Why sportbikes are NOT beginner bikes 2: Difference between revisions
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Article originally written by '''Matt Pickering''' for [http://www.beginnerbikers.org Beginner Bikers] | Article originally written by '''Matt Pickering''' for [http://www.beginnerbikers.org Beginner Bikers] | ||
In Part One of this article, we covered a lot of the excuses that new riders give for wanting to start on a 600cc sportbike. This second half finishes off our discussion of this reasoning and discusses why high-powered sport machines are not the ideal beginner machine. | In [[Why sportbikes are NOT beginner bikes 1|Part One]] of this article, we covered a lot of the excuses that new riders give for wanting to start on a 600cc sportbike. This second half finishes off our discussion of this reasoning and discusses why high-powered sport machines are not the ideal beginner machine. | ||
==False Logic Completed== | ==False Logic Completed== | ||
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Last month, we covered many of the reasons new riders give to justify why they want or should get a 600cc sportbike. Now we finish with the last and most common excuses given. | Last month, we covered many of the reasons new riders give to justify why they want or should get a 600cc sportbike. Now we finish with the last and most common excuses given. | ||
I'm a careful driver so I'll be a careful rider and not get into trouble. | ====I'm a careful driver so I'll be a careful rider and not get into trouble.==== | ||
This is what I call the "I'm responsible and mature" argument. This one is a general excuse and does not apply to sportbikes in particular. | This is what I call the "I'm responsible and mature" argument. This one is a general excuse and does not apply to sportbikes in particular. | ||
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How you approach the task of driving is how you will approach riding. Attention to the task of riding is the number one way you avoid trouble by not getting into it in the first place. Study your own driving habits. Good habits will definitely keep your chances of getting into trouble but they have little to do with controlling a motorcycle. Any motorcycle. Many lax drivers often become much better drivers as the result of riding a motorcycle. It is far less common for it to go in the other direction. | How you approach the task of driving is how you will approach riding. Attention to the task of riding is the number one way you avoid trouble by not getting into it in the first place. Study your own driving habits. Good habits will definitely keep your chances of getting into trouble but they have little to do with controlling a motorcycle. Any motorcycle. Many lax drivers often become much better drivers as the result of riding a motorcycle. It is far less common for it to go in the other direction. | ||
I drive a fast car, so I'll be able to handle a fast bike. | ====I drive a fast car, so I'll be able to handle a fast bike.==== | ||
Of all the excuses and justifications, this one is my personal favorite. It is in the top three most common excuses given and it shows a complete and utter lack of motorcycle knowledge. It is a statement made out of naivety rather than ignorance. | Of all the excuses and justifications, this one is my personal favorite. It is in the top three most common excuses given and it shows a complete and utter lack of motorcycle knowledge. It is a statement made out of naivety rather than ignorance. | ||
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The skills to handle the potent combination of acceleration, instant-on power and brakes are best learned on a smaller machine so when you finally get on that ultimate sportbike, you have an idea of what to do and how to handle the machine. Driving a car won't give you that. Only time in the saddle, the more, the better. | The skills to handle the potent combination of acceleration, instant-on power and brakes are best learned on a smaller machine so when you finally get on that ultimate sportbike, you have an idea of what to do and how to handle the machine. Driving a car won't give you that. Only time in the saddle, the more, the better. | ||
Other people have started on a 600cc sportbike and didn't get hurt. So why can't I? | ====Other people have started on a 600cc sportbike and didn't get hurt. So why can't I?==== | ||
This is probably the number one reason that pops up. However, it isn't so much a reason as an observation. And it is a true one. Every year, lots of new riders go to their local dealerships or scour their local ads and bring home a brand new or used 600cc sportbike. And many of those riders do successfully manage to get through their learning process on these machines. | This is probably the number one reason that pops up. However, it isn't so much a reason as an observation. And it is a true one. Every year, lots of new riders go to their local dealerships or scour their local ads and bring home a brand new or used 600cc sportbike. And many of those riders do successfully manage to get through their learning process on these machines. | ||