first ride today 100% legal

[jipped genes]

TweetWow this bike is different than what i am used to on my old harley or old GPZ.

i noticed my left wrist got tired very quickly and my neck started aching in just a 10 mile ride around town.

also to be honest the bike intimidates me, it is so "razor sharp" both the throttle and the input and feedback on the handlebars. i can see how a small mistake would be magnified on a sportbike where as a harley , touring or a cruiser would be very forgiving.

i just need to practice, practice, practice........... be smart and patient. i am sure eventually my neck and wrists will become used to the riding position. I rode for 30 minutes and never broke 1/3 throttle or 8,000 rpm.

i honestly didnt have much fun as i was so focused. best to commit the right way to ride to muscle memory and enjoy safely later

[FUZO]

TweetIts gonna take some time to get used to. Careful on that throttle or when your shifting fast that bike can smake right out underneath of ya just like that. When I forst got my bike I was shifting quick and man my front end went up and I nearly pissed myself because I wasnt ready for it. Just like that. Thank god no cars were in front of me or I would of been toast. And i'm sure you know this but more people in cars dont bother looking when your on that type of bike so change that exhaust to a screamer so they hear ya when your coming up to them. Wind those rpms out and cruise by someone and watch them shit themselves,lol I love doing that

[O2BESOHUGE]

TweetJIPPED JUST TAKE IT SLOW AND LEARN THE BIKE. I TOLD YOU ITS A DIFFERENT MACHINE. GET USED TO RIDING WITH GEAR! (JACKET, BOOTS, GLOVES AND YOUR HELMET) EVEN IF THE LAW SAYS YOU DONT HAVE TO WEAR A HELMET - ID WEAR ONE! I DIDNT GET ON MY BIKE WITHOUT ALL MY GEAR!

REMEMBER, YOU DRESS FOR THE CRASH - NOT THE RIDE...
RIDE SAFE AND SMART MAN!

REMEMBER TOO - WHEN YOU'RE LEARNING...RIDE TODAY SO YOU CAN RIDE TOMORROW. NO SHOW BOATING! EVEN THAT 600 CAN AND WILL SURPRISE YOU BIG TIME!!

[O2BESOHUGE]

TweetWHEN YOU GET COMFORTABLE ...IT WILL BE THE MOST FUN YOUVE EVER HAD! TRUST ME!

[jipped genes]

Tweeti have no desire to ride without a helmet or jacket. and i promise i have a healthy respect for the bike, it is more compliant at the lower rpm. it may be some time before i get to the redline

as for the exhaust fuzo. i dont have the $$ to get a slip on right now. maybe down the road. i planon riding during lower traffic times now and hopefully will become used to it soon

[FUZO]

Tweet

i have no desire to ride without a helmet or jacket. and i promise i have a healthy respect for the bike, it is more compliant at the lower rpm. it may be some time before i get to the redline

as for the exhaust fuzo. i dont have the $$ to get a slip on right now. maybe down the road. i planon riding during lower traffic times now and hopefully will become used to it soon

Go to a empty high school parking lot or any big parking lot and just ride in there. Go in circles cut in and out of the parking lanes get used of turning stopping and even leaning .Now dont worry your tires will catch the road so when you lean dont worry about falling. Unless theres oil or what ever. And also you know the cracks in the streets and they fill them up with tar. When its hot outside that tar heats up and if your turning and hit a patch of that your front tire will slip. So try and avid those tar patches

[jipped genes]

Tweetthanks i am good with the act of riding. its the riding position of this bike. it is very diff than my 5o hp 450# harley.

over 2X as much hp and over 150# lighter.

it may just be in my head. my uncle always told me "if your gonna have a tiger as a pet you better not piss it off"

i feel like the bike is a tiger and i respect it but i cant fear it if that makes sense. i rode yesterday for 45 minutes and really relaxed and wasnt as stiff. then i went to get gas and the bike wouldnt start!!!!!!!!!!!!

my wife came and i jumped it. rode home and pulled the battery. took it to batteries plus. they said it was on the verge of going bad. they could charge it and it may last a day or 4 months. i put a new one in. dealer wanted $140. i got it for $80 and it is sealed just like the original

[O2BESOHUGE]

TweetMAKE SURE ITS A GEL BATTERY!

[horsepwr]

TweetVery good! It is so nice to hear your experience, respect, and realization of what you bought. The tiger analogy was a good one. Get to thinking you got it in your pocket, and it will bite the hell out of you. I'm scarred for life in a couple of places, and I've always respected mine. Well, cept for the days on the YZ-80 when I thought I was the shit. and it would bite too, and remind me that I wasn't.lol..But it's such a delight to hear you talk about learning your machine. Now you see why I just shake my head when I hear some 20yr old kid tel me he's getting his 1st sportbike, but he's getting a 1000.
Wait til you feel that powerband that begins right about where you've been shifting out.(8K) It's a handfull for anyone. Even the mighty professionals. But, I have no worries for you. You understand riding. You described the feel and feedback like a pro testing a new set-up. They do cut like a razor, and give you so much info of the track surface through the bike. Unreal feedback. It's wy I describe my bike as being like an extension of your body. It feels that way. They communicate with you as well as your own nervous system. I've ridden my mother's Harleys, and it is a completely different animal indeed. I overshot her street on 2 separate bikes from being used to my supersports that stop on a dime.

Sounds like you'll get acquainted with 'er just fine. Don't be too shy. it'll need a little high rpm burst soon. You can just pick a clear stretch of road, and just run up 1st gear. Then shut the throttle. It'll hit about 75-78mph real fast, and when you close the throttle, it'll drop speed like hitting the brakes on a Harley because sportbikes have alot of "engine brake". Just tuck and hold-on. When you sit up it'll be like a brake also. Never speed shift a sportbike. The front end will set-sail.

Keep it on the rubber. It's bike-wk here, and I'm running behind. I gotta meet some folks and go ride.

Oh yeah. People usually only get about 1 or 2yrs out of those batteries. You got a good deal. Batteries always cost me $125.

[jipped genes]

Tweetits a gel battery O2.

thanks for the support guys. I rode again to work today. a hot secretary 15 years my junior wants a ride (she has big boobs) i declined as I am not comfortable yet riding solo let alone with 110# of hotness pressed up against me.

i told her when i feel 100% comfortable i will take her for a ride but not before.

i am going to change the oil this weekend. it is time for the 600 mile change. hard part looks to be taking off the plastic

[horsepwr]

Tweet

its a gel battery O2.

thanks for the support guys. I rode again to work today. a hot secretary 15 years my junior wants a ride (she has big boobs) i declined as I am not comfortable yet riding solo let alone with 110# of hotness pressed up against me.

i told her when i feel 100% comfortable i will take her for a ride but not before.

i am going to change the oil this weekend. it is time for the 600 mile change. hard part looks to be taking off the plastic

There is a couple of tricks to the later R6 model oil change. You have to move the shifter bar that goes from the gear shift lever to the transmission. This is very simple, but what's important is before you loosen and move it out of your way, you'll want to mark it with white out, or a marker...something, so you'll line it back up correctly when you put it back on.
Next is the oil filter. You'll see what I mean the moment you look at where they put it. Go ahead and get one of those black plastic oil filter fittings that fit around the top of the oil filter. They sell them at Wal-Mart. It goes on a 5/8 drive ratchet. You'll want the smallest one. I think they come in 3 sizes. That solves the oil-filter problem. And replace it with a K&N oil filter. They come with a 1/2", or something, nut welded onto them so you can take them right off. They're the only way to go with that pain in the ass squeeze of an oil-filter position on that bike.

[jipped genes]

Tweetoh sweet. good info.

i did want to say that while riding in the evening by the lake sounds awesome i was showered with bugs until i had to stop at a 7-11 and get some paper towels and clean off my visor.

lesson learned. while at the lake i opened it up to about 12,000 rpm and backed off. the power is tremendous and i havent even gotten into the "meat" of the powerband

[horsepwr]

Tweetawesome huh. Being a car guy, and diggin power like you do, I knew you'd appreciate that powerband. I remember the feeling when I held 1st gear out on my 1st fuel injected CBR. The CBR that changed the SS class forever. The '03 600RR. I had to regroup for a minute after I felt that response. I couldn't believe it pulled like that.

12K...That SS scream is sweet too,huh?

[jipped genes]

Tweetmy biggest prob is my back has started hurting since i started riding. i dont go on long rides.

i was at the dealer getting the oil and filter yesterday and they had an FZ6 R and i sat on it. it was much more comfortable than the r6. it was a 09 with 2000 miles they said they would trade straight up. i didnt do it. i want to see it my back can aclimate to the position.

[horsepwr]

Tweetyeah, I used to get a sharp pain between my shoulder blades for yrs, but not anymore.

That FZR has a more up-right riding position. You can achieve this with your R6. Take a look at the stunters, for instance. They almost look like they're riding an enduro. Sittin straight up almost.
You can get risers for the upper tripple-tree to raise your clip-ons(handle-bars). I don't realy know how, or what you need, but you can do this and that will make your riding position much less forward. You can also lower your foot-pegs. So you can achieve a more upright, and relaxed riding position with a sportbike.

My back actually hurts worse sitting straight up, like on a cruiser, because all the bumps transfer right to your back that way. Instead of your arms and legs, such as a sportbike.

My thoughts are to give it a little time to see if it's not just your muscles getting used to the position, like you said. I'm sure that your muscles are somewhat tense during the newness. I think you'll break-in just as the bike. But it might take a few more hundred miles for you to really relax on it. You'll feel yourself relax into a good riding position, and comfort will follow.