Okay, I'm setting this aside for everyone to give some advice to people looking at, buying or riding their first bike. Information, experiences, whatever.
Okay, from me: You've all heard get a 600, get your gear, whatever. I'm going to deal with the 600 part.
Yea, someone, somewhere, will try and make fun of you because you bought a 600. Deal with it and don't worry about it. These are the same guys who buy a 1000 just to say they did. A true rider knows that a better rider can hand him his ass on a 250.
The GSX-R 600 isn't a joke, it isn't a small bike and it isn't a wuss bike. This is a track bike with lights so it's street legal. (this goes fro the 99 style and the 2K1, ridden them both). I've been riding since I was 12 or 13 and I'm 29 now. I've ridden twins, V4's, dirt bikes, street bikes, quads, you name it. The GSX-R 600 isn't something to play with though.
I've had mine for almost a year now and am finally in a groove with it. And I'm learning day by day that power doesn't not make up for a lack of skill, it just amplifies your errors later. The 600 will keep up with the bigger bikes and is slightly more forgiving then the 1 liter bikes. But it takes more skill to get it to the same place (shifting, braking, etc) and you'll learn a lot faster. You won't have the extra power to mask your errors or to help you keep up.
It is the kind of bike that will scare you on a daily basis though. Not a bad scare, usually, but it will wake you up if you start daydreaming. Twist the throttle a bit to much in a low gear...Heh, you'll feel the front end unload and the back tire dig in. It's a fun ride, if you're ready for it. If you're not...Well, just be ready for it.
Anyway, as far as starter bikes go, the GSX-R 600 isn't really a good starter bike. But you could do worse. Would I recommend it as a first bike? Only to someone who is against bikes like the SV650s and such.
Okay, I've rambled enough. I'll let the more experienced riders speak now.
[ 04-11-2002, 04:05 PM: Message edited by: Jon T. Flesh ]
Okay, from me: You've all heard get a 600, get your gear, whatever. I'm going to deal with the 600 part.
Yea, someone, somewhere, will try and make fun of you because you bought a 600. Deal with it and don't worry about it. These are the same guys who buy a 1000 just to say they did. A true rider knows that a better rider can hand him his ass on a 250.
The GSX-R 600 isn't a joke, it isn't a small bike and it isn't a wuss bike. This is a track bike with lights so it's street legal. (this goes fro the 99 style and the 2K1, ridden them both). I've been riding since I was 12 or 13 and I'm 29 now. I've ridden twins, V4's, dirt bikes, street bikes, quads, you name it. The GSX-R 600 isn't something to play with though.
I've had mine for almost a year now and am finally in a groove with it. And I'm learning day by day that power doesn't not make up for a lack of skill, it just amplifies your errors later. The 600 will keep up with the bigger bikes and is slightly more forgiving then the 1 liter bikes. But it takes more skill to get it to the same place (shifting, braking, etc) and you'll learn a lot faster. You won't have the extra power to mask your errors or to help you keep up.
It is the kind of bike that will scare you on a daily basis though. Not a bad scare, usually, but it will wake you up if you start daydreaming. Twist the throttle a bit to much in a low gear...Heh, you'll feel the front end unload and the back tire dig in. It's a fun ride, if you're ready for it. If you're not...Well, just be ready for it.
Anyway, as far as starter bikes go, the GSX-R 600 isn't really a good starter bike. But you could do worse. Would I recommend it as a first bike? Only to someone who is against bikes like the SV650s and such.
Okay, I've rambled enough. I'll let the more experienced riders speak now.
[ 04-11-2002, 04:05 PM: Message edited by: Jon T. Flesh ]