First Timer....help me pick [Archive] - Suzuki GSX-R Motorcycle Forums Gixxer.com

fRaGgLe

11-21-2002, 05:44 PM

Originally posted by DR. SUZUKI:
I don't know why everyone asks what bike they should get, because the same thing happens over and over again, SV650, etc.

The bottom line is get the bike you like, just be responsible and realize that busting the plastics on a GSXR is going to cost more than that on an older bike. Thats my opinon. THe GSXR 600 is more then enough, but if your looking to have the bike for 5 or 6 years, you might want the 750, and just be resposible about it until you are comfortable with it.I disagree - and for a pile of reason.....

1) a GSXR600 takes a lot of finesse to ride WELL, and being shit scared of it and riding it slowly will teach you nothing. Trying to ride it fast will *probably* put you in hospital.

2) Many countries have laws preventing people from riding anything over 125 or 250cc machine, for a period of time - 6 months - 2 years.

3) Many countries have mandatory training for new riders.

Whilst you can argue that this the US is the land of the free, its also the land of the squid, and the land of the crashed sportsbike images/icons/wink.gif

My honest opinion is that a 125/250 is a great starter bike - hell a EX250 with me on board (200lbs) will easily top 100mph, why does a new rider need to go faster than that ?

gixerking

11-21-2002, 05:47 PM

Originally posted by Chip@RonAyers.com:
Ironicly, people ask the same questions over and over agian and no body listens....

Jon. How many people have we told to buy an SV over the years? I would say a 100. easy. How many people do it? Very few. And then it's the same thing.

"I got a GSXR750 for my first bike and I wrecked it 5 min later and now I want to sell it. I just can't afford it."

Yea, right! That bitch scared the shit out of you.

It's the same shit everytime.i agree. but for those few that did take the advice and are doing well, it was worth the time to repeat the same shit graemlins/thumbup.gif

[ 11-27-2002, 10:31 AM: Message edited by: Jon T. Flesh ]

DR. SUZUKI

11-21-2002, 05:47 PM

fRaGgLe

11-21-2002, 05:53 PM

Dr.Suzuki,

I'm not sure its even a question of riding it with care, my teenager rode my 750 recently, and he described it as "intimidating", he loved it, but it scared him.

And thats with ~8000 miles under his belt on an EX250, and a few years of dirtbikes too.

It is possible to ride these bikes, and respect their power, but you learn a lot less...

Jon T. Flesh

11-21-2002, 05:54 PM

Originally posted by fraggle:
<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by DR. SUZUKI:
I don't know why everyone asks what bike they should get, because the same thing happens over and over again, SV650, etc.

The bottom line is get the bike you like, just be responsible and realize that busting the plastics on a GSXR is going to cost more than that on an older bike. Thats my opinon. THe GSXR 600 is more then enough, but if your looking to have the bike for 5 or 6 years, you might want the 750, and just be resposible about it until you are comfortable with it.I disagree - and for a pile of reason.....

1) a GSXR600 takes a lot of finesse to ride WELL, and being shit scared of it and riding it slowly will teach you nothing. Trying to ride it fast will *probably* put you in hospital.

2) Many countries have laws preventing people from riding anything over 125 or 250cc machine, for a period of time - 6 months - 2 years.

3) Many countries have mandatory training for new riders.

Whilst you can argue that this the US is the land of the free, its also the land of the squid, and the land of the crashed sportsbike images/icons/wink.gif

My honest opinion is that a 125/250 is a great starter bike - hell a EX250 with me on board (200lbs) will easily top 100mph, why does a new rider need to go faster than that ?<hr /></blockquote>I agree with you 100%
I rode a Rebel 250 for 2 years before moving up to a Magna 750 then onto my Gix 600.

Wether or not the bike is exactly what you want who cares. Why risk statistics of newbies down on R type bikes. Why risk your life? I guarantee the best riders in the world did not start on a GSXR750, 600, ect. They started on 250's and non R type bikes.

It is all opinion. I am not gonna say what to get what not to get. Get a Busa for all I care, I really do not give a rats ass. It is your money your future bike your life. I am just offering my opinion as the fine Dr is too images/icons/smile.gif

jontflesh

[ 11-27-2002, 10:32 AM: Message edited by: Jon T. Flesh ]

SlowKat

11-21-2002, 06:48 PM

Seriously, want low maint, and somthing cruise, get a Kat, Its been my first bike, and I KNOW I would have killed my self on anything faster..

Better to Learn slow then to die fast.

[ 11-27-2002, 10:32 AM: Message edited by: Jon T. Flesh ]

T Bass

11-21-2002, 07:00 PM

Originally posted by fraggle:
My 750 scares the shit out of me on a regular basis, and I have been riding on the street for 22 years, and the dirt for > 30.Booooooooooo

suzukifaithful

11-21-2002, 07:18 PM

no riding experience and your thinking about going right to a 750...WOW....probaly not a good idea. get some experience under your belt on a smaller less powerful bike then think about upgrading to a 600 or 750. not trying to bash you just don't think you understand how dangerous a bike is especially a 750 with no prior riding experience. look at the sv 650.

JayCee aka GixxerRider

11-21-2002, 08:04 PM

Originally posted by ReidStylez:
Got a friend with a GXR 750 he recommends a 750 for me. I'm 5'11, 225 Lbs.I am the same height/weight and I ride a gsxr 750 02 bought new back in July. This was my first bike ever. Just be careful and ride to your limits. Forget about what everyone else says if you have not riding before you should stay away from a gsxr 6, 7, or 100. That is a bunch of crap. buy what you like you'll be happier at the end. So far i have 4000+ miles on her and she has been treating me pretty good. Just remember to take it easy and take baby steps as you get more experience, so far 'knock on wood' I dropped her once in front of my garage as I slipped on oil and could not hold onto her to straighten her back up so I had to lay her down gently.

Hears a pic of her sorry for the crappy photoshop job but had to limit space do to this shitty upload limit! Whats up with that mod's????

(Flesh pulled this picture it is too damn big!)

[ 11-22-2002, 09:01 AM: Message edited by: Jon T. Flesh ]

nudiepix

11-21-2002, 08:07 PM

Originally posted by Chip@RonAyers.com:
Ironicly, people ask the same questions over and over agian and no body listens....

Jon. How many people have we told to buy an SV over the years? I would say a 100. easy. How many people do it? Very few. And then it's the same thing.

"I got a GSXR750 for my first bike and I wrecked it 5 min later and now I want to sell it. I just can't afford it."

Yea, right! That bitch scared the shit out of you.

It's the same shit everytime.Hahaha...sometimes they listen, but very rarely...

I remember there was one guy that bought a gixxer 1000 for his first bike (don't remember who it was), and a bunch of us completely shot him down and said to go get a 600.

He did...

I think most people ask the question to be reaffirmed because they know they're getting it anyway.

Hammer 4

11-21-2002, 08:12 PM

I tried to stay ouuta this one, just couldn't..I'll just say this..I agree with JonT, and with Chip, and Nudie.. graemlins/thumbup.gif

And Sic has a great idea, in that the answers to this question should be made sticky.. graemlins/thumbup.gif images/icons/grin.gif

[ 11-27-2002, 10:33 AM: Message edited by: Jon T. Flesh ]

Hammer 4

11-21-2002, 08:13 PM

Originally posted by JayCee aka GixxerRider:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by ReidStylez:
[qb]Got a friend with a GXR 750 he recommends a 750 for me. I'm 5'11, 225 Lbs.I am the same height/weight and I ride a gsxr 750 02 bought new back in July. This was my first bike ever. Just be careful and ride to your limits. Forget about what everyone else says if you have not riding before you should stay away from a gsxr 6, 7, or 100. That is a bunch of crap. buy what you like you'll be happier at the end. So far i have 4000+ miles on her and she has been treating me pretty good. Just remember to take it easy and take baby steps as you get more experience, so far 'knock on wood' I dropped her once in front of my garage as I slipped on oil and could not hold onto her to straighten her back up so I had to lay her down gently.

Hears a pic of her sorry for the crappy photoshop job but had to limit space do to this shitty upload limit! Whats up with that mod's????

At least maybe resize the pic..???

Oh, I'm kinda curious...How many new riders do you know..?

[ 11-27-2002, 10:33 AM: Message edited by: Jon T. Flesh ]

nudiepix

11-21-2002, 08:18 PM

Originally posted by JayCee aka GixxerRider:
I am the same height/weight and I ride a gsxr 750 02 bought new back in July. This was my first bike ever. Just be careful and ride to your limits. Forget about what everyone else says if you have not riding before you should stay away from a gsxr 6, 7, or 100. That is a bunch of crap. buy what you like you'll be happier at the end. So far i have 4000+ miles on her and she has been treating me pretty good. Just remember to take it easy and take baby steps as you get more experience, so far 'knock on wood' I dropped her once in front of my garage as I slipped on oil and could not hold onto her to straighten her back up so I had to lay her down gently.
Ahh, you're the one to blame for making this thread so damn wide.

You can say it all you want, but I'm never gonna believe the thought that it's a good idea to buy what you want just cuz you can.

If it was in everyone's means to buy their teenager a viper for their first car, we'd be having the same decision, but that's not the case, most kids learn on a beat up pile of crap because people crash and do stupid things when they're learning, it's just part of the learning process.

My first bike was an SV650. Great bike, even scared me the first couple weeks. I slowly got accustomed to it and the power and how it handled. Over time I learned to manhandle it and loved every minute (I even managed to wheelie on the power through a U-turn once because I had gotten comfortable enough with it). Then I got a Gixxer1000 because I just thought it was bad-ass. Was I fast on it? Hell yah, but I didn't learn nearly as much as I did when riding the SV (I kept the SV when I had the 1000) because I spent so much time respecting it and not enough time finding limits.

I still am sad that I sold the SV. It was a great bike to have for those days I just wanted to not have to think because it took so much less effort to ride. Was it the perfect bike? No....but a damn hoot to play on.

Hell, I'd even get a ninja 250 if someone was selling it for cheap.

XxslipstreamxX

11-21-2002, 08:37 PM

This ones all you (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1873056544)

[ 11-21-2002, 06:38 PM: Message edited by: XxslipstreamxX ]

ikemey

11-22-2002, 02:01 AM

I am going to have to disagree with you guys. Wouldn't recommend the new 750 (too light and too powerful deadly combo for newbie) But I got my 98 750 before I was trully ready for it. But I had learned about going beyond my comfort level after crashing my first bike. So I got a feel for the 750 first, kept it under 6-7k rpms for the first month then little by little started going into turns at higher speeds and leaning her and getting a feel for braking. But I am glad I didn't settle for a 600 since I grew into the 750 and the 600 may not have satisfied me. The 750's are not very torquey and produce most of their power at the top. As long as you don't push yourself too fast too soon and you don't panic and close throttles into turns a 750 should be more than bareable.

ikemey

11-22-2002, 02:03 AM

also as for your size. The gixxers are about the same size and nearly the same weight in the new gen. I am 6'00" 185 lbs and with my rear raised about an inch I tippie toe. So this is definately a comfy big for us bigger guys. The wider seat is also more supportive of a larger gluteous maximus unlike skinny honda seats.

Wolf1100L

11-22-2002, 03:18 AM

Originally posted by JayCee aka GixxerRider:
[QUOTE]this shitty upload limit!You made this thread nearly unreadable due to the huge size of the pic.
Hope your riding skills are better than your posting skills.
Pottering along on a GSXR isn't really riding one. There are much better bikes around for that purpose. I have seen guys on GSXR1000s getting smoked by entry level Harleys through long sweeping curves. What a laugh!!!

[ 11-27-2002, 10:34 AM: Message edited by: Jon T. Flesh ]

nudiepix

11-22-2002, 09:47 AM

Originally posted by Wolf1100L:

Pottering along on a GSXR isn't really riding one. There are much better bikes around for that purpose. I have seen guys on GSXR1000s getting smoked by entry level Harleys through long sweeping curves. What a laugh!!!Tru dat.

That's great, though. There's something to be said for a bike that's easy to ride. Gixxers were never designed to be simple go-fast bikes, you have to know what you're doing to push them hard (not just flick your right wrist and shoot past a light).

And just because you can restrain yourself in general doesn't mean you a)won't panic and go WOT and b) won't try and race your racer buddy who's clearly faster than you on his little SV and end up in the bushes.

The true test of a skillful rider is when others cannot point to a faster man's machinery to place responsibility...

GrowndZero

11-22-2002, 09:55 AM

Just remember to be responsible. My fiancee learned on a 2001 gixxer 600. She did fine. As long as you are always careful and responsible, you'll do fine...even with a 750. Just watch it with the throttle in low gears.

Hammer 4

11-22-2002, 07:26 PM

Originally posted by nudiepix:
<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by Wolf1100L:

Pottering along on a GSXR isn't really riding one. There are much better bikes around for that purpose. I have seen guys on GSXR1000s getting smoked by entry level Harleys through long sweeping curves. What a laugh!!!Tru dat.

That's great, though. There's something to be said for a bike that's easy to ride. Gixxers were never designed to be simple go-fast bikes, you have to know what you're doing to push them hard (not just flick your right wrist and shoot past a light).

And just because you can restrain yourself in general doesn't mean you a)won't panic and go WOT and b) won't try and race your racer buddy who's clearly faster than you on his little SV and end up in the bushes.

The true test of a skillful rider is when others cannot point to a faster man's machinery to place responsibility...<hr /></blockquote>Cha Ching..we have a winner...well said Nudie.. graemlins/thumbup.gif

[ 11-27-2002, 10:35 AM: Message edited by: Jon T. Flesh ]

DR. SUZUKI

11-25-2002, 01:02 PM

Well, I don't believe that you should have to hold back on what bike you should buy for your first bike, jus like you shouldn't hold back on the first car. My first car was a 1970 Camaro with a 454 big block, and 600 HP. I just learned slowly, and the same goes for my bike. I am still learning, and it has nothing to do with your bike, but more to do with not exceeding your limits, and you'l be fine. Just because a bike goes 150 mph, doesn't mean a new rider will use that power! If your a moron and not responsible get a smaller bike, if you are responsible, and have some intellect, and know where to draw the line, buy the bike you want! graemlins/thumbup.gif

HooliganR

11-25-2002, 11:33 PM

Ok, I sell these things for a living. My recommendations for what someone should start on are rarely ever heeded. I also ride with a lot of different people of all skill levels. What I have seen happen when someone starts out on any bike over 500cc is usually some sort of crash. Maybe the riders on the smaller bikes are doing it too, but they aren't coming in on trailers or tow trucks. I'm sure I will probably get some heat for this but I have sold an 18 year old two R1s. His momma bought both of them for him and wouldn't listen to me when I told her he shouldn't get anything bigger than a 600. You notice I said TWO R1s. Yep, he totalled both of them within two weeks of purchase. Without any gear on and somehow managed to survive with little more than a bunch of road rash. He's riding an 1100 Katana now. Serves him right and I guess mom's money ran out.

Three of the people I ride with on a regular basis started out on 750's. They have crashed numerous times in the last two years. One dropped down to a 600 this year and still scared himself bad enough that he says he's not riding anymore. I wish I knew whether or not starting on a smaller bike would have given them the skills to stay on their tires better. There must be a reason some countries have a tiered license structure other than maybe a tax issue.

When it is all said and done buy what you want. But before you do, get some training. As much as you can. Getting a dirtbike to learn on OFF the street and far away from me and my family would be the first thing I would recommend. The more time you can get between the wheels and away from cars and distractions the better off you will be no matter what size bike you choose.

Speed_Demon

11-26-2002, 08:18 AM

I have mixed feeling about this one.

I agree with Dr. Suzuki in the sense that you should buy the bike you want. I was able to learn on a 750, so it can be done.

On the other hand my little bro wants to buy a bike next year and I'm suggesting him a SV650 or maybe a 600. I wouldn't want him to end up like my friend who bought a 929 for his first bike and killed himself about 2 weeks later.

(R.I.P. Pierre-Luc images/icons/frown.gif )

I guess it's easy to say but harder to do.

fRaGgLe

11-26-2002, 11:19 AM

After reading all the pro's and con's I have come to a couple of conclusions..

The older riders, the ones with 10+ years of riding all say start small, and work your way up to the bad ass bike that you want......

The younger riders say start on what you want to.

Now, this may be a generational thing - the older riders have all started on slower tackle, and when they finally get their gix they are awestruck, and cannot immagine how anyone can learn on such a weapon.

The young hotshots that start on the 750's and 1000's may be highly skilled pilots, and it may just be that they have more talent than us old bastards give them credit for.

However.....

Every week in the summer we reaed the posts of people crashing their shiny new gixxer, when the bike is totally at fault....

eg

"it stood up on me" - no it did not stand up on you, it does not have a mind of its own - you fucked up....

"the back stepped out on me for some reason" yes -the reason was you wound too much throttle on (this was me on Sunday)

"The front brakes grabbed, and I went over the bars" - NOPE - you grabbed the front brakes in a panic reaction.

"The power came in all of a sudden, and I did a 12-o'clock wheelie into a tree" you where sloppy on the throttle, your where stunting in the wrong place....

and the list goes on.

Then there is the Sunday ride, you follow someone on a brand new bike bolt upright through the bends, fighting it like crazy, its obvious that this is their first bike - and then you notice the "1000" stickers on the back, and you give them a nice wave as you pass.

Learning to survive, is not learning to ride.

Then finally, you read the adverts on E-Bay

GSXR1000 - 600 miles for spares or repair $3000
GSXR750 - trashed plastics, bent subframe
R1 - flipped - good engine 300 miles
R6 - rashed plastics, dented tank....

So many bikes are wrecked with so few miles on them.

Finally you go into the dealer, and you ask him whats good to learn on, he says that the 750 is perfect - knowing full well that you stand a huge chance of buying another one in a month or so when you wreck it.....

Listen to us old bastards, the ones that have survived 10 or more years, and have a clue what we are talking about - do the research, read the magazines, write to the editors and ask about starter bikes.

But remember - wear your gear....

Jon T. Flesh

11-26-2002, 03:06 PM

Originally posted by Hammer 4:
Very well put Fraggle, I really like the part about ...learning to survive, is not learning to ride...so true.. graemlins/thumbup.gif graemlins/thumbup.gif graemlins/thumbup.gif to ya.. images/icons/grin.gif I agree!!!!
I thinky I will add this thread to the FAQ later today images/icons/grin.gif

jontflesh

[ 11-27-2002, 10:36 AM: Message edited by: Jon T. Flesh ]

javawhz

11-26-2002, 03:34 PM

Originally posted by ReidStylez:
Got a friend with a GXR 750 he recommends a 750 for me. I'm 5'11, 225 Lbs.A GSXR750 for a first bike images/icons/shocked.gif

Dude, there are easier and less painful ways to die . I heard cyanide works really well... quick and painless.

Seriously man, don't do it. Its the rider that makes the bike, not the other way around. Its like a musical instrument... you may have a $5000 Martin Eric Clapton signature series guitar, the finest, but if you can't play it, it will suck and nobody will want to listen.

How will you feel when some guy on a Ninja 250 smokes the living crap out of you in the twisties because you are so scared to open this 750 beast up..you will realize that the 750 will not tolerate your mistakes.

Don't become another statistic...respect the sport and pay your dues like the rest of us to be worthy of such a bike.

[ 11-26-2002, 01:44 PM: Message edited by: javawhz ]

BallisticParts

11-26-2002, 03:45 PM

njracer

11-26-2002, 03:58 PM

Originally posted by Chip@RonAyers.com:
P.S.....It's not just street squids. I was at a track day at CMP this weekend.There were SEVERAL guys there on shiny new Ducatis and Aprilias with trick gear, trick parts, trick trailers. That were SLOW as hell.

I wonder how it feels to buy a $30K worth of motorcycle stuff and get passed by a 4 year old 600.Some of those guy's out there on the pricy bikes just might not want to toss it down the road. I know I was WAY slow on my RC the last track day. I also had the GSXR750 with me that day and pushed it WAy harder than I would push the RC. Too much fuggin money in the RC to bin it.

BTW - I think everybody should start somewhere in the middle and on a used bike. Hell you might buy a $10,000 bike...hit the ground and decide never to ride again. What ya think your gonna get for the bike after a small crash?? I would rather take the smaller hit on the cash with a used bike.

njracer

JayCee aka GixxerRider

11-26-2002, 04:02 PM

Originally posted by nudiepix:
<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by JayCee aka GixxerRider:
I am the same height/weight and I ride a gsxr 750 02 bought new back in July. This was my first bike ever. Just be careful and ride to your limits. Forget about what everyone else says if you have not riding before you should stay away from a gsxr 6, 7, or 100. That is a bunch of crap. buy what you like you'll be happier at the end. So far i have 4000+ miles on her and she has been treating me pretty good. Just remember to take it easy and take baby steps as you get more experience, so far 'knock on wood' I dropped her once in front of my garage as I slipped on oil and could not hold onto her to straighten her back up so I had to lay her down gently.
Ahh, you're the one to blame for making this thread so damn wide.

You can say it all you want, but I'm never gonna believe the thought that it's a good idea to buy what you want just cuz you can.

If it was in everyone's means to buy their teenager a viper for their first car, we'd be having the same decision, but that's not the case, most kids learn on a beat up pile of crap because people crash and do stupid things when they're learning, it's just part of the learning process.

My first bike was an SV650. Great bike, even scared me the first couple weeks. I slowly got accustomed to it and the power and how it handled. Over time I learned to manhandle it and loved every minute (I even managed to wheelie on the power through a U-turn once because I had gotten comfortable enough with it). Then I got a Gixxer1000 because I just thought it was bad-ass. Was I fast on it? Hell yah, but I didn't learn nearly as much as I did when riding the SV (I kept the SV when I had the 1000) because I spent so much time respecting it and not enough time finding limits.

I still am sad that I sold the SV. It was a great bike to have for those days I just wanted to not have to think because it took so much less effort to ride. Was it the perfect bike? No....but a damn hoot to play on.

Hell, I'd even get a ninja 250 if someone was selling it for cheap.<hr /></blockquote>F U -Nudie graemlins/flipoff.gif I am sorry about pic I suck at this resizing picture so i had to do what i had to do to post that pic.

Wolf-And About my skills they are good enough for me and so far I have learned enough to ride at my limits. I ride mostly canyon riding not much of a straight away rider. I ride with a lot of experienced riders and learn from them. I do not really care what others think, I learn at my pace and i think that is the way to do it, right? I still think you should buy what you want and take baby steps and learn at your will. Whatever bike you decide to get just be careful! Enough said!!!! graemlins/thumbup.gif

Hammer-To you question I know about 10 newbie riders from san francisco. They either ride gsxr's or yamaha r6/r1. So far only one rode over his limits and crashed panic braked on a decreasing radius turn. I am sure he'd learn from the one. He turn out to be ok.

[ 11-26-2002, 02:14 PM: Message edited by: JayCee aka GixxerRider ]

Bostitch

11-26-2002, 04:24 PM

Originally posted by JayCee aka GixxerRider:
<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by nudiepix:
<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by JayCee aka GixxerRider:
I am the same height/weight and I ride a gsxr 750 02 bought new back in July. This was my first bike ever. Just be careful and ride to your limits. Forget about what everyone else says if you have not riding before you should stay away from a gsxr 6, 7, or 100. That is a bunch of crap. buy what you like you'll be happier at the end. So far i have 4000+ miles on her and she has been treating me pretty good. Just remember to take it easy and take baby steps as you get more experience, so far 'knock on wood' I dropped her once in front of my garage as I slipped on oil and could not hold onto her to straighten her back up so I had to lay her down gently.
Ahh, you're the one to blame for making this thread so damn wide.

You can say it all you want, but I'm never gonna believe the thought that it's a good idea to buy what you want just cuz you can.

If it was in everyone's means to buy their teenager a viper for their first car, we'd be having the same decision, but that's not the case, most kids learn on a beat up pile of crap because people crash and do stupid things when they're learning, it's just part of the learning process.

My first bike was an SV650. Great bike, even scared me the first couple weeks. I slowly got accustomed to it and the power and how it handled. Over time I learned to manhandle it and loved every minute (I even managed to wheelie on the power through a U-turn once because I had gotten comfortable enough with it). Then I got a Gixxer1000 because I just thought it was bad-ass. Was I fast on it? Hell yah, but I didn't learn nearly as much as I did when riding the SV (I kept the SV when I had the 1000) because I spent so much time respecting it and not enough time finding limits.

I still am sad that I sold the SV. It was a great bike to have for those days I just wanted to not have to think because it took so much less effort to ride. Was it the perfect bike? No....but a damn hoot to play on.

Hell, I'd even get a ninja 250 if someone was selling it for cheap.<hr /></blockquote>F U -Nudie graemlins/flipoff.gif I am sorry about pic I suck at this resizing picture so i had to do what i had to do to post that pic.

Wolf-And About my skills they are good enough for me and so far I have learned enough to ride at my limits. I ride mostly canyon riding not much of a straight away rider. I ride with a lot of experienced riders and learn from them. I do not really care what others think, I learn at my pace and i think that is the way to do it, right? I still think you should buy what you want and take baby steps and learn at your will. Whatever bike you decide to get just be careful! Enough said!!!! graemlins/thumbup.gif

Hammer-To you question I know about 10 newbie riders from san francisco. They either ride gsxr's or yamaha r6/r1. So far only one rode over his limits and crashed panic braked on a decreasing radius turn. I am sure he'd learn from the one. He turn out to be ok.<hr /></blockquote>Well dude to steal this quote from hammer 4 "you can ride a slow bike fast or a fast bike slow" I for one would rather toast a guy on a brand new 1000 that couldn't ride for shit on a sv650 than the other way around! Starting out on a smaller bike is less forgiving and you are able to pick up little tricks here and there. Not bustin on ya dude just trying to point out my view!

Vandal

11-26-2002, 04:56 PM

Look at the SV. I ride one and it rocks. Passing liter bikes on the track on the outside with the throttle pinned puts a big smile on your face. images/icons/grin.gif

klooky

11-26-2002, 05:10 PM

WOW! This thread rocks!! graemlins/thumbup.gif

I prefer not to be dropped in one side or the other of this dichotomy, which has the caring of a big brother graemlins/thumbup.gif , so I will avoid putting in my ridin' experience just for the face value of it.
All these riders give a damn what you buy for your first bike. Take it to heart. With all these opinions you have to understand that they're quite aware of your need and desire but come from a viewpoint thats been accustomed to the idea after many years on the road. YOu can even feel the new guys' race-ready-thoughts (with limitid experience) as they recommend, "whatever you want" whilst remembering last weeks near miss on that innocent turn. The throttle of a powerful bike can literally fool you and play unimaginable games with you. Sound silly images/icons/confused.gif
Heed all the thoughts of this thread going into the dealer. And when you come out, no matter what you get, we'll be here waiting - To give more advice, if needed, or to razz you for the ugly colors images/icons/grin.gif images/icons/grin.gif
oh, personally, sv's are uuuuugly...Not cool. But, logically speaking, they're probably fun as hell on the ride to the liquor store!! graemlins/thumbup.gif (they're probably easier and funner to jump curbs with graemlins/icon_wtf.gif - I need a dirtbike!)

[ 11-27-2002, 10:37 AM: Message edited by: Jon T. Flesh ]

Hammer 4

11-26-2002, 07:52 PM

Originally posted by Chip@RonAyers.com:
Very well put fraggle.......

P.S.....It's not just street squids. I was at a track day at CMP this weekend.There were SEVERAL guys there on shiny new Ducatis and Aprilias with trick gear, trick parts, trick trailers. That were SLOW as hell.

I wonder how it feels to buy a $30K worth of motorcycle stuff and get passed by a 4 year old 600.graemlins/laugh.gif I recall passing a few of those types...felt real good..on my 97 600 gix.. graemlins/thumbup.gif graemlins/laugh.gif

[ 11-27-2002, 10:38 AM: Message edited by: Jon T. Flesh ]

Hammer 4

11-26-2002, 08:12 PM

God I hate to triple post here..

JayCee...There's more to it than that, and like most "newer" riders...you guys seem to miss the point...why that is, I'll never know..?

I've expalined this a bunch of times..and I hat typing..so please read it carefuly..K? You can learn to ride on any size bike..BUT to learn to ride so your skill level inceases faster, and your comfort zone is seldom challanged a smaller bike will allow YOU to ride better faster, and you don't have the constant FEAR of crashing..that's one of the reason's why Race schools use 100's up to 600's for some very skilled riders to learn new things, just as your doing every time you ride, except, they do it a much faster rate, and w/o the fear of crashing so hard as to get injured..The bottom line is..a small bike is better to learn on, IF your truly looking to gain good riding skillz, and ya wanna have way more fun..Just ask any expert racer what the bike they have the most fun on...9 times out of 10..it will be a SV650 or something..You just can't jump on a 600, or 750, and throw the thing around as quick as a 250 ect..So, if your more comfortable on a 250, as opposed to a 750, and the 250 is eaasier to ride..and your less likely to crash.......see my point ? And I haven't even touched on the ..Opp's I meant to brab the front brake.....not the throttle...which does happen, and to blunt about it...riders die...

Sorry for the sorta rant...but there needs to be a point made here, and Fraggle said it better than I could...but I can't let the fact that new riders are getting seriously hurt, or dying because someone told them that a 600/750/1k sportbike is o.k. to start off with..there may be VERY few exceptions to this, but the masses of new riders needs to be addressed imho...and I refuse to let this matter slide..

[ 11-27-2002, 10:39 AM: Message edited by: Jon T. Flesh ]

Hammer 4

11-27-2002, 02:50 AM

Very well put Fraggle, I really like the part about ...learning to survive, is not learning to ride...so true.. graemlins/thumbup.gif graemlins/thumbup.gif graemlins/thumbup.gif to ya.. images/icons/grin.gif

[ 11-27-2002, 10:35 AM: Message edited by: Jon T. Flesh ]

R3DLiN3

11-27-2002, 06:20 AM

flame me if you want.

But listen to me first.

Look at this like it was yoru first car. Now if you think back how long was it till yoru first accident? even the minor one hittin a trash can backing up? everyone has done it. now think back, did you have a NEW car or a POS beater.

Now think wow you hit something are you pissedthat someone left it there, or are you upset at yourself and thinking "damn self, you gota shape up this shit does't fly"

If you think yoru a superstar and you wont drop it even in a stupid maner(ie tiping over while parking it) then plz go bye yourself an life insurance policy and make the check payable to the members of gixxer.com cuz we told you so.

find yoruself an old bike and beat the crap out of it. if you still like it well then you have done 2 things. you hav'et drop a new shiny kewl and hot 750, but rather a POS you dont' care about. 2, you foudn otu you acutaly like it and should invest mroe time and money into it.

Overbored

11-27-2002, 08:20 AM

They are right. I didn't listen to them. I got what I have now as my first bike. I have ~5000 km on this bike and it still scares the shit out of me. I realized it will always though. I dropped it once and I crashed once. I was lucky : not seriously hurt. It wasn't my fault actually, but I could probably have avoided it with more experience.

I took an equivalent to the MSF course and it helped. Next summer, I will take a track course. It's expensive as hell but I believe it can help me a lot. On this bike, I'm aware that I learn slower than many people but I accepted this fact and that's fine with me.

In the end, you will probably do what you want and that's ok. If I had to buy a first bike these days, knowing myself, I know I would make a similar choice.

Now, for the "how will you feel when someone on his EX250 pass you". Personnally, I don't give a shit!!!!! I don't have a sportbike to make sure someone on his EX250 stays behind me. This is BS. If someone wants to ride 100mph on his EX in the twisties, good for him. I don't necessarily need to stay in front of him to have fun...and I'll happily let him pass me. Who the fuck cares??? I'm having fun on my bike because I like it, the way it feels, the way it handles, the power it has, the looks (yes, I'm a bit of a poser sometimes), his potential. I ride to have fun...not to make sure someone with a less powerful bike stays behind me. To each his own skills. I'm still learning and will keep taking my time...even if a Harley pass me by, laughing.

wtchtwr

11-27-2002, 12:18 PM

get the sv650 if you have the cash. Or get an ex250 for $3k out the door. i bought the ex, crashed it, and i am glad that i only paid $3k. I would have killed myself if i would have crashed a $6k bike. EX is plenty fast, my buddy had a r6 and he would crush me-but i am a beginner that am learning the dynamics. One bad thing about the EX is that it is not "cool" so the guys with big bikes will tease you.

If i were to do it again and i had enough money to get what i wanted i would still get the EX again, and when i am decent at riding bump up to a 600

Jon T. Flesh

11-27-2002, 12:43 PM

This was a great thread guys!!!!
I am gonna sticky this and send it to the Faq images/icons/grin.gif

jontflesh

mount

04-18-2006, 10:27 PM

I'll tell you this I bought a yzf 600r for my first bike cause all my friends said start small I got bored with it in 3 months. Since I bought it brand new I couldnt get what I paid for it when I wanted to upgrade so I ate 2500.00. I got a Gixxer 1000 and couldnt be happier now. its like this, the bike is only as crazy as you are it doesn't go wide open on its own. it all comes down to the weight of the bike. my 600r weighed 412lbs, my Gsxr1000 weighes 365lbs and it is alot easier to handle even with more power at the rear wheel. even the big bikes can go 15mph if you want them to. buy what you want its your bike not your buddies!!!!!

leadpipe

04-20-2006, 04:17 AM

buy the GSXR 600 bcuz thats what u want, you can bust your ass on the 650 just the same hopefully that will not happen. Think about being safe every time u ride and watch out for other cars, in time u will become a better rider.

My1stBike.was.a-BUSA

05-07-2006, 04:40 PM

dude every bike is FAST but its a matter of how fast you make it. hence "throttle wrist"

if you get a SV650 or a gsxr600 you'll probably more then likely get tired of it and get rid of it for a 750 which is a perfect bike for the street. dont be like me and a bunch of others and get a 1000 where as in most times you really cant get the bike to its full potential for more then 30 seconds at a time. (here in Jersey anyways)

i got my wife a 2002 gsxr750 for her 1st bike right after she passed the MSF Course. she never rode a motorcycle before until she took the MSF Course. here she is 3 years later and still loving it. she reaches speeds of 140+ but then again she can do 40MPH just as well as a SV650 and a gsxr600 could do. its all a matter of how you treat that throttle on making her go fast or just cruising.

98GSXR750@PC

05-12-2006, 01:06 PM

I just bought a GSXR 750 myself a couple weeks ago. It's my fourth motorcycle, but I didn't ride the other three much, and they were so slow in comparison that they don't really count for much other than to teach me how to shift and where the handbrake was. In my two weeks of riding, I have learned a few things.
1. This thing is incredibly fast. On cold tires, if I twist the throttle all the way back in first or second, I make damn sure I'm not planning on turning any time soon, because front wheel traction drops like a rock. Even if I'm tracking a straight line, the rear wheel will spin, which is just... insane.
2. Riding gear is a must. I mean full riding gear, with elbow/hip/shoulder/hand protection, because it's easy to lay it down. A couple of days ago, I gave it some gas (some=not much) while exiting a turn and still leaning, and the rear end immediately went squirrely. I didn't wreck, but I came damn close, and I learned a valuable lesson: don't do that on cold tires, and it's good to know your bike's limits.
3. I can now understand what the more experienced riders are saying about learning on something with less horsepower. I'm still in awe of the power this thing puts out, and I will be for a long time. It would have been far better for me to learn on something that's more suited to the learning experience, something more forgiving of errors in judgement. If I had my choice, I would have started out on something like the SV650 and taken my time to learn proper riding technique, and moved on to something faster if/when I thought I was up to it. I think it would have been easier that way.
However, no one can tell you what's best for you. If you do decide to start on the same bike as me, take it easy for a while. Spend the first few weeks just getting used to turning, starting out, leaning, etc. Buy full riding gear, and make sure you get insurance with medical payment coverage, as much as you can, at least until you're comfortable with it. If you drop it, even going 30 or 40 mph, you'll get rashed up, and hospital bills suck. I wouldn't suggest riding with others for a while, unless you can control the urge to go as fast as they do, or unless they'll slow down for you. I've found out that being able to go down the road doesn't mean you can ride, any idiot can shift gears and haul ass in a straight line. It's everything else that takes skill and knowledge. Turning is an entire skill set unto itself. Any idiot can turn, but it takes experience and knowledge to learn how to turn correctly. You have to watch out for slick spots, rocks, dogs, children, and the like, and how to react to them when they cross your path. It's a necessity to know your bike's limits for the conditions your riding in, and how to stay in the safe range. It would be easier to learn all these things on a more forgiving bike, and that's my two cents. (But I love my 750):punk

Edit: I'm no longer in awe of it.. it's too slow. Get a 1k.

antoninodamato

05-30-2006, 04:05 PM

58285

05-31-2006, 12:45 AM

I guess i will be the dick of this forum but I learned on a 01 GSXR 1000 and have owned NOTHING but 1000's since. In my oppinion it doesnt matter if its a 250 or a 1300 busa....if you can keep off the gas you will be fine.

nope nope nope

A 750 is NOT a good choice for first bike (and a 100 is an even worse one)>

The fact someone needs to ask for opinions shows me that deep down they know its not a good move.

For a first bike buy something cheap. If you are unlucky to go down it will cost less to fix and once you have experience you can sell her on for pretty much what you paid.

Buying a big sportbike as a first is naive at best and plain stupid at worst.:sad

Bryan-SLC

06-02-2006, 03:57 PM

1st bike - 1000. I broke it in slowly, never dumped it (or me), and knowing that the big ponies are up beyond 8500 RPM, I just mind my manners. The power will be there when I'm ready, w/out buying another bike. Meanwhile, I love the 1000.

My $.02.

ncnc

06-22-2006, 12:14 AM

750 for a first bike is just plane dumb without very very good throttle control it could be deadley and when you dump it if you dont get hurt you will huve a huge bill for all the bits that like to selfdestruct if you think it a good first bike think about taking your 16 17 year old son down to the dealer sit him on a 750 and think how you would feel trust me not a very good decision

UMGixxer

06-23-2006, 05:34 PM

man i know alot of people will hate me for saying this but id say get what you want, i started out on my 600 and I love the thing, so i would recommend that you get the bike that you like and just us your brain when you ride it and be careful, any given bike can put you on your butt just the same it just depends on how you ride it, respect the bike and its power and you should be ok

patto

07-10-2006, 03:18 PM

Well I started on small stuff , 100, 185, 250, 550 all strokers and eventually caned all of them then had a couple of naked 750's over a 14 year period , then one day I said shit I gonna get me one of those sport bikes and felt like I had to start learning all over again
1) they are awkward as hell at low speed manouvering not really designed for that
2) First corner I took I thought it was gonna fall on its side as it dropped into the corner.
3) Race type stoppers and sticky tyres meant I nearly threw myself over the handlebars the first time a dick in a car decided to play silly buggers at a junction ( assume nothing )
4) stiff racing chassis means the front will come up squirting out of corners and the bike will stay on line after all it's a shit load more competent at this than you are , trick is having the confidence in the bike especially in the twisties I have heard of people crashing bikes because they were to scared to counter steer its arse down to get round a pussy bend the bike was capable of getting through with its eyes shut.
Now that is a shame and a result of timid riding and lack of experience

anyway I suppose my point is sport bikes are a little different to run of the mill bikes and if your not ready for them or blessed with un-natural talent
they can knock your confidence but they are so rewarding when it all comes together I am hooked and after 2 years riding a 10 year old WR 750 which is a heavy beast but a great bike I am now on my 2nd and new K5 750 , if I am riding like a squid it is more about the fear of damaging it even slightly after all it cost me a shit load of money having said that you won't find any sign of chicken stripes on my treads. I do ride for the thrill
and always will

Steve

gix106

07-16-2006, 12:28 PM

I just have to agree with the DR. I just got me the 1000 and it is a very intimidating bike but If you ride resposible it is lots of fun. I plan on doing some track days to help me get use to her.

StoDy

07-16-2006, 02:19 PM

start with a 250ninja

illo

07-26-2006, 10:29 AM

ive been reading a lot about what bike a learner or beginner should get. im from germany, and here ur not allowed to ride a bike that makes more than 34hp for the first 2 years after u got ur license. so what most people do is get a bigger bike than a 125 or 250, since there arent many bikes that make a standart 34hp, and i dont know how to call it´, but they bring their bike to a shop and they put somekind of a "limiter" in it, so the bike doesnt make more than 34hp. so my question is "would you guys still suppose a small bike to start with or would u say, get a 600 R bike with ur 34hp for 2 years and then open it up (get the limiter out) ???

greetings from germany,
illo

UMGixxer

07-26-2006, 11:00 AM

06gsxr750rb

07-26-2006, 10:36 PM

I started on an SV650, GREAT bike, tons of torque and enough power but just enough that its still forgiving, unlike the 750.

I've taken the MSF beginners, 1 track day,(SV) and 1 day at Pridmore's STAR school(750). Now on a GSXR750 and loving it. Still learning alot as i go.

illo

07-27-2006, 10:01 AM

any other opinions on my question ?

colomRIK

07-28-2006, 06:30 PM

Go for the GUSTO...instead of paying the 8,000 for a 600 or maybe a 750.

pay 10,000 and get the 1000.

Once on a litre bike ... never go back. errrr ....

patto

07-29-2006, 04:29 AM

Go for the GUSTO...instead of paying the 8,000 for a 600 or maybe a 750.

pay 10,000 and get the 1000.

Once on a litre bike ... never go back. errrr ....

Ha Ha yeh why not go for it colonRIK is right you won't ever go back
you may not have the choice any more , those thou's don't suffer fools gladly

:wtf its your choice , I think I would be pushing up daisies right now if that was my first bike

colomRIK

08-06-2006, 07:45 AM

GET a BUSA ...and you TOOO can get hot chicks...

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h223/colomrok/Motorcycle/41_1_b.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h223/colomrok/Motorcycle/9a_1_b.jpg

speed king

08-07-2006, 05:19 PM

Here is just a sage word of advice... talk to your insurance company first before you go out and buy some bike you may not be able to even afford monthly insurance payments on. You'll likely find that anything over 650cc that even resembles a sport bike will take house mortgage type payments to insure. There is a reason for that.......lots of new riders buy crazy fast sport bikes and stack 'em up. The more that get stacked up...the higher the premiums go for riders in that category.

I've had 13 motorcycles in my life......raced bmx, raced motocross, even raced AMA Pro Racing SuperSport and only now do I find myself with enough brains and skills to ride a litre bike on the streeet.

Just my $.02.

--Sk

patto

08-18-2006, 04:36 PM

Good Arse :D fuck riding the Busa

Ride.

08-21-2006, 11:39 AM

Anybody who says its OK to get a 750 first is a noob themself.:nono

"I want something I can keep for a couple years". :rolleyes You're not going to anyway.

"I don't want something I'm gonna get bored with right away". :wtf Ask any AMA rider if they're bored with their 600cc machine. Many of the experienced riders on this board also have SV650s and NONE of them are bored with it, because they know how to ride!

"The "entry level" bikes don't look as good". :scratch Well its not gonna look good once you drop it anyway. And R bikes are WAY more expensive to fix.

bigm_23

08-21-2006, 04:37 PM

I was in the same situation as you trying to decide which bike to get. I ended up taking the msf course and completing it on 8/4/06. then purchased a gsxr 600 the following week as my first bike. I don't think you would have a problem with the 600 as a first bike as long as you respect, know your limitations and ride intelligently. I myself and new rider and have never been on a motorcycle prior to the msf course. whatever you decide be sure to take everyone's advice and invest in the course. personally, a 600 is my first bike and am not have a problem handling its power at all.

dosman23

08-23-2006, 10:32 PM

i went straight into a 750, with only riding dirtbikes as experience. all i have heard however is that dirtbiking and streetbiking are two very DIFFERENT beasts, and that dirt running isnt worth the experience.... you guys ever heard that? and i agree with both parties, i would have liked to have gotten a learning bike, but i got a great deal on an 01 750. my only complaint is my height. i would like to be a little more flat footed. and like other people have said, i dont think you would listen to reason either, because i didnt, but i am glad with my choice, others may not be, but i am. just ride responsibly, and dont be stupid.

Mazda

10-11-2006, 06:24 AM

xp!osion

11-25-2006, 04:33 AM

I bought my first bike 2 months ago - a 750 SRAD. Didn't even have my licence. Did an intensive course, passed my test and was on the 750 within a fortnight. Rides like a dream - easy to handle. Also if you get your insurance through Bennetts you should get a good deal. Mine was £280 for the year for the 750, despite the fact I'd only just passed my test. I am a girl though - maybe they think we ride safer? Hahahaa. i did an intensive as well, got a SRAD 600, love it.....but i guess older bikes are a lot more forgiving, just be reasonable with your choice and be aware of how quick things can turn ugly and you should be fine

dmon

11-29-2006, 10:59 AM

I am not saying that the SV-650 is a bad bike, its fast, and a nice looking bike. However, why waste your money on a bike you don't want? It just means you'll sell it the next year to buy something else. Anyhow, I think you should buy the bike you want, and if you aren't responsible enough to ride it carefully you shouldn't be riding!!!
i agree get what u want to their all fast an you can hurt yourself bad or worse on em all i started on a 90 gixxer 750, but not everyone is the same! just get what u feel good on:punk

dmon

11-29-2006, 11:25 AM

Very well put fraggle.......

P.S.....It's not just street squids. I was at a track day at CMP this weekend.There were SEVERAL guys there on shiny new Ducatis and Aprilias with trick gear, trick parts, trick trailers. That were SLOW as hell.

I wonder how it feels to buy a $30K worth of motorcycle stuff and get passed by a 4 year old 600.

[ 11-27-2002, 10:36 AM: Message edited by: Jon T. Flesh ]
$30k in gear and bike dont mean s*** its always bout the rider,but yea those guys kill me to. its like putting mladin on a 10yr old 600 and you or i on a new 1000 and im sure we would get smoked. jus be kool and u say u wouldnt use all that power but we all said that and then went balls out eventually:cheers

nebgsxr

11-30-2006, 12:04 PM

I don't know why everyone asks what bike they should get, because the same thing happens over and over again, SV650, etc.

The bottom line is get the bike you like, just be responsible and realize that busting the plastics on a GSXR is going to cost more than that on an older bike. Thats my opinon. THe GSXR 600 is more then enough, but if your looking to have the bike for 5 or 6 years, you might want the 750, and just be resposible about it until you are comfortable with it.

yep....that's what I did although I got a 1000.... :o

eatemup

12-05-2006, 10:45 AM

Got a friend with a GXR 750 he recommends a 750 for me. I'm 5'11, 225 Lbs.

Bro get the 750, you will regret the 600 after two weeks. I recommend that you takeyour time on the bike, not much difference in the 600 or 750, but as a first bike any of the two will bite hard. The thing is you get the 600 and then ride a 1000 later and say dammit why didn't I get the 750. Investment wise, get the 750 and respect it!!:punk

Ride.

12-05-2006, 03:20 PM

93 Gixxer 1100

12-07-2006, 02:36 AM

Most new riders will not be able to control a modern GSXR anything , these are race bred bikes , not starter bikes !! Three of my friends bought new bikes last spring ,ZX10R,636,and GSXR600. ZX10R is still alive and well,636 went offroad through a fence and into a tree ! GSXR600 has been in my garage for 3 months with no right side plastics , the owner is still makeing payments , is scared of the bike and owes more than its worth . Use your brain when you buy , not your ego! Start of with something like a used Katana 600 or SV 650 and get used to rideing , see how much U realy ride and what type of rideing U do before buying your new dreambike that might turn out to be a nightmare ! Remember GSXRs dont give many second chances to get it right , and it is your LIFE on the line !!!!

mike-s

12-09-2006, 03:37 AM

Over here in Australia a number of states have implimented a scheme called LAMS, thats Learner Approved Motorcycle Scheme. Basically the idea is if your over 30 and have your gold car license (that means you've been driving at LEAST 4 years). you can get what the hell you want, this is using the logic that you *used* to ride, or are sensible enough not to kill yourself as you ride off the dealer lot.

But if you haven't got the above exemption you aren't restricted to a 250 like the other states. You can buy a bike as long as (calculated with a 90 kg/200lb rider) the bike doesn't exceed 150kilowatt/tonne (i.e. (bike kwatt/(bikeweight+90kg))*1000) and doesnt exceed 660cc. This allows the learner to ride a lot of quite capable bikes such as the old er5 (136kw/tonne) & gs500 (134kw/tonne).

Although the SV650 (http://www.suzukicycles.org/SV-series/SV650-SV650S.shtml) is still a capable and relatively low powered bike, unfortunately it still bumps in over the 150kw/tonne at a respectable 207kw/tonne.
The same has happened for the er6n&f (ninja 650r i think its called in the US) as since the 150cc boost it now falls outside of the range as well.

That having been said, of all the bikes available, the sv650 & Ninja650R are a hell of a lot more suitable than most in the same cc range for a learner.
It's still learner friendly though,

mike-s

12-09-2006, 03:49 AM

Bro get the 750, you will regret the 600 after two weeks. I recommend that you takeyour time on the bike, not much difference in the 600 or 750, but as a first bike any of the two will bite hard. The thing is you get the 600 and then ride a 1000 later and say dammit why didn't I get the 750. Investment wise, get the 750 and respect it!!:punk

What happens if he has a newbie moment and frigs up on the throttle control? a gixxer ANYTHING has no room for error and as sure as shit stinks, he'll put the bike or himself into a tree or another vehicle. I'm on my 4th (5th if you include an attempt at a restore job that didn't exactly work too well) bike, 250, 450, 750 and now 937cc and i can safely say NEITHER of the last two bikes i've owned would be suitable for anyone with under a MINIMUM of 6 months of riding skill.

Also another thing is riding skill. You are going to learn a lot more on a small bike where you *CAN* make those errors a larger bike will bite you for. Once you've sorted those skills out, it will make you a hell of a lot better rider on the larger bike a lot more quickly than if you'd jumped onto the bigger bike straight away.

I've seen way too many people hurt themselves by just jumping on the wrong bike way too quickly. Unless i was a callous uncairing c*nt i could not in any way shape or form recommend you hopping straight onto a gixxer 750.

Do the MSF, buy a moderate bike before jumping on anything else (besides, a lot of bigger bikes have far different tempraments) and learn how to ride. That way when it comes time to step up, your not just taking some random forum members advice and going out there, testing vtr thou's, gixxer 750's, zx10's, concourse's, busa's and whatever the hell else takes your fancy before laying down the money (helps reduce buyers remorse) :cool oh and good luck.

phreak260

12-11-2006, 12:10 PM

well, i came from the dirtbike world and went straight to a K6 750. although i love the bike and wouldn't get rid of it for the world, i now see that i should have gotten something cheaper for my first street bike. affording it isn't the problem; and i've got full coverage on it so if i wreck it i will get (most) of my money back.

it's just not too bright to get a $10K bike as your first. stats are not on your side as a newbie rider. you may be fine, i have up till now and hope to stay that way. it would just blow to wreck an expensive machine.

operating the machine isn't the issue. clutch, brake, throttle, shifter, lean, blah blah blah. a monkey could peddle the thing around. but, riding it to it's potential, and handling it when it gets to speed (which it does very, very fast) is out of your reach. do you know how to handle stress reactions? do you even know what they are? they come on real quick on a 750, lemme tell you.

there are also a number of things you will want to ditch from your dirtbike experience. dirtbikes are manhandled around, these bikes are not. you have to let it work. this was and is the hardest thing for me to get around. only when you realize this and managed to diss your SR's will you be able to put it into practice. and this takes seat time.

get a cheaper, less powerful bike. the cash you save can be spent on proper gear, which is a must. full leathers, boots, proper gloves and a good helmet are precursers.

i know all about just "doing what you want", and it is rewarding. but, that rewarding experience can quickly turn to horror, shame, and regret.

go take a safety course. if you still like riding, go buy your gear and don't skimp. use what you have left to get a decent bike without fairings. the SV is a good bike; my roomate has one and he has it looking pretty sweet. if you buy it used you'll most likely get back out of it what you paid if you take care of it.

good luck with your decision

TonyD(061K)

12-11-2006, 12:16 PM

Dude buy the cheapest thing you can find which is also mechanically sound. Learn to ride, learn to think like a rider, and then re-visit what bike you are riding. Im not saying go get a ninja 250 but I am saying dont go and get in over your head by buying a modern day race bike as your first ride. Take the MSF, and dont go out and try to keep pace with your buddies. Be safe be smart and learn the ropes before jumping on one of these crotch rockets.

mike-s

12-23-2006, 04:29 PM

TonyD, exactly what i did, had a couple of slightly average bikes, but on the other hand i've had a couple of bikes that are in excellent condition but just going a lot more cheaply due to their age,

<--- take this bike for example.

oh and this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xBpJQl-tUI) is what were talking about with learning on a bigger bike.... Mind you, having someone teach you that can EXPLAIN might have benefitted this guy too....

Ghostrider750

12-24-2006, 05:35 AM

Your funeral!!!-I see so many newbie's get a bike that is too powerful for their skill level and I usually see, hear, or read about them wrecking. Let's just say you don't have enough skill yet to safely ride a 750.

greebler

02-02-2007, 11:01 PM

The bike only goes as fast as you tell it to! Keep this in mind and you'll be alright on pretty much any bike.

Ride.

02-03-2007, 04:57 AM

The bike only goes as fast as you tell it to! Keep this in mind and you'll be alright on pretty much any bike.
Please stop saying this, people!
Throttle control is a learned skill.
Not a power of the mind.

This thread has sort of been brought back from the dead. Try this:

Read through this thread and take note of everyone who said in one fashion or another that "you'll be fine" or "I've been fine" or "just take it slow".
Then click on their user name and view their profile.
Then take note of the date of their last activity on this site.

Then look at the names of members that are still recognizable today and are still active and take a look at their advice in this thread.
It says a little bit about how well certain people "get along fine" in their riding career.

Sure, I know it doesn't say a whole lot considering that a lot of people move on to other sites, get different brands of bikes, or just lose interest in a forum board. But could this also mean that shortly after giving such "expert" advice, something dramatic happened in which their interest or career suddenly came to an end? :scratch

03impy

03-16-2007, 08:41 AM

I started with an SVS650 and now have a gixxer 750.....The SVS was a great bike though.

CM1KD

03-20-2007, 03:17 PM

My first bike was a Katana 600. A good beginners bike. Modest power and pretty comforatble for longer ride. Sure, it is no gixxer by any means (except its 1985 gixxer motor), but a good bike. I highly recommend the MSF. It is a great learning tool. The best advice I can give is experience. The more you ride the better you will be. Just be patient and stay within your limits. Trying to impress anyone other than yourself could be a disaster. Ride safe and choose smart. (i.e. A GSX-R 750 for a first bike is not a good idea)

Custom Gix600

03-24-2007, 09:00 PM

Hi to everyone! Seeing that I'm new here and was randomly searching through forums on this site I decided to join and wanted to comment on this topic

I am not saying that the SV-650 is a bad bike, its fast, and a nice looking bike. However, why waste your money on a bike you don't want? It just means you'll sell it the next year to buy something else. Anyhow, I think you should buy the bike you want, and if you aren't responsible enough to ride it carefully you shouldn't be riding!!!

I agree 100% with Dr. Suzuki on this. I am a first time rider, not really rode a bike, but since I've learned I love my new purchase (In 05' bought the 04' with 3 miles on it) of the GSXR600 and wouldnt trade it for the world I plan on keeping this bike and its gonna save me money in the long run vs buying something that I didnt want and then going to something that I wanted. Mods are a different story however all together.

fastfredy929

03-25-2007, 08:09 PM

More -

My 750 scares the shit out of me on a regular basis, and I have been riding on the street for 22 years, and the dirt for > 30.

Start small, get a lot of training, wear your gear.....

Come on dude you got to be joking I have been riding since 93 and there is no way a 750 would ever scare me... I started off learning to ride in a field full of cow dropping and wet grass that taught me how to control a street bike cuz i learned how to counter move when a tire would begin to slide first bike a cb750f super sport... Now I have a cbr 929, 954 and a 99 gsxr 600 and 06 gsxr1000 now i can redline either bike and that doesnt scare me what scares me is doing stunts and things others talk about but never do... that is another experience when you try that... I would recommend a srad gsxr 600 for anyone 200lbs or better and a 250 or 500 model ninja bike for someone that is under 200....

Ride.

03-25-2007, 09:15 PM

....ninja bike...
:lol

sickergixxer

06-24-2007, 11:11 AM

My first bike was a 750 but I grew up riding dirt bikes.

Strip Toff

07-02-2007, 09:29 PM

So let me get this right. In the states you can learn to ride on any bike you like, no limitations.:confused

In Australia learners are limited to 250cc or comparable power to weight ratio. Have to do compulsory training before we can even get a licence.

I learnt an aweful lot about bike control on my CBR250 over a 18 months. Than upgraded to a CBR600.

I now race a supersport GSXR600 and would recommend a smaller capacity bike to learn on.

A smaller bike is more forgiving and will let you get away with a lot more before it hurts you:hammer

My brother had a VTR250 to learn on, I loved it was great fun to thrash about, and if you crash it there was little cost to repair and if it died it was still half the price of any supersport around.

Cheers Matt

Grandevil

07-02-2007, 09:31 PM

ANR

07-03-2007, 10:29 AM

The SV650 would be a great bike to learn with. No overwhelming power

Calesta600

07-08-2007, 12:26 PM

I have been looking to purchase a motorcycle for awhile now, and I'm torn between getting a really small bike like the EX250 ninja, a SV650, or a GSXR600... I've read through this thread multiple times and I've never heard anyone mention Suzuki's GS500F, it appears to be a middle of the road motor with a sportier look, is it that bad of a machine?

I know the 250 is a great bike to learn on, and I honestly don't think it's an eye sore. I'm weary of things I've heard about Kawi's and that the motors tick, I'm guessing they have lifter issues...

The SV650 naked is just unattractive in my opinion, and the S model is just getting up there in price with a GSXR. I know looks shouldn't matter, but it does in some ways because you want to like what you're walking up to/ Sitting on and making payments toward.

I know the GSXR isn't the best thing to learn on and I am going to take the MSF course without a doubt, but it's still tempting to buy the 600. I actually argue with the salesmen at the dealerships because they try and tell me the 750 is better using the stupid you'll grow out of it theory. I've told everyone that I'm learning and that the 600 is even pushing it for a first street bike. It's just a beautiful piece of machinery and very comfortable to sit on, but also tuned to kick my ass if I make a mistake.

I guess my main question being, is the GS500F a good learners bike or is there something about the sv650 that makes it a much better learners bike? Obviously the 650 has more power, but anyone who uses any logic in this thread goes from the 250 ninja to the sv650 with no heed to the 500... I'm just curious as to why.:confused

Ride.

07-08-2007, 12:43 PM

Calesta600

07-08-2007, 01:12 PM

Thanks AV_Fan,

I was just worried about the handling and response of the GS500... What I've gathered from the kawi forums is that the EX500 is actually worse to learn on compared to the EX250 because it feels heavy and less responsive, including in the throttle. Would this also be the case with the GS500? I want to truly learn how to ride, but if the GS just looks a little sportier but handles sloppier than the EX250 I guess I'll have to go with the Ex250. I can always give it to my girlfriend when I'm ready for a new learning experience on a bigger bike.

Ride.

07-08-2007, 04:39 PM

I want to truly learn how to ride, but if the GS just looks a little sportier but handles sloppier than the EX250 I guess I'll have to go with the Ex250. Then the 250 is what you're gonna want. Its not just the handling you should be worried about as a new rider, its the power delivery and how manageable and forgiving it is in inexperienced hands. You can "man-handle" the bike, rather than it man-handling you. Fear of the bike will limit your learning ability.

GixxerAboy

07-11-2007, 02:04 AM

YEa same with me, im a new rider and wanted to grab a 750, but from riding my 600 for about 2 weeks, i can tell from a lil experience, that u should take that course first... then think about purchasing a bike...... Trust me that course HELPS OUT big time!!!!!!

XOM78

12-30-2007, 10:24 AM

Hello all new to the forum here an American living in the UK...

I have to agree 100% with the previous posts. I have been riding since 05 so in relative terms I am a new rider with some experience. I rode little dirt bike and mopeds when I was in my teen (29 now), but I started ride a proper bike in 05. Not a GSXR, though.

My first bike was a K1 SV650S fully faired with 2wheeljunky fairings. I tell you what, it was an awesome bike with just enough power to pull a wheelie, but it gave you just enough room for error in case you locked up and froze during a bad situation in traffic to recover from it.

If I was you I get an SV650 and then get a GSXR750. A friend of mine bough an R6 for his first bike and he had to adjust at first, but it took him a while to get used to it. Unlike me with the sv650s believe it or not I was faster than him. It wasn't cause of the bike but because of my skills.
When i bought it and started riding I was not preoccupied that the bike would be to fast, but one thing is for sure I never disrespected my baby cause once you do she is going to hurt you really bad.

In reality all bikes can go fast since I done 140mph on my sv, the only thing is that it took me a little bit to reach that speed in comparison to my friends with busas and gsxrs.

Be safe, take a riders course--they do help--I have taken three levels already. The beginners, advance, and a different course other than msf; after your skills get better go on and spend some money on the california superbike school and on some track days. Its well worth it.

Take care and ride hard!!

XOM78:)

p.s. See attached photos of my old SV650S

Robguy79

03-03-2008, 12:12 PM

Hummmm…..
Personal thought, and resulted decision on my part
I just bought a GSX-R600, heard it was a great bike but also carried the look I wanted in a bike. I am sure the SV650 would have been a better choice for a first time rider like me (all dirt No street experience) but without that in mind I think most people by a bike based on its looks and reviews. Personally I didn’t want to be “that guy” with the not so street looking bike, bad enough the guys I ride with all have 1000s and I am the “little” 600. Call me dumb but that’s me. And a 600 is plenty of bike for me.

stpn2me

03-04-2008, 07:42 PM

And a 600 is plenty of bike for me.
Dude,

I'm right there with ya. I have always owned a 600 and I am still awed by the power. It is always a rush when I get on the throttle and I always remember that it is a beast I am on and to respect it. I ride for the sound of the pipe and to sit next to it at burger king with the rest of the guys and watch guys in mini vans ride by and wish they were me!

Blazen244

03-05-2008, 09:38 PM

My first bike was a GSXR 750 this bike was a bit much to get used to but I learned fast what not to do. I don't advise anybody to do this for their first bike, it had a full exhaust and a powah commander in it already after three years on it, it still makes my hair raise:chucks

Ride.

03-06-2008, 01:20 AM

I ride for the sound of the pipe and to sit next to it at burger king with the rest of the guys and watch guys in mini vans ride by and wish they were me!
That line's a joke, right?:shifty

SOM98TA

03-12-2008, 09:22 PM

First bike anybody would be stupid to buy anything NEW IMO or any bike that cost more then 6k. You can decide you do not like riding and go ahead and put it right back for sale and get your entire investment back if not make a little bit of money. A lot better then purchasing a new bike and losing a good thousand bucks by just taking it off the lot. Anything bigger then a 600 is unnecessary the chances of being able to handle the bike let alone use it to its potential is slim to none.

So Cliffnotes = If the bike is newer pass & if possible go for the 600

SOM98TA

03-25-2008, 11:40 AM

In some ways I think it's stupid to get a bike you do not truly want. You have to pay for it... as long as your careful enjoy your bike.

Darwin eventually will sort everything out

LeafRider

03-30-2008, 07:14 PM

Well guys, this is my first post. I did just by a bike and I hope to be a frequent flier on these Forums for many years. I bought a used 1990 GSX-R750. I may drop it or ding it up but i got it for a good price, and i'm not worried about that part of it.

What i'm worried about now is basically every guy in here spelling out the "Don't touch a GSX-R750 when you're learning to ride a bike." Some say be responsible, be smart, don't jack around and you'll be okay.

Long story short I'm going to learn how to ride on this bike, what would be the key things to avoid and the mind-set going into this as a new rider. I need something now that will at least get me on the bike now after reading how I'm "going to kill myself." Cheers!

srad6/10

03-31-2008, 04:12 AM

Well seeing U bought a 90/750 shows U have your wits:) The 90 being an oil boiler and most of us know this is true first generation Gixxer.Mind you the 90 is fast since it's one of the last oil cooled bikes,(here in North America the last one was in 92)
What it "Boils" down to is U as a rider ie common sense.
Have u thought about putting on a set of Streetfighter bars on it?if you were to do that it would make the bike more comfortable and a lot easier for U to learn on.
Do you have any friends you can ride with?As long as they respect you as a new rider it should be ok to ride with them.
Another idea for U would be to post in the riding section we have here just look for your area ie west coast ......
In your post try to be specific letting other riders know you are still learning and would appreciate someone with
riding experience and a couple of hrs to spare.That way you can find someone who would be willing to show u hands on how to
do things experienced riders take for basics.On top of that you'll have fun and will meet some new riding buddies.
We hope to hear from you how things are working out for you.
By the way, Welcome to the best Gixxer forum there is on the web
Mike

loco

05-05-2008, 09:28 AM

Here's the perfect starter bike.

loco

05-05-2008, 10:06 AM

I teach golf among other things, and there are 2 types of people

1) The person who wants to become proficient at the game and takes it seiously. I will make this person start with an old set of forged blades, and teach him/her slowly how to control the ball, hit it high, low, left & right.
And more importantly how to nut it on a dime all the time (If you're not a golfer, a miss hit with a forged blade will vibrate in you're hands when hit off center & go all of 10 yds)
When they can do all of the above, then they can go out & buy whatever clubs they like, period. (& the teaching never ends, like motorcycling)

OR

2) The person who wants to play once a month and not completely embarrass him/herself. They don't want to become proficient, just hit the ball somewhat straight and make contct with it. They usually buy the flashy clubs and gear to at least look good while shanking the ball all over the course.
They're also usually the first people to give advice to other golfers and somehow apparently are able to hit 300 yrd drives.

The #2 person in this context represents all of the posters contending that large displacement bikes are great learning tools.
They don't know shit becasue they never learned shit and are not intereseted in learning shit. They just want to look good, cause sportbikes are "cool" and the "honeys" love em. They are ever concerned about they're "chinkenstrips" and try desperately to get rid of them for the next all important Starbucks meet.

The #1 person can hold up under pressure ie tournamnets, the #2's crumple like a pile of shit. (Sportbike is the same, #2 person usually gets hurts or worse)

So you pick, 1 or 2. If it's 1, then listen to experienced people on this board.

I'll post this as well, becasue it hits the the heart of the topic and I could'nt say it any better. (not my words, copied from another post)

Wow... 3 whole days. That's alot. I'll be looking for her on pole next AMA season.

Some of you people just don't get it, do you? It isn't always a choice to 'use it'. It's a question of muscle memory, of countless experiences, of hours upon hours of seat time. And even then - as with most things - you never, ever stop learning. Learning to ride a motorcycle - and learning to ride it right - isn't something you can think your way through. Rationalization only gets you so far. There's no substitute for experience. And until you have a solid foundation of experience, you're going to hurt yourself on a big bike - either directly (ie getting fucked up), or indirectly (ie slowing your learning curve).

To ANYONE considering a 1000, of all bikes, as their first, keep in mind it's the posers and newbies alone who are the ones saying "you'll be fine on a 1000". They say it because they don't have enough experience to know any better. They don't know any better because they're either not interested in becoming better riders, haven't had the time to, or don't know how to. Because if they were interested in improving their abilities, and knew how to go about it, common sense would mandate that they start off on a smaller bike!

What these posers ARE interested in is being seen on the baddest bike off the showroom floor. And that they are... seen with squared off tires, seen with ridiculous riding posture, seen with lots of crash damage, and seen getting passed by the 250s & SVs on a regular basis. Sometimes seen dead or maimed. Rarely seen at the track (and when they are - it's in the slow group, holding everyone up).

I don't know about you... but 'fun' to me means striving to become a fast, skilled rider, on whatever bike I'm on. Fun does not mean being the guy that's so untalented that he's able to make Suzuki's flagship sportbike look slow. Fun is passing the poser on a 1K using a much smaller bike. Fun is not being the guy on the 1000 being passed.

Personally speaking, If I were looking to get involved in a new sport or activity (let's say skydiving, for instance, which I believe is statistically less dangerous that motorcycling)... I wouldn't ask the guy with 1 tandem jump under his belt for advice. I'd ask the instructor. Wouldn't you? Or would you trust your life and your enjoyment of the sport to the newbie who doesn't know any more than you do?

Well, I GUARANTEE that if you go to any racetrack, trackday, or riding school, and ask any seasoned racer, track vet, or instructor... they'll tell you that starting on a 1000 is not to your benefit, for a number of reasons. Shouldn't those be the people you'd want to listen to? The people that really care about your safety, that really want you to become better, faster... the people who really know what they're talking about.

Who are you going to listen to? The people with the experience to know what's really best for you, or the scumbag salesman at the dealership that couldn't give a shit whether you live or die, so long as he collects his commission? Are you going to listen to the majority of seasoned riders on this board that have the intelligence, experience, and common sense necessary to suggest the best course of action, or the minority of idiots that think being able to ride in a straight line makes them accomplished experts?

I'm usually pretty mellow - but it seriously pisses me off when screwballs suggest a 1000 as being a good beginners bike. They're either too fucking dumb to know any better - or so fucking careless and irresponsible that they're willing to jeapordize someone else's safety just to see their own dipshit comments in print. Either way, if they had any sense, they'd realize they don't know what the hell they're talking about, and keep their traps shut.
__________________
Jody H.
Owner, Sportbike Solutions
Suspension Services, Performance Parts, Track Support

As I have said before, the stench of newb is overpowering, good luck.

AndrewM

05-05-2008, 12:15 PM

^^ best post I've seen in awhile:cheers

:lol Was I the only one that noticed the OP asked this question back in 02 but never came back?
People were still suggesting bikes for him in 06 and even in the last couple months:wacko

loco

05-05-2008, 03:24 PM

kuzix

06-22-2008, 10:58 AM

If you like the gixxers, and you're set on it, then we can't do anything, but just get the
K8 600 then start out on mode C. I don't want to tell you not to get anything, but thats the smartest way to go if you know you're getting a gixxer.

RENEGADE7

06-30-2008, 11:33 AM

hmmmm...well in my case...I learned on a honda 750 cruiser....I'm getting the 08 GSX600

been riding for years though, is this a bad move?...I've been on the GSXR600 before and it seems pretty easy to ride...just never owned one...I hear the 08's are pretty light...

bad move on my part to get the 600?

Thisfuginguy

08-21-2008, 05:54 PM

I just wanted to say thank you because this is a great post. It gives someone like me, 34, lots of great information on what bike to get for my first bike. I'll be making that decision within the next 30 days after I take the MSF in the first weekend of Sept. Again, great info.

billyrides

08-31-2008, 10:42 AM

First time to post, but I think it's a pretty good subject.

My garage includes a ZX14, '59 Harley, '99 Kaw Vulcan 800 and an GSXR 750 K7. I could list previous bikes, but it would take too long. I admit, when it comes to bikes, I'm not too picky and I am certainly addicted.

I think the post by Loco is one of the best I've seen and is very close to the way I feel.

The first thing you have to ask yourself is are you interested in being a motorcyclist or owning a motorcycle.

Lot of guys buy bikes, ride them for awhile, crash them and then that's it. For whatever reason, buddies, ads in magazines, a motorcycle was appealing to them at that point in their life so they grabbed one up. Don't need to look any further then 75% of the current Harley riders to see that scenario being played out everyday. The fact that statistically those riders are breaking new ground for motorcycle deaths should say something too.

If you are truly intent on becoming a dedicated rider, there is a lot more involved then picking the bike. When I am at home, I generally ride 12-15k per year, 12 months a year. In the midwest, that means that the right riding gear is a lot more important then the bike I am on. Although my ZX14 is my bike of choice, I've got to tell you it sucks replacing those tires. At my age, 41, insurance isn't such a big deal but for my GF who is 27, it is. All of this factors in for the new rider, or at least it should.

My personal opinion is that if you really want to hone your motorcycle skills, pick something that you can push to it's limits either on the track or the street. Obviously, you can't do that legally on the streets with a GSXR 750 which generally leads to guys pushing the legal and safety envelopes. As a new rider, your much better off learning how to modulate the brakes properly and keep the engine in it's power band to maximize your riding, then you are always having to hold the bike back. You just learn more about riding this way.

My 14 is a fun bike and after 25 years of street riding, I think I've earned it. But I have a lot more fun in the twisties on the 750 and remember having a great time many years ago on my GS500E. You had to actually ride the bike.

Don't try to get too caught up in bike of the week syndrome. The manufacturers will outdo you every time. They'll all put you in a tree pretty fast if you don't respect the power they have. Any motorcycle in my opinion is 100% more fun then a car and right now, theres something to be said about the gas mileage too.

I think there are some very good replies to this post so it should give you a lot to think about and make it easier to make an informed decision..

ACOMA

09-12-2008, 01:39 PM

Wow this is an old thread...hope the poor guy made a decision by now :blink

NicholasGoddard

09-19-2008, 09:30 AM

test post!

BigAl12

03-19-2009, 12:49 PM

Yea this is an old post and has been inactive for a bit but i figured i would post up my story.

My first bike was my current 02 GSX-R600 as long as you have respect for your machine, are coordinated and have a clue what you're doing you will be fine with the 600. in my case i have never ridden a dirt bike or any bike or quad with a clutch and still have not. i can drive manual cars yet never owned one. i used to race downhill which is on a bicycle but obviously nothing like street ride. the first time i ever thew a leg over a bike was a '93 zx750 and it made me shit bricks for the first few miles. but now its a year and a half later with almost 10,000 miles under my belt, and i love my 600 through and through and i ride hard, the only thing i recommend even though im still a nooob to most, is to ride within your abilities and if you want to push your bike do it with moderation and stay in control, basically just be smart about it.

Best wishes to all looking to purchase their ride or reading up on experiences.

113473

03-20-2009, 07:57 AM

Yea deffinetly a SV650 or maybe 600

Knuckles GSXR

03-22-2009, 10:04 PM

I started off on a yamaha R-6. Im a quick learner as well and i felt after a few months that i needed something with more power. But still you should respect your first bike until you are comfortable on it or else its probably going to kill you.

Mtalicarox

03-23-2009, 11:59 AM

First bike should always be a hayabusa.

GixxR_750

03-31-2009, 11:46 AM

well said billyrides

Brick750

04-22-2009, 05:08 PM

do what you want. a smaller bile will allow you to learn quicker.

o3clipsegts

04-22-2009, 10:48 PM

My first bike was a brand new 636. Just respect it.

dres1

04-27-2009, 09:49 PM

pt123

04-27-2009, 10:01 PM

I think it's more important to put some miles on that bike before you consider a passenger. It will throw off your balance so you need to make sure you and your GF are comfortable with riding.

gold333

04-28-2009, 05:10 AM

Edit: Posted in the wrong section

gunther1000

04-30-2009, 09:41 AM

im thinking of getting a bike myself... i have never ridden before, but i have good balance, have driven a stickshift for a long time and feel like im pretty responsible... i was considering the 600... but a lot of the people are saying that its too much for a starter.... so maybe ill get a ninja 250 because its real cheap and if i can learn better on it then that will be great... but i want to put my girl on the back... im 165 lbs and she is 145, how will the bike perform with both of us? i know its kinda underpowered as it is.. also, i know this is probably a very dumb question, but what are frame sliders? what is the essential gear i would need for starting out?? thanks in advance for any help!

To each there own but the 250 is made with passenger pegs so yes it will tote a passenger but like said above it is a big deal when you have that much extra weight in a very hard to deal with location. I would not be taking anyone till you have at least 3,000 miles alone on any bike.

Could you handle a 600? I'm not sure. In reality yes most can. For women it is the weight that kills the fun but for a dude you should be ok but a 250 would bring lot more confidence early in the game and any bike offers the same learning curve for danger on the road. A larger bike only introduces an additional level of danger with it's preception confusing speed and the ability to get you in over your head a lot faster than your brain can deal with.

IF say you did buy a 250, learned on it and thought you wanted more power you could always let your girl try to learn on it and have a ridding partner to tool around with. It is not fun to me to have a passenger at any time and I have been riding for 10+ years.

Gear wise you need a good Jacket, Gloves, Helmet. Minimum! Boots would be nice for keeping your feet and ankles attached if your into that but you can get by with regular shoes for the most part.

Get your gear when or before you get a bike and do not ride without it.

Trust me and everyone else who will tell you the same. We have all had to learn the hard way on those "I'm JUST running around the corner" days when you don't wear it and have super cool scares and limps to show for it.

Read as much as you can about it and understand that everyone is different.

And frame sliders are for protecting your bike when you fall. Think no one goes down? They make shit just for crashing. It is that common. Gear is for crashing but even great riders wont ride without it. Should you?

Your mind set may not be as fast paced as a lot of us who ride and you may not operate the same as the next guy claiming that a 600 is the only way to go.

You can die on a Honda Spree on the open road the same as a new Busa.

Most die from a under 50 MPH crash not a 180 mph crash.

MOKE1K

05-03-2009, 10:04 AM

Got a friend with a GXR 750 he recommends a 750 for me. I'm 5'11, 225 Lbs.

I sell bikes for a living and Iam always faced with this perdicament everyday. It's funny people think its like a car and will respond with a comment like,
How do I look, does it fit me?

You pick a first bike based off your experience, if you have none than you shouldn't be on anything bigger than a 500cc imo. You dont fit a bike with size, you fit it with your experience level.

The best line is when the person comes in and says,"this is going to be my first bike and one of my friends told me forget about getting the 600 cause you'll just get bored and want the 750 in 6months anyway?" Imo this is the same guy that totals the bike comes back into the shop and blames it on some lady that pulled out in front of them. Then perceves that hes ready to get a 1000cc now? Leaves me scratching my head everytime.

turboboy

06-11-2009, 07:40 PM

Ok, I know I will get ripped for this I’m sure, but when I was 14 years old I bought a 1991 kawi 600 and I restored it with my father. I started riding that bike before I could legally, down old country roads. At 16 1/2 years old I bought a 2004 gsxr 600....I fell in love with it...it had 4500 miles on it when I sold it it had 11000 miles on it. I did all the up keep; oil changes, tire changes and balances, pads, bearings, ect... I kind of bonded with her, but I had to sell to help out around the house. I have now graduated and am working my a$$ off. I am now 19 years old and found a beautiful 2006 gsxr1000 with a simple scorpion slip on...and I bought it. I have the bike for 5 months now this bike is absolutely ridiculous...you guys know that. but I’m just using this as an example at 19 I have never had a ticket, I have never been down, but then again everything I have ever owned I bought which I believe has helped me...umm...stay safe... yes I have gone through the twisties and I have had guys in gt mustangs pull up and yes I dropped a few gears and played with them but I know when to give respect when respect is due. I believe it was Dr. Suzuki who said buy what you want and grow into it...I feel that is true but you kind of have to know yourself before buying something this freakin....um...yeah. at 5 months I still don’t know what it will top out at, hell i don't know what it will top out in 1st and I don’t know what my 1/4 mile time is and I haven’t tried to launch. It will wheelie but I only know that because I rolled into it (not really even hard) and it came up. So you know what I did...I stopped doing it....until I feel comfortable. This thing scares the crap out of me! I’m 19 and I’m supposed to be scared of nothing....no...I had my best friend (R.I.P Jack Daniel Ison) pass away from a serious wreck on a 1997 gsxr750. I had to be a pallbearer at his funeral because he didn’t know his limits. He thought he could do a wheelie down a narrow road and it got away from him. all I’m saying is if you think you want a bike and you don’t want to keep buying bikes...please just know yourself. Think things through. the old kawi was Fast! the gsxr600 was holy s@%t, you couldn't get a needle and a sledge hammer in my butthole.lol the gsxr1000...is i feel should be illegal. as everyone else says ride smart, ride safe, and wear all your gear!!!

andrew325

08-02-2009, 08:21 PM

My $.02 as a fresh squid on a 600

Recently bought my K7 600 as my first bike after only riding dirt bikes a few times. I was planning on getting a ninja 250 to start on, but salesmen/friends convinced me to go larger, as well as I listened to the "if you stay off the throttle, you'll be ok" people. I also gave in to my own desire for an attractive bike rather than a gsf/kawi 500. In retrospect I should have gotten a more mildly mannered bike to start on, as I agree that learning would be easier. I'm enjoying riding a lot, but as everyone else in this thread already stated - these beautiful bikes are extremely sensitive to input, and I would not recommend buying a 600R or above for your first bike.

Big Head

08-05-2009, 02:59 AM

get a 600 man, I bought a 600 as my first bike and I feel comfortable on it

Mr. Evo IX

08-06-2009, 11:27 AM

+1 on the MSF course.

gold333

08-07-2009, 04:11 PM

Everyone should read the Hurt report man.

Isn't this thing a sticky around here yet?

http://www.magpie.com/nycmoto/hurt.html

chuck2417

08-19-2009, 08:52 AM

hey guys, new to this forum so let me start by saying hi! I have just purchased a 2009 GSX-R600 and I am a fairly new rider. I have been just reading the threads for some time now. I must agree with a lot of you that this bike does have a lot of power, almost too much. I agree with the majority of the experienced riders when they say that a 600cc 4 cylinder is a lot of bike for a new rider. But I also agree with some of the other riders when they say that bikes don't do stupid things, people on bikes do. Taking it slow with the bike for the first little bit so I wont be setting any lap records anytime soon. I am satisfied with my bike and hope to enjoy many riding seasons with it. So the reason why I bought this bike and didn't follow what I am very sure is good advice in getting a lower end bike... Well for one I enjoyed the sound of the engine and also the look of the bike. Another reason was the price was right so it would have been hard to pass it up. Finally the bike was comfortable enough and the riding position felt right. I hope to see myself on this forum a lot more and I am not here to say go out and buy a 600cc for your first bike. I am just one person saying that they bought a 600cc and I am very satisfied with it thus far.

Sid Post

08-22-2009, 08:08 AM