Almost made it to my dream

[Cod3r]

Hi, I'm new to BCF and kind of introducing myself while asking a question.
I've always loved the bigger sports bikes and although I like the acceleration etc for me it's mainly how the bike looks and feels, not to anyone else but to me, I guess I know what I like. I've always wanted to ride bikes but there's always been something preventing me from chasing my dream of actually owning a great machine, well, now I live on my own and I'm chasing it. I have my CBT, Theory and Mod 1 passed on a Hornet 600 and so far it's been pretty easy although I think the hornet sit up position isn't for me, seems to give a lot of wind resistance/buffeting.

Ok so I'm training now for Mod 2 on the Hornet and when I pass I was looking to get an R1 (everyone gasps in horror) for me it's the looks and not so much the power SO I guess what I'd like to ask you guys is this. Is there a 600 supersport that has a similar styling as the R1 with the exhaust that tucks away under the seat? At least this way I'm not giving into my wants and jumping straight onto a 1k.

I'm new to riding so hoping to learn plenty from the more experienced riders and thank you for any responses I might get.

[Sload]

Cant beat riding your dream

https://www.feintzebra.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/ian-ayre-riding-my-little-pony.jpg

All about the look and the feel
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Honda Varadero >> Triumph Speed Four >> Honda CBR1100xx

[Cod3r]

That was ummmmm ... helpful I can see I'll learn a lot from you!

[kerr]

R6?
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aprilia 125 Af1 Futura >> Suzuki gsxr 600 srad >> J1 zx6r >> cbr 600rr >> Speed Triple

[lihp]

CBR600RR
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covent.gardens: lihp is my most favourite member ever

[Cod3r]

CBR600RR would be perfect ... exactly the kind of look I'd be happy with ... thx for that phil

[Rigga]

Daytona 675
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Current bike: Honda CBR 1100xx

[janner_10]

If your dream is to own an R1 then buy one. Plenty on here have had a super sports as a first bike and not died.

I think the insurance companies may not see it that way though.
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Yamaha FZS600 (Now gone to heaven) > CBR600F4i (SOLD) > '99 YZF-R1

[DaveB]

I wanted a Daytona as my first bike but wasn't willing to pay £800 to insure it, and I was 42 at the time.....Need to check insurance.
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Mod 2 passed 26/10/2011
Current ride: 2014 Triumph Street Triple R. Previous, 2007 Triumph Daytona 675, 2007 Triumph Street Triple, 2011 Derbi GPR125r.

[Sload]

[Rogerborg]

Wotchya. Enjoy your lecture from Teffers.

All I'll say is: have you taken that Hornet and genuinely thrashed the nuts off of it yet? I'd recommend that you do that before settling on a litre supersports.

What's your budget, and what are you intending to use the bike for?
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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[sidewinder]

Hello and welcome

How old are you? Might help a little if your under 24 you can't have a r1 even if it's restricted plus the above

[Rogerborg]

Must be 24+, he's training on a Hornet. It's just over 70kW so can't be an A2 bike. You know how on-the-ball training schools and the DSA are...
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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[-Matt-]

Not joining the OH GOOD GOD GONNA DIE bandwagon, but do you really need an R1, its quite a large leap for someone with no previous bike experience what so ever as i understood your post

Its not a guaranteed insta-death, but there are many many 600s that will be more than enough to keep you entertained for a good long time, cost a hell of a lot less to run and maintain and also reduce the insurance-rapeage a bit in the process.

Budget and years of R1 you're interested in [presuming specific looks seem to be particularly important] would be handy, but as a few others have suggested.

Various of the following would match your criteria depending on if you're willing to sacrific/buy aftermarket undertail exhausts
Daytona675
CBR600
ZX6R
R6
GSXR600

Looks wise i'd say theyre all just as nice as their litre equivalents in general [quite a lot nicer in some cases depending on opinion], handling wise, particularly considering your experience you might feel a lot more comfortable on them vs a litre bike if anything, especially the first few months you're getting accustomed to the bike and new riding position etc.

[Nexus Icon]

Let's see..

Under seat exhaust...
Not R1...

MV Agusta F4?

Happy to help.
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Greetings from Shitsville!

[CaNsA]

[Robin_Hood]

I was considering getting an R1 as my first bike but ended up getting a GSXR 600 and to be honest I am glad that I did. I have now had the GSXR for a week, if someone offered to swap it for a bigger bike I would say no. The reason for this is that the speed and acceleration I already have is far beyond my capabilities. I don't regret getting the 600 but my plan to ride it for a few months and get a bigger bike has been shelved for the foreseeable future.
I have learnt a lesson and I am glad that someone's opinion off this forum changed my mind about the 1000cc. Since getting my bike I have come to realise that it is one thing picking a bike out of a mag or going to sit on one in a showroom, but it is total different ball game riding it for real. I haven't fallen off mine as of yet but had a couple of heart in my mouth experiences, the other thing that has become apparent is that I don't have quite as much control over my right hand as I initially thought.
I would never say don't get the bike you want, but I have found that although some on here are just fun sponges etc etc....but they are right about the R1 v Newbie rider.

[Cod3r]

Thx for the replies

I'm 43 so insurance and bike affordable I can get what I like.

Robin .. It's funny you mentioned the GSXr's cause I've kind of settled on the 750 model.

Got my MOD2 next week but still gonna keep my little puf puff fart 125 till next spring but when getting off a 600 and going out on the 125 omg I'm sure I can walk faster

[Khanivore]

People are asking why he wants a litre bike, what he wants the bike for, etc. I think he already answered that. He wants it to look cool on. It's classic mid life crisis and i'm going through the same thing myself

Where do i get that pony? Can I get a Unicorn instead please?

I would love a fireblade myself. I've been convinced to go for a 600 as first bike but I can not honestly tell you why. I do know that so many people told me not to start at a litre bike (people who actually ride bikes regularly like you lot) that at some point I just decided to accept what I was being told as likely to be true and beneficial for me. Im currently dithering on whether to take the overwhelming majority of the advice I got telling me to get a naked bike or to go half way to my desire of a fireblade by picking up CBR600RR or the like.

[c_dug]

I don't suppose there is much difference between getting a naked or faired 600. The naked will arguably make the better bike for road use, they tend to have less extreme riding positions and are tuned for road use rather than track use.

Either way if you have never ridden a big bike in anger both will be more than quick enough to leave you wondering what happened to that straight bit of road that is now in your mirrors. Go for the sports bike if that's what will make you happy.

Most importantly both the sports 600 and naked 600 are realistically speaking a far more sensible choice of first big bike than any litre superbike made in the last 10 years. I'm not one to tell people not to do what they like, but a bike that will do 100mph in first gear and not slow it's rate of acceleration until the naughty side of 150mph does seem a little excessive for somebody new to bikes.
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I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[Khanivore]

Naked bikes don't cost as much to fix when you (invariably) drop it during a low speed manoeuvre. That was the reasoning given to me.

[Robin_Hood]

[pdg]

Naked bikes can cost a lot more to repair sometimes - instead of nice soft bendy plastic (ok, brittle plastic that'll shatter if you look at it funny) hitting the deck you have a nice brittle engine casing contacting first...


Dropping faired bike in slow speed turn = ride home, say "meh" at cracked/scratched plastics - or - remove plastics = streetfighter. (Don't do it again.)

Dropping naked bike in slow speed turn possibly becomes - crack case and dump oil all over the floor, wait for recovery truck to take you home, get home and realise that not only do you need an engine cover but it's cracked your stator too. And bent your handlebars.






Get whatever bike you want and don't fall off. Why do people plan to fall off anyway? Preparing to crash is crashing to prepare.

No, that didn't work did it....
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Any and all advice given should not be followed - if you have to ask it means you don't know so get a man in to do it for you.

[AlanC]

I went 125 to 250 to R6 to R1. I'm still here and haven't made holes in any hedges. Yet.

Couple of comments:

The R6 was tame low down. It needed about 8k rpm (35mph in 1st) before it really got going, then it went batshitinsane at 11k.

The R1 is much easier to ride, more comfortable, handles better, etc. but it's like the R6 at its max all the time.

People will say "The throttle works both ways", but that's not the issue when you're new to riding. On the R1 you need to be able to isolate movement of the throttle from anything else that's going on: hit a bump and tweak the throttle and at best there'll be a big jolt; at worst you'll lose your line and hit something. So you need to have the experience to react instantly and instinctively - no thinking time allowed!

Cross-plane R1's have switchable drive modes. Unlike Suzuki / Kawasaki / Ducati / etc. they don't limit the power, they change the throttle response. This lets you make the throttle 30% less sensitive over the first third of a turn so the bike is far less hyper at low speeds. So if you do really want an R1 go for the cross-plane version (2009 on) because you can tame it while you get used to it.