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Who started out on an R1?

169K views 1.1K replies 526 participants last post by  juiced gt  
#1 ·
I was just wondering who started out with an R1 from the start. I was also wondering how hard was it to learn off of it and to get use to it. also did u guys/girls ever hit the floor b4 u ever got the hang of it. thank and Marry X-mas.
 
#7 ·
i did, big :no, start small, see i didnt know any better cuz when i took my msf they never said to start small or at least i dont remember them saying it, and i didnt know that the forum even existed to get advice, but i'll tell ya what, i rode a 600 and now i rather have that.
 
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#875 · (Edited)
I have had a few bikes.. but then I took about 10 years off from riding... I went out and bought the R1 because I knew in a week I would be bored with anything else... I just had to keep myself in check for a long time...
:stpd: dirt/sand starting when I was able to walk. 600 Ninja, 750 gixxer, 1100 gixxer in college......took that break and knew the One was next.

Took it to the track shortly after to keep myslef in check. No regrets....other than the:dollarI have gotten myself into:crash

Shut up Candice (wife), Daddy needs a new set of parts:hammer:
 
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#9 ·
It was my first sportbike. I had a small suzuki before.

I really don't know if it was a bad choice or not. I just know I love my bike and love to ride.

But according to the people here that have a lot more knowledge than me, say's that it's not a good Idea to get the R1 as a first bike. So listen to them.
 
#14 ·
i did... n still ridin.... i started on a 99 r1... i went down once.. pretty bad but everybodys going to crash, weather its big or small... it going to happen. why not get a 1 an start slow, rather then getting a 600 or a 750 and the spend more money to get a 1. im only 19, you may think oohh hes to young to talk but i will stunt with the best of them a 1000...thats the only way to go... a six is too small. not enough power. im now on a blue 03 n stay on 1 wheel where ever i go...
 
#15 ·
When I started riding they called them CAFE Bikes and it was a 700. I trashed it when some chick pulled acroos all 3 lanes. I figure that no matter what you ride you will drop it at least once,

If I would of started on an R1 I would of dropped it on my own accord! To much for an experienced rider at the wrong moment!
 
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#17 · (Edited)
i started out on an R6. rode for two years and never went down. i rode almost everyday when i first started. i know that i wasn't riding it to it's full potential or even close. but i was using all of it's power and i was gettin all the way over in corners within a year of pushing myself. i could flick the bike back and forth with ease and comfort. now i have an 02 R1 that i've been on for about 1.5 years. i feel like im progressing a lil slower but ***** it's fun! it's got so much *****in power it actually scares me sometimes. but hey i'll tame the one... one day! i have dropped my R1 twice. hit gravel once. low sided cuz i slid the rear tire avoidin a lil kid that came runnin from around a corner.

i have some buddies that started out on a liter bike. they all went down. one went down in less than a month and broke his wrist but he got hit. one went down cuz he "accidentally" powerslided and he let off the throttle. one tried to pull a stoppie and flipped it. one just kept droppin it on his driveway cuz he brakes and has the front wheel turned while comin to a stop. typical newb mistakes. i push myself but i'm still a newb... i just have self control... most of the time at least! i still push myself but that's ridin! and it has a lot to do with chance but not as much as skill and experience.

it's all up to the rider!
 
#18 ·
If most of your riding is going to be in a controlled track environment, then starting on an R1 shouldn't be too bad. But if you're going to be riding it on public road, uh - not impossible but be warned...

The R1's unforgiving nature and the lack of on-road experience/instinct can be a deadly combination - for you...
 
#20 ·
Started on an R1 three seasons ago, wish I had started on a 600!! Went down second week I had it. Mid-corner, lady pulls out of hidden subdivision. No choice except to lay it down at about 45. Slid across oncoming traffic, gravel shoulder and finally coming to rest in some ladies front yard. $1000 + new exhaust on the bike. Don't know how I ended up so lucky, when I went off I landed on my wallet and slid on that. Left without any missing skin, only a hole in my back pocket.
 
#673 ·
That wreck had nothing to do with you being on an R1, in that situation it wouldnt have mattered if you were on a 600 :fact
 
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#22 ·
I'll be honest and say that my R1 is my first bike. I'll also go further and say if I had it to do all over I wouldn't have purchased it. I wish I had bought a SV650 or FZ6. Unfortunately the financial reality is I can't take the hit to trade out. Therefore, I'm spending lots of time practicing things like quick stops, cornering, etc. I've taken the MSF course and I'll probably take the advanced course in a few months. I'll also try and take the Keith Code course at Jennings GP in May'04. Other than that I wear what I think is good gear and don't do "pack" riding at this point. I have good full coverage insurance and life insurance. What else can I do at this point?

Lance
 
#23 ·
R1R00kie said:
I'll be honest and say that my R1 is my first bike. I'll also go further and say if I had it to do all over I wouldn't have purchased it. I wish I had bought a SV650 or FZ6. Unfortunately the financial reality is I can't take the hit to trade out. Therefore, I'm spending lots of time practicing things like quick stops, cornering, etc. I've taken the MSF course and I'll probably take the advanced course in a few months. I'll also try and take the Keith Code course at Jennings GP in May'04. Other than that I wear what I think is good gear and don't do "pack" riding at this point. I have good full coverage insurance and life insurance. What else can I do at this point?

Lance

Sounds like you already have a good head on your shoulders.
Other quick things you can do is:
Ride only on the far left or right lanes on the highway.
Assume everyone can or will hit you.
Try and avoid using the mirrors.
When you come to a open parking lot or open highway, gun the bike. As careful as you are on the bike, you also need to know the extreme power of what it can do.
 
#24 ·
Joey said:
Sounds like you already have a good head on your shoulders.
Other quick things you can do is:
Ride only on the far left or right lanes on the highway.
Assume everyone can or will hit you.
Try and avoid using the mirrors.
When you come to a open parking lot or open highway, gun the bike. As careful as you are on the bike, you also need to know the extreme power of what it can do.
Thanks for the tips. I'll take the compliment with a grain of salt since "a good head" would have given me the sense to do more research prior to purchasing the bike. In keeping with the honesty, I've had the bike well into triple digits in a straight line but as I see it that isn't where the real "danger" from the R1 can be found. Almost any sportbike will past the century mark with little effort. Just because I drove it fast a few times doesn't mean that I do it regularly though. The problem as I've encountered is dealing with the power in cornering and trying not to be baited into stunts for pedestrians/motorists. I was out on casual ride yesterday on some backcountry roads when I came up on a pickup. The passenger turned around with a video camera and both her and the driver did their best with handsignals to try and get me to wheelie for the camera, and I can't count the times someone has rolled down the window, walked up at a stoplight, or approached me while getting fuel, to try and get me to attempt some stunt for their amusement. I'm a guy just like most and trying to control the testosterone is the biggest battle that I, and probably a lot of riders(experience and not) face. I'm rambling now. Thanks again for the tips. I've found a lot of similar advice in "Proficient Motorcycling" by David L. Hough. Really good book in my opinion

Lance
 
#25 ·
R1R00kie said:
Thanks for the tips. I'll take the compliment with a grain of salt since "a good head" would have given me the sense to do more research prior to purchasing the bike. In keeping with the honesty, I've had the bike well into triple digits in a straight line but as I see it that isn't where the real "danger" from the R1 can be found. Almost any sportbike will past the century mark with little effort. Just because I drove it fast a few times doesn't mean that I do it regularly though. The problem as I've encountered is dealing with the power in cornering and trying not to be baited into stunts for pedestrians/motorists. I was out on casual ride yesterday on some backcountry roads when I came up on a pickup. The passenger turned around with a video camera and both her and the driver did their best with handsignals to try and get me to wheelie for the camera, and I can't count the times someone has rolled down the window, walked up at a stoplight, or approached me while getting fuel, to try and get me to attempt some stunt for their amusement. I'm a guy just like most and trying to control the testosterone is the biggest battle that I, and probably a lot of riders(experience and not) face. I'm rambling now. Thanks again for the tips. I've found a lot of similar advice in "Proficient Motorcycling" by David L. Hough. Really good book in my opinion

Lance

The biggest problem with new riders is that they unintentionally compare the performance of what a car can do and apply it towards a bike.
They feel a car can accelerate to "x"mph in 5 seconds, not really understanding that the same 5 seconds a bike will do "x times 2". By the time they realize the power/speed, it may be too late to compensate.
They also feel that their car can make this turn at "x"mph, not realizing that a bike is not as simple as sitting tight and turning the wheel.
If one has never been in a car, just being on the road would be enough to freak them out. Riding a bike should be treated the same.
Unfortunately when we ride for the first time, there are a lot of familiarities at we take for granted, which may cause unwanted results. Just my own 2 cents worth.
 
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