to come by--you should have no problem finding a decent one for around $2000, and if you don't screw it up too much (crashing, etc), you should be able to sell it for close to what you paid for it.
Of course there will be the temptation to ditch the Blast and get on the 1125 before your skills are advanced very much. What you might want to do is make a promise to yourself (or your wife--give her the 1125's keys) that you won't ride the 1125 until you've got, say, 2,000 miles under your belt on the Blast. If you ride a lot, you could cover that distance in a month or two and while you won't be an expert after that, you'll hopefully have a modicum of skill so that you'll be able to start out gently on the 1125 and be less likely to make a mess of yourself.
Once you've acclimated to the 1125, you can sell the Blast and your wife can throw that cash at whatever home upgrades she wants. (Save yourself a few bucks for 1125 upgrades too, though.) |
Gsxrguy
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 23, 2011 - 04:46 pm: |
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Rogue Biker, I was wondering if the original poster was in the 160th @ Ft Campbell. If he is then he probably knows a friend of mine. |
Rogue_biker
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 23, 2011 - 07:24 pm: |
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No not the original poster. Stevek1125R was. |
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