im new to riding and i was wondering what bike i should start with my friends say a gsxr 600 wile others tell me an r6 any help would be great thanks

None of the above. Both are really too radical in every way to be good starter bikes. Look for a used naked bike instead (without fairing) - they are much cheaper to repair. I'd recommend either the GS500E or SV650. Read the stickies (post threads "stuck" to the top of the forum) in "The Starting Line" forum for more information. And welcome to Gixxer.com http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif

+1

The SV650 in my opinion is the perfect first bike for a new rider with some common sense - it will challenge you to start off with, but has a very linear power delivery, neutral but flickable handling, and they crash well (minimal damage in light accidents and plenty of spares available at decent prices). It also doesn't get boring. I recently crashed my 1K5 at a trackday during the first session, so my wife offered her SV for the rest of the day - one of the most fun trackdays I've had. It put more than a few riders on bigger/newer bikes to shame.

SV650

I myself started on a GS550 and it was great learning bike. It built my skills in riding a bike and eventually went on to a bigger cc bike.

im new to riding and i was wondering what bike i should start with my friends say a gsxr 600 wile others tell me an r6 any help would be great thanks

i don't know that anyone ever listens to us when this question comes up at least once a week but don't get either of the ones you mentioned. Both are wayyyyy too much bike for a new rider.

When people say that they will respect the bike and won't push beyond their own abilities it is bullshit. The new rider doens't know how not to push it too much. the new rider doesn't know when there is too much throttle entering a turn because they haven't done it before.

The problems aren't on the straightaways where squids promise not to go over 80... 70... 60... the problems occur in the corners and in traffic when the power of the beast comes out at the most inopportune time as a result of inexperience.

Please, get a smaller bike (500, 250, etc) and learn the intricacies of riding. then, after a few years get your gixxer and blow the rest of the group who never learned correctly out of the water.

Thank you for putting up with my rant. no matter what you choose, ride safely... there are too many of us going down this season already!