Size Does Really Matter !!

Boss Hoss Outfitted with a Chevy 350ci V-8
This picture was borrowed from the 
website www.About.com. This bike
is a production motorcycle.

The following has been written by JYNorflet aka
The MotorcycleCoach - www.TheMotorcycleCoach.com

You finally make up your mind, once and for all you're going to get your motorcycle license and never sit on the side lines again !! Of all of your friends, you're the only one without a bike. You've vowed, NOT ANOTHER Summer.  So, later a friend tells you about another friend who has a great bike for sale. After a bit of back and forth, you find out the bike for sale is one you've always wanted, "A Kawasaki GPZ 1100 !!  You think, WOW what a find !!  Normally, I would also say  What a find, however, not in this case, Do You Know Why ?

Well as a new rider, this bike could be a death sentence. Motorcycles are typically classified by their engine size, especially by the insurance company. Engines on motorcycles are rated in Cubic Centimeters or CC's. This in simple terms reveals just how fast and just how much power the bike places at the hands of its rider. An 1100cc engine develops an incredible amount of horsepower. For a new rider this can become devastating. You see The higher the CC's the more power, the lower the CC's the less power a bike has. A new rider needs time to think about what they are about to do. They need time to learn to shift, to turn, to work the signals,  brakes and ultimately to deal with traffic. The rule of thumb is since learning to ride is a progressive process, it's best to start off with a smaller bike, say between 250cc's to 500cc for a larger person.  Using an 1100 is like giving your teen aged son or daughter a corvette for their drivers test, would you do that ? New riders should not learn to ride a bike with a huge engine, and should especially not be a crotch rocket aka sport bike either. It should be a subtle, easy going high gas mileage motorcycle that will allow you student to gain skill, practice, confidence and coordination, all on one bike.   I have to wonder, how just how many have gone out and purchased the bike they thought was necessary to keep up with their buddies that is now sitting in the garage covered by a blanket. These bikes have been banished forever to a life of quiet and solitude, after being ridden once or twice, not a pretty thought, but true.  How many have been thrown from or seriously injured by actually mounting one of these fire breathing monsters !! If you know someone, I'd love to hear your story - Of course ,no names necessary.  In my next post. I'll be suggesting a few specific models which might benefit the novice rider. Until then, visit my new website  for lots of information on riding and safety,

Good Luck

Check out my NEW website at www.TheMotorcycleCoach.com

 Also, look out for my new MotorcycleCoach podcast soon to be listed

in the Apple  iTunes store. As usual I welcome all and any comments

by emailing them to  MotorcycleCoach @gmail.com or simply entering 

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as always thanks for visiting my blog.
JYNorflet
"Live Life on Purpose" 12.9.2010