Which 600 for a new rider? (and q about back pain)

[sauluk]

Did my CBT yesterday, no problems as such but the CG125 gave me severe back pain, i'm 6'2" and fractured my spine when I was 15, i've played rugby my whole life and never had any problems but the position of that little 125 had me in agony, had to pull over at one point on the road exercise. The instructor recommended a sports bike with a horizontal position which makes sense to me. Now need to find one! I can't find any CBR600s which is what I wanted originally but can find a few R6s which i've been told are pretty user friendly. Any other suggestions? (i've been told to steer clear of gsxrs)

[Itchy]

Thundercats are somewhat upright as are CBR600F's (comparatively),

Or you could get a fazer 600 and upgrade the suspension on the front very up right, since the alternative of changing the top yoke and putting different and higher bars on will interfere with the fairing and MOT tests.

ER6 seems fairly upright too though maybe a tad small for you.
____________________
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.

[sauluk]

Thanks, it's just the position that leaves you slouched over but not leaning forward which does it, as it puts a lot of pressure on the bottom of the spine, the 125 I was riding was just the worst position possible, I either needed to be upright or leaning forward. Seems there's a lot of 600s around but I just dont know the model names and which ones are any good!

[Itchy]

Thing is 'good' is subjective, one maybe a tad faster one might turnin faster etc but to the average rider who's limits will be well below that of the bike's limits most won't notice.

Unless you compare them back to back with a non sports for example, I got used to the fast acceleration the lack of dive the quick turning in of the CBR as I spent 10 days riding it, I got back rolled it into me shed and rolled out my commuter bike which felt awfully soft , slow and gutless.
____________________
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.

[steve32]

i hurt my back in 05 and whilst on my cbt using the crappy 125cc things i got terrible back pain from it, but when i ride my suzuki gsx600f i dont get any pain due to the riding position being more of a lean forward type..

the pain in my back is a bilateral disk hernia pushing on the sciatica nerves on bothsides of the spine
____________________
suzuki GSX 600F katana .: ~my bike up for sale~ :.
CBT = Completed
DAS= Working on it - theory test = Passed

[robo2008]

You have to choose a bike based on what you like the look of, and what fit's your build.

They best way is to go and test them out, they may feel comfortable to sit on but after a short blast they might feel completely different.

You could also try buying an KNOX back protector, my mate has back issues and rides a bandit 6, he bought the back protector and now won't go out without it.
____________________
Sit down, Shut up and Hold on.

[jack_zxr400]

best way is to test them out yourself so all we can help you with is model of bikes which you can test out..

depends on your price range really

you could try some new bikes: yamaha fz6 s2, honda cb600 hornet, suzuki gsr 600, kawasaki er6-n, honda cbf- these have a more up right position

sportier more forward position bikes.. well theres alot in the 600's:
yamaha r6, suzuki gsxr, honda cbr 600 rr, kawasaki zx-6r, triumph daytona 600.. theres loads lol

up to you really xD
____________________
Previous Bike: ZXR 400
Current Bike: R6
Test Date: 8/8/2008-PASSED

[devil1979]

The Bandit 600 / SV650 has a very upright sitting position, and a soft suspension. I find it extremely comfortable to ride, and may be worth you looking at too !!

[sauluk]

Had a look at the SV650, it's pretty nice looking and a completely different bike to the CBR, would the CBR be pretty stupid to get as a first bike? seems Honda like giving their vehicles power too high up in the rev band, i've got a Civic Type-R and it's like that (obviously not up to 15k though!) A reviewer said the CBR is a pain around town so would the SV be more suited? The SV sounds a bit weedy on some youtube clips, is that just the poor sound?

[Spit-Fire]

[joshmac_3]

[sauluk]

Cool, what's the deal with insurance and aftermarkets? seems like nearly all bikes have them on!

[joshmac_3]

[sauluk]

Huh? I thought you couldn't ride a 650 at 17? Is it restricted?

[sauluk]

[strag]

I suffer from lower back pain. I currently ride a K5 GSXR 1000. I find it is more comfortable than a more upright bike as I am leaning forward I can grip with my knees, put more weight on my wrists and project weight away from the lower back. As you say, an upright bike puts pressure on the lower back.

My advice if you are concerned is sit on a few, ride a few when you can. Sports bikes will feel incredibly small and compact if you are not used to them, particularly newer ones so a ride is a must tbh.

If you see an ostepath/chiro/physio I would ask their advice too.

Who has said don't get a gixer, and why? I suspect, could be wrong, that it is someone with limited knowledge of bikes who says they are all ridden by hooligans And they probably ride a Honda.
____________________
carbon bling

[steve32]

well i would say the best feature on mine is the pre damper dials it has on the top of the forks to help the rebound rate, it makes for a better ride, the back ones surposed to have one but i could get hold of that type for the age of the bike
____________________
suzuki GSX 600F katana .: ~my bike up for sale~ :.
CBT = Completed
DAS= Working on it - theory test = Passed

[joshmac_3]

[sauluk]

I'm liking the 53> Fazer too, seems to get good reviews as an all rounder and there are a few for sale and a bit cheaper. The guy who advised me away from the GSXR had owned one previously for years and said it did nothing but rust and fall apart, he could well have had a dud though I don't know, he now has an R1 I think.

[Kal]

Go on, why a 600?
____________________
Kal...
I Like To Hoon It Hoon It I Like To Hoon It Hoon It I Like To Hoon It Hoon It Ya Like To (HOON IT!).
1984 GB250 Clubman,1983 CB250N Superdream, 1999 GPZ500S

[Faraz]

[sauluk]

Says that one is heavily modified! No real reason for a 600 and it doesn't have to be spot on 600 just in that range

[chris-red]

[Kal]

[sauluk]

Well it needs to have a bit of poke but I don't want to go nuts after all it is my first big bike, afraid my knowledge of bike models is limited so that's why I left it in your capable hands