Motorcycle Safety & Driveability: Should I?, kawasaki ninja 250, honda cbr600

Question
Hi Mr. Hahn,

I am a 25 year old grad student and to reward myself when I graduate, I want to purchase a Honda CBR600 F4i.  I have ridden a little tiny one with a top speed of 30 MPH once.  I want to know if it’s a good idea for me to buy one.  I consider myself a fairly mature individual in that when on it, I won’t be weaving in and out of traffic or doing anything to endanger me or other drivers.  I plan on purchasing a helmet and a leather jacket.  I’ve always wanted one and I guess I just wanted some neutral opinions since everyone has been telling me not to purchase one since they can be unsafe.  A personal question, have you been in an accident?

Thank you

Mike


Answer
The F4i is an incredible bike, but it is absolutely not suitable for beginners. I have friends who race them, and even they are terrified of what it can do. I've been riding for 15 years and am not convinced that I'm ready for a 600, though I'm getting close.   ;-)

Your better bet is to buy a smaller, cheaper bike to learn on for a year or two then move up to the F4i. I recommend something like a Kawasaki Ninja 250 or 500, Honda Interceptor 250 or 500, Suzuki GS500, or Suzuki SV650.

No matter what, you don't want to buy a 4-cylinder bike larger than 500 cc, and you don't want to buy a 2-cylinder bike larger than 650 cc.

My second bike is a Suzuki SV650 that's now converted into a track/race bike. It's a great bike to learn on, and you won't get bored of it anytime soon. It's got plenty of power and is good for commuting, sport riding, cruising, touring, anything you want it to do--including racing. Even a little bike like that can be a lot to handle if you're trying hard! Plus, they're fairly cheap on the used market and you can find a nice one for less than $3000. Ride that for two years and you'll probably be ready for the 600.

There's lots more to tell you but I can't so here's the basics: take the MSF course before you ever try to ride on the street. It's worth the wait. Sign up now for a course that takes place the weekend after you graduate.

I have just completed a book for beginners that's exactly what you need right now. It's called "How to Ride a Motorcycle: A Rider's Guide to Strategy, Safety, and Skill Development." Everything you need to know right now is there, from selecting a bike and riding gear, mental preparation, attitude, and how to build your skills to get better on the street after the MSF course. The book should be available in a week or two, check motorbooks.com or Amazon.

Good luck and ride safe. From my book: "The bike you're lusting after is almost always not the right bike to learn on." Trust me, get something small, used, and cheap, and you'll learn a lot faster and have a lot more fun.

Pat