Whats a good 600cc bike for my size and being a beginner?

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OleMiss · #1 Unread post by **OleMiss** » Sun May 15, 2005 1:43 pm

I know everybody says go with something extremely small, but the thing is I am 6'4" about 180lbs and its kinda hard for me ride those little bikes. So I am basically gonna get a 600cc bike. I just need to know which one would be better for me. I have ridden a bike once and it was a 93 Honda 900RR I did fairly well on it I just was unsure about leaning in and out of curves so I decided to go with a 600cc bike. I was thinking of getting one of the following:
Honda CBR 600F4i
Yamaha YZF R6
Suzuki GSX R 600
Kawasaki Ninja R6
Suzuki GSX R 750[/color]I am not looking to buy a 2005 or anything but at least an 2000-2002. I also want a full fairing bike.

Gadjet · #2 Unread post by **Gadjet** » Sun May 15, 2005 2:02 pm

You might want to have a read through these threads first

1. http://totalmotorcycle.com/BBS/viewtopic.php?t=937

2. http://totalmotorcycle.com/BBS/viewtopic.php?t=583

3. http://totalmotorcycle.com/BBS/viewtopic.php?t=100

Your physical size has nothing to do with how big a bike you will need to move you. The only factor is seating position and how comfortable you are on the bike.

kyle · #3 Unread post by **kyle** » Sun May 15, 2005 2:44 pm

I heartily recommend you take the MSF course before you buy a bike. Lots of good info, good training... just a good experience all around to have under your belt.

Between now and then, go to dealers and people with ads in the classifieds and sit on bikes, see what's comfortable, and see what you like. Some people can sit all day on a bike that someone else can't stand for more than an hour. Sit on 250 bikes, sit on 500s, sit on 600s.. look at all of them. Looking and sitting are free, and will help in the decision making process between now and when you finish the MSF class. Just because you look and sit doesn't mean you have to buy! Just shop around for a while, and don't let yourself get locked into a "gotta have a 600cc bike" mentality. They're nice, and if you're smart about it they aren't bad bikes, but feel free to look at other bikes, anyways. What's it going to hurt to look?

Good luck!

Psycluded · #4 Unread post by **Psycluded** » Sun May 15, 2005 3:12 pm

Lemme clue you in on something, here.

I took a FANTASTIC MSF course about an hour from where I live. It was 3 days over the weekend, and they provided everything but a jacket and gloves, including a 250cc bike and helmet. We went over everything I could think of, and more, since I was piping up with all sorts of what-if scenarios (which made for some fun interactive riding events on the last day, like instructors tossing cones in your way, which you must brake or swerve to avoid.) Before this course, I had ridden dirt bikes as a teenager, but I'm 25 now, and it's been 8 years.

Two weeks ago, I bought the bike I've had my eyes set on for the last 4 months, since I saw a preview in a magazine, the 2005 Honda CBR600F4i. Arguably, this bike is probably one of the better of the 600cc-class to start on, but let me warn you: IT IS NO JOKE.

Even at low RPMs, I have had to VERY quickly teach myself to baby the clutch and be very, very gentle with the bike. She had my respect from moment one, when I let out the clutch without even touching the throttle and IDLED at 10mph through the parking lot. Hit that throttle, even a TINY bit, without feathering the clutch? You're on the pavement with your bike on its side, wondering what the heck happened. NOT the best way to earn "cool" points.

After two weeks, I'm slowly but surely getting a feel for how outmatched I am by this lesser-600 monster. She has my infinite respect, and it has kept me safe up to this point. Thankfully, one of my riding partners is an MSF instructor on my base. (Maxwell AFB, AL) He and the other guys I've ridden with have been watching me like protective mother hawks to make sure I'm not developing bad habits. They criticize my stops and my starts every time we're at a light, giving me pointers, "Don't lose control on the clutch, keep your fingers there the whole time to baby it.", "Always ride with your eyes scanning the traffic at least 4 cars ahead of you, and don't look at cars, look at DRIVERS. If the guy in the Escalade is on the phone and wrestling with a kid, stay away from him, because he won't SEE you.", "Hey Weeks, you had your turn signal on for like 400 yards back there. Careful with that, you'll confuse the drivers that DO see us."

So far, so good, but I gotta tell ya, I'm kinda feeling the pressure and wondering if I shoulda picked up something a little smaller.

Oh, and about the size thing. My friend Dave rides a Yamaha R6, and he's 6'8", 250 lbs.

Anyhoo, I'd warn you away from a 600cc bike if you've never ridden before. The only thing that has been my saving grace so far is that I had experience on dirt bikes. While not much of that experience transfers over to supersport bikes, just enough of it did that I've been able to keep up so far.

Cheers, bro. Hope you make a good decision and come out with a bike you can trust and enjoy!

iwannadie · #5 Unread post by **iwannadie** » Sun May 15, 2005 5:59 pm

the engine size doesnt reflect the actual Size of the bike at all or the ride position.

just a quick look at kawasakis site and i got some numbers. but if your in that 'i need a 600cc bike' mind set no thing will change that so... but just try and point out a valid reason(to yourself) that shows you Need a 600cc bike to learn on. being tall a sports bike isnt going to be comfortable. not many people ever find any sports bike comfortable, your not buying comfort your buying performance. if you want comfort get a goldwing. otherwise throw the idea of comfort out the window and then realize youll pick a bike thats tollerable out of the bunch. the numbers show only a minor difference in dimensions a few inchs here and there. no thing that would show a person over 6foot needs the bike with the bigger class engine over the smaller engine bike. at least in my opinion.

ninja zx 6r
Seat height: 32.3 in.
Overall height: 43.7 in.
Overall length: 81.3 in.
Overall width: 28.1 in.
Dry weight: 362 lbs.

ninja 250r
Seat height: 29.3 in.
Overall height: 43.1 in.
Overall length: 80.1 in.
Overall width: 28.0 in.
Dry weight: 304 lbs.

sappsTTer · #6 Unread post by **sappsTTer** » Sun May 15, 2005 6:37 pm

Why don't you consider something that's not a sportbike for your first bike? Something more forgiving. You'll probably learn more about proper riding too. From people I've talked to people who start out on sportbikes don't really learn how to handle their bikes. At first their conerned with going to fast, then too slow, then too fast, shifting, etc... instead of being able to focus on handling the bike and everything around them. You only hear about those who sucessfully start out on sportbikes, because well those not so sucessfull didn't live to tell...

vulcanman500 · Sun May 15, 2005 8:19 pm

I started ona cruiser and am now SLOWLY moving into my sport bike. its a whole other thing having a 600cc sport bike. tall or not. the power availablein any 600 is still a little much for the beginer. its possible to learn, but not recommended on a 600. if you have experience it will be easier. go to bikez.com adn find your models. they are pretty acurate about things.