Why Beginners should buy a cheaper used bike

[aajones]

I have never ridden in my life and because of finance options and such I decided to get a brand new bike (2004 Katana 600).

Well after purchasing I had an experienced rider ride it out of the dealership and we went back to where he had parked. In the parking lot him and some other friends who rode were showing me the basics of getting started.

I have ridden 4 wheelers and had the misperception that a motorcycle was similiar but quickly found out that I was dead wrong. For some reason I thought it would be similar to an automatic and you put it in gear and hit the gas but it isn't. It's like a standard and the first gear can be tricky for a beginner for no experience.

We decided that a bigger parking lot was in order since the one we were in was extremely small. So my friend rode the bike to a new parking lot and we started over again. I watched a couple friends start out in first gear.

People explain getting the bike going by saying you have to ease off the clutch and hit the gas at the same time and explain it that way. I have driven a standard car for years though so an easier way for newbies to have it explained is to push the gas (very lightly) and then ease off the clutch which is a little different then the way most people explain of easing off the clutch and pushing the gas.... start by pushing the gas and then ease off the clutch.

I also learned why people say to start out with a 250cc bike or maybe a 500cc bike. The Katana 600 is not a GSX-R or anything like that but it still has a lot of power and the gas is extremely sensitive which for someone who's never been on a bike before you can imagine trying to ease off the clutch and not gun the gas.... Anyone who hasn't ever ridden needs to either get in a class or buy a smaller bike.

Well back to the story of my first day riding.

I finally got it in first and was riding through the empty parking lot learning to turn and learning to maneuver the bike and gear up, etc... when a couple of my friends had to head out. The last friend with me lives about 100 yards from a school with a parking lot so he drove my bike over to his house and then I took it up to that parking lot to tool around with and get more familiar.

Everything was going great. I learned how to start and stop with few problems and learned how to turn and maneuver. While learning though I realized there were a few things I need to practice. I learned that on right turns I had a tendency to gas it a little since the gas is on the right. I also learned that starting is tricky until you get the hang of it and turning is tricky until you get the hang of it. I realized that even though I could do these seperately I might have problems combining the two. I realized that if I were stopped at a stop sign or light and had to turn right I might have problems, so I decided to practice.

I found the end lane of one of the ailes (spelling?) and was pretending it was the street where the stop sign was and the cross lane was going to be the street I was turing right onto.

Here's some lessons I learned:

1. Even when you are in a fairly safe environment (like a parking lot) you have to be aware of all your surroundings and if you are new and don't know your limitations then be extra extra aware.

To expand on this lesson let me give you the scenario. I kept practicing and practicing and became aware that this was something that was difficult for me. I realized that I had a tendency to gas the bike a little too much when I went into the turn.

There was a dumpster about 20-30 feet in front of me (I'm sure most of you are seeing where this is going). I went to practice a turn and gassed it a little too much and went barrelling towards the dumpster but I realized I could stop in time and I went to hit the front brake but because I was in a hurry and panicked I revved the gas even more and realized I wasn't going to be able to stop so I turned until I was angling to the right of the dumpster and hit my breaks hard hoping I was at an angel to miss the dumpster but I didn't miss. Fortunately I had angled enough to only hit the left side of my bike but the dumpster didn't even slow me down and now I wasn't thinking about the dumpster but the brick wall which was about 10 feet or so behind the dumpster and coming at me 3D like... I realized I couldn't stop (new tires suck) so I figured I could hopefully turn and miss the wall or at least have it to where there was little impact so I turned hard which leads into the 2nd lesson.

2. How to lay the bike.

I know many people who talk about laying their bike down and have read about having to do it in order to avoid a collision that would be more dangerous then laying the bike (like hitting a brick wall head on). I know the concept of counter-steering which I learned while practicing and basically for those who don't know if you need to turn your bike the key is to lean it and the best way to do this is as follows. If you are wanting to go right then you would push the right grip of your handle bar and if you wanted to go left then you would push your left handle bar. In relation to your tires though this is counter steering. You steer right to go left and vice versa. This isn't the best way to steer at slow speeds but is the best to steer at higher speeds. Anyways back to the lesson of how to lay your bike down. While flying towards the wall I steared hard right (meaning I pushed my left grip as hard as I could to point my tires right) and at the same time I pulled my brake as hard as I could. My bike immediately fell over on the left (so I didn't damage my exhaust) and nearly immediately stopped.

I didn't hit the wall and when I picked my bike up I realized there was minimal damage on it. All the damage was cosmetic and besides a broken reflector there wasn't really anything that bad. A few scratches.

This story is a waste for most experienced riders but for any new folks wanting to learn to ride take it from someone who found out the hard way and go get a cheap used bike to learn on. I got lucky in the fact that after all that (hitting a metal dumpster and laying my bike down) I only had a few scratches. It could have been a lot worse.

I also suggest educating yourself. I've been reading Motorcycle Proficiency by David Hough and actually read the motorcycle handbook by the DMV and got my learners permit and I've signed up for a MSF beginners course (unfortunately they are so full where I live I'm not going to get to take one for 2 months so it'll probably be 2 months before I actually get out on the road but parking lots will be busy until then..lol..)

If I hadn't done any reading though ahead of time then who knows how bad the accident could have been. The reading is what explained counter-steering and such to me. It also made me panick less then I could have and there are several things I did that probably saved me from serious injury. Protective gear is REALLY REALLY important. Even though I was in a parking lot and not going fast when I hit that dumpster I had a lot of momentum because of gassing the bike and when I hit the pavement it was hard enough to scratch my helmet and hard enough to put marks on my hands that were protected by riding gloves. Even if you are in a controlled environment don't think that you can leave your helmet or protective gear off.

[Gixxerdale]

Sorry to hear about your new bike riding experience. Perhaps your write up will convince some new riders to seek training and start on a smaller used bike? You were very lucky though. Some newbies don't walk away from these incidents. But hey! Your bike now has "character" and you have gained some character as well!
I hope you get that training and follow through with riding in the future. It's a lot of fun once you get some training and experience.

[aajones]

Yep I'm definately going to continue riding.

To be honest I had a great time even though I didn't leave the parking lot.

I did sign up for a riders safety course however I found out today that they are booked till august so in the meantime I plan to continue to take my bike to the parking lots and practice or have others take my bikes to the parking lots I practice on.

There are some exercises in the books I'm reading that I plan to practice.

[Uncle Bob]

Need I say more !

[Gixxerdale]

Originally Posted by Uncle Bob

Need I say more !

Bob, you should make his story a Sticky!

[stevie c]

Don't you have to take any sort of test to ride a bike over there?

When I began riding I had an all day test,morning in school yard,afternoon on roads.
Then a few lessons on a 125,then lessons on a 500,then an exam called 'hazard perception' where you watch a film and have to spot hazards as early as possible,then I sat a mutiple choice exam on the highway code,then I had to do a practical test on the 500.

Not legal until all this is done and passed.
This took me about 3 months,some people take longer,some less time.

[Louis]

Originally Posted by Gixxerdale

Bob, you should make his story a Sticky!

Done!

[tlwisner]

[quote="stevie c"]Don't you have to take any sort of test to ride a bike over there?
[quote]

Here in Kentucky, there is a 20 question multiple choice written test to get your instruction permit. This test is less than challenging. The restrictions on the permit do not allow you to carry a passenger and you must wear a helmet. No other restriction on bike size, interstate riding, nothin'. The permit is good for one year. Any time after 30 days, you may take a driving test (also less than challenging) on your motorcycle to get the regular motorcycle license or endorsement on your operators license. Taking an MSF course will excuse you from the road test requirement for the license.

Driver licensing in the US is quite a bit more permissive than in the U.K.

[SoldierSteve]

IN AZ, you get the permit for an equally unchallenging 20 question multiple choice test. Its valid for 6 months and the restrictions are no night driving, no interstates/freeways and no passengers. Interesting how different states have different rules. I imagine it has something to do with how cycle friendly the state is.

[justgot1]

Laugh if you want but im 28 and just got my first bike,(insert snide comment here) a 1980 GS550L and im told it's a perfect beginner bike. But i digress, thanks for the advice for the rookie.

[DragonGold]

Originally Posted by Gixxerdale

Sorry to hear about your new bike riding experience. Perhaps your write up will convince some new riders to seek training and start on a smaller used bike? You were very lucky though. Some newbies don't walk away from these incidents. But hey! Your bike now has "character" and you have gained some character as well!
I hope you get that training and follow through with riding in the future. It's a lot of fun once you get some training and experience.

I am sorry about your bike, but everyone is different.


I too bought a Katana 600, and had never even sat on a bike before this one.

I got handed the keys at the dealer, went out to the bike, started it up, did 2 big figure 8's around the parking lot, and then right out onto a 2 lane highway with a speed limit of 55...


Its hard to believe that someone who has driven a standard transmission for more than a month, would have a hard time understanding how to do i on a motorcycle. As far as starting goes at least. As I learned when I was 16 about a standard, its all in the feeling of the clutch/gas. Its no different on a bike.

[silly little girl]

FYI - in PA all you have to do is pay $10 and viola! You've got yourself a permit, good for one year, sunup to sundown only, helmets yes, passengers no, and as far as I know no interstate/highway restrictions.

[DJHowie]

I hear ya. Sorry to hear, but happened to me. My first bike, 04 600 Kat, going through town 3 days later, and a lady pulls out in front of me. She caused the accident, then took off. I was PISSED I put 75 miles going around my neighborhood, which is the size of a 1/4 mile track. But yeah, I feel ya man. I've got 1000 miles on it now and still scared to lean in turns to far. Hell, I'm pissing off cars behind me because I am going so slow. Oh well.

[SuzNewbie]

I've just finished my MSF course and I am looking for a first bike. I would love to get a 250cc or maybe the GS500 but I am getting a very good deal on a 600cc Katana. Is it really too much for a newbie? For reference, I am 5'6", about 140lbs. I've driven mopeds and automatic two-wheelers before. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[Louis]

What's the intended use of the bike?

[SuzNewbie]

I intend to use the bike for commuting to work (a 6 mile round trip) daily. And of course going for a spin on weekends.

[rileycfr]

I always rode dirtbikes as well, and never a streetbike. I got a 03 gsxr600, first time riding a street bike. Took it on the freeway. Loved it. Learned more and more with every new day that came. Each person is different, its not a matter of if you drop it, it is when you drop it. Have fun and keep riding...

[Skate1248]

thanks for the info aajones. I'm in the process of buying my first bike which happens to be a 97 tl1000s...I've never ridden before either. my friend who is selling it for this other guy threw a helmet at me and said dont crash. I took off on the first try but turning that thing was HARD. thanks for the advice.

[Adrenalin_Junky]

Personnally, it all depends on ones respect for the bike and their limits. Sure their are bikes we would all not recommend getting for a first bike, but many of them just need to be respected and understood that just beacause you dream about railing a cornere at 150mph, doesnt mean you can. Especially your first week of riding!

[inspiron]

I disagree, Junky.

Sure, self control is important. But it's human nature to "push the envelope", with that "tickle" to open the throttle "just this once" to see what the bike can do. Someone who's never been on a bike before will very quickly exceed their abilities. A 500ccm street machine responds (accelerates) much more slowly than a 600ccm racing machine - allowing the rider a bit more "slack" when they do twist their wrist.

And a noobie has a whole new set of skills to learn and master, including operating the bike's controls, slow-speed manoevers, and emergency stops. These lessons should be learned on a small, light, used bike, that won't cost a fortune to repair when it gets dropped. Once you have mastered these skills on a beginner bike, then you may be ready to try them on a big bike - with more weight and/or more power.

Riding on the street requires 100% concentration. If I am still learning to control the bike, conciously thinking about how to use the throttle, how to use the clutch and gear shift and how to use the front and rear brakes, then I am focusing on me - not on the traffic around me. That can be a fatal mistake, since traffic is totally unforgiving.

That little boy (or dog or cat or soccer ball) appearing between two parked cars doesn't announce his presence in advance - and when it happens, I will react instinctively. If I haven't practiced / prepared for this situation, my reaction will be wrong - meaning I'll either hit the child/animal/obsticle, or I will do an uncontrolled stoppie and drop my bike and kiss the ground. Either way, someone gets hurt. Not a pleasant thought ...

I put more than 10'000 miles on a Vespa 50ccm, then another 4'000 miles on my Honda 125ccm before I stepped up to my current big bike. I have had a drivers license for 25 years, and been on 2 wheels for 13 of those. I also have a commercial drivers license, and drive a 8-ton firetruck about once a month. I have driven over half a million miles ... at speeds up to 140mph ... and I still feel that I have alot to learn. Every car/truck/motorcycle is different ... as is every street, every day.

We don't have a MSF here - the safety courses are organised by the manufacturers (BMW, for example), the Auto Club, or by insurance companies. My insurance company, for example, gives me a discount on a 1-day MC safety course each year. In the first year, the course focused on slow-speed manoevers - using the clutch and throttle to control your speed, driving in circles and figure 8's, and emergency stops on dirt and pavement.

In the second year, we got into curve techniques - how to plot your line, braking, leaning, planning, etc. We were up in the hills, taking a series of sweeping turns, first down the hill, then back up. This was all recorded on video, then reviewed during the de-briefing. If any part of your body crossed the center line, the instructor would remind you to imagine that a bus was coming the other way, and what would happen to your head in that situation.

The third year (coming next Spring!) is a track-day ...