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300cc to 1000cc

56K views 85 replies 33 participants last post by  cruizin  
#1 ·
Do u guys thing jumping from the 300 to the zx-10r a year or two down the road is a good thing to do. I dont wanna upgrade to 600cc then spend money again to go to the liter bike.


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#2 ·
I've spoke to several experienced riders in my area, and they said it would be a bad idea to jump that far up. It's better to progress from a 250/300cc to a 600cc then to a 1000cc. I tend to agree with them because I have sat on a 600cc bike before I got my Ninja 300...totally different feel. So I can only imagine a jump that big to a 1000cc bike.

All in all, I would say slowly progress to a 1000cc bike, especially if you don't have a lot of riding experience like me.
 
#4 ·
I have a 300 and my best friend just picked up a brand new 2013 bmw 1000rr, I will tell you I will never own a 1000 after riding that for 10 minutes. If you want to live till 30, I would stick to a 600 at best, But if break neck acceleration and power wheeling through each gear , you'll only ever get into 2nd ( does 90~mph in 1st.) then hell go for it. If i'm 19 and am telling you its a bad idea, then that should say something . Figure the time it takes at minimum wage to buy a 300, then a 600, then a 1000 is probably a lot shorter than the kidney donor wait list. Life is progression, start small and learn , then upgrade. CAN you get a 1000 after a 300, of course, I just wouldn't advise it. I have more fun leaving all my 600cc friends in the dust in the canyons than they have leaving me in the dust on the freeway, but if you must dance with the devil , just make sure you keep on key. Wear your gear, stay within your limits. and pray you have a common blood type. Stay with a 300, ride it, track it , eat shit a few times, and then decide if you want to be hitting the ground going faster,harder and more expensively. Shoot go ride a 1000 , then you wont even need to read this reply to tell you it isn't the best idea.
 
#6 ·
Once you go into the supersports I wouldn't think there is ridiculously amounts of difference. 600 and 1000 will both be really twitchy on the throttle and both will have more than enough power to kill you. The ZXs have power modes so use that when you first get on one. Comfort is another factor. The 600 turns you into a pretzel where the 1000 is more spread out. Ride the crap out of the 300. Take it to tracks and ride for a few years before upgrading. Most riders won't use the 300 to it's full potential.
 
#9 ·
True.....but you cant ride a 300cc bike as fast as a 1000cc bike which is where most get into trouble after upgrading.

Jump on a 1000cc bike that in second gear does the top speed of your 300cc bike.........you can very easily get carried away without realising it.

That being said, its all up to the maturity level and restraint of the owner I guess.
 
#10 ·
I would suggest that you take your 300 to a number of motorcycle schools and learn how to ride on the small bike. You might even do a few track days to increase your skills. If you concentrate on becoming a more proficient rider moving to the liter bike will be no problem. I have probably owned more than 50 motorcycles in my life and one thing stands true.
It is a lot more fun to ride a slow bike fast than it is to ride a fast bike slow. Learn on the 300 and prepare yourself for the larger stuff.
 
#11 ·
I was always told

"It's easier to learn to ride a slow bike fast, than a fast bike slow."

This statements holds so so true. I've been on some very fast bikes (ZX-10r, ZX-12r, Busas) and they belong in complete different categories. They truly are superbikes, not the casual sport bikes we're used to coming from like the 300. They ride completely different and handle equally as different. Enjoy the 300 for a bit, then experiment with 600s and 1000s and make the best judgement call for you. Stay safe, ride safe brother.
 
#12 ·
On a race track, many if not all low experience riders might actually be able to post lower lap times on a 600 or even a 300 than they could on a 1000 cc bike.
There was an article in some bike magazine a long time ago when the Yamaha R1 was just on the scene, it was a comparison test between the R1 and the 600cc R6 on a race track. Lap times were compared with four different riders, a beginner, an experienced rider, an amateur racer, and a professional racer.
The only rider who could post lower lap times with the 1000 cc bike than the 600 cc bike was the pro, the rest actually were faster on the 600.
The lighter and more nimble 600 with its softer power gave them more confidence in the turns and time lost in a turn by being overly cautious can not be made up with extra speed on the straights.

Here's an example that illustrates how time lost going slow can not be made up by going fast.
Let's say you live two miles from work, the first mile has a strictly enforced 20 mph speed limit and the second mile has a strictly enforced 60 mph speed limit.
Now lets say the police gives you a choice, you may either go 30 mph on the first mile but you must strictly obey the 60 mph speed limit on the second mile, or you must strictly obey the 20 mph speed limit on the first mile and you can go 120 mph on the second mile, but you can't do both, it's one or the other.
Which saves more time?
The answer is the first choice. Going 30 instead of 20 mph lets you cover that first mile in two minutes instead of three minutes and the second mile at 60 is covered in one minute, turning the original four minute trip into a three minute trip for a net savings of one minute.

Going 20 for the first mile means it takes three minutes to cover the first mile and then going 120 mph means it takes 30 seconds to cover the second mile for a net savings of only 30 seconds.

How fast would you have to go on the second mile to get the same time savings as going 30 mph on the first mile, well you would have to turn a one minute mile into a zero minute mile, the speed of light in other words.

This is something that is very counter intuitive, especially to the left lane crowd who drive like they are on their way to a fire, and then when they park their cars, just casually walk the rest of the way to the office instead of running as fast as they can.
 
#21 ·
If your just riding the streets with the bike there is no reason to get a liter bike. Most 600cc bikes will accelerate almost as fast as a liter will.

The only reason to buy a liter is for drag races, if your taking it to a road race course don't even think about it because until you get to the advance group your going to have 600 smoke your ass in the corners anyways.
 
#22 ·
I think literbikes have a reason to exist, not everyone can fit on a 600 easily since it's so cramped, and not everyone wants to rev up high to get that nice torque. The 1,000 offer more torque throughout the powerband instead of having to rev up (kinda like the 300 vs a 600).

Now don't bring up the whole 'if you don't wanna rev, why get a sports bike' argument- lots of people want the look and feel of sportsbikes, you can't really take that freedom away from them.

What I do believe though, is we need to tighten on our licensing laws- it's ridiculous how many squids get their license and jump on a literbike or 'busa and smash it up along with themselves and someone's family car. I believe Europe got that part right with the staged licensing for cc's, riders shouldn't be allowed to just get a 600 or 1,000 without passings tests or prior experience.
 
#28 ·
just saying I don't think my 600 ever saw 5th gear.
Then you must be getting very poor gas mileage


If you really think you need a 1000 your only kidding yourself. You just want a 1000
If you're gonna start saying 'NEEEEEEEEEEEED' then you don't NEEEEEEEEED any more than a 250-400cc's. Get rid of your 600 RIGHT NOW because you don't NEEEEEEEEEEEEEED it :rolleyes:
 
#40 ·
I've had a 600, then a 600+1100, then an 1100, now an 1100 and a 300.

I purchased the 300 so that I can actually use it on a daily basis and get something out of it. The Ducati is a pain in the ass to ride, it isn't comfortable, does not want to go the speed limit and costs a lot to operate. The 300 should be the exact opposite. Once I get in the grove with the new bike, I will likely end up making the Ducati a track only bike as that's really the only place it should be.

Granted, I will never sell my Duc and I do not regret purchasing it but anyone who says they "need" more power on the street or that a 600 doesn't have usable street power is talking out their ass.

I say, know what you're getting into when you buy a certain CC bike, live with it and don't use the "gaining experience" excuse to get rid of it because you'll likely find yourself wanting the 300 back after you get 10 speeding tickets, wreck the 600, see your insurance rates and get older.

But, to each their own. If you want the bike, buy the bike, just don't come crying to me when you crash and burn.

Dave