some advice for a newby

[inspiron]

Just to throw some more oil on the fire ...

Engine size is totally irrelevant. My bike has 1403 ccm, but it's tuned for touring. I've only managed to lift the front under heavy acceleration once, and that was just a couple of weeks after buying the bike.

The Triumph I rode last year had 350ccm LESS displacement, but 40 horsepower more than my Suzuki. That bike was a power monster. Just rolling on the throttle to enter the freeway was enough to lift the nose off the ground.

As a new rider, there is so much for you to learn! Having too much power at your disposal just makes the learning process that much harder. Start with a small bike. A good newbie bike will have about 35 horsepower - no more. That is enough power to take you into 3-digit speeds, but not enough power to launch you into orbit.

Take the MSF course. Buy a cheap, used bike. Spend more on the best gear you can afford (helmet, jacket, gloves, pants, boots).

You will drop your bike. It's part of the learning curve. We have all done it. Anyone who says that they've never dropped there bike is either lying in your face, or the bike is a garage decoration and not used for transportation or pleasure riding.

Good luck!