Lenny saint Yes. The smaller displacement motorcycles have a shorter wheel base and smaller tires. They can be flicked into corners no problem. The larger bikes have a longer wheel base and wider tires, thus less agile. I ride a 250 and love it. I have ridden super sports and decided not to buy one as I cannot fully utilize the displacement. You cannot even max a 250 on the street without getting tickets.
Booo !! Old people ! I'm kidding, but this may be why they selling all the CC range except 300 ccthat just popped around by recent years (Here in Thailand though).
Thank you so much for this. I spent 5 days riding a 125, then took a direct access course and after a further 4 lessons had a full licence. Straight away jumped on a 660cc following the advice of others.."you'll be bored".. "more powerful bikes are better"... Well what happened? Too heavy for me (5'5 female at 62kg), too powerful for corners, dropped it, etc.. lost all my confidence. Had the bike for a year, rode less than 20 times on it as I just didn't feel capable. So now I'm selling to get a 250cc/300cc so I can actually learn to RIDE a bike. Really refreshing to hear someone not playing the ego card and telling the truth. Anyone can go fast in a straight line but I'm looking forward to learning so much more on a smaller cc bike. Your videos rock. Thank you :)
My first bike was a cb500f , bought it three years ago . I still have it lol it’s ok for me . But I think I will get a Mt07 next . For me I don’t need a bigger bike than a 650 . More than enough power and I don’t want a too big bike when I lane filter in the city either .
1000cc bikes are rarely if ever the best bike or even a “good” bike to get yourself. For track and city, a 300cc bike is fun to play around on and perfect your technique. Personally, I say a 650cc is the sweet spot for commuting, highways and touring, twisties, ect. Most of them are designed for comfortable street riding which is what most of us do.
What's your take on cruisers? My first bike is an 07 Honda VTX 1300R. I went this route largely due to a height consideration with recommendations from a friend of mine who is even taller than I am.
@@BlueCollarDev don’t have a lot of experience with them. I personally wouldn’t point someone to a 6-800lbs bike to start, but I know they do make lighter cruisers.
@@ZSmith-yy4lv if we’re talking an adult male who literally cannot ride yet and has a strict buy in/service budget you can’t beat an xr/dr/klx single cylinder 650cc that is if you aren’t man enough too have fun on a scooter in public! Both options aren’t great for the highway but the highways for silly goose Harley/sport bike riders and tourers/commuters.. the 650 thumpers are fine for a commuter btw even a Vespa can go fine on the highway with a rider who assumes nobody sees him!
At age 75, I ride a 125 cc bike and love it. It's nimble in town and fun on the back roads here in the California foothills. I can't think of a reason why I, personally, would ever go bigger. My bike is a toy that I take out in the afternoon for a little exploring.
Thank you for making this video. My friends tried to pressure me into as big of a bike as possible when I first started. Bigger the better. I love riding, but I am a very cautious person. I bought a 125cc bike. I rode it for months before I "outgrew" it. That's only because it couldn't reach highway speeds. Now I want a new bike that can hop on the highway. They pushed for me to get a bigger bike again. Very big - like a big Harley. I am getting a 400cc naked bike. If I can reach 80 mph and not lose my teeth due to rattling or lose control of the bike, that'll be big enough for me. Probably for life. I don't know why people keep telling new riders to get huge bikes. It's dangerous and a huge waste of money.
Fast Eddie’s Motorcycle Fun of course they do! I've been looking around for a good parking lot with smooth surface to practice, I low sided last weekend which was a real wake up call in terms of my body positioning so I'm trying to adjust for the next bike I get ! Thanks for your tips
L - Kay No problem! Sounds like it wasn’t a bad accident...good thing! Yes...practice practice...practice so much it’s hard to make a mistake! FULL quality gear and practice does wonders and of course taking courses.
Great video! Totally agree. 300 bikes are totally underrated. I started with a 600cc instead of 1000cc, but it's was still terrifying as hell. Eventually I took advanced riding courses to improve my riding and I eventually ended up exactly what you mentioned... getting a 300, upgrading suspension, tires, brakes, and taking it to the track. Ripping around the track on that little machine made me fall in love with it. It is now one of my favorite bikes on and off the track.
That question is usually only asked by somebody in the US. Here in Europe, I'm from Spain, you only can get a maximum 47 hp bike when you get your license. Stay with that for 2 years and then, if you want, change to a more powerful bike. Makes sense to me. As you said, you have to master your bike before upgrading to a more challenging and demanding bike. Great video. Congrats!
I am shopping for my first bike, a 43 year old new rider. I have watched dozens of videos trying to answer this question and this one, hands down, was the most helpful! Thanks so much for posting this.
Being a safety-conscious, logical thought process inclined, not caring about others think I have found this and many of your videos useful. Been binge watching them as I start to mature the idea of beginning to ride. You cover all those bases with some extras. The moment a person thinks that the top has been reached, that's when they close the doors to learning more and more. Greatly motivated by your thought process, especially in this video. Subscribed!
Its always going to be Kawasexy ZX6R for me. Plenty of power and pleasure. Plus it looks hell alot better than CBR600R which is ugly compare to CBR1000R. YZF R6 looks good too but less comfortable than the ZX6R for street riding.
You are right in everything you said. Here in Europe, you can get your licence when you are 16, and you can ride motorcycles up to 125cc and 15hp. Then when you are 18 you can switch to bikes with up to 35kW (~47 hp), and at 20 you can finally ride bigger bikes. That may seem stupid to you, and I do think it is maybe too restricted, but I think it is much better than being able to get your license and legaly ride a 1000cc monster with no experience. I dont know much about those laws in USA, and I know they may vary between states (?)... but wheter new riders will get a 1000cc immediately or start with 250-300cc, it only depends on their common sense, and most of them will choose the bigger bike - faster, much more cool, sounds great, in fact, everything about big bikes is great - but the problem is not in the motorcycle, the problem is in the inexperienced rider. And then the shit will come at the first traffic light.
Exactly! Yes, here in the entire US once you get your license, either from a course or just going to the DMV, you can buy whatever you want....just a like a 16 year old who gets their license can buy a Bugatti if he/she had the money too.
Well too be honest, I'm currently trying to get my A2 and I already met one person who said the first bike he was going to ride after he gets his license might be a 1200cc, which he can because he's over 24 so he can get his A license easily, so the system doesn't really prevent inexperienced riders from driving powerful bikes.
Well, I am not completely sure which is your home country, but in Spain the limit is also two years from the time you obtain the A2, so even if you get your license at 30, you wont be able to access bikes of more than 35KW straight away. He might be able to get the 1200cc if it is limited to 35KW but then he is riding an underpowered whale.
@@FGGiskard Really? I thought the rules for A1 and A2 were the same throughout the EU, but here you can get your A right away if you're over 24 so I guess not.
Thank you Eddie! Nice to see an experienced rider giving honest sensible advice, rather than all the big-bike posers out there, racing around on their R1's on city streets etc. You set a great example for other riders.
That was a pleasant surprise. I pick up a duke390 in a few weeks and it's great to see someone promoting smaller bikes and specifically the duke 390. I'm a returning rider although most experience with off road riding, it's been a long time and close to 50 now. I loved riding the cbr125r in my lessons last year, such an agile bike although was only parking lot but I think the Duke 390 is a good fit for what I'm looking for. Thank you
everybody I know told me not to get 300 cc bike because Ill outgrow the bike but I really like the CB300r or ninja 400. plus I only ride in town no highway or freeway commute at all.
Fast Eddie’s Motorcycle Fun yes I already looking at the CB300r and KTM 390 as you suggested hahaha. Yes im leaning towards the more upright seating motorcycle.
You can't go wrong with the CB300 series! Honda is just reliable and will definitely last long enough to perfect your riding. I ride a Ninja 300 and love the shit out of it. You can keep up with highway and freeway speeds and excel in the twisties. You have 2 great options there! From there you'll learn what you like and what you lack.
Fast Eddie’s Motorcycle Fun hi just an update on what bike I end up getting. KAWASAKI Z650. I know, I am suppose to get the other bikes but this one was on sale. Only $800 difference from the ktm and the honda is not even out on my area yet. Anyways I am continually practicing, of course the power is way over my skill level but discipline and consistency is key to get my skill up there. Anyways keep the videos coming and I learn a lot from your videos.
Ive been itching to upgrade BAD... but A few months ago I decided i was gonna just keep my cbr250r and ride the CRAP OUT OF IT until it felt like my own 2 legs lol. Im putting as much time on it as possible on countryside twisting roads, even going on solo night rides when its too hot during thr day. I can already tell the improvement in overall control and Im having a blast on such a nimble and reliable bike. Thanks for reaffirming my decision!:)
haha girlfriend bikes are always the best lol =) I'd love to take one of those for a spin, they look cool and have a unique sitting position. I sat on one a Chapparel and it felt like I was sitting on a big Wasp lol! maybe I'm just weird ...but hey thanks for the response!
..test ride a Kawasaki 300 or 400 Ninja you may reconsider your decision. I keep pushing these bikes because I now own a 650 Ninja, and it just may be the best bike I ever owned. ( used to own Suzukis, Katanas and Gixxers )
Yup.. I showed a few friends a picture of my 390 Duke (My 1st Street Bike) and They Told me I would out grow it in a week & want a GSX1000. Also was told I’m too tall for this kind of bike and should have looked at Harley’s instead of a small sports bike. I’m 6’ 195lbs. Now I’m old enough to dust the negative off my shoulder, but it made me laugh when you were told something similar. Nice video thanks for sharing
HAHHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAH out grow it??!? Lol I can't even out ride the 390! I'm not good enough to outperform that bike....GSX1000...who can ride that bike properly? Josh Herrin? Jason Pridmore? That's about it!! lol
That's what I was wondering? lol He did have me question whether or not I should have started with a 600, but I'm not going to let it effect the way I feel about the 390. I really enjoy it for what it's worth and for the light amount of in town driving I do... Well 55mph is pretty much as fast as I need to go within the posted limits. Thanks for the reply back. Cheers!
Glad I got the CB300R as my first bike less than 2 weeks ago. Corners are definitely where the real skill lies and I've got a ways to go. Straight line stuff has gotten easy already.
I totally agree with this. I passed the MSF course, and it was the first time I've ever been on a motorcycle. Many experienced riders were taking the course because they didn't have the motorcycle endorsement. Most said not to purchase a small cc bike because I would be bored in a month. Well, bought me a used Suzuki TU250x and I'm practicing in parking lots to get better at riding. I will take more courses with it and hopefully take it to the track one day. I'm 62 and having so much fun with this 250cc motorcycle! Stay safe everyone!
One of the greatest things about the BMW GS or GSA is it's Size and Visibility to the others on the road. I ride with the Fog lights and the Panniers with bunch of reflective stickers. Even though the panniers are extra weight and effects the handling, I put up with it for the benefits. Also, GS is very comfortable on long distance riding. So, it is not a total waste :)
I started on a Harley fat boy, then went to an R6. Now I have a mt07 2018. The mt07 is the fastest, safest and most fun bike I have ever ridden. You feel in control all the time and the torque will still put a smile on your face every time you ride it 😉
Riding for 3 years. The skill gap between a middle weight to a litre bike is the same as going from 125cc to a 600cc bike. I found a 650cc twin (70hp) is plenty for UK roads, bags of fun! Cheaper to insure and not too punishing on the wallet to maintain. Dropped it? No problem, can be picked up. 1000cc bikes ideally require a few years under the belt. Always good to gain confidence on a mid-weight before making the leap up.
Despite being a great rider, you have so much humility. There’s so much more to learn and skills to acquire. Thanks for bringing the rest of us down to earth!
I havnt ridden in yrs .and i was put in a situation were i was given a big ass bike and its scary as hell..ive been watching your videos. All of your videos they have helped me out emencely..i practice every day and i continue to do so ..thank u.
Rah, honestly after watching this video and your other videos I came to the conclusion that I won’t ever need a liter bike. I own a 636 and that’s way more than I’ll ever need. Thanks devil, keep up the good educational videos.
I started on a Ninja 300 (around 35hp) for 3 years. Super light and super comfy but it didnt have enough power for example to overtake cars without risks. I then switched to a Z900 (around 125hp) for almost 2 years because i wanted that 4 stroke and more power and didnt want to lose the seating comfort. Love the 4 stroke and the power is just perfect for my usage but I've been having some technical issues and those short gears are annoying without quickshifter imo. So I've been testriding a 2016 ZX6R 636 multiple times now and will probably get that bike because it has everything i missed or disliked in my older bikes except the seating position. But to be honest the 636 isn't even that uncomfortable. In the end you gotta sacrifice something i guess. If you plan to get a bike i advise you to do as many testrides as possible and recap what you liked and disliked and then get the perfect bike for you. Dont get influenced by others. Your friends might think 1000cc bikes are the best and the rest is weak and ugly but they most likely have no idea what they're talking about and probably are those type of people who told me "woah sick 1000cc bike dude" back when i still had my ninja 300 lol
Very true!! Test riding is a very good idea and buy the bike YOU want!! Who's paying for it? You are lol!! People say to me, "I don't like your bike, it's ugly." I say back, "That's cool, you don't have to look at it either." lol Get the bike that will do the best for your goals.
Consider the engine type, as well. An I4 600 is considerably different from a V2 or parallel twin 650. Almost any inline 4 is going to require a cooler touch, in panic situations.
Hey Greg, I am a brand-new rider. I have never owned a Motorcycle before in my life. I road my friends Dirt Bike Motorcycle down the street and back one time many years ago. This will be my first Motorcycle. I chose the 2022 Kawasaki Versys 650 because it was a bike I sat upright on, and it is the most comfortable bike I sat on, and I sat on a lot of Motorcycles. This Motorcycle is light. It weighs 467lbs. It feels really light and nimble and very manageable. I had the option of getting a Kawaski Versys 1000. But before I purchased my New Motorcycle, I saw this video of yours while researching what to buy. My Kawasaki 650 was 10K. The Kawasaki 1000 was 20K. This video makes total sense. Why should I purchase a Motorcycle with that kind of power when I can only go 20 to 30 MPH. Thanks Fast Eddie for putting this video together and educating us new riders. I signed up for my new Riders course and I'm waiting for the class to start. So, the Kawasaki 650 sits looking pretty in the Garage for now. Now I'm waiting for the Motorcycle gear I ordered to come in Helmet, pants, Jacket and Motorcycle shoes. Greg keep up the great work with educating us all.
I choose to watch you because your humble, straight forward, and safety/learning is your top priority. I love all of what you do, please keep up the great work!
Great vid cheers, I’m UK based over 40 and did CBT and go a 125cc Honda just over a year ago. Hoping to do my full test this year, so obviously looking at a bigger bike. After speaking to few folk and dealers, all of them have told me “don’t get anything smaller than a 650cc, you WLL get bored”. And then proceed to try convincing me why il get bored and so on. After 1 year and 1300 miles on my 125 I haven’t got board of it and when, and if, I pass my big bike test I’m thinking of getting a 300cc to 500cc bike as I’m yet to be convinced getting a 650+ bike, for my first big bike, is a good idea. Il no doubt get ribbed for getting a small capacity bike but can live with that.
Just getting interested in bikes recently and as many would say: "I'd rather drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow" It gets boring very quickly and frustrating when you can't utilize a vehicule's full potential because of your skill's limit and you can't even improve them when the performance is way above your skill.
I really appreciate you taking the time and making this video. I just purchased a r3 and I’m 28 and I haven’t had a lick of riding experience but I’ve had a lot of jokes come my way for wanting to start off on a lower CC bike because I want to master the craft first. I think people just want to be cool so they start off with 600cc or 1000cc. I love the r3 and it’s enough for me so far.
It’s good enough for me too! Don’t be fooled to think you need something bigger or that it’s a starter bike. I kick people’s a** on my gf’s 390 Duke and it’s great to remind them on what I’m riding! Plus it’s the bike I use at the track!
I was thinking of upgrading to a larger displacement cruiser instead of my R3, I took it for a proper ride when I got my license for it and decided it was more than capable of doing what I needed it to do anyway. I love my little R3, I get laughed at at the coffee houses where biker bros stop but when I leave them behind in the twisties and they catch me later I get to talk about my awesome instructor and I usually point them to the school where I learned to ride. So far I have ad about a third of them message me or contact me via the forums to either thank me or ask to meet up for a ride so that we can compare newly learned skills. I think the 'war' between displacements is stupid and you make a very valid point and present it with a good amount of evidence and experience, so for this I must thank you.
Great tips. I started on an older Rebel 250, which only goes 55mph. It fine around town but it is hard to overtake cars when needed, which it is a bit dangerous imo. I'm riding a 950 cruiser now that is more confident, but I want to downgrade to a 700 for the weight reduction.
I have recently experienced this myself. I spent a year on a GS500 learning how to ride and it was honestly a lot of fun but I always dreamed of having a Z900. Bought one a month ago and honestly? I probably use 10% of it's potential in the twisties just because it is so powerful. I learned now that faster isn't better or more fun at all. I just have to hold back all the time where with the 500 I could rip it a lot more and it was a lot more fun. Next bike will definitely be a step down just to have more fun.
In my humble opinion, it's better to have a powerful bike and not needing to use the power, than have a small underpowered bike and not getting the power that you may need. Besides, modern 600 and 1000cc bikes have "Drive Mode" feature that controls the throttle response. So if someone is not yet confident in their abilities to throttle-control, they can always dial it down to prevent accidental wheelies, and tire spins. The only practical disadvantages of a 1000cc sportsbike that I can relate to are: engine heat, insurance cost and fuel economy.
@@1nabcd8ed you can always bring it to full power when you're ready or when you need it and you're getting all the higher-grade components and amenities an high-end product provides no matter how you choose to ride it.
8:05 my first motorcycle was a 250cc cruiser and i used to romp it all the time, but never practiced slow speed skills until my second motorcycle a Yamaha Stryker where i was about to quit riding because i had no idea how to use the rear brake for slow speeds. Your videos, RideLikeAPro Jerry Paladino videos and boom...got me practicing the figure of 8 and snowmans and the U turns which are the one exercise i lost points on at the MSF.
This is fantastic advice. I stuck with an old Kawasaki ZXR250C for ages. It was my first bike (still have it), and was a blast to ride. Revs to infinity and sounds amazing doing it. However I ended up 'upgrading' to a CBR600RR down the line mainly because it was one of those deals that was just way too cheap to pass on. I've been riding that pretty much every day since I got it over the last 12 months and love it. There is so much I'm still learning with it and to be honest, I'll never be able to push the potential of that bike. For me, I just love the mid range torque on it which was something I never got out of smaller bikes. I enjoy not having to wring it's neck to get the power out of it but that's just personal preference. But you are 100% correct with what you're getting at. It's so much more fun to ride slow bikes fast than it is to ride fast bikes slow. However... I love that 600 so much. It absolutely blows my mind when people say that I'll be bored with it or I'll find it slow. A year later and I'm FAR from bored, it's still exciting every time I jump on, and it's so light and easy to throw around. Anyway, keep making great content! I love your videos and I've been sharing them a lot with other riders. Where I live in Australia, there is a lot of this ridiculous biker bro culture... I'm so sick to death of people talking about 'chicken strips' and how grazed their knee sliders are. We need more people with sense like you. Peace!
Thank you so much! I'm glad my videos are so helpful...I'm sick of all that too, I'm trying to help change the culture into really good and safer riders ;) Consider sharing my videos with others!
Thank you for making this! After several months of thought, I found and bought a used R6 that needed a little TLC, knowing that I will probably progress more slowly than I would on a 300. I am a massive fan of F1, and the R6’s sound reminds me of the V10 F1 days. I’m spending as much time as I can doing parking lot drills, and learning a ton from your videos. I know this isn’t necessarily the recommended path, but I’m thoroughly enjoying it!
Very mature advice Eddie, Love it! I retired my riding after 30 good safe years; my job and four hour commutes burned me out. I'm happily married with a supportive wife (who lets me enjoy the hobby alone) and three great young adult kids. My last two bikes were a BMW R1200R and F650 Classic dual-sport thumper. Now, several more years later I'm the wrong side of 50 and my oldest son wants to learn. We're sharing his Suzuki TU250X thumper (same bike from the MSF class he took). I'm back and loving this little quarter liter thumper! At my age this bike fits my 'skill speed limit' just fine. Thinking about buying him out and enjoying a Blue Collar Cafe build project for scoots around our rolling New England backroads.
thank you for being a good person. I switched from being a hardcore mountain biker to getting a motorcycle finally in my old age. it's a gz 250. I hate coming up on other motorcyclists here in Pennsylvania, especially if they are on a Harley. the vast majority feel necessary to say something denigrating.... and they can't even go around a damn corner anywhere close to my meager skills. TH-cam is not so different. but you are. so thank you for being a good person, and making the first intelligent case I've seen on small bikes.
My Ninja 400 is all I will ever need for every road, including the interstate. It can cruise all day at 80 and easily up into the low 100s for quick passes. It’s perfect for country highways. Anything bigger is a waste of my money.
I ride a Honda CB300F. My skills are definitely not better than the capability of the bike (as you say). Also, I don't think I would ever get bored with it. For I riding is about experiencing the landscape, not riding like a nut. At the same time, there are two things that I wish to improve: 1) the engine screams like crazy above about 7000 RPMS, which I don't like...I prefer quiet bikes; 2) on the highway there is very little acceleration, so I'm pretty much a sitting duck there;; it's nice to have the flexibility of getting away from some driver that's not paying attention. So a higher CC bike would be the way...
I have a 2013 CB500x, which has a very gentle stock exhaust. Redlines at 8500-ish or something, but it sounds OK to me in the 6 to 7k range, nothing crazy. I do wear ear plugs though, I like to keep my hearing with all the wind noise and such. I'm also a fat bastard, but its 471cc engine has enough oomph to do quick takeovers and such, but it's not a nervous Nellie when cruising in the 60 to 80 mph range, especially in the 6th "cruising" gear. With my big behind on it, I uhhh... have heard from reliable sources that it'll hit the rev limiter in 5th at about 102mph. Acceleration is nothing spectacular above 80, for me, but it's a fine bike and I have plenty to learn on it.
Fun facts This is Bangladesh. The highest permitted bike cc is 165. We ride around all day and have fun with 100cc to 150cc bikes. These days those bikes can go up to 110-140km/h. So was wondering if you have 300 as small bikes in your discussion then what about 165 it's tiny.... :) Best of luck. We can only dream bro but we can't ride. Duke 390 seems superbike to us. If you want to know about the most renowned bike here check this out it is a different world of bikes. 1) Yahama R15 2) Honda CBR 150 3) Suzuki GSXR150 4) Yahama MT15 4) Tvs Apache RTR 160 5) Bajal Pulsar NS 160 6) Lifan kpr 165
Couldn’t agree more. I went from a ZX10R to a GSXR600 and I prefer my 600. It’s also 10 years older than my ZX10R was. I also have a Honda Grom and it’s the most fun I’ve ever had on a bike and it’s only a 125. When I got my 600 someone said “oh well that should be good enough for putting around town” and I responded with “no it’s good for everything except riding in litre class races!”
Brother, you are correct. I was lucky, I started with stealing my mom's moped. Then 125 dirt bikes becoming dual purpose 500s blooming into a Honda interceptor 750. I also own a custom softail, and a Zero DSR. I just bought a 999cc 2018 aprilia RSV4 RF LE #14 because my life needed to own one. It is more bike than I can handle, and more expensive than I can afford if I let it... but oh so worth every penny... to me.
Fast Eddie’s Motorcycle Fun Boy, are you honest and direct! I like your sticking to what you say in your videos when you talk to individuals where a lot of viewers don't go. A lot of motor vloggers sing a different tune in comments, I think to not lose viewers. Your directness is refreshing and am I glad I found your channel! Thanks, you are going to help me become a better rider.
Oliver Katen Awesome! I would say definitely an 400cc or less and test ride it!! And if you never did before, try out an upright bike...so much more comfortable vs being all the way bent over!
There are just two things keeping me from saying I'll get a small bike outright: 1) I wonder whether the better components that are supposedly part of a bigger bike also make it a 'better bike to ride' no matter the engine - of course one could change components of the smaller bike to suit one's needs. 2) I really like four cylinder bikes, their smooth sound and engine response is very appealing to me. As far as upright bikes (naked bikes) are concerned, the more leaned forward body position seems to suit me, however, my comparison points are few - a Suzuki GS 500, a Suzuki SV 650 S (current, sporty but not fully sportive position), and a practise run each on a Kawasaki Z 900 and a Triumph Street Triple (not sure what year, and thus not sure on the cc). I cannot say for sure whether they wouldn't grow on me over time though, all I know is the GS 500 was horrible for my body size in all regards really =D Also, I am still young, so looks play a role as well ^^
The new Ninja 400 is fantastic, good power and you're not in a crotch rocket tuck. It also looks great and they can be had with abs. I think they're in the mid 5k price range.
I have to say I absolutely LOVE my TW 200. Low seat height, very linear power, short gears that make for fun accelerating. However it does lack power in the steeps and anything 60 MPH + is off the table entirely unless you mess with your gearing, sprokets, chain etc. But ya know what it is SO much fun for a beginner like myself
Growing up riding just gave me the opportunity to learn how things operate. But when I bought my 1st street bike it was a ninja 400cc I put 37k on it and just at about 2 and half or so yrs , could have been a little longer , I went up to a r1 , I am adding to it as I learn, but yes I stay in my skill set always learning , my thought was why not have a r1 if I stay with in my limits and your videos have been a big help on what kind of rider I'm going to be come. Stay fun brotha
Awesome! At least now you have a bit of guidance of things you can practice on your own...check out my MotoJitsu Club videos....White belt to Red belt for specific drills to practice!
@@MotoJitsu I do have a question I have a v star 650 it is very easy to handle and ride I am only 5 foot 4 now a gsxr 600 sounds to me like it would be slower than my little v star yet they pass me like I am not even moving I thought about adding peddles to my bike so I can go faster up heel
This is solid advice! I ride a R3 in India which as per our roads and traffic standards still makes a lot more power than I will ever use. But I still see people getting all types of fancy stuff from H2s to s1000rr. Which made me realize that in most parts of the world people don't buy them for their usage. They are more of a trophy bike which they can show off and feel good factor. If I can spend all what I want on bikes, I will rather buy all category bikes between 300-500 haha. Would be interested to know your take on common topic of argument here in India i.e. single vs multiple cylinders! That's what people mostly use as a reason to upgrade here.
I am about to buy dominar400 AS my first bike. Right now I am practicing a 125 cc motorcycle on an open field. The max speed it can go is 80kmph and shit vibrates a lot.😂
I got my 1170cc R nine T and a few months later a 1000cc S1000R four years ago when I just got my L license. Fast forward to 2022, I have since sold both bikes but got a 1254cc R1250RS and the new S1000R. I skipped through the small cc bikes but I did take additional riding lessons from a former professional rider and watched lots of videos and read a few books. I try to do lessons whenever a course is available. I am 62 now and loving these two big cc bikes.
Lol...went through the same thing...ZX-14R was my first bike and quickly downgraded to a ninja 400, then ninja 650, then ninja 1000 and finally figured out what type of riding I like and do. I think that is key, to figure out why type of riding you do and get a bike suited to your riding style and riding skill. I've already told several buddies to watch your videos BEFORE buying any bike ! Thanks for the videos !
Fast eddie always have the best advice. Thank you so much eddie. Sometimes i feel if i made a right decision starting small on a cbr500 compared to 600cc/1000cc. Great video! Less is more
@@MakTheSank Yup. I'm with you on that one. I wouldn't want a supersport for the street, that's why I didn't go for a Panigale as much as I love the looks of it. And after the 300cc naked and the 1000cc naked I think I'd be just fine with something in the 500-750 range.
@@MakTheSank This. A 650 V-Twin like the SV is so much fun on the street, and still has top end power if you want. You can actually get it's power before reaching 70mph, while even an R6 will have it's max torque in first gear above 60mph ... More frustrating than anything else, imho
Fantastic, sensible video.I wish I'd seen it many years ago. My first bike on passing the test was a 1450 Harley. Many years later & many big bikes later, I've just bought a Honda Rebel 471cc. It's brilliant to handle, light, torquey & sums up everything you've covered. Well done !
Started with a 1200 Sportster 3 years ago. Bigger bike but I'm a bigger guy. People keep nagging me about trading up and getting something bigger. Haven't grown out yet or feel "held back". Put more miles in a season then most these guys have since I started and I feel like I'm still working at getting more in tune with my ride. Happy with what I got, next bike is adding to my stable, not replacing.
Most of the time for sure, but not necessarily for drag racing unless bikes are in the same class. Your average big bike riders(I own a 650 and 1000 and enjoy both) tend to enjoy straight line acceleration in which technique can only overcome so much of a power difference.
@@QTALISCHILL basically what you just said. There is really no skill just going straight when anybody can do it. Just like common sense. Not everybody has it. So I see common sense like technique. It's a skill.
this video made me appreciate my duke200 more. for the longest time ive been wanting to upgrade to a 650 but after watching this video, it made things much more clearer. thank you very much bro! #asia
In my case, I had people saying "Don't buy a 300cc buy, you'll get bored really fast" so, what did I do? I bought a brand new Honda CBR650R 35kw limited at 23y old (the minimum age to get full power is 24y old) and dropped it in my garage the first day. Yep, I know I'm an idiot, I just thought about going 0 to 100km/h really fast and I thought that riding a bike wasn't that hard. The worst part is when I need to do a U turn on a roundabout with the traffic pressuring me to go faster and I go super slow because I'm really affraid to drop the bike. For all the new drivers, just buy a 300cc bike and I'm sure you'll have more fun than a 600cc or 1000cc. To conclude I just want to thank you for all the content in your channel, it is the best help I could get. Thank you!
So glad youtube recommended your channel, wish I saw you before my MSF course. Seems a lot like cars though, as far as power. I was planning to buy my neighbor's CBR500F as a starter, test drove it a few days ago, felt amazing all around compared to the MSF CBR300R I was on. I can definitely see it being bad on the highway, but thankfully I work very close to home. This video is a perfect bike displacement guide.
@@MotoJitsu Some of the road racers do ordinary track racing, though Rossi definitely won't as he thinks that TT racers are mad and it's just too dangerous.
Love this, I've been on a ninja 300 for 3 years, did my first course over the weekend, I was out cornering everyone else on their stripples and big bikes, was amazing fun.
all your comments make a lot of sense and agree with all of it, BUT, where a 600cc (not sport) would make sense is for very long trips with lots of highway. Having the extra power makes passing much easier in 6th gear without having to downshift all the time. So for "touring" purposes I'd recommend a higher 'cc' bike ;)
What a great way of thinking. Just bought my first bike as an early 40th bday present to myself. Had a lot of friends with the "anything under 600cc you'll be bored with in a couple of months"..... I bought a Versys 300x. First time riding I didn't want to get in over my head, scare myself and never ride again. $5k for a brand new bike, can't beat that.
lol dude i thought this is just in my local (Southeast Asian) problems. every riders will dispute anyone's choice to own 600cc bikes with this same reason. "you'll get bored", "you'll hungry for more power" blablabla. so its a global problem huh. thanks for this video now I'm convinced to fix my skills first and to own 250cc bike. btw, majority of us here ride
250 trainer 450 cruiser (practice, heavy, not much top speed being 225lb rider) 900 cruiser (top speed, heavy, cruise at 93, distance but no agility) 650 enduro (light, tall, 20mph first gear was sad, top speed 85, cross wind pushed me) 750 nighthawk (agile, mid weight, agile, 45 in first gear, 85cruise, 115 punch) I found my porridge. Just have to flavor it to fit my palate. Windshield, highway pegs, cruiser bars, saddle bags *but keeping the 4 into 1 throaty exhaust!
Would you say this applies to cruisers as well? I know that horsepower varies from cruiser to sport bikes with similar CCs. Wondering if your advice still stands for someone looking to start off on a cruiser instead of a sport or standard bike. Thanks in advance!
I would ask you, what are you doing with your bike? Just cruising? Want to do higher speed cornering? Take passengers? Long trips? All these have a say to which bike to get...does the bike you want have adjustable suspension? Are there comfort items like cruise control or a windshield or heated grips? What are your riding goals will help you make that decision...and yes, no need to have a 1300 cc cruiser bike if a 800cc would do just fine. I would recommend test driving as many as you can before you buy!
I started on a Honda trail 90. Was 12 at the time. First "real" bike was a Triumph Tiger 650. Now I'm old and ride a Honda 1100 Shadow. Comfortable and easy to ride with a passenger. Great video!
As always, brilliant advice! A huge thank you because every time I'm out riding I am that much a better rider because of all your talks, analogies, lessons & tutorials that you do. I love riding my nimble revy 321cc torquey Yamaha mt03 🏍️
I'm going to get my son in-law to watch this video, he has his bike test soon, I've been trying to tell him this exact same thing for months, he has his Hart set on a 600 sport bike, and I've told him it's too much to soon , he doesn't have the skills for it, But I can tell he isn't buying it, he thinks I'm just trying to piss on his picknic. Insurance companies could help buy charging new rider's a fortune for large capacity or high bhp, price them out of it basically, as they do with cars, hear in the UK, I'm 6ft and 16.5 stone, if I was 5ft 8 and 11 stone, I would have a 300 exerlent fun, but I look like a Gorilla taking a dump riding one! I have a Tight 800 and a scrambler 900 both less than 100 BHP, more than enough for the roads, I've been saying that there is no point to a 1000cc sport bike for roads for year's, especially the latest version of them, Christ you can't get the engine into it's sweet spot ever, unless you want to loose your license. Or die! Keep up the good work Eddie.
You made a point, as VR has been riding his 125, he has been 14 and like 10 Stone... riding it solo. Can't even imagine me and my 5'9 wife redlining a Vespa in the Alps lookin like Donkey Kong and Koopa on same Mario-kart ;)
I think the idea behind this video is solid (don't get a bike more powerful than your skill level, basically). But there's a lot more to it than just cc. For example, a Ninja 650 or SV650 are commonly considered good starter bikes because they are twin cylinder engines that are slower than the 4-cylinder engines supersports have. However, a Ninja 636 or CBR 600 are not considered beginner bikes despite lower cc because the 4-cylinder engines can do a lot more with less cc. I personally started on a Ninja 650, and it was the perfect balance for me to learn and not get bored. At the same time though, there were benefits for me starting with a 300cc too. When it comes down to it, it's a very personal choice that needs to be catered to personal needs (like Eddie said). More than likely though, your needs won't be more than a 650.
It's just another perspective to consider when buying a bike...certainly not everything...that would take hours and hours to explain. All of my videos are maybe 30% of what can be said about any one topic.
@Lenny saint Your question suggests you missed the point lol buy what you wish, it's just a different perspective based on my teaching & riding experience.
Wow.. thank for sharing this rare blog about choosing the right bike for you.. Much respect to you sir..😊 Someone told me once.. You will never appreciate higher cc bikes, the power of the bike, unless you've tried the lower cc first..
My first bike was a 175cc Kawasaki back in my college days. I rode a Honda CBX 1000 in Germany for four years. I'm back on a motorcycle after 25 years! I bought a Vulcan 650 S and really enjoy it but now wishing I'd saved a bit more (not finance) for a 900cc-1000cc. Not for the speed but power and size. Not an adventure or touring bike but a cruiser or roadster.
Hello from Norway! Really great videos! I am actually taking my license now, and i was wondering if a new BMW F 850 GS would be ok as a new beginner motorcycle? I am thinking of using it to work, and drive long distance :)
Thanks! What about the F750GS? My driving instructor told me to maybe buy this one as it is cheaper and a good bike to ride on road on longe distances!.. It appears that the wheels of the 850GS are better for off road riding.. what do you think?
I own a Husqvarna nuda. The engine is based on the BMW parallel 2 from the 750, 800gs. The engine is great. Lost of those midrange adventure bikes have super smooth high torque motors, that makes them nice to drive.
Thanks Eddie, you've actually change my mind on my next bike. Great video and very timely for me. And I agree, MotoGP 3 riders on their 250 cc machine will wipe the floor with non-MotoGP riders on their 1000 or 1300 cc bikes out there, without a doubt. These riders practice endlessly daily and some actually lives at riding academies like the one in Barcelona. I'm coming back to riding after almost 30 years off bikes. Gotten myself a small 125 cc bike last year (I'm 6'2" 210 lbs 😆) as I see myself as a beginner again, and got into MotoJitsu channel while researching for my next bike upgrade. Thank you Eddie, after binge-watching your videos, I now decided not to go for that 1000 cc bike.
Yup, size is a consideration. I'm in the market for ADV style bike, so that makes it somewhat easier. I've ruled out the 1000 - 1200 class, I realized those are too much bikes for me, especially after watching your videos. I'm bouncing between beginner friendly V-Strom 650 or the not so beginner friendly used F800GS. Gone were my sport & naked bikes era... Haha... Did that when in my teenage (& stupid) years. Got into 5 accidents while at it. Stopped riding after my fifth time kissing the tarmac. If only advice & videos like yours were available at that time, I probably still be riding long after (or may be not, what teenager listen to advice right... 😂). Anyways, thanks again & keep up the good work.
Amen Brother Eddie. I went from a 275lb. 250 Enduro to a 520lb. 650 Adventure bike. I missed the tossability off road. Have a 390 now and couldn't be happier. I wish I saw this video a year ago. And Thank You for ALL your great videos.
Awesome!!! You're very welcome :) FYI: Do you know about my other TH-cam channel? It's a podcast where I interview interesting people, check it out and subscribe! If you already are, thank you!! :) th-cam.com/channels/VJeRk29mNO-YRuvOJ73klQ.html
Only just started watching your videos and I love them , you make so much sense. Always thought I'd go from my 125cc straight to a 500cc but you've changed my mind, a 250 - 300cc will be plenty fast enough. Thanks and keep up the great videos
Eddie this is the best commentary I have ever heard with respect to the topic of bike size .. my wife and I have gone through some dozen bikes in 5 years... went to the large cruiser bike and a few others until we decided on the upright style and now have a couple of F700 GS which are perfect for us. good weight and certainly enough power ... our experience with larger bikes was too much power, too heavy and the cruiser style was not right for us...I am 69 and wife is 53 .. smaller is better for the way we ride...great video...and I do practice perhaps not as much as I should but your videos are inspiring me to do more ... you have a great way about you and how you explain and demonstrate skills ... the best I have ever seen including my course instructors.. well done!!
Awesome video!!! I'm 28yo, started riding a few months ago, getting an A2 License and my bike is a Honda CB500F 2016!!! I love this bike, did some serious research before buying it and I'm having tons of fun with it!!! I was 100% sure I was going to stick to this bike anyway and after watching this video I am 1000% sure that my choice is right!!! Your videos are inspiration for every rider!!! Be safe and upright!!!
Finally someone with a grown up idea about motorcycle displacement! Great video!
Thank you!
Seriously, it’s great to see a mature attitude towards motorcycling👍🏽👍🏽
Thank you!
Lenny saint Yes. The smaller displacement motorcycles have a shorter wheel base and smaller tires. They can be flicked into corners no problem. The larger bikes have a longer wheel base and wider tires, thus less agile. I ride a 250 and love it. I have ridden super sports and decided not to buy one as I cannot fully utilize the displacement. You cannot even max a 250 on the street without getting tickets.
Booo !! Old people !
I'm kidding, but this may be why they selling all the CC range except 300 ccthat just popped around by recent years (Here in Thailand though).
Thank you so much for this. I spent 5 days riding a 125, then took a direct access course and after a further 4 lessons had a full licence. Straight away jumped on a 660cc following the advice of others.."you'll be bored".. "more powerful bikes are better"... Well what happened? Too heavy for me (5'5 female at 62kg), too powerful for corners, dropped it, etc.. lost all my confidence. Had the bike for a year, rode less than 20 times on it as I just didn't feel capable. So now I'm selling to get a 250cc/300cc so I can actually learn to RIDE a bike. Really refreshing to hear someone not playing the ego card and telling the truth. Anyone can go fast in a straight line but I'm looking forward to learning so much more on a smaller cc bike. Your videos rock. Thank you :)
That's awesome SP !! Good for you realize the trap of peer pressure! You're attitude will take you a long way in your riding journey!
I rode a 125 for 6 years. 😁
SP glade you didn’t give up. Hope you enjoy the new bike.
Never! :)
My first bike was a cb500f , bought it three years ago . I still have it lol it’s ok for me . But I think I will get a Mt07 next . For me I don’t need a bigger bike than a 650 . More than enough power and I don’t want a too big bike when I lane filter in the city either .
1000cc bikes are rarely if ever the best bike or even a “good” bike to get yourself. For track and city, a 300cc bike is fun to play around on and perfect your technique. Personally, I say a 650cc is the sweet spot for commuting, highways and touring, twisties, ect. Most of them are designed for comfortable street riding which is what most of us do.
:)
MotoJitsu.com for my new app, books, merch, etc.
What's your take on cruisers? My first bike is an 07 Honda VTX 1300R. I went this route largely due to a height consideration with recommendations from a friend of mine who is even taller than I am.
@@BlueCollarDev don’t have a lot of experience with them. I personally wouldn’t point someone to a 6-800lbs bike to start, but I know they do make lighter cruisers.
@@BlueCollarDev I started on a vtx 1300 as well 5 foot 11 and 130 lbs. hard to handle at low speeds but at 20 plus MPH it’s very manageable.
@@ZSmith-yy4lv if we’re talking an adult male who literally cannot ride yet and has a strict buy in/service budget you can’t beat an xr/dr/klx single cylinder 650cc that is if you aren’t man enough too have fun on a scooter in public! Both options aren’t great for the highway but the highways for silly goose Harley/sport bike riders and tourers/commuters.. the 650 thumpers are fine for a commuter btw even a Vespa can go fine on the highway with a rider who assumes nobody sees him!
This guy talks more sense than every other motorcycle youtuber. Keep it up man!
Thanks
At age 75, I ride a 125 cc bike and love it. It's nimble in town and fun on the back roads here in the California foothills. I can't think of a reason why I, personally, would ever go bigger. My bike is a toy that I take out in the afternoon for a little exploring.
because you broke
Instructions unclear, started on a turbo busa
🤣
Make sure you get used to the full throttle feeling at first! Full throttle that shit every ride you'll get use to it quick! hahahaha....
Fellow Yammie Noob fan, I see
Rest in Peace
@@arifmujibur Pieces...
Thank you for making this video. My friends tried to pressure me into as big of a bike as possible when I first started. Bigger the better. I love riding, but I am a very cautious person. I bought a 125cc bike. I rode it for months before I "outgrew" it. That's only because it couldn't reach highway speeds. Now I want a new bike that can hop on the highway. They pushed for me to get a bigger bike again. Very big - like a big Harley. I am getting a 400cc naked bike. If I can reach 80 mph and not lose my teeth due to rattling or lose control of the bike, that'll be big enough for me. Probably for life.
I don't know why people keep telling new riders to get huge bikes. It's dangerous and a huge waste of money.
I got a 2005 gsxr 600 for a starter bike I love it sure I might die cus I speed like a bitch but fuck it right that's what life insurance is for
"You're just wasting the bike's time ..." priceless. Riding a 310 cc BMW G310R, plenty fast.
lol Yes....the bike is like, "Dude, take me to the track or give me back to the dealership!" lol
Kronocide try changing the sprocket
@@Coopaloop-gg3kw changing it for what ?
@@chrisredfield3240 a larger front sprocket or smaller rear sprocket will allow a higher top speed on your bike.
@@Coopaloop-gg3kw sure a g310r would not pull a higher top speed unless it fell of a cliff.
Finally a matured non “hayabusa 4 lyfe bruh” video, well done brother! My honda cbr500r is more than enough for me, the joy it gives me!
:)
This video made me appreciate my cbr300r a lot more! Thanks!
Holy shit man I've been binge watching your videos in the past couple of days... Keep up the good work
L - Kay lol thanks! Remember to eat! I’m glad they’re making sense!
Fast Eddie’s Motorcycle Fun of course they do! I've been looking around for a good parking lot with smooth surface to practice, I low sided last weekend which was a real wake up call in terms of my body positioning so I'm trying to adjust for the next bike I get ! Thanks for your tips
L - Kay No problem! Sounds like it wasn’t a bad accident...good thing! Yes...practice practice...practice so much it’s hard to make a mistake! FULL quality gear and practice does wonders and of course taking courses.
Exactly the comment I came here to make . Subbd
He got me too, I'm hooked
Great video! Totally agree. 300 bikes are totally underrated. I started with a 600cc instead of 1000cc, but it's was still terrifying as hell. Eventually I took advanced riding courses to improve my riding and I eventually ended up exactly what you mentioned... getting a 300, upgrading suspension, tires, brakes, and taking it to the track. Ripping around the track on that little machine made me fall in love with it. It is now one of my favorite bikes on and off the track.
nice!
That question is usually only asked by somebody in the US. Here in Europe, I'm from Spain, you only can get a maximum 47 hp bike when you get your license. Stay with that for 2 years and then, if you want, change to a more powerful bike. Makes sense to me.
As you said, you have to master your bike before upgrading to a more challenging and demanding bike.
Great video. Congrats!
That sucks
Why aren't videos like these getting the views they deserve! Absolutely gold, this!
who knows
I am shopping for my first bike, a 43 year old new rider. I have watched dozens of videos trying to answer this question and this one, hands down, was the most helpful! Thanks so much for posting this.
Being a safety-conscious, logical thought process inclined, not caring about others think I have found this and many of your videos useful. Been binge watching them as I start to mature the idea of beginning to ride. You cover all those bases with some extras. The moment a person thinks that the top has been reached, that's when they close the doors to learning more and more. Greatly motivated by your thought process, especially in this video. Subscribed!
thanks!
Makes me think... Owning a Ninja 400 won't be so bad after all.
That's a great bike!
@@MotoJitsu happy with my Yamaha R3
Ajith Kumar Happy with my cbr125 💀
Its always going to be Kawasexy ZX6R for me. Plenty of power and pleasure. Plus it looks hell alot better than CBR600R which is ugly compare to CBR1000R. YZF R6 looks good too but less comfortable than the ZX6R for street riding.
That's a bike I was thinking of too
You are right in everything you said.
Here in Europe, you can get your licence when you are 16, and you can ride motorcycles up to 125cc and 15hp. Then when you are 18 you can switch to bikes with up to 35kW (~47 hp), and at 20 you can finally ride bigger bikes. That may seem stupid to you, and I do think it is maybe too restricted, but I think it is much better than being able to get your license and legaly ride a 1000cc monster with no experience. I dont know much about those laws in USA, and I know they may vary between states (?)... but wheter new riders will get a 1000cc immediately or start with 250-300cc, it only depends on their common sense, and most of them will choose the bigger bike - faster, much more cool, sounds great, in fact, everything about big bikes is great - but the problem is not in the motorcycle, the problem is in the inexperienced rider. And then the shit will come at the first traffic light.
Exactly! Yes, here in the entire US once you get your license, either from a course or just going to the DMV, you can buy whatever you want....just a like a 16 year old who gets their license can buy a Bugatti if he/she had the money too.
Well too be honest, I'm currently trying to get my A2 and I already met one person who said the first bike he was going to ride after he gets his license might be a 1200cc, which he can because he's over 24 so he can get his A license easily, so the system doesn't really prevent inexperienced riders from driving powerful bikes.
Well, I am not completely sure which is your home country, but in Spain the limit is also two years from the time you obtain the A2, so even if you get your license at 30, you wont be able to access bikes of more than 35KW straight away. He might be able to get the 1200cc if it is limited to 35KW but then he is riding an underpowered whale.
@@FGGiskard Really? I thought the rules for A1 and A2 were the same throughout the EU, but here you can get your A right away if you're over 24 so I guess not.
Yes it's very different depending on where you live.
Thank you Eddie! Nice to see an experienced rider giving honest sensible advice, rather than all the big-bike posers out there, racing around on their R1's on city streets etc. You set a great example for other riders.
Thankyou!
That was a pleasant surprise. I pick up a duke390 in a few weeks and it's great to see someone promoting smaller bikes and specifically the duke 390. I'm a returning rider although most experience with off road riding, it's been a long time and close to 50 now. I loved riding the cbr125r in my lessons last year, such an agile bike although was only parking lot but I think the Duke 390 is a good fit for what I'm looking for.
Thank you
everybody I know told me not to get 300 cc bike because Ill outgrow the bike but I really like the CB300r or ninja 400. plus I only ride in town no highway or freeway commute at all.
Wet Rain I would highly suggest not getting more than a 400cc Sportbike...but it’s your choice.
Fast Eddie’s Motorcycle Fun yes I already looking at the CB300r and KTM 390 as you suggested hahaha. Yes im leaning towards the more upright seating motorcycle.
YESSS Upright was so amazing once I switched...I'll never buy a full sports bike again leaning forward like that!
You can't go wrong with the CB300 series! Honda is just reliable and will definitely last long enough to perfect your riding. I ride a Ninja 300 and love the shit out of it. You can keep up with highway and freeway speeds and excel in the twisties. You have 2 great options there! From there you'll learn what you like and what you lack.
Fast Eddie’s Motorcycle Fun hi just an update on what bike I end up getting. KAWASAKI Z650. I know, I am suppose to get the other bikes but this one was on sale. Only $800 difference from the ktm and the honda is not even out on my area yet. Anyways I am continually practicing, of course the power is way over my skill level but discipline and consistency is key to get my skill up there. Anyways keep the videos coming and I learn a lot from your videos.
Ive been itching to upgrade BAD... but A few months ago I decided i was gonna just keep my cbr250r and ride the CRAP OUT OF IT until it felt like my own 2 legs lol. Im putting as much time on it as possible on countryside twisting roads, even going on solo night rides when its too hot during thr day. I can already tell the improvement in overall control and Im having a blast on such a nimble and reliable bike. Thanks for reaffirming my decision!:)
MissJVgirl777 Awesome!! I love riding my gfs 390 Duke more in the twisty roads vs my BMW!
haha girlfriend bikes are always the best lol =) I'd love to take one of those for a spin, they look cool and have a unique sitting position. I sat on one a Chapparel and it felt like I was sitting on a big Wasp lol! maybe I'm just weird ...but hey thanks for the response!
MissJVgirl777 Of course! Her bike, the Duke, is also my track bike! Lol
..test ride a Kawasaki 300 or 400 Ninja you may reconsider your decision. I keep pushing these bikes because I now own a 650 Ninja, and it just may be the best bike I ever owned. ( used to own Suzukis, Katanas and Gixxers )
Yup.. I showed a few friends a picture of my 390 Duke (My 1st Street Bike) and They Told me I would out grow it in a week & want a GSX1000. Also was told I’m too tall for this kind of bike and should have looked at Harley’s instead of a small sports bike. I’m 6’ 195lbs.
Now I’m old enough to dust the negative off my shoulder, but it made me laugh when you were told something similar. Nice video thanks for sharing
HAHHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAH out grow it??!? Lol I can't even out ride the 390! I'm not good enough to outperform that bike....GSX1000...who can ride that bike properly? Josh Herrin? Jason Pridmore? That's about it!! lol
That's what I was wondering? lol He did have me question whether or not I should have started with a 600, but I'm not going to let it effect the way I feel about the 390. I really enjoy it for what it's worth and for the light amount of in town driving I do... Well 55mph is pretty much as fast as I need to go within the posted limits. Thanks for the reply back. Cheers!
You're welcome!
"get a Harley" seems like the worst advice you could ever give to a motorcyclist, they are just trouble and noise.
Everyone has their own goals..and for some, Harleys are the bikes that fulfill them.
Glad I got the CB300R as my first bike less than 2 weeks ago. Corners are definitely where the real skill lies and I've got a ways to go. Straight line stuff has gotten easy already.
I totally agree with this. I passed the MSF course, and it was the first time I've ever been on a motorcycle. Many experienced riders were taking the course because they didn't have the motorcycle endorsement. Most said not to purchase a small cc bike because I would be bored in a month. Well, bought me a used Suzuki TU250x and I'm practicing in parking lots to get better at riding. I will take more courses with it and hopefully take it to the track one day. I'm 62 and having so much fun with this 250cc motorcycle! Stay safe everyone!
One of the greatest things about the BMW GS or GSA is it's Size and Visibility to the others on the road. I ride with the Fog lights and the Panniers with bunch of reflective stickers. Even though the panniers are extra weight and effects the handling, I put up with it for the benefits. Also, GS is very comfortable on long distance riding. So, it is not a total waste :)
Becker Inal Exactly! Great points!
I started on a Harley fat boy, then went to an R6. Now I have a mt07 2018. The mt07 is the fastest, safest and most fun bike I have ever ridden. You feel in control all the time and the torque will still put a smile on your face every time you ride it 😉
Great bike!!! What made you go to the R6 initially?
Mt07 even mt09 not faster than R6
Riding for 3 years. The skill gap between a middle weight to a litre bike is the same as going from 125cc to a 600cc bike.
I found a 650cc twin (70hp) is plenty for UK roads, bags of fun! Cheaper to insure and not too punishing on the wallet to maintain. Dropped it? No problem, can be picked up.
1000cc bikes ideally require a few years under the belt. Always good to gain confidence on a mid-weight before making the leap up.
Sweet bike!
Despite being a great rider, you have so much humility. There’s so much more to learn and skills to acquire. Thanks for bringing the rest of us down to earth!
I havnt ridden in yrs .and i was put in a situation were i was given a big ass bike and its scary as hell..ive been watching your videos. All of your videos they have helped me out emencely..i practice every day and i continue to do so ..thank u.
Thanks so much David!
Rah, honestly after watching this video and your other videos I came to the conclusion that I won’t ever need a liter bike. I own a 636 and that’s way more than I’ll ever need. Thanks devil, keep up the good educational videos.
Yes that's absolute plenty...just take more courses, go to more track days...you improve yourself and the bike will "magically" get better also lol
I started on a Ninja 300 (around 35hp) for 3 years. Super light and super comfy but it didnt have enough power for example to overtake cars without risks.
I then switched to a Z900 (around 125hp) for almost 2 years because i wanted that 4 stroke and more power and didnt want to lose the seating comfort. Love the 4 stroke and the power is just perfect for my usage but I've been having some technical issues and those short gears are annoying without quickshifter imo.
So I've been testriding a 2016 ZX6R 636 multiple times now and will probably get that bike because it has everything i missed or disliked in my older bikes except the seating position. But to be honest the 636 isn't even that uncomfortable. In the end you gotta sacrifice something i guess.
If you plan to get a bike i advise you to do as many testrides as possible and recap what you liked and disliked and then get the perfect bike for you. Dont get influenced by others. Your friends might think 1000cc bikes are the best and the rest is weak and ugly but they most likely have no idea what they're talking about and probably are those type of people who told me "woah sick 1000cc bike dude" back when i still had my ninja 300 lol
Very true!! Test riding is a very good idea and buy the bike YOU want!! Who's paying for it? You are lol!! People say to me, "I don't like your bike, it's ugly." I say back, "That's cool, you don't have to look at it either." lol Get the bike that will do the best for your goals.
LOVE MY 16' ZX6R! :)
Zx6r ftw. Street friendliest supersport
Consider the engine type, as well. An I4 600 is considerably different from a V2 or parallel twin 650. Almost any inline 4 is going to require a cooler touch, in panic situations.
Hey Greg, I am a brand-new rider. I have never owned a Motorcycle before in my life. I road my friends Dirt Bike Motorcycle down the street and back one time many years ago. This will be my first Motorcycle. I chose the 2022 Kawasaki Versys 650 because it was a bike I sat upright on, and it is the most comfortable bike I sat on, and I sat on a lot of Motorcycles. This Motorcycle is light. It weighs 467lbs. It feels really light and nimble and very manageable. I had the option of getting a Kawaski Versys 1000. But before I purchased my New Motorcycle, I saw this video of yours while researching what to buy. My Kawasaki 650 was 10K. The Kawasaki 1000 was 20K. This video makes total sense. Why should I purchase a Motorcycle with that kind of power when I can only go 20 to 30 MPH. Thanks Fast Eddie for putting this video together and educating us new riders. I signed up for my new Riders course and I'm waiting for the class to start. So, the Kawasaki 650 sits looking pretty in the Garage for now. Now I'm waiting for the Motorcycle gear I ordered to come in Helmet, pants, Jacket and Motorcycle shoes. Greg keep up the great work with educating us all.
Off to the right start!
I choose to watch you because your humble, straight forward, and safety/learning is your top priority. I love all of what you do, please keep up the great work!
Thanks! :)
Great vid cheers, I’m UK based over 40 and did CBT and go a 125cc Honda just over a year ago. Hoping to do my full test this year, so obviously looking at a bigger bike. After speaking to few folk and dealers, all of them have told me “don’t get anything smaller than a 650cc, you WLL get bored”. And then proceed to try convincing me why il get bored and so on. After 1 year and 1300 miles on my 125 I haven’t got board of it and when, and if, I pass my big bike test I’m thinking of getting a 300cc to 500cc bike as I’m yet to be convinced getting a 650+ bike, for my first big bike, is a good idea. Il no doubt get ribbed for getting a small capacity bike but can live with that.
thanks!
Just getting interested in bikes recently and as many would say: "I'd rather drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow" It gets boring very quickly and frustrating when you can't utilize a vehicule's full potential because of your skill's limit and you can't even improve them when the performance is way above your skill.
:)
It's like they say "it's more fun to ride a slow bike fast than a fast bike slow" love the vids bro
Exactly!
I really appreciate you taking the time and making this video. I just purchased a r3 and I’m 28 and I haven’t had a lick of riding experience but I’ve had a lot of jokes come my way for wanting to start off on a lower CC bike because I want to master the craft first. I think people just want to be cool so they start off with 600cc or 1000cc. I love the r3 and it’s enough for me so far.
It’s good enough for me too! Don’t be fooled to think you need something bigger or that it’s a starter bike. I kick people’s a** on my gf’s 390 Duke and it’s great to remind them on what I’m riding! Plus it’s the bike I use at the track!
I was thinking of upgrading to a larger displacement cruiser instead of my R3, I took it for a proper ride when I got my license for it and decided it was more than capable of doing what I needed it to do anyway. I love my little R3, I get laughed at at the coffee houses where biker bros stop but when I leave them behind in the twisties and they catch me later I get to talk about my awesome instructor and I usually point them to the school where I learned to ride. So far I have ad about a third of them message me or contact me via the forums to either thank me or ask to meet up for a ride so that we can compare newly learned skills. I think the 'war' between displacements is stupid and you make a very valid point and present it with a good amount of evidence and experience, so for this I must thank you.
Don't recommend it....keep your R3..it's a great bike!
Great tips. I started on an older Rebel 250, which only goes 55mph. It fine around town but it is hard to overtake cars when needed, which it is a bit dangerous imo. I'm riding a 950 cruiser now that is more confident, but I want to downgrade to a 700 for the weight reduction.
Awesome!
I have recently experienced this myself. I spent a year on a GS500 learning how to ride and it was honestly a lot of fun but I always dreamed of having a Z900. Bought one a month ago and honestly? I probably use 10% of it's potential in the twisties just because it is so powerful. I learned now that faster isn't better or more fun at all. I just have to hold back all the time where with the 500 I could rip it a lot more and it was a lot more fun. Next bike will definitely be a step down just to have more fun.
In my humble opinion, it's better to have a powerful bike and not needing to use the power, than have a small underpowered bike and not getting the power that you may need.
Besides, modern 600 and 1000cc bikes have "Drive Mode" feature that controls the throttle response. So if someone is not yet confident in their abilities to throttle-control, they can always dial it down to prevent accidental wheelies, and tire spins.
The only practical disadvantages of a 1000cc sportsbike that I can relate to are: engine heat, insurance cost and fuel economy.
Sure, there's always variables. If you're going cross country with a passenger, you're not going to get a 300 cc lol
buys a liter bike, then castrates it because "it's too powerful". what gives?
@Lenny saint People will do as they wish...many people, like me have to touch the stove to get burned to learn.
@@1nabcd8ed you can always bring it to full power when you're ready or when you need it and you're getting all the higher-grade components and amenities an high-end product provides no matter how you choose to ride it.
8:05 my first motorcycle was a 250cc cruiser and i used to romp it all the time, but never practiced slow speed skills until my second motorcycle a Yamaha Stryker where i was about to quit riding because i had no idea how to use the rear brake for slow speeds. Your videos, RideLikeAPro Jerry Paladino videos and boom...got me practicing the figure of 8 and snowmans and the U turns which are the one exercise i lost points on at the MSF.
This is fantastic advice. I stuck with an old Kawasaki ZXR250C for ages. It was my first bike (still have it), and was a blast to ride. Revs to infinity and sounds amazing doing it.
However I ended up 'upgrading' to a CBR600RR down the line mainly because it was one of those deals that was just way too cheap to pass on. I've been riding that pretty much every day since I got it over the last 12 months and love it. There is so much I'm still learning with it and to be honest, I'll never be able to push the potential of that bike. For me, I just love the mid range torque on it which was something I never got out of smaller bikes.
I enjoy not having to wring it's neck to get the power out of it but that's just personal preference.
But you are 100% correct with what you're getting at. It's so much more fun to ride slow bikes fast than it is to ride fast bikes slow. However... I love that 600 so much. It absolutely blows my mind when people say that I'll be bored with it or I'll find it slow. A year later and I'm FAR from bored, it's still exciting every time I jump on, and it's so light and easy to throw around.
Anyway, keep making great content! I love your videos and I've been sharing them a lot with other riders. Where I live in Australia, there is a lot of this ridiculous biker bro culture... I'm so sick to death of people talking about 'chicken strips' and how grazed their knee sliders are.
We need more people with sense like you.
Peace!
Thank you so much! I'm glad my videos are so helpful...I'm sick of all that too, I'm trying to help change the culture into really good and safer riders ;) Consider sharing my videos with others!
Tell that to the ignorant and the answers you'll get back are hilarious
Exactly! lol
Thank you for making this! After several months of thought, I found and bought a used R6 that needed a little TLC, knowing that I will probably progress more slowly than I would on a 300. I am a massive fan of F1, and the R6’s sound reminds me of the V10 F1 days. I’m spending as much time as I can doing parking lot drills, and learning a ton from your videos. I know this isn’t necessarily the recommended path, but I’m thoroughly enjoying it!
Keep at it!! Practice then practice more
Very mature advice Eddie, Love it!
I retired my riding after 30 good safe years; my job and four hour commutes burned me out. I'm happily married with a supportive wife (who lets me enjoy the hobby alone) and three great young adult kids. My last two bikes were a BMW R1200R and F650 Classic dual-sport thumper. Now, several more years later I'm the wrong side of 50 and my oldest son wants to learn. We're sharing his Suzuki TU250X thumper (same bike from the MSF class he took).
I'm back and loving this little quarter liter thumper! At my age this bike fits my 'skill speed limit' just fine. Thinking about buying him out and enjoying a Blue Collar Cafe build project for scoots around our rolling New England backroads.
thanks!
thank you for being a good person. I switched from being a hardcore mountain biker to getting a motorcycle finally in my old age. it's a gz 250. I hate coming up on other motorcyclists here in Pennsylvania, especially if they are on a Harley. the vast majority feel necessary to say something denigrating.... and they can't even go around a damn corner anywhere close to my meager skills.
TH-cam is not so different.
but you are.
so thank you for being a good person, and making the first intelligent case I've seen on small bikes.
My Ninja 400 is all I will ever need for every road, including the interstate. It can cruise all day at 80 and easily up into the low 100s for quick passes. It’s perfect for country highways. Anything bigger is a waste of my money.
I ride a Honda CB300F. My skills are definitely not better than the capability of the bike (as you say). Also, I don't think I would ever get bored with it. For I riding is about experiencing the landscape, not riding like a nut. At the same time, there are two things that I wish to improve: 1) the engine screams like crazy above about 7000 RPMS, which I don't like...I prefer quiet bikes; 2) on the highway there is very little acceleration, so I'm pretty much a sitting duck there;; it's nice to have the flexibility of getting away from some driver that's not paying attention. So a higher CC bike would be the way...
Maybe so...you could also ride in a different lane, give yourself more time or distance, etc.
I have a 2013 CB500x, which has a very gentle stock exhaust. Redlines at 8500-ish or something, but it sounds OK to me in the 6 to 7k range, nothing crazy. I do wear ear plugs though, I like to keep my hearing with all the wind noise and such. I'm also a fat bastard, but its 471cc engine has enough oomph to do quick takeovers and such, but it's not a nervous Nellie when cruising in the 60 to 80 mph range, especially in the 6th "cruising" gear. With my big behind on it, I uhhh... have heard from reliable sources that it'll hit the rev limiter in 5th at about 102mph. Acceleration is nothing spectacular above 80, for me, but it's a fine bike and I have plenty to learn on it.
Chanced upon your videos and most impressed. Great delivery and loads of common sense. Good on you.
Also, a hat tip to the photographer. Good on her too!
Thanks!!
lol she's famous! lol jk
One of the best one i have ever watched... Explained it perfectly... Awesome..... Thankyou sir...
lol thanks!
Fun facts This is Bangladesh.
The highest permitted bike cc is 165. We ride around all day and have fun with 100cc to 150cc bikes. These days those bikes can go up to 110-140km/h. So was wondering if you have 300 as small bikes in your discussion then what about 165 it's tiny.... :) Best of luck. We can only dream bro but we can't ride. Duke 390 seems superbike to us.
If you want to know about the most renowned bike here check this out it is a different world of bikes.
1) Yahama R15
2) Honda CBR 150
3) Suzuki GSXR150
4) Yahama MT15
4) Tvs Apache RTR 160
5) Bajal Pulsar NS 160
6) Lifan kpr 165
Couldn’t agree more. I went from a ZX10R to a GSXR600 and I prefer my 600. It’s also 10 years older than my ZX10R was. I also have a Honda Grom and it’s the most fun I’ve ever had on a bike and it’s only a 125.
When I got my 600 someone said “oh well that should be good enough for putting around town” and I responded with “no it’s good for everything except riding in litre class races!”
Exactly!
Brother, you are correct.
I was lucky, I started with stealing my mom's moped. Then 125 dirt bikes becoming dual purpose 500s blooming into a Honda interceptor 750. I also own a custom softail, and a Zero DSR.
I just bought a 999cc 2018 aprilia RSV4 RF LE #14 because my life needed to own one. It is more bike than I can handle, and more expensive than I can afford if I let it... but oh so worth every penny...
to me.
one-of-us We all have different reasons...to each their own.
Fast Eddie’s Motorcycle Fun
indubitably! I could never be happy with just one motorcycle.
That's why you'll never be happy; always searching for the next best thing.
Fast Eddie’s Motorcycle Fun Boy, are you honest and direct! I like your sticking to what you say in your videos when you talk to individuals where a lot of viewers don't go. A lot of motor vloggers sing a different tune in comments, I think to not lose viewers. Your directness is refreshing and am I glad I found your channel!
Thanks, you are going to help me become a better rider.
Definitely going to consider that when finally deciding between an 300-400 cc sportbike versus getting a used 600cc!
Oliver Katen Awesome! I would say definitely an 400cc or less and test ride it!! And if you never did before, try out an upright bike...so much more comfortable vs being all the way bent over!
There are just two things keeping me from saying I'll get a small bike outright: 1) I wonder whether the better components that are supposedly part of a bigger bike also make it a 'better bike to ride' no matter the engine - of course one could change components of the smaller bike to suit one's needs.
2) I really like four cylinder bikes, their smooth sound and engine response is very appealing to me.
As far as upright bikes (naked bikes) are concerned, the more leaned forward body position seems to suit me, however, my comparison points are few - a Suzuki GS 500, a Suzuki SV 650 S (current, sporty but not fully sportive position), and a practise run each on a Kawasaki Z 900 and a Triumph Street Triple (not sure what year, and thus not sure on the cc). I cannot say for sure whether they wouldn't grow on me over time though, all I know is the GS 500 was horrible for my body size in all regards really =D
Also, I am still young, so looks play a role as well ^^
Oliver Katen test drive test drive test drive!!
Yes, sir!
The new Ninja 400 is fantastic, good power and you're not in a crotch rocket tuck. It also looks great and they can be had with abs. I think they're in the mid 5k price range.
It's about your skill and experience, not the bikes you owned... love this video
I have to say I absolutely LOVE my TW 200. Low seat height, very linear power, short gears that make for fun accelerating. However it does lack power in the steeps and anything 60 MPH + is off the table entirely unless you mess with your gearing, sprokets, chain etc. But ya know what it is SO much fun for a beginner like myself
Growing up riding just gave me the opportunity to learn how things operate. But when I bought my 1st street bike it was a ninja 400cc I put 37k on it and just at about 2 and half or so yrs , could have been a little longer , I went up to a r1 , I am adding to it as I learn, but yes I stay in my skill set always learning , my thought was why not have a r1 if I stay with in my limits and your videos have been a big help on what kind of rider I'm going to be come. Stay fun brotha
:)
I like your honesty and way of thinking. I totally agree but again I have a 575 pound 1200 cc Super Tenere 😂
lol!
I think you just convinced me to get a gsxr 600. I was really obsessing over 750 or 1000 but you make a lot of sence.
Awesome!! A 600cc sport bike is plenty fast for anyone!! I can't even out ride the potential of my gf's KTM 390 Duke!
Fast Eddie’s Motorcycle Fun where im from there are no courses to take, basicly you have to wing it. So your tips are super helpful.
Awesome! At least now you have a bit of guidance of things you can practice on your own...check out my MotoJitsu Club videos....White belt to Red belt for specific drills to practice!
@@MotoJitsu I do have a question I have a v star 650 it is very easy to handle and ride I am only 5 foot 4 now a gsxr 600 sounds to me like it would be slower than my little v star yet they pass me like I am not even moving I thought about adding peddles to my bike so I can go faster up heel
This is solid advice! I ride a R3 in India which as per our roads and traffic standards still makes a lot more power than I will ever use. But I still see people getting all types of fancy stuff from H2s to s1000rr. Which made me realize that in most parts of the world people don't buy them for their usage. They are more of a trophy bike which they can show off and feel good factor. If I can spend all what I want on bikes, I will rather buy all category bikes between 300-500 haha.
Would be interested to know your take on common topic of argument here in India i.e. single vs multiple cylinders! That's what people mostly use as a reason to upgrade here.
Ankit Jain Thanks! Good points you’re making....the 390 Duke I Ride is a single and I love it!
I am about to buy dominar400 AS my first bike. Right now I am practicing a 125 cc motorcycle on an open field. The max speed it can go is 80kmph and shit vibrates a lot.😂
@Ankit Single cylinder are cheaper and easier to maintain. More cylinders equals more headaches.
I've always been fond of two cylinder motors. I also weigh about 110 kg so I really need that low end grunt ;)
I got my 1170cc R nine T and a few months later a 1000cc S1000R four years ago when I just got my L license. Fast forward to 2022, I have since sold both bikes but got a 1254cc R1250RS and the new S1000R. I skipped through the small cc bikes but I did take additional riding lessons from a former professional rider and watched lots of videos and read a few books. I try to do lessons whenever a course is available. I am 62 now and loving these two big cc bikes.
Lol...went through the same thing...ZX-14R was my first bike and quickly downgraded to a ninja 400, then ninja 650, then ninja 1000 and finally figured out what type of riding I like and do. I think that is key, to figure out why type of riding you do and get a bike suited to your riding style and riding skill. I've already told several buddies to watch your videos BEFORE buying any bike ! Thanks for the videos !
Awesome!
Fast eddie always have the best advice. Thank you so much eddie. Sometimes i feel if i made a right decision starting small on a cbr500 compared to 600cc/1000cc. Great video! Less is more
Thanks
Finally someone who answers this question with some logic. Thank you
Thanks!
I’ll just take the middle option, 600cc.
Sure :)
650cc naked bike or touring bike for me(example SV650/V-STROM DL650). Much more worth it for street riding instead of a 600cc supersport imo.
@@MakTheSank Yup. I'm with you on that one. I wouldn't want a supersport for the street, that's why I didn't go for a Panigale as much as I love the looks of it. And after the 300cc naked and the 1000cc naked I think I'd be just fine with something in the 500-750 range.
@@MakTheSank This. A 650 V-Twin like the SV is so much fun on the street, and still has top end power if you want. You can actually get it's power before reaching 70mph, while even an R6 will have it's max torque in first gear above 60mph ... More frustrating than anything else, imho
Just take 1000cc with double turbo
Fantastic, sensible video.I wish I'd seen it many years ago. My first bike on passing the test was a 1450 Harley. Many years later & many big bikes later, I've just bought a Honda Rebel 471cc. It's brilliant to handle, light, torquey & sums up everything you've covered. Well done !
Thanks!
Started with a 1200 Sportster 3 years ago. Bigger bike but I'm a bigger guy. People keep nagging me about trading up and getting something bigger. Haven't grown out yet or feel "held back". Put more miles in a season then most these guys have since I started and I feel like I'm still working at getting more in tune with my ride. Happy with what I got, next bike is adding to my stable, not replacing.
Smart!
Great Technique vs Big Bike..... Great Technique wins .... every time!!!
Exactly Douglas!! Finally a person with insight to how it really works!
Most of the time for sure, but not necessarily for drag racing unless bikes are in the same class. Your average big bike riders(I own a 650 and 1000 and enjoy both) tend to enjoy straight line acceleration in which technique can only overcome so much of a power difference.
@@QTALISCHILL basically what you just said. There is really no skill just going straight when anybody can do it. Just like common sense. Not everybody has it. So I see common sense like technique. It's a skill.
Man! You’re so great at explaining, keep up the good work Eddie 👍🏽
Thanks!
this video made me appreciate my duke200 more. for the longest time ive been wanting to upgrade to a 650 but after watching this video, it made things much more clearer. thank you very much bro! #asia
You're welcome!!
In my case, I had people saying "Don't buy a 300cc buy, you'll get bored really fast" so, what did I do? I bought a brand new Honda CBR650R 35kw limited at 23y old (the minimum age to get full power is 24y old) and dropped it in my garage the first day.
Yep, I know I'm an idiot, I just thought about going 0 to 100km/h really fast and I thought that riding a bike wasn't that hard. The worst part is when I need to do a U turn on a roundabout with the traffic pressuring me to go faster and I go super slow because I'm really affraid to drop the bike.
For all the new drivers, just buy a 300cc bike and I'm sure you'll have more fun than a 600cc or 1000cc.
To conclude I just want to thank you for all the content in your channel, it is the best help I could get. Thank you!
You’re welcome! 👍🏼
So glad youtube recommended your channel, wish I saw you before my MSF course. Seems a lot like cars though, as far as power. I was planning to buy my neighbor's CBR500F as a starter, test drove it a few days ago, felt amazing all around compared to the MSF CBR300R I was on. I can definitely see it being bad on the highway, but thankfully I work very close to home. This video is a perfect bike displacement guide.
Thanks!! :)
Yup....I'm riding a Versys X300 and loving it. Agree 100% :)
Nice bike!
Rossi is a talented lad, but he’s nothing compared to the TT riders. They’d redline a 300cc up a mountain 👍😂
Different goals and risks...the TT riders couldn't do what Rossi does and Rossi won't race on the TT...lol
There is nothing that a MotoGP rider can’t do on any bike it’s just not worth it.
Rossi is definitely faster than all of those, but he also wants to ride back home at the end of the race
Actually Rossi had two or three runs on the TT, check it out ;)
@@MotoJitsu Some of the road racers do ordinary track racing, though Rossi definitely won't as he thinks that TT racers are mad and it's just too dangerous.
Love this, I've been on a ninja 300 for 3 years, did my first course over the weekend, I was out cornering everyone else on their stripples and big bikes, was amazing fun.
Awesome!! Just wait til you do your 5th and 6th course and track days!
all your comments make a lot of sense and agree with all of it, BUT, where a 600cc (not sport) would make sense is for very long trips with lots of highway. Having the extra power makes passing much easier in 6th gear without having to downshift all the time. So for "touring" purposes I'd recommend a higher 'cc' bike ;)
Rafael Cordoba Sure, only if you know how to ride already really well.
You mean without actually working the bike.
What a great way of thinking. Just bought my first bike as an early 40th bday present to myself. Had a lot of friends with the "anything under 600cc you'll be bored with in a couple of months"..... I bought a Versys 300x. First time riding I didn't want to get in over my head, scare myself and never ride again. $5k for a brand new bike, can't beat that.
I would keep being skeptical of “advice” like that from friends, smart choice :)
lol dude i thought this is just in my local (Southeast Asian) problems. every riders will dispute anyone's choice to own 600cc bikes with this same reason. "you'll get bored", "you'll hungry for more power" blablabla. so its a global problem huh. thanks for this video now I'm convinced to fix my skills first and to own 250cc bike. btw, majority of us here ride
Different culture, different bikes :)
I went 50,250, 450,650, pc800 then cbr 1000 and it was still too early
250 trainer
450 cruiser (practice, heavy, not much top speed being 225lb rider)
900 cruiser (top speed, heavy, cruise at 93, distance but no agility)
650 enduro (light, tall, 20mph first gear was sad, top speed 85, cross wind pushed me)
750 nighthawk (agile, mid weight, agile, 45 in first gear, 85cruise, 115 punch)
I found my porridge.
Just have to flavor it to fit my palate.
Windshield, highway pegs, cruiser bars, saddle bags *but keeping the 4 into 1 throaty exhaust!
Would you say this applies to cruisers as well? I know that horsepower varies from cruiser to sport bikes with similar CCs. Wondering if your advice still stands for someone looking to start off on a cruiser instead of a sport or standard bike.
Thanks in advance!
I would ask you, what are you doing with your bike? Just cruising? Want to do higher speed cornering? Take passengers? Long trips? All these have a say to which bike to get...does the bike you want have adjustable suspension? Are there comfort items like cruise control or a windshield or heated grips? What are your riding goals will help you make that decision...and yes, no need to have a 1300 cc cruiser bike if a 800cc would do just fine. I would recommend test driving as many as you can before you buy!
Thanks man. I appreciate the advice. Watched a bunch of your videos. Very insightful.
I started on a Honda trail 90. Was 12 at the time. First "real" bike was a Triumph Tiger 650. Now I'm old and ride a Honda 1100 Shadow. Comfortable and easy to ride with a passenger. Great video!
As always, brilliant advice! A huge thank you because every time I'm out riding I am that much a better rider because of all your talks, analogies, lessons & tutorials that you do. I love riding my nimble revy 321cc torquey Yamaha mt03 🏍️
I'm going to get my son in-law to watch this video, he has his bike test soon, I've been trying to tell him this exact same thing for months, he has his Hart set on a 600 sport bike, and I've told him it's too much to soon , he doesn't have the skills for it, But I can tell he isn't buying it, he thinks I'm just trying to piss on his picknic. Insurance companies could help buy charging new rider's a fortune for large capacity or high bhp, price them out of it basically, as they do with cars, hear in the UK, I'm 6ft and 16.5 stone, if I was 5ft 8 and 11 stone, I would have a 300 exerlent fun, but I look like a Gorilla taking a dump riding one! I have a Tight 800 and a scrambler 900 both less than 100 BHP, more than enough for the roads, I've been saying that there is no point to a 1000cc sport bike for roads for year's, especially the latest version of them, Christ you can't get the engine into it's sweet spot ever, unless you want to loose your license. Or die! Keep up the good work Eddie.
Good for you for mentoring him! I hope he makes a smart choice!
You made a point, as VR has been riding his 125, he has been 14 and like 10 Stone... riding it solo.
Can't even imagine me and my 5'9 wife redlining a Vespa in the Alps lookin like Donkey Kong and Koopa on same Mario-kart ;)
I think the idea behind this video is solid (don't get a bike more powerful than your skill level, basically). But there's a lot more to it than just cc. For example, a Ninja 650 or SV650 are commonly considered good starter bikes because they are twin cylinder engines that are slower than the 4-cylinder engines supersports have. However, a Ninja 636 or CBR 600 are not considered beginner bikes despite lower cc because the 4-cylinder engines can do a lot more with less cc. I personally started on a Ninja 650, and it was the perfect balance for me to learn and not get bored. At the same time though, there were benefits for me starting with a 300cc too. When it comes down to it, it's a very personal choice that needs to be catered to personal needs (like Eddie said). More than likely though, your needs won't be more than a 650.
It's just another perspective to consider when buying a bike...certainly not everything...that would take hours and hours to explain. All of my videos are maybe 30% of what can be said about any one topic.
@Lenny saint If that's what you got out of the video, you missed the point completely.
@Lenny saint Your question suggests you missed the point lol buy what you wish, it's just a different perspective based on my teaching & riding experience.
Wow.. thank for sharing this rare blog about choosing the right bike for you..
Much respect to you sir..😊
Someone told me once..
You will never appreciate higher cc bikes, the power of the bike, unless you've tried the lower cc first..
Thanks!
My first bike was a 175cc Kawasaki back in my college days. I rode a Honda CBX 1000 in Germany for four years. I'm back on a motorcycle after 25 years! I bought a Vulcan 650 S and really enjoy it but now wishing I'd saved a bit more (not finance) for a 900cc-1000cc. Not for the speed but power and size. Not an adventure or touring bike but a cruiser or roadster.
Nice!
Bought a cb300r April 2022 paid in full ! Took your advice on a livestream and invested in some motorcycle gear. Being seen is a huge improvement .
Hello from Norway! Really great videos! I am actually taking my license now, and i was wondering if a new BMW F 850 GS would be ok as a new beginner motorcycle? I am thinking of using it to work, and drive long distance :)
It's a great bike! I would just say test ride it first...and the 700 GS. I had the 700 GS prior to my 1200GS!
Thanks! What about the F750GS? My driving instructor told me to maybe buy this one as it is cheaper and a good bike to ride on road on longe distances!.. It appears that the wheels of the 850GS are better for off road riding.. what do you think?
Yes the 800 GS's have 21" front tires and the 700 GS's have the 19 inch ones....so if you're more for on-road, I would lean towards the 700 GS.
I own a Husqvarna nuda. The engine is based on the BMW parallel 2 from the 750, 800gs. The engine is great. Lost of those midrange adventure bikes have super smooth high torque motors, that makes them nice to drive.
Do you allow bikes under 600CC in Norway? When I was there I didn't see a bike smaller than a boat! :-P
Thanks Eddie, you've actually change my mind on my next bike. Great video and very timely for me. And I agree, MotoGP 3 riders on their 250 cc machine will wipe the floor with non-MotoGP riders on their 1000 or 1300 cc bikes out there, without a doubt. These riders practice endlessly daily and some actually lives at riding academies like the one in Barcelona.
I'm coming back to riding after almost 30 years off bikes. Gotten myself a small 125 cc bike last year (I'm 6'2" 210 lbs 😆) as I see myself as a beginner again, and got into MotoJitsu channel while researching for my next bike upgrade.
Thank you Eddie, after binge-watching your videos, I now decided not to go for that 1000 cc bike.
Thanks! Smart choice...since you're a big guy...that'll narrow down your options because you'll want something that'll fit you comfortably.
Yup, size is a consideration. I'm in the market for ADV style bike, so that makes it somewhat easier. I've ruled out the 1000 - 1200 class, I realized those are too much bikes for me, especially after watching your videos. I'm bouncing between beginner friendly V-Strom 650 or the not so beginner friendly used F800GS.
Gone were my sport & naked bikes era... Haha... Did that when in my teenage (& stupid) years. Got into 5 accidents while at it. Stopped riding after my fifth time kissing the tarmac. If only advice & videos like yours were available at that time, I probably still be riding long after (or may be not, what teenager listen to advice right... 😂).
Anyways, thanks again & keep up the good work.
Great videos, and I love hearing all the references to San Diego traffic.... ;)
Hahaha
Amen Brother Eddie. I went from a 275lb. 250 Enduro to a 520lb. 650 Adventure bike. I missed the tossability off road. Have a 390 now and couldn't be happier. I wish I saw this video a year ago. And Thank You for ALL your great videos.
Awesome!!! You're very welcome :)
FYI: Do you know about my other TH-cam channel? It's a podcast where I interview interesting people, check it out and subscribe! If you already are, thank you!! :)
th-cam.com/channels/VJeRk29mNO-YRuvOJ73klQ.html
Only just started watching your videos and I love them , you make so much sense. Always thought I'd go from my 125cc straight to a 500cc but you've changed my mind, a 250 - 300cc will be plenty fast enough. Thanks and keep up the great videos
Thanks!
I was debating between a 300 or 600. I ended up with a ninja 300 just cuz I did realize my skill set
And you can keep that for a lonnnnggg time, don't upgrade the bike, upgrade yourself!
that's what I'm thinking about getting, either a R3 or a Ninja 300
I ride a Yamaha Yzf R15... being 150 cc dat machine become my own. Legs....i. Would upgrade to r3
now my question to you, why did you own a hayabusa, did you outperform everything under 1,3k cc?
young and dumb.
Eddie this is the best commentary I have ever heard with respect to the topic of bike size .. my wife and I have gone through some dozen bikes in 5 years... went to the large cruiser bike and a few others until we decided on the upright style and now have a couple of F700 GS which are perfect for us. good weight and certainly enough power ... our experience with larger bikes was too much power, too heavy and the cruiser style was not right for us...I am 69 and wife is 53 .. smaller is better for the way we ride...great video...and I do practice perhaps not as much as I should but your videos are inspiring me to do more ... you have a great way about you and how you explain and demonstrate skills ... the best I have ever seen including my course instructors.. well done!!
Thank you so much!
Awesome video!!! I'm 28yo, started riding a few months ago, getting an A2 License and my bike is a Honda CB500F 2016!!! I love this bike, did some serious research before buying it and I'm having tons of fun with it!!! I was 100% sure I was going to stick to this bike anyway and after watching this video I am 1000% sure that my choice is right!!! Your videos are inspiration for every rider!!! Be safe and upright!!!
That's awesome! Sweet bike too!