Bent brake lever and an early lesson

[NightRider_imp]

The front brakes on this bike are better than the ones that were on my gen2 Busa. They will overpower the front tire and suspension's traction limits. I use one finger with shorty levers. That's how strong they are.

Sooooo true. I find myself using one finger to feather the brakes for most situations, they are so powerful yet light and easy to control. She dances beautifully and all I have to do is think about leading.

[Ulvetanna_imp]

The CB1100 is not an appropriate motorcycle as a first bike.

I'd recommend taking some courses, MSF, AMA, whatever is available. Some track days have a really, really good new rider school.

Many will give you pat on the back, happy to have yet another CB1100 rider in the club, and tell you you'll be fine, it's a nice mellow ride, just take it easy. No.

You're lucky your first incident was very, very minor.
Forgot to ask, you have a non-ABS bike? Or did it not work as expected?

I started on a Kawasaki GPZ 750 super bike. The CB is a very easy and controllable bike to ride and handle as a first bike but it's up to the rider to use common sense and self control no matter what amount of time they have been riding or how much experience. The OPs incident would have happened no matter what bike he was riding. Exercise common sense and self control at all times no matter what bike your on. My Kawasaki was an animal but I knew to use control. Some are naturals and others may take more time.

Sent from my SM-T350 using Tapatalk

My first streetbike was also a production superbike. I survived it and am here to say it was NOT a good idea, and I think I was at least a little gifted, having done a good deal of dirt riding previous to that.

[PowerDubs_imp]

I'm a firm believer in starting someone off riding on a dirtbike when possible. SOOO much to be learned there.

My older self says a little Honda XR or similar is good...although myself and countless friends learned on early 80's 2-strokes. Many waay too big for us and we used milk crates to get on em. YZ490 anyone? AHHH.. the smell..the sound..the front end up while arms being pulled out of sockets. Not to say that there weren't many hairy moments on little 80's and 100's..

[JMA_imp]

Well your work looked pretty handy to me. I was surprised you could even bend it back without it breaking. Any tricks to that?

Sure, buy a brand new un-bent brake lever.

[Ulvetanna_imp]

Well your work looked pretty handy to me. I was surprised you could even bend it back without it breaking. Any tricks to that?

Sure, buy a brand new un-bent brake lever.

Sure, buy a brand new un-bent brake lever. Agreed, a damaged brake lever should be replaced.

[Lord Popgun]

What, you mean cast aluminum can't be bent back? Well hold my beer and watch this

[Ulvetanna_imp]

What, you mean cast aluminum can't be bent back? Well hold my beer and watch this

Yer gonna be wanting to open up a sixer on this one...