[TheHeath]

First time caller here, and excited to see a forum largely discussing the 919.

I'm shopping this summer for the first bike that will actually be mine. When I first saw the 919, I was traveling and working too much to actually use it. After that, I experienced an injury that prohibited riding. That being said, it is about the best damn looking bike that would fill my needs (from what I've read) to a T. I live in a midsized town with light/moderate traffic and a want it strictly for the occasional commute, but more often a Sunday drive.

A little history: grew up riding trail bikes, and periodically as an adult rode an 883, cbr600, but in total, as an adult, have not logged a lot of miles(<1000).

I've owned and driven some pretty fast cars without a hitch, never having an accident. I know myself. I'm a careful, logical, respectful driver. I'm 36 yrs old, so the need to be crazy was taken out on the Chevy engines. With all this in mind, is it even reasonable to consider a 919 for a first time buy?

[Jakester136]

whether it be a 600 or a 1000 you are riding all it takes is one mistake. the size of the bike I would not say is the dangerous part of riding as the obsticles you find on the road. Regardless of what bike you get always be cuasious. With that said I am going to say if you want the 919 and you are set on it, go for it. Just be smart and dont thrash it.

[Destructo]

Well the traditional response is to start off on something with fewer cc's - e.g. a CB600 rather than the 900, or the other usual suspects like SV650's, Bandits, ER6, that type of thing. Probably a bit cheaper to run and insure too (well in the UK at least).

However IMHO I don't think it would be impossible to start on a CB900, as long as you are fully aware of what you are letting yourself in for. In reality, you can go just as fast on the road on any of the above mentioned bikes as the CB900, and all have the potential to get you in just as much trouble! The 900 will, however, feel MUCH more powerful in the lower rev range compared to a 600.

The other benefit of the 900 is that you won't 'outgrow' it as quick as a 600, so if you intend to keep the bike for a number of years you might be better off with the 900.

Most important, whatever you get, is to take it easy and take time to develop your skills - it does take time and practice. Make sure you wear decent protective gear too - from boots to lid. Many of us have dropped our first bike, me included! Some additional training would not go amiss either - I have just signed up for some myself, despite holding my licence for 10 years!

Whatever you decide, have fun!

[sscottab]

is a 919 to much for a first bike, YES.
since this will be your first bike get something in the 600 displacement that is not a race rep, the sv650, F4, 636 are decent first bikes to learn on.
the main reason to learn on a smaller bike is to give you the chance to get use to how a bike handles and the controls.
the larger bikes are alot less forgiven and have alot more power.
You will probly drop your first bike so why get your dream bike, plus you can usualy sell the 600 for what you paided for it after a year or two of riding.
remember to learn to walk before you run.
I know you are older and have driven fast cars but they are nothing like a bike and consider the power to weight ratio in a car compared to a bike no comparison.

[setanta]

Originally Posted by Destructo

Well the traditional response is to start off on something with fewer cc's - e.g. a CB600 rather than the 900, or the other usual suspects like SV650's, Bandits, ER6, that type of thing. Probably a bit cheaper to run and insure too (well in the UK at least).

However IMHO I don't think it would be impossible to start on a CB900, as long as you are fully aware of what you are letting yourself in for. In reality, you can go just as fast on the road on any of the above mentioned bikes as the CB900, and all have the potential to get you in just as much trouble! The 900 will, however, feel MUCH more powerful in the lower rev range compared to a 600.

The other benefit of the 900 is that you won't 'outgrow' it as quick as a 600, so if you intend to keep the bike for a number of years you might be better off with the 900.

Most important, whatever you get, is to take it easy and take time to develop your skills - it does take time and practice. Make sure you wear decent protective gear too - from boots to lid. Many of us have dropped our first bike, me included! Some additional training would not go amiss either - I have just signed up for some myself, despite holding my licence for 10 years!

Whatever you decide, have fun!

I agree with most of all said above, having done the climb up from 650 to 1k. Serious problems that I encountered in the smaller bikes did give me the experiences for the 1k. I do believe that if I had been on the powerful litre bike (as forst bike) I would have been fecked. THe sheer power of the litre bike isnt felt properly until you "cruise" up to a corner only to realise that your going maybe 40--70 mph faster than you thought you were. Its then you will thank the smaller bikes for the experreince they gave you to cope with this situation.
To me the expence of moving up is worth it, if your still riding happily 40 years down the road.

In the end its your choice, loads of peeps on here will tell you that if your careful, take it easy, dont be stupid youll be fine, me I think litre bikes have a spirit of their own and are just too dangerous for a first bike.
An example is that Ive ridden Horses (all types) most of my life and have friends that ride quite well but they wont (cant) ride the race horses that I can. Pony V race horse thats a good simularity.

Anyway your not a wee kid so whatever you decide take care, ride safe and look forward to many years of your posts.*


*What do I know Im just an old man

[TheHeath]

Well, thank you for the responses. I was really curious what the split would be (pro/con) and I do intend to take the responses in consideration.

Having just read your posts, I have considered the idea of getting my dream bike and watching it slide. It was an unpleasant thought. There is a guy trying to unload an older Seca2 with 6k miles on it locally. There is some appeal to picking this up cheap, riding it for the balance of this season, and then upgrading next spring.

I do respect the power of a liter bike, but from everything I've read, the 919 is not actually as "ridiculous" as most liter bikes. Is there some truth to this?

The responses are about as split as I am. I am not fearful of what I would do on purpose, and I'm not a panic kind of guy. I've heard stories of people getting scared and twisting the throttle.... from the limited experience I've had with bikes, fast cars, quads and trail riding, I couldn't even imagine it.

The car was about 415 hp and just shy of 500 ft/lbs of torque. I never burnt the tires on purpose, and unless the roads were wet, it never happened on accident. I never "raced" either, but I did enjoy some spirited driving in the twisties, and the occasional sprint on straightaways. I would imagine my riding would take on very very similar characteristics. My interest are not in showing off, or breaking my neck at stoplights. I enjoy when a freeway makes a bend while going down hill. I enjoy roads that follow a lazy river. I enjoy tickling a 100 when I'm on a straightaway, with absolutely nothing around me.

Some of the posts make it sound like the bike is simply unmanageable, so, I hesitate.

Thanks again for the input. I'll have to roll this around for a while more. The rarity of actually finding one for sale is a limiting factor, so I will have a bit more time.

[setanta]

Good to see your giving it loads of thoughts and good ones, in relation to the fast cars and bikes. My mate has raced cars from an early age and is a scuby fan, I wont tell him but he scares me a little when im the passenger (but I do know how good he is).
Been on my gsxr600 and loved it, then tried my blade and it blew him away, from sheer acceleration to the brakes.
He gave it back and would have preferred my 600.
This is a general thought, maybe your a little more relaxed casue of the cars, but it involves my run tonight.

Was in the wrong gear and accelerated away now instead ofa steady speed increase, I was blasted down the road avoiding a car and in a few seconds hiting 130 mph, it was fecking amazing front wheel popping too, then I started to think about your question. Been used to the bike, didnt panic, used my reflexes and knowledge and translated it into fun. A newbie is hurled at a car in front of him at huge speed, raction time to slow, what do you think would have happened?
Believe me Im not a spoil sport, I love having fun on the bike but I like to be able to enjoy peeps company for a good while................go for 600 even that will need a lot of care

[sscottab]

a good friend of mine has a 919 and it is a nice bike and defently has more power then a 600, granted it feels a little undrepowered to me but i ride a 954 and have clocked about 30,000 of the 39,000 miles on the bike and this is the beginning of my 4th season owning it so iam use to the bike. the seca2 is a fun bike to ride and will allow you to get some realy good riding experance, plus if you drop it you probly wont get to upset .

[setanta]

Originally Posted by sscottab

the seca2 is a fun bike to ride and will allow you to get some realy good riding experance, plus if you drop it you probly wont get to upset .

Such really good advice

[Destructo]

I had to look up what a Seca2 is! We call them Diversions over here....

Now generally something like that would be a good starter bike - as above, if you dropped it it's not the end of the world. A CB900 would make a nice bike after a year or so on the Diversion. But correct, the CB900 would be nothing like a new litre sportsbike, which are much more powerful.

If you're happy to use the Seca2 for a while, then that'd be the most sensible option, and save the CB900 for when you have some more experience. But if ridden sensibly, it's still possible to start out on the CB900.

One last point, riding a bike is very different to driving a car - after all, car's don't fall over! Being a good driver doesn't necessarily make a good rider - so take your time, whatever you decide!

[919dude]

I just bought my 919 off the showroom in November and it scared the heck out of me! And I've been riding 42 years! This bike is scarey fast, and has enough power to come up in 1st and 2nd just on throttle if you're not careful. If you get one, just do NOT crack the throttle in 1st or 2nd if you're above 3,000 rpm or you'll crap your pants when it comes up! I have a Power Commander, Yosh slip-ons, catless Y-Pipe, and K&N filter but otherwise it's stock. Still, I find this bike to be just what the magazines claimed and more! There is NO real "powerband" as older bikes were famous for. This baby has constant power all the way up the rpm range. In fact, you can snap your knew just snapping the throttle even on the freeway at 70mph in 6th gear!

My opinion? Yes, I would say this is a bit too much bike for a first-timer! I've owned, among other bikes, a KZ-900, two KZ-650's, a GS-750, and a Nighthawk 750 and THE 919 is the scariest, snappiest, most powerful bike I've ever owned or rode!

I'd suggest, if you like this bike, that you try the 599, it's little brother. The biggest difference is the 4-into-1 exhaust instead of 4-into-2. Otherwise it's almost identical.

I'd love to hear what you decide!

[TheHeath]

I probably should have said this... about two weeks ago, I found a 919 just 60 miles away for a reasonable price (hardly a bargain, but hey, they're rare).

2003 gunmetal gray with a tiny dent in the tank from what looks like a bad lean rather than a fall (no scratch or paint scuff, just a lil dent). 4661 miles with rear wheel stand, cover, and battery tender for $4600.

I've put about five hundred miles on it and yes, the bike is pretty quick, but no, I'm not terrified of it. There's enough throttle to get somebody in trouble, granted, but as I expected myself to do, I shift pretty early and keep the rpms reasonable.

I have to say, I dislike the vibration in the handles at highway speed. It was a bit more than I expected.

I think the lack of a powerband makes it more reasonable for a newer rider (pilot?). I like practicing my leans knowing full well that there is not a second set of lifters about to kick in if I rev just a little higher, bringing the back end around (vetch). I don't think this would make a reasonable first bike for a kid eager to go mach 2 with his hair on fire... but I'm doing a fine job of chasing down 40 years old. I've fetched ice cream 3 times, dinner twice and plenty of riding when traffic is low and slow.

I just ordered the oil filters (I love you Amazon) and hope to find my oil locally. I wet sanded the header and collector to bring back the shine (they were black with carbon) and the next thing I have to tackle is the chain.

Before anyone asks states or otherwise assumes, no, I had not made up my mind before I had some posts come back with ideas of whether or not the bike was "too much." I appreciate all the input for this thread, and I'm attempting to make use of the information available in other threads. You guys are a great collective resource for a breadth of information. I hope I'll be able to repay the favor in the future.

[Destructo]

Good to see what you have decided! Like you say, take it easy and you'll be OK - it can (will?) take quite a while to get used to riding a bike, I guess you can apply the often-used phrase "you never stop learning". Just don't push it too far, or try to keep up with faster riders - it may well end in tears (it nearly did for me a couple of times so I 'type' from experience).

I do agree that the broader powerband can make a bike easier to ride - I found this when moving up from my old 600 to the 900, it's so much easier to ride the 900 in the mid-range. But do be careful when exploring the more exciting end of the rev counter!

Hope you enjoy your bike and stay safe!

[ldavis]

not if you're intelligent enough to understand that your bike only does what your wrist tells it to do..