Had mitral valve replaced 8 weeks ago. Curious and tempted to break some rules..

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Hi

I secretly want a Supersports S but it may be too powerful for me as a newbie.

I think it depends on the person. If you are unable to control yourself then you're probably going to come to grief on any motorcycle. Personally (weight aside) I think that 1200cc bikes are actually really good for learners. For a start they don't feel the need to "wring its neck" for every skerick of power (as they usually have oodles).

The torque allows a rider use of single gear operation, meaning you can focus on corners, timing, entry speeds and just apexing while always having sufficient power to exit and move on (without doing a tap dance with the left foot).

I prefer to focus a learner on
  • good lines
  • not shying at the corner
  • not just twisting the power
  • understanding RPM and gears
bigger bikes with more torque make that easy.

having said that ... I'll come back to that

My Aprilia RS 660 arrived at the dealer this week though!
my God ... that's quite a weapon ... and you're worried about being a learner given too much power on that?

What are you riding nowadays? Do you mostly ride mountains?
Right now I have two bikes; Yamaha T-MAX and KTM Duke 390

The TMAX is presently having itself stripped and some work done (steering head bearing, brake seal kit, probably new thermostat, maybe a fork rebuild ... I'll be doing everything myself). The KTM is just a fun little thing. Its the smallest road bike I've ever had (I've had a YZ125 and some smaller off road things) but its the most fun I've had with my pants on for some time.

Circling back (as promised) the KTM is really a handfull on tight twisty downhills. You need the left foot always moving and the right has its own job on trailing brakes into corners all while playing with levers and throttle. In contrast the T-Max is a peach, I often hurry up other riders on that because the CVT ensures I'm always in the right gear, there is no clutch or gears, rear brake is on the left hand so its easy to trail brakes into a corner. Having said that there's less need (except for transmission slap when transiting from trailing to leading throttle) because largely the CVT is fantastic and the final chain drive never needs tensioning.

With respect to where I ride, well when I lived in the city I had to make a transport part of the ride to get to the mountains. But generally I like to ride places like this:


you'll note that the engine RPM basically remains pretty constant (between 4000 and 5500) due to the CVT.

I live 5 minutes from where the video starts
 
I did encounter other women in rehab who looked at theirs (as did I) as victory badges over their valves.
I must say, I never really had any particular bad feeling towards my bicuspid aortic valve. I knew I'd need surgery at some stage for about 25 years and I was originally told it could be within 5 years or so but it held out for another 25 years and I was still asymptomatic going for the operation. It served me well.
 
Hi



I think it depends on the person. If you are unable to control yourself then you're probably going to come to grief on any motorcycle. Personally (weight aside) I think that 1200cc bikes are actually really good for learners. For a start they don't feel the need to "wring its neck" for every skerick of power (as they usually have oodles).

The torque allows a rider use of single gear operation, meaning you can focus on corners, timing, entry speeds and just apexing while always having sufficient power to exit and move on (without doing a tap dance with the left foot).

I prefer to focus a learner on
  • good lines
  • not shying at the corner
  • not just twisting the power
  • understanding RPM and gears
bigger bikes with more torque make that easy.

having said that ... I'll come back to that


my God ... that's quite a weapon ... and you're worried about being a learner given too much power on that?


Right now I have two bikes; Yamaha T-MAX and KTM Duke 390

The TMAX is presently having itself stripped and some work done (steering head bearing, brake seal kit, probably new thermostat, maybe a fork rebuild ... I'll be doing everything myself). The KTM is just a fun little thing. Its the smallest road bike I've ever had (I've had a YZ125 and some smaller off road things) but its the most fun I've had with my pants on for some time.

Circling back (as promised) the KTM is really a handfull on tight twisty downhills. You need the left foot always moving and the right has its own job on trailing brakes into corners all while playing with levers and throttle. In contrast the T-Max is a peach, I often hurry up other riders on that because the CVT ensures I'm always in the right gear, there is no clutch or gears, rear brake is on the left hand so its easy to trail brakes into a corner. Having said that there's less need (except for transmission slap when transiting from trailing to leading throttle) because largely the CVT is fantastic and the final chain drive never needs tensioning.

With respect to where I ride, well when I lived in the city I had to make a transport part of the ride to get to the mountains. But generally I like to ride places like this:


you'll note that the engine RPM basically remains pretty constant (between 4000 and 5500) due to the CVT.

I live 5 minutes from where the video starts

I wonder if I should move this thread to a different board to keep it relevant. LMK!

I got a Svartpilen 401 now - it has the same frame as the Duck 390. It is such a fun bike and easy to control! It is tempting to get a liter bike as I started to find my 401 a bit slow. But there are 2 considerations that leads me to the RS 660.
1) The unknowns - there are a lot more to learn. This is a case where I dont know what I dont know. According to my rider friends it may be safer to have a few years under my belt before getting too much power.

2) The weight - I am pretty small. Now even moving the 401 (337 lbs) hurts my sternum given the slow recovery. The RS 660 (403 lbs) might be a bit much but I will find out after 12 weeks post surgery. Similar riding route from your video is about 30 minutes from my place. I really miss riding and hope to be strong enough to do it soon.
 
I wonder if I should move this thread to a different board to keep it relevant. LMK!
well, "its your thread and they can cry if they want to .... "
however feel free to PM me if you like

I got a Svartpilen 401 now - it has the same frame as the Duke 390.
Cute bike, I like it, but bang for buck I paid AU$3500 for my 390 and I'll stand by that as fun and pretty similar to the Svartpilen

It is such a fun bike and easy to control! It is tempting to get a liter bike as I started to find my 401 a bit slow.
personally I'd get a 1200 or something, but maybe not a Bandit or a GSX-R (read death trap) and instead something more "torquey" but less "goey" (something street not track). I disagree with doing track style racing on the street (its how people get killed, not always the rider)

But that's perhaps just me (and why at nearly 60 I'm not dead or maimed yet). Thing is that you you can have a go on a 100cc 2 stroke:
1682390399641.png

(a year after OHS #2)
and not be braking the law but maybe break more than wind.


But there are 2 considerations that leads me to the RS 660.
1) The unknowns - there are a lot more to learn.

IMO with that bike it'll be annoying and uncomfortable on the road but breath taking on the track. I did a few track days and found I couldn't afford to go fast enough.

This is a case where I dont know what I dont know. According to my rider friends it may be safer to have a few years under my belt before getting too much power.
agreed

2) The weight - I am pretty small. Now even moving the 401 (337 lbs) hurts my sternum given the slow recovery.
about 167 and 72kg atm here...

The RS 660 (403 lbs) might be a bit much but I will find out after 12 weeks post surgery.

yep ...
Similar riding route from your video is about 30 minutes from my place. I really miss riding and hope to be strong enough to do it soon.

if you rode that bike on that road you'd need a chiropractor after it ... bumpy as all get-out.

I used to pass friends on their GSX-R1000's on the inside on my K100RS because they were getting bent out of shape on head-shaking corrugated corners while the K just sailed over them keeping it all together (with a bit of a flex).

Equally I loved power sliding heated but greasy tires out of a corner on my XJR1200 ... yet with no real fairing kept me at realistic speeds on the roads and didn't make me want to have the wind pressure keep the weight off my wrists.

If peg sparks are you thing then I urge you to stay "track side" ... most of my riding friends are either dead or hung up their boots from accidents.

They were "in it for a good time" I'm in it for a long time. (although my neck is starting to give me troubles).

Remember, just like with medical opinions, you can get a different one elsewhere ;-) So my opinion is just that ... mine.

YMMV
 

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