eh guys so spring is coming. And I'm aching to have a motor between my legs. After pushing pedals and finding those tall windy hills to bomb down. and prefecting my cornering "lean" on the bicycle. All over the past couple years. Anyways I'm asking about how the feel differs from a 15-20lbs mtb. To a 400+lbs machine. Obviously there is alot more mass to throw around. But how does the average bike sit and feel? Is it tippy? And how does it compare to a mtb when tires lock up? And money. How much would I be looking at for general up keep/maintenance, insurance ( southern Ontario Canada) and others for an average 600cc sport bike? It's up in the air as to what bike I'm getting. Right now I have my eyes set out for a cheap beater that I can ride. And isnt limited speed....But pending on future prospects I'm have my eyes set on a 15-16 kawlisaki(? Spelling) 650 abs in red livery. Any advice for somebody making the switch from a bicycle to a motor bike?
there's about 100+ horses in power worth of difference I suggest you start with something smaller than a 600.
ya but from what I hear is that people get used to the power of a 300 quickly. so going to the 650 from what I have been researching is okay for a beginner..... but in saying that I don't want to have that feeling of I should of. and get what I can grow into instead of out of. obviously I don't have real world experience just going off of what other people have said in reviews and comments. - but if its a power thing just cause it has it doesn't mean you have to use all of it. (perfect saying for whisky throttle right?)
you can't comprehend the power. as a beginner... the problem is with that much power there is no room for error and the bike is unforgiving. something you can overcome on a less powerful bike may kill you on a larger bike. I've ridden a bike since I was 9, raced sportbikes, and i am in my 30s.
no I cant I haven't been on a motor bike. what about making limiter bracket or a limiter of some sorts on the carb. I know it would be redundant buy a bike to de tune it......
modern bike are fuel injected... can you get you hands on a dirt bike? that is the best way to learn...
meh ive been looking but don't want to drop the coin since I want it road legal( live in city). like with a 649cc bike is it that peppy? like you can always go easy on it. but shit happens?
I'm talking cheap... or borrow a buddy's dirt bike? all I can advise is that you will fall as you begin to learn... choose which bike you would rather fall with... and wear YOUR GEAR. don't be a squid sent via Telekinesis using Grasscity forum mobile app ðŸƒ
A dual sport bike would be good for a first timer...not a huge amount of power and you can still feel the bike react to your inputs. I recently sold a KLR 650... I wasn't crazy about the feel of a big single, but it would do 80 easily... And like the above poster said...always wear long pants, jacket, boots and a helmet...and realize you will fall down.....
oh ya falling down is an art for me with my mtb bike. done so much stupid stuff with it. like locking up the front tire. and front end wash outs, taking a corner at 60-65kph, ground, dirt, rocks, city traffic and my favorite snow. I don't feel like its that much difference with my skill set. but only time will tell
ah the price of it all. can anybody recommend a company for motorcycle insurance( Ontario ( ass raped capital$$$)) - so far m1 and planning on a 650cc bike. as of right now I have only been able to get a quote from one place and it came in at $7950 for a 2015 ninja 650..... 8 thousand pretty much. well I can guess that having a m1 licence is sort of a stickler up the ass. since you need insurance to drive your bike to do your m2 test but there are only x amount of companies and they are charging exuberant amounts of dollars. - also I'm looking into driving courses since I have 3 local registered training centers/ colleges and so far are worth the money
so up in the air at this point, Honda grom or ninja 650? - the grom weighting in at 125cc, would get upgrades to have more highway speed. stock is 55mph or something would at least need 75mph to feel safe. - the ninja.weighing in at 649cc. not much to say it would get some minor things. but mostly I would do a custom paint job on it.
34 years old. Had many years of experience riding mountain bikes and road bicycles. Couple years of dirt bikes. I bought a Yamaha R3. It is 320cc. It is plenty fast. For the 300cc range it is the best in my opinion and usually wins in 300cc shootout comparisons
Here's some random thoughts from an old-timer that bought his first bike in 1970 -- a 750cc Honda. Bikes aren't "tippy," unless you're at a stoplight and you're drunk (don't ask me how I know this). The two wheels have a gyroscopic effect as speed increases -- once you get rolling the bike becomes more stable. Even with a high side wind, if you're doing 50-60 or more, the wind will push you a little bit sideways on the road but you will not lose your balance nor lose control. None of that is anything to worry about though. What can be a problem is other drivers. I did crash twice -- both times in 1972 -- but neither involved another driver (I was drunk both times). I had numerous close calls with other drivers over the decades and what saved me was this: Be ever vigilant at stoplights or any kind of cross traffic, and people pulling out of their driveways. YOU HAVE TO BE A 100% DEFENSIVE DRIVER ON A MOTORCYCLE. ASSUME YOU ARE INVISIBLE TO OTHER DRIVERS. Even if you have the right-of-way ALWAYS watch anyone who is supposed to wait. Watch their face (you can kinda tell if they SEE you) and their front wheel. If you see their front wheel start to rotate be ready to clamp on the brakes (and it's a myth that if you clamp on the front brakes you'll go over the handlebars. Simply not true. About 70% of your stopping power is with the front brake). When you approach ANY intersection always be ready to slam on the brakes. I had three J a p bikes and two Harleys; sold the last Harley last summer. Driving a 2007 Corvette now. No regrets, but the bike era of my life is over. I survived 45 years of it, still in one piece. Have fun, I did. My last Harley:
I've been riding since the late 60s, still have a couple of bikes...a XL 100 Honda, and a 77 BMW R100S. I just ride around my place on the Honda...the BMW is strictly for the road.... but, I'm afraid to ride on the road anymore... too many folks with cell phones, scares the shit out of me.
which ever bike you go with... please don't relate a fall on a bicycle with a fall on a motorcycle. if you have that mentality, you will have a rude awakening ðŸœ
Thank you for the replys guys. I know a bicycle is diffrent from a motorcycle. But I feel there are things that can transfer over. Im a speed demon on my bicycle not so much a straight line but through turns. Such an awesome feeling. But also worrying. 29" of wheel puts out quight a bit of gyro effects when you doing 50kph+ on a bike and I've had a couple turns where I've gone into and had the bike right it self mid corner cause I was still picking up speed. But unlike with a bike your commited with a motor cycle?
Same as a car, cranking a motorcycle through curves means braking going into the turn and accelerating through it. If you go into a turn too fast on a MC and try to brake, it will fuck up your balance (if anything, use the rear brake) and you're likely to cross the center line.
One thing that helps a lot too is find a motorcycle safety course. They're mandatory here in Texas to get your license but it teaches some things you would never even think about Sent from my iPhone using Grasscity Forum mobile app