Shogun crash kit

[deathbybowtie]

I'm new here, I'm buying my first bike very soon, an 07 GSX-R600. It being my first bike, one of my primary concerns is protecting it since I'm probably a little more liable to drop it. I've been looking at frame sliders, and I saw the Shogun crash kit on kneedraggers.com (Shogun Crash Kit - Suzuki GSXR600 - KneeDraggers.com). Of course, the price immediately grabbed my attention (frame sliders, bar end sliders, and swing arm spools for the price of most stand-alone frame sliders), but deals like that tend to set off my BS-meter, so I'm wondering about the quality of Shogun's products. Also, their frame sliders are sold separately for $38, is it worth it to buy the whole Crash Kit for the bar end sliders and swing arm spools? And, if Shogun's products are no good, what would be a good alternative? (I've looked into the Puigs a bit, I saw them mentioned in another thread somewhere and they're also no-fairing-mod sliders.)

Thanks in advance.

[kay]

I've got these and they're great.

Moriwaki Engineering

But be careful with that bike. I won't recommend this bike to a beginner rider not only because you can amplify the consequences of your small mistakes in handling it but also because I don't think it'll give you the best/shortest way to learn the basic maneuvers.

You'll probably be a better rider faster and more safely on a more suitable bike after which you can switch to a gixxer 600. Plus you'll look much more cool if you rode it well and with style!

[drgibson]

I think I'll just sit in the corner and watch the show.

Bowtie duck! You might try reading this thread to see what you are in for.

http://www.motorcycle-journal.com/fo...t=beginer+bike

[deathbybowtie]

Yikes, I never really realized there was that much debate around the whole thing, most other stuff I've read seemed to imply that a gixxer was a decent starter bike. Looks like I'll be seriously reconsidering my purchase, thanks for the info.

[Rockhead]

Welcome Deathbybowtie

Besides the bikes well being, you need to look out for your own.

What's your riding experiance?
This is your first bike, have you ridden before?
Have you taken the MSF?
Do you have safety Gear?
How much is insurance?

Make sure to do your homework before tossing money down. Insurance alone for the Gixxer's can be quite costly.

[deathbybowtie]

Originally Posted by Rockhead

Welcome Deathbybowtie

Besides the bikes well being, you need to look out for your own.

What's your riding experiance? A little bit on a friend's bike, just around a parking lot and sidestreets.
This is your first bike, have you ridden before? Yes, see above.
Have you taken the MSF? Yes.
Do you have safety Gear? I have a helmet, and will be buying leathers before I do any riding.
How much is insurance?

Make sure to do your homework before tossing money down. Insurance alone for the Gixxer's can be quite costly.

My own safety has been well thought-out, much moreso than the bike's (which is something of a finishing touch). After all, if I crash and the bike looks fine but I'm dead from lack of protection, what good are all those nice bike parts doing me? Absolutely none.

My original idea was to ride my bike strictly in parking lots (I have several big church parking lots by my house that only have cars in them on Sundays) for at least a couple days until I get used to how the bike rides, then graduate to main roads during less-populated hours of the day and move up from there. (My school schedule is rather conducive to this kind of schedule, conveniently enough.) Regardless of what kind of bike I do get, this seems (to me, at least) to be a pretty good way of getting used to riding; any comments on it?

[robertc729]

Originally Posted by drgibson

I think I'll just sit in the corner and watch the show.

Hey, where's my chair, and pass the popcorn

[kay]

Originally Posted by deathbybowtie

My own safety has been well thought-out, much moreso than the bike's (which is something of a finishing touch). After all, if I crash and the bike looks fine but I'm dead from lack of protection, what good are all those nice bike parts doing me? Absolutely none.

My original idea was to ride my bike strictly in parking lots (I have several big church parking lots by my house that only have cars in them on Sundays) for at least a couple days until I get used to how the bike rides, then graduate to main roads during less-populated hours of the day and move up from there. (My school schedule is rather conducive to this kind of schedule, conveniently enough.) Regardless of what kind of bike I do get, this seems (to me, at least) to be a pretty good way of getting used to riding; any comments on it?

You sound like you have a good head on your shoulders.

But like I said, gixxers are TERRIBLE at turning low speed.
You'll be dropping it and scratching it at least several times before you can hit the open road. Those are just NOT bikes to be rode in parking lots. They aren't made to be ridden like that.

The easiest to learn the necessary skills are other type bikes which, I am sure, you can get plenty of advice here. Once you really know how those two-wheelers manuever (and I just don't mean the turning and moving), then you will be able to handle the gixxers fairly well AND (this is important too) without running into danger.

I haven't been riding for that long either but I rode ONLY in riding schools for the first 6 months (about 3 times a week for 2 hours each) and I hit the open road with my Kawi (naked). It was only after I started riding on tracks with my naked bike (Kawi) that I started considering to buy an SS bike. By then, I was quite sure I could handle SS bikes.

Believe me, SS bikes are NOT beginner bikes, which is why there are SS (Super Sports). It IS a racer, afer all.

So take your time to choose the right bike. I guarantee, you'll learn much quicker on a right bike!

[Gixxerman]

If this is your concern before buying a bike like this, I would've settle for a cheaper, smaller, lighter, more nimble bike. For me, a gixxer 600 is handling like peanuts and is no concern riding about, but if you're afraid tipping over... Why choose this bike ?
It's very easy to handle, awesome brakes etc but it AIN'T cheap to tip over. Get a cheap bike to practice your balance and confidence...

- My two cents...

[deathbybowtie]

Originally Posted by Gixxerman

If this is your concern before buying a bike like this, I would've settle for a cheaper, smaller, lighter, more nimble bike. For me, a gixxer 600 is handling like peanuts and is no concern riding about, but if you're afraid tipping over... Why choose this bike ?
It's very easy to handle, awesome brakes etc but it AIN'T cheap to tip over. Get a cheap bike to practice your balance and confidence...

- My two cents...

Like I said, it's not my primary concern (the primary concern being my personal safety), but I want to take care to protect any several-thousand-dollar investment I make, be it a Gixxer or a Ninja 250. I'm not afraid of tipping over, but I'd rather spend a few bucks now and be prepared in case it happens than have it happen and kick myself for not spending the money, and I'd like to know that the product I'm using to protect my investment isn't gonna crap out at the worst possible time. (Sorta like you don't want to put a crappy roll cage on a car that'll bend and break should you ever actually roll the car. You don't plan on rolling the car, but just in case you do, you want a roll cage that's not gonna break. Probably not a great analogy to help my case, but it was the first thing that came to mind.)

I'll certainly be thinking all your advice over, much thanks for all your input. But, just for my own future reference, how are those Shogun products?

[Gixxerman]

Just posting this, tells me you're not ready for this type of bike. Get a GSR600 or something in that category, and then we can talk framesliders etc

Build your confidence, not fool yourself thinking you have it naturally... None of us has...

[kay]

Originally Posted by deathbybowtie

But, just for my own future reference, how are those Shogun products?

Sorry never used those and never know anybody that does, so I really can't comment.

As for practicing in parking lots, whatever bike you end up getting, that'll be good but only for so much. The reason is because how would you know WHAT to practice, right? It's not all about just turning and balancing.

The best thing to do will be to take a MSF course cuz they can teach you the basics that you'll need. Then you can practice what they taught you in parking lots.

Keep us posted on how you're doing, though.

[deathbybowtie]

Originally Posted by kay

Sorry never used those and never know anybody that does, so I really can't comment.

As for practicing in parking lots, whatever bike you end up getting, that'll be good but only for so much. The reason is because how would you know WHAT to practice, right? It's not all about just turning and balancing.

The best thing to do will be to take a MSF course cuz they can teach you the basics that you'll need. Then you can practice what they taught you in parking lots.

Keep us posted on how you're doing, though.

I've already taken an MSF course, and conveniently enough, there's a college about two miles from my house that runs them, so they've got all the lines and whatnot sprayed on the pavement, which I'll probably put to use (hopefully after I get ahold of some of those little cones).

[kay]

Originally Posted by deathbybowtie

I've already taken an MSF course, and conveniently enough, there's a college about two miles from my house that runs them, so they've got all the lines and whatnot sprayed on the pavement, which I'll probably put to use (hopefully after I get ahold of some of those little cones).

Oh really? Now THAT sounds great!
Yup, use those lines and practice what they taught you at MSF. That'll be a really good start. I've been riding quite a bit now, but I still go to schools and keep practicing. I've found that everytime I start thinking I'm getting good, my big head gets smashed in school when I see all those who are a zillion time better and that's keeps me going, pushing to get better.

Even with those figure 8 maneuvers, once you get that under control, you can make the 8 smaller, or go faster, or even slower. I once had the instructor made me so it without touching the brakes nor the throttle. Just idling speed (which is fairly fast on my 750 Kawi!) and rear brakes. I wasn't supposed to touch any other controls. That was harder than I imagined.

So there's really no limit to what you can do and sure enough the better you are, the better you will be on the street. And if ANYTHING happened, you have a better chance of either avoiding danger or getting out of it.

I won't say a GSX-R600 is impossible to ride, cuz all in all it IS a great bike that runs great and once you know how to control, it is not a difficult bike to ride. But for example, compared to my Kawi, I must say it is less tolerable to mistakes and as Gixxerman said, much more expensive to repair. So I do still think that it will be better if you can just pick out an inexpensive second hand bike that is better for newbies and practice. It will keep your dollars in your wallet a lot better than a gixxer. But again, your choice. And if you decide to stick with the gixxer, bear in mind that it can bite and be super careful. I have to say, a newbie + gixxer (whether 600, 750 or 1000) and your young age is not a good combination.

But you do seem to have the right attitude towards bikes and I know you'll learn to be a good rider.

And once again, to the biker world!!!

[JmalB]

You seem to be going about this in the right way, so I don't want to pile on about getting a gixxer as a first bike, but...

Originally Posted by deathbybowtie

Yikes, I never really realized there was that much debate around the whole thing, most other stuff I've read seemed to imply that a gixxer was a decent starter bike. Looks like I'll be seriously reconsidering my purchase, thanks for the info.

Where ever you're getting that info from, don't go back.

I would recommend a used YZF600R. Good bike. Still a 600. Still faster than most cages on the road. And a big gas tank for lots of practicing miles.

[deathbybowtie]

Any thoughts on the SV650? I just saw the 08 model, and it looks sexy as hell, and if I remember correctly, they're supposed to be a little less intense than the Gixxers. (Or have my sources failed me once more? )

[Gixxerman]

The SV650 is a very good choice. If the looks is your cup of tea, I won't say anything more

[deathbybowtie]

In light of all this evidence, I'm gonna go out tomorrow and shop around for some less intense bikes (SV650, YZF600, whatever else I can find), sit one some stuff and see what works. Much thanks for all your input, hopefully it'll keep me alive that much longer

[JmalB]

Ninja 650R
GSX650F
Katana 600
Ducati 695 Monster (a little on the expensive side)

[MrGixxer]

I would have to disagree with most of you. I started out on a 2007 GSXR 600. My first bike and it has been good to me. Easy turning at low speeds, I also took the MSF course before hand. It's all in how you act while your on the bike. You can fall or drop any bike at any level of riding. Things happen long as your not acting crazy. Good luck I say shot for the Gixxer 600 don't wast your time or money on others then want to upgrade like most will in a years time, Peace