another newbie cbr600 or bandit

[alan2012]

Hi Guys, just joined and love the forum

Im 32, doing my DAS next month and when i pass was thinking of getting something a bit older, fairly well priced and most importantly manageable for a new rider

Looking at spending 1500 - 2000 notes

was thinking either cb500, cbf/cbr600 or a gsf bandit

any thoughts?????

Cheers
Alan

[gray84]

well welcome and all that. good luck with the das and all that too..
the bikes are all fairly different. its about what kind of riding and comfort your after. dont worry about engine size as you will just adjust to that. bandit it easy going and comfortably,cbrf is nice for distance,quick and a bit more comfortable than just the cbr.
have a think of where you will ride and imagine being in that riding position...
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Road bike - 2002 YAMAHA R6(SOLD) 2008 YAMAHA R1(SOLD) 2007 APRILIA SXV 550(SOLD) 2007 SUZUKI GSXR 600
Dirt bike - 1989 HONDA CR80sw(SOLD) 1996 YAMAHA YZ125(SOLD) 2006 yamaha yz250(SOLD)

[Benson_JV]

Go to a dealer and sit on some, you may find you like one more than the other. CBR600F is my suggestion though...as it always is.
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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

[Villers]

If I was to pick one out of that list to have for more than a few months I would have to go for the CBRF.

It depends on what you want in a bike really though. If you are just wanting to commute to work or potter about town then one of the naked bikes might be a safe bet. If you are looking for good solid performance with comfort than I would expect the CBRF to be a better prospect.

Before settling on a bandit, look at the honda hornet too. If you are after value you may find that for your budget you will get a younger SV650 for your money which will cope with commuting, town riding and the odd 'thrash' but as a bike for hooning around on I wouldn't recommend one.

CBR vs Bandit in terms of looks, performance, reliability, fun and longevity isn't really a good compromise. Ive never liked bandits but they do serve a purpose.

Think about what you want from your riding before you decide!
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RS125 > CBR6 > SV650S > ZX636R > GSX1300RZ Hayabusa > 06 RSVR Mille > SV1000S > Street Triple 765 RS

[Slacker24seve...]

The Hornet, SV650 and Fazer are all a fair bit more bike for your money, look much better and in the case of the Fazer and Hornet are usefully quicker too.

The CBR would be an excellent choice but you'll be looking at an older model, comparatively, for that money.

Try as many bikes as you can and go with the one you like the feel of best, they are all fairly comparable. For example the Hornet and Fazer are fairly well matched in terms of power, the Fazer has the edge for motorway miles, tank range and braking but its hideously ugly and possibly not quite as good to hoon about on as a Hornet.
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Triumph Daytona 675 track bike + girlfriend's Honda Hornet 600
Selling a hack/winter bike for less than a grand? PM me.
Banger rallies are ace

[alan2012]

thanks for all the great replies, so soon. Im not getting the bike for commute or work, it will be for going out on a blast round the borders at weekends etc, My pal is going through the DAS with me, Just got back from the bike show at ingleston so had opportunity to sit on a few bikes, all be it brand new ones.

Cant wait now to get the test done and get out and about

[Paxovasa]

The bandit is more of a commuter bike (although they do take to been thrown around). Out of the options of bikes that you posted (and for what you want) I would go for a CBR600F
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Suzuki GSF600 K3 (in the fastest colour, black).

[Slacker24seve...]

[alan2012]

cheers everyone

any other options you think I may have missed

read alot of stuff on internet where folk say a 600 is a bad idea for a newbie, My reckoning is at 32 ive grown out of that thrash the tits off it to impress the boys phase

I figure regardless what i get as long as i take care and respect what im on and learn to handle it I should be as ok as the next guy

[Paxovasa]

[alan2012]

yeah fair point,

Im not really looking for something too sporty

im quite big ( 6'1) and 16st so want to find something fairly comfortable

[Villers]

Contrary to one of the posts above, since Ive had the mispleasure of the SV650 and Ive also owned a hornet for a few months, I would say that if you are out for the hoon only it would make much more sense to go for the CBR.

The SV seems like a good bike on the surface, quite cheap, nice touches like a digital dash, nice ish gear box, good sound etc. In reality its a budget bike, built and finished to a budget and thus at times it can produce a very budget ride! Mine was nice for pottering about but its shortcomings were apparent within a couple of weeks. I had crashed a CBR6 quite badly and needed some confidence back so intentionally took a backward step hoping that I could gain confidence. I was led to believe that the SV could 'punch above its weight' but the reality was far removed. What I ended up with was a bike that hated to be pushed and would often border on dangerous if given any rough treatment at speed. It had a very cheapo bouncy suspension, coupled with poor brakes that made keeping up with bikes of a similar class very uninspiring. The power is pathetic at anything over 60 and to be fair is pretty breathless most of the time. This isnt to say the Hornet is a fire breathing track monster by comparison but it certainly had more punch and waved the white flag a lot later when shown a set of challenging bends. I would personally put the Bandit somewhere in between the two but would prefer the hornet if I was given the choice. You could always get an SV and throw GSXR parts at it so that you had an awesome suspension set up, but you would be left with the underpowered ditchpump underneath anyway.

The only reasons to go for one of the softer options (Bandit, Hornet, SV) is the budget you are on and the state of your back. Although the CBR is very comfortable when compared with modern 600's its still not exactly an arm chair, especially if you have any pre existing bother. The budget aspect is that for £2k you would get a much younger, lower mileage SV than you would a CBRF or hornet.

As far as the 600 being too big a jump, thats entirely up to yourself, your won confidence, your own control and your own choice!

Good luck
____________________
RS125 > CBR6 > SV650S > ZX636R > GSX1300RZ Hayabusa > 06 RSVR Mille > SV1000S > Street Triple 765 RS

[Paxovasa]

[bacon]

[alan2012]

whats the general view on a cb500 as a starter for maybe first year or 2

[Villers]

Depends on the rider, you may be happy with it if you can settle for a commuter, some can't last a few months without wanting something sporty.

Me personally I enjoyed my 125 and would have one as a second bike now for a laugh but given the chance of something with 100+ bhp theres no difficult decisions to be made!
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RS125 > CBR6 > SV650S > ZX636R > GSX1300RZ Hayabusa > 06 RSVR Mille > SV1000S > Street Triple 765 RS

[Benson_JV]

[alan2012]

cheers for all the great replies

Been looking at a cbf600, pick one up with half decent mileage for about 1700

I like the look of a slightly more upright riding position whilst still being able to have a bit of a thrash

[swampy]

[Howling Terror]

*Had a go on this today.

https://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m174/howlingterror_2006/IMG_0036.jpg

https://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m174/howlingterror_2006/IMG_0037.jpg

Upright position, light, good steering lock (can trap your thumbs tho). Suspension was soft, but didn't get out of shapes when i pushed it through some corners over crappy tarmac.

Brakes were quite good...rear brake was on/off so didn't bother with it.
The engine...smooth and quite bland until 10K then you get a nice little rush. Had enough grunt to laze about town in 4th. Gearbox was nice, same with the clutch.

Some kind of race can has been fitted and it sounded like i was going 100 when i was doing 40....which was nice. (may get wearing after a while)

https://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m174/howlingterror_2006/IMG_0038.jpg

I prefer the Fazer 600 to the SV650 and the Bandit(heavy).

*Not owned these bikes, only short test rides.
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Singer songwriter, Artist and allround good bloke Listen to Andrew Susan Johnston here
The Harry Turner Project

[GSF Jamie 600]

Hi

I was in the exact same position as you when i passed my test at 17.
I was stuck between the cbr 600 or the bandit 600.
And i went for.........the bandito

Undoubtedly the cbr will be a bit quicker, but i love the looks of the bandit and how it can do anything you can ask of it in comfort

Plus one of the good points of a bandit is they are so customisable, and you can quite quickly have a personalised bike if your into that stuff

If i was to say anything negative though it would be it is quite revvy on the mway, i am always looking for a 7th gear. Sits at 6k at 70mph

Weight is not an issue at all as once you are moving you do not notice it and if anything makes it more stable. And when not moving a chap of your size should be fine I am very similar to you in size and throw it around easily enough

If you go for the bandit i would recommend jacking it up, i jacked mine up last week and it feels so much more agile

[bacon]

[Straker]

CBR 600 FY

Manageable, comnfortable, powerful when called upon, good looking, bullet proof engine.

That would be my choice.
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Current: CBR 900 RR3 (954 Blade)
Previous: CBR 600 FY (01),
09 Triumph Street Triple R (nicked), R6 (04), CBR 600 FX (00), GPZ 305 (lol)

[YZFR1IAN]

[dogbot]

I've always been put off the Fazer by the fact it seems to be the bike of choice for middle aged, greying, born again bikers.

Sort of like what Alan Partridge would ride if he took his DA...