ware

Im 18, two of my friends just got a (1) 07 gsxr 750 and (2) 08 gsxr 600. Neither had any type of previous riding experience. They've had their bikes for about 4-5 months now with minimal falls. And of course, i want one too now. However, they scare the **** out of me. I've had numerous people tell me to get the idea of buying a bike out of my head, including 2 co-workers who quit riding after accidents that took them to the hospital to the E.R. I live in Los Angeles which is a VERY conjested city and full of idiotic drivers. I need input on whether or not its a good idea for me to buy one.

*Dont say "start on a less powerful bike" as i will not. If im going to spend my money on a motorcycle its going to be on something i like which would be either a 600RR or 07-09 gsxr 600. I've tried to get myself to buy a "learning" bike but cant get myself to do it.

* i have NO riding experience except sitting on my friends.

Thanks guys

svrider

don't get a bike

life sux die

if they scare you, don't get one.

boostincoupe

In for future crash.

Starscream

If you have to ask, you're not ready for one.

Motorcycles are like drugs, they can give you a wonderful time, but also **** up your life. Are you ready for it?

K20DC2R

hmmm.. that pretty much sums it all..

big pete

Since you're 18 and want to jump on a new supersport bike, I'd day don't get a bike. We don't want to see a RIP thread for you. I've nearly became a hood ornament on a SUV because they were going the wrong way on a one way street. I can't count how many times I've nearly been wiped out by a driver now paying attention. It also doesn't help you're in Socal (it's dangerous enough in a car).

RA22FEVER

Ive been riding for a year, been down once (lowside at about 20mph) and i was bruised up for awhile. At the time i was wearing (arai corsair rx-7, icon field armor vest) it was a hot day and i was just taking a cruise, **** happens. Other riders will tell you its not if your going down but when, last summer i commuted my bike everyday(70+ miles a day), on a daily basis i got cut off about 4-5 times a day, people dont pay attention and they dont give a **** about you on the road. In the end no one can change your opinion, if your goiong to buy a bike be prepard, and spend your money well on GEAR!! cause **** happens

Odiedogcx

I'm the blue arrow. Old lady in a truck is the green arrow. Orange thing is where i went head first into her truck. The stain on the pavement is where my bike and I came to rest.

Lucky to be alive and that I didn't break my neck or spinal cord injuries. Severe closed head injury, shattered ankle, etc.

I was put at fault cause I was "speeding". Sued her ... 3 years later won my lawsuit. Bought an E46 M3 and next week it will be supercharged and 500hp. werd.

sporkcrx

I went through the same thoughts, but I'll tell you what. Getting a bike has been one of the best things that has happened to me. I ride almost every day and feel odd when I don't. It's not for everyone. You have to have a good forward vision and expect to see people do certain things just by telling from their driving language etc. I went without riding for a month, maybe two, and life just felt so bland and boring. Cars, ugh

marmaladedad

"Don't say 'start on a less powerful bike' "?!? That's all we ever say around here.

If you don't want to listen to sage advice, then try this...
1) Take the MSF.
2) Buy gear.
3) Ride your friends' bikes.
4) Buy whatever the heck you want in a year.
5) Get it insured.

FWIW, commuting in LA is hell. It's like playing russian roulette solo - eventually, you're gonna get the chamber with the bullet. I've been knocked down once (broken clavicle) and had numerous near-misses.

And you start off with saying your friends have dropped their bikes several times already - isn't that motivation enough to pick up something more suitable as a learner bike? Or is it simply monkey-see-monkey-do?

TeamZigen

Well said ^^^but, 18? a bit too young to be thinking 'bout gettin' a motorcycle.

slm

Take msf, see how you feel then.

Mr Honag

Is there a reason why you can't get yourself to buy a "learning" bike? Sure, the newer super sports look sexy as hell, but they don't look too sexy after they've been banged up from being dropped plenty of times. I'm 21 and have been riding for a month, and I go to the Honda motorcycle dealer every other week just to sit on the new 600RRs because I love 'em. But I bought an '06 Ninja 250 because I know it's a more forgiving bike to learn on; plus I took the MSF, got my license, got gear (head to toe), insurance, etc. Take my advice, get a "learning" bike and get used to riding. The sexier super sport can wait, and when you've gotten the experience down, you can appreciate the fact that you won't drop it like your friends did.

WERA689

You're getting good advice here. Pay attention.
You didn't learn to drive in an F-1 car.
You don't learn to fly in an F-16.
I've seen too many riders start on too much motorcycle, and then crash and/or get seriously injured. Most all of them refuse to ride any more, because they got scared or got hurt; problem is they blame it on "motorcycles are dangerous" when in fact they were just STUPID.

Fact 1) you CAN get hurt on a bike. Fact 1a) You can get hurt in a car, walking
down the street, or in CA- laying in your bed when the earthquake hits.
Fact 2) A motorcycle has every tool in the world to help you get OUT of a bad
situation that may develop around you...it can accelerate faster than any
car. It can stop in 1/3 the distance of ANY car. It can turn quicker than
any car. It can be maneuvered through a smaller hole in traffic than any
other vehicle on the road, period.
Fact 3) It is up to the RIDER to know how to use those tools to his advantage. The
bike is under YOUR control, not the other way around. If you don't control the bike, it WILL kill you.
Fact 4) It is up to you to increase your situational awareness to a level you didn't
know was possible. Doing so will make you 1000% better a car driver, too.
Defensive riding/driving will keep you alive in/on any vehicle.

All that said, there is nothing like the feeling of putting a series of corners together smoothly, quickly and effectively. When you can ride a bike WELL, you will know a satisfaction that no car driving experience can ever match. But you have to be smart, and allow yourself to gain the experience it takes to do that.

/preach

Xentropa

I cannot imagine any riding situation where the guy was on the back of the motorcycle and it didn't look gay.

96 SOHC VTEC

I try not to think about how dangerous they can be, or are but they are very dangerous. Unfortunately, even the best rider cannot predict what someone else may do but I still ride. I've been riding since last May and I haven't fallen yet but I've had a few close calls where I was lucky. I'm sure it will happen at some point so make sure you wear gear and don't ride like the typical Florida idiot.

Having said that if you're that scared of them then I wouldn't get one. I think being that timid of them would cause you to panic at some point when you're riding it and fall.

MSchu

Ditto... Echo... Residule...

The advice all through this thread is very poignant. If you are bent on riding, try it at very low levels before jumping into a purchase, specially one that is sport oriented. this can take place in the form of MSF course or outback and off road. The concrete Jungle loves eating new riders for lunch

Sliced Beard

holy hell, the new brood of members on this forum is absolutely AMAZING!!

rdblckSV650S

don't get a bike. Beyond the fact that it currently scares you and it sounds like you mostly just want to hang out with your friends, the financial responsibility of owning a bike is also tremendous.

JDMCRX

iTrader: (2)

Bikes are a nice toy man. I know riders who been riding for 20-40 years. Some are lucky and some are not. Ive had over 8 friends get in accidents and loose there lives. From in a corner to hitting some sand and wiping out and being run over,to sitting at a light and old lady ran him over and did not notice she hit him.

So many factors in life , man. Only piece advice i can say is if you are worried about this don't get one. Why you will drive worried and you will get in a accident. Ive proved this alot of times. From riding a bike to a snowmobile.

But if you are gonna get a bike first thing you buy and spend money on is a good suit, Leathers and good boots and good helmet.

Sure your bike might not be a 08 GSXR 750 or RR you will probly have less money left over and have to ride a 00 GSXR 750 but one thing when you hit the ground you will have that much better chance in making it out and in less pain.

I have never crashed a street bike . I crashed my YZ450F on the street hit the ground at like 20-30km and i landed on my right side and i flipped over and my head hit the pavement and my right ankle sort of got pinned under the bike. I had all my gear on. I got some road rash on my wrist and twisted my ankle and neck i was out for a week but 4 years later i still feel the nice pain in the wrist

I wont go on about my 3 ligaments dislocated knee from sledding

If you get one man buy good gear and always payattention.

bad-monkey

Riding on the street is dangerous. There's no 2 ways about it. I love riding, there's nothing like it, but I'm aware of the fact that riding on the street is rolling the dice. The best you can do is manage the risk. To manage risk, you have to have the responsibility, maturity, and self-control to ride the right way--because the second you let your guard down you're putting it all on the line. I think i'm a pretty good street rider. I like to think i understand the random movements of cagers, manage my risk in intersections and at speed, and ride like a responsible adult--so when my neighbor turned left in front of me 18 mo ago and i snapped my arm in half, I immediately knew why: I wasn't paying attention for a split second. I was going 25 mph. If i was doing 45, 55, 65, 95--I might be dead.

For a young 18 yo rider, on a new supersport, with friends on supersports, riding around in LA traffic, I give it a 100% chance that one of you will go down within a year. 50% chance one of you will be seriously injured. It's too easy, on a 07 750 or a 09 600rr to do something stupid, intentionally or not.

Starscream

Motorcycles are like drugs. You first taste for them is generally from a friend. Then you want to get your own. Then you need more and more to urge your fix. If you abandon them, you will feel withdrawal for the rest of your life. And if not, they can end your life.

The Hooligan

get the 600rr, so when you total it i can buy it.

srmofo

man theres alot of newbs in here....Ive been riding since I was very little, I grew up on the back of my moms motorcycle and as soon as was old/big enough to ride I started on 5hp briggs backyard bikes, then I kinda quit through my teen years (damn girls) and when I hit 18 ish I picked up a 92 cbr 600. It had a salvage title, from what? you guessed it. some stupid teen dropped it. It ran good but looked like ****, but I still loved riding it. AFTER I was 100% confident on that bike I still rode it for a few years, I thought for sure I was going to lay it down, because thats what everyone says and I didnt want to wreck a new bike....well if you drive long enough your going to get in an accident as well, the only difference is you have a steel cage around you.... Im now 26 and still havent layed a bike down, but I know several people that have....You know what they ALL HAD IN COMMON? THEY WERE RIDING LIKE ****ING IDIOTS, wheelies, stoppies, hanging off the side, etc...they all lived although some were hurt really bad (flipping a bike over on the highway doing 80 will do that) this brings me to my second point, my mom has had several people she knows KILLED on them...NON of them were wearing a helmet.....

Moral of the story is everything is as dangerous as you make it, yes certain things you cant control, like other drivers, but a good rider can keep his chances to a minimum by wearing proper gear, follow all the laws (even the speeding ones), and being alert and focused on his enviroment. Those things can be hard to do especially if you are 18 and the people you ride with are not doing them. So you need to be your own personal judge on how responsible you can be with your life/health.

BTW here is a pic of my new baby, Ive had a few years but I still love her....and shes paid off