Bikers needed

[Hayata]

Somebody call for Hayata?

I started out with a 1983 GpZ 550 back in the day...

Next was a Ninja 600. Then another. And I think one more? Anyway, finally bought a new bike - 1999 Yamaha R1. Yes, they are an exercise in self restraint. A liter bike will flip in first gear if you aren't careful.

I got into track days with Marietta Motorsports and other clubs. Took race schools. Learned to drag my knee. Most fun you can have with your clothes on. Used to have an old Ranger pickup that would get me back and forth to the events.

I'm older now, but still have the R1. She's down right now, needing a stator and I'm just waiting on parts. I guess after 14 years SOMETHING is bound to break. Oh, had to rebuild the carbs this summer, too. I'm blaming the ethanol in gasoline.

I don't know you. The most important thing is your personality/temperament. If you're quick to do stupid stuff due to peer pressure, etc definitely go with the R6. But you can get WAY in over your head even on a small bike.

But if you're methodical and have some self-restraint, go for the bigger bike. I always said I'd get a different bike when I could out-ride my R1 and I still have it.

Good luck and for the love of all things holy BE CAREFUL! Take safety classes. Get a full set of leathers and do track days. Just don't do the stupid stuff on the street. Stupid gets you killed. Or maimed.

 

[Lockout]

The 600's do tend to be a little more nimble than the liters. I've also ridden very fast dirt bikes most of my life. Mainly 250 2 stroke bikes. I can guarantee that an R6 will make your crf450 feel like a golf cart. There is no comparison to street / dirt bikes. It's almost like re learning to ride.

Not today they are not, as the liters today weigh in right around the same today....

 

[Byte Stryke]

AHHHHHHHHHHHH
GET A HONDA YAMAHA R TEH SUCKS!!!

sorry, it seemed like everyone dished that in my thread. I just wanted to see what it felt like.
I feel dirty now



I would concur that unless you have a few years and a few K miles under your belt, might be better to stick to a 600 until you get some serious experience.

 

[TheSnail]

I was in that situation before. My first bike was a new Gixxer 750, which was basically best of both worlds being somewere between in size and power. It was a fantastic bike. I sold it two years later and bought a new 2012 BMW S1000rr. The S1k is pretty ridiculous. Its fun in the fact it silly fast, however, If you even remotely follow laws, it is pretty boring. Its fun to have such ridiculous acceleration, however it is very short lived. If Im puttering along, and go WOT, I will have a grin on my face for only 3-4seconds. By that time you're doing 140. The funnest thing to do on it is 100mph power wheelies and going from highway speed to 180 in 7-8 seconds. Very short lived and it will get you arrested. It only took one month of owning the s1k before I spent a night in Jail. If you get the R1, consider it will only take about 4 seconds before you are doing 90, AND still in 1st gear. So you will already be at illegal speeds. I miss that gixxer750, and the lesson I learned out of my two bike purchases is: Agility > Acceleration, in terms of fun. I could toss the gixxer around the corners like no tomorrow. I went to little tally on that bike and people were shocked it was my first time on the track. I have no question in my mind that I would be faster on the 60whp less 750 than on the s1k. My boss with a former AMA cbr1000rr bike that dynos 190whp was faster at little tally on his 106whp cbr600. What does that tell you? Around the mountain roads, under 120mph that r6 will not only be faster, but will also be funner. You can toss that R6 around like it was a bicycle. Not only that, but it much more fun to ride a slow bike fast than a fast bike slow. Not saying a 600 is slow in any means. S1k is a 9.XXsec @ 150mph bike. Where in the hell are you going to use that kind of power on the street? I guess you could, and be like me spending a night in jail. I would much more enjoy going back to blood mountain on the Gixxer like the years before. One other thing about power: It is all relative. You get used to it no matter how powerful it is. You can get on that r6 and I guaranty you will be like : Holy Crap! This thing is fast as s***! 2weeks later, you will be used to it, and want more power, even though its still fast as s***. It took me 2-3weeks of riding the s1k before I got used to the acceleration. Week 4 looking for an aftermarket exhaust followed by week 8 getting a PCV and tune. There is no end. You will get used to the power. There is a reason alot of professional race car drivers have a luxury car as their DD. You would imagine they would have a sports car of some sort. However their perception of speed and acceleration is skewed. What an F1 driver would think a Z06 accelerates like would be the equivalent of what we would feel an Astro Van would accelerate like. You get used to it. What doesnt get old however, is having a light nibble bike with razor sharp handling. You would have MUCH more fun. Get the R6.

My 2cents

 

[Proximal]

I think TheSnail is on to something. I wouldn't know from personal experience, but it isn't the first time I've heard that before. There are two documentaries on Netflix called Faster and Fastest which are about the MotoGP. Those dudes ride 2 stroke bikes that are stupid fast, and the mechanics say that the drivers are always asking for more power. They go from the 250 class to the 500 class and it is a huge change and crazy adjustment, then they get used to it and demand more.

Anyway, I'm new to riding, but am totally obsessed with riding now, so I'm constantly finding videos and documentaries that will sate my hunger. I don't have the funds to get what I want (an R6), so I have to settle for watching other people go really fast. I'm actually more interested in vintage cafe bikes. I'll probably go that route after my bobber build is complete.

Anyway, when you do decide on what to get, POST PICS!

 

[righter13]

Don't mess with rovers.

 

[TheSnail]

I think TheSnail is on to something. I wouldn't know from personal experience, but it isn't the first time I've heard that before. There are two documentaries on Netflix called Faster and Fastest which are about the MotoGP. Those dudes ride 2 stroke bikes that are stupid fast, and the mechanics say that the drivers are always asking for more power. They go from the 250 class to the 500 class and it is a huge change and crazy adjustment, then they get used to it and demand more.

Anyway, I'm new to riding, but am totally obsessed with riding now, so I'm constantly finding videos and documentaries that will sate my hunger. I don't have the funds to get what I want (an R6), so I have to settle for watching other people go really fast. I'm actually more interested in vintage cafe bikes. I'll probably go that route after my bobber build is complete.

Anyway, when you do decide on what to get, POST PICS!

I also love Cafe racers. I am doing a Honda CB350 cafe racer project this winter. I think it would be badass to get on your cafe racer on a weekend morning and head to your local coffee shop or breakfast joint. Just something about that doesn't seem to escape my mind.

 

[Proximal]

I also love Cafe racers. I am doing a Honda CB350 cafe race project this winter. I think it would be badass to get on your cafe racer on a weekend morning and head to your local coffee shop or breakfast joint. Just something about that doesn't seen to escape my mind.

X2 for sure. I keep eyeing an xs650 for a cafe build. I've gotta get this ugly ass 82 Maxim handled first. It is so ugly stock that I'm forced to wear a full faced helmet so no one can see me. I gotta remain anonymous riding that thing.

 

[TheSnail]

X2 for sure. I keep eyeing an xs650 for a cafe build. I've gotta get this ugly ass 82 Maxim handled first. It is so ugly stock that I'm forced to wear a full faced helmet so no one can see me. I gotta remain anonymous riding that thing.

XS650 would be nice. Let me know when you start building that thing.

 

[Proximal]

Will do.

Sorry we jacked your thread Hack.

Back to Yamaha awesomeness!

Please continue.