Any good for a first bike?

[carlosthejack...]

I've been offered a Kawasaki Z1000 by a friend, 2007, 7k, £3800. Loads of extras. From what I can work out from eBay/Biketrader/MCN, it seems like a good deal, but is it a good idea for a first bike? Or will it thrash me half to death?
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Responsibility. It's a difficult reality for some. I'm running the 2014 Sheffield Half Marathon on behalf of Bluebell Wood Childrens Hospice. Please sponsor me, even if it's just a quid.
DonnyBrago: "I think you may be confusing rain and napalm..." Paulington: "It's not what you ride, it's how you ride it."
Current rides: '05 VFR800 VTEC, '57 Mondeo 1.8 TDCi #58LEGEND

[pinkyfloyd]

I think its not so much a question of the bike power more the rider ability. If your going to hammer it like a lunatic then the chances are you will come off.

If you treat the bike with the respect it is due as a new rider on a big bike you should be fine.

I came off a 125 lump straight onto a 750 sports bike and to this day I have the thought in my mind that this machine will kill me to death if I dont treat it with respect. Yes I will be the first to admit I hammer it around the countryside sometimes but I always ride in what I believe is my capabilities. I might be over cautious in the corners and silly fast in a straight line but I havent come off yet and hopefully I wont.
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illuminateTHEmind wrote: I am just more evolved than most of you guys... this allows me to pick of things quickly which would have normally taken the common man years to master
Hockeystorm65:.well there are childish arguments...there are very childish arguments.....there are really stupid childish arguments and now there are......Pinkfloyd arguments!
Teflon-Mike:I think I agree with just about all Pinky has said.

[carlosthejack...]

[taz408]

Good attitude, you could ride a rocket so long as you understand that if you pull the throttle all the way you arent going to stay on ^^ have fun you little fucker (just a little jealous)

[Derivative]

Do you drive a car?
I wouldn't get such a big bike for your first just for the time when you might panic and hit whatever lever's closest (let's say you're rolling back a little on a hill for example).

As well the maintenance is going to be a ballache, little learner bikes are often easier to find your way around mechanically not to mention cheaper.

Not to ruin the fun, but I don't think you will find it fun being scared shitless of the bike all the time. It's nice to have the feeling on a smaller bike you can wind the throttle all the way back and not end up in the next town

[Benson_JV]

I went straight to a 600 sports bike. As long as you are careful with the throttle, well not even being careful, just riding within your capabilities as mentioned earlier, you'll be fine.
My advice is get to a carpark or something and just get to grips with the bike before going out to country lanes and blasting around at lightspeed.
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Willson - "If you go out on that CBR600 in the winter, you're going to do more miles on your side than on your wheels."
Riding: CBR600FW Driving: Audi A6
Previous Bikes: '96 Bandit 600, '96 GPz305

[pinkyfloyd]

[CaNsA]

There is another thread by the same dude in the general bike section that seems to be getting more action.

https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=204324

CaNsA

[carlosthejack...]

[carlosthejack...]

[pinkyfloyd]

Just be gentle with the throttle my friend. On the 125 you can twist the throttle full open and the bike will fart itself down the road. On the 1000 you do that and your doing the guts of 40 in a couple of seconds which is always smile bringing until the powerband kicks in and you lurch forward at "fuck me" mph.

What you will find is town riding is a struggle to keep in the speed limit until you get used to the bike. Its easy to forget and go through the gears and all of a sudden your doing 50 in a 30.

On my 750, town riding is 2nd and 3rd gear only, 3rd gear at 4K revs is 35mph ish.

Most important thing tho is not to be scared of it. You ride the bike not the other way around.
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illuminateTHEmind wrote: I am just more evolved than most of you guys... this allows me to pick of things quickly which would have normally taken the common man years to master
Hockeystorm65:.well there are childish arguments...there are very childish arguments.....there are really stupid childish arguments and now there are......Pinkfloyd arguments!
Teflon-Mike:I think I agree with just about all Pinky has said.

[warehouse]

I think this bikes in your budget. Hyosung GT 189 for $3499.00 From MotorBike-Warehouse: This machine is probably the best equipped and best built 125cc sports bike on the market. Check out the specs, check out the looks!
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Motorbike-Warehouse
London Scooters
London Motorbikes

[deleted111]

[pinkyfloyd]

[Spit-Fire]

[carlosthejack...]

[twiggeeukjnr]

if its any help, I past my big bike test a few weeks ago n bought a kwaker er5! I personally think that it truly is the best 1st bike!

Alot more power than my 125 but not to much power that my bike is sumasalting down the road while im sat on my ass at the lights! lol

Good luck.
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Thought i saw your name on a loaf of bread today,
then i realised it said "Thick Cut"

[GertyX]

Got a Yamaha XJ6-n waiting for when I get round to the test. Nice and stable and ridable but not short on power.
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Pootling rules!

Yamaha XJ6 - his Yamaha XJ6!

[Dazbo666]

[carlosthejack...]

I've reconsidered. Not only was it too expensive (I didn't think it was worth spending 4 grand on something I might drop - more than once, I'm a realist...) I wouldn't want to be terrified every time I was getting on it. CBR600F for me I think...
____________________
Responsibility. It's a difficult reality for some. I'm running the 2014 Sheffield Half Marathon on behalf of Bluebell Wood Childrens Hospice. Please sponsor me, even if it's just a quid.
DonnyBrago: "I think you may be confusing rain and napalm..." Paulington: "It's not what you ride, it's how you ride it."
Current rides: '05 VFR800 VTEC, '57 Mondeo 1.8 TDCi #58LEGEND

[GertyX]

Check out all the 600s you can. They can be so different. Find a good dealer who will help you find the right one.

We went to check some out. Talked to the dealer for a bit and he recommended the XJ6. We had a test ride and rather liked it, then rode pretty well every other 600 in the shop. Was an education. We bought the XJ6 in the end and have really enjoyed it. Though now I come to think about it, didn't we first go in cos he was going to sell his TDM and give up biking? Damn!
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Pootling rules!

Yamaha XJ6 - his Yamaha XJ6!

[DrDonnyBrago]

I went for a CBR600F

Plenty of power for a few years, handles well and are in general very well made and reliable (except for the one I bought ).