Continuing the series discussing the pros and cons of cruisers and sport bikes, another Motorcycle Examiner commented:
“I don't know if I have the courage to ride a sport bike myself.”
I can remember having this same concern as I perused Fast Bikes magazine in 2006. I debated with myself about starting with the GSX-R600 vs. the 750 vs. the 1000 as a first bike, worrying that starting with the monster liter-bike would be a mistake. 80 ft-lbs of torque, 168 HP propelling only 450 lbs and me to a speed of 100 MPH in 1st gear… in 6.0 seconds! It all seemed like a recipe for disaster for a new rider.
Loudoun MotorSports’ Clay Davidson recommended sticking with the same family of bikes as my ultimate goal, explaining that ergonomics would be familiar, the setup and ride would translate better, and that after a year or so, I’d be ready to move up. He suggested the Suzuki SV650-S as a good entry-level bike with plenty of power and a configuration that wasn’t entirely dissimilar from the GSX-R; just, “less.” He also pointed out that the SV650-S would make an excellent track bike when I decided I was ready to make that move. So, in July 2006 I discovered naked bikes and became the proud new owner of my first motorcycle.
The SV was a dream to ride: comfortable riding position, effortless control, good acceleration (0 to 60 in about 4 seconds), solid braking, reasonably firm suspension. And for three months, it was enough.
In October, I stopped by Loudoun MotorSports again, “just to look,” and sat on the GSX-R1000 waiting just inside the door. The bike that had felt foreign, frightening even, now felt familiar….
The weather was right, the price was right, and it was the last blue/white gixxer on the floor. I couldn’t resist. Even still, I was still somewhat wary of the power that I would soon unleash.
On the short ride home, that worry was rapidly squelched: The low-end torque was as tame as the SV, and the fueling even more smooth. The power from 0 to 60 MPH was smooth and perfectly controllable; something I likened to “a hot Samurai sword through butter.”
So, there’s nothing to be afraid of?
Not exactly. Abusing FDR’s famous phrase: “You have nothing to fear but yourself.”
That is, the GSX-R1000 will do exactly what you tell it to do; nothing more, nothing less; no surprises. Control is little more than just “a thought” – twist your wrist, squeeze the brake, push the handle and it goes where you put it, with precision. Fast Bikes would later agree when they added their iconic summary rating scheme for “track”, “street”, “hooligan”, “new rider” and “desirability”: they gave the GSX-R1000 a “4” out of “5” for “new rider.” (Not all sport-bikes fare this well, but the gixxer did.)
So, the reason you should fear yourself has to do with your reaction to all this control. If your reaction is, “How fast can it go?” “I bet I can outrun everything in sight!” “The cops will never catch me on this!” then you’re probably right to fear sport-bikes and should probably stay away.
Self-discipline is the key.
If you’re prepared to ride within your limits, don’t feel compelled to test the bike’s limits, and you can ride without feeling like you have something to prove, then I’d say that you have nothing to fear. Or, put differently: fear a lack of self-discipline, but don’t fear the bike. And, frankly, consider that a lack of self-discipline will get you into trouble on any bike out there.
So, if you have the courage to ride any bike well, then, generally speaking, you have the courage necessary to ride sport-bike.
Now, as I caveated in my prior article on this topic, not all sport-bikes are created equal. So, this is not to say that there is no sport-bike in existence that you should fear. The Ducati 999, 1098 and 1198 have reputations for massive low-end torque, and in discussions with riders and Ducati sales-folk alike, I have consistently received the recommendation to “start small and work up” -- the Ducati 848, for example.
No courage required. Just remember: whatever you ride, ride safe!
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