Honda RC51 or Yamaha R1

TerryTheGamer · 06-29-2009, 8:29 AM

Hi guys, i need to make VERY hard decision now..

Which bike should i get?

2002 Honda RC51 or 2002 Yamaha YZF-R1 ?

i've heard RC51 got very hard seat. so if i ride this bike more than 3 hours, will it hurt my bum?

(i think any bikes can hurt it if ride more than 3 hours )

I don't know any weak points of R1.. can u guys tell me about weak points of both bikes and compare them please?

P.S. What is differece between 2002 R1 and 2003 R1?

sorry for my bad english skill.

Thanks!!

Bigtoe · 06-29-2009, 8:39 AM

Inline 4 or V-Twin!
Two totally different beasts.
The RC51 gets warm in traffic. The R1 not so much.
The RC51 is more of a race bike. The R1 is a good all around sportbike.
If you plan on "touring" I'd go for the R1. If you do lots of twisties with an occasional long distance ride, go for the RC51.
I can ride my RC for miles and miles before my a$$ starts to hurt. So I don't think thats an issue at all.
I think the RC is a great second bike. I have a CBR1000RR as my first bike. So I have a choice which one I ride for what purpose.
Hope this helps you!

TerryTheGamer · 06-29-2009, 8:52 AM

V-twin sounds AWESOME! its so sexy and loud!

umm... will RC51 get warm quickly in traffic?

you helped me so much

Thank you!

P.S. If the motorbike has more 'CC', does that mean its faster than others?

Twincam · 06-29-2009, 9:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TerryTheGamer

P.S. If the motorbike has more 'CC', does that mean its faster than others?

Nope not at all. Sure the extra CC's do help, but it doesn't always mean they will be "faster".

Look at the Harley Davidsons e.g. the Fat Boys... Now compare them against a 600RR.

How long have you been riding? How much experience do you have?

TerryTheGamer · 06-29-2009, 9:18 AM

ooohh, i get it!

sorry, i haven't been riding yet.. but i will soon.
i guess i have to learn much more from you guys!

Thank you.

P.S. is Learner Legal bike lot easier to ride for a beginner? Whats are the differences between Learner legal bike and Just normal bike?

Twincam · 06-29-2009, 9:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TerryTheGamer

ooohh, i get it!

sorry, i haven't been riding yet.. but i will soon.
i guess i have to learn much more from you guys!

Thank you.

P.S. is Learner Legal bike lot easier to ride for a beginner? Whats are the differences between Learner legal bike and Just normal bike?

I thought you had at least a few years of at least a 600 under your belt.

Do not even think about a superbike until you have at least 4 years under your belt.

It has been covered on this site many times before, a good beginner bike would be something like a GPZ500S, ER6n, SV650, CBR600F etc.

A superbike will not be able to teach you things which a beginner bike would do - a beginner bike would be far more forgiving too.

TerryTheGamer · 06-29-2009, 10:03 AM

Nice advice, Thank you!

I won't even think about it. you scared me! haha

but in the future, (like 3~5 years later), which bike will be better? RC51 or R1..

I will get a beginner's bike first!

Thank youuuuuuuuuuuu!

Twincam · 06-29-2009, 10:35 AM

Well it depends (I have never ridden either of the two)

I've heard a lot of people liked the earlier R1s (Carb Models) as there wasn't any restrictions on them (but I also heard that you basically hold on for dear life). R1s are the bikes which youngsters want to get asap, and that usually results in most of them being thrashed constantly when they finally get one.

I would read some reviews and join a specific R1 forum to research into what year/model is "the best" and any problems they may face,

Regarding the RC51, firstly its a Honda

.

But on a more serious note I haven't heard anything but good things about them. As others have said the V4 packs a load of bottom end grunt and you would probably enjoy her more if you lived in areas full of turns where you can get your knees down but I believe the R1 would have the edge in a head to head (if you were thinking about that - don't get me wrong she isnt a slow bugger either)

Once you begin riding you'll find things which you will look for in a bike (and u'll notice that top speed isn't everything, I rarely ever get close to mine on any of my bikes) - over the years I used to want the fastest thing money could buy, but now as my joints are getting worse and my age is creeping up, I'm looking for something I can ride comfortably over a long period of time and something which is easy on my joints - well until the adrenaline kicks in.

Just take it easy, research into beginner bikes and see which one sounds the best, then take a test drive on some (dealers will be more then helpful if you say you want to buy one) and then select one (doesn't have to be new, I would never buy a new motorcycle for my first bike - nor buy one from a dealer but thats just me). Then book yourself into as many motorcycle courses you can get and just enjoy riding.

Ride Safe.

ghbzorro · 06-29-2009, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Twincam

As others have said the V4 packs a load of bottom end grunt

Ummm. RC51 is a V-Twin

Twincam · 06-29-2009, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ghbzorro

Ummm. RC51 is a V-Twin

I stand corrected. I don't know what I was thinking!

jacobflyin · 06-29-2009, 12:29 PM

Look I know this is said all the time but for your 1st bike I would not recommend either of these bikes, The R1 is very light in the front end and will be on the ground with a new rider, The RC 51 for those years was probably the best track ready bike ever made it is very balanced the weight is more then the inlines but you do not fell it at all the turn in is fast again not a good bike for beginners Please do not buy either of these bikes.

You need to have the understanding of what a bike does hard into a corner and be ready to handel the power coming out of a corner both bikes can spin up a tire coming out of a corner I have seen way to many bike riders buy over there head and crash.

TerryTheGamer · 06-30-2009, 3:36 AM

Thank you, Twincam! i will go to Youtube and see which one sounds the best..
I heard 'Sato', 'Jardine' and 'M4' exhausts are very good..

I love Honda

Thanks!

TerryTheGamer · 06-30-2009, 3:42 AM

Thanks, Jacobflyin!
i will get beginner's bike first.

i knew RC51 is inappropriate for beginner

Thanks!

Nvp1986 · 06-30-2009, 1:19 PM

I have to agree that a liter sportbike is not a good first bike. Just don't do it... if you live through it you will regret it. I would tend to recommend a dual sport or somethign that if dropped wont cause a lot of damage to itself. You will be much more prepared for the sportbike when you do get it.

My first road bike was an RC 51 but I rode dirt bikes for 14 years along the way before I got it (and wrecked them too many times to count). Started out on an XR 80 when I was 8, then bought an XR 250 when I was 15 and my brother has an XR 400 which I tend to ride alot more than mine. Then at 22 I got my motorcycle learners permit and road my dads old CB 400 Hawk and my brothers yamaha serrow 225 on off road bike for about 2 months. Bought my RC 51 last summer and it has been a blast ever since. I haven't had any problems (knock on wood) but I also payed my dues in bruises and cuts on the dirt bikes over the years.

b.miller123 · 07-01-2009, 12:47 AM

All the advice about liter bikes being bad first bikes is just recycled BS. A 600, 500, even a 250 is going to kill you just as easily as a 1000. The size of the engine isn't what matters. The stuff between your ears decides what your right hand does, and whether or not you go down.

If you ride like an idiot on a 250, you will crash sooner than the careful cautious rider on a 1000, regardless of time in seat. Will I recommend a liter bike or open class bike to a new rider? Nope. Simply because they are much more expensive (to begin with, and to fix after you wad it) and most likely you will crash it once. Get a used piece of crap and drop it a few times before shelling out the cash for a liter bike.

I know plenty of people who have started out on liter bikes and haven't had any problems. They approached the situation as adults and knew the risks associated with riding a bike like that. I have also known people who started out on 250's and moved up to 600's and then to liter bikes. Some of them just won't learn and crash quite frequently, and still have no clue what they are doing. Learn to be smooth with the throttle and brakes, find a good responsible rider to show you the ropes and you'll be fine.

And btw, I've had a 2002 R1, and now a 2003 RC51, both are great bikes, and I don't think you'll be unhappy with either, so when the time comes, buy both

TerryTheGamer · 07-01-2009, 3:15 AM

Thanks guys!

WyoJames · 07-01-2009, 3:36 AM

Have a look around on here Weights and Measurements - Sport Bike Data - Sport Rider
Give you more info on the technical side of the bikes you want to compare

TerryTheGamer · 07-01-2009, 3:40 AM

Thanks!

jacobflyin · 07-01-2009, 2:14 PM

b.Miller you are right I started on a 954 and still ride it most of the time I also have an RC 51 and have ridden a 04 R1 alot on the track the brains will help if you under stand that you make the bike go slow or fast then yes you can get a big bike and have fun working your way up BUT most people don't there have been a lot of kids 17 to 21 years of age in my town that have died on the way home from the store with there new bike they just bought. You just have to be safe and under stand that you do not have a cage around you to keep you safe, all I'm asking is for people looking to buy there 1st bike take the time to under stand what you are buying and what you are getting on.

O jsut incase every bike should come with a life ins policy 20 or 30 dollors a month wont kill you and your family wont go in the hole after you gone.

The risk is worth the reward for me so I live to ride and do so all the time.

D.S · 07-10-2009, 3:01 PM

I started on a big but "nice" VFR800 after a short period learning the basics on a gsx750. I think a safer bet would be to get a smaller bike. I was very defensive with the throttle and used higher gears than apropriate but it still got me in trouble a number of occasions. I know from experience that it's hard for a beginner to judge just how fast sh*t can happen as soon as you start getting comfortable with the bike and experiment past your "safe zone". Not to mention low speed maneuverability around town, a big bike feels light while in balance but if you get caught off-guard at too low speeds it will surprise you how hard it is to keep it from going down with muscle power.

A liter sport twin as first bike is just a bad idea and I wouldn't recomend it. But on the same taken if one really wants something I say go for it. All fun in life involves a certain risk, just be very aware of what you get yourself into.

zerogara · 07-10-2009, 8:18 PM

I don't doubt that an informed and mature person can survive learning to ride on a Super Sport bike, but most don't! I don't care how many people you know that have survived, or how many people have fallen of a roof and survived. There is a thing called learning curve. What one would learn riding an RD350 or GPZ500 in x time is much more than one would learn on a GP500 bike.
I have been riding longer than I can now remember. The longer I ride a commuter kind of bike and I am off my fast bike the harder it is to readopt. I catch myself feeling safe and easy going twice as fast as I thought. The fresher and bigger the bike is the more comfortable you feel going fast, but it is a false sense of safety without the experience of how fast things can happen when you are doing 150mph. There is no time to learn at that speed. You will never get a second chance to learn your lesson kid!

PS The best mindset to have every time you leave home is that today will be your last ride as there is someone out there who is out to get you! Even if that someone is your own inflated ego.

TerryTheGamer · 07-10-2009, 10:40 PM

Thank you guys!

Retrodreaming™ · 08-05-2009, 7:20 AM

Well like most have said on here get something a little less forgiving! Ive been riding for years on and off here is a list of the bikes ive started with and worked my way to the sp1(rc51)
Kawasaki ke 125
Kawasaki kmx 125
Yamaha 125 these were great fun had 3 hahaha
Yamaha rd 350 ypvs had 2 of these
Kawasaki zxr 400 then i had a few years riding friends bikes like Suzuki rgv 250 Kawasaki 7r, Suzuki bandit 1200, i mean the list goes on!! But tbh it's really how you ride that counts i know people who have passed there test and got 750's and 1000cc bikes and they all have crashed!! Ride safe and know your limits and watch out for other people on the road! Oh and you wont go far wrong with a Honda there is no other bike i would ride now!!

zerogara · 08-05-2009, 9:13 AM

If you really want to become a fast road rider, meaning you learn how to brake, turn, and accelerate at the limits the best thing to get from the used market is a 2stroke 250. Suzuki RGV250, Honda NSR250, Yamaha TZR250, and best of all Aprilia RS250. Easy and cheap on maintenance if you learn how to do it yourself, very light, therefore forgiving, if you are light yourself in a tight course or twisty mountain road even 1000cc bikes will not be able to catch up with you.
Once you have gotten comfortable enough to be skidding in mid corner, then you are ready for anything!
If you have no twisty roads around you, once you get comfortable on the street move to a track for track days.

I started on dirt bikes, a few decades back, when they had twin shocks and were aircooled

My first street bike was an 83' GPZ750. It drove me, I didn't drive it. Later I got into 2strokes I had a couple of RD400s, a Kaw A7 Avenger 350 (Retrodreamer wasn't even born when that was made

a Suzuki GT750 Water Buffalo (a 2stroke Gold Wing) etc etc.

HRC RC51 · 08-06-2009, 10:16 PM

I started out on a new 2003 R6, then a new 2004 Aprilia Factory, then an SP1 and SP2, and Aprilia Falco, and now I love riding a 2008 Ninja 250R. (kept all but the R6 and SP1)

I guess I learned in reverse order, but I think it comes down to the right hand on any bike you ride, and a clear head to know your limits as you progress