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Started too big? Started too small? Share your regrets!

Was your first motorcycle the right choice?

  • I started out too big and wish I hadn't

    Votes: 17 23.9%

  • I started too small and wish I had gone big

    Votes: 6 8.5%

  • I'm baby bear and I did it just right

    Votes: 45 63.4%

  • Turbo 'Busa!

    Votes: 3 4.2%
  • Total voters
    71
  • Poll closed .
sckego said:
Which is it? I'm at 8 years (started to big).
Click to expand...

10 is cool...I'm trying to keep the stories as fresh and relevant as possible. I like the "I used to ride around my daddy's farm in Kansas on my Cushman, before I got drafted to go to Ko-rea" stories as much as the next guy, but that's not what my column is about.

So lay it on us!
 
micro aggression.
Hodaka Ace 90! The earlier bikes had lawnmower engines. The Hodaka was on a Bonanza too.

And there was no training available in 1860's either.
 
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I started with a SV650S, and no major problems in terms of handling or power.

I had loads of street experience from bicycling, and my judgment was sound when it came to the decent power.
 
I started riding 10 years ago (when the SV-650 was suppose to be a good first bike - lately it sounds like a good first highly-modded-track-machine) but I voted anyway because I wanted to see the vote results. I started on a CB750... juuuuuust right.
 
Started riding in '07 with zero experience besides the MSF. I bought a used '03 SV650S, because they were barely any more expensive than the Ninja 250s that everyone was recommending. I found the SV to be big, heavy, and intimidating (and I'm 6'1, 180), dropped it in the parking lot the first day I had it, and took months to get comfortable with the power. While I don't feel like my riding ability was hindered by my choice of first bike, I do feel like I made it harder on myself than I should have.
 
5 years in.
600 RR first bike. 1098s a year later. trackdays 2 years later. Racing 3 years later.
sportbikes on the street are silly, so I got a standard/nakedish bike.
 
sckego said:
Started riding in '07 with zero experience besides the MSF. I bought a used '03 SV650S, because they were barely any more expensive than the Ninja 250s that everyone was recommending. I found the SV to be big, heavy, and intimidating (and I'm 6'1, 180), dropped it in the parking lot the first day I had it, and took months to get comfortable with the power. While I don't feel like my riding ability was hindered by my choice of first bike, I do feel like I made it harder on myself than I should have.
Click to expand...

See, that's what I'm talking about! A relevant post! It's a frigging miracle! Thanks!
 
I traded a gold necklace for a 250 scooter on a lark about 8 years ago. I loved it imeadiately. I decided to get a learners permit a week later since I was riding it everywhere, even across the Bay Bridge. a month later I bought a 500 cc Piaggio scooter and sold the 250. I wanted something freeway worthy since I was doing a weekly south bay commute I took my msf course on that scooter since it was 460ccs and got my license.

Since then I've had a Kawasaki Versys, an xr1200x HD and now my current 2013 Victory Cross Roads Classic. I like having bags on my motorcycle. My Victory and Kawasaki have both been dead reliable and my Victory the cheeper to own and service.

I can see owning many types of bikes from cruisers to standards and adventure. I don't like rear sets as I cramp in the groin from them and I don't like clip on either. I don't do track days. I'm currently 53 years old.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
 
Gabe doesn't want my history, so I won't give it...

I was perfect from day one, though... No Regrets...
 
Sometimes I wish I had started on a smaller bike, or a dual sport, like a DRZ, but I was afraid I'd be too cramped on a 250, so I ended up wit a ninja 500. Now I'm trying to get a 250 road ready in hopes that I can squeeze all the fun out of it :)
 
250 first bike. It's great in the city, but I really like riding on highway 1, and it's pretty bad for that. I'm 1500 miles into the hobby, and I'm wishing I had gone for something in the 650-750 range instead.

For the record, I weigh 240 lbs, which might make a difference. I'm sure the bike would manage better if I weighed 180.
 
Gabe said:
So 6 people say they started too big--it'd be great if you wanted to share your story. You can PM me or post.
Click to expand...

Pm'd you the long version in hopes it will help your article

Spark notes: rode dirt for many years. First street bike was a a ninja 250. After aBout a year and 6k miles I wanted more power. However could not afford. Then took a hiatus after college. Saved money and recently I got back into the sport. All in all, highway is nicer on a higher displacement bike, power wheelies are fun, and I get lazy with carrying momentum in the twisties relying on tq/hp. There are now days I wish I had a smaller bike to improve my riding. Hoping to build a small track machine this winter.
 
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I bought my first bike almost 10 years ago, a KLX300R. It was an awesome dirtbike for tight woods riding. I then got a KLR650 in February of 2014, took my motorcycle class, and learned to ride in traffic on it.

I replaced with a DRZ400E with a supermoto wheelset. The weight difference is night and day, as well as the power difference (DRZ was better), and fun factor! I only miss the KLR for its highway manners.

Two months ago I purchased a GSXR600 and feel comfortable with it so far, although I can't wait to go to a track day with it, and really feel the bike in it's element.

But for shorter commutes/ rides, the supermoto is where it's at! Plenty of go, and great visibility of traffic/peoples bodies in their car ahead of you. Plus it can ride all of the roads without batting an eye!
 
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Started riding in 2013. I was looking for SV650's after finding out a Ninja 250 was too small for me. Went with a 1999 Nighthawk CB750.

Weight wise I think it was too big as it was cumbersome for me to maneuver at slow speeds. I almost dropped it at stoplights if it leaned over at all. I was 6'3" but only 145 lb or so so the big bike was harder to keep up.

Power wise I think it was perfect. Not slow enough that it was boring, not fast enough to kill me. The torque down low made it easy to cruise around, and winding the throttle out to 8k still scared the shit out of me, but still ran out of steam above 80 mph.
 
Started riding 7 years ago. First bike was a '89 Honda Hawk GT (NT650GT). Owned it one month before upgrading to a 2006 R6, which I owned only six months before upgrading to a 2008 CBR1000rr.

Yep, I'd say I went head first into the sport. But do I feel like I went too big too fast? Not really, although that's how I voted for the poll...

Back story: I had ridden a friends dirt bike around a field maybe a hand full of times prior but had tons of mountain bike experience, if that counts for anything. Wanted to get my M1 license, so I took the MSF course. Went with the Hawk GT as my first bike due to my dad's recommendation. It's a great bike. However, my friends had sport bikes and I was wringing the Hawk's neck the way I was riding it. It didn't stop super great (one front rotor) and had charging/alternator issues that were holding me back. Quickly dumped it for a R6 that was quite the change from a riding perspective. Then stepped up to the 1000rr that I kept for about 2 years. The occasional dirt bike experience in between, but never owned my own dirty bike at that time and the experiences were pretty mellow.

It was at that time that I finally realized why it would be desirable to ride a smaller displacement bike. I sold the 1000rr for a 600rr, had that for a year or two. Then I discovered I could have multiple bikes and bought a CBR250r for commuting while also owning a street triple. In a lot of ways I feel I did things backwards. I'm really too big for a 250 and when I tell people I owned one I usually get a puzzled look. But there is nothing like learning how to keep momentum when on a small bike.

Knowing me - and my personality - there is no way I would have been happy with a 250 from the get-go. I would have described it as gutless and under powered instead of realizing the challenge it presented to help me up my moto skills.

Happy to go into more detail if you want it for your story.
 
TrackCage said:
Started riding 7 years ago. First bike was a '89 Honda Hawk GT (NT650GT). Owned it one month before upgrading to a 2006 R6, which I owned only six months before upgrading to a 2008 CBR1000rr.

Yep, I'd say I went head first into the sport. But do I feel like I went too big too fast? Not really, although that's how I voted for the poll...

Back story: I had ridden a friends dirt bike around a field maybe a hand full of times prior but had tons of mountain bike experience, if that counts for anything. Wanted to get my M1 license, so I took the MSF course. Went with the Hawk GT as my first bike due to my dad's recommendation. It's a great bike. However, my friends had sport bikes and I was wringing the Hawk's neck the way I was riding it. It didn't stop super great (one front rotor) and had charging/alternator issues that were holding me back. Quickly dumped it for a R6 that was quite the change from a riding perspective. Then stepped up to the 1000rr that I kept for about 2 years. The occasional dirt bike experience in between, but never owned my own dirty bike at that time and the experiences were pretty mellow.

It was at that time that I finally realized why it would be desirable to ride a smaller displacement bike. I sold the 1000rr for a 600rr, had that for a year or two. Then I discovered I could have multiple bikes and bought a CBR250r for commuting while also owning a street triple. In a lot of ways I feel I did things backwards. I'm really too big for a 250 and when I tell people I owned one I usually get a puzzled look. But there is nothing like learning how to keep momentum when on a small bike.

Knowing me - and my personality - there is no way I would have been happy with a 250 from the get-go. I would have described it as gutless and under powered instead of realizing the challenge it presented to help me up my moto skills.

Happy to go into more detail if you want it for your story.
Click to expand...
How old were you when you started riding? One common theme I'm seeing is the older guys had better outcomes starting late, even if they started on bigger bikes.
 
Gabe said:
How old were you when you started riding? One common theme I'm seeing is the older guys had better outcomes starting late, even if they started on bigger bikes.
Click to expand...

I was 19. Based on your post, I'm guessing you thought I was older?
 
I started on a 1100 Hypermotard and it defiantly set me back trying to learn how to tame the streets. I've managed to log 11000 miles on it without killing myself but had plenty of close calls. It's a sexy beast but i don't want to ride it, I will hop on the drz400sm or rd400 now if i want to get out.
 
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