Newbie Questions

[ducbird]

yep i would go with a monster an easy bike to ride
I rode one for a few hours and its such an easy
bike to ride didnt like it to start with but grew on me
to where i actually enjoyed it. It was fun and made me smile
though i got blown around quite alot that day..

Personally i need a bike that needs thinking about and riding
i like a challange and the SS gives me that i think i would
get bored with the monster after a while..............

[Yossarian]

Originally Posted by ducbird

yep i would go with a monster an easy bike to ride
I rode one for a few hours and its such an easy
bike to ride didnt like it to start with but grew on me
to where i actually enjoyed it. It was fun and made me smile
though i got blown around quite alot that day..

Personally i need a bike that needs thinking about and riding
i like a challange and the SS gives me that i think i would
get bored with the monster after a while..............

Ducbird thats what worries me. I am real worried that i will get bored really quickly with a Monster & then go for the 848 anyway. I need a challenge to, something that makes me respect it & takes a lot of effort & skill development to master. If the Monster is 'easy' as everyone says then i just don't think it can reward enough for long enough, nothing in my mind thats easy is really rewarding !

I chatted with Ducati Coventry a few weeks ago on this subject & his view was that I could have an 848 as a first bike after passing the direct access on a Fazer (90hp i think) as long as i respected its power & handling (but i accept he's a salesman & would say that). Hmmm i think i am going to have to think about this some more. I would rather take things real easy on empty roads early Sunday mornings for a few months on an 848 that will thrill me for years, than ride a Monster every day & become bored of it in 4 months & then want the 848. I have done the same with cars so many times...convinced myself that such & such a car would be the 'best' option, only to realise in a few months that i should have gone for the more challenging one in trhe first place & save myself many Łk's in swapping them over.

Please keep the opinions coming though, they are helping me !

[AdeCC]

Hiya,

I passed my direct access just over four years ago and have only just purchased the 848 this year, IMO go for something cheap and easy to ride to build your skill and confidence, my first bike was an SV650, binned it on some loose gravel and dropped it in a car park whilst turning. Some typical mistakes that if i'd done on my 848 i would have been gutted.

I then had a GSXR 600 which i really enjoyed,smooth power delivery and handled great but did run wide taking a bend to quickly and slid the back wheel in an emergency stop, again both due to inexperiece.

My R6 was a wrong decision from the start, far to revvy and hard work to ride when not on the boil. So far, the best bike ive had is the 848 but most importantly i feel more confident to be able to ride it within my limits as well as keep developing them. BUT this has taken 4 years to get to and the most important thing is experience, buy a cheaper bike, gain some experience, then consider upgrading when you feel ready.

Good luck with whatever you choose to do.

[Steve GD]

Originally Posted by Yossarian

Ducbird thats what worries me. I am real worried that i will get bored really quickly with a Monster & then go for the 848 anyway. I need a challenge to, something that makes me respect it & takes a lot of effort & skill development to master. If the Monster is 'easy' as everyone says then i just don't think it can reward enough for long enough, nothing in my mind thats easy is really rewarding !

I chatted with Ducati Coventry a few weeks ago on this subject & his view was that I could have an 848 as a first bike after passing the direct access on a Fazer (90hp i think) as long as i respected its power & handling (but i accept he's a salesman & would say that). Hmmm i think i am going to have to think about this some more. I would rather take things real easy on empty roads early Sunday mornings for a few months on an 848 that will thrill me for years, than ride a Monster every day & become bored of it in 4 months & then want the 848. I have done the same with cars so many times...convinced myself that such & such a car would be the 'best' option, only to realise in a few months that i should have gone for the more challenging one in trhe first place & save myself many Łk's in swapping them over.

Please keep the opinions coming though, they are helping me !

He is not wrong, of course, and it may be you could leap from the Yamaha onto the 848 and have a fun, challenging and safe time. But it wouldn't be the quickest way to learn safely. So little of what you have to learn is to do with the power of the bike that it is (within limits) irrelevant. If you are unconvinced, come to Snetterton for the next round of the DesmoDue race series and see what Zimbo and the others in Class B can do with about 52bhp.
Nope, the important (survival) stuff is all about braking and going round corners and traffic avoidance, and in my opinion more quickly learned on a more upright bike with good suspension/handling such as the Monster, but that is only an example.

Well, you did ask for opinions!

Oh.... one question .... what was the first caryou owned after passing your test?

[Grib_]

You can't compare it to car ownership. My other half had a Honda S2000 before I even learnt to drive. We spent some time mucking about on an empty airfield with it and within an hour it was possible to get nice, long controlled slides and J turns out of it. You try an hour on a bike, from never having ridden before and see if you can slide it around/wheelie/knee down etc

Cars are forgiving, they don't fall over and throw you on the tarmac at speed when it goes wrong. I've had a decent speed crash in our Volvo T5 and sure, it hurt a little bit, but doing the same on the bike would have meant a trip to hospital I'm sure.

I'm sure you'll end up buying something expensive regardless and making the mistakes we're trying to warn you about on it. I just really wouldn't buy something that you want to be seen to own, rather than something that can give you a good riding experience and let you learn about bikes before buying a Superbike.

[ducbird]

Originally Posted by Grib_

You can't compare it to car ownership. My other half had a Honda S2000 before I even learnt to drive. We spent some time mucking about on an empty airfield with it and within an hour it was possible to get nice, long controlled slides and J turns out of it. You try an hour on a bike, from never having ridden before and see if you can slide it around/wheelie/knee down etc

Cars are forgiving, they don't fall over and throw you on the tarmac at speed when it goes wrong. I've had a decent speed crash in our Volvo T5 and sure, it hurt a little bit, but doing the same on the bike would have meant a trip to hospital I'm sure.

I'm sure you'll end up buying something expensive regardless and making the mistakes we're trying to warn you about on it. I just really wouldn't buy something that you want to be seen to own, rather than something that can give you a good riding experience and let you learn about bikes before buying a Superbike.

Agree with whats said up there...........
Driving and Riding two VERY DIFFERENT things..

Driving experience can help you in the observation stakes
but two wheels are a little more uncontrollable than four wheels
and only riding reguarly and listening to advice can help keep you
out of trouble especially as a first time rider (as i am) with no other
experience of bikes not even messing about in fields...

Go with your instincts and not what anyone is selling you try loads of bikes
sit on them. Only YOU know if you can handle a fast bike.
Good luck

[mpk1967]

I bought my 848 after being away from bike for nearly 20 years, like you say treat her with respect, ride well within your limits and you should be fine.

Whatever your choice I would strongly recommend a bikesafe course with the West Midland Police. The knowledge these guys part with is invaluable but more importantly the skills and experience they draw from will give you insights into situations or conditions you/me had not thought of.

Another point to consider is that the winter is coming, does this make a difference to you? Two schools here, tuck her up in a moisture free bubble in the garage or ride her regardless. You'll learn more riding through one crap winter than countless summers.

Once you've passed your test why don't you book a back to back test ride on a 848 and a monster?

[Yossarian]

[quote=mpk1967;222188]I bought my 848 after being away from bike for nearly 20 years, like you say treat her with respect, ride well within your limits and you should be fine.

Whatever your choice I would strongly recommend a bikesafe course with the West Midland Police. The knowledge these guys part with is invaluable but more importantly the skills and experience they draw from will give you insights into situations or conditions you/me had not thought of.

Another point to consider is that the winter is coming, does this make a difference to you? Two schools here, tuck her up in a moisture free bubble in the garage or ride her regardless. You'll learn more riding through one crap winter than countless summers.

Once you've passed your test why don't you book a back to back test ride on a 848 and a monster?[/quote

thanks, now that sounds much better to me ;-0....... i think i will have to try one for myself, i'll soon know if its beyond me to control it. Thanks everyoen, i appreciate the opinions.

[Delbert]

I have just been through your predicament. I went with a brand new 848 against my instincts. I test drove a few bikes thinking 'be sensible' but I kept looking at the 848 across the showroom floor. I knew i would be back buying it in a few weeks time!

The guys are right it is not so much about the bike as it is about you. The benefit of getting a new bike is that you are limited by revs (if you want to run it in). I have now done about 2,500 miles and the odd scare but it was never the 848's fault.

It is a great bike, I won't be giving mine back!

[JerryXt]

I never get bored riding my Monster. Comparing a base Monster with a new 848 isn't comparing like with like - go find an S2R1000 or an S4R, ride the nuts off them and tell me they're boring. If you can't, clearly they've got something to teach you.

There are many Monster riders here who can run rings around much faster machinery, even on a track. I took a 1098 out at Brands back in April and I had to ride its ar*e off to catch a buddy on his 60bhp Monster. And give the racers a Monster with 130bhp at the wheel...

Buy what you're happy with - if you just have to have a sportsbike, go buy it, but remember that whatever you buy, you''ll learn a lot.

[JLTownshend]

Originally Posted by Yossarian

I won't be commuting as such, it will be for pleasure & fun

You don't actually state what "pleasure & fun" might constitute.

There is a difference between a naked bike (ie Monster) and a fully faired bike (848)...although perhaps less than I might think

John

[moto748]

Originally Posted by Grib_

You can't compare it to car ownership. My other half had a Honda S2000 before I even learnt to drive. We spent some time mucking about on an empty airfield with it and within an hour it was possible to get nice, long controlled slides and J turns out of it. You try an hour on a bike, from never having ridden before and see if you can slide it around/wheelie/knee down etc

Cars are forgiving, they don't fall over and throw you on the tarmac at speed when it goes wrong. I've had a decent speed crash in our Volvo T5 and sure, it hurt a little bit, but doing the same on the bike would have meant a trip to hospital I'm sure.

I'm sure you'll end up buying something expensive regardless and making the mistakes we're trying to warn you about on it. I just really wouldn't buy something that you want to be seen to own, rather than something that can give you a good riding experience and let you learn about bikes before buying a Superbike.

Wise words.

I fully agree.

[Yossarian]

............ OK i have been doing a bit more research & thinking about everything thats been said here (thanks).............AND......... what do you think about a 748 as a 1st bike then ??? ;-0

is that 'easier' than a 848 ?....... see i want to learn on a sports bike, in sports bike position etc etc ?

what do you think ?

[R6BLADE]

Originally Posted by Yossarian

............ OK i have been doing a bit more research & thinking about everything thats been said here (thanks).............AND......... what do you think about a 748 as a 1st bike then ??? ;-0

is that 'easier' than a 848 ?....... see i want to learn on a sports bike, in sports bike position etc etc ?

what do you think ?

Buy a GSXR600 if you want to learn on a sports bike .... easiest of the lot to ride, comfy seating position etc .... good resale as well.

[ducbird]

Originally Posted by Yossarian

............ OK i have been doing a bit more research & thinking about everything thats been said here (thanks).............AND......... what do you think about a 748 as a 1st bike then ??? ;-0

is that 'easier' than a 848 ?....... see i want to learn on a sports bike, in sports bike position etc etc ?

what do you think ?

Yoss you cant get more sports bike position than an SS
and its sporty without getting you into too much trouble...to start..

I no i harp on about the SS i love sporty aswell i was going to go with
a monster for my first bike until i found i could get the SS in a 600 even
a 750.
So i got my "sports bike" with as much power as i could handle for a first rider
Believe me there is more to her than meets the eye....
Out of the Four bikes i have ridden (monster, multi and SS and SSie )
my experience is the SS gives me the thrills im looking for while keeping
my feet on the ground

The SSie with power commander certainly shifts before a blink of an eye...