Sportbikes are not beginner bikes

NeonspeedRT · 03-11-2008, 10:36 AM

There is an exception to every rule. As a general rule of thumb and in a perfect world, every rider would start on a small bike and work their way up.

Now does that always happen? No. I do know of some riders who have started out on 600cc or 1000cc sportbikes and became great riders. Of course being a MSF instructor, I also deal with at least two or three students every weekend who come to the class with a brand new "GSXR1000ZX10RR" as their first bike and have already wrecked it. Sometimes more then once.

I always tell students, would you buy your 16 year old child a twin turbo Dodge Viper for a first car? No? Then why would you want a "GSXR1000ZX10RR" for your first bike?

I really wish we had a stacked riding system like they do overseas. Where you have to have a 250cc for a year before you can move to a 500cc. Then you have to have that for a year before you can move up. I think that would prevent alot of accidents.

Sure the riders maturity level has alot to do with how well they learn on a sportbike. But if a rider gets into a panic situation and accidently rolls on the throttle in a corner on a 500cc bike, the bike is going to react alot differently then a 1000cc bike in that same situation.

Someonce once told me a 600cc sportbike wants to kill you. A 1000cc sportbike will try to kill you.

03-11-2008, 10:36 AM	#12
NeonspeedRT At Large Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Jax, FL Moto: 2005 R1 Posts: 678	There is an exception to every rule. As a general rule of thumb and in a perfect world, every rider would start on a small bike and work their way up. Now does that always happen? No. I do know of some riders who have started out on 600cc or 1000cc sportbikes and became great riders. Of course being a MSF instructor, I also deal with at least two or three students every weekend who come to the class with a brand new "GSXR1000ZX10RR" as their first bike and have already wrecked it. Sometimes more then once. I always tell students, would you buy your 16 year old child a twin turbo Dodge Viper for a first car? No? Then why would you want a "GSXR1000ZX10RR" for your first bike? I really wish we had a stacked riding system like they do overseas. Where you have to have a 250cc for a year before you can move to a 500cc. Then you have to have that for a year before you can move up. I think that would prevent alot of accidents. Sure the riders maturity level has alot to do with how well they learn on a sportbike. But if a rider gets into a panic situation and accidently rolls on the throttle in a corner on a 500cc bike, the bike is going to react alot differently then a 1000cc bike in that same situation. Someonce once told me a 600cc sportbike wants to kill you. A 1000cc sportbike will try to kill you. __________________ MSF Rider Coach Motorcycle Training Institue Inc "Riding a motorcycle is like playing chess. Anyone can learn the moves, but it takes a lifetime to master the game."