Quote:
Originally Posted by xeon
How can you assume someone else has the responsibility to start on a SS
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Quote:
Originally Posted by eidian
I have a question for you honestlyinsane (and for everyone else that has the notion that people "will get sick of a 250"): Isn't it better for someone to learn on a smaller cc bike and "get bored" with it in a year rather than to get a SuperSport and possibly be dead in a week?
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Quote:
Originally Posted by crazyinkamloops
I agree in part....but the supersport bikes have no built in forgiveness.
If you are not smooth and ready for the incredibly fast responses of a Supersport, you are likely to drop it, or worse hit something.
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+10,000
As D-Day said.... It depends.
As a general statement "The 600cc Supersport is an acceptable 1st bike for a new rider with no experience"? Absolutely not.
There are nearly always exceptions to "rules", especially when it comes to something like this that is so dependent upon maturity, reflexes, vision, hearing, and natural ability. Some of those things can cancel each other out though.... the relative maturity of a 50 year old newbie compared to a 22 y/o is going to be countered by reflexes, vision, and hearing.
That's not to say that a 50 y/o can't pick up a 600 and in a year be an ace with it on the track... of course it can be done....
The main difference between big sporties and big cruisers is that the cruiser is not going to be as easy for the rider to "fall behind" and lose control.
They might (okay, WILL) drop it making u-turns, and might (okay, WILL) make the mistake of parking nose-first into a down-hill parking spot... but they aren't going to twist the throttle, pop the clutch, and end up on their a$$ with the bike in the next county. Sure, that has happened to cruiser owners as well (recalling the video of the guy who bought a $30k Harley and lost it in the parking lot), but it is not AS likely to happen, especially to someone who has at the very least taken the MSF class.
With respect to this particular issue, it could be said that the moderately large cruisers such as the Harley touring models, Vulcan 1600/Nomad, etc... are perhaps SAFER than smaller cruisers. The Vulcan 800 can totally SPANK a Vulcan 1500 up to about 90mph... and from what I've been reading and seeing on the road, the 900 might be just as quick. In the twisties, I'm used to seeing the rider behind me fall back a bit as I'm powering out of the corner... Plasma and K6 were right on my fender all the way through Malibu on their 900 Customs.
Again, as a GENERAL STATEMENT, fitting more than 50% of new riders (probably more like 90%), no, a 600cc Supersport is not an acceptable learning machine, any more than a Acura NSX is an acceptable ride for a 16 y/o.
Do I agree with the graduated license requirements in place in some countries? Absolutely not. We should (and at least for now DO) have the freedom to judge our own abilities based on advice from our friends.
Graduated licensing laws smack of big business lobbying for laws to help them sell more product... of course, supported by insurance companies who want to protect their margins.