Sup guys. I am a super new rider. I just got my permit 3 weeks ago, bought a grom and I love to ride already. I am now addicted and want something with some speed.
I don't plan on buying a nother bike for atleast a couple months. But when I do, I want to get a 1000rr. I realize going form grom to a liter bike is a big jump in power.
My question is, if I drive conservatively for the most part with a 1000, would it be as safe as learning a 600? Is there a higher learning curve on a 1000 than something with less power? would I not be able to control it as well? I don't plan on driving crazy until I really get the hang of it. Would it be a good idea to jump to a 1000?
What would be the bad about getting a 1000 over something liike a 600? other than the fact that that I can get hurt more if I drive like a maniac.
I see, sounds like I need to get some time under my belt on something with less power. Could you tell me why you say I should have 2 years on , what needs be learned from a bike with less power? thanks bro
My question is, if I drive conservatively for the most part with a 1000, would it be as safe as learning a 600? Is there a higher learning curve on a 1000 than something with less power? would I not be able to control it as well? I don't plan on driving crazy until I really get the hang of it. Would it be a good idea to jump to a 1000?
The simple answer is no, you will not be as safe. Yes, there is a higher learning curve. Yes, you would not be able to control it. It's not about driving crazy, it's about making an input mistake on a bike that's simply not designed to be forgiving.
Get a Ninja 300. It's about the best beginner bike you can get. Plenty of power for comfortable street riding, lightweight, forgiving, excellent learning tool. There are tons available on Craigslist, they are cheap, easy to fix, etc.
Get a KTM RC390. Or wait for the new CBR250RR. My personal opinion, I started out on a 02 954. But I had experience with growing up on two smoke dirt bikes. Yes two complete different worlds, but I've had that dirt bike experience save my ass more then once. To sum it up If u have no experience on 2 wheels at all other then the grom, start with something smaller. Also all of my friends but one all started small and very quickly got liter bikes.
You're going to crash, plain and simple. Its just a matter of time. We've all been there. May as well get a normal bike like "neo" said, and get some miles under your belt. More than likely you will be going to fast for a turn and not brake properly and/or enough, or not lean the bike over far enough to make the turn and ride straight off the road. Hopefully not into a guardrail, tree, ditch, or over a hill. I've been riding since I was 7 yrs old. Nine years later got a streetbike (VT500Ascot). Had a small spill, picked it up and kept going. Two years later got a V65 Sabre, the beast, threw me down the road 3 times. Started racing in the mid 90's on a 87 Hurricane 600, crashed in a race. Got a 94 CBR 600 F2, crashed it at a practice day before race weekend. Also that weekend did my fastest lap and best race finish. 2012 lost the rear, almost crashed at a "trackday". Slammed my chest off the tank, hurt like hell. So.......Its just a matter of time, you're going to crash, be careful. Yes, I street ride and do track days on a 08 CBR 1000rr, it demands respect.
I rode dirt bikes as a kid. But, my first street bike(20 years later) was a 929. I think it really depends on the person. If you're the kind of person who will need to 'see what it's capable of' then I'd say no. But, if you can respect the bike then I don't see a reason why not. Just my 2 cents.
It's not about respecting the bike. We all make mistakes. Liter bikes are race machines in street clothes. Making a mistake on a bike like that usually does not end well, especially on the street - with cars, guard rails, lamp posts, etc.
The idea and experience about the Grom is all about having an extremely high level of fun at realistic and safer speeds, much more than one would ever have on a 1000 on those same city streets, IMO. Don't get me wrong, I have a ton of fun with my 600, but it's already a very capable bike and I need higher speeds to get a good rush and enjoyment - maybe 40 - 50+ mph as a start.
Next logical step would be a 300cc sport bike. Don't rush it. Enjoy the steps, you'll have plenty of time to get to a liter, and even when you do, I bet you still won't have as much realistic fun as you do now on that Grom of yours.
A 250cc will still get up to 80 or so mph. Even at those speeds you will not fair well against guide rail, telephone pole, etc. I understand a 1000cc can get there faster...but like I said before..if you need to top it out...no bike is safe.
Great replies in here...guess I should have asked about a cbr 600 first. Even a 600 sounds like too much bike.
I guess my concern now is I dropped 3k on a brand new grom that basically wont teach me anything about a super sport. Now I have to drop another 4k or so on a 250 before I can experience a 600,which I'm guessing I should progress to before a liter. Sounds like a lot of money in bikes to progress to where I want to end up, but I guess it's not much more than medical bills. :laugh2:
There are already quite a few threads on this question, so you may want to search and get a wider level of responses. The question is are you just looking for the 2 responses that give you what you want to hear or are you genuinely interested in listening to what those with more experience have to say?
1000's are fun, yes. Everyone says they will "respect", you need to or you won't live long but mistakes on a 1L have very little margin for error. We all make mistakes while we learn, regardless of our desire not to.
Regardless of what bike you go with, my recommendation to all riders is advanced training and skill development. Look at track-oriented riding courses. Even if you never plan to race, its a controlled environment to develop skills on any bike. You will have many bikes throughout your riding career, but skill you always take with you.
Just remember, there is no reset button on the street
Do you know how hard you can brake from X speed in an emergency? Do you know how to apply the brakes properly for maximum braking? How far can you lean the bike? How much grip does my tire have at X temperature? If the rear slips, do you know how to respond? These skills can only be learned through training and repetition.
All above post have great info from first hand riders....get smaller engine bike to "beware of the unexpected" (cdaus_4 summarized it the best) gain the experience and know the things that can go wrong on the road and trust me there are a lot of them, know your limits and the bike's then get litre bike. They are too quick and lack of experience can get you in trouble, litre bikes are unforgiving. Braking, leaning on turns, tire temperature vs road grip, psi vs road grip, suspension setup vs stability, controlling the instantaneous response from the throttle, emergency maneuvers to avoid hazards such as gravel on turns or stupid drivers, how much can your bike handle, how much can you handle, survival responses and their negative impacts. Litre bike too quick and very easy to have f$&@ed up day on it if you have no experience. Even if you ride conservatively, you are just one of 100 things on the road around you at any time that can cause a problem.
My 1000 still scares the crap out of me from time to time.
I have enough experience though, that even when it scares the crap out of me, I don't panic.
You need to gain experience from smaller bikes to know what I am talking about. Get a CBR500 for a year 3000+ miles, then a 600 for a year or two 5000+ miles, then jump up to a 1000.
The difference is between declarative and procedural memory. Having to think about what to do in a certain scenario vs just being able to react... building muscle memory takes lots of practice.
Small 300cc bike, moto school, lots of seat time with the most focus on situational awareness of traffic and take the little bike to the track and really learn how to ride it. Proper gear too. Then you can always sell the smaller bike, recoup some green backs and go shopping.
your next step should be one of the following - ninja 250/300 , r3 , rc390 , gs500 , SV650 .
My Vote goes for the sv650 , Its more bike than your ready for , but is a great platform and you may never get rid of it even when you do upgrade .
A 1000RR is not a bike for the inexperienced, or those with a loose relationship with self-control. As someone said, it's a race bike in street clothing, and not forgiving. Buy a "beater", ride a few thousand miles, and THEN think about moving up to the big leagues. An MSF course and maybe a sportbike course like the California Superbike School or Yamaha Ride Like a Champion may be in order, too. Ride Safe!
Here in Belgium you have to take lessons and if the instructor is convinced you're no greater risk on the road than everyone else, you get a learner-permit. With that you can ride your own bike for maximum 12 months. Then you have to take your exam or start over.
I took my exam after three months, the minimum time as a student driver.
Before I got my license I rode a cbr600f4i as a student driver and that went great. Oké, I had a personal instructor (hubby) with me almost all the time. And I did 3000 km on it in three months.
Took my test, got my license and immediately traded the 600 for a Suzuki GSX 750F. Learned a lot from that bike because it was too big and too heavy for me. Still, I took it to Austria for a holiday.
Then, due to circumstances, I became the proud owner of a 1krr within one year of having my license.
Was it wise? Yes, for me it was.
This bike fits better with my little body.
I'm not a young, hormone-driven guy who needs to impress his friends.
I've four children to stay alive for.
TS, you know there are two groups of riders? Those who have crashed an those who will crash!
You don't want to crash with a 1krr. It'll probably be a nasty crash if your an inexperienced rider.
Go for something like an SV-650 or a GSX 600F for the next 2000 miles. And make sure you do some light off-road miles as well. Breaking in sand or gravel, always a nice learning moment.
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Related Threads
?
?
?
?
?
Honda CBR 1000RR Forums
2.5M posts
50.9K members
Since 2003
A forum community dedicated to Honda CBR 1000RR motorcycle owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about troubleshooting, performance, modifications, classifieds, maintenance, and more!