Just a quick hello

I think, personally, that both the Speed Triple and the CB1000R have reviewers reporting them as 'hooligan' bikes, which would suggest that they want to wheelie and stoppie all the time. Personally I thought that the 600 Hornet was a bit too much for a new rider, and I honestly never expected to have any members on here saying that they were gonna have a CB1000R as their first bike, but while I've never ridden anything bigger than a 600, I'm reliably informed that 1000s are actually easier to ride than a 600. Plus, as already said, they only go as fast as your right wrist allows. I found with the Hornet that it inspires so much confidence that I probably went too fast too soon mind you so I think it's a case of keeping your head on your shoulders and not over-rating yourself and you'd be fine.

I don't mind the styling of the Speed Triple, but I prefer the CB1000R's styling. I can't really describe the styles of either, which is odd considering my design training, but there's no doubt that they're really quite different. I guess to simplify it I would say the Triple is more of a traditional design with a modern twist, which the CB1000R is all out contemporary bike design and is more likely to get noticed. They both have single sided swingarms, but the Honda, for me, screams out far more than the Triple. So I guess it's about what you look for. Linby has a black and yellow 2000 Hornet and on his first day out a couple of weeks ago he stopped at some lights and a kid crossed and said "nice bike mate". I was there too, on my 2006 orange Hornet and I didn't get a look from the kid. I want that look! I've only once had anyone comment about the bike, and that was some guy who got out of a van at the lights and ran up to me and asked what the bike was, before running back to the van with a big grin on his face. Nobody beside bikers would bat an eyelid at the Triple, but I think everyone will notice the CB

Must admit i had the mind set of nothing bigger than a 600 first bike because its just crazy to consider anything bigger. So then i was looking at R6's and 636's. Nothing in a naked type of styling around 600cc did anything for me to be honest. But got chatting to a good mate from work who bascially traded in his R1 for a FZ1 on the spot after a test ride when his R1 was in for a service. He pretty much said that due to riding position etc the FZ1 was a much easier bike to get on with for him than the R1. So just because its a bigger capacity machine doesnt have to mean your gonna ride like a lunatic, if your mad enough you could do yourself some serious damage on 125/250cc bike i reckon

So this basically got me thinking that a bigger capacity bike wasnt totally out of the question, plus with from what ive read about the CB1000R being quite forgiving and user friendly i thought what the hell Why get a bike that i dont really want and use it as a stepping stone, instead of just getting what i want and using a good dose of common sense regarding my abilty and experience.

I know loads of sports bike riders who have ridden Hornets, including mine, and admitted that naked is far more fun. The only downside is the lack of fairing so you get some windblast. Some journo's say this means you'll keep to respectable speeds because any faster and you're being pulled off the bike, but I think that's rubbish. Your neck soon gets used to it if you're doing it often enough, and the wind becomes part of going fast. If you're hidden behind a screen you just don't notice it and it's not as much fun I reckon. The wider bars on these type of bikes make them easier to throw around too. The increased torque on a 1000 over a 600 should also mean that you won't be needing to change gear every 30 seconds like you do on a 600 if you want to keep moving. The lack of torque is the sole reason I'm getting rid of my Hornet; it's as perfect as I need otherwise