~New, and Cofused~

:eek: well, im really new here, and am currently looking into buying a 2003 R1, now, since i do know about many good riding gear, and i know a little about how the motorcycle works, i was just wondering if anyone could make a list of the BEST riding gear, helmets, and not so costly mods that i could take upon myself to do, and buy over this winter (got alot of $$ but still not quite enough:cryin , a couple of months and ill b all set:D ), so any feedback would be greatly appreciated:)

what gives??? isnt anyone gonna reply?:confused: :( i know i can just search around, but there are so many of the same things (ie. helmets and boots, etc. that are very good, i jsut want one of eaxh that is the best please :):yesnod :bash :rock

Hey R3N3G@d3 welcome. Well, I am gonna make you the suggestion that will save you the most money of all. If you olny know a little about how the motorcycle works....DO NOT BUY AN R1. Seriously bro, not trying to punk ya out but if you are a motorcycle newbie, this bike will eat your lunch then clean your clock. I know it is tempting to jump to the top but you gotta crawl before you walk, or you can skip a few steps and suck and blow on a straw for the rest of your life to move around your wheel chair. Don do it bro. I don't know you but wouldn't wanna read about your death or injury. The R1 is for very advanced riders, and it swallows us all the time. Go for a cheaper less powerfull bike. Ask around and you will get the same advice. I ninja 250 is a great bike to learn, there cheap and when, not if, but when, you drop it you wont be out alot of cash. Then after you master it go to an r6. A 6 is alot of bike and you wont be out riding it anytime soon. Trust me bud. Your insurance will be alot cheaper and so will your mistakes. Buy a good helmet..shoei or arai, good thick gloves, good boots, and some pants. Spend your cash on equiptment at first, it will be the better investment. Move up slowly and NEVER get arrogant or you will get hurt. Sorry if it not what you wanted to hear but it is what you need to hear. I hioe you choose wisely and responsibly. Learning right is very important.

your absolutely right, but i am taking motorcycle lessons, and also my dad has been riding for many years:) So i think that i should be at least able to handle it, and u jsut said that the R6 is harder to drive than the R1 right?:confused:

listen to txaggie, I have alot of riding under my belt but the R1 is my first liter bike. Got about 1200miles on it and low sided it today, only some scratches and broke the front brake. Had I been a new rider it would have been much worse.

would you recommend getting a beater for a year or so? and then upgrade to an R1? i still got about 2 years :(:(:(:bash :bash :bash :bash :bash

No, the 6 is alot more forgiving of a bike and YES buy a beater. Lessons are good but nothing replaces experience. You got alot of miles to ride before you can try and tame and R1. There is not alot of people that can ride a R1 to it's fullest. Buy good gear, buy a beater. Ride alot. Start very slow. And always respect the bike. A reputible dealer would not sale you an R1, but there arent many. And, if your dad ever rode an R1 he would not let you start on one. It isn't your daddy's cruiser. It is a very dangerous machine to learn on. Again, please dont take offense, noone wants to hear about another hurt rider. This bike will seriously hurt you.

ride no evo sorry to hear about the rash. Glad you are ok. God I hope he listens to us. There is no need for a newbie to hop on one, there hard enough for well seasoned riders. Also check your pm's

i totally respect what you are saying, and my dad owns a Suzuki GSX 750, and although i never rode it that much, i still think that i am just a little bit below alright :) And, not to be disrespectful, what is so hard about an R1 that makes it THAT much different from a R6 or even my dads Suzuki?:hellobye

The size of the motor. A little more throttle than you want can mean alot of bad things. Ask around....please ask around, dont take my word for it. Liter bikes are way to wicked to learn on. Remember, a matter of when not if. If you ride...you slide. Might as well make it a cheaper and less damaging experience. Why the need to rush into a liter bike? You will ride better on a smaller one and you will not be able to take advantage of what the r1 has to off for a long time if you and your r1 make it that long. BAd bad idea. Not saying you wont ever be a great rider I just dont want u to get hurt.

well, to tell you the truth, i really have no patience, and for me, that could be dangerous. but i also dont plan to do stupid things ESPECIALLY when im just starting out, i just wanna have a good bike from the beggining :) i know i sound stupid, but i just cant see myself riding a little shitska 250 cc, i also know that the greater the # of cc's, the the faster, and heavier the motor is. I hope you dont think im some stuck up stupid kid, i would just like to learn with my R1, and get used to it. But before i DO get my R1, i am for sure going to take lessons for biking.

Naaaw, I dont think you are stuck up. I was young before i know where your comming from. But, i am older and didnt make it this long starting on a liter bike. You Will test the power. Be carefull. A older peice of crap shitzka 250 is alot cooler than a totaled r1. And if your not patient..well nevermind, you know what i am gonna say and i know you arent listening. Be carefull and good luck

your right, im young, and stupid, and i need to learn my lessons the hard way, (hopefully not with my R1) but its just so HARD to not listen, and do wht ya want :2bitchsla , umm, well, i will take ur advice on the shitzka, but i might have to shorten the...*ahem* learning process, anyways, when i do get my bike, i will get all of the gear, and try and be as safe as possible, and one thing, your right, i WILL test out its power:machinegu , but only in a mildly safe environment........im just really pondering though, i wonder if you guys actualy know wut its like to be a teen, and want the R1 as your ist bike, i know you were all teens at one time, or are right now, but its just buggin me that MY OWN 1st HARD WORKED CASH will be spent on a shitzka beater, and not the creme of the crop :( well, i guess better to be riding a shitzka then to be lying dead beside my R1 :( Well, this has been a very good thread, and i hope that this thread can bring someone else some help.......GOTTA RESIST THAT SUMPTUOUS GRIP OF THE R1 FOR ANOTHER COUPLE OF YEARS :jump :jump :jump

oops, forgot to say 1 more thing, and i dont think that this involvs the last post, but, do you think that id be better off starting on a 600cc bike? (for sure after getting a beater and takeing lessons), or like the R6? i want something that will not be laughed at, and that has speed, but that is also an ok beginners bike (by beginner i mean knows how to ride, but hasent OWNED a bike ever).....what'dya think? (believe me , i feel stupid asking these questions, but this by far is the best forum out there :)

Run a search under buying an r1.... newbie.... first bike.... etc... And you will see about 100 thread related to this same subject.... And is it my imagination, but do we get at least one of these threads started a week? I never thought I would say I miss the winter... when Newbies weren't looking for there first ride.

me--->:corn (yawns)

Start out on a used 600. Ride it for 1-2 years, and then decide if you are ready to tackle the one. I personally have been riding street for 10 years. For the first 8 years I rode standard and/or cruiser style motorcycles. I bought a 600 as my first sport bike and it was a BIG difference from what I was used to. I just decided to buy the one last November and this bike scares the bejesus out of me. I have seriously thought about trading it in for a new r-6. But, I think I will keep it and just learn to tame the beast (albeit I think my skills develop faster on a 600 as I am still a bit timid on the monster). The danger with an R-1 is that it will get you in over your head way faster than a smaller bike. You'll gun it out of a corner and as soon as you touch the wheel down your notice you are now doing 100mph with a 20 mph corner right in front of you. Your lack experience will cause instant panic as you will most likely run right off the road, or grab way to much brake and flip and/or low side. Another danger is how easy the freaking tire will break loose in corners (if you don't know what to do and stiffen up, you will get tossed). Anyway, I am sure your mind is already set, so no amount of advice here will change it. Good luck anyway, you'll need it. - BA

Just my $.02....if you decide to go with a new bike...make sure you check out Suzukis Sv-650....yes it is a 650 but it is really good beginner bike for someone that wants to keep the same bike for a while...they look good...ride excellent...and if you drop it you wont be spending $1000 for plastics...

bad choice for an r1 as a first bike.. :fact I'm 20.. and i still feel i've jumped up into the R1 crowd too soon... I did do tho whole.. 250-600-1000 thing (over a 4 year span).. but i really cannot stress it.. buy a beater 250.. after that ask your dad to learn on his GSXR 750.. if you want to timker around with a liter bike... once you have some experiance down.. look into getting your own r6.. believe me.. the r6 lacks no power.. A stock 03 R6 is pulling 105 HP and the r1 is only besting that by 20 more HP.. I for one.. am going back to the 600 class this season.. to finer tune my riding skills.. You'll notice alot of the r1 boyz.. going back to 600's.. because of making a too quick jump.. And the jump you are taking about... Is plain.. sucide :fact

oh... and dont get me wrong.. i am a pretty good rider... but riding a 1000cc will never teach you how to become a better rider.. at the rate a 600cc bike can :fact

I've read all of these newbie threads. And I cry EVERY time R3NG3@D3, have you ever seen someone lose it at 90MPH, hit the guardrail, and snap their Neck and Back? ITS FREAKING UGLY!!!! Taxggie took all that time to give you sound advice. Why can't you look cool on a 250cc Cycle? Hell, I was on a 250 last week and had megga fun in the parking lot! Your learning? Who are you trying to impress? How can you impress someone with a $10,000 machine in a ditch? is that cool to you? He was not tellin you to NEVER get the ONE, Just take steps to get there? I have over 30 years riding motorcycles, and the ONE is still a bit@& to handle. Since you do not want to hear the 250cc thing, get an EX500 or something. You not going to do 150MPH, but you can hang around town with your friends as you learn. I wish you luck in whatever you do but........ These guys are trying to show you love. We flame the ZUK guys but we love them! If your trying to impress someone for ANY reason (according to your post) you will have a short career riding motorcycles. just my $0.02! David

Originally posted by VoodooDsims How can you impress someone with a $10,000 machine in a ditch? Yup.. that was me a few months ago... it's not a pretty sight :no .. be safe bro.. and take it step by step.. :fact

thanks you all for contributing to this thread, and now have pretty much decided to take some lessons, and start off with a lower GSXR or a Honda. Although i have seen many viewpoints on my stupidity, i have now realized that to ride (and tame) an R1 dosent take a year or so, it takes many years, and alot of willpower to hold back on the R1, and stick it out, and practie with a lower bike. Well, i have pretty much made up my mind that even the crappiest bike is still better than any (non-import/sport) car:rock :lol

R3N3G@d3, Thank you for listening. You making a wise choice. Your still welcome on this forum as we have a wide range of people and motorcycles here. And weather you beat the GSXR-600 for a couple of months, or a couple of years, you will learn ALOT! (And they are pretty good motorcycles) Personally, I think ANY motorcycle is cool! Good Luck Bro!

wurd to all that replied...I hate to think of where i'd be today with bad advice when I was a teenager. Not that I took it all, but most.

Helmet-Suomy Leather=Dainese Rubbers=Magnum

i heard that the Arai and Shoei helmets are pretty good, also i was thinking of getting the whole Alpine Stars suit (the Venom one). As for the gloves, ill also go with Alpine Stars...... does anyone have something to say about this? Im sure that these are quality products, jsut want to make sure that u'd guys want to wear em ;)

I have Alpinestars gloves and they are great, Held also makes some good gloves. Shoei helmets are great, HJC is good, but Arai is the best. As for leathers, what can you afford? If you have the bank to buy an R1, get an old CBRF3 or SV-650 and buy yourself some Kushitani custom leathers with the money you saved. And don't forget about your feet, SiDi Vert 2 or Vert Race are the best hands down.

Some good posts here.. Could have sword this was a troll thread. I spent $500 bucks on my first bike, a 572cc 4cyl suzuki cruiser. From 85, not only was it cheap to learn on, the couple dumps I had on it were low speed and taught me the value of gloves. :fact No plastics, had power on the high end but didn't jerk you around down low, was comfortable as -hell- w/ lifted bitch seat, and I for $500 and a little repair work I -still- have the thing if I wanna teach a friend to ride and cruise with them. If you have a garage corner, I highly recommend picking one up.

I have been riding for 10 years now, and my R1 is 1 month old and my first liter bike, when I hammered on it in first gear the day I bought it, I about messed my pants when the front wheel was pointing at the sky!!! I started on a 1977 gs 750 suzuki, about 50 HP, it cost me $100, but who cared when I dumped it on a gravel road!! If you really want to start on a sportbike,I would like to see you get a mid 90's 600, maybe a yzf, or cbr. You can get them pretty cheap, I think they are good looking bikes, and you will be able to afford the insurance!! Whatever you decide, good luck, and have fun!

i have pretty much decided on eitehr an R6 or a nice Honda CBR 6RR ;) i think that they both look great, and also are a lil cheaper on the insurance than a 1000 cc bike. Anyways, if there is anyone here that lives in Toronto Ontario (Canada), the please tell me what school is good for learning how to bike (Safety School). Thanks a bunch!

Recommended: Helmet - Shoei Leathers - Dainese 2 piece Gloves - Dainese or Alpinestars In my opinion, a sports 600 is still too big for a beginner. I'm 24, been riding two years.. had my Duc for 2 months and crashed it... and I'm a sensible rider (80% of the time). Take care.. try the R6 if you're keen on a 600.. or the new honda (they look awesome in black). Ride Safe..

Hey R3N3G@d3, I live in Canada like you, an hour away from Toronto. I read your bio, says your born in 87 that would make you 16. You are too imature for this bike. Get yourself a scooter for in town and to pass your drivers test.

Wow can you imagine a brand new R1 or 600RR when you turned 16 :eek: :eek: :confused: :eek: The best, worst, and last day of your life. Be carefull bro. Staying alive on any bike is about maturity. Make sure this first, very important decision is a step in that direction.

i was set on getting the R1 as soon as possible just like u seem to be. But now that i have read this i think that i have changed my mind and i think that i should start out on a 600. i have ben riding dirtbikes and cruisers for as long as i can remember and am a good rider, but now that i think about it i no that i am not ready for the R1. even though i want it more than most things, i would rather have experience and a 600 than the R1 and a casket i appreciate everyones input even though it was not given for me it has given me a new outlook on my experience amd what i could handle

A used 600 is a good idea.I wouldnt bother with a 250 youll be bored in a month. An older 600 will be alot of fun for quite some time and plenty fast and good looking enough for a while. Learn slow live long!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

hey i am a pretty new rider too and i started out on a 02 R6 but lately i have really been wanting a one. just reading this i am starting to think i will keep with the 6 for a while longer just to hone my skills some more. a one will be awesome for the straights but like you guys are saying you have to be real good to hit the curves hard without spinning up the back wheel or doing a major wheelie out, and what is the real fun part about riding? the curves! r3n3g@d3 you need to listen to these guys, they really know what they are talking about and they have changed my mind.