Right now my brother is trying to get another bike. He's ridden a 99 r6 for about 6 months, has only 6500 miles under his belt and thinks he's ready for a 02 RC51 1000cc. He's turning 21 in a month. (I'm 23) I ride an 01 F4i. I think a 600 is plenty for anyone and especially for his little time on a bike. Another reason he wants the bike is cause a 600cc is too small/short for a 6'3 person. I'm 6'2 and I think its fine.

I'm trying to tell him its overkill for a 1000cc on the street. He said "I'll take it to the track sometimes." I respond "You don't even have gear, they won't let you in." I did get him to take the MSF course so that was one step. I am trying to get him to get gear ASAP.

Is there anything else I can tell him? Already talked to the parents cause they have no clue what cc's mean on a bike. He's was pushing his limits, isn't the safest rider, and on top of a bike that won't be as forgivable as a 600cc. I'm trying to reason with the kid. He is an adult, but the same time he is my little brother and I'm just looking out for him.


Modified by b_ack51 at 10:47 PM 8/19/2005

 

1) the 1000cc bikes are rarely much larger than 600cc bikes.

2) let him do a track day, when he gets lapped over and over buy the guys on 500s and SVs it may open his eyes a bit to the fact that size means nothing. in fact the people i know with 1000cc bikes and ride track, have 600cc track bikes because they can turn faster lap times on them. nothing will hammer home the point more than getting owned on the track by bikes with half the horsepower.

3) gear. buy it, wear it, love it.

 

I have rode 4 bikes, F4, RC51, 954, and a zrx1100. The most comfortable hands down is the F4, and I have about a year of experience under my belt, and still dont think im ready for a liter bike. Of course there will be those liter heads out there that would rather kill themselves than get on a small liter bike. The more liters the less you are going to through it around in the twisties. If straight line speed is all you want a liter bike will be ok, but its not like the 600s are close to slow, besides my lack of torque(wich is still insane) my F4 imo is too powerful for a beginer. I would have love to had started out on a NSR250.

 

Some poeple can't really be convinced of much when they get something in their head. What you could tell him though is although an SP1/SP2 may make 20 more hp and about 40 more ft lbs of tq, it's also about 100 lbs heavier than a 600 (SP's are pigs) and won't even come close to running with other liter bikes on the highway. If he is after straight line speed, he is looking at the wrong bike.

If that doesn't work, let him spend the money and figure it out for himself.

 

Wow no gear, just let darwin help him decide if he really needs a 1000cc bike. You can't stop him, but at least make him get some gear, does he have any at all? If not just kick his ***!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by slodsm &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">won't even come close to running with other liter bikes on the highway.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Agreed! Don't automatically link an RC-51 with the likes of super sport I4s just because it's classified as a 1000. RC-51 is a heavy/torquey v-twin.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by slodsm &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Some poeple can't really be convinced of much when they get something in their head. What you could tell him though is although an SP1/SP2 may make 20 more hp and about 40 more ft lbs of tq, it's also about 100 lbs heavier than a 600 (SP's are pigs) and won't even come close to running with other liter bikes on the highway. If he is after straight line speed, he is looking at the wrong bike.
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You beat me to it.

b_ack51:
What is his reasoning for wanting an RC (besides thinking he is ready)?

 

His reasoning is flawed: (but here they are)

1) He wants a 1000cc (his dream bike is the r1)
2) 600cc is too small because he's 6'3" (told him they are about the same size height)
3) 1000cc is faster than a 600cc because bigger engine means faster bike (told him weight slows him down so you don't get much better speed, and when you do its only in straight line)
4) already had a 99 r6, so gotta get bigger

Honestly those are the only reasons I can get out of him. He thinks I'm being an *** because I think a 1000cc is too much for the roads and so is a 600cc, but I think a 600cc is fine because of weight, power, handling, etc. (I know you can never reach the limits of a 600cc on a street.) He thinks I'm just hated what he wants, but I'm just trying to let him now that its too much, not needed, he might not be ready, and so on. I did let my parents know the difference between motorcycles because he still lives at their house.

Only gear he has right now is helmet. He said by the time he buys the bike, it'll be winter and he'll save for gear then.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by b_ack51 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Honestly those are the only reasons I can get out of him. He thinks I'm being an *** because I think a 1000cc is too much for the roads and so is a 600cc, but I think a 600cc is fine because of weight, power, handling, etc. (I know you can never reach the limits of a 600cc on a street.) He thinks I'm just hated what he wants, but I'm just trying to let him now that its too much, not needed, he might not be ready, and so on. I did let my parents know the difference between motorcycles because he still lives at their house.

Only gear he has right now is helmet. He said by the time he buys the bike, it'll be winter and he'll save for gear then.

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My personal opinion is that big bikes like R1's GSXR's are a waste of time on the roads. They are too diffcult to get the best out of and always leave you feeling like you are not doing very well. A 600 for me provides almost the same performance with the benefit of being far more useable on the odd track day. There is the torque arguement but you coulld always buy a harley if you're that bothered.

Whatever he decides he needs proper leathers, thats more important than anything else.