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

[Terek]

Started on a KTM 1190 Adv.S, wish I waited a few months for the KTM 1290 Super Adv. It has cruise control and higher range, less hooligan tho..... =/

 

[HangNoffMidCRNR]

Flame suit on lol. I passed the msf course and my first bike was a 2011 Bmw S1000RR. With all its electronics it wasn't a hard bike to ride around the street. I had power modes to get used to different levels of power while i progressed. Abs to help with braking to see how much i can brake before it kicks in. Also traction control to save my bacon when i made an error or encountered less then ideal conditions. I even believe that starting out on that bike has made my throttle control even better because i respected the power of that bike so much that it made my throttle application very subtle . But what i do regret is starting out on the track with a liter bike. On a 1000 you can just wack the throttle between the corners and still put down a decent lap time. But it wasn't until i got on a 600 which taught me corner speed that made me faster. I'm even thinking of picking up an RC390 to learn even more on that. If i were to do it again for the track i would of started out on a smaller bike and worked my way up. But for my first bike i have no regrets because man that was a badass bike.

 

[phocup]

Started alongside my GF. She bought a sensible 2009 250R, so naturally I had to go bigger and was sold an SV650. We bought both our bike brand new from the dealer before taking the MSF class so it was a bit of an impulse buy. Although I was "okay" on my 650 immediately after MSF, I was much happier on her 250. Eventually she stopped riding and we sold the 250. To this day 5 years street riding with 2-3 yrs of track riding in to it, I still feel as if the 650 is too much bike for me in all scenario except when I need to hit 80 mph comfortably for my 45 minute freeway commute to work.

My cousin started riding recently and I pointed him to a 250 again. Test riding it with him made me fall in love all over again with that little bike. Probably gonna pick up a Duke 390 in a few months after the 650 is paid off.

I guess I started too big.

 

[Mabrouk]

I started on a 250 and spent my first 10k miles riding purely in the Santa Cruz mountains. It probably wasn't the best idea to head straight to 9 and 84 starting out but after having a lot of close calls I developed my skill enough to justify an upgrade. It was only when I spent more time on highways that I really wanted more power. Once I branched out from twisties and got a faster bike I became more addicted to acceleration and straight line speed but I'm happy I didn't jump ride into that when starting to ride. If I could do it again the only thing I'd do differently is keep the 250 as a second bike.

 

[Gary856]

I bought and kept 3 bikes within the first 9 months of riding, so my early bike experience wasn’t all serial, but had some overlap.

I researched a lot on the first bike and got a GS500E (naked 2001 model w/ 7k miles, very clean) on Jan ’09 for $1750. I was a decent mountain biker, but had never been on a motorized bike before, not even a scooter. I’m 6’ even, but the first time I saw a GS500E in person, it appeared bigger than expected and intimidating. The seller rode and parked it in my garage. Couple of weeks later, the night that I completed my MSF class, I took my GS out for the first time. It felt easier to ride and nicer than the Rebel 250 I had in the MSF class. I short shifted it a bit, and still remember the thrill the first time I carefully revved the engine up to 5000 rpm in second gear. That first night I rode about 33 miles, all within a couple of miles of my neighborhood.

I had a few low speed drops on the GS, but it had an engine guard and being naked, took the drops well. Ninja 500 was the other first bike I considered. The Ninja looked sexier, but it cost a few hundred more, and with fairing it probably wouldn’t handle the drops as well.

In June ‘09, I got a YZF600R; in September ’09, I got a SV650N. It was fun to have more power on city streets and freeways, but the GS500E remained easier, less stressful (= more fun) to ride bike on technical roads for that first year. I’m still convinced that the GS500E is the perfect first bike. (A smaller, shorter dual sport might have been even easier to learn on, but it wouldn’t take the freeway as well as the GS500.)

 

[rcrullamas]

Bought my first bike fall 2008. All of my friends purchased a liter bike earlier that year so I was looking to do the same. I was interested in 2008 cbr1000rr, what stop me from getting it was the insurance premium due to a bad driving record. I settled for 2009 R6 which was the perfect bike for me. It's was more than enough bike for commuting and going on some barf rides. I ended up getting more than 50k miles and one track day session before low sliding entering the freeway on a cold winter day in 2012. Just got back into another sport bike and bought 2011 cbr1000rr a few weeks ago. At first I felt it's too much bike for me, way more power and tq than the r6. I'm slowly getting acclimated to the CBR and starting to like my new used bike. Could be the perfect bike/purchase both times, definitely the r6 was back in 2008 and I was 33yrs old when I got my first mc.

 

[EarlyApex]

Started on a 'Busa. Outgrew it within a few months. Needed more motor. Went turbo 'Busa. Pretty happy about it.

 

[ToxicMark]

I started too big. Rode away from the dealer on an FZ1. Rode straight from the dealer to Lake Mead National Park (I lived in Vegas a few years ago) where on a 2 mile straight I hit 120 mph. Then slowed down to a crawl because I didn't know how to corner well.

so stupid in so many ways.

I wasn't looking to buy such a powerful bike, but the salesman talked me into it. I still remember the worried look of the mechanic that set up the bike gave me as I left the dealership parking lot.

I still have it, but the next time I went over 100 was on an '06 Ninja 650r at Infineon (Sear's Point, Sonoma Raceway, whatever).

 

[arthur1265]

Started about 3 years ago on a Ninja 650r, perfect starter bike imo

 

[russ69]

PLEASE DON'T ANSWER THE POLL IF YOU STARTED RIDING MORE THAN 5 YEARS AGO! YOU ARE SKEWING MY RESULTS. ...

So you don't want experienced riders to skew the results?

 

[ZCrow]

I started riding in 1990 so probably too long ago to be useful to the whole HP/size debate but I do have two regrets from seeing younger rides jump in gain skill at a faster rate.

1. I would have started doing track days after my first year. Although that might have been hard back in 91.
2. Made it to the dirt in the first year.

Those two things would have increased my skill much faster and I would be an even better rider today. I actually think those two factors are much more important than the size of the first bike. Big is always dangerous in the hands of a fool.

 

[Aeroslash]

1.1989 Honda CB-1 (400/4)
2. 2003 SV650s
3. 2007 Buell XB9sx

4. To be determined. Plated Dirt bike?Geezer ADV bike? Something capable of absurd speeds for next years Hawthorne mile?

 

[jao]

I don't know if this meets your criteria as I had originally started riding outside the 10 years but I had a long break.

I started riding a motorcycle in the 70's on a Honda C70 (similar to photo below). At the time is was just about right since I was a small lad. I continued riding it until the late 80's when it was totaled and I took a break from riding until this year.

This year I decided to get a Honda CB 300 F. I felt that a 250 was too small as I planned to use it on the freeway and Highway. The reviews of the 300 were favorable on the freeway and highways so I picked one up. It has met my expectations. It is enjoyable on canyons, has sufficient horse power and speed to travel on the freeway, and is very economical on gas. I have ridden it from the bay area to Idaho, down to LA, and around the central valley. It has handled fine in the rain, and in the snow.

 

[kws53]

Took the Safety course earlier this year, and bought a used first generation sv650 on the recommendation of a friend who is an ex-track guy. Working out ok so far, but I'm 60+ so saving my testosterone up for things other than recklessness. Also I rode a 200cc scooter to work for several years before, so the 250 Ninjas just didn't have sufficient appeal. Now that I've read more about how they perform on here, I sometimes regret that, but, as above, I'm good at this point.

May try a newer 250 as my next bike though.

 

[wakked1]

I started well before the cutoff, but it was on a brand-new TL1000R. I think that deserves at least an honorable mention for duncery.

 

[Gabe]

I don't know if this meets your criteria as I had originally started riding outside the 10 years but I had a long break.

I started riding a motorcycle in the 70's on a Honda C70 (similar to photo below). At the time is was just about right since I was a small lad. I continued riding it until the late 80's when it was totaled and I took a break from riding until this year.

This year I decided to get a Honda CB 300 F. I felt that a 250 was too small as I planned to use it on the freeway and Highway. The reviews of the 300 were favorable on the freeway and highways so I picked one up. It has met my expectations. It is enjoyable on canyons, has sufficient horse power and speed to travel on the freeway, and is very economical on gas. I have ridden it from the bay area to Idaho, down to LA, and around the central valley. It has handled fine in the rain, and in the snow.

Your perspective as a re-entry rider was very interesting and gave me something new to write/think about. Thanks!

 

[Gabe]

I started well before the cutoff, but it was on a brand-new TL1000R. I think that deserves at least an honorable mention for duncery.

For sure! Why did you buy it, what happened and what was your next ride?

 

[kongjie]

Rode dirt bikes as a kid but didn't start street riding until about 3 years ago. Started out on my GZ250 and about 14K miles later I'm still on it. It's great for my short commute, but I am ready for an upgrade.

A small bike has definite limitations but I don't regret getting this one for a moment. It was relatively cheap and I didn't have to worry about it being too precious; it is easy to move around and forgiving of mistakes; and it was an easy entry into learning about how to work on my own bike.

If I had made this decision in my twenties or thirties, I probably would have regretted it, but in my fifties my testosterone and need to supplement my ego are in decline, and my interest in self-preservation is on the rise.

 

[GAJ]

New riders today have a wealth of great little bikes to choose from.

When I bought my DRZSM in '07 the dealer told me that most of the ones she sold were to older experienced riders such as myself.

The joys of a smaller bike are numerous and new riders are lucky to have such a wide array of excellent ones to choose from.

A very good thing IMHO.

 

[jh2586]

Started on a Ninja 250 and it was perfect.