All these threads about motorcycles prompted me to start my own thread
I've been into motorsports for a while now and have done many autocrosses and track schools. Motorcycles have always interested me, but I never got the guts to give them a try.... until now.......
My only prior experience before buying a full on motorcycle was a 50cc moped I rode around town for almost 3 years. I originally wanted to buy a 250cc bike to learn on, but jumped right to a 800cc BMW F800ST after the Kawasaki dealership pissed me off.
I've managed to stay safe and I haven't pushed the bike to it's full limits yet. People have told me that power can be dangerous for a newbie, but I think power can be a safety feature too. I've had to pass cars to get out of their blind spots quick and accelerate onto traffic. As long as I keep the revs under 5k, I feel the bike is very tame and newbie friendly. This bike also has ABS and awesome brakes. I haven't locked up the front wheel in a panic yet, and hope ABS never has to kick in as I try to leave tons of braking space. I got the low seat and low frame option so I can put both feet flat on the ground.
The only thing I might say is bad for a beginner on this bike would be the weight. At around 420lb dry, it is kind of heavy. Unfortunately, on my first day at a gas station, I stalled it and dropped the bike. Luckily I had my side cases on. Only damage was a scratch on the side case.
I plan on attending the MSF classes this week and I got a good book called "Proficient Motorcycling" by David Hough. I look forward to my insurance premium dropping (surprisingly reasonable right now) once I complete the MSF class and get my license.
I've only had the bike for 10 days and put 400 miles on her already
I'm looking forward to many more years of fun out of this thing
