Monster as a first bike??

[RandyFloyd]

I'm a noob also, 6 months 3000+ miles.  The only other motorcycle I ever rode was the few hours on the MSF 250's.  I almost dropped it the other day cleaning my chain, but luckily I was able to jam my leg under to slow the fall and prevent a 'drop'.  I can see where the scared part is not that much fun...currently looking into getting a beater for the commute to work.

How about getting a beater AND a Monster, ride the beater till you get comfy while modding the Monster then sell the beater, and use the money for more mods!!

[il d00d]

I'm going to stop short of saying you *will* drop your first bike, but I will say prepare yourself to pay for dropping it, if you want make it your first bike.   If you really want to be pragmatic , calculate the cost of dropping a Monster and dropping a beater bike.   If you can afford it, don't let the possibility of doing something, um, "expensive" stop you from getting a Monster.

Personally, I think it is a great first bike.  One, riding a bike is basically a reckless impulse of a hobby .  If you are going to do it, you might as well enjoy it at all levels, especially (and not excepting) your first bike.  You should not compromise on the basis of your experience level if you don't have to.  I think the entry level Monsters fill that niche pretty well as beautiful, but relatively low-powered machines.

Two, on a practical level, I think a twin is a perfect first bike, much more tractable than an inline four (GSXR, CBR, ZX etc)  The power comes on in a really linear way - you are not going to be ambushed by horsepower the way you will in an I4 at 12k RPM.

Good luck, welcome to the forums, and don't do anything "expensive", no matter what bike you get...

[Howie]

If money is an issue and you want a Monster, look for a good deal on one tith a pre-dinged tank.

[Spider]

what's between your ears is more important than what you put between your legs.

..ok...start your jokes...but you know what I mean, behavior and attitude is more important than cc's.

[ArguZ]

I dont want a beater and I feel fantastic on my shiny new 695
I I drop it, at least I dropped something beautiful
I tested the 800 and 1000 before and both felt a little too much.
So I got the 695 and will spend a lot time polishing and loving her.
But I have to add I am mid 30 and power like this does not belong in the hands of people under 25
250er Ninja will save you ass by not intimidating your skills, temper

[TiNi]

Started out with a brand new 620, to damned scared to drop it... Still hasn't happened

i too started out with a brand spankin' new red 620
i dropped it once, the first day i rode it... on a friends dirt driveway, damaging only my ego 

been riding it for 3 years now...
and, if i bought a beater to start off on,
i wouldn't have met some of the nicest people ever

[SolidSnake3035]

I dont want a beater and I feel fantastic on my shiny new 695
I I drop it, at least I dropped something beautiful
I tested the 800 and 1000 before and both felt a little too much.
So I got the 695 and will spend a lot time polishing and loving her.
But I have to add I am mid 30 and power like this does not belong in the hands of people under 25
250er Ninja will save you ass by not intimidating your skills, temper

What about if I'm responsible, self-conscious, and not a show-off?  I'm only 20 but I hope to soon be getting a 696 as my first bike.  I plan on taking it easy and staying safe, avoiding as much stupidity as possible.

What I'm curious about, is how most people drop their bikes.  Is it in the parking lot/driveway?  Stop-lights?  While on the bike or just standing next to it?
I'm trying to figure out what to make myself more aware of to try to avoid, if it in fact seems like a problem.  Is it like, people that aren't used to bicycles that usually drop their motorcycles?  Like, some balance issue?

I'm just all too confused!  I seek enlightenment. 

[TiNi]

What about if I'm responsible, self-conscious, and not a show-off?  I'm only 20 but I hope to soon be getting a 696 as my first bike.  I plan on taking it easy and staying safe, avoiding as much stupidity as possible.

What I'm curious about, is how most people drop their bikes.  Is it in the parking lot/driveway?  Stop-lights?  While on the bike or just standing next to it?
I'm trying to figure out what to make myself more aware of to try to avoid, if it in fact seems like a problem.  Is it like, people that aren't used to bicycles that usually drop their motorcycles?  Like, some balance issue?

I'm just all too confused!  I seek enlightenment. 

my incident was a oversight by me 

my friends driveway was worn on the outside from car tires, and there was a huge "hump" in the middle...
when i went to put my foot down, the ground was 4-5 inches lower than i had expected.
once it started to go over.... there was no stopping it. it was a nice gentle drop though...

i am one of those tippy-toes riders, and i learned something very important from that day...
alwayz, alwayz plan ahead 

[johnster]

Yes.  An '01 S4 was first bike. 

As is mine. But it all depends on previous experience. I had 2 dirtbikes when I was younger, which helped my skill level immensely, and have ridden numerous Jap I4's and other bikes which belonged to friends/relatives....The S4 is the 1st bike I actually ever purchased on my own (and yes, I did drop it!!  ), but certainly not the 1st I've ever ridden...

I wouldn't recommend something as big as an S4 if you've never ridden before, as it can be twitchy at low speeds... Being able to utilize the entire powerband is what's cool about smaller bikes, so get whatever you're comfortable riding.... Good luck!!! 

-john

[mattyvas]

I'll jump back in and say this when I started out about 18 months ago on mine (620).
I was riding at the back of the pack with our group of Oz Monsters (Sydney).
Now with confidence and new Pilot Powers, I was well enough infront of a couple S4R and S's on a ride last weekend.

I'm very happy that I can ride the tyres off my bike without worry of gasing it up out of a corner and having to control the front wheel leaving the ground.
I have ridden a few of the other blokes's bigger bikes but I am still right happy on mine.

And no not once (as yet) have I come close to dropping it. Been scraping my boots with the new rubber at each end.
but not fear or hint of a drop.
Just a big  inside my lid every time I'm out...

[professor_pro]

What about if I'm responsible, self-conscious, and not a show-off?  I'm only 20 but I hope to soon be getting a 696 as my first bike.  I plan on taking it easy and staying safe, avoiding as much stupidity as possible.

What I'm curious about, is how most people drop their bikes.  Is it in the parking lot/driveway?  Stop-lights?  While on the bike or just standing next to it?
I'm trying to figure out what to make myself more aware of to try to avoid, if it in fact seems like a problem.  Is it like, people that aren't used to bicycles that usually drop their motorcycles?  Like, some balance issue?

I'm just all too confused!  I seek enlightenment. 

I'm another who's first bike was a brand new monster 620. I guess I'm in the minority as after 25,000 miles I never onced dropped it. (Though we've had some amazing low speed saves BTW--never knew my legs were that strong!!). Being very careful & planning your stops makes all the difference. I'd come from a lot of bicycling experience, so the feeling of trusting tires & commiting to turns was a pretty easy transition for me. I think slow speed drops are the most common. People tend to mess it up when they're parking, getting gas, trying to turn around (only to discover the limited steering lock). Like I said I've had some pretty close calls with dropping it, but my determination kept her shiny parts off the pavement.

As far as the lil' monsters being an 'ideal beginner bike' well, maybe. There were a few times when I wish I'd 'done that' to a beater bike instead of my beatiful monster, but all in all it's held up perfectly & has given me immeasurable pleasure because it was the bike I really wanted. If I were to do it all over again, I'd probably start with a lightly used monster instead of brand new for a first bike.

Remember, choosing a motorcycle is not a 'practical' decision usually. One must go with that gut feeling. Let your emotions guide you!  

..and welcome!!

[triangleforge]

I think the smaller Monsters are good 2nd bikes.  Get something small and used to learn on and drop a bit. 

You will build your confidence and become a better rider quicker that way. 

Nobody ever has trouble selling a good used beginning bike, and then you will have a better idea of what you want in your next bike.

+1 on the second bike theory; at least that worked for me. Though as it turns out, I never did drop the Buell Blast I started on (the previous owner did that for me, plenty, so it was cheap) but I did stall & drop the Monster pulling out of a parking spot soon after getting it, before I was really used to the fussy process of getting it warmed up just right.  Fortunately, a bent brake lever was the extent of the tuition for that bit of education.

For me, a simple, cheap bike with automatic choke, minimal maintenance, low $$ insurance and fun but forgiving handling was the right way to become a competent beginning motorcyclist (plus the MSF course), and ready for something with a higher fun factor AND a whole lot more quirks to it. After riding it for a couple of months, I added the purchase price to what I'd paid Maryland for tax & tags when I registered it, and sold it for that within a couple of days so it was essentially free.

[triangleforge]

What I'm curious about, is how most people drop their bikes.  Is it in the parking lot/driveway?  Stop-lights?  While on the bike or just standing next to it?

How can I drop thee? Let me count the ways:

http://ducatimonsterworldwide.org/index.php?topic=3151.0

Suffice it to say, there are a whole lot of them, and you'll probably figure out a brand new one before you're done.

[Stangman]

I don't think Monsters are really bad first bikes, but I don't think they are really great first bikes either.

I have been riding dirt bikes since pretty young and that has really helped my skill on street bikes.  Even so I still opted for a Ninja 500 as my first bike and took the motorcycle safety course.  I paid $1000 for it because it wouldn't start, the carbs were varnished.  I rode it for about 2 years (never dropped it but came close to downing it once when trying to take a corner and found some sand).

I sold it for $1600 and then bought my current Monster from a buddy who wanted to get a S4.

I think the most dangerous time for a new rider isn't right away when he/she first starts riding.  It's that time a few weeks/months later when you get overconfident, you let down your guard and get sloppy.  The sensitive brakes and the low end throttle response of a Monster could get a person in trouble real quick.

Those things being said.... if you can really discipline yourself to respect the bike and know your limitations I think the Monster would work as a first bike, they are just so damn expensive to fix if the unexpected happens.  I think for 90% of new riders a Ninja 500 or similar is just a better overall choice.

Now for my new rider tips: 

GET A KICKSTAND PUCK.  The first week a buddy of mine had his Ninja, we came out into the parking lot after a hot day to find his bike laying on the blacktop.  Hot blacktop turns to mush and your kickstand spears right down into it.  I got a puck right away after that and I store it in my underseat compartment.

No matter what bike though, GET GOOD GEAR.  Don't look at price tags on gear, just buy what fits and protects you best.  I have had several "close calls" and most were not my fault.  Don't count on your skills to prevent accidents.  More than likely even if you ride flawlessly, at some point a driver will eventually drift into your lane, fail to yield to you, pull out in front of you or rear end you and there will be nothing you can do about it.  That's when your good helmet, boots, jacket (with back protector), gloves and cycle jeans or pants will be the only thing between you and a cars bumper and/or the ground.

Ride safe.

[Fox]

I just bought a used '05 620 as my first bike. I would have probably bought the '08 Ninja 250 if the dealers were not marking them up so much. I couldn't bring myself to buy a an '07 or older due to the dated looks. That being said, so far so good with the monster. I almost dropped it when I was maneuvering it into it's resting place and the kick stand got caught and pushed itself up without my knowledge. I don't think it has "too much" power for a beginner, but it has plenty of juice. The only negative comment I have is the cost of repair. My experience has been if something breaks it will cost more because it's a Ducati.