R6 For my first bike?

[Perky71]

Hi Guys I'm a 32 yo man who wants to get an R6, I will be doing my test in the next month or so. My only experiance with bikes was a DT125 when i was 17 (15 years ago). Most people think I'm mad wanting such a powerful machine for my first bike but i assure them I will be careful as i have a family to think of after all. What do you think am i mad or have any of you started life on a larger machine, all comments would be appreciated.

[Kris]

R6's are a bit slow, get yourself a nice shiny ZX-10

Give us the address and we'll send flowers in a few weeks

Truth is there's no real 'answer' or right or wrong. Only you know your limits and your levels of responsibility Do a search for the terms 'born again biker' or 'DAS' and you'll find a lot of advice

Good luck though
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[Ste]

Hi,

Welcome to BCF. And good luck with your DAS

The R6 will have about 8-10 times the power of the DT125 which you rode. It is also very shiney, and fairings are expensive. Are you looking to get it as a weekend toy or as a day to day bike? Are you looking at buying new or second hand?

I would suggest waiting until after you have done your DAS training before putting any money down on anything. You'll be riding a 500cc style commuter bike in your DAS, which will seem suprisingly fast compared to most cars. The R6 will be even faster, doing 0-60 in about 3 seconds and happily taking you to 160mph without much effort. Try and get a test ride on one as well.

In my view, with no real riding experience (even a few weeks/ months on a smaller bike will help), you will have an accident on the R6 as it is a very "balls out" bike.

Ste

[Kickstart]

Hi

Personally I would say that is not the best choice for a first bike. An R6 is a very quick bike, with fast steering and sharp brakes. Not exactly learner friendly, especially when you find out how much the parts cost to repair it when you drop it pushing it out of the garage.

Personally I would say get your DAS out of the way then buy something more restrained as a first bike (GPZ500, 600 Bandit, 600 Hornet, etc) an gain some experience of that for 6 months and then see how you feel. You should be able to do this without costing yourself much. Buy one second hand and you can hopefully sell it without any great drop in value.

All the best

Keith
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[Kris]

As an aside you could always Private Message 'WildGoose', a member here who had an R6 after a spell on a scooter and a CBR250. Even he had a few nasty experiences on his and he had recent road experience on two wheels

[edit] Just realised Goose said this "however i dont think either of these accidents are down to the fact its an R6, got through a year without incident on the CBR250, maybe now, someone is making up for it " so you'd have to ask him if he still feels the same.
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NSR125RR - ZXR750H1 - ZX9R E1 - GSF600S - GSF600SK3 - VFR400-NC30 - SV1000N - ST1100-R - CBR900RR-R - GSF1200SK5 - GSF600SK1 - VFR1200FA - GSXR1000K2 - ZZR1400 D8F
www.prisonplanet.com

[Steve H]

Everyone and I mean EVERYONE will have an opinion on this Perky. Whether they'll choose to post it is a different matter. My opinion is that each rider is different and has different abilities on a motorbike, even when they're a novice. I don't think that anyone should try to change your mind although they may be right in trying to do so in this instance.

I would have thought that you've seen the R6, thought 'that is a lovely looking bike' and then made enquiries about doing your DAS/test with the sole intention of buying one. If that is the case then you HAVE to treat this sort of bike with the utmost respect as it is frighteningly quick and not really the sort of bike that will inspire confidence for a new rider immediately.

The sensible advice will be to get a less raw tamed 600 (which are still capable of well over 100mph and out accelerating any car on the roads), but if you feel capable and are sensible enough once you've taken your test then there is no reason for you to go out and buy whatever your hearts desire.

Always remember to ride within your limits as opposed to the limits of whatever machine you're on as you WILL exceed yours' way before you exceed the limits' of the vast majority of 600 bikes.

Good Luck and Take Care.

SteveH
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Mellow Yellow
The BCF Top TEN - 2010, 2009, 2008, The Original.

[carvell]

Plus Goose had it at 33bhp for a short while, this allowed him to get used to the R6 before riding it full power.
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Yamaha TDM 850

[Smoto Bob]

[Key Walshe]

As with most I'd say build yourself up, that's how I'm doing it and how I plan to do it over the coming years. I've been riding since I was 4 off road, doing motorcross & even racing, but on the road decided to do it the sensible way. At 16 got an Rs50, 17 a Mito 125 and when I turned 19 I got an Rs250.

I used to always debate with an older cousin (28 now) of mine that bikes are quicker than cars and he was wasting his time trying to make his cars quicker than them. He's got 8 years over me, but he'd always been a boy racer of sorts and was at the time tuning a Nissan Pulsar GTi-R, he'd got it to 320bhp and it was quick... for a car, but he knew that when a bike would pull up next to him at lights he'd be lucky to win, or even stay near it!He'd not ridden a proper bike on the road, and only ever rode DT's etc. as a young lad and the odd go on my Mito so his bike knowledge wasn't great, but he decided he wanted an R6 and got a 2001 bike, brand new at the time, did his DAS and was straight out on it, bought all the mod's, exhausts, screen, rearsets, cowl's etc. to go on his new toy. His neighbours had a 'Blade & GSXR750 so he'd go out with them and learnt to ride his bike gradually, he wouldn't try to keep up just ride at his own pace and slowly tried to narrow the gap between him & his mates. He had no problems on it and rode everywhere, he was determined to get his knee down and gradually got lower & lower until he did it. He had no problems until he was involved in a hit & run, he was the one who got hit and only 1/2 mile from his house too on a ride back from Wales! The bike was near write off so he sold it and got the new shape R6 and again has had no problems since, he now does track days and is in the same class as his mates and is usually the quicker rider.

He knew his limits and never went beyond them, just slowly bettered them. He's been on the road about 3 years now and never had an accident where he's to blame and never had any problems with the bike being too powerful! It's all how you approach it, as others have said, you have to treat them with respect.

Oh yea, he got sick of trying to make his car quicker, so he sold it and bought something abit more suitable for the family. A Lancer Evo6 Makinen now with 350bhp! Not as quick as the Pulsar, or his R6, but better for the wife & kids, and still fun to drive in bad weather.
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My Bike pics - https://www.bikepics.com/members/cagivamito2001
Current Bikes: Aprilia Rs250 (1998) Cagiva Mito Evo2 (2001) Suzuki RGV250 race bike & a Senior TKM100 race kart
Previous Bikes: Aprilia Rs125 Harada Identikit (2001) Aprilia Rs50 Harada (2000) Aprilia Rs50 Rossi (1999)

[Rob]

[cliff]

i have a d1ckhead of a mate that thinks his honda legacy will outdo a vfr400 i told him he was wasting his time on argueing about it but he still wouldnt listen. someone help me prove him wrong.
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Sweet reggae music.

[Key Walshe]

Find someone with a VFR400....
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My Bike pics - https://www.bikepics.com/members/cagivamito2001
Current Bikes: Aprilia Rs250 (1998) Cagiva Mito Evo2 (2001) Suzuki RGV250 race bike & a Senior TKM100 race kart
Previous Bikes: Aprilia Rs125 Harada Identikit (2001) Aprilia Rs50 Harada (2000) Aprilia Rs50 Rossi (1999)

[cliff]

That would be the smart thing to do, but seeing as i have no friends it might be a bit of a problem...........
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Sweet reggae music.

[EuropeanNC30R...]

Where does the Legacy guy live?

[cliff]

Weybridge, the funny thing is hes still waiting to get his car that he says hes getting, why would anyone want one of those anyway? Looks like a piece of turd on 4 wheels if you ask me....
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Sweet reggae music.

[Git]

An R6 as first bike?
Heck, you could ride a Gsxr1000 if you really wanted to. Its all down to not riding above your ability. If you can ride within that threshold you will get on fine.

Oh, and r6 and being carful don't really go well in the same sentence, its almost impossible!

[JimboJ]

Why the hell not! Go for it, love it and ride it! If you want it then you get it. It's your money it's your life, if you are responsible then there is no problem is there?

James
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[9:42pm] <Shaun> you came first mike | <Shaun> yes gav, because I really want to fuck you

[Chuck100]

My brother got an R6 as his first bike (after having mostly ridden a scooter before) and rode it (relatively) sensibly for the first couple of months. I think he was about 23 or so at the time and was living in Mallorca working in a restaurant.

Normally he's a bit of a nutter, but he did seem to ride the bike sensibly and he even commented to me that it had scared him on more than one occasion. He was always aware of the risks of riding a bike like that.

Anyway, one night on his way home from the restaurant, he was taking a corner (at the appropriate speed) and when he was about half way around he saw something small (presumed it was an animal - it was night time) in the middle of the road and tried to come upright to move position in the lane to avoid it. He couldn't get the bike back down again to make the corner and got chucked off when the wheels hit the kerb. Fortunately for him he hit a tree. I say that because he was wearing shorts and a t-shirt at the time, so sliding along the asphalt at 50 miles an hour wouldn't have done him any good.

The result was a slightly broken bike and a very broken knee (requiring surgery). Anyway, when the bike was shipped back to the UK, it got nicked en route. He eventually got his money for the bike and went out and bought a new one, which (so far) he's had no problems with.

So, the moral(s) of the story are:

1) wear something more protective than shorts and t-shirt
2) The R6 is a desirable bike, so some pikey is bound to try and nick it.

Enjoy it whatever you decide.

Chuck.
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I shall see you, sir, upon the hustings

[G]

You probably want to look at what you want from a bike.

Do you want a shiney pretty looking fast bike that will most probably scare you to use it anywhere near it's potential?

Or do you want a bike that will help you to learn abour riding that you can push a bit when you've got a bit confidence?

To really push a r6 you do need to know what you're doing to some degree.. they can bite easily enough.
While plenty of smaller bikes can be taken nearer to their limits with out risking yourself or the bike as much.

If you think you have the control to not use a lot of what the r6 has to offer to start with and want it more for the image, then you might as well.
Do understand also that they are moderately expensive to fix up when you crash, so expect to be forking out if want to keep it looking shiney.

Personally I'd go for something like an old cbr600 first, then see if you want more of the same, or to look in a different direction.
Another thing to consider if you're intending to use the bike for transport is comfort, there's no way I could ride one everyday thanks to the riding position.

[R1stu]

The R6 is a great bike and I am on my 2nd. However yes they are very expensive to brake and I should know! I have just finished rebuilding mine after an uninsured driver decided to take a turn in front of me!
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