F4i Good Start Bike? - Page 2

and me too!
but that's why i posted it...

those who crash often usually push it all the time...the others who crash all the time but don't push it crash cause they scared and go too slow and the bike falls over...and those who keep getting into accidents with cars or other bikes are very lucky but shouldn't ride anymore.

A little background:

In April '05, I bought my '02 with 3200 miles on it. It is my first bike. I learned how to ride some time back, but with the type of job that I had in the USAF, I did not get it then. So, about 10 years later, I finally get one. Needless to say (If it is "needless to say" why do we say it anyway?), my riding experience is about nonexistent. By the time I went to sign up for the MSF, the classes were jammed up for the whole season. I went and got my learner's and my tag in May and rode with my roommate (ZX-9R). He is a very responsible rider, so I felt comfortable with him as a guide on the local back roads. A month later I got my full-fledged liscense.

Do I like the bike, especially as a first bike? I am approaching 13,000 miles on my odometer. If we can get an Indian Summer around here (Wash DC area), I am going to try for 13,200 just for the milestone's sake. I think that the F4i is an excellent bike, whether it is your first bike or not. It was really easy for me to handle and I am not the largest brotha on the Earth (5'10 170lbs). It has been so "user friendly" that I have wanted to be on it when the rain chance is 30% or less on any day that ends in Y. I have a polished frame, so I am not a big fan of getting it wet. I have learned so much this one season that I am considering going to a trackday in the area (VA or WVA) next season. Well, that and watching the Speed Channel. Those races get me so amped!! Especially when the Hondas win...uh, when don't they win? Ha ha I guess that is a discussion on another thread.

Anyway, long story short (probably too late for that), the F4i is a great bike to learn on, as long as you remember, it is not what is between your legs (not THAT. The bike), it is what is between your ears that is the difference.

Things that I have learned:
1. Ride like you are invisible! A lot of the time, they don't see you.
2. Bikini Bike Washes are the shiznitt!!
3. Don't forget to unpucker your butthole. It makes the ride more comfortable.
4. Judge others by what is under the helmet. You'd be suprised at who you meet. Wave at folks. Who cares if they don't wave back!
5. Hopefully, you won't need it, but "ICE" your cell phone. ICE = In Case of Emergency Put ICE next to one or more contacts in your cell phone, just in case.

Good luck, have fun.
If you can't be good, be good at it!!

--RR

Just for anyone who is debating replying to this thread becuase it is aging. I am still very intrested in peoples stories, so please share your insight. On a side not I have been looking around for this bike in my area and I'm hard pressed to find one w/out serious plastic issues. I am always checking this thread so please keep sharing!

Having never ridden before sept 05, I took the class and got the motorcycle license. The next day I rode my buddies CBR1000RR and was intimidated. I put about 70 miles on it here and there and never felt good about it. I got the F4i and liked the fact you can twist the throttle and not fear looping it (i'm 200 pounds). In the lower revs, it has no power to speak of, which I like as a newbie. The bike feels so much lighter than the RR and my wrists don't hurt from the weight on them. My only complaint is it doesn't track as well as the RR at highway speeds and it is a little buzzy at certain revs. It isn't friendly like a puppy, but it doesn't beat up and scare me like the big RR did. It is still very fast as compared to anything else I've driven (RR excluded) and I tend to drive like a Goldwinger anyway.

One more thing, respect the brakes on a sportbike. As a newbie that has always had fast cars with ABS, braking quickly on a bike takes practice and a fair amount of restraint and coordination. Everyday, several times at that, I practice on a clean empty road near my house. Check your mirrors and look around first before you do it. I figure I need another 500 practice stops before I'd even consider myself a safe rider, before that I'm driving this thing very, very carefully. Anyone can drive anything if nothing strange happens, but strange stuff happens all the time and that's when newbies crash when others wouldn't.

i never rode a bike..but i really wanted one so i asked my friend who knows a bike in and out to come look at one with me...he said it was good, and i took it home. I asked him..ok..how do the gears work...he smiled n told me....i was on my way riding my first bike...a lil scared at first...took the beginners safety course here in nj and then was very confident.

If you want, you can start practicing with ur car. By that i mean anticipate everyone's moves. If you are 90% correct of your assumptions and an CLEARLY know all that is going around you then the saftey margin will greatly increase. You said that you're not the type to speed, but sometimes you're gonna have to. When a car is messing with you and following you closely and stil behind you even yo uslow down n switch lanes, kick it down a few gears and be on your way out. I've only been riding for abuot 3 months, if i wants careful, i definately would of wrecked my bike already. i think i avoided about 7 major accidents in just a few months because i kept my distance and held my temper. There will be people that cut you off badly and mess around with you, keeping ur cool will save you in the end.

I personally think that its how you are as a driver on the road, are you conscienous of all things that are happening and will happen within the next 10 seconds???

but just remember, doens't matter how much power the bike has, it matters how much you twist that throttle. If you are careless, you can get hurt on a 250cc bike as bad as riding a 600 cc bike.

i am also looking at the f4i for my first bike and I've been told that it's a very forgiving bike if ridden smartly and within ur skill level...I've riden dirtbikes for 13 years so I have SOME foundation but i wanted to bring up two points.....not everyone bangs up their first road bike....now granted when i was learning to ride my KX that bike got beat bad...and som performance issus came up with the f4i....it was my understanding that the only true 600 that will outrun it (i don't count th ninja 636) is the r6....isn't this correct?

I started on a Ninja 250. After a year I bought my F4i. I love the thing. It is heavy and a bit bulky, but I'm over it. Good luck with your decision.

A few points -

1. You said you want a sportsbike more for its appearance than it's speed. Fair enough . . but realize that once you get a taste for the speed, you're going to keep coming back for more. The sound of the engine as it revs and the accompanying adrenaline rush is simply addictive All it takes is getting stupid just once and you could be dead.

2. Remember - although 600s are really the smallest of the real sportsbikes, they are still "supersports" machines. They are designed to be ridden hard and fast, and are designed for experienced riders. I really don't see how anyone could call them beginner's bikes.

3. A 600 has PLENTY of power for street riding. Hell, you can easily double the speed limit in the blink of an eye on these things. Be careful . . .tickets are expensive!

Whatever you choose, keep your head about you and never let your pride take over while you're riding. Good luck and post some pics!

The F4i is a GREAT start bike if you respect it... I had NEVER ridden a motorcycle before in my life and I was pretty nervous about it. I took my time and rode around in a church parking lot for a week! Took my test, got my license and the rest is history.....

Keep in mind, I am a very very very coservative rider, even now almost 4 year later.... probably has a lot to do with my personality and my strong sense of survival........

Take it SLOW and don't let it get to your head and you'll be OK.....

Learned on a Kawi EX500. Only rode it 6 times before feeling comfortable in upgrading. So after 1 month, I upgraded to my F4i. Hopped on the bike and definitely felt like I could of learned on it with no problem. Keep in mind, I take it easy on the throttle so if you do the same, you should be ok.

Well, I am just starting out and I baught my friends 05 F4i as my first bike. I am going to my first motorcycle safety ridding class tomrrow and I should be able to get my licence in Jan. So I'll let you know how it works out. I can't wait to go ridding. :)