So I almost killed myself today....
 

A guy on my team who I've known for some time has a Yamaha CBR 600rr... I always joked about riding it and today I asked if I could move it for him. (If you park on the street you have to move every 2 hrs). Anyway, he let's me give it a try.

Riding a bike is a lot harder than it looks :( There go my hopes and dreams of getting a Ducati 748 or 996. Working the gas and clutch is a lot easier with feet.. and so is squeezing the brake.

Maybe he'll let me try again some other time :D

A little practice and you'll do just fine! Don't give up - those Duc's are great machines!!!

Dang Ken! Be careful. Sport bikes are cool for sure and I too would love a Ducati 996 or 999. :drool: I'm always afraid to ride other peoples' bikes for fear of dumping it and that would be very bad.

Glad you are OK!

Isn't a CBR 600 a Honda?

You should take the local riders training course. For a nominal fee you get to learn the ropes ona beater. The thing about the pasta rockets is that they have high rev set ups meaning, some where around 48 5000 rpms is when you start to see a response from the machine...most Japanese bikes have really low rev response and you can scare yourself if you really are heavy handed. Take the course and you will feel much more comfortable.

I am incredibly heavy handed... even when I play bass... always had a heavy hand.

I have a lead foot though too :D

I second that. I took a safe rider course and it was totally worth it. We started on little Honda 125's. It was funny because about halfway through the class I bought a Kawasaki ZX-6 and rode it to the classes. I hopped off the ZX-6 and threw my leg over the 125. What a difference!

yeah....so take the course and if you get an Italian bike you will notice a big difference...but once you break 4500 rpm's hang on cuz it will launch. I had a ZX-9 and one of my boyz had a 996...Huge difference. The Kawi was jumpy and the Duke smooth threw the trottle roll.

Decisions Decisions

Personally, I'd like the one in red with the Italian flag on it, a la Ferrari Challenge, OR white to match my car with the Italian flag on it.



http://www.stefanisaacs.com/movablet...es/red_748.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y11...9/100_1186.jpg

You might find the 748 slow...at first it will scare you ...in six months you would want something bigger.

Take a course. It could save your life. IMO, people tend to buy too much bike to learn on. Start slow and work your way up. Yeah, it costs more to keep switching bikes (i.e more experience=more power), but think about all the fun you'll have looking for your next bike! Learning to ride in the dirt helps too (less chance of hitting someone else if you mess up).

yup. completely agree... every state has local MSF courses. Highly recommend taking those and NOT starting with a brand new bike cuz it's pretty much guaranteed that you will drop it or worst, do some stupid crap and high side it.

748 and 749's are fairly slow and heavy bikes. I have to disagree with Rick also about the Ducs vs Japanese bikes.. my modded R6 doesn't have much torque but has plenty of power after 7K... >10000rpm.. you will really feel the 110+ hp to the wheel... that is unless you take a liter bike out like the ZX10R and GXSR1000... All the Duc I've ridden have a ton of more torque.

BTW.. a CBR600RR is a honda.

Definitely agree with all the suggestions to take the MSF course - they also have one for advanced riders. Both are well worth the money and rather enjoyable IMO - you certainly won't regret it...

Oops... that's what I meant :o

Don't get a Ducati for your first bike, Ken. I've been riding off and on for more than 20 years, and I started on a Yamaha 80 dirt bike when I was 6 years old. Moved on to various street bikes and crotch rockets and had a V-Max when it was the fastest production bike in the world. I'm an avowed "cager" and it took me some time to get used to a Ducati and as far as being able to get the most out of it, s#$i, I'm still not there yet after riding one more than 600 miles.

As md says, my .02cents.

JV

G:
I'd rec'd something other than a bullet to start with; even the medium motor'd sleds will walk any car any of us is likely to drive.

Besides the amazing acceleration, it is corner/countersteering, balance at lower speeds, hand/foot coordination, how to brake hard and still steer, how to brake in corners when leaned over a tad, recognizing traffic devils before they affect you, heads up riding, blah, blah, blah...

Not meant to read like a lecture, but 45 yrs on m'cycles offers a little historical view of how I have, thus far, stayed alive and well. Well, OK actually. But, knock on wood: other than some slow go downs in dirt and some "no kickstand down" tip overs in my TT riding days, I have yet to be down in the street. (That TT riding stands for T avern to T avern stuff I did back in my 20s and 30s.)

Nothing beats going to ride in the dirt for learning, imo. I don't mean stadium motocross; jes' plinking in a field or woods. That is often not an option, as it requires a non-street or very specialized "combo" sled, diff tires, etc..

If you are serious, I rec'd a well used, but well running rat, from the Sunday papers: way less than a grand, and go practice, practice, practice. Yeah, you won't look as cool as you would on a new 748 or CRR600 et al, but that rat/learner has the same principles involved and if you do toss it, you won't be tapping the home equity to fix it.

Also, a decent lid and something more than Levis and T shirt. And, good gloves.

An MSF course(s) is also outstanding; (I've had 4 and I learn something every time.)

And, nothing beats riding...there is, imo, an insidious learning curve for novice riders: it will soon seem "easy" and "fun" and like, "Wow, this is cake!" Combine that with most male human's penchant for acceleration, speed and adrenalin rushes and, keeping up with buds whom are either very skilled and/or more aggressive, and Bam!

I have seen it happen over the first few weeks/months of new riders many, many times.

No apology for the long post/lecture; it is an amazing sport and hobby, but it is serious fookin biz out there on two wheels on the highway of life.
My 25Cts is up...but, I wish you well, good luck and keep the sumbitch between the fences.
GL,md

well said MD..

yeah...maybe I am getting it confused with the FATBOY.:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

haha.. talk about power to weight ratio! :rofl:

btw. went to the motorcycle shop today near Quicksilver's neck of the woods.. tested out a GSXR1000.. dayum... what a bike... talk about crazy fast bike. It's incredible how light and nimble the 1000's are now..