Hi there

[tasum]

Hi I'm just getting back into biking, looking for a starter bike.

My mate, Flatline, has a silver Firestorm and it's a bike I'm hoping to work my way up to. I'm based in Leeds.

Flatline has told me some nice things about the community on here, so I thought I'd join up and meet you all myself.

I hope to learn loads from the forum.

Thanks for looking.

[lumpyv]

welcome . what route would you take to get to a vtr?

[tasum]

hi there lumpyv. I'm looking at a 400/500 to get me back into riding a bike. I passed my test in 96 and had an old gs550 custom for a while, but it wasn't very inspiring so I gave up.

Now Flatline has got me all interested again. So I thought a smaller naked style, street bike would get me back in the saddle with an upright position. Then I can work my way up to a bike with a lower position like the vtr's.

That's my plan, but I know that the vtrs can be had for about £1000-1200, but they are a big bike to start off with. Especially for a short **** like me

What are your thoughts?

[agentpineapple]

welcome to the forum tasum, any friend of flatlines is a friend of ours, i had a long brake from biking before buying my storm, but i hed previously owned a vfr800 which had a similar power output.
alot of people choose the storm as there first big bike, because its user friendly, it has loads of torque so you can be a tad lazy with your gear selection unlike the more hardcore litre il4's which demand you be in the correct gear for a certain situation, maybe try and blag a test ride of one to consider weither you feel you would be comfortable going straight onto a storm and taking it easy as you re-learn your skills.
i do admire your approach tho, maybe a cb500, is the way to go, when i took my bike test back in 96 my instructor had one it was a very good bike, or dare i say its name a suzuki sv650, they're cheap enough and will give you a good idea of weither or not you will like a v-twin.
good luck with whatever you choose and remember everyones trying to kill you when your on 2 wheels, i learnt this the hard way.
ride safe mate....

[lloydie]

Hello and welcome .
As bsm said a sv is a good starting point it has the same power as a nc30 vfr400 and you will learn lots riding that .
Just take it easy and at your own pace .
Don't get tempted to race . Just relax and build the confidence and you will enjoy it more .

[VTRDark]

First off welcome to the forum. As you have been passed on by Flatline we will make excuses for you not having a VTR Your heart is in the right place

BigSpanishMarty has given you some pretty good advice there, but I would not advice jumping straight onto a 1000cc. It depends really on a number of thing's. Your experience, how confident you are, Frame of mind, How throttle happy you are! Your spirit, can you resist the temptations. If you could test ride before buying it would soon tell you if you are right for it.

I Moved up from an FZS600 Fazer, great on fuel, very reliable, if you do happen to spank it, there's plenty of cheap parts about. It's not quite a streetfighter, but that half fairing does work on the straights. Top end I had 156mph out of it! and it has enough bottom end to keep up with all the other 600's and even slightly bigger bikes. But not so fast for overtaking multiple vehicles on the back lanes, it makes you think first!

It's a very easy/comfortable bike to ride and holds the road very well. It is as easy and comfortable to ride by the book, as it is when you give it some and ride it in sport mode. It makes a good commuter as well as a fun bike and it is easy to do your own repairs/servicing.

There's a reason you get a lot of couriers using them

Here's a review http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/biker ... 998-2004-/

Don't forget your kit, with whichever bike you choose. Crash helmet and leathers, take that into consideration when pricing up things

Have fun and Ride Safe

(:-})

[lumpyv]

hi there lumpyv. I'm looking at a 400/500 to get me back into riding a bike. I passed my test in 96 and had an old gs550 custom for a while, but it wasn't very inspiring so I gave up.

Now Flatline has got me all interested again. So I thought a smaller naked style, street bike would get me back in the saddle with an upright position. Then I can work my way up to a bike with a lower position like the vtr's.

That's my plan, but I know that the vtrs can be had for about £1000-1200, but they are a big bike to start off with. Especially for a short **** like me

What are your thoughts?

sounds sensible. your biking career is not that different to mine by the sound of it, although ive been at it a bit longer. at 5 foot 7ish i am also pretty much in the short butt club, and i did wonder about getting a big boys bike but it has all worked out ok. they are a fantastic bike and not that tall. as for the power of it , it only goes as quick as you turn the throttle, but i would say mine is happier when your getting a move on.

[tasum]

Thanks guys for making me feel so welcome, despite my association with Flatline.

I'm not a speed junky, so something with an upright position and not too wide will help me gain my confidence. I'll never be a racer, I'm at that age when I'm happy to take it easy and gain my experience as safely as I can.

Cybercarl, I'll take a look at the fazer. I was looking at those and the bandit when I passed back in 96, so they'll be even better value now! Thank you for the advice.

bigspanishmarty, I'll also look at the sv650, although they looked to have a more race type position. I will look again as you lot know what you're talking about.

I will try and sit on as many as I can as having done so on a few, it makes such a difference. I liked the honda cb400 four. I liked the vtr, but that tank felt massive and I just wouldn't be happy with such a big bike first off. I know it's psychological, but I don't want to scare myself unnecessarily. I want to give myself a good chance at getting back into biking. I'm in no rush.

Thanks again for letting me rent space until I get a firestorm. I might even get a ride on Flatline's fabled Ducati Cafe racer. I've certainly seen him draining a few lattes while he's trying to work out which bolt goes where!!

I will be getting proper gear to go with the bike as my wife loves me the way I am without any extra bits of grit or road surface inserted.

I'll report back when I get sorted. Thanks.

[turbo_billy]

That's my plan, but I know that the vtrs can be had for about £1000-1200, but they are a big bike to start off with. Especially for a short **** like me

Welcome to the forum Tasum. I wouldn`t worry too much about the size of the bike. I am around 5` 5 1/2" (and yes the 1/2" makes all the difference.... ) with a 29" inside leg. Never had a problem with the Storm. Take whichever route you feel most comfortable with but as has been said, they only go as fast as the amount of throttle you give them (and APPARENTLY there are some positions between closed and wide open...... )

[sirch345]

Welcome aboard tasum
It's good to know you're looking at what size bike to get next sensibly, what suits one person doesn't necessarily mean it will suit you. If you feel you need to work your way up to the 1000cc Firestorm, then my opinion is that's the best way to go about it.

Chris.

[Flatline]

Just get a firestorm ya big girls blouse

[AMCQ46]

Welcome....my advice might be a bit off the wall, but if you want to rebuid confidence in your bike skills, I recommend doing a bit of off road riding, trials, mx, enduro or green laneing. The bikes arnt as fast or as heavy as a road bike, but the lack of grip makes you learn what to do in a slide that gives you so much confidence in your skills.
Then on your road bike you should try a Ron Haslam race school to learn about fast braing and cornering.

Then get your big bike

[tony.mon]

Welcome....my advice might be a Ron Haslam race school to learn about fast braing and cornering.

Then get your big bike

Fast Brain G?

I like the sound of that!

Is that where you brake so hard your head hits the inside of your crash helmet as you brake?

Now I have the Braking wave discs on I'mm getting the front tyre to chirp quite often, or maybe it's my sphincter

[chris vtr virgin]

I done it and im still alive bought a storm after no bike for 22 years and the last one before that was a 200cc.
Had it for a year now i take it easy on it at times but love the Vtwin noise.
So just jump in at the deep end and buy one
There Greeeeeat

[tasum]

Chris, you're a braver man than me, or maybe just a bit longer in the legs and arms.

I'm sorted now. I've agreed to buy a honda cb400 superfour that Flatline took me to see which has made itself available at the right price.

Thanks Flatty, now just got to raise some extra cash to cover his excessive finder's fee. Oh well, that's what kidneys are for I suppose.

Thanks for all the help. Hopefully be out and about very soon.