Total Motorcycle Community Forums

jonnythan wrote:

Brackstone wrote:

G3rrity wrote:How are the Yamha FZ6 and Suzuki SV650 as first street bikes? I know they are 600cc+ bikes but they are fairly light weight and boast the standard riding position and substantially less high rpm insane power than the 600+cc sportbikes from what I've been reading. Any thoughts?

Thanks a lot!

It's more than just the power of the bike it's the super sensitive brakes, throttle, and handling.

A 600CC bike is too big for anyone to start out on.

I hate when people boil it down to displacement like this.

There are a lot of bikes with displacements up to 800 or 900 cc that are entirely fine starter bikes.

800 and 900 cc starter bikes to my knowledge have always been "Cruisiers" I haven't seen anyone mention a 800 or 900 cc sportbike that's ok to get on.

Heck there's a thread on this very forum that is trying to discourage newbies from getting on a 600cc+ sportbike if I recall

Plus I didn't harp on the displacement at all, I talked about the weight, handling, and brakes. I used the displacement as a reference because your not just getting a more powerful engine your getting a lot of things.

I started on a 250cc and then moved up to the FZ6, and I'm glad I did. I don't think I'd be riding right now if I started on the FZ6 right from the start, I'd be too scared.

I can't comment on the SV650, I've never ridden it.

I'll most likely be going with an '89 Kawasaki 454 LTD so long as it checks out this weekend when my dad and I go to see it (he knows everything about bikes, I don't know jack****). Thanks for all of the advice though! Once I've ridden this baby for a couple years and I've got some more money maybe I'll move up to the FZ6 or SV650.

Brackstone wrote:800 and 900 cc starter bikes to my knowledge have always been "Cruisiers" I haven't seen anyone mention a 800 or 900 cc sportbike that's ok to get on.

Yes, indeed, but you didn't say "600cc sportbikes are too big for beginners."

You said "A 600CC bike is too big for anyone to start out on."

This sort of comment is why we get people saying things like "Is a V-Star 650 too much bike for a beginner" or thinking "well if a 650cc V-Star is a good beginners bike, this cooler looking SV650 or even GSX-R600 should be fine!"

Brackstone wrote:Plus I didn't harp on the displacement at all, I talked about the weight, handling, and brakes. I used the displacement as a reference because your not just getting a more powerful engine your getting a lot of things.

Yes, you did. And you did a good job of it. My only problem was with the statement "A 600CC bike is too big for anyone to start out on."

jonnythan wrote:

Brackstone wrote:800 and 900 cc starter bikes to my knowledge have always been "Cruisiers" I haven't seen anyone mention a 800 or 900 cc sportbike that's ok to get on.

Yes, indeed, but you didn't say "600cc sportbikes are too big for beginners."

You said "A 600CC bike is too big for anyone to start out on."

This sort of comment is why we get people saying things like "Is a V-Star 650 too much bike for a beginner" or thinking "well if a 650cc V-Star is a good beginners bike, this cooler looking SV650 or even GSX-R600 should be fine!"

Brackstone wrote:Plus I didn't harp on the displacement at all, I talked about the weight, handling, and brakes. I used the displacement as a reference because your not just getting a more powerful engine your getting a lot of things.

Yes, you did. And you did a good job of it. My only problem was with the statement "A 600CC bike is too big for anyone to start out on."

I edited my statement so it would not be taken out of context for future readers. But I disagree with your analysis of the impact my statement could have. People just come here for answers so they don't have to do the search on google.

Heck people don't even read stickies!