z900 as my First Bike

[xRuohan]

I'm currently searching for my first bike and I'm interested in buying a z900. At first, it's not even one of my choices at first because of its excessive power unsuitable for beginners but I read that it has power modes that will restrict its power; specifically rain mode that will restrict its power to 60% (if I understand it correctly, z900 have 125hp power, but in rain mode, it will only have around 75hp) which is arguably suitable for beginners. I think that I can use it as safely as a beginner if I only use rain mode and I think I'm responsible enough to not go beyond my skills. I will probably only use it at full power mode after 5000miles of riding it at rain mode. And from my research, the power delivery of the z900 is smooth.

I know this doesn't matter much, but I have 1 year riding experience on a 125cc bike, so I believe that I at least have the basics down. Is it fine to buy the z900 in my situation?

[BartZ]

Sure, why not, if you like the bike go for it. It will only go as fast as you want it to go, so if your not a hot head, respect the bike and gradually get used to the power you will be fine. 

[ras]

Originally Posted by xRuohan

Is it fine to buy the z900 in my situation?

Low seat height
Extremely light clutch pull
Smooth throttle with rider modes
ABS brakes with a wooden feel

IMO the Z is a great bike for early on in your motorcycle journey if you have any experience at all. 

[Pureb]

If the Z would have been my first bike (not counting the 125), I think I wouldn't be here to tell the tale.
I'm lretty sure you take it out of rain mode soth the first 1000km.

Why not go for an used 600 first, get some miles under your belt and go for the 9 after that?

The 2006 CB600F that I drove as my first bike was very forgiving in the lower rpms whilst still having enough power above 6k. (98hp)

[KZ900]

I personally went for a CB500F as a first bigger bike, although the Z900 was ordered fairly soon after (long delivery times these days), I get mine in April, black with green frame, can’t wait.

[NineseveN]

A year on a 125cc means nothing, that's like saying you have a long piece of string. How long is long? How many miles/kilometres on the 125cc? Under what conditions (highway, street, off-road, etc...)?

The z900, while tame compared to a more aggressively tuned sportbike of similar displacement, is still a beast. It's not even necessarily the power that's an issue. Assuming you have the discipline to not go full whiskey on the throttle and can control both the bike and your own urges, it's still a heavy motorcycle. Low speed maneuvers aren't naturally easy on the Z900 the way they are on something like an SV650 or even one of the smaller Z bikes (pretty much rode the wheels off of two SVs before I moved up to something bigger myself). You can limp around in Rain Mode on the Z if the power is the issue, but there is a whole hell of a lot more to controlling a motorcycle beyond just the throttle. I don't think it makes a very good first real bike. People pick up some bad habits and really poor form trying to handle a bike they're not quite ready to control and that leads to a lower skilled rider in the long term. That leads to avoidable drops and crashes.

For you, a lot of it depends on the mileage you have on the 125cc.

[zed9]

The z900 is way more bike than a 125 but for a big bike it is very easy to ride. The power delivery is extremely smooth and rain mode, I guess, would help. But the big factors are your size as the Z is heavier and more cumbersome than a 125. Can you handle pulling it out of the shed or riding slowly in a parking lot?

The acceleration on these bikes is addictive and even the most mature and responsible of us cannot avoid the occasional blast into triple digits. This is where riding experience comes into play. Knowing when and where to have fun. So is your head in the right place?

Too much bike too soon can be detrimental to your riding hobby but if you're responsible enough there are worse choices out there. The z900 is doable for a newer rider but not an inexperienced one.
I believe you can learn a lot about riding on a 125 or even a scooter. Most dangers come from other vehicles in crowded situations, so if you have that down pat and won't try to keep up with faster riders then.. maybe.

[Pharo92]

As someone who's 2nd bike is the z900, I gotta say I'm glad I waited and started with a smaller bike.
The first reason is that smaller bikes are cheaper and hurt less when you tip them (financially). Most people dump their first bike simply due to inexperience, myself included.

The second is that it gave me time to learn the basics and go through some real world situations. Learning to rev match without a slipper, clutch control, good throttle control, emergency braking without ABS, etc. I'd rather beat on a cheap bike learning how to ride a motorcycle in the real world than an expensive one.

And third is that I didn't know what kind of bike I wanted and ended switching. I started on a ninja 400 because I thought I wanted a sport bike, it was relatively cheap, and easier to find. Unfortunately it just wasn't what I wanted and after a while I realized that I wanted something a little more ergonomic. Luckily, starter bikes sell easily so after some research I decided on a naked and was able to switch types without too much hassle. The first bike is a guessing game on what you'll want for your body and riding style, and a $10,000 bike is quite a leap of faith.

Welcome to the world of bikes! Let us know what you decide to do either way and keep a minimum of one wheel on the ground 

[MaverickAus]

Originally Posted by Pharo92

As someone who's 2nd bike is the z900, I gotta say I'm glad I waited and started with a smaller bike.
The first reason is that smaller bikes are cheaper and hurt less when you tip them (financially). Most people dump their first bike simply due to inexperience, myself included.

The second is that it gave me time to learn the basics and go through some real world situations. Learning to rev match without a slipper, clutch control, good throttle control, emergency braking without ABS, etc. I'd rather beat on a cheap bike learning how to ride a motorcycle in the real world than an expensive one.

And third is that I didn't know what kind of bike I wanted and ended switching. I started on a ninja 400 because I thought I wanted a sport bike, it was relatively cheap, and easier to find. Unfortunately it just wasn't what I wanted and after a while I realized that I wanted something a little more ergonomic. Luckily, starter bikes sell easily so after some research I decided on a naked and was able to switch types without too much hassle. The first bike is a guessing game on what you'll want for your body and riding style, and a $10,000 bike is quite a leap of faith.

Welcome to the world of bikes! Let us know what you decide to do either way and keep a minimum of one wheel on the ground 

Good post

[zed9]

Originally Posted by Pharo92

As someone who's 2nd bike is the z900, I gotta say I'm glad I waited and started with a smaller bike.
The first reason is that smaller bikes are cheaper and hurt less when you tip them (financially). Most people dump their first bike simply due to inexperience, myself included.

The second is that it gave me time to learn the basics and go through some real world situations. Learning to rev match without a slipper, clutch control, good throttle control, emergency braking without ABS, etc. I'd rather beat on a cheap bike learning how to ride a motorcycle in the real world than an expensive one.

And third is that I didn't know what kind of bike I wanted and ended switching. I started on a ninja 400 because I thought I wanted a sport bike, it was relatively cheap, and easier to find. Unfortunately it just wasn't what I wanted and after a while I realized that I wanted something a little more ergonomic. Luckily, starter bikes sell easily so after some research I decided on a naked and was able to switch types without too much hassle. The first bike is a guessing game on what you'll want for your body and riding style, and a $10,000 bike is quite a leap of faith.

Welcome to the world of bikes! Let us know what you decide to do either way and keep a minimum of one wheel on the ground 

+2 👍