Anyone ever get a bad vibe from a bike?

[RoyalewitCheese]

My little bro just got a 2005 R6, I rode it today and just got a really bad vibe from it. Does anyone think that would make a decent first bike for a 19 year old with 0 experience riding sport bikes? Might just be my old age, but I think it might be a little too much for him. He mentioned changing the sprocket over so he could "do more wheelies" and I just shook my head in disbelief.

[DucDave]

I grok your concern....

[csmutty]

Youll shoot your eye out kid.

I know what you are saying. Unfortunately those kind of people cant be told no. Good luck.

[andrew]

I would just try and ride with him as often as possible and keep an eye on him .

[Jim]

He needs an R1 with gearing to do more wheelies.

[fineout]

personally I wouldnt want to be getting a supersport for a first bike, but I know people who have done it and been fine. The whole "I want to do more wheelies" comment would make me shake my head too. At least make sure he gets good gear and wears it.

[slammp]

My first bike was a 600. Make him wear gear so if it does happen at least he's protected.

[DaveZX6r]

I feel the same way with anyone I talk to in a similar situation. Never mind a family member. Do what you can to talk some sense into him. Get him to talk to some people who have wadded a bike that MIGHT help too. If that doesn't work make sure you help him to learn and that he wears good gear. Just like slamp my first bike was a 600, although an fzr is a little less powerfull... I totaled it but gear helped me walk away with nothing more than bruises, and the knowl
edg that i needed to be a better rider.

[PhilB]

It's a crappy choice for a first bike. Being that he already has it, it's probably too late to convince him to make a smart choice, but he should be on a Ninja 250. Maybe a Ninja 500 or GS500, but nothing more than that is a good idea for a starter bike.

PhilB

[Drewski]

I started on a 1999 R6 and upgraded after a year to a 1998 Superhawk. I think it's all in the mentality of the rider. As was said, ride with him and observe/offer advice and make sure that he wears gear....at least when he is with you. If he is already concerned with "doing more wheelies", he could be in for some trouble no matter what size or type of bike he is on. Best wishes for him....and you!!

[rice_rocket]

Wirelessly posted

Throttle control...having just sold my r6..compared to what I learnt on and the other bikes I'd gone through, its really how fast and far you twist that throttle. Heck, if I got the 900rr I wanted as my first bike I might have not changed so many... But wheelies...yeah that scares me that hes going to dump it trying. Whoops, forgot to add that I let my friend with one season ride it before I sold it and it scared the crap out of him.

[Rambunctous]

Convince him that he has so much talent that he needs to take it to the track. He can wheelie after his first win.

[BLACK SQUIRREL]

Makes No difference at all. If he respects the machine and takes the time to learn how to ride it. he will be fine.

If he is a moron then he would hurt himself on a Ninja 250 or a Smaller bike just as bad.

Teach him how to ride.

[Slyder]

Kinda like the others are saying. Is a 600 like the gixxer, R6, CBR, ZX a bad first bike? No. Can someone with zero experience learn on said bike? Absolutely.

Unfortunately your bro has already demonstrated the wrong attitude and the wrong desire for having a bike like those...which in this case does make it the wrong bike to learn on. If he doesn't respect that bike, he and it will be sliding up the road.

He wants to change sprockets and stunt? RM125...YZ125...CR125...KX125. Much more suited to his needs, lots cheaper, and you can drop them all day long.

[rpiian]

I started out riding with a buddy while I had my permit. When I started to ride by myself I didn't see the value in decent gear until I had a few close calls. Seeing deer on the way home every night, half the time in the road, convinced me to smarten up. 6 years later I am buying a helmet that fits me better (albeit more expensive) because my old helmet is past the 5 year mark. I also want a better performing helmet. I've learned that the difference between "need (bare minimum)" and "should have" can't be the amount of $$ I would save.

Is this a way to break into some social crowd of his or is he doing this for himself? I hope in either case he will at least have the right gear.

[golden chicken]

I got a bad vibe when the kid at work (19 or 20) said he sold his Ducati Sportclassic 1000 and ordered a S1000RR. I'm a slow noob with 10,000 street miles under my belt and he has FAR fewer miles and he has a 19 or 20 year old's temper. He also rides in far too little gear. Seems like a recipe for disaster if you ask me.

[DucDave]

Try getting him to ride with a group that knows what they're about. Nothing like seeing a dozen serious sport bike riders who take their riding seriously. By that I mean, geared up, spacing, knowledgable riders. It can be eyeopening to learn how much fun you can have while mitigating risk at the same time.

Maybe after he has a few thousand miles under his belt you point him to at track day...

I've seen alot of new riders that start with his attitude come along and learn quickly what real sportbikes are about...

In fact...there was a huge ride last weekend spun up by a rider that was exactly like your bro and now he's an advocate and leader for the kind of riding that we're about!!!

Good luck...!

[SSearchVT]

My little bro just got a 2005 R6, I rode it today and just got a really bad vibe from it. Does anyone think that would make a decent first bike for a 19 year old with 0 experience riding sport bikes? Might just be my old age, but I think it might be a little too much for him. He mentioned changing the sprocket over so he could "do more wheelies" and I just shook my head in disbelief.

You're over 30 - No matter what you say to him you're going to be wrong. You don't understand (the oxymoron - you'll be the first one he turns to when it breaks)... As others have said - it's not the bike that causes the trouble, it's the rider. That said since it's a used bike give it a good once over. Make sure there's nothing mechanically wrong with the bike that could lead to an accident...

[OreoGaborio]

I started on a 600... Picked it up and immediately did triple digits on my way into Boston like an idiot to show my buddies.

My key to survival? I found NESR and started doing group rides early... It quickly showed me just how little skill and experience I really had. Get him on here, get him on some group rides, bring him up to the track to watch some racing & maybe do a track day.

[mzdagrl]

I don't think you're getting the bad vibe from the bike...

like the others said, ride with him, teach him all you can, and make sure he has the proper gear and wears it. Youw ill be wrong, but maybe if you throw enough knowledge at him, some of it will stick.

[nhbubba]

Peer pressure is a helluva thing.

[DucDave]

Peer pressure is a helluva thing.

...tell me about it...!!!!

[nt650hawk]

I hear nothing but good Vibs from here.

http://www.viberider.com/photo&video.asp

[mzdagrl]

I hear nothing but good Vibs from here.

http://www.viberider.com/photo&video.asp

bwahahaha!

[SRTie4k]

I've never gotten a bad vibe from a bike...riders, however, are a different story.