PLEASE VOTE: Would you recommend a 600cc sport bike?

[isnowbrd]

If you would like, include a post explaining why you voted yes or no. Please only post ONCE in this thread and DO NOT reply to what other people have said.

[isnowbrd]

I'll start.

When I started riding, I bought a 1989 Honda VTR250 (250cc sport bike) in perfect condition with rather low mileage for $1500. That was more than enough bike to start with. I'm 6'2" and that Honda will still go over 100mph. And the zero to 60 time is faster than most cars on the road, once you have some skill that is.

I have since purchased a 2004 Kawasaki ZZR600 (600cc sport bike) which is my current ride. Based on my experience, I totally recommend waiting on the 600cc class sport bike. AND BUY USED! Get something you won't mind dropping. That way you will save hundreds, and maybe even thousands on insurance by not getting full coverage. Instead, spend that money on cool looking safety gear that you can use on your first ride, and the 600cc you will get later.

[Sev]

Honda 599, I say no for first, yes for second bike.

[Skier]

After riding my friend's '96 Yamaha FZR 600, I'd say no no no no to one as a first bike. Plenty of power, handles great, but it's not nearly as forgiving as any other bike I've ridden. It also seems fairly silly to start on something that will cost you a couple hundred bucks in plastic every time you drop it.

[MarkyPancake]

After much deliberation I made an informed choice and started on a 2001 Kawasaki ZX-6R and while I have gotten on great with it and have no regrets I wouldn't recommend it. The first ride out of the shop was scary, it was bigger, heavier, more precise and overall different to anything I had learnt on. It's a shame the board got hacked as I had a thread all about it.

Can I ride it to its potential? No.

Will we ride any bike to its potential? Most likely not and especially not on the road.

[Nibblet99]

I've started on 125cc bikes. and the sheer amount I've learnt from them, I doubt I could replicate on a high powered bike. When you start out, it's good to have a bike, which you don't need to think about too much. It leaves you free to concentrate on picking lines through corners (with the throttle at the stop), and to get a better idea of how traffic reacts to you (and you to traffic).

Get something small and un-intimidating, and clock up 5000 miles riding in ALL weather conditions. It'll make you a better rider.

Once you've started riding, it'll drive you nuts, if you can't ride your bike in the winter. If you're on a bike which is more difficult to wheelspin, or lock the brakes, you can quite happily ride until the few days where the ground is frozen up (I think there were 3 days I couldn't ride this year)

Now I'm moving to a more powerful bike, yes it will be more intimidating in foul weather, but now I know how much grip is available to be used in all the conditions.

Finally, to the people who say small bikes get blown around too much... Obviously they haven't ridden them in high winds. I've quite happily learnt to deal with a winding road, in the dark, with drizzle, and 70mph gusts. Ok it was daunting, but most riders wouldn't even attempt it. I did the full 30 mile run on it, without problem.

Small bikes are awesome in my opinion

Choose wisely, Ride well
Andy

[ZooTech]

I chose "No (I have ridden one before)", but only because you added "that you don't personally know" to the end of the question. My number one piece of advice for beginners is a 4-stroke dirt bike. I still would not steer anyone toward a 250cc anything. A Ninja 500R is only slightly bigger (weight and size wise) than a 250, yet it might actually remain fun enough to keep for a year or two rather than ending up on eBay a week later. For the price of a 250cc bike, there are thousands of late 80's, early 90's 450's, 500's, 600's, etc. that can be had for cheap, dropped, and not be cried about. But when it's time to lose the beginner bike the weight of the new bike won't be a big shocker like it is for those poor souls coming off of 250's.

[Dennis27]

Depends on the person. Some ppl I wouldnt recommend a moped to. I started on a 750 and I met another guy last night who just bought a new Victory.... The first time he's even sat on a motorcycle is when he went to the dealer to pick it up

[Scott58]

i voted yes because i believe you should buy what you want and take your chances. The bike can always be geared down to make it more sedate. It's a personal choice and you should do what you want.

[ZooTech]

All I know is, my coworker approached me last summer and asked how hard it was to ride a motorcycle. I said, "It depends...it's different for different people". He knew how to drive a stick, but hadn't in years...and he had never so much as sat on a motorcycle before. He's 6'5" tall and weighs ~300lbs (body builder) so all the 250cc and even 500cc toys were outta the question. A dirt bike was also a no-go because he lives in town and had nowhere to ride it. So I told him, with your build you won't be happy or comfortable on anything less than a liter bike. With that he went out and bought a 2-year-old Honda Hawk (1000cc) and he did absolutely fantastic on it. He just putted around his cul-de-sac for about two weeks, then ventured out on city streets (never more than 45mph). He stalled it at lights, pissed people off going too slow, and avoided the freeway all together. He wouldn't even ride to work because there's a huge hill on the way! BUT, his patience and perseverence paid off in the end and a couple months later he was doing wheelies and stoppies with his buddies. This Spring he traded up for a brand new Yamaha R1.

To this day he thanks me for telling him to buy a bike that fit him, rather than wasting time on a 250.