Starting on a 1000cc
I thought I'd give my two cents on starting on a 1000cc given that's what I did so others can get some prospective.
Background: I was 23 (2 years ago) when I got my 2021 CBR 1000RR. No dirt bike experience, just a MSF course. I spent over a year reading books like Twist of The Wrist and Total Control, watching channels like moto jitsu and DanDanTheFireman.
Reading books and watching hundreds of hours of sportbike and motorcycle related content only makes you an armchair expert. This I know. And I knew the machine I was getting was going to be able to do things I could only dream of matching. And I think thats where the value comes in. Prep work won't make you good at riding, but it gives you an idea just how bad you might be when you start, and lets you understand how much you don't know before you make a mistake.
With all that said, lets get one thing out of the way. 1000cc does not equal instant death, nuclear explosion, mash potatoes on the highway. The bike by itself will not hurt you. So what does?
Arrogance, clout chasing, and pride. And really. The first two are just different expressions of pride. Remember when I said studying these machines gives you a clue into how much you don't know? Well that's what saved me. How many times have I had a bad crash? 0. How many times has my wisdom from learning about riding saved me from making a bone headed decision? I can't count that high.
These machines are dangerous because THEY don't have limits and they do exactly what you tell them to. Well, they do have limits, but you aren't going to get near them anytime soon. You need to fear them.
But thats not even the main reason why I might say don't get one. The main reason is actually money. Insurance? Forget it. Go ahead, get a quote for how much full coverage on a newer 1000cc is if you didnt pay cash. I've seen some crazy quotes. Upkeep? Tires? Parts? The fancy oil? Fairings for when you eventually drop it for the first time? $$$$$$. I'm an engineer, and I can barely afford to keep the thing in top shape given how expensive groceries and my house payment is.
Also, they're easy to steal. Two guys jacked up on animal pump and C4 could lift it in the back of a truck and boom, its gone. Would you rather lose a 3k 400cc? Or a 15k 1000cc to theft? Can you secure it? Or does it sit outside your apartment?
So is it worth it? I don't know. It's fun, its powerful, its a riot when you touch knee for the first time on a mountain road, but I'd be hard pressed to advise anyone to make such a financial commitment before really knowing if thats the experience they want. The bike demands a lot from you if you want to ride it correctly. Mentally, and physically. You have to build the muscles to ride them with the correct posture in order to not mess up your steering and throttle control.
Only get one if you can 100% commit to truly pushing yourself to be the best rider out on the road, and that doesn't mean the fatest, that means the wisest. Cunning, smart, and to a degree, safe. Coming home with the bike and your body in one piece is mission objective #1. Showing off, trying to drag knee, popping a wheelie are all secondary objectives. If they seriously risk compromising objective #1? Don't do it. Don't let your pride control the ride.