New Rider, "Is it ok to go for big bike?"

[screwman]

This is my first post in Thaivisa. I am 3 months to 55. Living in Bangkok for past 15 years. Never have a bike license. I have a Filano for me to go from home to 7-Eleven.

 

Since a teen many years ago I dream of having a big bike. Now that I am getting older I was thinking there's not much time left and I gotta do it now or never. So I intend to go get my riding license and after that go get a big bike (750-1200cc type). I have absolutely no experience riding on open roads. Is it advisable to get my dream bike soon after getting my license or better to wait and ride a normal bike to gain experience first? I drive a lot in Thailand though as I am a salesman.

[hydraides]

Riding a 750cc+ bike in Bangkok, Sorry but that's a death sentence waiting to happen, even if you are experienced......you would be nuts to ride a powerful bike around Bangkok. Too many cars skipping lights, way too busy with too much traffic, crazy minibus drivers and pickup drivers etc etc. Thailand is in top 5 countries in the world for road deaths. 

 

Even if you're riding in somewhere like Koh Samui, its a bit better but not by much.....

 

My advice just don't do it.....

[scubascuba3]

In the UK I did a 5 day direct access course then was able to ride big bikes over 500cc, worked for me, but here in Thailand no way I'd ride a bike 750-1200cc straight off, they are very heavy, your balance won't be good and high risk of an accident. Ride a scooter for a while to get used to riding and all the roads you go, and get to know dangerous junctions, potholes, drains, sand patches etc

[EVENKEEL]

Get a smaller cc bike first with manual gears to get used to clutch.

[jackdd]

Somebody recently asked a similar question:

 

Thus same answer from me:

13 hours ago, jackdd said:

Get a second hand 300cc bike, something like the Honda CB300F, CB300R or CBR300 depending on which style you like, they are cheap on the second hand market, usually don't fail and replacements parts if you drop it are cheap as well.

Ride this for a while, get some practice, sell it, and then get something which you fancy.

 

[uncleP]

Honda 200 phantom is cheap and will give you experience, however,  I'd start with an automatic and if you survive the experience with your mind intact then go for the phantom. I srartedcwith a moped, then a 250cc plus we charged about the countryside on all manner of bikes and learned to ride. There's nothing like doing 40 across a field and slamming your brakes on to see what happens and learn to control it . Years  later I had a front wheel slide with passenger and stayed up .  Riding in Bangkok is crazy. You are safer in the day with lots of traffic.  Even then they drive as if they are the only person in existence: changing lanes without a thought, no indication , and an almost total disregard for driving norms in the west . At night it's the same but at a much faster speed. I live in Bangkok and drive a 500cc Honda. I would not like to drive bigger and I have been riding motorcycles for 50 years or so.

[LennyW]

8 hours ago, screwman said:

Now that I am getting older I was thinking there's not much time left

If you jump on to a big bike without experience then you could well be correct in your assumption of not having much time left!

[Surelynot]

Have you recently had a frontal lobotomy performed?

 

Even if you survive an (almost certain) accident, recovering at 55 takes months..... if not years.

 

To be be fair...I am tempted to do the same as you.

[tonray]

8 hours ago, screwman said:

Never have a bike license. I have a Filano for me to go from home to 7-Eleven.

 

Since a teen many years ago I dream of having a big bike. Now that I am getting older I was thinking there's not much time left and I gotta do it now or never. So I intend to go get my riding license and after that go get a big bike (750-1200cc type).

Since you've been riding illegally for years...why change now with a big bike ?

[Kwasaki]

8 hours ago, screwman said:

I have a Filano for me to go from home to 7-Eleven.

Get your Thai motorcycle DL and then use the Filano scooter.

When you have driven around Bkk on the scoot and you are happy with doing it and would still like a motorbike hire a CB250 get some training.

[NCC1701A]

if you don't know how to ride a big bike the first thing that will happen is you will drop it. 

 

suggest you start looking at YouTube how to ride videos then practice turning and stopping in a remote place like a empty Makro parking lot. emergency avoidance of a object is critical to learn. mastering a proper u-turn on a big bike takes time and is very difficult to do in Thailand because of the constantly changing madness that is going on all around you. 

 

i have  a Honda click 125cc and a Kawasaki Versys 650cc. 37,000 kilometers all over Thailand on the Versys and no accidents. However I don't drink and I plan everything I do far in advance. Riding the Click is super easy. The Kawasaki is a big physical effort.

 

have you ever worn riding gear in Thailand? I am covered head to toe when I go out out on the big bike. Just that alone is a challenge in this heat and humidity. make sure you invest in a proper helmet. boots that you can slam your feet down without any hesitation and give you good traction and cover your ankles would be next followed by gloves. this would be bare minimum to wear while practicing. 

 

the Kawasaki is so much more difficult to maneuver in traffic. It is very heavy. parking is difficult and requires more space. Duck walking the bike is hard to do. 

 

i would buy a Kawasaki 300cc Ninja if you want to go fast and have a bike you can drop and scrape up and learn on and then buy something larger after a year or so. many used bikes now. 

 

and there is another issue. the "muscle memory" of switching between a automatic scooter and and manual big bike. in a emergency you will default to years of what you do on a scooter which is to hit both hand brakes. if you do that on a big bike one will be the clutch and you are dead. it takes time to overcome this automatic reaction. 

 

good luck.

 

 

 

 

[Damrongsak]

I've ridden bikes occasionally over the last 50 years or so.  Mostly little 125cc enduro (dual-sport)  bikes.  When I was a bike mechanic I did test drive some 350-550 cc 2-strokes, and once did a power slide in gravel with a Suzuki "water buffalo" 750 triple.  No way I want to ride big bikes. A lightweight 2-stroke MX bike like a Montesa 250 or a Maico 400  is enough.  I want to ride a bike, not drive one.

 

Edit:  But back then, I only weighed 52 kg.  Didn't take much to put me in orbit. Now that I'm 59 kg, I may consider a Harley.

 

[mr mr]

don't go so big. 

 

about 16 months ago i bought a ktm duke 390. my first real bike experience. i have ridden the scooters for years. even this bike feels way too powerful for me. i didn't really realize how little i really knew about riding a bike until i got on one with a real amount of power. 

 

as another member mentioned accidents are not fun at your age. i am 43 and i dropped my bike about 2 or 3 months ago on the way back from the south. lucky i had full gear plus full rain gear on. i hit the medium and slid onto the grass. wasn't going fast at all had just turned off the highway and was only going about 50. my shoulder was first to hit and the full brunt of the accident came down on it. 

 

i am still in pain after a couple months. that is from a small small accident. i am 43. you are 55. it won't be fun.

 

i was in the same position as you. believe me you don't know shat and are not ready at all for a big bike. after 16 months of riding a 390 i am only now starting to really learn how to properly handle and control the machine. 

 

then there is bkk traffic. its fracking crazy. 

 

good luck man. 

 

 

[Pottinger]

Is it possible? Yes

Is it wise? No

[Damrongsak]

9 minutes ago, mr mr said:

don't go so big. 

 

about 16 months ago i bought a ktm duke 390. my first real bike experience. i have ridden the scooters for years. even this bike feels way too powerful for me. ...

My first 4-wheel vehicle (a 1967 VW bus) had about that same horsepower. 

[Dagfinnur Traustason]

9 hours ago, screwman said:

Now that I am getting older I was thinking there's not much time left

Eeeeh? Right!

[JonnyF]

It depends on your skill level, fitness, mentality etc. but personally I'd start on something much smaller. Nothing bigger than a CBR500, just to get used to the gears, clutch, brakes etc.

 

R3, Ninja 400, CBR500, Duke 390, something like that.

 

After a year you could consider something like a CBR650, Triumph Trident, Street Triple etc.

 

Then once you can ride that properly, go for a big bike. 

 

You'd be mad to start on a litre bike IMO. Especially an older one without all the rider aids like power modes, traction control etc.

[screwman]

8 hours ago, hydraides said:

Riding a 750cc+ bike in Bangkok, Sorry but that's a death sentence waiting to happen, even if you are experienced......you would be nuts to ride a powerful bike around Bangkok. Too many cars skipping lights, way too busy with too much traffic, crazy minibus drivers and pickup drivers etc etc. Thailand is in top 5 countries in the world for road deaths. 

 

Even if you're riding in somewhere like Koh Samui, its a bit better but not by much.....

 

My advice just don't do it.....

Thank you. My plan is to go upcountry with my colleagues who does this often in their big bikes. I don’t plan to use it for traveling within Bangkok though.

[uncleP]

Welcome to bike riding in Thailand. Graphic content be warned

 

[screwman]

6 hours ago, EVENKEEL said:

Get a smaller cc bike first with manual gears to get used to clutch.

I currently own a small Yamaha Filano guess I need to use it more often to get use to on main roads I mean.

[OneMoreFarang]

12 hours ago, screwman said:

This is my first post in Thaivisa. I am 3 months to 55. Living in Bangkok for past 15 years. Never have a bike license. I have a Filano for me to go from home to 7-Eleven.

 

Since a teen many years ago I dream of having a big bike. Now that I am getting older I was thinking there's not much time left and I gotta do it now or never. So I intend to go get my riding license and after that go get a big bike (750-1200cc type). I have absolutely no experience riding on open roads. Is it advisable to get my dream bike soon after getting my license or better to wait and ride a normal bike to gain experience first? I drive a lot in Thailand though as I am a salesman.

You should get a turbocharged Hayabusa. Who wants one of those girly bikes in stock condition?

 

 

[Sundown]

The new Yamaha R1 is perfect for a beginner!

 

(Troll thread needs a troll answer)

[screwman]

3 hours ago, tonray said:

Since you've been riding illegally for years...why change now with a big bike ?

oh I have not really ridden except going to convenient stores near home talking about 2-4km on minor roads. Completely no experience on major roads.getting a big bike is a dream to travel with friends to countryside 

[Golden Triangle]

Do you have a death wish ? 55 years old and wants to buy a big bike, you must be dumb mate, sorry to be so blunt but it's true, you are certifiable.

 

Almost weekly you can read in these pages of Thais & foreigners killing themselves on big bikes, please don't be a other nameless statistic attributed to Thailand's roads.

 

Earlier this year I lost a very good friend who had been riding bikes for most of his life, he was only 48, very successful in his career and newly married, such a waste of life.

 

Please rethink this totally moronic idea, I don't want to be reading about your demise on here or watching your last moments via CCTV on the evening news.

[screwman]

4 hours ago, NCC1701A said:

if you don't know how to ride a big bike the first thing that will happen is you will drop it. 

 

suggest you start looking at YouTube how to ride videos then practice turning and stopping in a remote place like a empty Makro parking lot. emergency avoidance of a object is critical to learn. mastering a proper u-turn on a big bike takes time and is very difficult to do in Thailand because of the constantly changing madness that is going on all around you. 

 

i have  a Honda click 125cc and a Kawasaki Versys 650cc. 37,000 kilometers all over Thailand on the Versys and no accidents. However I don't drink and I plan everything I do far in advance. Riding the Click is super easy. The Kawasaki is a big physical effort.

 

have you ever worn riding gear in Thailand? I am covered head to toe when I go out out on the big bike. Just that alone is a challenge in this heat and humidity. make sure you invest in a proper helmet. boots that you can slam your feet down without any hesitation and give you good traction and cover your ankles would be next followed by gloves. this would be bare minimum to wear while practicing. 

 

the Kawasaki is so much more difficult to maneuver in traffic. It is very heavy. parking is difficult and requires more space. Duck walking the bike is hard to do. 

 

i would buy a Kawasaki 300cc Ninja if you want to go fast and have a bike you can drop and scrape up and learn on and then buy something larger after a year or so. many used bikes now. 

 

and there is another issue. the "muscle memory" of switching between a automatic scooter and and manual big bike. in a emergency you will default to years of what you do on a scooter which is to hit both hand brakes. if you do that on a big bike one will be the clutch and you are dead. it takes time to overcome this automatic reaction. 

 

good luck.

 

 

 

 

Very insightful thanks a lot.

[revgreen]

Lol you all suck. 90% of users on a "motorcycle forum" don't ride a motorcycle and advise AGAINST riding a motorcycle. Why don't you all go back to the Gardening or Technology sections?

[guzzi850m2]

1 hour ago, revgreen said:

Lol you all suck. 90% of users on a "motorcycle forum" don't ride a motorcycle and advise AGAINST riding a motorcycle. Why don't you all go back to the Gardening or Technology sections?

Agreed, this is a bike forum and one must assume we have a lot of bike riders in here??

 

OP go for it but as advised, don't go over 500cc. Since you would like going with your friends up north, I will recommend the Honda cb500X, a small adventure bike. Or the Royal Endfield interceptor 650 (okay over 500cc but about same power as the 500X) I tried the RE650 and it's very easy to ride.

 

My own big bike have 115hp and I love it but I very very carefully pick my spots to use that power and try to read the traffic all around me.

 

You can sit in a rocking chair, be bored and sit and think about why you didn't do it and got out riding and enjoy life while you can.

 

I don't often see scary situations, actually most Thais drive/ride quite normally. Late evenings are more tricky and some idiots drive/ride home after a night at the karaoke bar.

 

Always use proper riding gear so min: Fullface, gloves, boots and a meshjacket

[papa al]

OP:

Go for it.

Get a big bike.

1000cc or more.

Be a man.

[screwman]

2 hours ago, guzzi850m2 said:

You can sit in a rocking chair, be bored and sit and think about why you didn't do it and got out riding and enjoy life while you can.

Thank you @guzzi850m2 this is very assuring. I have the same attitude as your paragraph above. Still I’m coming into this forum to post hoping to get some good advice which so far I am getting them and I’m grateful to all of you.

[screwman]

28 minutes ago, papa al said:

OP:

Go for it.

Get a big bike.

1000cc or more.

Be a man.

My dream since a kid is this bike riding in the countryside. Now that I am

older and can afford it and most importantly I’m lucky to be living in Thailand with great countrysides and having a stable job which is why only now I am thinking and planning of getting into this long awaited wish.