From: egreen@east.sun.com (Ed Green - Pixel Cruncher)
Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles
Subject: Re: Fastest Bike Known
Date: 23 Nov 1992 15:32:26 GMT
Organization: Sun Microsystems, RTP, NC
Distribution: world
Reply-To: egreen@east.sun.com
NNTP-Posting-Host: laser.east.sun.com

In article 22565@drutx.ATT.COM, ljb@parkcity.dr.att.com (BLO54620-BonhamLJ(DR2194)240) writes:

>I am considering buying a new bike, which would also be my first bike, and I'm
>not sure what to get. 

From your description, I would suggest you look at the 600 class
sportsbikes.  They are light enough to be highly "flickable" (nimble),
and with more than enough power for any beginner for years to come.  I
used my Ninja for commuting and recreational riding.  I've done some
touring on it, but paid for it at the end of the day with the cramped
riding position (I'm 6-2, with long legs).

Larger displacement bikes are heavier, and more expensive (insurance,
too).  As a beginner, you simply don't have the skill to appreciate or
exploit the larger engine.  In fact, there are a few nice 400-500 cc
bikes.  The Kawasaki EX-500 is a nice sporting machine, and there are a
couple of good 400's, although at 6-1 W/legs, you will probably find
your physical fit to be the limiting factor on most smaller
displacement models.

Here's the way I break them down, I'm sure there are other opinions  :^)

Ninja, CBR (Goof2), Katana:  Sports bikes.  Relatively netural riding
position, good response throughout the powerband, overall design is
"balanced."

FZR, GSXR, ZX-6:  Race replicas.  Severe riding positon (more prone,
lower handlebars), peakey torque curve (?), overall design tradeoffs
tend toward performance over comfort.

In terms of actual performance, there is no difference that matters to
you.  Professional racers, very experienced riders, and egotistical
motorcycle magazine editors will rank these bikes based on quarter mile
times, lap times, etc.  The few seconds difference means not a wit to
an inexperienced rider.  Any of the six will go fast enough to kill
you, and a better rider on a 250 can dust you on any of them.  My
advise is to read the mags and get a feel for the differences, but make
your decision based on actually sitting on the bikes and riding them if
at all possible.

>The powerplant must perform well between 5000' and
>11000' altitude.  This includes both standing acceleration and roll on. 

Any bike can be tuned to run in this altitude, I don't believe it is an
inherent design feature.  Even if certain engine type are better suited
for altitude, all the 600's have very similar in-line 4's, so no one
will be better suited for altitude than any of the others.

>Hope you folks can help.  Spending a bunch of bucks on the wrong machine would
>probably burn me out to the point of selling the beast and not ever returning to
>the sport, so your advice will really be appreciated.

Conventional wisdom is to get a low milage used bike.  Somebody else
ate the off-the-showroom depreciation;  you won't feel as bad when (not
if) you drop it;  if it turns out not to be what you really want, you
have less $$ tied up in it, etc.  This route does leave you more $$ to
invest in leathers (head to toe), boots, gloves, and, most importantly,
a good helmet.  OTOH, I bought my first bike new from the dealer,
largely because I knew nothing about motorcycle mechanics and
maintenance, and was leary of buying a used machine without knowing
what to look for or how to fix it.  Having learned lots of that stuff,
I am currently scoping the used market.

TAKE THE MSF COURSE!!  Motorcycle Safety Foundation.  They provide the
bikes and the helmets, so you can take the course BEFORE you start
looking to buy.  They assume zero knowledge about motorcycles, and
teach you the basic handling skills (shifting, cornering, braking,
swerving), and, equally important, they teach basic riding strategy and
risk management.  A local dealer should have a number of a training
site.

Tune in here.  Don't worry about the newbie factor, there is a lot of
collective wisdom here, if you're good at filtering it out!  :^)

Welcome to the sport, and let us know what you decide!


---
Ed Green, former Ninjaite |I was drinking last night with a biker,
  Ed.Green@East.Sun.COM   |and I showed him a picture of you.  I said,
DoD #0111  (919)460-8302  |"Go on, get to know her, you'll like her!"
 (The Grateful Dead) -->  |It seemed like the least I could do...

Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles