New Motorcycle Rider WANTS 1199

Hello,

I am a new Motorcycle rider, been riding a 250R for close to a year..
I really really want to move up to a Panigale, my thinking is that I can ride the bike in wet mode in the mean time and take some super bike courses to come up to speed on riding a liter bike. I wonder what your thoughts are on this approach. The dealer said hell no, suffice to say, he did not want my business. Thoughts?

600?

A move from a 250 to any 1000cc is a pretty big step in engine performance. I rode a 600cc for more than 2 years before moving up to a 1000cc, but I also weigh 110kg. If you are a little smaller/lighter a 600 will last you for years to come and I don't think any 1000/1200 can beat the handling of well setup 600. Why not try a 600 first? It will also save you a lot of money...

Obviously it depends what you want to do road or track etc

My 2c worth

Don't do it. Even Fast Bikes Magazine gave the Panigale a very bad "new rider" rating. You should move up to a 600 (or middle weight twin,) then put at least 20-30,000 miles on one of those before considering it.

I went from 4 months on a 125 cruiser to a Diavel, and now waiting for my Panigale.
Not a single problem ; just be humble at first and learn progressively your new bike.

Braintrash said:

I went from 4 months on a 125 cruiser to a Diavel, and now waiting for my Panigale.
Not a single problem ; just be humble at first and learn progressively your new bike.

Click to expand...

Yeah but you French are also completely nuts, so it's a moot point.

Honestly, and with the best of intentions, don't even consider it. It is right to choose a bike that you will grow into, but this is a leap too far for someone with one year's experience.

In my view riders have a running-in period just like bikes. In your first, say, two to five years of riding you will be exposed to all sorts of real world (off-track) situations, where you will overcook it or a hazard will emerge that you did not anticipate, that will be scary but will give you experience. It is entirely possible that you will drop the bike, not because you are unskilled, but because that is what happens to a lot of new riders as they learn. I don't believe there are any major shortcuts to this learning.

Training on track can help you with how to handle a bike, but they don't prepare you for road. Tracks are typically clean and have clear vision through turns. Roads are dirty, greasy, have lots of visual obstacles, things you can hit, decreasing radius and double apex turns, and no run-off areas or gravel traps.

On an 1199 it will be super easy to drop it and create a very expensive and potentially embarrassing mistake.

I also think there is also something to be said for gaining a good amount of experience on bikes that don't have electronic aids such as traction control and ABS. These aids are great, but if you go to an 1199 now, and that is all you ride, and then at some point later you step onto a powerful machine without them you may be a danger to yourself because your riding style and muscle memory will expect handling that won't be available.

I agree with earlier comments - look for a 600 that will give you similar enjoyment, and one you won't be so upset about if you drop it.

start off with 848 or something like a cbr6 maybe.

@ the OP..

Like with most things in life, there are no absolutes. As such the answer to your question depends on many many things.

1. Do you have past experience with
* Trail bikes
* Cycling - Mountain,Road, Trials
- If you've had many years of experience cycling on the road, then your road skills will be the same. Mountain biking or trail bikes will have developed most of your bike handling skills. Albeit, the Pani will be heavier.

2. Mental maturity
- The right attitude will go a long way. If you have the basic attitude that you're invisible and it is your responsibility to avoid other road users, then this will prevent 99.9% of accidents.
Having the right attitude means that you are well aware of your abilities and thus be reluctant to push beyond them. Will also mean that you won't be doing traffic light GP at every chance, you will not be taking unnecessary risks etc etc.


3. Mechanical aptitude
- Having good mechanical aptitude means that you will be able to quickly understand how the bike works and all it's idiosyncrasies, allowing you to adapt to it.

IMO, the Pani doesn't seem all that much different to my Ninja 250, from a weight and size perspective. Perhaps a tad heavier.
Sure, there is ALOT more power at your disposal, but that's what the rotating barrel on the right is for
I've jumped from a Ninja 250 to a GSXR 1000 (2002) . The Gixxer is one heavy beast compared to the Ninja250 and is much wider and heavier than the Pani as well..
Admittedly, I've never done a traffic light GP take off. I don't lane split and only filter if I've seen the lights go from green to red. I'm what you would call a "conservative" rider.
I've also had 15 years of experience cycling on Sydney roads and MTBing. I rarely if ever have spares after dismantling and repairing something.


DISCLAIMER: I'm still waiting for my Pani, so opinions are based off a play session I had a Frasers

littlejohn said:

Sure, there is ALOT more power at your disposal, but that's what the rotating barrel on the left is for

Click to expand...

Which barrel would that be sir

Joking aside, your comments are pretty spot-on IMO

If the guy is mature enough, ie. humble as I said you have to be with such a bike, it's OK.

As for the unexpected situations, that's what ABS is made for. At least, you know why you paid for that after it saved you from a crash.

Then, as for the mechanical aptitude, we maybe be crazy in France, but we have a theorical course about such before passing the license exam, so that we know how it works ; part of the test is a series of question about the mechanics.

So, it's up to him. If he thinks he can be humble and push it immediately hard (ie. doing a real break in), that should do the trick. He will grow with the bike, and that'll be fine.

Hello,

just like the OP I will get the 1199 as my first bike.
I had a 50cc scooter for many years, which is far more dangerous on German roads due to its slow speed and the aggression this causes with the car drivers that can't get past me quick enough (in case there is no room to pass).
I ride my bicycle every day to work through heavy traffic. Therefore I agree with littlejohn that one gains a lot of experience regarding the riding physics as well as the situations with other motorists (especially car drivers which tend to overlook bikers).

I rode the 1199S two weeks ago in Sports mode (195 low) and found it very easy to handle. It is really a very light bike (although not as light as a bicycle ;-)) and the riding position is very comfortable.

As a mechanical engineer (specialized in internal combustion engines) I am very interested in bikes and the driving physics.
I will visit a safety training this year in preparation for my 1199S next year and will hope that I will survive the first 6 months of ownership
Very well written littlejohn and don't worry CRoNoSxOnE you can kill yourself just as well on a 600 as on a 1200.

Xbox said:

Which barrel would that be sir

Joking aside, your comments are pretty spot-on IMO

Click to expand...

lol.... left, right.... same thing

mike said:

I will visit a safety training this year in preparation for my 1199S next year and will hope that I will survive the first 6 months of ownership
Very well written littlejohn and don't worry CRoNoSxOnE you can kill yourself just as well on a 600 as on a 1200.

Click to expand...

Oh yeah.... forgot about riding courses..
I've signed myself up for Californian Superbike Level 1 in late June. and will do at least one advanced Stay Upright course as well. I'll reassess once I've done these courses to see if I need more.
I hoping to pick up tips and tricks that are motorcycle specific. Will save me a few scratches from doing n00b things.

FrostyFire said:

Don't do it. Even Fast Bikes Magazine gave the Panigale a very bad "new rider" rating. You should move up to a 600 (or middle weight twin,) then put at least 20-30,000 miles on one of those before considering it.

Click to expand...

+1.

I did the sensible route and went 125 - 400 - 600 - 1000. Was more to do with insurance costs than anything because it was through my 20s but i dont have any regrets.

Why not take a while on a decent used middleweight for a while and then move on to the 799 when it launches, or jump to the 1199 at that point? Think thats the route I would take....

Hi dave,

the reason I won't buy a "decent used middleweight for a while" is that I'm dreaming of owning a Ducati superbike since I am 16... now I am 31 and there is no more patience left . But considering the insurance costs you are probably right.

But I will stop waiting at the beginning of next year, hope Ducati will sort most of the (hopefully few) problems out for the 2013 model.