V2 Starter bike?

Zx636, 2018 R1, 2020 V2

Started on the more pumped 600 for around a year. Jumped to the big boy R1. Learned over a year respecting the power. I pumped the bike and realized the power isnt usable on the street. Nor was it truly that fun. I ended up going with the V2.

So far it has always put a smile on my face.

I wouldn't suggest a v2 for your true first bike coming from a scooter. If i understood correctly you live in India? Depending on the congestion of traffic I 100% would direct you to a 600cc if you prefer the body/riding position. If you dont mind and want to enjoy riding long distances or casually without the riding position go with a 650 or naked style. You would definitely get the experience and enjoyment. Which is what riding is in the first place.

Buy a small monster, ride that for a year. Then V2

ghost_aomine said:

Here’s what I plan to do.
1. Get a V2
2. It’s gonna take approximately 2-3 months for me to bring it home cause it’s just launching in my country.
3. In the meantime Imma borrow a friend’s RC390 ride it daily till I have a clear sense of what I am doing
4. Get some real protective gears and start on the V2 slow and steady.
Hope you agree with this

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Sorry I am just getting back to you. I wold not get the V2 just yet. I read your earlier post that you can not get a GS500 or a EX500. Riding the RC390 is a great bike. It would be even better if you could buy the RC390 and ride that for 2 years. 2-3 months just does not give you very much seat time to make mistakes and learn from them. Maybe you can give your friend half the value of the RC390 and you both share the bike till you can find a mid size bike in your area to own. 400cc-600cc. I would stay away from any faring type bike if you can. This will lower your cost of ownership while you are learning. Look at it this way, that V2 you love so much is truly considered an advanced riders bike. Can a beginner ride that bike? Absolutely. But at what cost to you? Both learning the sport and financially can be crippling. You have the right idea though with gear. Never skimp on gear. Good to see you are on the right path to safety. I wish you the best of luck.


Just food for thought. Some ask about my bike progression.

1982 (used) Kawasaki GPz550, rode for 2 years, 1988 FZ600 rode for 2 years, 1990 ZX7 H-2 rode street and bought same model and raced for 7 years, 1997 GSX-R rode street and bought same model raced for 3 years, 2001 RC-51 then after that too many different bike to count. LOL! But you see the pattern here. I also bought, what back then was a bible for riders. Twist of the wrist by Keith Code. Amazing read that I still have to this day.

Take care
Blade.

I concur with @WyldCFH above although you may not have to go that small since you have some scooter riding experience.
A CBR 500R or ~600 equivalent would be a good stating point.
I suggest buying used first. Trade-it-up following a year of riding.
Save some of your cash for gear in the following order:
Good helmet ( but don't go crazy Pista expensive either) , a least two jackets (for hot and cool weather), riding pants (not jeans), gloves, back protector (3Do), stands, tools, maintenance products, rain gear or other accessories if needed.

To the OP: DON'T!

It is cheaper to buy a CBR300R, a Ninja 400, Yamaha R3, KTM 390, etc., ride it until you get bored, be it 2 months or a year, then sell it for what you bought it, than get a brand new V2 and drop it on the first corner or worse yet, get yourself in an accident.

After riding a scooter for a year, my first true motorcycle was a Ninja 500. I hated that bike. Mostly because it didn't mean my expectations for comfort, wind protection, being approachable with just get on it and go, noise, turbulence, weight, etc. Transition from a scooter to a motorcycle is similar to moving from a bicycle to a scooter.

I sold the Ninja and got myself another scooter. After some time, I got a maxi (500cc) scooter.

Then, when I got my Street Triple, I was ready to handle the weight, speed, wind, noise, rider gear, etc.

I very quickly transitioned to more powerful bikes. My next two were BMW S1000RR and Aprilia Tuono.

I am now considering a Panigale V2 for its playfulness and moderate (in strictly relative terms) power.

I would strongly advice against getting a V2 as a first proper motorcycle. Each time I go out on the BMW or the Aprilia I promise myself to be a good boy and not do stupid things, but my good intentions melt away at the sight of the first curve. And yes, I have dropped almost every bike of the dozen or so I have owned. They all have been silly mistakes at no or low speed, but yes, it happens to all of us. And I have had close calls which luckily I have avoided, thanks to my years of experience and knowing how to handle the speed, lean angle, and road hazards and keeping a cool head.

Progress at a comfortable speed, and push yourself beyond the comfort zone, but not too far. You will make a better progress, and you are more likely to enjoy longer years of riding pleasures, with all your bones and skin in pristine condition.

And whatever you decide on, before you buy the motorcycle, get a proper riding gear. The probability of getting hurt on your first ride is highest. Don't wait for it to happen.

You should start with smaller motorcycles. It is dangerous for a newbie to riding a motorcycle with more HP, More Torque, higher speed.
I recommend you these motorcycles:
Yamaha YZF-R3
BMW G 310
Ducati Scrambler Sixty2
Or Ninja 400

Anyone on here recommending against purchasing a Ducati is going to be banned

Start on a scrambler. Things are dope or a smaller monster. Multistrada, motard there are plenty of lower torque cc bikes you can test with. All of the bikes I listed as extremely fun as well. Check them out.

Even with the minor issues I've been having I love the brand and heritage. It is the company for me.

Sent from my SM-G988U using Tapatalk

I’d follow the advice of the previous posts talking about stepping up gradually. What’s the rush? Jumping from a scooter to a V2 is a big risk and might end up with you seriously injured and / or big bill for repairs.

Back in 2000 I passed my test (in the UK where you actually have training versus the joke of a program in the USA) started out on a Ducati 620 monster. Nice gentle power, easy to ride and it taught me the basics. After a year I traded it in for a 748 which even back then felt like jumping on a Superbike compared to the monster and honestly they are not even comparable to the V2.

Twenty years later and I’m on the V4R.

My point is there is no rush mate. Better to be safe than sorry. Learn to ride on a geared bike first. Get some training. Practice. Then buy into a smaller monster or scrambler. You won’t regret what you can learn on a smaller bike so when the day comes and you are ready to jump on a sports bike, you will have all the confidence and basic skills to build on from. Good luck

like this?

have a beta m4 here yet for service.
and test riding the suspension.
i cant close the throttle in corners, always push push push.
its a little like pitbiking but less frustrating.
big smile, lot of fun.

My dealer lent me a Srcambler 800 Cafe Racer for a few days while the Monster 1200R is in service.
Wow. What a great little bike. Low and super comfortable even with clip-ons. The handling is nothing short of Ducati spectacular. This would be an ideal first bike for someone that has to have a Ducati. It's fast yet not overwhelming. A low mileage pre-owned would be perfect IMHO for that Ducati or nothing type of first-timer.

Man do whatever makes you comfortable, everyone here is trying to give you the best advice they can.
However, I’m not against gradual increments in class/power of the bike you want to get, porsche 996 Turbo S was my first car ever! And I didn’t just fine driving it around.

I have just recently entered the crotch rocket world and I’m loving it. I woke up one day and said that’s it I want a motorcycle, I researched google and got in touch with some friends who ride, they all advised me against getting a big bike, they have got a point.
I finally decided to visit a Harley dealership the very next day, I sat on an 883 sportster, I was highly intimidated by it!!!! I even thought of returning it on the day it was delivered to me.
Fast forward, two months later, I wasn’t happy with the Harley and wanted to get something more fun and much faster. I came down to LA and purchased a V2, now I couldn’t be happier!!!!

As one of the members mentioned above, the bike will only do what you make it do, you’re the one in control.

1- safety: should be your number one priority. take an MSF course, ride slowly, get used to the bike, learn your limits, and the bike’s limits. MSF is an entry level course, it will Slap some common sense into you. Follow their guidelines and you will be fine riding around. DO NOT attempt doing anything new without consulting a rational experienced rider first.

2- finances: I say, start big and get familiar with the bike if you can control the urge to do something stupid. They are not cheap little machines.

Buying a V2 isn’t like buying a V4 or an R1, it is not believe me. While it might sound crazy, buying a V4 is complete insanity and no one ever needs that much power unless they are racing like maniacs on highways or tracking their bikes! the V2 will have enough power to get you more scared/excited/happy ....etc


Best of luck!! And yup buy a red Ducati the white ones looks like it’s a boys toy!! You can always wrap it

I started off on a Grom, rode it for a few months, moved up to a 696 Monster for a few months, then got my V4. Basically, I bought my V4 after only 8-9 months of riding experience.

Now it has been a few years (I had the first base model V4 on the streets of the West coast) and I've had nothing but amazing times on it. I've commuted through rain, shine, and even 2 days of snow (would not recommend, absolutely horrible). Many, many sessions of spirited riding on backroads, and a handful of track days.

Never dropped it at a stoplight or anything dumb like that. If you respect the machine and your limits, you will never have an issue. Ultimately, no bike makes power out of nowhere. You control it by twisting the throttle. The important thing for a rider to learn is how to manage risk on the street, something you've developed riding scooters. I would recommend your plan of learning how a clutch motorbike works on a friend's bike, getting used to it, and then buying whatever the bike of your dreams is.

Bikes are depreciating assets. If you were to buy a Ninja 400, every time you see it in the garage or ride it, you'll just be thinking about how much you want the V2. People want you to buy that bike, sell it for a loss, then buy another bike you don't want only to sell it for a loss when you've met some arbitrary amount of time to be considered "ready" for a 150hp machine?

Sounds ridiculous to me. Spend a little time learning the few extra steps involved in motorcycles like the clutch and shifting, then buy the bike you really want. Ride smart and be conservative with the throttle, getting more aggressive as your skill increases. If you work your way through a list of bikes before it, when you finally ride it you'll be kicking yourself for not just doing it right away.