rc51

I have taken the course for motorcycles and am wanting to get an RC51. i love the rumble and the looks. most people say dont get 1000's for first bikes, but 1. i dont have the money to buy a 600 then the RC51 and 2. cant you be disciplined and not use all that power at first ( i've heard of guys gf's starting off on 1000' and being fine) should i stick with a 600 or do i make a little bit of sense, cause remember all motorcycles come with a throttle

:welcome: ride safe, ride smart.

I have taken the course for motorcycles and am wanting to get an RC51. i love the rumble and the looks. most people say dont get 1000's for first bikes, but 1. i dont have the money to buy a 600 then the RC51 and 2. cant you be disciplined and not use all that power at first ( i've heard of guys gf's starting off on 1000' and being fine) should i stick with a 600 or do i make a little bit of sense, cause remember all motorcycles come with a throttle


1000s are a handful even for season vets. A new person to riding should definitely not be on a 1000. There are alot of things to learn on a motorcycle that can get you in trouble quick with a 1000. Throttle control, handling capabilities are a few. And definitely a 100 vtwin will have you laying on your butt in a heartbeat. They have so much low end torque that one mistake of the throttle and you are on your arse. Either way, good luck on the phurchase and be careful out there.

http://www.twowheelforum.com/showthread.php?t=8559

I don't think throttle is the issue.....ANY bike in the hands of a newbie is a handful....not because newbies are clumsy, or stupid or any other pajorative.....it's because they're NEWBIES...and EVERTHING ABOUT RIDING IS NEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Countersteering is new. Braking is new. Shifting is new. Front end dive is new. Front end washouts are new. Balancing a bike at low speeds is new. Stopping from 60MPH in under 120 ft with only the front brake is new. Being invisible to traffic is new...............shall I go on?

Most newbie accidents are in traffic, at low speeds (under 40mph), within 10 miles of home:

http://www.magpie.com/nycmoto/hurt.html


"1. Approximately three-fourths of these motorcycle accidents involved collision with another vehicle, which was most often a passenger automobile.

2. Approximately one-fourth of these motorcycle accidents were single vehicle accidents involving the motorcycle colliding with the roadway or some fixed object in the environment.

3. Vehicle failure accounted for less than 3% of these motorcycle accidents, and most of those were single vehicle accidents where control was lost due to a puncture flat.

4. In single vehicle accidents, motorcycle rider error was present as the accident precipitating factor in about two-thirds of the cases, with the typical error being a slideout and fall due to overbraking or running wide on a curve due to excess speed or under-cornering.

5. Roadway defects (pavement ridges, potholes, etc.) were the accident cause in 2% of the accidents; animal involvement was 1% of the accidents.

6. In multiple vehicle accidents, the driver of the other vehicle violated the motorcycle right-of-way and caused the accident in two-thirds of those accidents.

7. The failure of motorists to detect and recognize motorcycles in traffic is the predominating cause of motorcycle accidents. The driver of the other vehicle involved in collision with the motorcycle did not see the motorcycle before the collision, or did not see the motorcycle until too late to avoid the collision. "

The RC51 is a great bike...don't get me wrong; and yes, there are anecdotal instances of riders learning on superbikes and surviving. Good for them.

BUT:

The RC51 is a street-legal copy of a racebike, with the unforgiving qualities of a racebike...twitchy steering at high speed, ponderous, limited turning lock at low speed, sensitive brakes, and a radical seating position which amplifies rider input (and mistakes). It's also heavy, top heavy and has a short wheelbase and steep (quick) steering head angle.

All the qualities which make it such a good performer on the track, make it a poor learning tool.

But we know you are different....you are probably smarter, more co-ordinated and a faster learner , with better self-control and an innate and built in sense of how to ride, and you'll show us you are the exception.

Last October, a member of this forum posted on another forum that I frequent that he had just finished the MSF course and that he wanted a new 1000cc sportbike. Many advised against it, but his mind was made up and he could "handle it". He dropped his new bike on the way home from picking it up in a low speed (about 2-3 mph) and after a couple more posts about getting it fixed, nobody has seen hide nor hair of him. Wonder where he went?

Great info:dthumb:

If your strapped for cash, you could always buy an older 600 that's used and kinda crappy. Fix it up a bit (within monetary reason) and ride it to get used to riding. Then, after 6 months to a year or so, sell it for a little more than you paid for it (since you fixed it up a little) and get your RC51.

That's my guess.

Still thinking about that RC? Go back and re-read OTB's post.

Great info OTB I did'nt know about a quarter of the info there.:cheers: :dthumb: I guess some more:readng: should be part of my daily grind. About the RC51, If youre dead set on a v-twin sportbike try the SV 650, or even the Hyosung GT 650R or 650S, same thing but better suspension, GREAT BIKES, my buddy has one, I wish they would've come out sooner so as to have gotten it as my first sportbike. NE ways :welcome: and dont forget:twfrox:

Still thinking about that RC? Go back and re-read OTB's post.
Yup. I've been riding for two years and over 20K miles and I still don't trust myself on a 1000.

Yup. I've been riding for two years and over 20K miles and I still don't trust myself on a 1000.
You'd be fine on the big twin...you've got enough miles under your belt. The I-4 liter is a different beast.

Wow, great thread!

Having both a GSXR 1K and an RC 51 I will say that I hope you listen to what everyone has said already, these bikes ARE NOT for a beginner. I LOVE the RC, its the first twin I have ever rode, but 110% not to get as a first bike. If your into the twins I would go with an SV650. Get a used one and some miles on it under your belt and then progress to an RC.

Yes, all motorcycles come with a throttle and you can kill yourself on any of them - big or small - but hopefully you will think about what some of the experienced riders here have said and go with a better choice for your first ride. :luck:

You'd be fine on the big twin...you've got enough miles under your belt. The I-4 liter is a different beast.

Yes it is! It is weird switching back and forth from my 1K to the RC, I love them both but their two totally different ball games.

:welcome: and that's all I got to say...

:bonk:

:welcome: and that's all I got to say...

:bonk:

:withstupi Couldn't have said it better myself...

:welcome: and that's all I got to say...

:bonk:
:withstupi :welcome: to TWF

I was wonderin if you stole a ride on that yet pippi :D



Is the new one in yet?

I was wonderin if you stole a ride on that yet pippi :D



Is the new one in yet?

Been riding it for over a week now and loving it!! :smoke:

Still working on the deal, some things are coming up that have to be straightened out before it goes through......starting to feel a little on the shady side so have to do some more checking.....

:welcome: ...:cheers: ...

I say buy what you want, because you will...after you drop it...buy what you need to learn on...

The toughest thing about learning to ride a motorcycle, is making your hands and feet each do different things at the same time...some people just can't get it...

Hey volcom, here's a hint: It will take you YEARS to even be able to ride an SV650 to its full potential, what makes you think you would need to step up anyway?

http://www.twowheelforum.com/showthread.php?t=8559

I don't think throttle is the issue.....ANY bike in the hands of a newbie is a handful....not because newbies are clumsy, or stupid or any other pajorative.....it's because they're NEWBIES...and EVERTHING ABOUT RIDING IS NEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Countersteering is new. Braking is new. Shifting is new. Front end dive is new. Front end washouts are new. Balancing a bike at low speeds is new. Stopping from 60MPH in under 120 ft with only the front brake is new. Being invisible to traffic is new...............shall I go on?

Most newbie accidents are in traffic, at low speeds (under 40mph), within 10 miles of home:

http://www.magpie.com/nycmoto/hurt.html


"1. Approximately three-fourths of these motorcycle accidents involved collision with another vehicle, which was most often a passenger automobile.

2. Approximately one-fourth of these motorcycle accidents were single vehicle accidents involving the motorcycle colliding with the roadway or some fixed object in the environment.

3. Vehicle failure accounted for less than 3% of these motorcycle accidents, and most of those were single vehicle accidents where control was lost due to a puncture flat.

4. In single vehicle accidents, motorcycle rider error was present as the accident precipitating factor in about two-thirds of the cases, with the typical error being a slideout and fall due to overbraking or running wide on a curve due to excess speed or under-cornering.

5. Roadway defects (pavement ridges, potholes, etc.) were the accident cause in 2% of the accidents; animal involvement was 1% of the accidents.

6. In multiple vehicle accidents, the driver of the other vehicle violated the motorcycle right-of-way and caused the accident in two-thirds of those accidents.

7. The failure of motorists to detect and recognize motorcycles in traffic is the predominating cause of motorcycle accidents. The driver of the other vehicle involved in collision with the motorcycle did not see the motorcycle before the collision, or did not see the motorcycle until too late to avoid the collision. "

The RC51 is a great bike...don't get me wrong; and yes, there are anecdotal instances of riders learning on superbikes and surviving. Good for them.

BUT:

The RC51 is a street-legal copy of a racebike, with the unforgiving qualities of a racebike...twitchy steering at high speed, ponderous, limited turning lock at low speed, sensitive brakes, and a radical seating position which amplifies rider input (and mistakes). It's also heavy, top heavy and has a short wheelbase and steep (quick) steering head angle.

All the qualities which make it such a good performer on the track, make it a poor learning tool.

But we know you are different....you are probably smarter, more co-ordinated and a faster learner , with better self-control and an innate and built in sense of how to ride, and you'll show us you are the exception.

Last October, a member of this forum posted on another forum that I frequent that he had just finished the MSF course and that he wanted a new 1000cc sportbike. Many advised against it, but his mind was made up and he could "handle it". He dropped his new bike on the way home from picking it up in a low speed (about 2-3 mph) and after a couple more posts about getting it fixed, nobody has seen hide nor hair of him. Wonder where he went?


Now that is some GREAT advise! I know a girl that learned on a 1000 GSX-R. She left the motorcycle store, went down the street and hit the throttle too hard. Ended up in the hospital with a broken wrist, I said she totalled the bike but what the hell do I know when you crack a frame in six different spots and people tell you that you can have it welded and continue to ride it like normal. So after her having it for less than a week, she crashed and since last year has sunk approximately $6000 into fixing it.

Yup. I've been riding for two years and over 20K miles and I still don't trust myself on a 1000.


I have like 20K on my 2005 R6, love the bike. Rode my friends 2004 CBR 1000RR, a 2006 Yamaha R1 and a 2005 GSX-R 1000. Like them all and the power. I want to get a 1000 just well, people say I'll hurt myself and that I should up the life insurance that I have out on myself.

600s aren't as bad as everyone makes them out to be and a bigger bike doesn't necessarily mean anything. It's all about the rider. There are plenty of people out here in Texas, where I'm at, that have 750s and 1000s and I still roast them when we ride. Sure, they'll beat me on a straight, but as soon as we hit the twisties, they can't keep up. Most of them are all scared to ride in traffic because they can't handle the weight of the bike so having to hit the brakes hard or steer to avoid something, they know they'll wreck. And these are people that have been riding as long or longer than I have.

It's all about the RIDER, not the bike.

I have like 20K on my 2005 R6, love the bike. Rode my friends 2004 CBR 1000RR, a 2006 Yamaha R1 and a 2005 GSX-R 1000. Like them all and the power. I want to get a 1000 just well, people say I'll hurt myself and that I should up the life insurance that I have out on myself.

600s aren't as bad as everyone makes them out to be and a bigger bike doesn't necessarily mean anything. It's all about the rider. There are plenty of people out here in Texas, where I'm at, that have 750s and 1000s and I still roast them when we ride. Sure, they'll beat me on a straight, but as soon as we hit the twisties, they can't keep up. Most of them are all scared to ride in traffic because they can't handle the weight of the bike so having to hit the brakes hard or steer to avoid something, they know they'll wreck. And these are people that have been riding as long or longer than I have.

It's all about the RIDER, not the bike.
I can make the same claim about losing them in twisties. That's why i bought a new R6 instead of a R1.

:withstupi Couldn't have said it better myself...
http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l311/cjclark69/deargodpleasemakeitstop.jpg

http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l311/cjclark69/deargodpleasemakeitstop.jpg
:iagree:but I think volcom has seen the light. Check here (http://www.twowheelforum.com/showthread.php?t=11062)