Suzuki GSX1000 phantom 1st bike would you?

[rugbyleague]

Ok I am allowed to get a motorbike after 15 years of wanting....I really like the look of the phantom and pricing/insurance is all fine.

I have never owned a roadbike and I am very aware I need to get miles under my belt. I live in the Lake District and have been offered coaching by Cumbria advanced motorcyclists.

Am I just being silly wanting a big bike straightaway or is there a way of stepping upto it say hiring/borrowing a smaller bike for a few weeks?

I have no recent bike experience, however I do hold a full licence. I'm 6ft 2 and 17St so would like quite a big bike.

Has anyone experience of the GSX and did any of you go straight into big bikes?

Thanks

[Birky_41]

My brother is selling is '67 plate 3300 mile one with a few goodies (in blue though) for £7500

Im all for getting what you want straight away - Im sure there will be plenty on here to start on on a 125 air cooled pop pop and work your way up but thats not for me. I went on an 800 triple 140ps claimed after 10 years off a road bike, sold it within 18 months to get a Tuono 1100 as I wanted more power

I will say though that engine in that is quite potent. It is only as quick as you make it but they dont hang about and unless you are used to the top end in sports car performance riding one wound open up the revs may come as a bit of a shock

Id do it but each to their own...

[Tonberry]

You'll be fine.Traction control will save you from high sides and other similar mistakes.

I would only ever warn new riders with limited ability off supersport bikes due to the daft riding position which can dent confidence when you're still learning.

[trickywoo]

I had a v twin 1000 tuono as a first bike.

It was fine.

The gsxs is a good bike. Go steady at first and you’ll be fine.

[rugbyleague]

Thanks all!

'My brother is selling is '67 plate 3300 mile one with a few goodies (in blue though) for £7500' I saw this but want a black one!

ian

[Lee540]

Yes, get any bike

[DanGPR]

I'm same build as you, find Triumph Street Triple very comfortable as an alternative.

At the end of the day, unless you start going mad with the revs a big bike is fairly docile. Get what you want, you'll only end up changing. But even a CB600 or similar will feel very quick even if you're used to fast cars.

[rugbyleague]

Help! I went to the dealership today, I saw 4 bikes (all new) z900 2017, z900 2018, gsx 1000 and a Gsx 750. also briefly a z1000

Where to start...... chap in the show room really wasn't keen on the GSx 1000 , he felt the throttle response was all on or all off. He rides a Gsx 750 himself and much prefers it. I asked what else I should look at and he suggested the z900 which I liked. I sat on them all couldn't really feel any difference less gadgets on the 900, but the z looks better. Gsx 750 quite a bit cheaper, z bigger engine and seems to get better reviews. Is there much difference between a 2017 z900 and a 2018?

Very confused!

What would you decide?

[trickywoo]

Some people said the throttle on the first model gsxs1000 was a bit snatchy. Describing it as on / off marks the guy saying it as an idiot imo. Particularly given what ever issue there was has been fixed by the latest model which also gets a slipper clutch. Most easily spotted over the earlier model by having black levers not silver.

The gsxs750 is great value imo.

Z900 good bike too. Doesn’t come with any traction control if that’s important to you, just abs.

You can’t really go wrong with any new bike from the big manufacturers these days. Buy the one you like most.

Edited by trickywoo on Sunday 1st July 08:38

[rugbyleague]

Thank you.....!

z900 doesn't have any electronic aids, am pondering this because I think it might be important to me to have assistance as a new rider.....

I don't think I would go wrong with either bike (or the GSX 1000)

He definitely steered me away from the 1000, but it still feels like an itch that wants to be scratched....

Pricing seems really really low. I don't think I can get another bike in this class for the similar price.

My head hurts.....

Ian

[trickywoo]

rugbyleague said:

My head hurts.....

There really is too much choice. I was looking to change a GSXR 750 K4 which I had for 7 years and settled on a Street Triple 765.

A GSXS 750 would be a great place to start. Plenty fast enough but it'll look after you a bit more than a 1000 as your experience grows. Cheap too so you shouldn't lose too much if / when you want to go to a bigger engine.

If your budget could stretch to a new Speed Triple that would be epic. I rode one last week. It was really smooth and easy to ride but also fast and a bike you could really grow into.

[Felters]

Don't know much about Suzukis. However my experience of new bikers (in fact all bikers - me included) is that you are much more likely to have an accident at low speed or stand still than anything else. Whatever capacity you go for I'd recommend not going for a sports bike with narrow, low handlebars. I'd aim for low weight and a more upright riding stance on your first bike. Does make it easier to manage those tricky situations when the inevitable happens.

Build your confidence and then go for a decision based on your heart not your head.

[Djtemeka]

Stop faffing about. Ride he litre bikes and buy the one thats best for you. If you get a 750 then you’ll always regret not having the litre.
The lakes suit naked litre bikes

[WarnieV6GT]

Djtemeka said:

Stop faffing about. Ride he litre bikes and buy the one thats best for you. If you get a 750 then you’ll always regret not having the litre.
The lakes suit naked litre bikes

No he won't. The 750 will feel ballistic at 1st and way better than his abilities. If he has that then he can always sell it/trade it in for the 1000cc later. I don't get this you'll regret it stuff.

I could have gone 1000cc straight away but went 600 then 750. I'm now really looking forward to getting a litre + bike for next year. What's to look forward to if you go for the fastest bikes straight away ?

Not many of us had a supercar to start with and instead enjoyed the journey of getting faster and better machinery as our experience/finances/age allowed.

[T70RPM]

Stepped off a GS500 with a pass on the Wednesday, rode out then dealership on the Friday with a new Fireblade. Throttle works both ways. Buy the bike you want, best advice I was given was 'remember the bike is better than you are!'

[Djtemeka]

WarnieV6GT said:

No he won't. The 750 will feel ballistic at 1st and way better than his abilities. If he has that then he can always sell it/trade it in for the 1000cc later. I don't get this you'll regret it stuff.

I could have gone 1000cc straight away but went 600 then 750. I'm now really looking forward to getting a litre + bike for next year. What's to look forward to if you go for the fastest bikes straight away ?

Not many of us had a supercar to start with and instead enjoyed the journey of getting faster and better machinery as our experience/finances/age allowed.

i also had a 600 when I first started. I was referring to the faff of selling and depreciation for what is probably going to be 1 year on a bike before trading up

[rugbyleague]

Thanks for this really do appreciate the different views....what I don't want is a bike which is too much for me and then scares me but also I don't want anything which I am going to grow out of too quickly either.

Today I booked some lessons, my original bike test was one of the last ones when you had to pass on a 125 some 22 years ago so I maybe a bit ring rusty that said I want to buy something I like......

[6pi]

WarnieV6GT said:

No he won't. The 750 will feel ballistic at 1st and way better than his abilities. If he has that then he can always sell it/trade it in for the 1000cc later. I don't get this you'll regret it stuff.

I could have gone 1000cc straight away but went 600 then 750. I'm now really looking forward to getting a litre + bike for next year. What's to look forward to if you go for the fastest bikes straight away ?

Not many of us had a supercar to start with and instead enjoyed the journey of getting faster and better machinery as our experience/finances/age allowed.

Exactly that.

I'm always surprised to see that in PH it's not a problem to start biking with a 150 hp machine. Sure you can do it and manage not to die in the process, but what is the point ? It's much better to start with a smaller bike with average suspension and engine so you can learn to ride properly (ie : trying things, making mistakes, just at lower speeds hence lower risks).

Then after a while you can enjoy the step-up to bigger/nicer bikes, which is part of the fun.

But maybe it's a cultural thing, I'm not from the UK and in my country the old bikers used to recommend to start with a 500...

[Birky_41]

Just reading through some of them if you're trying a few bikes the 750 gsxs isn't a bad shout

Deals on them are really good and it's a fairly good all round bike if you don't want to spend trumpet money

I've ridden a couple 750 sand while not real quick they were smooth and still had a bit of punch in the first few gears

You need to ride a few and see what you think

[bmwmatt24]

My first bike was a K8 GSXR 1000 last year at 24 y/o. After being told by many i would die, i haven't had a single problem with it.

Buy whatever you like, take your time to learn it and respect it.

Good luck on your search!