Quote from: dgyverI frequent several boards...I feel it is my obligation to help other riders to promote safety of this great sport. Keeping everyone safe is a goal that we all need to strive for.

Me too dgyver. I'm glad you posted this. its a great attitude. I did it the way most *now* would recommend-msf, gs500, then bigger bike. And I am more than ever convinced it is a great way to learn how to ride a bike [fast] properly, incrementally.

Its funny but any forum you go to you'll find guys that buy that bike as a first. I cant imagine a liter twin as a first bike but then I cant imagine starting on the 600rr either...but they're there as well "gsxr/600rr/r6/zx6r a good first bike?". Tell them no and they rationalize it. I DID manage to talk one guy on the 600rr board into getting a ex250 instead of a 600rr! Yeah, he wanted the fairings...

Among other things I send them to this link because it addresses every one of the various rationalizations (its ONLY a 600, blah, blah, blah).
http://www.beginnerbikes.com/editorials/formequalsfunction.htm

Whether they listen is another story altogether...

For those not familiar with the Danforth Bill...Senator Danforth's nephew was killed in a bike wreck. He was riding a friends 1-liter bike and was unlicensed when he went into the side of a van. Not sure of the speed but I know it was inexcess of the posted speed limit. Danforth wanted to ban a specific power to weight ratio that would outlaw 1-liter bikes in the US. The ironic thing was that 600's had a higher power to weight ratio than the 1-liter bikes, which had more overall hp.

What I see coming may be more a regulation on top speed, similiar to what was done with the 'busa and the Mille. These can easily be removed by the consumer.

Makes you wonder (well, not really) why the bill was written to ban a certain power to weight ratio...

i just can't reasonably fathom what's going through the mind of, not only the person asking "is an r6 a good bike, or will i outgrow it too fast" but the people saying "r6 is fine, but i started on an r1. just go slow."

i've got a friend who bought an f4i as his first. i immediatly told him how stupid he was bla bla. it was an impulse buy. of course he said "i can control how fast i go. i won't go that fast"

well that wasn't the problem. coming out of a turn at only 30mph he gave it too much throttle and the back wheel walked away from the bike and he crashed. only like 3-4 weeks with the bike too. i just don't understand what people's rushes are to get on the biggest baddest bike. "it looks cool" is about the damn stupidest thing i've ever heard. and ya know what, i've had my bike 2 months now, and not one person has ever gone "oh, only a 500 huh?".

i've had people go both ways.  from some of the people i work with (where everyone who rides has harleys), say it's a nice bike.  the people here at school are like  


One guy at work, who used to ride a 600ss but sold it a year or so ago last night  told me it's a great bike to learn on.  i was surprised.  he actually knew what a gs500 was. haha    he also said he'd teach me how to wheelie   :lol:


and that i look goofy on the bike....
big guuuyy on a litle bike!
(anybody see that SNL?)  :lol:

most mature riders, with years of experience will respect the gs500 as a great first bike. Only the ego driven guys that must have the the latest greatest will look down on a gs500.

I can't understand starting on a 600.  I recently purchased a 600cc bike an I feel like I have to learn how to ride all over again.  It has so much more power than my gs.  It is scary.  I have already had the back wheel slide a little on me.  Something i have only experienced on my gs when riding on gravely roads.  At that point I realized, I have to take it easy and I don't have to run the piss out of it like i do my gs.  I am now passing the gs on this weekend for another to learn on.

Quote from: pantablomost mature riders, with years of experience will respect the gs500 as a great first bike. Only the ego driven guys that must have the the latest greatest will look down on a gs500.

Very well said.  

Quote from: dgyver

Quote from: pantablomost mature riders, with years of experience will respect the gs500 as a great first bike. Only the ego driven guys that must have the the latest greatest will look down on a gs500.

Very well said.  

I must agree.. very well said..

I have seen older rider commend me on the GS500.. and are surprised that im not a new rider.. They actually dont mind riding with me. I think riding a GS500 is not only about the look but also teh mentality that goes with it. If your mature about it and looking into getting into a sport that has lots of good things about it, then you will look towards the GS500 or even an EX250 as your entry to the world. I dont know if im clear or not its 4am PST as I type this..

But i rather ride with older mature riders than hooligans