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I have a particular problem that I would like some advice on. My grandson who is in Iraq at the moment wants me to hook him up with a Yamaha R6 when he gets home from over seas. The problem is he is a non rider, he never rode a bike before. I don't want to discourage him, lord knows he is fighting for his country and needs something to look forward to when he gets home, but an R6 is not a beginners bike...am I right ? Being a long time biker, I know what can happen to someone who over steps his capabilities. I have tried to get him interested in a small cruiser, but he is hung up on the R6. What would you do, refuse to help, or grit your teeth and help him out and hope for the best ? Either way, I figure I can't win. XS

that's though...

could you handle the burden if he gets hurt on the R6? if not, then don't help him get the R6.

rider attitude has a lot to do w/ it. how's your grandson's attitude?

as you might know, my 1st bike was the gixxer1000. i had no experience at all even w/ a scooter. i learned to ride on it... i didn't master it, but i learned on it.

i was very careful as i know, a mistake on the throttle will get me in trouble fast.

anyway... there are a lot of people who started on 600cc or even literbikes like me. whatever the result, it is different from each person.

the r6 is an incredibly fast bike. i just bought a 2006, the bike is a baby under 8k, but once you hit the powerband youd swear you are on a missile. it could be beginner friendly if the rider has self control, but as soon as they get curious and decide to open up that throttle , they are going to get themselves killed.

Perhaps go around to people in your area who are into racing and see if any can help you put together an R6 track bike...not street legal... explain that it's for a soldier in Iraq and see if you can get some community support...maybe a patriotic paint job even... then hook him up with that and a GS500. He's got his kick-"O Ring" dream bike, a reasonable learning bike, and is set on the path of going fast in the right place (the race track).

OK, it wouldn't work and it's $$$$$ but it is an idea.

A lot of returning soldiers end up statistics in that "rush of returning to freedom" period... on motorcycles...

i heard that the term "squid" actually originated from soldiers who bought sportbikes after returning home. i forgot the details though.

Get a quote on the insurance for the R6, its going to surprize you, I know some 21 year olds that are paying almost $3000 for insurance. I suggest the FZ6 instead, its the same engine as the R6 except its tuned for normal speed limits and not as fast at the R6 and the insurance will be much lower. Tell ur son " Thank You" for supporting our country and defending our freedoms.

You explain to him what you feel. If you get this bike for him and he ends up hurt or dead, you can't handle that burden. You suggest to him upon his return, to take the MSF course then you will consider going with him to purchase a bike. He may be upset, but at least you'll have a grandson who's upset, but still alive. Nothing like surviving a war then dying from stupidity at home.

Hiya XS. How about this for a compromise -

Get him something like a Ninja250 or 500. Agree that if he rides it for 1 year , (or until YOU feel he's mastered the bike) you will help him resell it and buy that R6. There are PLENTY of people out there searching for used beginner bikes. Selling a 250 or a 500 should be a snap, and there should be relatively little depreciation. (Look for some of the threads about these bikes, and you will see that They go for almost as much used as new)

If I were in your position, this is what I would feel comfortable doing. (Along w/ signing him up for the MSF course.) He should be mature enough to understand that If you are helping to foot the bill, then you should be able to have some say in what he rides - Am I right? Showing him how much insurance would cost him might also be a huge deterrant for him.

PS> Why can't you just set him up with one of your XS's for a few months?

Excuse me: my mistake , I said "your son" I correct myself to say " Your grandson" Thats really good of you that you wanta buy him a bike, ur a good man, but I agree an R6 is too fast of a bike for a beginner the FZ6 is fast but not as fast as the R6 and the FZ6 looks just as good plus is much less expensive and cheaper on insurance.

xsyamahadg wrote:I have a particular problem that I would like some advice on. My grandson who is in Iraq at the moment wants me to hook him up with a Yamaha R6 when he gets home from over seas. The problem is he is a non rider, he never rode a bike before. I don't want to discourage him, lord knows he is fighting for his country and needs something to look forward to when he gets home, but an R6 is not a beginners bike...am I right ? Being a long time biker, I know what can happen to someone who over steps his capabilities. I have tried to get him interested in a small cruiser, but he is hung up on the R6. What would you do, refuse to help, or grit your teeth and help him out and hope for the best ? Either way, I figure I can't win. XS

Since he's military, he'll have to go through an MSF class and even go through a Motorcycle Mentor Program in order to get the OK to ride (the specifics with vary branch to branch). If he intends to get his bike on base, he'll have to be licensed, insured and of course, have it registered with Pass &ID.

Is he licensed yet? You said he was a non rider. If I were you, I'd try to use the motorcycle rider requirements to help steer him in a good starting direction.

You also said 'hook him up' with an R6. Will you be purchasing the bike for him as a gift? Or you will be just doing the search to find the bike he will pay for with his own money? This is another angle you can play (if you can afford it and decide on it), make some sort of deal where you'll pay for half or all (or whatever) if he'd start on a more sensible bike for his experience. Maybe do a long term thing where if he rides that smaller bike for X amount of time or miles or skills, then he can move up to the R6. Also know, some bases require that the ERC be taken in order to move up over a certain size, or in order to take the course for experience.

While most guys wanna start off on the biggest thing that popular, the military is really taking a stance to keep their motorcycle riders safe. And yes, that can mean making them go through certain programs in order to gain some skill and experience. While when you're actually trying to get through what seems like red tape, you are forced to slow down and prove that you can handle riding responsibly.

One thing you can do for some info is check out the MSF website. Or check with the base for their individual policies on riding.


I think Verm hit on it above, guys come back from Iraq/deployment after seeing some real tough stuff. They get home, lots of money in their pockets, all kinds of energy pent up, they want to go out, have fun with all the things they have been without, and most of all, they feel so good they feel invinceable. So, they get a big bike and take it out for a spin and twist the right wrist a little too much and before they know, things get out of control. Then, as it turns out, they weren't as invincible as they though. I know you already know this, I'm just reiterating for the thread continuity.

Anyhow, use the angles you can. Hopefully your grandson will use his good sense. Hope he gets home soon.

Edit: This is from a sticky from SBNs (sportbikes.net) Military forum. Pass this onto him: http://www.sportbikes.net/forums/showth ... p?t=303263