Entry Level?
Marketing writers and moto mag writers alike often throw around the term “entry level” when describing middleweight motorcycles with low seat heights and comfortable riding positions.
But if so, it’s at least partly because they represent a mid-way point in a world of motorcycles in which the upper limits are absolutely astonishing by standards of not so long ago.
While manufacturers have spent engineering overtime honing extremely light, powerful, yet tractable and inviting machines for the past few decades, last time we checked, human DNA is still the same as it ever was.
In 1980 a bike that could turn a mid-to-low 12-second quarter-mile would have deserved acceptance in a league of high-performance machines of 900cc to 1100cc displacement.
Today, anyone with a credit score can buy 600-650 cc bikes that are considered not-too-expensive, yet able to develop speed deceptively fast.
Anyone who has never ridden a street motorcycle, and wants a 600cc sportbike for his or her first ought to be sure this is the right level bike to start on, because there are less powerful machines that work great as well.
Although our liberty includes the right to take unnecessary risk, and even though the bikes of today have better chassis, suspension and brakes to manage the power, a word to the wise might still be in order.
We consider the GSX650F, Ninja 650R and FZ6R – any of which can beat a Corvette to 100 mph – to be entry level sportbikes, and not necessarily ideal for first-time riders.
Mistakes in judgment on a motorcycle are expensive and painful, so why add exceptional speed to the mix?
On the other hand, I was interviewing a Pentagon official last year, and he said they put young people in the cockpit of aircraft, and the good ones soon see time in a fighter. His point was well taken, but it’s also true they train the heck out of these pilots, and only the ones who don’t wash out make the cut.
You and I have nothing stopping us from getting in over our heads but our own good judgment.
We highly recommend first-timers honestly self-evaluate their readiness for the challenges of handling a powerful motorcycle.
It is widely believed that prior proficiency on a dirtbike (or, at least a bicycle) can be of some value. Anecdotal evidence also suggests that if you are athletic, or have good balance, great eyesight or spatial awareness, high level of manual dexterity, eye-hand-coordination, and such, these too are believed to help you in learning to ride.
Seeking qualified training is also a good idea.
And overall, if you think you will be okay, who would we be to say these bikes – or faster ones – aren’t suitable? They may be, and you may be fine.
We’ll leave you with advice we share with our family or friends interested in riding: Don’t walk before you can crawl, and don’t try to sprint until you are a good walker. Use your head, wear the gear, and have fun.
but make sure you also get a very decent hospital plan...