First Serious Sports Bike

[@17500rpm]

Been getting quotes today for bike insurance.

I can insure the RVF400 below for £400 -

https://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c270/vtecinside2/rvf400.jpg

But I can also insure an R6 for £700 -

https://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c270/vtecinside2/R6.jpg

It will be my first sports bike, so the sensible view is to have a year on the 400 and build up the experience.

But R6's are cheap to pick up, and a lot newer, so in theory cheaper to maintain. Plus they are gorgeous IMO

Advice from you biker chaps?

Edit - I'm doing the DAS soon, so any bike will be de-restricted

[craigs23]

An RVF's better looking than an R6, plus not every man and his dog seems to own one. Just as fast up to around 120 on a decent road (and gives the rider the option to use more than it has to offer, which is sometimes more a more rewarding ride overall). The cheaper running costs/insurance premiums may give a bit more budget to uprate the suspension - which can be a weak point on a bike of such vintage (not a lot more to worry about 'older' bikes, apart from general wear and tear/maintenance).

They are tricky to work on, but rectifiers aside, very reliable.

I know which one I'd buy, but maybe it'll come down to some tiny discrepencies; like which one you prefer the look of.

[@17500rpm]

the main factors I am looking for are :

1) Easy to ride, so confidence can increase with experience

2) Fairly easy to maintain, with obtainable parts

3) Reliability, especially as it might be used to commute for 2/5 days of the week.

[G]

In my opinion, R6s are much better priced that RVFs; I would go for the VFR NC30 myself if you want a Honda v4 400, which is pretty much the same for a fair bit less money.

If you want a bike to learn to ride fast, the 400 will probably be a better bet as it can be ragged more and not bite quite so easily or be going so ridiculous speeds.

[Itchy]

NC35 I reckon , why? its still fast 131MPH tops , and attacks corners really sweetly , and you aren't really going to get the chance to take an R6 up to its 165mph top end.
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Spain 2008France 2007Big one 2009 We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will. In the end, your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it is worth watching.

[Misc]

Hi.

Go for the R6, so what if it's a common bike if that's what you like then go for it. I got my R6 as my 1st & it's the oppersite to what most people have said as a 1st bike, like anything you get used to it. I'd rather get a R6 as it's nice to know you have all that power, if you don't use it that often. It's also easy to ride, i ride it sometimes at 30mph with no hassle, doesn't matter how big the bike is because you get used to it, i had never ridden a bike before & now it's just natural.

The Rvf is nice looking but the engine literally sounds like a 125 scooter, seems to be very popular with most & reliable being a Honda.

Go to a shop & sit on both with the engine running, then make you're mind up.

[@17500rpm]

cheers for your opinions guys

[ram_doom]

The 400 will teach you to ride fast. Thats important.
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TL1000s, KDX200

[EllioTT_GiXXeR]

Go for a 600 they wont bite, R6 will be alot faster but they are so smooth you wont even notice until you look down.
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[G]

A 600 can bite very hard if you abuse it a bit too much.

They are very, very fast bikes.

Different circumstances, but even at fast tracks I've seen 600s win against a field mostly of 1000s. They have the capability to be very fast and thus to bite hard if someone does the wrong thing at the wrong time.

Don't thrash properly and you're less likely for it to bite back.
However depends what you want from your riding.

[EllioTT_GiXXeR]

Wish mine would bite, mite wake me up
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[@17500rpm]

I remember seeing on BCF a while back a massive list of performance figures and stats for near enough every single bike. I've tried searching for it to no avail

Anyone got this as a favourite or know what I'm on about?

Keep the opinions coming in guys, they are all very much appreciated

[Finglonga]

I've read somewhere that the Honda VFR 400's are wicked at Getting into stunts.
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Andy Sez....
F.Y.Y.F.F.

[Jammy-R6]

I had a NC30 before I got the R6.

Overall I enjoyed the NC30 alot more, handling was ace, was quick but very primitive, you could tell it was a race bike with a couple of mirrors and a speedo.

R6 was alot smoother, felt much quicker, suspension felt better, IMO looked alot better and more parts available. I love the look of a fat rear tyre (tart). Id have either one again, but for learning how to ride well, the 400 is alot easier and despite what some say, its much more rewarding.

[Jammy-R6]

[@17500rpm]

am I correct in saying the redline on an R6 is 15,500rpm?

[Misc]

Yes.