Just starting out..

[Tootz]

Hi everyone,

Im new to the forum and would just like a little bit of advice.

Im 21 years old and have always had a fascination with bikes, but my parents have done their best to put me off getting one. My dad's cousin was sadly killed at a young age on a bike and since then he has been very much against them and has put his foot down everytime I mention getting 2 wheels, which is understandable. So for years I kept the idea of getting a bike at the back of my head and stuck to fast cars instead! I have a 2.8 VR6 golf which I love driving.

However, at the start of the year I started doing grid girl work for the BSB Championships and it's only really been after the last round this sunday at Brands Hatch that ive made the decision to go in for my CBT next month, and then have lessons so I can get my full bike license. My parents arent happy at all but it's something ive always wanted to do.

Now, with regards to my first bike, ive had mixed responses from other bikers. Ive been looking at either a Gixer 600, Honda CBR600, Yamaha R6, Honda Fireblade or a Triumph Daytona, all around 1998/99 as my budget is only going to be around £1500-£2000 so will be getting an older bike. A few people have said that a 600cc sports bike will be too powerful, but others have said it would be a good starter because they are fast enough so I wont get bored too quickly, but not so powerful that ill be scared of it.

Any suggestions and advice would be much appreciated!! Im trying to get information from everyone in the know before I go ahead and do this

[thepeteh]

You seem to know what you want already and are aware of the potential dangers involved with motorbikes so that's a very good start. All the 600 sports from the major manufacturers are a good bet, personally I'm a Honda man, I trust the brand and trust they are reliable. Go do your cbt for circa ~£100 first to check that you want to take it further, then pass your test and go get your first bike

[gearboxkart]

all the 600 supersports bikes you mention are good bikes and yes he's right in saying you wont get BORED on 1 ! lol but he is deffo wrong in saying they are not too powerfull as to scare you ! these 600s are just about as quick as a fully blown 1000cc ie r6 v r1 less than a second difference standing quarter ! these 600s are blisteringly fast main difference in the 600 v 1000 is torque/grunt the 600s are rev box's and you need to constantly rev the billys off them something i very quickly got bored with on my r6 track bike and now have a r1 track bike, any1 who says 1 of these 600s isnt fast enough to scare you as a new rider needs a word with himself ! damn thing used to scare me and iv been riding 30 years !
But the same as a car it only goes as fast as the driver makes it go ! but it will put your VW to shame no worries there
Hope you enjoy your biking as much as i have over the years and still do

[FURBAR]

Grid girl !! ... ... pics or you work in the burger van, which incidently is kept afloat by me and BCF member Skudd, .... especially Skudd ...
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Fuk um !!

[Frost]

Do your CBT before deciding on what kind of bike you want to get. It's easy to look at the 600 superbikes and hear how good they are and assume they will be great fun, easy to ride etc. Doing your CBT will give you an indication if your ging to be ready for a superbike or not in the near future. You might want to consider something more manageable untill your a bit more expirenced. superbikes tend to have high seats (often a problem for girls), crap turning circles (means manuvours often need more practise and planning). Superbikes obviously look great which is a large part of the appeal, but it means that dropping one even just off the stand can cost a fortune to fix.

Nothing wrong with aiming for a superbike, but just be aware that learning to walk before attempting to run is more than just a saying.

[Dave McCool]

My first ever bike was/is a K8 Gixxer 6, bought 2 days after my DAS, and that only took me so long because I had trouble finding someone to insure me on it!

The bike will go as fast as you want it to, my 6 is an absolute pussycat at low speeds; much, much easier to ride slowly than the 125's or the 500's I trained on! And, as a bonus it's staggeringly quick when I do open it up, taking it to the redline always at least gives me a smile, if not a full on laugh out loud moment in my lid!

One thing I have found is that my bike feels particularly stable and well mannered on the road compare to other bikes I've ridden, although that experience is only really of other sports 600's, but even the more twitchy of the sports bikes I've ridden feel a hundred times more stable than the 500's I did my DAS, and they're a hundred times better than the 125's!

I'd make the same decision again in a second, I love my bike, even if I could pretty much hear her laughing at me when I went on my first trackday and got absolutely nowhere near to what she could do. Kinda felt like getting Lily Allen into bed, and then being spent after 30 seconds!

Go get your test done and then get yourself as many test rides on as many different styles and makes as a flutter of he eyelashes can get you, and go for the bike that you want, the one that makes you feel best, or, as in my case, the bike that talks to you and tells you to do very naughty things...
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McGee - "When I go to the mall and see all the high school girls, I have to have DO NOT TOUCH THE GIRLS written on my hand. Every time I go to grope I see it and stop."
K7 GSXR750

[Fortuna]

Which grid girl are you?

[27cows]

Don't be one of the crowd. Nearly everyone gets samey generic sports bikes. These bikes are pretty dangerous, simply because they go so fast with no real effort. Fast should feel fast.

Would recommend something naked. Maybe an M600 Ducati. 600 Bandit is also a nice bike.

Be realistic - if you start out on a bigger bike, there's a pretty good chance of it getting dropped. GSXRs and such are covered in expensive to replace plastic. They're fine if you have no interest in developing skill (because they virtually ride themselves). But power rangers aren't proper motorcyclists. To be one of those, you will need to buy a proper bike I'm sure most on here will agree with me
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The RXS100: vehicle of choice for Chuck Norris

[gearboxkart]

[quote=" and go for the bike that you want, the one that makes you feel best, or, as in my case, the bike that talks to you and tells you to do very naughty things...[/quote]

Lol well if its going to do that for her she just has to get a ducati 916 just the sight of the 916 is enough to get the adrenalin going never mind a grid girl stretched out over it and them 916's do talk the talk and walk the walk