Anyone own a street bike (Crotch Rocket)???

[Branuss04]

I've always wanted one but had a friend die on one and had a hard time thinking of owning one after that.  I'm ready to let go and started looking around, but i'm lost.  There are so many choices.  

I've been riding dirt bikes for the past 8 years so i know how to ride.

I don't need a 1000cc bike that can do 0-60 in 3.9 seconds.  I'm looking more around the 600-800 class.

I'm a tall guy (6-6) so one main concern is bar/seat height.  I'm looking for a bike that is comfortable for taller people that isn't going to cause me back pain after 1hr of riding.

So does anybody have bikes, what kind?  Any thoughts?  Thanks guys.

[-HAWK-]

03-08 Kawasaki ZX-6R, im 6'2 and I loved mine. Very fast and handles better than any 1000 I ever rode. I recently sold mine, with a child on the way I didnt want the risk anymore.

[AnthonyRSS]

600 sports are fast.  Really really fast.  Think 1/4 times in the 10s.  I would look for a Suzuki SV650.  Fast enough but more power down low.  

[SPEEDBEAD.]

Learned how to ride a bike on a Suzuki Katana (600) and now I ride a Harley Low Rider.

At 6'6", you are going to be cramped on just about any bike out there without some modifications. I believe the cramped feeling will be further enhanced on a crotch rocket.

If you are dead set on getting a ricer, look into getting a used or new Hayabusa. That is about the biggest rocket you are going to find. Those bikes are a bit overkill in the engine department, but the ride is definitely more comfortable than a lot of bikes (other than cruisers, of course).

Save up and buy a Harley. Hell, you live in CA....You could ride it just about every day and save yourself some serious gas money too.

[5bass]

I dont own one but I rode a friends Hurricane 1000 for 6 hrs to the beach one year. It wasn't until the 2nd day there that I could stand up straight. I didnt ride it back home.

[fourbizz]

I would get an Aprilia or a  GSXR 750 i. Dont get one dude. My best friend that is a fireman refers to those as job security.

[illumastorm]

i have had 2 crotchrockets in my time a yamaha YZF600 & a honda CBR1000. honda was way more comfortable to ride, but the yamaha was just as fast but was a pain if i rode it for a long ways. i have had cruisers also, honda shadow 500 & 700, harley 883 sportster. all 3 are way more comfortable to ride short or long trips. if your 6'6 then a crotchrocket will not be very comfortable.

also remember that a crotchrocket will give you head games, meaning you will eventually start riding it hard & fast, that is what they are made for, and will end up in the hospital. i had a friend that did because he got too cocky on his and didn't respect the power they make and lost control. those things make lots of power and they are a handful to control.

so simply put, get yourself a cruiser. you will be more satisfied then you might think.

[Olebiker]

I was driving home yesterday when a guy passed me on a 1970s era Honda 350.  I had forgotten how small those things were.

He was right on the bumper of the car in front of him and I thought to myself that he could not possibly stop in an emergency situation.  Sure enough, the car in front of him came to a quick stop and the guy on the Honda ran into the rear of the car.  

We all stopped to see if he was hurt and it took about six witnesses to convince him that he was the one who screwed up.  

[moby bass]

Motorcycle...been there...done that...no more

[Fisher of Men]

Crotch rockets. . . well, you don't want to get me started.  A young man at my church was killed on one a couple of years ago and left a four year old daughter without a dad.  I really don't see ANY need for these on the streets.  Around here, most of them are operated by irresponsible idiots! (excessive speed, in and out of traffic, wheelies at 70 mph, cutting off cars, etc.) IMHO.  If I were to ride (and there has been some desire to do so), I'd go with a cruiser as well.  I would have no desire to ride around all bent over and crouched down all the time.  I also think you'd get a little more respect from the driving community on a cruiser.  I have to admit, I don't think too highly of crotch rocket riders due to their reputation (I bet you couldn't have guessed that already).  

Sorry if I sound so brash, but seeing that little girl come to church each week without her dad really makes me have a bad feeling about these cycles.  She's never been the same little girl since he passed.

Just my .02!

-FOM

[J Francho]

It sounds like its a driver issue, not a machine issue to me.  "Crotch Rockets" drivers are bad, except in the case of the orphaned daughter, which its the bike's fault?  A tragedy is a tragedy, regardless of the circumstances surrounding it.  People do stupid things all the time with any number of things.  This includes "crotch rockets."  If we get rid of everything that's potentially dangerous, there will be nothing fun left for the rest of us that are responsible and safe.  I imagine someone somewhere is thinking the same thing as you about a stupid bass boat.  its all about perspective.

[-HAWK-]

It sounds like its a driver issue, not a machine issue to me. "Crotch Rockets" drivers are bad, except in the case of the orphaned daughter, which its the bike's fault? A tragedy is a tragedy, regardless of the circumstances surrounding it. People do stupid things all the time with any number of things. This includes "crotch rockets." If we get rid of everything that's potentially dangerous, there will be nothing fun left for the rest of us that are responsible and safe. I imagine someone somewhere is thinking the same thing as you about a stupid bass boat. its all about perspective.

Well said. The biggest fear I had when I used to ride was all of the horrible drivers on the road. That is the biggest cause of accidents on motorcycles. The main reason I got rid of the bike was that it was becoming to dangerous to continue riding my motorcycle. South Florida is loaded with blind senior citzens, and very aggressive drivers. Not a good mix to throw any type of motorcycle into.

[SPEEDBEAD.]

JHAWK, I agree about some of the Florida drivers (anywhere, honestly).

I had a friend get mangled up pretty bad in Daytona a couple years ago.  When he got out of the hosptial down there, we brought him back in a motorhome....body cast and all.

[J Francho]

It sounds like its a driver issue, not a machine issue to me. "Crotch Rockets" drivers are bad, except in the case of the orphaned daughter, which its the bike's fault? A tragedy is a tragedy, regardless of the circumstances surrounding it. People do stupid things all the time with any number of things. This includes "crotch rockets." If we get rid of everything that's potentially dangerous, there will be nothing fun left for the rest of us that are responsible and safe. I imagine someone somewhere is thinking the same thing as you about a stupid bass boat. its all about perspective.

Well said. The biggest fear I had when I used to ride was all of the horrible drivers on the road. That is the biggest cause of accidents on motorcycles. The main reason I got rid of the bike was that it was becoming to dangerous to continue riding my motorcycle. South Florida is loaded with blind senior citzens, and very aggressive drivers. Not a good mix to throw any type of motorcycle into.

I know what you mean. Yikes, some really should be getting a ride. Problem for them, is their kids may not make time to take them out to do what needs to be done.

Back to what I originally said. I don't want to sound crude, and I should clarify - we all make mistakes. The margin of error with something like a high performance motorcycle is much smaller than, say with a cruiser. You need training and time in a controlled environment to really learn how to drive one of these machines. I personally won't, despite having driven other vehicles at very high speeds in track situations. Mostly because the consequences of ANY mistake come at a much higher price. In that sense I can see where Fisher was coming from. Hope that makes sense. I still say hate the driver, not the machine though.

[dallas0996]

I've ridden street bikes since I was 15, started riding dirt just a few years ago;  I have raced "crotch rockets" or whatever you want to call them, ridden on the street in multiple states, rebuilt them, and even worked in a few shops...

For someone your size and apparent demeanor (as well as your state) I would recommend a Sport Touring style... specifically a VFR (V4) or TL1000....V twin with usable torque, even BMW (flat twin) and if you got the $$ Ducati.  V or flat twins are hands down more useable and comfortable to ride on the street since you don't have to constantly change gears to stay in your usable powerband....plus the sport touring bikes will give you more otptions for comfort in dealing with your height and leg length.

Think of it in terms of dirtbikes, since you ride those....2 strokes are alot of fun but you gotta wind 'em up and constantly be shifting up or down to stay in the power band; whereas with the newer 4 strokes you can stay in 2nd and putt around or really get it if you need to....

[TournyFish001]

For me the enjoyment of a high performace street bike does not out weigh the danger.  To each there own, just know that no matter how good of a rider you are, you will never be able to make up for the unpredictable taffic around you.  Be very careful

[AnthonyRSS]

Just stay out of the way.  Check this out.

http://www.hsvracing.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=22376

[Fisher of Men]

Guys,

I, in no way, wanted to make false accusations and call all crotch rocket riders idiots. That's just the perception around here.

The dad in question was accelerating beyond 120 mph (a police officer witnessrd him racing another and flashed his lights at them) before hitting a car who pulled out on the other side of a gentle hill (if he was going the speed limit, she would have been in the clear).

If someone wants to go that speed (car or bike), they need to take it to a track. Riders around here are always talking about how drivers don't respect them. I respect the cruisers because of their track record and their example. The rocket riders have done little but turn my opinion in the other direction. I guess if you bought one, you should know your limits and practice the golden rule while riding one. Respect is a two-way street.

You guys are right about "hating the rider, not the bike" (and I'm not hating anyone though, just their riding habits). I may have been out of line a bit in my vent and apologize for offending anyone who read my post.

-Fisher

[Masshole Mike]

Here's my ole girl, gone since last April unfortunately.

I'll agree with whomever it was that mentioned looking into a Suzuki SV650. They're a V-Twin so you'll have more low-end grunt than high-end screamin-fast power, but they're still fun to ride and offer a slightly more upright riding position. An easy mod to make them even more comfortable is to remove the stock clip-ons and mount dirtbike handle bars in their place. Just off the top of my head I can count 4 friends that all have SV's and every one rides with dirtbike bars. MUCH more comfortable.

[thetr20one]

I own a 2003 GSX-R 600. It has many mods. It has been lowered,polished frame, K&N filters, larger injectors, Yoshi fullheader pipe pipe and carbon fiber muffler, recalbraited computer, and it makes about 130 horsepower, about 30 over stock and weighs 328 lbs. What people don't understand is this and many other bike like mine "crotch rockets" were designed to be driven over 140 mph. My bike at 130 mph still feels like you could go much faster without being out of control. I have been to 157 and didn't think much of it. I also have a 02 YZ 250. Thats a fun bike. I will post a pic of my gixxer tomorrow and the yammie soon. I keep it at my sisters house because they own some land and have some place to ride it. IMO it is the operators responsibility to maintain control and know their limits. My boat is very dangerous too ya know but, I still drive it fast!

[SPEEDBEAD.]

I own a 2003 GSX-R 600. It has many mods. It has been lowered,polished frame, K&N filters, larger injectors, Yoshi fullheader pipe pipe and carbon fiber muffler, recalbraited computer, and it makes about 130 horsepower, about 30 over stock and weighs 328 lbs. What people don't understand is this and many other bike like mine "crotch rockets" were designed to be driven over 140 mph. My bike at 130 mph still feels like you could go much faster without being out of control. I have been to 157 and didn't think much of it. I also have a 02 YZ 250. Thats a fun bike. I will post a pic of my gixxer tomorrow and the yammie soon. I keep it at my sisters house because they own some land and have some place to ride it. IMO it is the operators responsibility to maintain control and know their limits. My boat is very dangerous too ya know but, I still drive it fast!

I am sure you are very good at riding a bike, but unless you hit 157 on a track or strip somewhere.....

Well, lets just say you were needlessly putting people in danger.  Least of the concern would be yourself.

The reaction time needed to make an evasive maneuver at 157MPH is pretty much super-human, and as far as I know, your name is not Clark Kent.  

[AnthonyRSS]

I think most people that hate on those who have driven bikes fast have never been on a fast bike.  A 130hp 400lb bike will do 130mph in 10sec, and stop faster than that.  The time spent at high speeds is minimized when you can get there in a heartbeat.  

Not condoning driving like an ass, but its not ALWAYS bad.

[TournyFish001]

Anything over 85mph on a public road/HWY/Int. is rediculous- I am only 30 not like an old man and an ex-racer.  Going that fast is simply crazy and wreckless on any public transit system, I agree with speedbead.

[AnthonyRSS]

Haven't ridden a sport bike, have you? Any of the liter bikes will do 85mph IN FIRST GEAR. They are INSANE. They don't really cruise until about 115 or so.

It is not okay to ride squiddly. It is not always wrong to ride fast though. When the only life you risk is your own, its not that big of a deal.

Summary- Driving recklessly=bad.

Riding 'spirited'= not bad.

There is a time and place for those things. If people can see you do it, it isn't the right time or place.

Still not condoning riding like an ***.

[thetr20one]

Haven't ridden a sport bike, have you? Any of the liter bikes will do 85mph IN FIRST GEAR. They are INSANE. They don't really cruise until about 115 or so.

It is not okay to ride squiddly. It is not always wrong to ride fast though. When the only life you risk is your own, its not that big of a deal.

Summary- Driving recklessly=bad.

Riding 'spirited'= not bad.

There is a time and place for those things. If people can see you do it, it isn't the right time or place.

Still not condoning riding like an ***.

Never have put anyone else in danger. I ride responsibly and don't always ride around over 130. I don't weave in and out of traffic or go much faster than the flow of traffic if there is any. I am either out in front of others or behind. I try to avoid packs of 3500lb vehicles. I have been riding on the dirt since 5 and have had a "rocket" since of some sort since 17. I try to be courteous and responsible. I have not got plates for my bike this year because things in my life right now have taken me out of the proper mindset to ride. I have a wife and daughter and am not stupid enough to go out of my way and hurt myself or others.

I see people riding like ***** all day and just don't get it! My previous bike was a 02 gixxer 1000 and I did alot more dumb stuff on it than the 600. I traded down to KEEP me from doing too much of the dumb things. Every bike I have ever owned has been insanely fast.