Am I too confident?

[snerkler]

Its not about the speed - that is something you can control. Its about weight, maneuverability, flickability, walking pace on a 1200 twin v walking pace on a CB500 .....
Which (as a brand new rider) would you rather take across the Alps, (ok extreme example i know ....) tackle wet hairpins in the snowline, take a pillion for the first time ... a flicky little 600 in line 4 like a little Fazer or a heavy, tall 1200 twin. Bet yer won't be flicking that about two up ....

Good point, I guess it does depend on what you plan to do with it. However, at 6'4" I'm failry tall and feel much more comfortable on a larger bike, not just physical size, but engine capacity.

I bought a fazer 600 as my first bike and as it was physically too small for me it could make it awkward to maneouvre etc. Also, after 3 months I felt the engine wanting. Maybe due to my weight, but I was finding that I was having to ring its neck to get anywhere. Especially overtaking, had to drop it down a couple of gears and leave lots and lots of room. Sometimes I think that it might be better to have that extra grunt so that you can concentrate on maeouvreing, overtaking etc without having the distraction of trying to ring the bike's neck.

Just a different point of view. I don't think there's a right or wrong. We all have different needs, different capabilities etc, and at the end of the day it's down to the individual rider. Whatever bike you go for you should always be extremely careful as any lapse in concentration etc can have dire consequences

 

[Giles]

Also, after 3 months I felt the engine wanting. Maybe due to my weight, but I was finding that I was having to ring its neck to get anywhere. Especially overtaking, had to drop it down a couple of gears and leave lots and lots of room. Sometimes I think that it might be better to have that extra grunt so that you can concentrate on maeouvreing, overtaking etc without having the distraction of trying to ring the bike's neck. Just a different point of view. I don't think there's a right or wrong. We all have different needs, different capabilities etc, and at the end of the day it's down to the individual rider. Whatever bike you go for you should always be extremely careful as any lapse in concentration etc can have dire consequences

Right!!!! So you found the bikes limit and had to adapt and think about it. Suddenly you had to start planning your overtakes more precisely rather than relying on your R1 / Blade / 1198 motor to do it for you ... Suddenly you're learning new ways of riding it, getting the most out of it, throwing it about left right and centre !!!!

Years ago (like donkeys years ago), I had a vfr off the road for a few months and borrowed an NSR 125. I used to commute home and thrash the nuts off this thing. I learned sooooo much on it, it was a breath of fresh air! 'How can I carry more speed into this roundabout 'cos its so gutless picking it back up?' .... 'how about if i hang off here, push there, pull here..' The thing was so light I felt like I could do anything with it, I learned how to flick it from peg to peg, I used to practise my Mick Doohan style on it (Doohan had a great Style of riding - mostly 'cos of his knackered leg mind you...) and so on.

Back on to the vfr and suddenly all that playing and mucking about was proving to be the most useful three months I'd had on a bike in years! By trying anything and everything to thrash the little beggar I'd worked out 101 ways of cranking a bike over, standing it back up, getting my weight over the front wheel, carrying speed into a corner .........

You are right though in what you say about no rights and wrongs. Who am I to say you should do this or that! Its all down to individual choice and likes and dislikes. I am very passionate about the whole thing and should learn to shut up more...

 

[snerkler]

I am very passionate about the whole thing and should learn to shut up more...

We all have our opinions mate, and we shouldn't be ashamed/embarrassed/worried about voicing them And I think you raise some good points. I just don't find the GS/GSA that much of an animal, and I don't think it'll catch you out whilst trying to find the limits. Coming from a Gixxer thou and Tiger 1050, the limits of the GS, in terms of the engine, are pretty easy to find You have to work the engine much harder on the GS to overtake and accelerate at any decent speed than those 2 .That being said, I've never found the cornering limit on any bike, I'm just not willing to try on the road, and never had the pleasure of a track day

 

[GS_or_bust]

I rode an unrestricted moped at sixteen (1977), took my motorbike license on a 90cc bike at seventeen and then never rode a motobike again until 2 years ago when I decided to be a born again biker. It was probably the Ewan and Charlie thing.

I took 3 hours of 1-1 training then went on two offroad level 1 courses and a one day onroad course with BMW over the past two years to see if I was satisfied with the occasional ride of a rented bike but I was hooked. Last year I rode a borrowed KM 950 Adventure about 500 miles and then took delivery of a 2010 GSA in April of this year.

So far I have done about 1200 miles. I love it. It is big and tall (I am 5' 11 and 11st) but I try and take it carefully and I am really enjoying it.

I thought about getting a 650 or 800 gs for a year or two but I just decided it was the 1200 gsa that I wanted so I went for it. I don't regret it.

 

[snerkler]

It was probably the Ewan and Charlie thing.

.

I know they got a slating by some but I think there's been a lot of folk inspired by these 2, and rightly so IMO

 

[Hew]

Right!!!! So you found the bikes limit and had to adapt and think about it. Suddenly you had to start planning your overtakes more precisely rather than relying on your R1 / Blade / 1198 motor to do it for you ... Suddenly you're learning new ways of riding it, getting the most out of it, throwing it about left right and centre !!!!

Years ago (like donkeys years ago), I had a vfr off the road for a few months and borrowed an NSR 125. I used to commute home and thrash the nuts off this thing. I learned sooooo much on it, it was a breath of fresh air! 'How can I carry more speed into this roundabout 'cos its so gutless picking it back up?' .... 'how about if i hang off here, push there, pull here..' The thing was so light I felt like I could do anything with it, I learned how to flick it from peg to peg, I used to practise my Mick Doohan style on it (Doohan had a great Style of riding - mostly 'cos of his knackered leg mind you...) and so on.

Back on to the vfr and suddenly all that playing and mucking about was proving to be the most useful three months I'd had on a bike in years! By trying anything and everything to thrash the little beggar I'd worked out 101 ways of cranking a bike over, standing it back up, getting my weight over the front wheel, carrying speed into a corner .........

You are right though in what you say about no rights and wrongs. Who am I to say you should do this or that! Its all down to individual choice and likes and dislikes. I am very passionate about the whole thing and should learn to shut up more...

You speak a lot of sense but it is not what the OP wants to hear

 

[Giles]

I know ! It was the same when I bought my super dooper mountain bike - even people in my local shop were saying 'you'll learn more on a hardtail'.

But I just had to have it!!!!!

 

[solarider]

It's not about 'what the original OP wants to hear'. I wouldn't have asked for advice if I intended to ignore it.

I have 'done my time' in terms of bike handling on my 125, I am a big chap who needs a physically big bike, and I am going to test ride a few variants (650, 800 and 1200), take some more lessons and then decide. That seems a fairly pragmatic approach to me.

I can go fast enough on anything (even a 50cc) to do myself some harm. Getting knocked off or falling off a 1200 doesn't hurt any less than a smaller bike. The size and weight of the bike isn't off putting at all. I can sit both feet flat on it and frankly anything smaller feels a bit cramped.

I quite like the cycling analagy here. Yes, you could buy a hardtail and develop your handling skills to perfection, or get the advantage than a full susser brings from the off. Whilst it does somewhat compensate for your lack of skills, it does make your riding all the more pleasurable.

I don't really mind if the bike compensates a little bit for what might be lacking in my own ability, but that's surely part of the attraction? Having read that back it sounds like I am danger to myself, but the point here is I am responsible, big enough to handle the bike and won't be taking any firm decisions until I have passed my test, taken more lessons and thoroughly test-ridden all of the options.

Still doesn't stop me wanting a 1200 GS of course!

 

[North]

Hi solarider,

I got my 05 1200 after not riding for 17 years. My last Bike before was an 1100 Yamaha. I had been riding for 20 years before that too.

Get the 1200, take it easy and get the feel of Bike. The Big difference is going to be stopping, starting, and moving the Bike. If you lean it over too far when you are stopped or going slow, it will fall over and you will not be able to stop it.

I guess some stuff I just take for granted. Like when I move a Big Bike I always lean it over to my hip so I am always supporting the Bike and it is under control. So the smart and safe way would be to get a mid-sized Bike first and then a 1200. The fun way would be just to get the 1200.

It also depends if you are the Type of Guy who takes to Bike riding. A mate of mine has been riding for 10 years. He started out with a 125 ,than a KLR and now he has 650 V-strom. He still rides like an Old Lady, like he's scared of the Bike.

Anyways Good Luck on what you do.

 

[Dellis]

I started in 1980 aged 17 on a 1964 250 Ducati and worked my way up as and when I could afford a bigger bike and by the time I was 20 was on a Guzzi Le Mans via a Yamaha RD 250 a Kawasaki Z400 and a Triumph Bonneville.

I wrote the RD250 off breaking my back and pelvis as a consequence because I rode beyond my abilities.

I thought I believed in starting small and working up until I looked at my own history and now I'm not so sure. You need to understand that bikes bite back, experience is king & hard earned and can still let you down; I ride 18,000+ miles a year haven't had an accident on the road since 1987 until I managed to crash my GSA a few weeks ago.

Get your 1200, take your time and when you start to feel confident ride slower!

Dave

 

[North]

Get your 1200, take your time and when you start to feel confident ride slower!

Dave

 

[solarider]

Thanks for that. Sound advice. Often one's confidence progresses faster than one's ability! I just need to recognise when that happens and slow down.

 

[Giles]

Best of luck to you sola ... and I hope you really enjoy whatever you get. (which I know will be a GS )

Its been a good discussion and has given every body something to think about! I'm certainly not out to dampen your enthusiasm!! but its good to bounce different views and opinions about.

Good luck on yer test!!

 

[Tomm]

I went direct access and first bike i ever owned was a suzuki gs1100ez. (20yrs ago) .. in my biking career have always gone for cc's and torque ..

Someone mentioned risk categories .. yes as a newbie your a risk but the real high risk categorie is the born again biker and as it happens the lower cc bikes that aren't given any respect on the road!!

Apparently it takes 6weeks for you to feel completely at confidence, but 6months before your true 'snap' reactions have adjusted and caught up .. the time in between is when you are most at risk ... (averages is some govt study years back)

My only advice, would be to not buy brand new. You will drop it in one form or another. Go for a mechanically sound, well looked after 2nd hand bike that you won't be too upset when you find out you've parked the wrong way down a slope/sidestand sunk into the ground/first low speed encounter with diesel on wet roundabout etc .... all these things could happen and it won't matter a toss what cc the bike is. Unless your minted then f*k it do wot u want

I think the 1200 is a great bike .. having said that i'm now on an 1150 and totally loving it .. oh and the reason for the change is some myopic twat drove straight out into a main road and wrote off the 1200, so thought i'd try summit different!

I'll finish by saying that to this day I swear any other bike in that type of accident (superman straight over the top) and I would have been looking at broken legs/pelvis.. I was still able to compete in Four Peaks challenge a month later !!

Of course all this IMHO

 

[raginmund]

I still smell a whiff of keen BMW salesman on this one..and the boxer engine isn't going to feel like anything the OP will ride during DAS.

So, fwiw, I think the multiple test-rides is a very good idea. And I'd throw a non-trailie in there as well (F800R?) just to mix it up. If you're buying a new BMW anyway, you can always trade up later.

 

[snerkler]

I still smell a whiff of keen BMW salesman on this one..and the boxer engine isn't going to feel like anything the OP will ride during DAS.

.

It must just be me, but I've not found the boxer engine any harder to get used to than any other engine, and hence have not found the GS any harder to get used to than any other bike. In fact after less than 30 mins of the test ride on the GSA I felt right at home on it, and like I'd been riding it for years

 

[Zorro]

no wronng answer...

Good luck with the decision, there is no wrong answer.
8 years ago I was considering a 650 as I also thought the 1150 then would be too big for me. The salesman's advice was 'nice bike but if you get the 650 I guarantee you will love it but also that you will be back for the 1150 in 6 to 12 months time. Good business for me but not the best outcome for you!' Best advice I was ever given. The learning curve was steep but I was conscious of it and slowly built up my confidence. Had I got the 650 I would definitely have bought 2 new bikes in a year or less - even more expensive. Be conscious of your limits and whatever you get you will be fine. Good luck.

 

[Greger]

I am no expert but I think I would get the 1200 if I could afford it.

Lots of sound advise on here already but you know your own sense and ability.

Cheers

 

[boatman]

15,000+ a year rider in various countries and all seasons n weathers
imho riding a cycle or even a 125 is Zero like riding a big fast road bike. with all of the steps that you need to take up a long learning curve i would STRONGLY recomend that you take a stepped approach to where you clearly would like to go. Leaving aside the self perception of what you might look like on a smaller less powerful bike ,when things start to go wrong for you (as they Will)it is much easier to deal with on a lighter and slower machine till you get the feel of what happens front wheel slide
rear wheel slide
diesel on road
over cook a corner in a major way
overtakes that are slightly misjudged
lock up/front back
wet weather lean angles
etc etc
much easier to get the feel of all the stuff on a more modest machine then transfer up which does not need to be a long time if you can get out n about in all conditions n different types of roads only imho

 

[DavidJames]

Ignore all the H&S old farts and do it

You'll either take to it easily or you'll fall off.

For what it is worth I went straight from CBT to DAS and onto a 1200 and had no problems at all (well nothing that wouldn't have happened on a 650 anyway).

I would recommend the advanced training though, I did a ROSPA course soon after passing the test and it helped me loads.