What size (cc) bike did you start out on? - Page 2

fpzx10 · 03-20-2008, 09:27 AM

Boulevard 800
Ninja zx10r
GSXR 750 currently

Rider · 03-20-2008, 09:40 AM

750cc I4, Probably could of handled a liter bike to start. I rode for years on dirt bikes before switching to street.

z06boy · 03-20-2008, 09:47 AM

I started out on a 1988 Ninja 600R...it wasn't quite like todays 600's.

I wrecked it in 4 days.

fnfalman · 03-20-2008, 10:26 AM

This is a tricky question for me to answer. First of all, the bike that I started on was not the bike that I owned as a beginner. I started on a Honda Hurricane. A dumbass Army buddy of mine who didn't know squat about motorcycles (neither did I) decided to go get a Hurricane because it was the coolest thing out there. We went and picked it up in his pickup truck, neither of us know how to ride a motorbike. We read the manual about the clutch and throttle and brake, etc. He climbed on, no helmet, T-shirt, jeans and tennis shoes (I was similarly attired) and roared down the parking lot with the bike careening out of control, skidded down the right side with the lucky bastard rolling in the grass. The whole right fairing was screwed up. THEN it was my turn to get on. I follow suit and fell on the left side. So the brand new bike was fucked.

Anyway, I bought a Kawi EX500 (aka Ninja 500 nowadays). Not because I learned my lesson but because that's all I could afford. MSF? No way, man. I was too macho for that shit. All I need was cruising around town for a bit with the boys on Saturday night, trying to act cool for the chicks. Bareheaded, James Dean-style black dress leather jackets, black Army dress gloves, some sort of cheap half boots and Levi's. The first time I ever rode in a twisty was to ride to Nashville on the backroad, I crashed at an easy 30-MPH turn. An easy low side into the side of the road that was covered with leaves. Walked away without a scratch with minor scraping on the bike's fairing. Didn't understand why and how I crashed either. Later on I realized that I didn't know shit from shinola because I never bothered to learn how to ride the correct way. I thought that leaning was how you turn the bike into the corner.

MSF, MSF, MSF, MSF, MSF. Enough said.

JoJoYZF · 03-20-2008, 10:29 AM

Started off on the slightly tamer 600cc bike that is in my avatar.

Crazy · 03-20-2008, 10:40 AM

started on a ninja 250, no previous experience besides the MSF.

OTB · 03-20-2008, 10:53 AM

This was my first....bought as a basket case and put it together....ran poorly, siezed all the time, but got me started on motorcycles.
http://bikez.com/motorcycles/yamaha_yas_1_1970.php 15 HP!!!!!!!!!!!!

This was my second: ran like a scalded cat!!!
http://bikez.com/motorcycles/suzuki_gt_250_1973.php 31 HP!!!!!!!!!!!

t-homo · 03-20-2008, 11:40 AM

Buell Blast. 500cc single cylinder. Hope to move up to a early 2000s 600 or 750 next year. I will get more in depth with this when I don't have to go to class in 5 min.

Ok so I am back. I am really glad that I started on my 500. It is really forgiving and really builds your confidence. In the twisties, it handles really well and you can lean it over like its nothing.

Cutty72 · 03-20-2008, 11:54 AM

SV650S
Great bike, love it.

vabarber2 · 03-20-2008, 04:13 PM

I started on a 1990 ninja 750, but it was so heavy and the carbs were so messed up that it was worse than a 250. It took me about a month to get the carbs running right, and after that I do believe all that power hindered me for awile.

View Poll Results: What size (cc's) was your first street bike?
125	2	2.22%
250	12	13.33%
500	12	13.33%
600	28	31.11%
650	8	8.89%
750	4	4.44%
800	4	4.44%
900	3	3.33%
1000 or bigger	9	10.00%
Other	8	8.89%
Voters: 90. You may not vote on this poll

03-20-2008, 09:27 AM	#11
fpzx10 Rides a Crotch Scooter Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: shitville Moto: 2007 GSXR 750 Posts: 714	Boulevard 800 Ninja zx10r GSXR 750 currently __________________

03-20-2008, 10:26 AM	#14
fnfalman Europhile Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: SoCal Moto: Aprilia RS125, Aprilia SR50 Factory, Aprilia Tuono, BMW Rockster, KTM 990 Adventure Posts: 1,875	This is a tricky question for me to answer. First of all, the bike that I started on was not the bike that I owned as a beginner. I started on a Honda Hurricane. A dumbass Army buddy of mine who didn't know squat about motorcycles (neither did I) decided to go get a Hurricane because it was the coolest thing out there. We went and picked it up in his pickup truck, neither of us know how to ride a motorbike. We read the manual about the clutch and throttle and brake, etc. He climbed on, no helmet, T-shirt, jeans and tennis shoes (I was similarly attired) and roared down the parking lot with the bike careening out of control, skidded down the right side with the lucky bastard rolling in the grass. The whole right fairing was screwed up. THEN it was my turn to get on. I follow suit and fell on the left side. So the brand new bike was fucked. Anyway, I bought a Kawi EX500 (aka Ninja 500 nowadays). Not because I learned my lesson but because that's all I could afford. MSF? No way, man. I was too macho for that shit. All I need was cruising around town for a bit with the boys on Saturday night, trying to act cool for the chicks. Bareheaded, James Dean-style black dress leather jackets, black Army dress gloves, some sort of cheap half boots and Levi's. The first time I ever rode in a twisty was to ride to Nashville on the backroad, I crashed at an easy 30-MPH turn. An easy low side into the side of the road that was covered with leaves. Walked away without a scratch with minor scraping on the bike's fairing. Didn't understand why and how I crashed either. Later on I realized that I didn't know shit from shinola because I never bothered to learn how to ride the correct way. I thought that leaning was how you turn the bike into the corner. MSF, MSF, MSF, MSF, MSF. Enough said. __________________ *Cogito Ergo Vroom - I think therefore I ride*

03-20-2008, 11:40 AM	#18
t-homo WSB Champion Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Springfield, MO Posts: 7,146	Buell Blast. 500cc single cylinder. Hope to move up to a early 2000s 600 or 750 next year. I will get more in depth with this when I don't have to go to class in 5 min. Ok so I am back. I am really glad that I started on my 500. It is really forgiving and really builds your confidence. In the twisties, it handles really well and you can lean it over like its nothing. Last edited by t-homo; 03-20-2008 at 01:42 PM..

03-20-2008, 09:40 AM	#12
Rider Moto GP Star Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 12,156	750cc I4, Probably could of handled a liter bike to start. I rode for years on dirt bikes before switching to street.

03-20-2008, 09:47 AM	#13
z06boy Letzroll Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Lake Norman area, NC Moto: 07 Red R1 & 07 Blue R6 Posts: 5,265	I started out on a 1988 Ninja 600R...it wasn't quite like todays 600's. I wrecked it in 4 days.

03-20-2008, 10:29 AM	#15
JoJoYZF Bring on the Zombies! Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Cleveland Moto: 2000 Yamaha YZF600R Posts: 2,691	Started off on the slightly tamer 600cc bike that is in my avatar.

03-20-2008, 10:40 AM	#16
Crazy I'm home take me drunk Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Champaign, IL Moto: 2005 SV650s blue Posts: 430	started on a ninja 250, no previous experience besides the MSF.

03-20-2008, 10:53 AM	#17
OTB The Man Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: CrabTown USA Moto: 00 Bimota DB4 Posts: 823	This was my first....bought as a basket case and put it together....ran poorly, siezed all the time, but got me started on motorcycles. http://bikez.com/motorcycles/yamaha_yas_1_1970.php 15 HP!!!!!!!!!!!! This was my second: ran like a scalded cat!!! http://bikez.com/motorcycles/suzuki_gt_250_1973.php 31 HP!!!!!!!!!!!

03-20-2008, 04:13 PM	#20
vabarber2 ICON FTW!!! Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: VA, but currently in the sand Moto: 00GSXR6 Posts: 1,380	I started on a 1990 ninja 750, but it was so heavy and the carbs were so messed up that it was worse than a 250. It took me about a month to get the carbs running right, and after that I do believe all that power hindered me for awile.