When did you step up to a larger bike?

Let me say that my first bike was a 1992 Katana 600 only because it was the only bike I could afford.  I hear everyone say,  

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My first bike was a 600cc and yours should be too!

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My first motorized street bike was an old Puch moped, wrode that from 14-16 bur rode dirt since 12.

'81 CB500 18-22
'87 Ninja 600 23-25
'98 ZX-9R 26-30
'03 Z1000 31
'04 ZX-6R 32-present  

Bike displacement means [censored] all, it's all depends on the kind of a person that you are, you dont have to be experienced to ride an R1 or Gix 1000, you just have to be mature and careful.  

TheCrown,
With all do respect, that's a foolish and naive statement.  

I have been riding sportbikes for only four years. My first was a '99 CBR600F4 that was stolen last summer, now I have a 2001 CBR600F4i that I love very much.
When I ride with my buds that have liter bikes I can't help but notice how much more powerful they are and figured that I would get one myself someday.
I see from your post RFB that you have already had the big bikes and went back to a 600. If you would, please tell me/us why. You may save a life or at least some money.  
Thanks  

yeah I've come down from a 700 to a 600....
of course it was an 85 700 interceptor
to an 05 cbr 600f4i.  

i would have to agree with RFB on TheCrowns statement.  you really need some good experience to handle one of those liter bikes responsibly.  

Well, I've been riding since I was about 12, cruisers and touring bikes. I rode an '85 Goldwing back and forth to high school when I was 16 (how odd is that?) BUT I just recently (this year) found out what REALLY riding was all about, when I got my first sportbike, the 1998 Triumph Speed Triple, 885cc.
Sport riding is so much more challenging and fun, to me anyways, because you have to THINK about EVERYTHING in order for your riding to improve.
The way I know I'm ready for a bigger bike, and this is the only thing that I'm going off of, is because when I roll on the throttle hard out of a second gear corner as I stand the bike up, the amount of drive I get is becoming somewhat unsatisfying to me. The 885 Triumph triple engine feels sort of like a weak 600cc inline four with a little more torque down low, IMHO. When I honestly look at my street riding as a whole, I feel like a more powerful bike is going to be due shortly. My bike is just starting to feel weak to me. I'll probably give the Triple another year or so and then see what's out there.
I wouldn't be able to get something else now anyway because I can't make my mind up between the 2005 ZX6R and the 2005 Speed Triple.  

First of all read this, this guy sums up starting on a smaller bike better than I've ever seen.

http://forums.sportrider.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=1805&an=0&page=0#1805

Second, to answer your question of why I went back to a 600, it was several reasons. Mostly though I wanted to get back to something nimble and light. The power of the new 1000's is amazing but it doesn't make you any faster except in a straight line. The skill level it takes to really use the power and drive hard out of the corners is more than most have. I do a few track days a year and I'm faster on the 600. It takes so much throttle control to be fast on the track with a 1000. More than I have.

600's have come a long way and my 636 has nearly the power to weight as my ZX9R did, and better than the Z1000. Small bikes kick ass dude, I decided to ride for myself instead of what I thought I needed. As the asaying goes, I'd rather be fast on a slow bike than slow on a fast bike. I've smoked ZX-10's at the drag strip, 'nuff said!  

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TheCrown,
With all do respect, that's a foolish and naive statement.

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To generalize, the people who believe that usually don't give a *** about riding well.

 

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Well, I've been riding since I was about 12, cruisers and touring bikes. I rode an '85 Goldwing back and forth to high school when I was 16 (how odd is that?) BUT I just recently (this year) found out what REALLY riding was all about, when I got my first sportbike, the 1998 Triumph Speed Triple, 885cc.
Sport riding is so much more challenging and fun, to me anyways, because you have to THINK about EVERYTHING in order for your riding to improve.
The way I know I'm ready for a bigger bike, and this is the only thing that I'm going off of, is because when I roll on the throttle hard out of a second gear corner as I stand the bike up, the amount of drive I get is becoming somewhat unsatisfying to me. The 885 Triumph triple engine feels sort of like a weak 600cc inline four with a little more torque down low, IMHO. When I honestly look at my street riding as a whole, I feel like a more powerful bike is going to be due shortly. My bike is just starting to feel weak to me. I'll probably give the Triple another year or so and then see what's out there.
I wouldn't be able to get something else now anyway because I can't make my mind up between the 2005 ZX6R and the 2005 Speed Triple.

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The power of the new 1000's is amazing but it doesn't make you any faster except in a straight line. I do a few track days a year and I'm faster on the 600. It takes so much throttle control to be fast on the track with a 1000.

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Exactly. And it takes a lot more than just throttle control to be able to truly ride a 1000 quickly. What's lost in much of discussions like this is "Why 'move up' to a larger bike?" It's not as if "moving up" to a literbike is some rite of passage or requirement of manhood in sportbike riding (although I guess some see it that way). Learn to get the most out of your machine, which is much easier on a smaller bike.  It's much more satisfying in the end, when you find your buddies on literbikes getting left behind at a track day.  

4 years on a gsxr 750 and 2 on a gsxr 1000...it definitely takes a certain level of respect for the larger bikes because they CAN get a way from you if you're not careful...my theory is, if you're gonna trade up to a bigger bike eventually why not just go ahead and buy it  

Exactly--in fact I've been thinking about selling my Gixxer 1000 and getting a 600 because I *would like* something lighter and more "flickable".

With liter bikes it's slow in/fast out.  With 600s it's fast in/fast out--all about corner speed.

The reason I stepped up to the 1000 is because I wanted the latest and greatest technology and it was on sale for $9000 new in 2003.  What a deal! [the dealer was over-stocked]

But my wife has me trapped.  She won't let me trade for a "smaller" bike, and if I sell my Gixxer she won't let me buy a new one.  Damn!  I didn't read the fine print on the marriage certificate!  

That's true too--but you have to be mature/responsible enough to handle a liter bike.  I can tell just by looking at someone if they are a squid or not.  I think the salesmen at the dealers know too--and they should dissuade such people.