Discussion
Hi
Just done my direct access, and currently window shopping for my 1st bike, my local bike dealer has a 2015 Kawasaki Z800 in, and well its really caught my attention.
Do you think it's too big for a first bike?
Give a bit of back ground, I'm 6ft 4" very muscular, so I weigh 110KG, so want something that I'll be comfortable on and something that will be comfortable with me on.
A guy I know is trying to talk me out of it say I should be looking at maximum of 650cc as a first bike, which I kinda understand but also have massive question marks around. Looking the 600cc bikes that peak my interest (ZX6R '04 onwards) have comparable power to the Z800, but rev higher, I was thinking this could make a bike easier to handle for a new rider being that you have more rev range to use before it is producing big numbers. Am I right?
I don't want a twin unless I'm looking at a Ducati but the Desmo servicing puts me off
So just wondering what peoples opinions are on is a Z800 ok for a first bike? if not what else would you suggest? And is there a sweet spot interns of power (bhp) and weight for a 1st bike in your opinion?
I don't want a twin unless I'm looking at a Ducati but the Desmo servicing puts me off. There is a yellow '98 Ducati 600 on auto trader which I love the look of, its just beautiful.
I have a thing for Ducatis and Kawasaki's, I had a traumatic childhood but will never forget my one of my neighbours having a Ducati 916 and her husband having a ZX9-R (?), hearing and seeing them used to put a massive smile on my face. For that reason I'd love one of those two makes.
EDIT: I just wanted to add, I like both the naked and super sport styles, and also speed doesn't really bother me, a mean sexy looking bike that sounds good is more important than power. I had my speed freak days when I got in to cars and built myself a 600bhp Audi, those days are well gone for me.
Just done my direct access, and currently window shopping for my 1st bike, my local bike dealer has a 2015 Kawasaki Z800 in, and well its really caught my attention.
Do you think it's too big for a first bike?
Give a bit of back ground, I'm 6ft 4" very muscular, so I weigh 110KG, so want something that I'll be comfortable on and something that will be comfortable with me on.
A guy I know is trying to talk me out of it say I should be looking at maximum of 650cc as a first bike, which I kinda understand but also have massive question marks around. Looking the 600cc bikes that peak my interest (ZX6R '04 onwards) have comparable power to the Z800, but rev higher, I was thinking this could make a bike easier to handle for a new rider being that you have more rev range to use before it is producing big numbers. Am I right?
I don't want a twin unless I'm looking at a Ducati but the Desmo servicing puts me off
So just wondering what peoples opinions are on is a Z800 ok for a first bike? if not what else would you suggest? And is there a sweet spot interns of power (bhp) and weight for a 1st bike in your opinion?
I don't want a twin unless I'm looking at a Ducati but the Desmo servicing puts me off. There is a yellow '98 Ducati 600 on auto trader which I love the look of, its just beautiful.
I have a thing for Ducatis and Kawasaki's, I had a traumatic childhood but will never forget my one of my neighbours having a Ducati 916 and her husband having a ZX9-R (?), hearing and seeing them used to put a massive smile on my face. For that reason I'd love one of those two makes.
EDIT: I just wanted to add, I like both the naked and super sport styles, and also speed doesn't really bother me, a mean sexy looking bike that sounds good is more important than power. I had my speed freak days when I got in to cars and built myself a 600bhp Audi, those days are well gone for me.
Edited by ElJoey08 on Tuesday 18th January 18:16
Nothing wrong with an 800 as a first proper bike.
Modern electronics are on your side and the throttle is infinitely adjustable, not just on or off.
Nothing worse than laying out a load of cash on a bike and then six months later getting itchy feet. Get something decent from the off and hopefully it'll last a bit longer.
Not sure if it's physically big enough but have you considered a 900 Monster?
Modern electronics are on your side and the throttle is infinitely adjustable, not just on or off.
Nothing worse than laying out a load of cash on a bike and then six months later getting itchy feet. Get something decent from the off and hopefully it'll last a bit longer.
Not sure if it's physically big enough but have you considered a 900 Monster?
Nick928 said:
Nothing worse than laying out a load of cash on a bike and then six months later getting itchy feet. Get something decent from the off and hopefully it'll last a bit longer.
Not sure if it's physically big enough but have you considered a 900 Monster?
Totally agree, with the itchy feet, I was chatting to the guy at the shop with the Z800 for sale, money isn't exactly free flowing for me as I'm a PhD student, so what's the point in buying something I'd want to upgrade from in 6 to 12 months. Not sure if it's physically big enough but have you considered a 900 Monster?
As for the Monster I'm not sure, its on my list of bikes to test ride. But again the servicing cost is putting me off Ducati's even though I have a soft spot for them.
jjones said:
It's all about attitude, so if you have the right attitude any bike will be fine.
Thats exactly my thoughts, even when I had my 600bhp Audi, I never used that power on the road. But my thoughts was if the BHP peaks later in the rev range then its like to come in more progressively? Especially with more modern engineering and electronics.
I Know the Z800 doesn't rev as high as the ZX6r but produces more torque and at lower RPM so was thinking that torque could be more of a handful to get used to.
anonymous said:
[redacted]
I said to the person trying to talk me out of the Z800, that I've got a list of bikes I'd like to test and I'll by the one which I'm most comfortable on, confident on and puts a smile on my face 1) when I'm looking at it and 2) when riding it. I don't know what to make of the speed triple there was one next to the Z800 and yes I looked around it but it didn't get a second look, I think it is just because I don't have the connection to triumphs that I do with Ducatis and Kawasakis.
ElJoey08 said:
I said to the person trying to talk me out of the Z800, that I've got a list of bikes I'd like to test and I'll by the one which I'm most comfortable on, confident on and puts a smile on my face 1) when I'm looking at it and 2) when riding it.
And that is the right way of looking at it. I'm also a new rider (since November) and recently I was looking for my first bike. On my list I had used Triumph Street Scrambler, new Kawasaki z650rs and new RE Interceptor. In the end I went for RE. It felt very comfy and surprisingly very roomy for 6'5" lanky me. It was also cheaper and came with 3 year warranty and road side assistance. And yes, I do like how it looks and rides, it's pretty much everything I wanted from the first bike.I have also found that the insurance drops by around £200 if you go from 900cc to 650cc. For scrambler as new rider with no NCB's I've been quoted £500-550, for RE the price drops to £350 and that is for full comp with all extra covers (injury, gear and that sort of stuff).
You will be fine, as long as you have self restraint and give yourself plenty of time to get used to it.
I passed at the start of 2020 at the age of 50, started off on a 2004 GSXR 600, it's been absolutely fine.
Now have a 2006 Hayabusa (still have the Gixxer), the Busa is surprisingly easy to ride, the power is only there if you want it,
saying that there is a hell of a lot of low down grunt but power delivery is so smooth it's very controllable, i absolutely love it.
You can really start on any bike after DAS if you have the right mindset.
I passed at the start of 2020 at the age of 50, started off on a 2004 GSXR 600, it's been absolutely fine.
Now have a 2006 Hayabusa (still have the Gixxer), the Busa is surprisingly easy to ride, the power is only there if you want it,
saying that there is a hell of a lot of low down grunt but power delivery is so smooth it's very controllable, i absolutely love it.
You can really start on any bike after DAS if you have the right mindset.
CoreyDog said:
The main learning will happen when your out on your own, I found DAS gave me the absolute basics and I learnt more in the first 100 miles on my own than majority of DAS.
100% right, i went a whole year before i learned countersteering, i was going round corners just leaning my body with no inputon the bars thinking that was countersteering, learned from a Youtube vid, went out, pushed the left grip and the bike went left.
Go have a sit on the ones on your list and see what you're comfortable on.
My mate had a 620 Monster and I couldn't even get my feet to the pedals, while I couldn't get my foot down flat on a BMW R1200 I tried
I can't do "sportsbike" riding position yet my little GS500E with low clip ons was fine as it was a small bike I could reach while upright (6'2", 13st with a dodgy back) .
Don't worry too much about engine size, the throttle is not an on/off switch... I picked up the aforementioned GS500E as my first bike and it was great as a starter but I soon moved up to my SV650, extra 20bhp was a nice upgrade
My mate had a 620 Monster and I couldn't even get my feet to the pedals, while I couldn't get my foot down flat on a BMW R1200 I tried
I can't do "sportsbike" riding position yet my little GS500E with low clip ons was fine as it was a small bike I could reach while upright (6'2", 13st with a dodgy back) .
Don't worry too much about engine size, the throttle is not an on/off switch... I picked up the aforementioned GS500E as my first bike and it was great as a starter but I soon moved up to my SV650, extra 20bhp was a nice upgrade
The Ducati 600 will be air cooled/low power and tiny for you so I wouldn't even consider it.
My first bike was a new ZX6R back in '98 I managed about 3 months before coming off the thing, laid up in hospital.... it wasn't so much the speed but the road surface and my inexperience on how to handle it lent over that caught me out.
I would try the Z800 more for size rather than performance, it's better to have a bike that fits so you can enjoy it.
My first bike was a new ZX6R back in '98 I managed about 3 months before coming off the thing, laid up in hospital.... it wasn't so much the speed but the road surface and my inexperience on how to handle it lent over that caught me out.
I would try the Z800 more for size rather than performance, it's better to have a bike that fits so you can enjoy it.
I'm 6'2" and don't find many sports particularly comfortable, so definitely agree with the above comment about trying to get a decent test ride to find what's comfortable for you. This site is worth a look to see what the seating position looks like for your measurements
https://cycle-ergo.com/
Also if you're looking 600-800cc bikes then definitely do consider twins, they have more torque at lower RPM than higher revving inline 4's. Some 600cc IL4's can just be annoyingly buzzy
https://cycle-ergo.com/
Also if you're looking 600-800cc bikes then definitely do consider twins, they have more torque at lower RPM than higher revving inline 4's. Some 600cc IL4's can just be annoyingly buzzy
Edited by RizzoTheRat on Wednesday 19th January 15:26
RizzoTheRat said:
I'm 6'2" and don't find many sports particularly comfortable, so definitely agree with the above comment about trying to get a decent test ride to find what's comfortable for you. This site is worth a look to see what the seating position looks like for your measurements
https://cycle-ergo.com/
Also if you're looking 600-800cc bikes then definitely do consider twins, they have more torque at lower RPM than higher revving inline 4's. Some 600cc IL4's can just be annoyingly buzzy
Thanks will take a look at cycle-ergo.https://cycle-ergo.com/
Also if you're looking 600-800cc bikes then definitely do consider twins, they have more torque at lower RPM than higher revving inline 4's. Some 600cc IL4's can just be annoyingly buzzy
Edited by RizzoTheRat on Wednesday 19th January 15:26
As for 600 IL4's being buzzy, I love the sound of them even the smaller Kawasaki ZX25R. Dam I wish they would bring that to the UK, I'd be throwing my money at the local Kawasaki dealership for one of them. Once I have my near daily ride I'm going to be looking for one of the mid 90's 4 cylinder 250cc bikes hopefully in a little bit of a rough state so I can spend some time giving it some TLC and just keep it to take out once in a while.
I've built a few cars in my time from respectful restorations to full on road legal drag focussed cars so think it would be nice to do a bike at some point.
Edited by ElJoey08 on Wednesday 19th January 22:58
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