Advice Required

[Dinnaz]

Alright lads.

I'm a new rider and am looking at a 600 for my first bike.

A lot have people have said to get something smaller for my first bike, but as has been said by others, whats the point if your going to change it after a year. Anyway I think common sense when starting off goes a long way.


the problem I have is what to opt for.

I love the R6 yet have heard many a horror story about them being a very flighty bike. The CBR on the other hand is meant to be really user friendly.

Again the options are the GSXR or the Ninja.

any comments please.

[Ste]

How old are you and what road experience do you have?

[Flip]

CBR6 is the 'safest' option. Might get a 600 next year.

[froggy128]

i wouldnt recoment the R6 for you at this stage, i know someone who did a DAS and got one and sold it within a month

[dainesefreak]

To be honest my main concern would cost and condition for a first bike. Buying something new and shinny is a great feeling but absolutely gutting when you drop it for the first time.

R6 - Depending on what age/model you go for, can range from a fairly focussed track bike to a nice enough road bike. It tended to soften with age. (or is that me ) I had a 2001 R6 and it would be fairly heavy going on a new rider.

CBR600F - It's a Honda
Easier to ride than the Yam and lots more cosseting, it will do what you tell it and will do everything well. In fact journo's like to call a bit of a "Jack of all trades and master of none". Also sometimes described as being a bit bland.

GSXR600 - Suzuki always decide to redesign their sports 600 and 1000 a year out from the other major manufacturers and always fight to win back the class crown and usually do. A bit more track focussed than the CBR but usually more comfortable than the earlier R6 models.

ZX6R - Cheating Kawasaki Upped the engine capacity to 636 for more HP and Torque and a more usable everyday option for it. The later models seemed to swap places with the R6, they became more uncompromising and track focussed with hard suspension and (for a 600) ballistic motor.

There you go, might help might not.

[froggy128]

have you thought about a fazer 600? older ones are well priced

[b0ss]

Hornet 600, it's my first bike and I love it. Plenty of power and it flys around the twisties.

[Dinnaz]

Ste I am 26 with plenty of road experience, I'm a Taxi Driver in Newcastle upon Tyne. Just not on a bike though.

Dansiefreak, thats everything I need to know, although the R6 is the bike I would love, the brain says aswell as friendly advice, start with the CBR600.

Cheerz lads, I will be sure to keep you updated.

[Ste]

Have a look at the other 600's, like the GSXR600 and the ZX6R. All the sports 600's are very similar spec wise, the R6 is a bit more focused than any of the other and lots of people find that riding an R6 puts lots of pressure on their wrists and isn't comfortable riding on the roads for much time.

Have a look in Bike Trader and find some local dealers with different bikes in stock and go along to have a look at them and sit on them etc. If you can, get some test rides, having said that any of them probably seem amazing if it's your first bike and you recently did DAS using a 500cc commuter bike but it should help you find out which ones riding position and general riding you prefer and to give you a better idea of which one you want.

[Kaben]

i hear the triumph Daytona 600 is a very good road sportsbike, and quite forgiving on new riders, as well as having the grunt to class it as a sports. Triumphs are pretty much always in good condition due to the fact that people who buy them are generally older, and care for their bikes more.
Try and get one with original exhaust and Triumph extras, as this will show that its less likely to have been ragged hard
I love the triumphs, and they are British goddamnit! Have a look at least,they are worth considering

edit: I think they have more low down useable power than the jap bikes which are all tuned to maximum power/torque at 12k revs.
this will make it much more usable in a town environment and from what ive read better suited to new riders. More comfortable riding position according to the mags as well.
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Its Not a Melon, Its Clearly a Lime!!
Yamaha Fazer 600Now dead, MZ 125 SM
My Deviant Art homepage https://robabloke.deviantart.com/

[JonB]

I'm gonna be a safety Nazi and stick my neck out here. You say that "what is the point in getting a small bike if I am just going to get a 600 after a year anyway". What if you get a 600 and don't last a year on it anyway?

Just because you have road experience in a Taxi, it's not the same as riding a bike, you need to look at every road user anticipating what they are going to do. When you have a very powerful bike throttle control is high up there and you need to have a lot of overall control on the bike.

It's up to you what you ultimately decide, but you gotta remember the chance of dying on a bike is higher increased when you are out of your depth. Just my
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Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it?s worth.

[Davo]

Like I have said it's all about attitude!

I passed my test last year, never ridden a bike before. Three weeks after passing my test I bought a Hayabusa, with a couple of weeks spent on a Kawasaki GPZ550.

I'm still about! My advice to you would be if you went and bought a sports 600, is to ask yourself if you've got the self-restraint and respect for the bike. If so go and take a few test rides and find what you feel most comfortable with.

[Kaben]

you could also buy a 600 and restrict it for the learning/new to bike period, then when your more confident rip the restrictor out and have some fun.
This is probably what im gonna do on my Fazer 600.
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Its Not a Melon, Its Clearly a Lime!!
Yamaha Fazer 600Now dead, MZ 125 SM
My Deviant Art homepage https://robabloke.deviantart.com/

[Fire_Eyes]

[paulyzf600]

I bought a 600 the day after a passed my test. Though I felt as though I had enough self control to get used to the bike before going nuts.
I too liked the yamaha range (best looking bikes this year in my opinion r6,r1) but I could'nt afford an R6 so I went one down and got a thundercat. This is not as light and a little bigger than the R6 but the engine is just as strong and the gearing is great. It has more usable power than the R6 so is easier to ride off the pace as well as on the pace.
They are in a good insurance group for starters and they are very forgiving bikes when you make mistakes. Similiar to the CBR although not as common.
At least have a look at these bikes, mind I live in newcastle and I see a few around all the time.
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Yamaha YZF600 Thundercat

[JONNY-R1]

sod the 600...get a 1000cc!!
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JONNY

[jimster]

I think you should do the DAS on a learner school bike, and then you'll be able to test ride the various bikes to see what you like.
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Current: Yamaha Diversion XJ900
Previous: Yamaha Diversion 600cc, Piaggio Zip 50cc, Honda CG125-W, Siamoto Caddy 50cc moped

[bish777]

I'd say Fazer 600, nice tractable engine, good handling and much easier ergonomics than a sports 600.
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GSXR1100J