R6, first big bike

[Ariel Badger]

A friend is currently riding a Chinese 125 on a CBT but will do his DAS this year and wants a R6 as his first big bike. I think it will have much power for a first bike but I may be wrong, opinions please.
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[Paulington]

As Luke said, it depends on the person.

Some people get an R1 as their first big bike and have no accidents happy as larry, whereas some get a 33bhp GS500 and crash!

It comes down to attitude and that person I guess.

If they are generally sensible then I don't see a problem with it.
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[G]

Yes, if they're the sort to want to try and push a bike a bit, probably a less ideal choice.

It's not only powerful for a 'noob', but got very good brakes and very sharp (read twitchy) suspension.

What year?

There has been a general trend with bikes over the last year to actually get a bit more 'usable' (and thus blander too, unfortunately), so if it's a bit more recent bike, it may actually be relatively a bit better. Still a very fast bike - with a reasonably competent rider on both bikes, modern 600s will keep up with much larger capacity bikes in a lot of situations.

[DrDonnyBrago]

IMO it's not the bike that is the issue; he should* be ok if he isn't an arse, if he is an arse then tell him to buy a bus pass as he'll die regardless of what he rides.



* A normal level of death risk from riding a motorcycle applies.

[Swim41]

My mate bought a '08 plate R6 as his first big bike. He has had it nearly two years without incident. He rides it extremely cautiously though and struggles to keep up with my Diversion on twisty roads. I think, actually, that he is a little afraid of his bike. In my opinion something less potent and with a less aggressive riding position might have been a better bet and I suspect he might actually be a faster rider had he bought an SV or a Bandit 600 or similar.

Not much help but my only experience of the subject.
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[MarJay]

[st3v3]

[MarJay]

[Ariel Badger]

He is a very cautious rider, I am just worried the power will catch him out. Thanks for the advice I will tell him to go for it.
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[G]

The older R6s do have a much more spikey delivery, but even then, providing you ride it smoothly, they are still very smooth bikes.

I've got my GSXR1000 because it's very easy and smooth to ride, not for the all out power.

[MarJay]

[Noxious89123]

Do what I did;

Ride slowly out to the middle of nowhere, fine a long straight bit of quiet road. Throttle to the stop, take it up through the gears. Once you've seen triple figures on the speedo, everything else feels very sedate and calm
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[DrDonnyBrago]

[Ariel Badger]

[Ariel Badger]

[Sam_Y_93]

what about telling him to get a sport 4 like a fzr or baby blade, would be more forgiving and plenty fast enough for a beginner
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Bikes Current: Honda VFR 400 (awaiting restoration) Honda CB600f F-4
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[Spit-Fire]

i was going to post a similar thread,

iv got a mate that thinks all old bikes are ugly so what the fastest and latest kit,

he told me he read a review saying the 1000rr fireblade (04 models i think) is quite passive for a thou so thinks he would be ok on one.

i told him price wise i wouldn't spend that much on a 1st bike let alone the power vs experience

but like some have said above, some people wont listen and i guess they have to feel to learn
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they say the good die young... i say we just live faster

[SamJL]

I got a 2006 R6 for my first road bike, had been riding motocross for a while, but no road expierience, and I didn't find it to daunting.

I took it easy for the first couple of months, and then started to get used to it more and more, never had an accident on it, and loved it to bits! Personally I think it makes you learn quicker getting a quicker bike for your first bike. If thats what the person wants, then thats what they should get. Everyone kept telling me to get a 500 commuter for a first bike to learn on, and I was foolish for getting a 600 supersport, but Im glad I did.

If its an 06 onwards R6, the front ends are very light on them, lots of bar wobbles when going over little bumps, but its all part of the fun, they handle great, but there not very user friendly, you have to ride them hard to get any decent power out of them. Very nimble, turn in very well, and decent power after 10krpm, like I said though, its not the most user friendly out of all the 600's, with no steering damper, a very light front end, and pin sharp handling, they can be a bit daunting!

They are like a 2 stroke though, VERY agressive power delivery when they get to the sweet spot! I used to be able to ride mine reasonably quick after a couple of months, and got a couple of track days under my belt, I didn't find it scary, it was very good fun, used to ride it pretty hard, especially on track! But it might have helped that I'd rode motocross for quite a while. If I had to do it all over again, Id get another one as my first road bike, I was probably as quick on the R6 as I am on my CBR, its just easier to ride the CBR quickly, and not quite as fun!
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2004 KTM 65SX

[G]

If you've ridden some bigger capacity motocross bikes, you're talking not too far off the power to weight ratio of an r6 and you're used to stuff moving about, aggressive throttle etc - so yea, I expect that definitely had a decent part to play.

[L-Jam]

I agree with the 'get a 500 or similar first' argument, but then I'm the type of person to max a bike out on the first day I have it, so a 500 was brilliant for teaching me what I can and cannot do without wrapping myself round a tree - I had a few situations where I thought, 'that was fucking close', and a more powerful bike would have just resulted in more of those situations. Also, now that I have moved up onto a 600 I am a lot more confident/a better rider than I would have been, I firmly believe.
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[Spit-Fire]

come to think of it, if mr Shervin the bike butcher can ride the
notorious 05 zx10,
surely a sane person will be ok on a sports 6 in most cases
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they say the good die young... i say we just live faster

[st3v3]

[MarJay]

[Damon]

I think something like a rs125 would be ideal. Plenty of power for a 125 and provides a good base to learn how to ride a sports orientated bike. It's also alot more forgiving than an R6 and won't bite your face off. Win Win

[Acemastr]

I went from a YBR125 to an R1 for 3000miles without doing my test (was in states), currently have my test in.... 3 hours and have a CBR600 sat in my garden

It's all about that right hand
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2017 KTM 350 XC-F - 2014 Yamaha R6 - 2005 Yamaha YZ125
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