first bikes - why not an R1

[pingping010101]

I've been riding for three years, I'm only now considering the idea and even now it worries me a little.

Even on my first bike, an SV650, I had a few moments where I learned some serious lessons about appropriate speeds and how not to react in an emergency. If I'd have been on an R1 for those lessons I'd have been f****d.

In my opinion, whilst you may be fine and you may well be sensible enough to take it easy, just by sitting on an R1 you'll already be closer to a mistake because you can approach the event horizon much quicker.

As an analogy, have you ever tried to play poker with someone who doesn't know the rules? It's a nightmare. They don't know how to read the game and they don't know how or why they end up winning or losing. They may win a few games, but without knowing what actions lead to what outcomes, eventually they will lose everything. That's what jumping straight on an R1 will do to you. You need to know instinctively what will lead to a particular result so you can do it or not do it and make the choice quickly,

Just my opinion. Get a ZXR400 and thrash the t**s off of it. They're great fun.

[2002r1jon]

Get a ZXR400 and thrash the t**s off of it. They're great fun.

True,true,great bikes to learn on,first bike i had that i didnt crash(well sort of,i actually clipped someone,whilst avoiding a car hitting me)

[pingping010101]

Mine made me feel like John mcpint, but at less than 100mph. All screaming banshee and corner speed but in a speed bracket then encourages a clean license

[Luke03R1]

Mine made me feel like John mcpint, but at less than 100mph. All screaming banshee and corner speed but in a speed bracket then encourages a clean license

I started on a vfr4oo Loved that thing

[stug]

Cue the pics, Nickis old ZXR

[2002r1jon]

hiya again folks

I picked up on some of the later stories... Interestingly I was doing a spare (advanced) lesson on the ER6 again - I spoke to the dude who takes me (an acomplished race rider & advanced trainer to boot) he actually rides very little on the roads these days (obviously apart from his job). HE gave me some good sound advice after the lesson while we spent a good 40 mins just talking bikes. I was moaning about the ER6 feeling (what he described I described as sloppy) and got onto the subject of various bikes and I was discussing the fazer 1000 and bandits. I also spoke to him about me looking daft of the R1/R6's gixxers etc. He really made me think. He basically said, when you open up the garage you need to look at your bike and get that feeling - like yeh this is my bike, I love it, I love to ride it etc. etc. I spoke about my change of heart on the R1 as I was interested and not knowing how powerful it was really liked the bike. His opinion is and was, buy a bike for yourself, be careful and whatever you buy you need to respect it and be in charge of the throttle. I asked him it was a ridiculous thought not knowing how powerful it was and he said where I was it would be ok and he wasnt terrified I'd had that thought.

Im not seeing this as a green flag to say I coulda handled an R1 in any way but I found, and still do find it interesting on the different camps - some are pro-"you can do what you want just be careful" and some pro-"take your time and work up to it" - one things for sure - EVERYBODY is trying to look out for you and help so for that I am literally gobsmacked at the community out there and how much time every1 is happy to spend giving advice when it's asked.


thanks all - you rock!!

Instructor said the same to me lol

Thing is.......and im not saying this is true or that i know any of the instructors,or how they think,but......................as long as you pass your test the instructor will probably never see you again,so in their mind they are telling you just what they think you want to hear,it makes you feel great(which they obviously want you to feel),and will never need to pick up the pieces,unlike a friendly forum that you join and ask the question,you get real/true advice from peeps whom know the real dangers of mixing certain bikes and inexperience
Each to thier own though,advice is free,choosing to take it is your decision

[PJC]

Cue the pics, Nickis old ZXR

Oh I like that , spent a year racing one of those, won my first trophy at Oulton Park with New Era as well cracking bike. I then bought a GSXR400RRMSP mad as a box of frogs even with me aboard

[2002r1jon]

Cue the pics, Nickis old ZXR

Is that a H1 Stug?,i had one in that real nice metallic Blue(cant remember the exact name for it),great bikes

[stug]

Cue the pics, Nickis old ZXR

Is that a H1 Stug?,i had one in that real nice metallic Blue(cant remember the exact name for it),great bikes

No the H model had twin headlights, that wasan L2 with the later L9 bodywork. The only difference I think was the cool grab rail I think.

[2002r1jon]

Ah yes,sorry,mine was a L1 not a H1

[Luke03R1]

Ah yes,sorry,mine was a L1 not a H1

I had the 750 H1 love the "RAM AIR"

[2002r1jon]

Hoover pipes oh yeh old skool cool

[Steve R1]

Mine made me feel like John mcpint, but at less than 100mph. All screaming banshee and corner speed but in a speed bracket then encourages a clean license

I started on a vfr4oo Loved that thing

You started in the same bloody stable as me...... That explains everything

[Luke03R1]

Mine made me feel like John mcpint, but at less than 100mph. All screaming banshee and corner speed but in a speed bracket then encourages a clean license

I started on a vfr4oo Loved that thing

You started in the same bloody stable as me...... That explains everything

Ive had a go at most of the brands along the way technically started on a yam...... fs1e

[Steve R1]

Mine made me feel like John mcpint, but at less than 100mph. All screaming banshee and corner speed but in a speed bracket then encourages a clean license

I started on a vfr4oo Loved that thing

You started in the same bloody stable as me...... That explains everything

Ive had a go at most of the brands along the way technically started on a yam...... fs1e

Big difference between fs1e and an R1 nice one

[hash29]

After passing my test a few moons ago i went and purchased my dads bike from him a cbr1000fl..Thinking i was able to handle it with np, almost killed myself on several roads getting it home, i can remember getting home and thinking wtf this isnt what i thought it would be like.

Next day i awoke thinking it wont beat me and duly set off for more, 300 yards down the road i opened the throttle and almost highsided myself into the following week . it took time and lots of omg moments and lots of underware changes before i felt in any way confident on the cbr.

In short it was far to much bike for me after just passing my test.. god only knows what hospital i would have been in had it been an R1

[Steve R1]

After passing my test a few moons ago i went and purchased my dads bike from him a cbr1000fl..Thinking i was able to handle it with np, almost killed myself on several roads getting it home, i can remember getting home and thinking wtf this isnt what i thought it would be like.

Next day i awoke thinking it wont beat me and duly set off for more, 300 yards down the road i opened the throttle and almost highsided myself into the following week . it took time and lots of omg moments and lots of underware changes before i felt in any way confident on the cbr.

In short it was far to much bike for me after just passing my test.. god only knows what hospital i would have been in had it been an R1

Or you may have been pushing up the Daisy's

[jompy]

After passing my test a few moons ago i went and purchased my dads bike from him a cbr1000fl..Thinking i was able to handle it with np, almost killed myself on several roads getting it home, i can remember getting home and thinking wtf this isnt what i thought it would be like.

Next day i awoke thinking it wont beat me and duly set off for more, 300 yards down the road i opened the throttle and almost highsided myself into the following week . it took time and lots of omg moments and lots of underware changes before i felt in any way confident on the cbr.

In short it was far to much bike for me after just passing my test.. god only knows what hospital i would have been in had it been an R1

your honesty had me chuckling to my self today at work

[hash29]

After passing my test a few moons ago i went and purchased my dads bike from him a cbr1000fl..Thinking i was able to handle it with np, almost killed myself on several roads getting it home, i can remember getting home and thinking wtf this isnt what i thought it would be like.

Next day i awoke thinking it wont beat me and duly set off for more, 300 yards down the road i opened the throttle and almost highsided myself into the following week . it took time and lots of omg moments and lots of underware changes before i felt in any way confident on the cbr.

In short it was far to much bike for me after just passing my test.. god only knows what hospital i would have been in had it been an R1

your honesty had me chuckling to my self today at work

lol i still chuckle thinking about it, what was i thinking lol.
It reminds me of the 1st time i ever sat on a bike at 8 years old a honda c90 that some local lads had found under a cover in a garden , it was in a tennis court a clay court at that and i was let me have a go oh go on pleeeeaaassse let me try it, hahahaha they started it and said twist that and it will go so i did, and oh boy did it go, straight into the friggin fence at the end of the court, turn how the f**k do you turn hahahah i had the imprint of the fence on my face and arm for almost 6 weeks and a broken thumb.. mum wasnt happy

[Beefy5pw]

Ha ha lol


He got an update for us yet ??

[jompy]

Ha ha lol


He got an update for us yet ??

I think he's left

[2002r1jon]

Ha ha lol


He got an update for us yet ??

I think he's left

Never any leavers,maybe a few non-returnies

[jompy]

Ha ha lol


He got an update for us yet ??

I think he's left

Never any leavers,maybe a few non-returnies

Sit loads of none returns , must be your aftershave Jon :p

[hash29]

i think he has gone off bikes and purchased a very fast nissan micra instead

[cmsmwoo1]

Sorry you guys - I've been having WAAAAYYY too much fun to be typing on a keyboard...

and no - i didnt buy an R1, ignore you all then die

update is (drum roll).... I got an 2006 F800s which I was told was in good condition by the 'honest' seller. I'm now offically a horrible judge of character! so there seems to be this really clever feature after 40 mins of hot riding and drop the throttle let the revs go down then it cuts out and shuts down - which is fantastic especially as i ride a lot at dark and often drop the revs to change gear and indicate. it's great fun when I'm sat in at a roundabout off a dual carageway at night with no power and no lights!!! Anyhow - It's an 800cc and to be honest I'm not anywhere near confident, I've started to play with leaning off the bike turning, changing gear without clutch and blipping changing down. I'm not fast but slow and steady.

Other day I found out the dyson, sorry I mean F800 has a belt, which low and behold decided it'd had enough and snapped entering a motorway on a bend, I think I may have rolled over a few snails and nails tryign to turn it from the outside of the lane to the hardshoulder... interesting.

Why did I not buy a yam!! I'm trading to an R1 in 6 months I think!!!

in a straight line I'd definately say it lacks power - first 2 or 3 times I thought woa! much faster than the ER6 but now I'm used to it I NEED more power of course I am kidding and am happy ironnig out all the faults then will hopefully sell for the same money I paid for it...


Simply put, I'm glad I didnt buy a cross plane crank R1. I dropped this bike twice already - once when the accelerator cable jammed on and I jumped off to save the jewels as I turned it off, then a second time when it was jacked up and fell off the front paddock stand (which is now bent) because I'd jacked up the rear using the engine block and a jack... Crash bobbins are amazing!!!

I will see you all out soon - I'll be the guy on the custom painted F800s (going grey coz orange/yellow is awful!) first it's in at BWM for a £500 new belt and "safety check" I got a used belt for now but it's getting kept for emergency - dont fancy going straight anymore

Do I wish I'd have bought an R1, yes and no, the one I wanted would be near 4k and if the same sort of drops and malfunctions would have occured then I'd be gutted. thats the no! Yes I wish I'd have bought one in as much as it's me alone who twists the throtle and pulls the breaks, however I dont think I'd have really got the fun out the R1. This F800s beater is soooo light and I can see myself driving the nuts off it in a few months so development of my skills, I can confirm, has already been done in a safer environment. I think the lack of R1 means the 'correction factor' you get from woopsie moments I have at home in the garage and not in A&E or at the side of the road. Would I advise an R1 to a newbie - I wouldnt sway them, but I'd say, your gonna have moments on whatever machine you ride, it depends how sensible you are being when those moments occur.