New rider: 2 bikes. Need help!

[mdl]

Hello everyone, I'm ether looking at a Ducati monster 620 or a Yamaha YZF600R. I don't have any riding experience except a half hour instructional from a friend on a dirt bike. I do however plan on taking the MSF ASAP. No speeding tickets, don't speed in my car, willing to take it slow and learn right. Out of those 2 bikes which would you reccomend? I am planning to save and go new and that is just personal preference, I understand the advantages of going used, but I also understand the disadvantages of going used. But you maaay be able to convince me to go post 2002.

Thanks for the help guys, it's appreciated!

[Jamers!]

looking at a Ducati monster 620 or a Yamaha YZF600R. I don't have any riding experience except a half hour instructional from a friend on a dirt bike. Out of those 2 bikes which would you reccomend?

Thanks for the help guys, it's appreciated!

I recommend neither of those bikes as both have way to much power and Are way to fast for a new rider. You need to be looking at bikes like the Kawasaki ninja500, the Suzuki gs500F if you want sporty looking first bikes. Sorry to bust your bubble but neither of the two bikes you mentiond are new rider bikes. Both are red area do not get for first bike. MSF is good and helps you learn the right way, and part of that right way is getting the right bike.


JWF

[jmillheiser]

If your going to go with one of the two. The ducati will be more beginner friendly as it has about 40 less horsepower than the yamaha.

The ducati will be expensive to fix and maintain however.

I would say look into a ninja 500 or GS500. I would suggest used, if your worried just go for one that is 2000 or newer

[dieziege]

Get both. If you must choose just one, ask yourself What sort of women (or men) you want to attract and impress? The Ducati name is barely known outside of cycling cycles, so you'll only attract more sophistacated and educated females (or males). Yamaha is better known and more common, so it will work well for more average females (or males).

Your call.

[mdl]

What is the big deciding factor in a beginner bike? Is it overall power? Just because the power is there doesn't mean I will neccecarilly use it. I'm not trying to contest anything you guys have said thus far, I'm just curious.


Thanks guys.


Edit:: Ok i have been searching around. I now see that most people are afraid of my jumping on the throttle accadentally and most people even agree consurvative drivers/riders should start small. I fully understand this and agree with this. I just contacted my local kawasaki dealer and expressed interest in an 06 ninja 250. I may however allow myself to be swayed to a 500 (if you guys think the 500 is still acceptable as a learner). Thanks a lot.

[Caper#5]

I think whether you go with the 250 or the 500 depends on entirely what type of driving you intend to do. If you don't mind winding out a bike, the 250 will do for any commuting, but if you will be doing alot of highway driving or possibly 2 up driving, I think the 500 might better suit your needs. Just my opinion.

[mdl]

What do you mean "Winding out the bike"?

[Caper#5]

high rpm's through the gears

[Sev]

Get both. If you must choose just one, ask yourself What sort of women (or men) you want to attract and impress? The Ducati name is barely known outside of cycling cycles, so you'll only attract more sophistacated and educated females (or males). Yamaha is better known and more common, so it will work well for more average females (or males).

Your call.

Please tell me that you aren't getting a bike just to attract the opposite sex?

[scan]

Two things regarding the 600 class in-line 4. First - to really get to the power cooking they are designed for, you need to use the upper end of the RPM scale. Otherwise they are rather mediocre in the performance department. For example, from 0 to around 6 or 7000 the bike will seem tame. Even boring. Once you push over the 8000 or so they will scream.

Second thing. Once you get to the upper end it can get out of hand quite easily. I know first hand from owning a 600cc bike and accidently over shooting to the upper end. I almost wiped out trying to take off from a drive way onto a busy street. I needed to rev it high to get on the road, but I needed knowledgable control to not kill myself. I was lucky this one time as I felt the bike start to slip out in the rear and the front start to tank slap me. I pulled out of it, but gained a lot of respect that day.

I shouldn't have had that bike, and I told everyone I talked to that I could control the throttle. Everyone thinks it is a matter of not using the power. It isn't. Some time on the road you will need to dial up some power and you will think you are ready. Many have lived through this risk and are great bikers. You have to decide if slow and steady is best, or taking your chances with the risk and maybe learning the hardway. I remember a number of guys shook their heads at me when I said I was new and had a 600. They looked at me like I would learn the hard way. It is not easy to believe, but you need the time to get real good on the bike before you playing with some bikes.

Good luck and keep us posted. It's always good to hear the happy ending and learn from the sad ones. Cheers.