After riding dirtbikes for years, what's a good street motorcycles for me to get?

Question

If I've been riding dirtbikes avidly for several years now, and have a good command of them, what types of sportbikes should I look into for the street? I'm planning on taking an MSF class soon, and getting all the right gear, etc. I've been intruiged by some 900cc Buells, and some 600cc+ japanese sportbikes, but I'm wondering if I'd hae any trouble with these. Obviously, I want to stay in one piece, but I also don't want to get bored quickly with my motorbike - I'm sure you bikers understand. Given the number of hours i've spent on a dirtbike, would you say to go ahead and get a non-'beginner' bike?

Answer 1

I to started on dirt bikes. Then my buddie who taught me to ride bought a street bike a Suz. GSXR 600. I saw it and heard and a week later i had a street bike to. I went Suz Katana 750. Now you might think that is kind of big for the first street bike but it was a Can"o"tuna mind you. The bike had short gears and was a sport touring bike not a superbike. It waqs fast enough and it could turn well but u couldnt really lean into like you can with the 600 jap bikes. After 2 seasons I was bored with it though and come the 3rd season i rode it only 3 times. And coincedently this past saturday i bought my dreambike from my old boss The RC51 RVT racing bike from honda and im pumped about it. Well what i wanna say is that u should be fine in what ever you choose i think that dirt riding is a great prep for the street. You have to think when your offroad constanly. its easy to ride the street and daydream when riding. Think of when your driving and not paying attention it happenes the same way on a bike, but when off raod you have to constanly up-shift/down-shift and find the right line etc. I gurantee you this will transfer to the street insticntively. Just stay away from the 1000s until your good with the 600 or 750s. The 1000 cc bikes tend to make a rider feel better then he is cuz they r made so well, then the rider gets cocky and tries to lean a turn going 130 mph and crashes. Get the 600cc jap bike you will be fine. Stay Away From Buells they are Dogs. By dogs I mean they are slow as ****. You will get bored of the Buell in 1 season.

Answer 2

I too used to ride dirtbikes. Then went on to streetbikes. Had a Suzuki 550, Honda 350, Honda Shadow (in 95-98) then went to Harleys. The Shadow was fine, I thought, till I carried someone in addition to myself on a poker run and tried to keep up on a grade, uphill, and found out the limitations. Sure I could go 65-75 on the straight and level, but after an hour, I was glad to get off and stretch my legs and relieve the sore butt syndrome. Then, when I got a Harley Sportster, I was hooked. With the newer models, they have rubber mounted engines to cut way down on the vibrations from the engine, and last month I bought a Harley Street Glide. All Harleys now have EFI now, no more carbs. Although I only have roughly 600 miles on it (it has snowed a lot in PA) I can sit on it for hours without the "pain". There is no limit to how much I can carry or how fast I can go (within reason) since, I don't feel the need to exceed 120mph.

Answer 3

i might would desire to decline. There are no longer any rules while using dirtbikes around off-highway or while racing. on the line there is a lot greater you're able to desire to comprehend than only a thank you to function a bike (correct-of-way, signaling earlier a turn, passing on on the left, watching out for different motorist that would no longer force thier way out of a moist paper sack...). Plus, people in autos do no longer constantly do the final interest of shielding a pay attention for motorcycles. If he isn't using defensively (like everyones attempting to run him over), then he's in an exceedingly intense danger team of bikers (those that many times die from having autos hit them). that is only too lots risk some thing ought to pass incorrect. In a pair years, while he's sixteen. deliver him to an MSF course so he can discover ways to effectively journey on the line. to boot, airborne dirt and dust motorcycles and highway motorcycles are 2 different beasts.. edit: guy under me is incorrect approximately ninety% of injuries are on the throughway. the super majority of motorbike injuries take place in intersections! the reason being that autos many times do no longer supply motorcycles their correct-of-way. the subsequent maximum commen place injuries take place is on a curve of a highway as a results of bikers taking a turn too speedy and going off the element of the line.

Answer 4

If you've been riding dirtbikes for years, you'll be able to handle any street bike - no problem.
Japanese 600cc sportbikes have plenty of power to keep you amused. Trust me, you'll never get bored. I'd recommend any one of the Jap 4 - Hon, Kaw, Suz, Yam.
Very dependable and less time in the shop for repairs then other brands.

Answer 5

riding in the dirt will give you a good grounding when you get on the road....but the tarmac is different than the dirt...braking is a whole new thing...the bike doesn't bog down in the soft surface like in the dirt..& the front brake is the most important thing to master.. the ability to grab a hand full of front brake without locking the wheel will save your life on numerouse occasions.. something you should practice a lot when you first learn to ride a road bike...trouble is if you get it wrong....down the road you go....but its something to be aware of.....front brake is 95% of your stopping power..

but go ahead & get something bigger than the standard learner bike....you already know how to ride..so you can concentrate on the cars & oil spots & white painted lines & manhole covers......stay upright...& have fun..

one more thing....sports bikes top speed is 200 K/h....160 Mph..PLUS...probably a bit quicker than the old dirt bike....

Answer 6

I ride a Honda cr250r and a Honda CBR954RR. Trust me, do NOT buy a little 600. Buy a 1 ltr. jap bike (preferrably a Honda) and just ride within your ability. Do NOT go over your head. I've seen what happens when guy's go in over their head, and it aint pretty. But if you buy the big bike it is like the old saying "he you buy's the best, only cries once"
Go fast and take chances!

Answer 7

A quiet one. Give your neighbors some peace. No Harleys