I'm 28, I've been riding a motorcycle for over 12 years and motocross even longer. My opinion on this take is that any bike will do for a first bike for most common sense riders who have patience and will take time to learn their bike. at 18 I had a used 08 Yamaha r1, and that bike was at the time mental. But i was responsible at that age and didn't try going 160 down I-81, didn't try scrapping knees on the twisties nor was I popping wheelies in empty backlots. I had friends with more experience than me and professionals at tracks show me the more advanced tips and tricks for riding that helped me mature into where I'm at now. back in 17 I sold my r1 and got the new model r6 at the time to have more fun on twisty roads I knew and the track because by then I was very confident in my bikes and the roads I rode on. Now I have a Yamaha xsr900, I like still like popping wheelies which is nothing for that bike but I also find myself not needing to go mental on the backroads like I used to and don't go to the track as much now that I have two children. I enjoy longer rides and being more comfortable. Now with all that being said just to build some credibility here I don't think a 1000cc with all the bells and whistles is gonna be appropriate for everyone because a lot of younger people will not respect their bike and will wanna impress people which is a quick trip to the er and your bike on the back of a tow truck. It all depends on the person and how responsible and mature they are. I've helped many friends dial it back a few notches because they were getting ahead of themselves and some even had liter bikes as well. Would I recommend anything under 600cc to anyone with today's tech? Probably not because most people will get bored and with todays tech you can change how your bike preforms which is amazing. But it never hurts to get a cheap bike which you can learn on and let it get dropped without worrying about dents or scratches. My wife learned on a Honda rebel 250 my family had sitting around and that thing has more dents than a golf ball XD
Despite racing 50cc dirt when i was young, i started riding on my Honda XL750 beginning of this year. Has tons of low end power. Tops out around 120. But im also not stupid. I knew what i was starting out on. You gotta know your skill level and what you can and can't handle, and slowly push your limit as you learn the bike, in my experience, anyway. Been riding for 7 months daily commute and the biggest issue no matter what size bike you get is people on their phones.
My "first" bike was a 1979 Suzuki GS1000L. It goes 55 in first gear. That is an insane amount of power for a brand new rider. No traction control. No ABS. No fuel injection. None of that stuff. I learned to not be stupid, because doing so would probably kill me.
Okay, listen, this is the order in which you choose your first bike: 1. Ergo, does the bike fit you? Go try different styles and sizes. 2. Safety equipment. ABS is a good idea, anti-wheelie, rain-mode. 3. Doesn't matter. 4. Enjoy.
I have a 1000 cc bike. No its not a rocket but it is smooth and secure feeling because of the weight, 550 lbs. However I do also love my 100cc XR for goofing off in the woods!! Its so light and nimble its just plane fun! There is a bike for all occasions. Why just have one?
@@FUTGSXR-RIDER You are telling novice riders to get a 1000cc superbikes, if you really think like that you are novice and you are giving other novice riders terrible ideas… it’s not all about rider aids my friend…
How? I am not saying everybody should get a big bike for there first. Only some people. People that are smart and are planning on getting on anyways. I don’t think it’s for everyone like I said. But for the few that should, that’s who this video is for. Maybe I should I changed the title…
Started on an 2007 Fireblade, still here and alive. It's all about your mindset. That said, I'm not out here trying to learn stunting on that thing - too dangerous to learn on with all that power and no electronic aids. So with that in mind I think the ideal first bike is one that doesn't have too much power or costs too much - to the point that these factors are stopping you from learning and pushing limits.
You can go over a hundred with a 300 too. Obviously a litre will be a lot smoother and you still have a bunch of torque over a buck. It is mostly if you wanna deal with the maintenance and insurance of a sport bike. I'd still recommend a cheap bike lower CC bike as your first, because it doesn't hurt your soul as much when you drop it. And you wanna get most of your drops on your learner and not on a super sport. I mean, do people actually buy super sports as their first bike and attempt to learn how to do full lock turns with them?
I bought an Fz1 for $2200 recently as my first bike, I dumped the shit out of it in my first full lock turn. I wouldnt recomend to anyone a 1000 as a first bike but to be fair Id probably have dumped any bike being my first time. I picked it back up and built some confidence and settled with a Gsxr 600
I also agree with you. For the majority of riders smaller bikes are better at first. But there are some people I think should get 1000cc first. I am not at all saying anyone should get them. Only some.
How do you man even get insured it must be loose over there, when I try get on a inline 4 600cc here with full license, man spent days phoning insurers just to be told there is no market for it. No matter how much I was willing to pay.
I wouldn't agree with this take. As much as your argument relies on the rider being sensible, it will likely put them in a position where they will struggle to build confidence. I started riding on a 600cc (4 cyclinder with a weak low end) and I don't regret it. If it were a 1000cc I would have been terrified of the throttle the whole time. There is a video on the skyoom YT channel illustrating this. Ironically he sold his bike after a crash because the loss of confidence was dangerous.
You’re right, for most people this isn’t a good idea. However for those that are sensible and are not stupid enough to go right to a mode where the throttle is indeed super twitchy. I think it’s a fine idea for them to get a 1000 right away
@@FUTGSXR-RIDER Bro its like you hear from your left ear and the words goes out from your right. He said that riders would loose confidence if they are being "sensible" because their not comfortable with the weight, the power and just riding in general. Like you don't cut off 100lbs or 100hp when you put it in mode C lets say. Its still a liter bike designed to go fucking fast. Listen, its made so you can push like a mother fucker and not a pussy ass on the track. But listen, they also make 300c bikes specifically made to train on and has a less harsher ergonomics. They also make 600cc bikes for intermediate riders who are ready for the next step. So you have these three classes right ? which one do you think tolerates newbie errors more ? I swear to God you don't listen. But hey its your life and everyone else's reading this shit. Yall believe that humans are flawless and I guess its cool.
@@screatyswote3035 Most motorcyclist aren't sensible in a safety sense. They'd drive an automobile if that really was the case. Driving a motorcycle assumes elevated risk no matter how safe one is. I consider myself a medium to high risk rider. I don't go full squid or anything, but I generally speed and squeeze tight gaps while weaving through traffic. I'll lane split in slow traffic as well, despite it being illegal in my state, because I've rode a lot in SE Asia where lane splitting and filtering is the norm and I'm completely comfortable doing it. Before actually owning a bike I thought I would be safe and responsible. I told myself this because I didn't want to be a statistic. Now that I have more experience I would honestly try to pin every bike I rode given the opportunity, hit turns hard AF, and rarely use my breaks. My mentality completely flipped and I was lying to myself, I don't mind dying in a wreck, I just don't want to do it because I suck at riding. My overall point is that most people don't know their risk tolerance till they own a bike. I'd venture to say that most will test the limits of whatever bike they have. And, quite frankly, no one buys a sports bike to drive the speed limit. If one even has to ask themselves if they'll be safe and responsible with a liter bike as their first, the answer is no...but maybe I'm projecting.
@@IkaikaArnado I think you're projecting a bit. I've still remained reasonably sensible albeit on a 600cc bike. I have noticed that I will take more risks now which makes sense since bikes are inherently a riskier form of transport. I do speed occasionally, mainly because it's very easy to, but I always give myself a buffer on corners because you never know if you have to course-correct or how bad the road is. I feel like this part contradicts itself though: "I don't mind dying in a wreck, I just don't want to do it because I suck at riding."
@@screatyswote3035 I don't apex on the road either. I did that when I was first learning to ride and would always do it prematurely and over shoot. I had multiple instances when I would go into the opposite lane even into the opposite shoulder. I know how to corner way better and faster now though.
nah, even though most litre-bikes are safer than the 600s from the 90s and 2000s with tc, throttle modes, cornering abs and what not, the sheer power will be overwhelming. if you're sensible then sure, any bike will do as a beginner as long as it is not too heavy. but that requires the rider to be sensible in the first place. i've just ridden an s1000r after 4 years of owning a 701 and that thing will scare you when you push it. god forbid you start on a super duke :> how are you going to gradually learn to use the power? you're gonna end up in the next ditch before you know it if you're a little hot headed.
@@FUTGSXR-RIDER fyi, i just returned from a test-ride with a 1390 sdr in street mode with tc and all necessary rider aids enabled...you would not want to start on a bike like that, ever.
I weigh roughly 155-160lb, on a 400cc that shit be going 118mph tucked the fk up. I don't see a reason to have such higher speeds imo. KS-1 a 250 be doing laps on us all...
Do people not understand what motorcycles are ? Let me explain : A power to weight ratio of a 689 CC MT07 is : 0.184 HP per lb A power to weight ratio of a Porsche 911 is : 0.115 HP per lb So you're telling me as a beginner, you would start on a liter bike which is perhaps more than the power to weight of a Lambo ? It ain't even about the safety, its like what the fuck are you even going to do with all that performance ? To be humbled by a bunch of 400cc on a track day ? That's just dumb as hell IMO but hey, most motorcyclist only knows how to ride in a straight line.
I do agree that most people aren’t capable of using that much power for what it is and most just go fast. However if you are going to get a 1000cc anyway and IF you are a sensible person I think the amount of growth you can have starting on a 1000cc is better then going through two bikes before hand and honestly wasting your money. Ofc that only applies to some people and the majority including myself should start on real beginner bikes. You are right tho, in general
