Total Motorcycle Community Forums

Posted: **Sat Aug 27, 2005 12:34 pm**

Congratulations, almost

Im glad to see your choosing the smaller bike, it shows your thinking clearly. I bet you will do just fine.

Posted: **Tue Aug 30, 2005 12:32 am**

Well, I'm looking at the GS500F but how is the Katana 600 for a beginner? I like the look better better but unless it is also a good beginner, will stick with the GS500F.

Posted: **Thu Sep 01, 2005 6:26 am**

Ok, a few people here at work ride, and I was speaking with one of them, he rides an R1 now and his first bike was a GSX-R750. He says that a couple of his friends got CBR600F4i's for their first bikes. Now I just don't know what I want to get, I've been looking at the Katana 600 because after looking at the GS500F and EX500, they look like I'll outgrow them pretty quick. I guess just wish me luck and I'll decide after more looking and trying on a bunch of others.

Posted: **Thu Sep 01, 2005 9:15 am**

Have you taken a beginner riding class like the MSF? Even though those are smaller bikes than you would probably buy for yourself, maybe it would give you a chance to see how comfortable you are on a bike. I hadn't ridden since I was a kid before taking the class, but since I was so comfortable on the small bike, I decided I would be ok on a brand new 805cc cruiser. I've done fine on it and haven't laid it down once, or even gotten close to. I love it, it feels like an extension of myself! Which is not to say I won't ever lay it down, I just haven't up to this point. As I said in my last post, my boyfriend has been very happy with his CBR600F4i, hasn't laid it down at all, and he was extremely comfortable in the MSF also. I know, i'm just gonna get people angry with me to say these things, but I'm just relating my own experiences (go ahead, take shots at me).

Remember I'm a noob as well, so I may not know anything!

I think the bottom line is, you need to be comfortable with the bike you choose, whether small and used or larger and new. Everybody has their own experiences and situations are different for everyone.

Good luck!

Posted: **Thu Sep 01, 2005 9:19 am**

You arent stupid, so you know why we recomend the bikes that most of us do.

I wont deny that there are people who either through natural talent or plain dumb luck beat the curve on that one while pounding the basic skills in.

I usually get pretty irate and upset at this point because there is no such thing as an 'only 600cc sportsbike' but I want you to bear something in mind:

CB600F - 108bhp and 155mph*
GS500F - 51bhp and 115mph*

108bhp is neck snappingly quick - believe me on that. I cant recommend that you look very heavily at 50 to 60bhp bikes strongly enough. They are still a hell of a lot of fun but the power is a lot more controlable while you are getting basic skills in.

In the event that you do pick up a 600cc sportsbike I honestly hope that you beat the curve and prove me an old worrier.

Ride safe.

*English test results by Two Wheels Only, US spec bikes may be slightly different.

Posted: **Thu Sep 01, 2005 9:27 pm**

Maybe an SV650s would be a good compromise for you. Kawasaki is also coming out with a Ninja 650R in 06, Im thinking it could be a competitor to the SV, will need to wait and see for that one.

You might want to check out an FZ6 also. Its not that you cant ride a 600, its just that the supersport bikes can be a handful to learn on.

Maybe at this point, look at some used bikes, I mean real used. You can probably find a used "learner" bike for less than $1500. Bite the bullet, learn to ride for several months, then get your F4i. I would recommend you not to finance a learning bike.

Posted: **Fri Sep 02, 2005 12:06 am**

Kal speaks with feeling, bikes in general are non forgiving, downright nasty peices of work if you do not respect them. They are like horses that just know you can't ride and will try everything to toss you off. BUT and this is the but, once you learn to ride competently you can apply your knowledge to just about anything. Some guys can learn on a 125 and step up to a litre class no problem because all the basics have been covered. There is also "the Pace". This is where you ride at a pace well within your abilities regardless of bike size and enjoy NOT pushing the limits. Think carefully and be honest with yourself.