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Beanbiken
| | Posted on Sunday, June 11, 2006 - 06:47 pm: | 
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Has anyone heard of making a fast bike slower and would that even be worth the effert of the machanic? Maybe a dumb question but i made a dumb deal. so I have a 2000 thunderbolt S3T 1200cc . PS If it cant be done should i keep her around untill i learn on a 250cc for a year or so.would it be worth the wait?
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Mikej
| | Posted on Monday, June 12, 2006 - 10:37 am: |
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Here's an analogy of sorts:
1. Take a bottle of whiskey and open it, put it on a table in front of you with an empty glass beside it. You have the freedom to drink straight from the bottle, or pour some into the glass and drink some or all of what your poured, or you can neither pour nor drink any of it.
2. Take your new bike and put the key in it and start it up, put your riding gear on and sit on the bike. You have the freedom to idle around a parking lot, or hit the highway, or ride part throttle, or ride full throttle, or just sit there with the bike idling below you.
There are devices available that limit speeds of vehicles, some rev limiters to limit engine rpm as well, but in the end the rider is in control. An alcoholic isn't supposed to be able to control their drinking and will supposedly drain the whole whiskey bottle down their gullet in one sitting, yet I've known several confirmed alcoholics who would simply put the cap back on the bottle if it was put in front of them and go do something else because they've chosen to drink no more. Likewise some people say they can't control their speed on a bike on a public road so they either sell their bike or just do track days or go racing and never ride on public roadways. That's a shame, but their choice, so no judgement from me.
If you are able to control yourself then your new bike is fine. Take it easy, learn your limits, learn the bikes limits, and learn the road. People die on 250cc bikes just like they can on a bigger and faster bike. The most important component of a bike is the rider, and that's also the biggest variable. Only you know you well enough to answer your own question. If it were me I'd keep the S3, buy a 250cc bike, and ride both off and on if you can afford to. I almost just bought an old RD125 Yamaha just for fun, decided not to just because.
Snail's comments have put me into a weird mood lately, so ignore what you want in this posting. I think I'll go Google up some spaghetti pics now and think about some lunch. |
Pressureangle
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 13, 2006 - 12:49 pm: |
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The Buell S-3 isn't a beginner bike, but it has nothing to do with the motor. The 1200cc motor is powerful, but extremely friendly to control. The problem is with the limited turning radius, tall center of gravity and expense of parts if you tip it over. Keep the Buell, find a $500 Japanese anything-or-other to beat up until you're comfortable moving up.
Just my $0.02.
Eric |
Mikej
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 13, 2006 - 01:38 pm: |
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Here's an excellent example of a good beginner's and then loaner bike:
I had a 1983 Honda CM450E similar to this Suzuki, had 10,000 miles on it when I got it, had 80,000 miles on it when I got rid of it, wasn't my first bike by any means but was capable enough to be an only bike for several years. There are probably similar bikes priced about the same in your area, and the cost of one of these could be less than replacement parts on the S3 if you fall over or bump a car or hit a parking lot sign turning around to get into a parking spot.
Eric is right about the turning radius, I've seen some very experienced riders have trouble with a Buell or a generic SportBike due simply to the turning radius lock to lock in the steering. A real eye opener when it stops turning about half way to how far you intended to turn the handlebars due to a dirt bike or cruiser background.
http://milwaukee.craigslist.org/mcy/170892712.html
Keep the S3T since you already have it, buy a cheap beater bike to jump around on, and ride the S3T a few times a month on nice sunny low traffic days just to learn to get a feel for it and to keep everything fresh.
And come back and post, ask questions, make comments, tell us about your neighborhood, ask if there are other Buell riders in your area ((there probably are), and just generally make yourself at home here. |
Jlnance
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 13, 2006 - 06:13 pm: |
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Beanbiken - Congrats on the bike, they are classics.
As Eric already pointed out, the reason it's not a good beginner bike doesn't have as much to do with the motor as with the finer points of handling the bike. You really don't want to learn how to ride a motorcycle by repeatedly dropping your S3 onto the pavement. That is a very expensive and painful way to gain experience.
First, have you taken a MSF or Riders Edge class? If not, do it. It's the best money you will ever spend, and you'll be learning on someone else's bike.
If you can work it out financially, get an old, used, small bike to learn to ride on. The plan is to ride it for 6 months and then sell it. You should be able to sell it for approximatly what you paid for it.
The most important part of the beginner bike thing is that it's small, as in low to the ground and light weight. This makes it easy to handle. You will be able to recover from mistakes that would put a larger bike on the ground. And if you do drop it, you'll be able to pick it up.
I used a Buell Blast as my first bike and it was excellent for that role. There are a zillion others that would also do well.
- Jim |
Outrider
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 13, 2006 - 07:58 pm: |
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Jacob...By merit of your post, you sound like an intelligent individual.
I assume you have taken a riding class to get your license. If not, let the bike sit until you do.
Then do as MikeJ recommended: "If you are able to control yourself then your new bike is fine. Take it easy, learn your limits, learn the bikes limits, and learn the road."
Perhaps the only difference would be my favorite, and I do this at the beginning of every riding season, and that is to go practice in a large parking lot. After that, I hit the conservative roads then the fun ones if I feel my riding skills are back to normal.
Just an opinion. YMMV |
Thanatos
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 13, 2006 - 09:48 pm: |
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My brother in law bought a 2001 Buell X1 for his first bike. He did not even know how to ride it and had never ridden a bike in his life. We went to the local college parking lot and I worked with him for about 2 hours, showing him how to ride and handle various situations. I then explained to him that the only way to learn is to get experience. Be careful but ride it as much as possible so that you may not only learn how to ride and the environment but also learn the bike. He left on it and drove it for a full day. He then did very good and rode it off and on for about 3 years. The fuel pump went out and it sat for about 2 years. I am now the owner of it since he decided he wanted the comforts of a car. Just practice and take time to learn it. Start out just as Outrider stated, until you get comfortable. |
Beanbiken
| | Posted on Friday, June 23, 2006 - 02:46 am: |
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Hi Everyone,
Thank you for all of your very very helpful advice. I got my Thunderbolt yesterday and tryed her out she has an amazing feel. I took it easy and dropped her twice and broke a blinker cover off the front. Ive done a lot of riding in a parking lot near me and have realy noticed a big improvment. So Ill be practicing and taking trips to work(have to only form of transportation that works right now) But they are country roads most of the way to work. Thanks again Ill keep on learning my motorcycle begginers class is in july and im using a book called efficient motorcycleing skills to aid my progress.
thanks again |
Beanbiken
| | Posted on Friday, June 23, 2006 - 02:50 am: |
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ps I cant afford the 250cc moto right now i would realy like to but if it comes down to it i will sell the thunderbolt. But for now it seems to be working out and im learning on it and not being affraid of it but respecting speed and space for the situations around me. i dont want to be some dragracer or even take on a bunch of twisty mt roads. maybe when i get good enough ill take it down to a track to test out the speed but im not about to on the open roads. |
Beanbiken
| | Posted on Monday, June 26, 2006 - 07:55 am: |
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just test road a 250 ninja and it was great to throw around compared to the bit of worry (due to the weight) of throwing around the thunderbolt S3T. If i would have test drove the ninja before i bought the buell I definatly would have started on the ninja and sold it in 6months or so. Thanks to all again |
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Want to make a fast bike slow for a beginer