Sport Bike Newbie

[AngieD700]

About to work my wallet with a new MT-07. I loved this bike for years, howerever, when I started riding, I went the cruiser route. Now, 8 yrs and 3 Harley’s later, I’m really going to do it. I’ve never ridden a sport bike, I have no clue how different it will be, so any advice would help (taking corners, curves, etc). Coming from the Harley world, im surprisingly a conservative rider, and I heard this bike is super nice to ride. Can’t wait

[DewMan]

First off the sport bike is not going to bite you.

 

The sport bike will lean into corners with less effort than you're used to with a cruiser. It'll take less "muscling" to make directional changes happen.

 

Remember the bike won't go any faster than you allow it with throttle control.

 

Take it slow and smooth at first and you'll acclimate to it in no time.

 

Good luck.

[i28]

If you have the experience and take it easy, the FZ-07 can feel like a calm bike.

Your braking may be a little bit different (more front brakes instead of 50/50 front/back).

Overall, you'll enjoy it. Welcome!

 

[tavisb]

Welcome! The FZ-07 really is an easy bike to ride. Very light and nimble. You'll adjust to it quickly I bet. Just go easy on the throttle in 1st and 2nd. The front end gets...light...easily . 

[AngieD700]

1 hour ago, i28 said:

If you have the experience and take it easy, the FZ-07 can feel like a calm bike.

Your braking may be a little bit different (more front brakes instead of 50/50 front/back).

Overall, you'll enjoy it. Welcome!

 

Oh, good advice on the brakes! I didn’t know that. 

[DewMan]

OH, one last thought. Do Harley's still have a 1up-5down shift pattern? Upshifts on the FZ/MT-07 has a 1down-5up shift pattern like most sport bikes... but not all.

[AngieD700]

Thanks guys for the advice. Right now I’m riding a Softail Slim (1600+cc) & she’s beefy and heavy. Powerful though. I started on a Sportster 883 (about 800cc). Not to sound stupid, but the cc’s between a sport bike and cruiser are different right? The 689cc on the MT07 doesn’t mean it’s less powerful than the Sportster, right? I mean, still have to take it easy on the throttle. 

Either way, I think the MT07 will be great for the riding I do nowadays. Thanks again

[AngieD700]

1 hour ago, DewMan said:

First off the sport bike is not going to bite you. ">

 

The sport bike will lean into corners with less effort than you're used to with a cruiser. It'll take less "muscling" to make directional changes happen.

 

Remember the bike won't go any faster than you allow it with throttle control.

 

Take it slow and smooth at first and you'll acclimate to it in no time.

 

Good luck. ">

Lol...no biting boo...lol.

yes my current Harley is heavy...while it’s a smooth ride you do feel when you make those turns, especially at slower speeds. 

[mjh937]

Looks like the Sportster has less horsepower and about the same torque as the FZ/MT, but it is a lot heavier.  I suspect you will like a more nimble bike. 

[AngieD700]

14 minutes ago, DewMan said:

OH, one last thought. Do Harley's still have a 1up-5down shift pattern? Upshifts on the FZ/MT-07 has a 1down-5up shift pattern like most sport bikes... but not all.

On my Harley’s it’s been 1 down/4-5 Up

[AngieD700]

3 minutes ago, mjh937 said:

Looks like the Sportster has less horsepower and about the same torque as the FZ/MT, but it is a lot heavier.  I suspect you will like a more nimble bike. 

Good deal. I liked the Sportster...fun and easy to ride. I only upgraded bc I was doing more of the all day riding so I needed more comfort. Also, getting on the highway and keeping up with the bigger bikes were more of task with the Sportster. 

I really won’t be riding like that. Just want something for the occasional ride on the backroads and for around town. And, I really really dig this bike

[rider]

Welcome to our world.

Like they said above, take it easy and you'll get the feel of it.  The front wheel can get light in lower gears, so be careful until you get used to it.

It'll be like you lost a lot of weight and had lasik surgery.  You can move a lot easier, quicker and faster and you can see much better.

Also, you'll have to start bathing regularly.

[AngieD700]

21 minutes ago, rider said:

Welcome to our world.

Like they said above, take it easy and you'll get the feel of it.  The front wheel can get light in lower gears, so be careful until you get used to it.

It'll be like you lost a lot of weight and had lasik surgery.  You can move a lot easier, quicker and faster and you can see much better.

Also, you'll have to start bathing regularly.

Lol...all of that...sounds good! I’ll remember about the lower gears. My current bike kicks in first gear, but it’s so heavy, you really don’t feel it. Thanks for the advice!

[AngieD700]

What about mods or accessories. I really didn’t add anything to my Harley but upgraded exhaust. Not really the windshield type, but these sport bikes have these little windshields...are they effective? 

[DewMan]

20 minutes ago, AngieD700 said:

, but these sport bikes have these little windshields...are they effective? 

about as effective as a Band-Aid on a shotgun wound.

[AngieD700]

16 minutes ago, DewMan said:

about as effective as a Band-Aid on a shotgun wound. ">

LOL. Good to know...$$ back in my wallet. I’ll enjoy it stock for a while and take time with the accessories

[norcal616]

suspension is a nice upgrade before any modding...  you may or may not like the light weight bike behaviours over a 1000# cruiser... I wouldnt call the FZ-07 a sports bike(crotchrocket) but rather a supermoto/road legal dirtbike in terms of behaviour...  

 

with that being said, spend some time searching thru thr forums and you will see the FZ-07 is quite a "blank" canvass... from dedicated track bikes to transcontinental machines

[Littlebriar]

I bought a new '17 FZ-07 a couple months ago. I also have a big 1200 BMW sport touring bike. The new bike is a joy to ride. 250 lbs lighter but the same power to weight ratio as the bigger bike. It's quick and nimble and a blast for short rides into town or through the twisties. 

The biggest problem with the bike is a toggle switch action on the throttle. Real jerky because of emission standards. An ecu reflash will fix that. Search this forum for more info. 

This forum is a great resource. Friendly and helpful people who know their stuff here. 

[robbo10]

Not everyone finds the throttle a problem (me incl.).  The seat is not to everyone's comfort (I modded mine). Finally, when you ride it you will have a grin from one ear to the other (guaranteed).

[r1limited]

07 a Sport Bike?

 

 

[bornagainbiker]

2 hours ago, r1limited said:

07 a Sport Bike?

 

 

I know what you mean--seems more like a "standard" motorcycle, but Yamaha Canada does list it as such:

https://www.yamaha-motor.ca/products/list.php?group=MC&catId=79

BTW is that a triple facepalm I see there? 

[intensity_white]

Hey welcome  @AngieD700.  I'm really interested in your P.O.V. on the MT07 versus your Harleys, since I've been curious to try a cruiser for a while.  I'm particularly curious how you think the MT compares to a Sportster. 

 

Anyhow, enjoy the new bike, and my vote for your first upgrade is shorty levers.

[rider]

3 hours ago, r1limited said:

07 a Sport Bike?

 

 

Well, it is for maybe a quarter mile.

My insurance thinks it's a standard or something close.  They classify it as "unclassified sport", so insurance is a lot cheaper than a sport bike.

(And isn't every bike a sport bike when you're leaning, knee out, nailing it through a curve and you're Valentino Rossi-ing (or whoever) it inside your helmet?)

[AngieD700]

21 hours ago, norcal616 said:

suspension is a nice upgrade before any modding...  you may or may not like the light weight bike behaviours over a 1000# cruiser... I wouldnt call the FZ-07 a sports bike(crotchrocket) but rather a supermoto/road legal dirtbike in terms of behaviour...  

 

with that being said, spend some time searching thru thr forums and you will see the FZ-07 is quite a "blank" canvass... from dedicated track bikes to transcontinental machines

 

21 hours ago, norcal616 said:

suspension is a nice upgrade before any modding...  you may or may not like the light weight bike behaviours over a 1000# cruiser... I wouldnt call the FZ-07 a sports bike(crotchrocket) but rather a supermoto/road legal dirtbike in terms of behaviour...  

 

with that being said, spend some time searching thru thr forums and you will see the FZ-07 is quite a "blank" canvass... from dedicated track bikes to transcontinental machines

I’ve been toying with the idea for a while now..I’d go check them out, sit on them and ask about them. I remember the 2014 FZ07 & it was just a little taller than my HD Sportster 883. The handle bars were just as far out, but the 883 had mid controls, while I think the FZ07 are back a little...I’ll have to get used to that. I really don’t want the aggressive riding style of a “super” sport or crotch rocket. To be honest, the naked style is what I love (I mean...lol).

as for the weight, yeah, the MT07 is almost 200lbs lighter than the 883, at 400lbs, I think. My current Softail Slim, is almost 700...and you can feel it.

and yes, even with Harley’s, the first upgrade was suspension...however, my Slim was perfect...to a point that some Harley guys complained it was too “soft” (but my ass never went numb)

[AngieD700]

6 hours ago, robbo10 said:

Not everyone finds the throttle a problem (me incl.).  The seat is not to everyone's comfort (I modded mine). Finally, when you ride it you will have a grin from one ear to the other (guaranteed).

Ok...I’ll def check out seat mods. I’ll def be coming from a seriously comfortable bike...the HD Slim, is beautiful to ride...I’m just ready for something a bit more fun