748 Sps.. Just Need To Get My License!

I'll swim against the tide of opinion here...
To jump straight onto a 748SPS after only riding 125's is a step too far in my opinion.
Christ a 748SPS is a fast or faster than a Mk1 GSXR750 with a top speed of around 150mph!!!
If the OP was a child of yours would you want her or him let loose on a 150mph bike?
I know that I wouldn't and...
That comes from a guy who jumped off a 85 or (if you were lucky) 90mph 250 Honda after passing my full test back in '75 straight onto a new 120mph T150V Triumph Trident a few months before my 18th Birthday.
But I'd covered over 17,000 miles on the Honda in 9 months before taking my test.
I personally feel (taking in to account my personal experience) that the OP would be far better off starting on a big bike that's less sports orientated/focused and not quite a fast.
So to that end I'd suggest a 600 Bandit or something similar.

Steve R

 

Ha! 250 Superdream to Guzzi Le Mans.....took me six hours to get there, three to get back. Learning by doing. The 1970s were great.

 

Personally,
a bike is only as fast as you twist the throttle

 

An old 750 twin is hardly going to pull his arms off. These bikes all have an easy, smooth and linear power delivery... probably the biggest challenge is slow speed maneuvering.

328i- congrats and enjoy!

 

My first bike was a 900 SSie. And I was 32 when I finally decided to take my license. As said above, if OP is a sensible person/rider and manages to stay so 100% of the time when riding this 748SPS, then he should be ok. But there is a risk. The risk of getting carried away and loosing control, going too fast.

On a side note, I am really surprised you guys are allowed to ride this type of bikes as beginners. Here (in France) since June 2016, the law has it that you will be restricted to max 47,5 hp (35 kw) bikes for two years after you get your license. It’s called « A2 » restricted license. After two years of A2 without issues, you can take a 7 hours rider course to transition to full « A » license and access to unrestricted bikes. These two years are meant to give you the necessary time to get enough experience to ride bigger bikes safely. Seems very reasonable to me, especially if/when my kid starts getting into bikes...

 

Its a similar system in the UK until you are 24 when its possible to take a "Direct Access course".

https://begin-motorcycling.co.uk/direct-access-bike-test/

 

Ok, thanks.
Age is not a factor here. Big bikes are considered dangerous for beginners, disregarding their age. I guess it’s all about statistics...

 

In the wrong hands, with a little bad luck, big bikes are dangerous for beginners. But so are a great many things, and the question is should an adult be able to make their own decisions on risk, or prevented from potential harm by law?

 

If you ask me, it is probably the risk to others that is at stake here. Not so much the risk to oneself.

 

Really? I've always thought the bike rider suffers the harm from accidents and generally doesn't inflict much on others.

 

You are right, bikers usually get the worst blow in an accident, whether they caused it or not. But 200 kg of screaming metal slamming in a car at 150 km/h causes pretty ugly damage as well...

 

True, I really don't want to get hit by anything at 150km/h! I wonder though if it would hurt more than being hit at 60km/h by something that weighs 1300kgs?

 

E = 1/2 m V2

Speed is way more of a factor than weight when it comes to raw energy.

 

stunning bike, congratulations. I don't know why you'd even entertain not getting your licence, if you already drive then it's just a case of learning to use the bike, as you already know how to use the roads...

as for the bike being the wrong choice for a first bike?... probably... but that's subjective, IMO a 'softer' bike like a cbr600F, gsxF600 etc would be better, more comfortable, usable steering lock, less track focused and will let you get used to riding a bike on the road that isn't a chore to ride around town.

I know for sure, if my 1098 was my first bike I wouldn't have enjoyed it, regardless of how fast it is or 'it only goes as fast as you make it'

 

That's a great bike !

From experience I would be hesitant to make this your first big bike. After passing a direct-access-course, with no previous riding experience, I decided a 749 was the bike for me. I still don't know how I or the bike survived. I had a few close shaves, and if it wasn't for a few savvy car drivers (who were probably bikers), I would have been another statistic. I eventually let the bike go and took a break from riding, returning a few years later on sensible bmw tractor.

There's a significant difference in riding positions between a 749 & 748sps (i'm fortunate to currently own both bikes). I feel like a race jockey on the sps. It begs to be ridden and really belongs on the track.

That said, if you're confident in your abilities - go fo it! Just keep it upright - they're not making any more.

 

Ah my very first Ducati , great memories with that bike, had to really work the box to keep it where it wanted to be, I always arrived knackered but with a huge grin, sold it to a bloke who wanted to track it. To cut a long story short the bloke told me the marshall's at Brands said they had never seen a bike go so high, totalled Bought a 999R which was so easy to ride compared with the 748 but only half the fun as I was scared most of the time.

Enjoy it but treat it with respect or it WILL bite you !!!!

 

It’s very pretty.

 

I'm no expert, but I'm pretty sure I've been hit by pebbles etc at 50mph, and no damage. Not too sure I'd be in one piece if a truck did the same!