New Starter Bike??

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400ex_rida · Sun Jul 30, 2006 3:55 am

Hi everyone. I am looking to get a streetbike and I am not sure what to get. I have two friends that bought R1's as their first bike and that seems a little extreme to me. First off, I am not new to motorcycles. I got a Suzuki 80 when I was 10 and then a 125 when i turned 12. From 12 to now I have owned many atvs and have rode a few YZ400F's and YZ426F's. But when it comes to on-road motorcycles I have no experience whatsoever. I am looking to get a 600cc bike. I would like to get a CBR600F4i between the years 99-02. I also like the R6 bikes. There are some pretty good deals on older model CBR 600s where I live and I figure it might be better off to start off on an older model 600. Is a 600cc bike too much to begin with? Also how many miles on a streetbike is considered "high mileage?" Thanks

VermilionX · Sun Jul 30, 2006 4:05 am

it is recommended that you keep your 1st bike around 60bhp or less.

600 RR bikes have 100-120bhp depending on year and model.

insurance will also be high if you're too young.

like i always say...

you can learn on any bike. but how much are you willing to risk?

riding in general is risky, starting on a non-newbie friendly bike adds more to that risk. plus, you can improve faster on a smaller bike.

400ex_rida · Sun Jul 30, 2006 4:29 am

How much HP does an older CBR600 have, like a 96 model? Is there a big HP difference between the F4i and the RR?

VermilionX · Sun Jul 30, 2006 4:38 am

400ex_rida wrote:How much HP does an older CBR600 have, like a 96 model? Is there a big HP difference between the F4i and the RR?

it's still 100bhp.

here use this site... http://www.motorbikes.be/en/

on the 2005 models... the RR has 7bhp more than the F4i

kabob983 · #5 Unread post by **kabob983** » Sun Jul 30, 2006 5:28 am

I'd hold off and get that CBR as your second bike after you've got a few thousand miles under your belt. It's not just the horsepower. The torque and brakes are equally powerful. The brakes may be the single most dangerous thing on those bikes. They are made to slow someone doing 140 mph on a track down to cornering speed in as short a distance as possible, many times more powerful than the brakes on the dirtbikes you've ridden I'd say. One slip and you are very likely to find yourself in a position you don't like (sliding, flying, you choose).

Even a 96/97 CBR will be hitting over 100 horsepower I'm sure. The dirtbikes you've mentioned probably have something in the 10's to 20's or so.

Verm was close, usually it's 50 horsepower or less that is recommended for beginners. For the "sporty" bikes, we generally recommend three: The Kawasaki EX250, Kawasaki EX500, and Suzuki GS500.

Trust me, as a new street rider you really don't want alot of power. The bikes look sweet, sound sweet...and heck, they are sweet! But wait until you can control the beast before trusting your life to it!

If you've got alot of dirt experience under your belt, I'd suggest the EX500, which has plenty of zip but is much more manageable than the supersports. *Maybe* even a Suzuki SV650 (which if you're looking for "sporty" is vurry vurry nice, I'd love to get one as a second bike). It's a V-Twin so it doesn't have a snappy powerband like an I-4. Since this isn't your first bike and you know the basics, I'd say the 70 hp or so might be alright for you. But go with you're comfortable with.

Flak Monkey · Sun Jul 30, 2006 2:52 pm

Also, don't think that just because you're on a small bike that you won't be able to keep up with your friends. A good rider on a poor bike will beat a squid on rocket 9 times out of ten.
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400ex_rida · Sun Jul 30, 2006 3:54 pm

Thanks for the replies. After looking at the specs of the 600cc bikes I think you are right in me going with a 500. There is a huge difference between 47HP and 105HP. That GS500 looks pretty good. What is the main difference in the GS500 and the GSXR600 as far as styling goes, and how much do you think is a good price for a GS500 with about 3000-8000 miles on it? Thanks

Sev · #8 Unread post by **Sev** » Sun Jul 30, 2006 6:55 pm

It's your first bike, not your last one

My first was a single cylinder cruiser, with 33bhp... more like 25 at the wheel, lol. And it still beat most cars up to the speed limit.

kabob983 · #9 Unread post by **kabob983** » Mon Jul 31, 2006 12:32 am

400ex_rida wrote:Thanks for the replies. After looking at the specs of the 600cc bikes I think you are right in me going with a 500. There is a huge difference between 47HP and 105HP. That GS500 looks pretty good. What is the main difference in the GS500 and the GSXR600 as far as styling goes, and how much do you think is a good price for a GS500 with about 3000-8000 miles on it? Thanks

As far as styling goes the GSX-R is a "designed to win races" bike. Every aspect of the bike is meant to do something and do it fast. Accelerate fast, stop fast, turn fast, etc. The problem is that they are SO powerful it's just hard to control for a new guy. Just look at the way you sit on the thing. The seat is about as high if not a little higher than the handlebars. The center of gravity is high as well. They didn't design it that way for cool looks, it's like that so you can lean as quickly as possible and so that you'll be in more of a tucked position for better speed.

The GS500 looks similar, but it is a much more relaxed position. Over long rides it is going to be much more comfortable. The power/acceleration is alot lower, the brakes are not nearly so powerful, and the bars are above the seat. It is designed to be a forgiving bike.

As for finding one with 6000-8000 miles that usually isn't too terribly hard. The price will be determined by the condition of the bike though. I've seen them go for as little as $1600 and as much as $3000. Just look around and be patient!

#10 Unread post by **bok** » Mon Jul 31, 2006 2:49 am

+1 for the gs500.

your dirt bike experience will only help so far on the road (shifting, balance, throttle control), but once on the road it's a whole new ball game with a lot more danger. starting on a 500 will get you more aware of some of those dangers.

If you have been driving a car for a number of years in pretty heavy traffic, you come to understand where some of those dangers are and you can anticipate when/where drivers will make foolish moves but how you react to them in a car is different than how you handle them on a bike.

Another recommendation you will get from most of the posters here is to take a MSF/BRC, which will give you some street skills and possibly an insurance discount.