Total Motorcycle Community Forums

i was thinking of getting either an R6 (because it would be my first bike and didn't think i could handle an R1 even tho i have been riding atv's since i was about 5), gsxr600 or a cbr600rr...anyone have any suggestions on which one would be better?

Well, I used to think I wanted a 600CC sportbike to start with too...but I had to ask myself this question...

"I wonder if the transplant surgeon removing the kidneys from my corpse is going to crack jokes about my death on a donorcycle"

I'll be getting a Ninja 250 after my MSF course is done, despite my motocross experience, because I don't want to consider that question anymore XP

as a first bike i would say none of those. your atv experience doesn't transfer to the street beyond knowing how to clutch/shift really. look at an ex500, gs500, ex250 etc. those have plenty of power, acceleration, handling, speed or whatever it is you want...unless of course, if all you want is to say look at my gsxr6/r6/cbr600rr/etc.

there are a few lovely stickies that you can see quite easily, or people here will refer you to, explaining why 600cc sport bikes do not make good first bikes.


**Edit: never mind i now see your other post from a couple days ago saying you were looking for a 250cc bike that looks like a supersport, apparently you are in it for the image and not the ride

Been riding for years on cruisers. My first sport bike is going to be a 250 provided the wife lets me get one.

i started on a ninja 250 and rode it for 8 thousand miles. i wrecked it once, dropped it twice, and did everything you arent supposed to do on a bike a few times too. trust me dude, you dont want to learn on an r6, because you WILL wreck it if it is your first streetbike.

DirtyD86 wrote:i started on a ninja 250 and rode it for 8 thousand miles. i wrecked it once, dropped it twice, and did everything you arent supposed to do on a bike a few times too. trust me dude, you dont want to learn on an r6, because you WILL wreck it if it is your first streetbike.

Weird... I know quite a few people... 3 (personally) and others I know of who have been riding for 5 years now that started on faster sport bikes and didn't wreck them. I think too many people fail to realize that just because a bike's peak HP or torque is very high, it doesn't mean a new rider has to or is going to use all of that power right away. Yes it is easier to learn on a more forgiving bike, but a faster/more powerful bike doesn't mean you are going to definitely "wreck".

I won't say that you'll wreck it or that you'll probably kill yourself. Those are getting cliche.

I will say that you'll enjoy a smaller displacement bike more to begin with. The R1/R6's has too much power to ever truely appreciate on the street. Granted they are much better at pushing the envelope but you need skills to do that and yes I'm going to agree and say that an ATV gives you none of those skills other than shifting.

I ride all kinds of bikes but I enjoy the smaller ones because you can litterally flick over through curves, do crazier things at lower speeds and still have plenty of power for anything you'd want to do on the street (except some stunting but you really need good control and expertise before you should try any of that - and I don't advocate it on the street anyway).

Then think about the size and power of ATV motors- They're really small compared to the bikes you mention. It's like jumping from a dingy to a frigate. Well maybe not that much but that one time you sneeze going into the sun and accidentally twist the throttle you'll think it (15 seconds later if you're still alive when you finally have time to process what the "fudge" just happened)

Well, I won't say that you will kill yourself on a bigger bike. But take it

from me, if this is your first bike you will definitely make mistakes that on

a smaller bike are only noticeable. But on a bigger bike they could be

serious. I started off wanting a 06 gixxer also. I had all the paperwork

done on the deal and was ready to ride, then found out that progressive

wanted 7k a year for insurance. Needless to say I did'nt get the gsx-r.

I found a nice little used ninja 250 and have been riding it for almost 3

weeks now and have to say that progressive did me a favor. I have made

mistakes on my little 250 that I am almost certain would have made the

gixxer wheelie. Just trying to learn to properly downshift and upshift at

higher speeds would have been an ordeal on the 600. But on the ninja

it's kinda of like "oops, I made a mistake, have to go and practice some

more". Read the stickies man, they are there for a good reason. Start

small, ride the "pee" out of it this season and then by next season you

might be ready for one of the bikes that you are looking at now. And

even on the smaller bikes, don't forget your gear

thanks for all the advise guys...and to answer "bok" yes i am lookin for the looks of a bike just as much as i am the ride and performance...i like for my toys to look good to my style but i don't want something i can't handle and end up killin myself...but ill probably end up gettin a 250 for a season or two and workin my way up..unless i can find someone who would be willin to let me ride there 600 just to see if its a bit to much for me..thanks again

nospeedlimit wrote:. . . but ill probably end up gettin a 250 for a season or two and workin my way up..unless i can find someone who would be willin to let me ride there 600 just to see if its a bit to much for me..thanks again

Now THAT scares me... I recall a news story a week or so ago, about a guy who killed himself riding his friend's 600cc sportbike. Totalled the bike and died. No real friend would allow someone without any experience try to ride such a 'tweaky' machine.

Anyone got a linky to the short video of the guy riding the SV into a tree? Right in someone's neighborhood. The funniest/scariest video around.

P