New member needing advice

[Ryan T]

The FZ6 was my first bike. Hell it was the first time I had ever been on a motorcycle. Here are the key factors.

The Rider's mentality: I spent well over 3 months reading about riding, rules, safety, what to do, what not to do, gear, and the overall dynamics of of being on two wheels. I read and reviewed accidents and lessons learned.

TRAINING: There is no substitute for it. As a new rider, if you don't seek and take an MSF course then you are doing yourself a disservice. They will teach you what not to do and that's just as important as what to do.

PRACTICE: Once I got my baby, I practiced, practiced, and practiced. All in a theater parking lot. Tight turns left and right, swerving, emergency braking (did a stoppie by accident once), figure 8's, etc. Then on the road I worked on counter steering, adjusting my position in turns, learning the power band.

GEAR: Spend the money. I had my gear before I had my bike.

YOUR ATTITUDE TOWARDS RIDING: You must control yourself. It's extremely easy and it happens quick to get your self in trouble. All it takes is to let down your guard for a second.

I know this is long but I feel it's worth it.

Remember, Riding safe and smart starts with YOU.

 

[Mancolt]

If you're Darwin Award material, You're Darwin Award material.

Thank you! This was great! :rof:

 

[Wavex]

There better beginner bikes out there, but the FZ isn't bad at all to start on either...

Get a used one for $3000 and beat on that for a while...

Other than that all you need is training, proper gear and proper insurance (meaning full coverage with medpay and under-un-insured motorist).

Good luck

 

[robaho]

For the average person, the FZ6 just is not the right beginner bike. Yes, it is reasonably mild-mannered in the lower RPM range.... However, all it takes is for a person to grab a handful of throttle or front brake accidentally and the FZ6 will get you into trouble in a hurry.
So what is the right beginner bike for you?? Only you can answer that one. Try sitting on a bunch of bikes at a dealership, and find one that "feels right". I strongly recommend that you find a used bike, preferably with an engine displacement of 500cc or less. Most used bikes fitting that description will be reasonably priced.
Like others have mentioned, you should look into taking the MSF Basic Rider Course (or similar training program) so you learn the important stuff!!
Rob

 

[AlisVolatPropiis]

Hi everyone! I started "street" riding in the summer of 2008 on an 2001 Kawasaki Ninja 250. I REALLY like Ryan T's advice posted at 10:55 am. Thanks Ryan T. Great thoughts. The only previous "experience" I had prior to 2008 was about three years on a little Honda C50 through 40 acres of fields and woods as a kid. As silly as that seems, I swear that some of the lessons I learned on that little thing came back to me. Anyway, after spending a few months on the 250, I finally worked up the courage to try my husband's '05 FZ6. I was so nervous that I almost made myself sick...but after a quick trip around the block I realized that I was missing out on a very sweet ride. I started riding his FZ6 when I rode with some girlfriends. As of two weeks ago, I am now the proud owner of an '09 FZ6.
To the original poster: Other than what Ryan T said and a few others..."Ride your own ride." I have NO regrets about starting out on a 250. She was used and my little mistakes, bumps, and scratches didn't bother me too much. After taking the MSF course, I still continue to educate myself. Last summer I took a two day course at the Keith Code California Superbike School. AMAZING. I will continue to take courses and safely work to stretch out of my comfort zone. One more thing, I keep a log on my computer of how many miles I've done, my maintenance on the bike, and little comments about where I went, with whom, and what we did. It's a great thing to look back on and see how far I've come as a "newbie" (4027+ miles) and recall the great rides with great people. Best of luck!