After a rash of posts about what bike to get as a first bike, and a lot of posts defending the reasoning behind "only a 600" or "having respect", or "too big to ride a small bike"....

Why not a GSXR/R6/ZXR/CBR/996 etc?

Well, I am not sure that the fact that these are "only 600's" means a great deal, they are seen as "slow" by newer riders, and therefore easier to master than the 1000cc versions. Many people have said that they feel a 750 would be fine.

I guess that your idea of slow, is a fair bit different to mine. My idea of slow is something that accelerates like, say, a Geo Metro, not something that accelerates faster than a Dodge Viper.

Lets face it, the modern 600 is faster than a 750 of six or seven years ago, in a straight line, up to about 130mph.......

Six years ago the 750 class was in the middle of open warefare season, the (then new) SRAD 750 was the king of the beasts, trouncing the CBR900RR, and the FZR1000 or Chunderace) and destroying everything else in its path. Not just in a straight line either, but the 96 SRAD was a marvellous corner carver.

In its day, it was brutal - it still is, wild head shakes, inadvertant wheelies, and an utterly brutal rush beyond 10K RPM.

The latest 600's whilst just as fast, are only slightly more civilised, the power is not as brutal, but there is still a huge rush, and on the dyno they are only a couple of HP short of the benchmark.

So the power of the latest 600's is amazing, there is frankly more than 99% of people can use, and more than anyone can need on the street - on the track its a different matter, but we are talking street bikes here.....

Its not just the power either, its the power delivery.

These bikes are race-bikes with lights, or at least they are very, very similar to race bikes. In order to be competative in racing, where modifications are minimal, the engines are tuned to be very "racer friendly". The throttle response beyond a few thousand revs is instant, this is great if you are on a track, but merely OK on the road. If you are heavy-handed, it can be very dangerous. The MSF course teaches you to roll on the throttle in a curve, to a newr rider, rolling on is just that, add 1/4 turn maybe ? Well with a modern sports bike 1/4 turn is FULL throttle. Rolling on on these bikes means may 1/32nd of a turn - if that.

This is not a nice trait - you have just gone from 20hp to 80hp in the blink of an eye, and you lowsided - if you are lucky- into the scenery.

So, handling is the next problem.

These bikes are race bikes with lights, this means that they are super-fast handling. In fact they are astonishingly nervous, in order to make they turn fast, they are set-up to respond to minute inputs, and this is another major issue for a new rider. A new rider will not have the subltly of input that the bike needs, rather than push the bars, you apply a slight pressure, and the bike sails into the bends, push on the bars hard, and it becomes all nervous and unsettled, and again, the new rider may be lucky to get through the bend.

Obviously this will not be a good thing - to an experienced rider these bikes feel planted, and predictable, for a new rider, they feel horrible, and your confidence takes a hit.

Ok - Brakes

Again, these bikes are similar to race bikes. One of the few places that they differ is in the braking department. The brake pads have to last a little longer than race compound ones, so they are a little less brutal than those on a racer, also they have rubber hoses, which have a little "give" in them, making it harder to lock the fronts.

But, they are still eye-poppingly good, its possible to stand any of these bikes on its nose, at really, really high speeds, assumning you are hard enough on the brakes.

Then there is the rear brake, and again this is overly efficient, all too easy to lock it, all to easy to high-side as a result of the locked brake.

Repair costs.

As they are race replica's they comer covered in expensive plastic. Each side is $600 or more. A slow-speed drop could easily cost you over $1000 just in plastic bits. Add to that the normal "consumables" and you are in the $1300 range for a 10mph spill.

Combine all of these factors, and I hope that you see why a sportsbike is not a good first bike.

It has exactly the wrong set of characteristics for a new rider to learn to ride. Its too fast, too responsive, too twitchy, too nervous, the brakes are too sharp and they cost a lot to fix.

I'm not going to tell you that you should not get one (I'm not your mother), just that you need to bear in mind that these bikes belong in the "expert class", not the "new rider" one.

http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/applause.gif
Damn Fraggle you really need to look at getting a degree in technical writing man. Excellent write up. I dunno what else could be added to that.


http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

jontflesh

Great write up--- http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif

As a good friend told me when I was agonising about my first bike,
"you can get a sensible bike and get bored of it or get a mad bike and get used to it"!

Never did me any harm...

BTW my first bike was a 87 gixxer750, which I'm still riding....

Loz said:

As a good friend told me when I was agonising about my first bike,
"you can get a sensible bike and get bored of it or get a mad bike and get used to it"!

Never did me any harm...

BTW my first bike was a 87 gixxer750, which I'm still riding....



Well if you live in the UK, and your first bike is an 87 GSXR, then that means a bunch of things, firstly you have a Car licence, secondly you are over 21 (or is it 25?), secondly you have gone through a lot of training

CBT - Compulsary Basic Training - several hours of low-speed basic control, and cone weaving

DAC - Direct Access Course. - This is a "sevearl day" epic training marathon, by accredited trainers (I am/was one of these guys) riding on private land, then on the street on "over 33bhp" machines, in radio contact with an instructor. Before finally gaining your license on an over 33bhp machine.

In comparrison the optional MSF course is extremely lame, and extremely easy, it is not even as "good" as the UK CBT.

Given the circumstances, you are way better placed to ride that 750 than ANY US based new rider, but its still an awfull lot of bike - how long you had it ?????

Well said. http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif Is there anyway that the admins. can force a new reader to read this post or ones like it before accessing the board? It would be nice, not to sound like an asshole. I am a believer we all have the option on what posts we read, but shit, every forken day there is a "Im a newbie, should I get a bike with more HP than my car?" Then argue as to why they are special and exempt from begining mistakes, because they have already made up their mind before their post was made. http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

I vote for a sticky. http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif

Brolo said:

I vote for a sticky. http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif



It is a sticky http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif


Damn people with 98/600's are slow.... Oh wait!

http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

jontflesh

Flesh, that's a bitchin avatar http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif. I'm LMAO.

Are you calling me slow, Fleshy??
That's it...I'm getting a moderator.... http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

i had a kawi ex500 2002 for my first bike and i am 5'10 170 it was a lot of power for me as a new rider and i went through a msf course i agree it is crazy to go out and get a new 600 750 or 1000 i am a nurse and i see people every day in the trauma center and its because they were going to fast on a bike they couldnt control start out with something smaller or older i now have a 91 gsxr 750 that has 125 to the rear wheel i can stand it up without trying and it scares the hell out of me sometimes so please get something u can handle not something to powerful just beacause all your friends have one dont worry u wont look stupid on a smaller bike u will look smarter cuz u can control it speed isnt everything unless u are confident and can control it

good one bro!!!!!!
http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/applause.gif http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/punk.gif http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/applause.gif http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/punk.gif http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/applause.gif http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/punk.gif http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/applause.gif http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/punk.gif

Great write up. I am a firm believer in the ride what you want theory. However that stated, if you can't keep your attitude/ego in check you will be in trouble no matter what you begin on. I have seen people buy the biggest baddest and keep that throttle hand in check and be fine. However I have seen riders with a lot of xperience change to a new year model and think " I know what I am doing, nobody is going to tell me to be careful" and proceed to dump the bike leaving the parking lot of the dealership. I think we would all be better off if everybody had to do a 6 month stint on a bike, not just riders. I also believe in the step type licenses like in Europe. Here in Washington state you can go take the test on a 125cc and then be endorsed to the stars and go buy a Gixxer 1K as your first bike. Then there is also the whole Darwinism theory I subscribe to............. idiots should be allowed to do dumb things and should pay dearly for those dumb mistake. So jump off that bridge when your friends do, eat and drink heavily right before going for that swim, and by all means drink anything under the kitchen sink that clearly states "DO NOT TAKE INTERNALLY". Stupidity should be xtremely painful. http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/applause.gif

I think the main reaons I would try to talk someone out of a sports bike for their first bike is the riding position.

A race ridng position is 100% unforgiving, you hit a wet white line or somthing, which you will if its your first bike and on a sports bike your probably going down. On a sports tourer or a harley copy type bike you might slide a bit but you will probably learn and grow.

Mistakes on sports bikes are usually worse imho.... http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/squid.gif

I grew up dreaming of owning a sport bike, so finally at twenty two years old I bought an '02 gsx-r 600 for my first bike. Eight days after I bought it I was hit by a fifty year old man that said he didn't see me and blamed the incident on me (the kid on the crotch rocket). The police saw it the other way. Not to mention he didn't have insurance. But fortunately, I did. I would agree the cost of repair or replacement is high. I say it all depends on the driver. I've owned it five months now with no other problems. I wouldn't trade it for any honda shadow. http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif

flynlow03 said:

I grew up dreaming of owning a sport bike, so finally at twenty two years old I bought an '02 gsx-r 600 for my first bike. Eight days after I bought it I was hit by a fifty year old man that said he didn't see me and blamed the incident on me (the kid on the crotch rocket). The police saw it the other way. Not to mention he didn't have insurance. But fortunately, I did. I would agree the cost of repair or replacement is high. I say it all depends on the driver. I've owned it five months now with no other problems. I wouldn't trade it for any honda shadow. http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif



Did you not see him ?

Did you not take avoiding action ?

I've seen so may people get seriously hurt, and a few killed because they figure that they can handle it, and so many people let their ego decide their choice its almost untrue.

In the US there seems to be an horrendous stigma involved in riding a small bike, or a small car. It seems that you are judged "not worthy" if you admit you limitations, and start at a decent level.

Add to that the appalling lack of choice in the none-hyper-sports arena for new riders, and you have a catch22. Only when the lawmakers realise that people are dying will they act, adn because they are not "into" the sports bike world, they will probably figure that a 600 is a small bike, therefore perpetuating the myth...

I hope that in 20 or 30 thousand miles you feel that the 600 was a good starting point, because almost everyone that I have know that gets a sports bike as their first bike, still can't ride for shit after a couple of years, and gets a 750/1000 to make up for their lack of skills, you see, they explain, two years on a 600 and I'm ready for the 1000. Well I call bullshit http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

anyway - to me its not the power thats the whole issues - its the machines dynamics that are deadly.....

Nah, I didn't see him until I was parallel with him. I did lock up the rear brake which is very easily done like you said. What really got me, was when my right brake lever stuck in his door before throwing me and the bike to the pavement. I get your point though. Maybe it wasn't such a good choice for me. But what can I say, live and learn. http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/idea.gif

i also am a believer in the get what you want theory. i lerned how to ride a honda xr-80 dirtbike ist and practiced for about a week. then i hopped on my unlces 02' triumph 955i Daytona and learned how to handle a street bike at very low speeds. 2 weeks on this bike riding up and down the street and turning around constantly and riding around the block, getting used to the weight and learning balance. anyway, after 2 weeks i waited about 1 month, and bought my 99 gsxr600. practiced non stop for a mont on the days of no rain and after 3 months ive logged on about 2.5k miles, riding from here to the bay area every weekend(about 1 1/2) hours and i feel that im a pretty decent rider. and i havent even taken my msf yet. my date is March 7 and i cant wait cause i heard it helps alot. anyway, i have no regerets about buying a gsxr as a first bike. as far as learning difficulty, but i am still scared that one day i will drop it and mess up the nice pretty paint job. i would never have purchased a brand new bike for a first bike. and for those who are thinking about doing just that- i would highly reccomend buying a used bike to learn even if it is a gsxR or any other R bike. a brand new bike is not for a beginner. i only paid 4k for mine but its in perfect condition and im scared as hell to drop it.if i had a new $8k bike i would shit my pants if i dropped it.

o well , i just thought i would add a few thoughts. i say to a beginner-buy what you want-but get it used------if tht makes sense. http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/piss.gif

Excellent write up.....My opinion is absolutely to start with a 600...I started with a 600 and I'm a pretty good sized guy...It was more than enough power at first...I learned a alot by riding that bike...I laid it down once to avoid a collision and drop it several times just because I wasn't used to the weight distribution...Also, It took me a good month or so just to get used to the steering and braking...
Eventually, (after 3 years of riding), I grew bored of it and decided to make a change so I upgraded and eventually upgraded again...MORAL OF THE STORY: there is nothing wrong with starting small and learning the ropes and then moving up the ladder. http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

I tell people the exact thing you wrote about. Most people thing the bigger the displacement the bigger the bike, so I always hear, "I'm too tall for anything under a 750cc bike". http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

Well, I guess I ought to jump in here to say that my first bike is a 750. It has always been my dream bike, so when I had an opportunity to trade my turbo car for it straight up, I knew it was the only chance I had to get rid of my car for what I was looking for, so I took it. I don't consider myself an extremist, or a moron. I just took what I could get, and ended up fullfilling my dream to a larger extent. I was planning on a 600cc bike because I was reading gixxer.com for a long time before I got my bike, and even before I registered as a member here. But in my opinon based upon my own experiences as a new rider with a larger bike, it all boils down to how that person is in maturity factor. I could have 1000, but if I respect the throttle and don't get cocky, ride within my limits, I would probably be fine for quite a while as opposed to some hot head on a 500. I admit to opening the throttle up many times to get used to it, and I can honestly say, ego aside, that its not too much power for me. I actually want more straight line power, and I'm 5'9" and 145lbs. I'm a dragger at heart. I don't even personally know anyone that rides a motorcycle besides me. So I'm not trying to man up to anything or anyone. I don't believe the hype, I just love to ride.

Maybe my views will change when I finally get with the group and go carve some canyons. Who knows what the future holds...

Correct me if im wrong but i thought "if you had to" locking the rear brake was ok as long as you were traveling in a straight line, at least thats what they told us and made us do in the MSF course... http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Here's a good story for the UK's "new" 33bhp rule. I was restricted to said rule when I passed my test. I got a 45bhp TZR250, then had it tuned to around 55bhp. I got stopped several times and even went to court, did they bring up the 33bhp rule?? did they fuck! It's laughable. So now, I've gone from 50+bhp to 120 no probs. I'm 22 now anyway. I swear some laws are made up because these people get bored! http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/bitchslap.gif

Glad I joined now! This was the first post I read when I joined today as I have been going through a bit of a bike decision. I have been riding a Suzuki Katana 600 for about a year now. I've been through the "growing pains". (Like my wreck at 90mph two weeks after I got it, talk about God taking care of fools.......) I have gotten pretty decent at riding as I can usually smoke several of the people I know on much faster bikes. Of course they went out and bought bigger bikes than they can handle. They don't seem to like leaning in at higher speeds. But what I want to know is whether I should move up? I have found a great deal on '03 GSXR750's and I am trying to decide what to do. Any recomendations? My roomate and riding buddy, who is a member of this site and rides a GSXR1000 like a champ, says I'm ready as I am "riding the piss" out ofthe Katana. But I wanted a few more opinions. Any help will be appreciated. Thanks.

About a year? How many miles? You crashed on it already? I don't know... maybe I was a slow learner but I stayed on mine for a few years and I had a 91 Katana 600...I then modded it to as fast as I could get it after a year +. Yes, I too "rode the piss out of it" and thought I was ready. I dropped mine once at a stop lite and it fell while it was idling, this I took as inexperience and I stayed on it before moving up. I made damn sure I was ready and "outgrew it", before I moved up. I am biased to being more careful and patient so you obviously know my advice.

The decision is yours...if you find it "AN ABSOLUTE MUST" to move up, the GSX-R 600 looks nice and plenty fast and better performing than the Katana for your time in the pilot seat..not to say that the Gix6 is anything to scoff at in terms of power and performance that "just anyone" can handle. You will find out just how "obsolete" your katana is if you step up to any Gix. I will definitely guarentee you will find yourself learning all over again.

Whatever your decision bro...please be careful, wear your gear and all that...I would hate to read about you being another statistic.

Semper Fi

Jay

Great post Fraggle, very well written.
Way back in the dark ages when I started riding (early 80's) I did my basic learning on a honda xr 75 dirt bike, and I'll admit that the first street bike that I owned was the Honda
MB5, 49cc two stroke street legal approx 55mph top speed. Looking back, thats probably the best decision that I could have made. I rode that for a year or so, like most one accident on it, although I can say (looking back now) that it was almost unavoidable (figure that I'd still end up in the dirt) cager made a left turn about 50 ft in front of me in a 45mph zone 2 lane road, no run off area to the right (deep ditch) couldn't use the left lane for the line of cars backed up behind the cage that took me down, almost made it but hit the right front corner of the cage. Bike was damaged pretty good, (I did slightly better) bent forks, stripped the mirrors off as I went over and left rear shock bent in a lovely C shape, also stripped everything off the left side of the bike, signals front and rear, footpeg, shifter bent the kick stand, and got the typical drop issues on the right as the bike ended up under the car. I was thrown about 50 feet landed on the back of head first then shoulders, hips and legs. End results, left forearm broken 3 places, assorted rash on shins (stripping mirrors off???) broken nose (helmet rotation???) ground almost completely through the plastic/fibreglass shell on the helmet and cracked it (wear good gear folks) still have assorted back problems, but I still average about 6K miles per year.
I figure that if I had started on the GPz 550 that I wanted, it would have been worse.
After almost 20 years riding, I moved up to the GSXR 1000 figuring that I was ready and could handle it, as I was dragging bits on the last couple of bikes. Looking back (to the last few weeks even) all I can say is WRONG ANSWER folks. The litre bikes are so far advanced and powerful that a moments distraction or indescretion can result in a number of things, either acceleration at warp speed or unintended wheelie. Luckily, this one hasn't taken me down, although I will say that a 70mph wheelie while kicked over exiting a turn will get your attention quickly.
Newbies go find a 250cc something at the largest (does big green still make the 100cc enduro?) you will learn the dynamics of how a bike works on something that will forgive a bit of rough handling without turning on you and slamming you to the pavement.


Be safe all.

I just bought my 2k3 GSX-R 600 as my first bike and wouldn't think twice about getting any other bike. I've got 600 miles on it now and spent a good time riding it in the rain. No problems here with it being "too much bike" http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/piss.gif

Damn.....you guys are now making me nervous. Hehehe. I mean, I have had yearrrrs on bikes (admittedly, all MX bikes until 2002 - and yes, I know it's COMPLETELY different), but when I got my Katana 750, I was a bit nervous, being my first bike and all. I did a ton of practicing in a HUGE, EMPTY parking lot. Then, I took it on the road and was very mild with it. I grew into the bike and like it very much. So, now that I was looking to replace my Katana, I decided to go with a GSX-R. I found an 89 GSX-R750 at a really good deal through someone.

Well, I decided to go with it. I really haven't ridden it yet, but now I'm getting more nervous than I did the first day on my Katana! http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif hehehehe...I know the power output is better on the GSX-R than the Katana, but shouldn't there be some smiliarities? Now, I'm almost afraid that I may have "looked too big" than what I should have. However, I have never put my Katana down (well, I take that back, I did try to put the bike on it's stand without having the stand down! hehehehe, that was embarrassing when I had to slowly lower it to the ground cuz I couldn't hold it up!), so I feel I'm pretty responsible and don't really "hot rod" it around busy traffic streets...

I'm heeding everything you guys are writing and take great respect in that...but now it's making me triple think...but then again, everything might be okay...I guess I'll have to see!

Innovazn said:

I just bought my 2k3 GSX-R 600 as my first bike and wouldn't think twice about getting any other bike. I've got 600 miles on it now and spent a good time riding it in the rain. No problems here with it being "too much bike" http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/piss.gif



Well, gee wizz, you survived 600 miles, and you got wet too.

Well I'm sorry but 600 miles is just a "Fun Sunday" to many riders here.....

When you have 60,000 miles on it, incident free, when you ride around the inside of 750's on track days, and when you understand that its not all about the power we will listen.....

Sqids that figure they aren't after 600 miles http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/piss.gif

fRaGgLe said:


Innovazn said:

I just bought my 2k3 GSX-R 600 as my first bike and wouldn't think twice about getting any other bike. I've got 600 miles on it now and spent a good time riding it in the rain. No problems here with it being "too much bike" http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/piss.gif



Well, gee wizz, you survived 600 miles, and you got wet too.

Well I'm sorry but 600 miles is just a "Fun Sunday" to many riders here.....

When you have 60,000 miles on it, incident free, when you ride around the inside of 750's on track days, and when you understand that its not all about the power we will listen.....

Sqids that figure they aren't after 600 miles http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/piss.gif



Fraggle has it right here. I'm starting on a small interceptor or an rz350. I'll learn on that MUCH faster then I would on something like a track bike with lights which is essentially what a 600 gix is. Also save myself some money on insurance. Riding a 600 can wait, right now I'm concerned with the basics and not paying big time for any mistakes.

I think the reason why insurance rates are so damn high is because people go this route without prior experience. Start SLOW people.

LuDeS said:

Correct me if im wrong but i thought "if you had to" locking the rear brake was ok as long as you were traveling in a straight line, at least thats what they told us and made us do in the MSF course... http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif



Yeah, unfortunately that is what we teach, because we have to; the parameters of the course do not allow for in-depth explication. Wearing a flat spot in your expensive tire is far better than high-siding (trust me, I know). We can teach a basic use of the TRAINING BIKE'S capabilities. What we CAN'T teach (no time) is how to correctly and wisely use the brakes on the bike you ride after the course (unless you took it on a military post, wherein you used your bike). The "if you had to" implies that it would be much better not to put yourself in the position to lock 'em up in the first place. I like the comments about the UK course - I wish we had a course that could provide some of the same throttle time and practice (and solid grounding in safe riding technique). Motorcycling as a sport would benefit greatly from it.

Innovazn said:

I just bought my 2k3 GSX-R 600 as my first bike and wouldn't think twice about getting any other bike. I've got 600 miles on it now and spent a good time riding it in the rain. No problems here with it being "too much bike" http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/piss.gif



bwwwwaaaaahhhhaaaaaaaaa http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

600 miles http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif thats a days riding ........

GIXXERUK said:


Innovazn said:

I just bought my 2k3 GSX-R 600 as my first bike and wouldn't think twice about getting any other bike. I've got 600 miles on it now and spent a good time riding it in the rain. No problems here with it being "too much bike" http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/piss.gif



bwwwwaaaaahhhhaaaaaaaaa http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

600 miles http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif thats a days riding ........



are you kidding me....he just got past the break in period...now he can take the revs up...providing he hasn't already and tore up the motor!!!

600 miles????????????
GEEZUS CHRIST!....that's a couple of good days riding for me or just going to and from work for 6 damn days! and what?............because maybe noone's tried to cut you off yet, or you haven't had some sort of incident yet, you think that qualifies you as having experience?
sorry, but fraggle's right, try 60000mi, and then we can talk.

this reminds me of a convo i had w the wife the other day, a couple o yrs ago she was driving us to vegas in a beemer. now she never drove a beemer before, but we got cut off and she swerved...now to control the car she turned the wheel the other way. next thing you know she's turning the wheel L then R, then L......basically any moment we would have crashed just because she didn't know how to handle the situation. after the initial swerve, i kind of freaked and just put one hand on the wheel and said "stop, just hold the damn wheel" and then everything stopped.
the point being, knowing how to handle the situation comes with experience! not just saying "ooh, the guy cut me off"

my rant for the day

G-FORCE said:

are you kidding me....he just got past the break in period...now he can take the revs up...providing he hasn't already and tore up the motor!!!



Arnt you supposed to push the motor within the 1st 20 miles to seal the rings?

600 miles and he is already cocky? Not too much power for him after 600 miles? http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/bs.gif If Vegas had odds on him getting unscathed out of this whole thing, hoooooooo daawwg... they would not be so good. Stupidity ain't just "should be" painful, it's GONNA be.


Krazy Kager is out there! He's waiting. For you!

damn that was very deep, kinda made me think hard about the choice i just made. u see i just bought my first gsx-r600, its a 2003 and i mean i went in thinkin well since its one of the smaller bikes(in terms of cc's)n ill be ok, i mean i havent takin my class yet, but im thinkin now after reading all of this that i am gonna just be takin it slow a,d being smart and as safe as possible. i mean just reading this alone gave me a real quick ego check. and im glad that i found this site before it was too late and soemthing bad happened. i also figured since i was a good size weight that i wuold be able to handle it. i am 5'11 220, but now i dont know. im just gonna take it one step at a time and take it slow.

I am also a new rider... with a gsxr600...2003, im in the same boat as gixxerboy... we are actually good friends, and got the bikes at the same time... i am 5'1 and not skinny... but i can barely reach the ground on the bike.. i wish there was some way that i could go back in time and sign the papers for a 500 or soemthing, but i cant do that now... what (other than the classes, and being VERY cautious and careful) would you guys reccomend me doing? http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/bash.gif http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

gsxr600grl said:

I am also a new rider... with a gsxr600...2003, im in the same boat as gixxerboy... we are actually good friends, and got the bikes at the same time... i am 5'1 and not skinny... but i can barely reach the ground on the bike.. i wish there was some way that i could go back in time and sign the papers for a 500 or soemthing, but i cant do that now... what (other than the classes, and being VERY cautious and careful) would you guys reccomend me doing? http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/bash.gif http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif



You can shave down the seat height among other things so your feet reach better. Post in mods and how to's for instructions.

Definitely take the MSF course and just take it easy. It's really common to get a false sense of security because you become comfortable with the bike. Keep reminding yourself that you are still knew and just don't become a hot shot. Always wear your gear and don't try any stunts for a while.

why not? this is 1 reason why.. http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

http://www.gixxer.com/uploads/side12.jpg

gsxr600grl said:

I am also a new rider... with a gsxr600...2003, im in the same boat as gixxerboy... we are actually good friends, and got the bikes at the same time... i am 5'1 and not skinny... but i can barely reach the ground on the bike.. i wish there was some way that i could go back in time and sign the papers for a 500 or soemthing, but i cant do that now... what (other than the classes, and being VERY cautious and careful) would you guys reccomend me doing? http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/bash.gif http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif



holy shit are u kidding me. if ur feet can barely hit the ground i dont think u should be on that bike. whe i first got my 99' 600 i was considering lowering my bike cause it didnt feel like i had complete control and comfort when backing up and maneuvering around with my feet-and im 5'10". but now its simple and i think the fit is perfect. it just takes time to get use to it but i got u on like 9 inches. o well.

but do u even know how to ride a bike? or is ur 600 justsittin in the garage waitin 4 u to take ur classes etc.? if u know how to tide it the just take it slow. very very slow.

Very well written... I'll offer my two cent's worth with an example, followed by some comments...

After riding with me for a few months, my girlfriend decided she wanted to ride. I did all the research, and decided that the Ninja 250 was the bike to get. Last March, I came across a low mileage bike with no damage, and I bought it... It looked like a real sportbike, and after she bought all the matching gear, we always got comments - me on my blue/white G1K, and her on her bright yellow Ninja...

Needless to say, after about 1300 miles, she got complacent, and decided she didn't really need to use that back brake - the front seemed to stop the bike just fine... She changed her mind just a few feet from where the pavement ended and the gravel driveway started...

A 5 mph crash resulted in a cracked fairing, a scraped muffler, broken signal, scraped mirror, etc. Cost to fix? From Kawasaki, the replacement fairing would have been (I didn't fix it - I took the loss and sold it with the damage) $546, each muffler is $276, the replacement signal was $42... By the time you add up the costs to replace the pretty shiny stuff, you'll top $1000 on a $3000 bike - for a very minor accident where no mechanical damage occurred...

When it came time to move to something bigger, I wanted her to get an SV650... She was scared it was too big, and I ended up finding a nice, used, (yellow - to match all of her riding gear), 1999 GS500E. I bought it, and at this point I am convinced that this is the bike we should have started with... It has more power, is more comfortable at highway speeds, and you can get one cheap these days (paid $600 less for it than I did the Ninja)... The "pavement to gravel" crash would have cost me about tenth of what the Ninja did... I sold the Ninja for about $700 less than a perfect one would have brought with similar mileage...

My girlfriend was OK after the crash, and she learned a very important lesson without getting hurt very badly... She learned that riding a motorcycle successfully demands a whole different level of attention than driving around in a car...

Unfortunately, a lot of people that start out on bigger, faster bikes don't get that opportunity... If you buy a hot bike as a first bike, and then proceed to ride aggressively, chances of entering a turn too fast, or getting into a situation where road conditions change faster than you can react approprately, increase substantially...

These bikes accelerate so hard, and the speed becomes so intoxicating, I feel that eveytime I get out and ride, I have to focus more intently on not getting myself in trouble that I can't get out of... If you have been riding at 120, it's easy to become mesmerized by the speed, and entering a 35 mph turn at 80 (because slowing from 120 to 80 makes it feel like you are poking along), is probably going to end up bending something...

New riders simply don't have the experiences to fall back on as to what it is like to enter a corner too fast, to hit a patch of gravel in a turn, or to have the back tire break loose while accelerating out of a turn... I've taken the bumps and bruises, the stiches, and scraped skin, and I did all of that on much slower, much less capable, and much less expensive motorcycles over about 20 years of riding...

I guess it all depends on the individual and what they are trying to accomplish in buying and riding a motorcycle... Aspiring racers, stunt riders, street racers, etc. (like me when I was younger) are going to have a different set of decisions to make than the average new rider who wants to start out, learn how to ride, and avoid an accident at all costs (my girlfriend).

If you are willing to take the bumps, bruises, scrapes, broken bones, etc., and can cover the cost to fix the sportbike to the degree you want to maintain it (do you want it to always look fresh off the showroom, or do you mind riding with cosmetic damage?), go for the sportbike. If you want to learn to ride for the enjoyment and take the cautious approach to avoid injury to yourself and other property, take it slow, buy a nice, used bike, learn to ride, and when you outgrow it, trade up to something bigger and better....

For the ladies, you probably fall into the last category... Take it slow, be careful not to be pressured into trying to learn on something more than you are comfortable with just to make someone else happy... And, before you start, get the appropriate, high-quality riding gear... The scrapes hurt more than the broken bones a lot of the time...

For the guys, if your lady thinks that a 600 is too much, get her on a smaller bike - she can always move up to something bigger... If she scares herself on something that is too aggressive, her riding days are probably over... It almost happened to me with the Ninja and my girlfiend while she was trying to learn the concept of countersteering. If she'd been on a bigger bike going 10 mph faster, I am pretty sure the outcome would have been ugly (she would have hit the guardrail in a turn at highway speed...).

Sorry for the long post, but with the state of performance of bikes on the showrooms today, I feel like folks have got to start thinking more about these decisions...

i totally agree with you about the fact that i should have gotten a smaller bike, but the fact is that i was stupid and got the 600... so now i have to deal.... i mean, if i could i would just take it back, save my money and get a 250 to learn on, but im stuck for 5 years.... so in the end, all it comes down to is the fact that i AM going to be EXTREMELY careful and very attentive at that class.... i wish i would have gone into these rooms before i got the bike, but thank you very much for all the suggestions... i really do appreciate it...

First off good post got me thinking.My first bike was a brand spankin new 2000 gsxr 600.this isnt a horrible choice for learning.i think it really depends on the individuals mind set,will he or she be respectful of the bikes qaulities or jump on and gun it?it all depends. http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/flipa.gif http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/flipa.gif

http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/flipa.gifMy first bike is the 01 GSXR-600 im still ridin around today, its a great bike, still has plenty of power for me (for now anyway) and im lovin every day it doesnt rain and i can take it out to play, if your gettin a new bike go ahead and get a 600, if your an idiot youll crash and burn, if your not then youll be just fine http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/burnout.gif

well i must say that you guys are makin me feel a little better about my choice... but i still know that it will take some time for me to learn on it...i just think that the people that go out and get them and dont do anything to inform themselves about the thing that they are about to jump on are pretty stupid... i dont mean to offend anyone, but with all the power that i KNOW those bikes have, i dont understand how someone could just jump on one and think that they are going to be ok... i dont know, im rambling... im just really looking forward to actually riding it, i start my classes in 9 days, and im hoping after that, i will be able to understand the bike a little better.. hopefully see some of you out at bike night. http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/banana.gif http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif

Hello, I am new to this board so I thought that I would stop in and see what was going on, and I ran across this post. Let me start by saying that I have read some really great stuff in this post, and whole-heartedly agree that a 600 class sport bike is too much for a new rider. I can also admit that I was too inexperienced when I purchased my '00 600, and I have the scars to prove it.
I entered a TIGHT left-hander about 50 MPH too fast for the corner, I paniced, locked up the back break (didn't highside somehow) and shot off into the scenery, or at least the bike did. Something in the berm that I hit while exiting the pavement sent me back onto the paement to take the roadrash down my left side, with my shoulder taking the blunt of the impact. Thankfully I wasn't injured too bad, nothing broken, not bad for not wearing a helmet or any kind of riding gear and all of the damage to the bike was cosmetic save for a bent rear wheel.
I have since invested in a nice Shoei helmet and a Teknic Leather jacket that I never leave home without I still have the same bike after a bit of repairs and healing time. It has been two years since I wrecked, and it is something that is in the back of my mind every time I throw a leg over my gix6.
My first bike was a DR650 enduro, which looking back I can say I think was a wise choice and was an excellent bike to learn on. I took the time to learn the basics on a sensible bike before I screwed up and upgraded to too much of a bike! However after my crash I learned that riding a bike and riding it well or being a "good rider" is about one thing ,EXPERIENCE.
To all new rider: A faster bike will not make someone a better rider, that comes with time and miles in the saddle. Have respect and listen to people that have more experience than you do. I am very much a rookie with only 3 years and 8K miles or so, and obviously not a shining three years! With that said I also know that I get better with everyday that I ride because I listen to the riding tips that I am given by others. This makes me more confident in myself and my abilites and therefore more comfortable on my bike. One thing that I always remember someone telling me is not to be afraid of the bike, but respect it. The moment you don't respect your bike is the moment it will show you how much respect it deserves.

Sorry had to make my first post a long one! http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/banana.gif

Well haveing been away from Bikes for 15 years, I decided to pass the OWLD test and purchase a second hand bike, after many weeks of looking and reading, GSXR 750 was to be the beast, I class myself to be a competative rider....^^, well in two years, I've had two, fell off once, and loved every minute of it....These bikes rock, the adrenaline that flows from 7k is so adictive, pardon the spelling, I managed one track day last year @ croft, and not many people passed me, the only prob's is, I get extreme lean.......but, I ain't got me knee down yet, I use the full extent of the tyres on the rear, and have 1 cm spare on the front, whats going wrong.........I am please I found this site though, what a blast... reagards to everybody and LONG LIVE BIKES.....

Great write up, I will save this one for when my daughter is hounding me for a bike.

If you are not dragging your knee yet it is probably becuase of your riding style. http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/bash.gif If you sit with your butt square on the bike you never will, unless you are about 6'8". Once you begin to hang off of the bike in the turns you will eventuall be able to drag your knee. http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif

Thanks to everyone on this site. It truly is the best site out there. I"m a newbie and was debating the first bike idea with a good number of folks.

Anyway, after reading almost all I could about this topic, I ended up with a 1983 GR650.
Yeah, yeah, not a used gixxer, but it was cheap and in really good shape. only 9k.

It seemed like all the experienced riders (more than a few years) recommended something older to learn on, to fine tune skills. While the newer riders all said that a new 600 would be ok and that I would grow into it. Even at the local Suzuki dealer, the older, head guy said that it was smart going with the "Tempter" and that he was looking forward to seeing it soon. (They have one on the roof of their dealership and he rode one in a previous life) The younger dealer just said, "Whoa, what a POS, why???"

I even considered the 03 sv650, but have you seen the wing-like radiator on that thing? Not friendly for even slow speed lay downs.

tk1mit said:
I even considered the 03 sv650, but have you seen the wing-like radiator on that thing? Not friendly for even slow speed lay downs.




Two words: Frame Sliders http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif

I'm also a newbie riding bikes, got about 3000 miles experience in a '02 kawi 250-r. I've ridden it in the freeway, heavy city traffic, rain, windy conditions etc. and haven't dropped it yet *knocks on wood* I had a couple of almost accidents but I think because of the fact I try to be as alert as possible it has saved my neck. One time i was in the freeway and there was this merging lane and I saw this honda civic and something told me "he can't see you" so I switch to the next lane and almost simultaneously he changed to where I was, if I didn't change lanes on that exact moment he would've taken me down but thanks to me trusting my instint it saved me. Another time I was following this suburban and I decided to back off a bit because I couldn't really see what was ahead of the big ol piece of gass-guzzling junk I had in front of me. Almost right after I backed off I see something on my lane, it was a damn suspension SPRING! That would've taken me down as well. All I have to say is if it feels wrong it most likely it is, trust your instints.

I was looking for a bike and I came across this one I have right now. The guy had to leave in 3 days to school and he just wanted to get rid of his bike. Went there and started it up, the thing would barely idle and any trottle input would kil it. I was positive it was a carb problem so I came across to the guy like I wasn't gonna buy it for the $2100 he was asking for because it seemed like it had serious issues. He offered to sell it for $1500 and I said I wasn't gonna buy a bike that's not rideable for more than $1000, guess what, he let it go!! All it took was drain the very old gas in the tank, take out the carbs and clean them with carb cleaner and buy new sparkplugs and vroooom! The bike purred like a kitten and drove great, it feels so much faster than the 250, I mean I barely give it some trottle and it already wants to go!

The difference between the 250 and the gixxer is like learning to ride again, I completely underestimated the 600 because I thought it was an old 600 it was gona be just a bit faster than the 250 boy I was so wrong! I still use the 250 to go work because I feel more comfortable with it and the riding position is way better for daily riding. The gixxer riding position gets my hands all tired in just a couple of minutes. Ok, sorry this was so long but I guess I can call this my introduction to the site!

I am also in the new rider category as I have only owned 2 streetbikes both of which were sportbikes.
I do feel however that I am an exception to the rule because I have been racing (not just riding) dirtbikes for over 10 years.
I am fully aware that streetbikes are an entirely new animial but I feel that racing a 2 stroke 500 gives me an edge on throttle control
I bought an 01 ZX6R and was thoroughly dissapointed in the power (i had never riden one and had no access to ride one).
I did find that I love sportbikes and I recently sold the 600 and bought an 02 GSXR1000
the 1000 has the power I thought the 600 would have, I know you have to respect these bikes but you also have to see things in perspective because a 600 is not balls to the wall fast for someone who has been racing dirtbikes
I learned my lesson and im happy as shit with the 1k, ive ridden about 5k miles the last 4 months and each time is more exciting than the last!

well on the subject on why not to buy a sport bike, I am 19 and about last july i bought a 02 Gsxr 600, and did find out that it is not as forgiving as i was told it would be. but i did have help in learning to ride. Before the guys at the bike shop would let me touch the bike they had me take the MSF course and kept an eye on me on my first ride to make shure i didn't develop and bad riding habbits. since then I have put about 15,000 miles on it but also found out that the cost of repair is high on those bikes in febuary I got cut off in traffic and forced in to a curb and crashed, I boke four ribs brusied internial organs and a really bad headache, even with frame sliders i had a $3500 repair bill. But it is something i will have to live with. But like a friend told me "it is not the bike that makes a ridder good it is the ridder's skill, so rember don't push it take baby steps"

"when you start riding you have a full bag of luck and an empty bag of skill the trick is to fill the bag of skill before you empth the bag of luck"

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GixxerTech said:

Great write up. I am a firm believer in the ride what you want theory. However that stated, if you can't keep your attitude/ego in check you will be in trouble no matter what you begin on.



I think this can apply to everything. How meany of these 2fast 2 stupid rice boys do you see pushing civics to high speed and then smashing them? look it's just an econo car, and still it can reach130kph and can cause alot of damage. Even if you buy say a pos 1978 i duno with 8hp 2 stroke you can still kil yourself. Heck i've seen guys in scooters downtown toronto race between cars. the thing has what 4hp or something? it's only1 cyl 2 stroke and they are running up to 80kph in these little things.

Its the ego/attitude. If you are stupid you will kill someone/yourself and smash shit up.

how meany ppl here started out on a sport bike? i'm sure there are a few that did and turned out okay. Then you have the average http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/squid.gif who thinks they are super star and just wana show off. to those I bid them far well and hope to see there parts body & bike on ebay for cheep.


Again I knew a guy with a geo metro, and he smashed that POS at 130kph and it was oly a 3cyl making again what at most 40-80hp. and tahts at best. why did he smash? cuz he thought he was superstar and pushed the car way beyond what you should.

sometimes underpower is a bad thing, makes you think you are better then you are, lets not ferget that too. How meany of us when we started to drive brought your cars up to high speeds? i'm sure just about everyone here, else you would not buy a gixxer http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

I think there should be a contract here on gixxer, for all these new http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/squid.gif that sign up form now on they should also sign over any parts body/bike that will be left over. i'm sure alot of use need a new liver or 2 http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif not to mention other bits and pices.

I have been riding and racing dirt bikes since before i could remember. So, when it came time to get my first asphault worthy bike, the concept of being on two wheels was nothing new to me. I also knew that being cocky can be painful - and expensive. So i went out and bought some kids '93 katana 600. mechanically sound, but ugly. a fixxer upper. i figured it would be civil enough for a first bike yet still somewhat geared towards the gsxr that i would eventually have. i rode the katana around for a couple of years and put a lot of miles on it, as it was my primary mode of transportation. Anyway, things happened and i wasnt able to pick up the gsxr just yet (the army has a way of interfering with your life). i have however ridden my buddies gsxr, a 99/600, and found that although it was a world of difference, it was easy to get the feel for after the katana. i think you ought to be ok as long as you stay humble and remember that you are not a god on two wheels (not just yet). so, respect your ride in all aspects and keep the rubber side down. http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

I have many years of riding experience. I am 26 now, and I got my first bike at 11 (enduro). If you live in the city and do most of your driving in the city, it's amazing how fun a "little 50hp" bike is. I own a Hawk NT650 now, and I can guarentee you that (inside city limits and on 55mph two lanes) I can have more fun on that then a GSXR-600/750/1k. Seriously! They are great bikes, and everyone should own one, but a 50hp bike can go 120+ and you can drive it like Mario Fricken Andretti and not worry too much. It's alot funner on a 45-50mph road in the city actually getting on the throttle, go through a few gears, and not be going 100mph. If you want to drive like a crazy bastard on public roads IMHO smaller bikes are the shit.

Agreed SC, one of my freinds back in NC has a few NT650's. He has larger bikes as well but rides the Hawk most of the time. My first bike was a Buell S1WL, not the best beginner bike as it was quite demanding to ride well. Probably the best thing about it was the lack of plastic to destroy for those few times I dropped it. One thing is for sure though, if you can survive a Buell you can ride anything. http://www.gixxer.com/uploads/Buell_side.jpg

I bought a 2003 gixxer 600 for my first bike. I never had a drivers license and have never even went dirt biking. I dont have any problems with riding. I think if you buy a 600 sport bike for your first bike you have to make sure your not nervous, thats what will kill you. And for gods sake, start out slow. Ride the parking lots for a while get used to the whole experience and controlls of your bike. All in all I think its all about what a person wants and whether they are comfortable with the bike..... http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif

I'm a new rider looking into what bike I should buy. I don't want a cruiser, I want a sport bike. Its just that I know that I'm and idiot and most likely would kill myself on even a 600. Does anybody have any experience in 250's?

Well, I have to say that your "first bike" choice should depend on your comfort level with riding the bike you want.

My very first motorcycle was a '98 GSX 600 (Katana). I thought I was doing pretty well on it, but I had dropped it a few times at very low speeds (tire got caught in a metal groove, locked the steering to the side, tipped over), and I don't blame it on the environment, but my lack of skill at the time. It wasn't a very good first bike though because it was so friggin heavy (like 430lbs wet) and was kinda bulky. Around the end of my 2nd month of riding it, I lowsided it in a corner at night (mainly because I couldn't see the curb and was leaning the bike over to it's extreme limit) which was some rider error because I didn't know the bikes limits.

I think that's the big killer for people getting their first bike - learning it's limits. There's no way you can learn the bikes limits unless you push it past the limits. Thats why everyone says "If you haven't dropped your bike yet, you will.".

I had taken a bike course to learn to ride before hopping on that Katana though, but the course wasn't the best in the world, and the bikes we used were horribly old and waaaaaay different in every respect than the Katana.

That was 3 years ago - after saving my money I now have a 2003 GSX-R 750, which was what I wanted all along.

I have to say that the bike handles so much better than the Katana ever did that riding it is way easier. I haven't put this one down at all (got sliders just incase though!), but I did take a better course before getting the bike. They had much newer bikes, and even though they were still way different than a sport bike, just being on a bike again got the feeling for riding back in me. When I got on the 750, I could feel the power that was at hand, and this was my first few km's on the bike.

I've been riding it for 2 months now, and I've got just 2300km on it (so I'm in the 2nd phase of break-in), but I still haven't even thought of pushing the bike past *MY LIMITS*.

I'm not out to die, and I don't want to wreck this bike. I'm riding within the limts I feel comfortable with, and that I know the bike and I can both handle. I'm defintely no corner expert, so I take corners (especially the one I lowsided on years ago) at the posted speed of 60km/hr - I don't go wipping by on that corner at 120km/hr trying to put my knee down - I don't know how, I don't feel comfortable even trying and most of all I WOULD wreck my bike if I tried simply because of my lack of experience & skill.

So for people trying to decide what their first bike should be, take some courses first (that lend you a good bike to use). Get THEIR input on how good a rider they think you are, and ask YOURSELF honestly, how comfortable you felt riding - were you scared at every moment of wiping out? Or were you relaxed and enjoying yourself but keeping safe and feeling (and being!) in control of your every move on the bike? If you felt confident on the bike, see if a buddy of yours will let you take his sport bike out for a little ride - A SLOW RIDE! Just so you can get used to the position & feel of the bike since it is a different ride than the cruiser style you probably used for the courses.

If your confidence prevails, I'd say get the bike you want. Don't get a 'busa for your first bike, and try to stay away from the 1000cc bikes - those have a LOT of power from what I've heard, and unintentional wheelies are not uncommon on those things. Pulling a wheelie as a newbie is the fastest way to scaring yourself shitless and destroying your pretty new ride. But as for sticking with just 600cc, I don't think that going up to a 750cc bike is going to be the death of you - both bikes have tons of power, and the weight difference (especially comparing the GSX-R's) is like just 5lbs. Oh and then there's the R6 - I think that me riding my GSX-R 750 is safer for me than if I were to go get an R6. Those things handle so well I'm sure I wouldn't know how to ride it properly.

Oh, can't forget... there's also the road knowledge too. I've been on the road driving cars for a few years, so I know how the whole traffic thing works, and I know how stupid car drivers can be. I drive defensively, and pay *EXTRA* special attention to *EVERYTHING* when going through any intersection.

But then, don't listen to me for all you may thing I'm worth. I just have a total of 4 months riding experience - 2 months 3 years ago, and 2 for this year (2003). I'd still say that I'm a better rider than some - not by skill, but by driving technique (not doing wheelies and endos, using my INDICATORS, etc...) - but that doesn't mean I know my shit http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

The Kawasaki Ninja 250 is a great starter, as are many older Honda's - I just picked up a Honda CB550 for $700 http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif is great shape, and its so nice to ride its amazing......

You honestly need something that is forgiving and comfortable to learn on, if you are on something that will punish you harshly for your mistakes, then the learning curve becomes impossible

you can get a drop for the bike and lower it up to three inches.

wish i seen that before i got my gsxr 750 3 years ago. it crashed and burned. now i downsized to a 600 gix which is almost as fast with all the damn parts i put on it. good write up though

The bike I learned the most on was a XT 225...a friend lent it to me for the summer when I was between bikes and couldn't afford a new one. Having a smaller bike makes YOU a better rider! You can't compensate for crappy technique with power... Sigh...I miss that bike.

Best part about it - some moron rear ended me at a light . My butt must have looked so darned cute that he just couldn't stop! (Yeah, I'm so full of it!) I went flying, hit the ground, rolled and came up furious and mainly unhurt. The bike was rideable, with only a bent subframe. The car, somehow, punctured his oilpan and had to be towed away.... how's that for karma!

I believe in riding what you want - but think long and hard about what's best for you, not your image and ego.

OK I've heard the typical speeches on why not to get a sport bike for my first bike. However i've also heard that getting a smaller bike will be a waste of money because i will grow out of it in less than 6 months and want to sell it. Also there is the problem with buying an underpowered bike that wont be able to get me out of trouble if i need it. Any recommendations for what I should buy as a first bike. (I am female, about 5'9 and 135 lbs)

gsxdrmer said:

OK I've heard the typical speeches on why not to get a sport bike for my first bike. However i've also heard that getting a smaller bike will be a waste of money because i will grow out of it in less than 6 months and want to sell it.




I guess that is the best reason to not buy a brand new one ?

A typical 250cc starter machine hardley deprciates in six months - assuming you buy it used. Hardly a waste of money http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif



Also there is the problem with buying an underpowered bike that wont be able to get me out of trouble if i need it. Any recommendations for what I should buy as a first bike. (I am female, about 5'9 and 135 lbs)



Do you realise that an EX250 (Kawasaki) will out accelerate most cars ?

And in order to use the power to get out of trouble, you actually have to have a clue how to use it !

Buy a used 250/500/(or Sv650) and beat the hell out of it for a (say) 10,000 miles, if that mileage takes you six months, then great - you will be ready, but if it takes you ten years.....

Hello everyone,

Im very new to bikes, I have limited experience on dirt but almost none on the street. I intended to buy a bike to start with but a buddy of mine bought an 02' GSXR 600 that had been wrecked and said once we repair it I can ride it. We are in the process of fixing all the plastic, replacing the broken parts and repainting it. My question is should I get on it? I really want to ride this bike once its done but after reading all the horror stories Im not sure. A little about me, Im respectful toward the bike and have no need for speed or stunts. All I want to do is cruse, eventually I want a cruiser but thats not in the budget. I do plan to take a training course before jumping on the GIXXER but want some other opinions.

thanks,
dday

Hey,

Take the MSF course, then ride the bike & have fun http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Just make sure of a few things.

MAKE SURE....

1) You wear some gear
2) Your mentally ready - if you pass the MSF you should be fine!
3) you go to an open area without traffic - an empty parking lot or an industrial park on the weekend.
4) your friend won't hate you if you do dump the bike
5) you are gentle & smooth with the throttle and brakes


you'll be fine & have lots of fun just crusin!!!

Ok I have kind of a unique situation, but I'm sure one of you can help me out with this one. I've just recently started to ride a street bike. I rode dirt bikes for about 2 years when I was younger, but that was around 8 years ago now. So basically I'm a new rider and I might as well be starting from day one.

I have a roommate who bought a Katana 600 to learn on and has been riding it for about 2 years now. He is a descent rider and has put around 20,000 miles on the bike (he commutes a lot from home to school) After some talking I decided I wanted to give it a shot again and quickly realized how much fun it was to ride again. I did lay the bike down when I was first working on some corners at very low speeds (luckily he learend to ride on the bike so it had some experience being dropped)

So at any rate I've been learning to ride on his bike and in the spring time I'm going to take the MSF course. After I complete the course I'll continue to ride on his bike for a few weeks, and then I was planning on buying a gsxr600. When I actually get the bike we will go on some trips together, with him riding the gsx and me on the katana. After I get some serious trips I was thinking I would go back to the parking lot learning style and learn how to ride the gsx.

Does this seem like it will work, or will I need to actually go through the step of buying a lower end bike and riding for years? Oh and later in teh summer he is going to buy a gsxr750 and hopefully we will be riding a lot togehter.

Any input would be awesome, and I'm sorry for the long post.

Why no keep the KanoTuna ?

Its a pretty good starter, it lasted your friend 20,000 miles, whats the rush for you to jump on a Gixxer ?

Why not follow your friends footsteps, and keep the Katana for 20,000 miles, after all you think he is good .....

He is looking to sell the Katana so he can buy his gixxer this summer. I would buy it from him, but it's still worth a descent amount of money and I don't want to spend that kind of money on the bike and then start riding his gixxer and realize how much I want one http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif I guess i'm just hoping that if I take three to four months on the Katana I'll be able to work up to the gixxer if I spend a few days in a parking lot and driving on less traveled roads.

I've done some riding on an R6, but just a few loops in a parking lot. I guess I just would really like to have a sportbike, half because of performance and half because of the stupid reasons that we all know about.

So am I stupid, or do I at least have a half idea going here?

no reason, a 2003 k3 in silver is my first road weapon, only had it 8 weeks and its feelin kinda slow..........kidding here, but really its a baby to ride, and light. most starter bikes are fatter than a 1k wtf...........

ch1huahua said:

He is looking to sell the Katana so he can buy his gixxer this summer. I would buy it from him, but it's still worth a descent amount of money and I don't want to spend that kind of money on the bike and then start riding his gixxer and realize how much I want one http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif I guess i'm just hoping that if I take three to four months on the Katana I'll be able to work up to the gixxer if I spend a few days in a parking lot and driving on less traveled roads.

I've done some riding on an R6, but just a few loops in a parking lot. I guess I just would really like to have a sportbike, half because of performance and half because of the stupid reasons that we all know about.

So am I stupid, or do I at least have a half idea going here?




You are not stupid.

You are however blind to the issues of a GSXR (et al) as a first bike.

Sure in a reasonable amount of situations many people can cope just fine, but as you start to push the envelope a tiny bit you suddenly discover that you are unable to understand what the bike is actually doing, and you may find yourself in trouble way faster than you can react appropriatly.

On the Katana, things happen a little slower, and you therefore have a lot longer to react, and effectivle in many situations you get a second chance. One that you never get on a GSXR.

My advice would be to buy the Katana, ride it for a while, and then sell it on, or trade it up to a GSXR when you are ready.

That then raises the issue of 'when you are ready'. In my experience there is no hard and fast rule, but having (say) 10,000 miles of street riding behind you - unless thats 5,000 trips to starbucks - is a good thing, and the chances are that you will be better prepared for life on a GSXR.

Some people can make the transition with less miles, some need a whole lot more, but as soon as you are ready you will actually know you are ready. Your confidence will be high, your road manners good, you will not miss shifts, you will be wearing your tires to the edge, you will be able to launch it faster than the squids on their 1K's, and you will be taking poor riders on GSXR's in every corner on the twisties.

I would suggest that given your current experience (or lack of it) you are currently not at that stage ?

Rememeber also that the Katana is older technology, and is therefore a lot easier to work on, and gives you a very good grounding in the 'art of motorcycle maintenance', skills that will transfer easily to your next ride.

Whatever you do, its obviously up to you, and the last thing I am going to do is call you stupid, because you ask advice.

FRaggle, thanks for the post. I'm new to riding and new to forums. I followed prevailing wisdom of two friends who ride and bought a first bike '01Kawi ZR7-S and an '03 Gixxer 1000 at the end of my first season. I later heard the caution from other sites and said "Oh well too late now, I already own two big bikes." I heard it but I never understood WHY. Thank you for unbiased information in your post. Better informed is better armed. I'm going to give you some honesty not ego. I've ridden the Gixxer for two weeks and it has taken control from me four times already. Twice I wheelied high from the light inadvertantly, this morning she came up about a foot in first at about 20mhp, inadvertantly, once a light changed and I needed to stop in about 50 yards from speed. I locked the rear wheel a little and had to get off it or risk losing my balance. I checked the intersection and thank GOD it was totally empty. I ran that light. Had there been cars in the intersection it would have been the same. Bad. Either low side under a car or high side off it's fender. Now I am not full of testosterone with something to prove. I am 45 years old, 245lbs and 6'3'. I ride alone, I have learned not to race A@#holes in cars, look out for dummies deiving and pretty much keep my ego in check. I low sided once on the Kawi into my 2nd week. Since then the Kawi has never done anything unpredictable. Meaning I have never caused something to happen I wasn't ready for. But the Gixxer, that's an awful lot of bike. I'm not saying I'm going to run out and trade it for a Goldwing but I am saying that as a new rider (>1500 miles) I've bitten off a huge chunk and luck's not guaranteed to keep me alive.
You can kill yourself on a dirt bike but this Gixxer is NOT what I would have choosen to learn on had I known better.
G

I've read most of the posts on this subject and i do agree with most of them. I would'nt have a GSXR for a 1st bike! Here in the UK you can't unless your over 21 but as im 17 next Feb i was going to have my bros GSXR600, fix it up get it road worthy and have it restricted to 33bhp - have to becuase it's the law! it will actually be slower than say a 250cc at the same 33bhp!!! I would keep it restricted atleast untill i get used to the bike and then take the restrictors out. Possibley even have an Advanced bike course to get to grips with what kind of power+handling the bike really has any1 have anything to say about this method cos' i would think this is probabley the best method but i have to do it this way cos' i will only be 17! Oh the best way to ride is act like your invisable to people in cars etc..It's worked for me ne way!
GR8 SITE BTW http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

I've been following this thread, and another along the same lines elsewhere for some time now.
I have just purchased an 03 1K after almost 20 years out of riding. This is my 12th bike, all but 4 (counting my new one) 2-stroke MXers anywhere from 125s thru big bores.
I debate the issue around experience that popped up. IMO, 10 years of roadriding is valuable, but without a wide variety of "challenges", it can amount to llittle more than 1 year times 10. OTOH, even one year of all out, #$@% to the wall dirt riding brings you face to face with scenarios that might very well be your first and only exposure to them on the street. In the dirt you simply pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and get back on. After a time you build a database, so to speak, where your reactions to these events become, well, almost second nature or instinctive. On the street, these things aren't something you're going to 'try out' riding back and forth in the local mall parking lot.
Sorry to make this long winded, but I once made a right turn from an intersection onto a street going up a steep hill . As I was just finishing my turn I hit a slick patch of something on the road that put me completely sideways, sliding uphill, aimed at the curb. My reaction was completely instinctive, nothing less. An inner response to the very familiar feel of a bike flung sideways, out on the edge between crashing and staying up. A place I'd visited hundreds of times in the past. Up on the pegs, ready on the gas, a light touch on the bars fishing for some feedback, some body english,... the warm feeling of equilibrium at return to control, some quick inputs, and threat averted. Just like yesterday on a 200+ pound 250 Husky, today a 600 pound streetbke.
Anyway, my last ride was a 600 pound, 100 hp. literbike. I am somewhat comcerned with my decision to get on a bike with close to double the horses at the rear wheel and 2/3 the weight.
Each to their own, but from my experience I'm not sure I'd want to put myself on a roadbike having never ridden before. For those who choose otherwise, become a student of the game and learn all you can. Keep your ego in check and avoid riding alongside those with big ^%$&, egos to match, with little or no brains or judgement.

Personnally I started on a 600. Several years later I now ride a 02 Gixxer 750. I am going to ride it for 2 or 3 years and then get a 1000. This route was best for me. I wanted to master each bike before moving up to the next. Two of the guys I ride with both have Gixxer 1000's as there first bike. One has an 02 and the other an 03, which I might add he bought after he wrecked his first bike which was another 02 1000. On weekend rides my 2 buddies have a problem keeping up with me on my 750 for the sheer fact they can't handle the power of there bikes. I ride with another guy who's on a R6 that is out riding these guys in the twisties. Neither one of them have the talent or skill to be on a 1000. I just can't see riding something that you cannot use to it's full potential. So in my opinion. Ride what you want but be careful it's your money and your neck out there on the roads. Good luck

i started on a 250 and it was a good idea because if i was to start on the 600 i had now i think i wouda killed myself

DJ750 said:
Personnally I started on a 600. Several years later I now ride a 02 Gixxer 750. I am going to ride it for 2 or 3 years and then get a 1000. This route was best for me. I wanted to master each bike before moving up to the next. Two of the guys I ride with both have Gixxer 1000's as there first bike. One has an 02 and the other an 03, which I might add he bought after he wrecked his first bike which was another 02 1000. On weekend rides my 2 buddies have a problem keeping up with me on my 750 for the sheer fact they can't handle the power of there bikes. I ride with another guy who's on a R6 that is out riding these guys in the twisties. Neither one of them have the talent or skill to be on a 1000. I just can't see riding something that you cannot use to it's full potential. So in my opinion. Ride what you want but be careful it's your money and your neck out there on the roads. Good luck



Not trying to flame or be a troll or anything so I will start off by saying that your last statement I beleive in whole-heartedly. I do however have to disagree that people should not ride something unless they can use it to its full potential. I disagree for a simple reason, no one on public roads can use any 600 class or larger sportbike to its full potential, the roads will just not allow for it and even if the roads were good enough, the rider still wouldn't be. I think that there is a point at which a rider should be comfortable with how the bike will respond in differant situations and how to make it do certain things but this is far from mastery. I do think that at this point, it is time to start looking into a larger bike if you feel it to be a nececity. I like my 600 and plan on staying with the 600 class, even if I decide to upgrade in the next few years.

I don't beleive that a rider should get a 1000, 750, or even a 600 class sport bike for there first bike, it is just too much to handle and will hinder in there learning process, as it seems to be your friends with the 1Ks. That "too much" is not just in the power department either, but in the braking and steering probably more so. Sportbike handling is "twitchy" or "nervous" depending on how you want to describe it. Here is my theory, sportbikes have a lot of "points." The power of a sportbike is linear and fairly tame, up to a point, same with the brakes and with the steering. I think it is too fine of a line for most new riders to walk for the simple fact that they have no idea where these "points" are, and especially what to do if you go past that point a little.

This is just my .02. Not trying to offend anyone, but just offer my point of view (yet again) to this topic. New riders, buy and ride what you want that is your freedom (at least in the states) but be warned. http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif

DJ750 said: I just can't see riding something that you cannot use to it's full potential.



i bet there arnt 6 people on this site that can ride to the full potential of their bike.. http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/dunno.gif

i am not even a newbie, im thinking of getting a bike lol, but i was seriously goign to get a gixxer600 (after reading posts on this site, and learning from experienced riders from yourself, i decided the 600 is big enough for me) but then i came across this post...well that just got me down, i wanted the gixxer600 but u guys were saying it isnt a good first bike...so how do u thinka bout the SV650s? (gotta stick with suzuki) is it considered sportsbike? it may be, but obviously not as top notch as a gixxer...but im trying to get as muhc information as i can..and of course im not gonna ride dumb, learn at my own pace and willing to pay fo damages (as in laying down the bike) but im open to suggestions..i want a bike that looks cool, can haul some booty (for later when i learn) and commands some respect..peace!

I started out on a sixxer... i know this post is about not getting a sportsbike for your first bike. But i did and have now 2700 miles on it and have much more to learn! The bike demands respect and a lot of throttle control, braking can get tricky on them, and slippery surfaces (little gravel, slightest bit of dirt) can let the rear tire loose in a heart beat. I see where many people have made the mistake and crashed because of these little things. I ride the bike to ride it, yes it looks good but i'm not the show off type of person. i wear full gear all the time... I do not recommend this bike for a first time rider. It will scare you to death... Get on a dirt bike to get used to two wheels if you alread haven't, then take the MSF course, and buy you something you will feel comfortable. Me honestly i felt a little uncomfortable at first because i could hardly touch the ground on the Gixxer and yeah i did drop it.. twice actually because my footing wasn't there http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/cry.gif but i knew that was coming. The bike's powerband i got used to (just like a 2stroke dirtbkie except going about 60 mph faster). Start off small and progress your way up, you'll be happy with the reward. http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif yeah i know i'm saying this but did not do it.... my friend didn't either and now he has a wrecked 03 sixxer in his garage.

I Personally started on a 750 GSXR. I couldn't ride it to well, I was just excited to get a bike and to ride it. Totally forgot about all the rules on the road. I recommend that if your riding for the first time with a sport bike is to get used to what it can do before jumping on and hitting traffic. Find a big parking lot (UBC) was a fun one and try some cornering and hard braking techniques. Get familiar with the bike, what it can do and most of all of what you can do on it. Cars and other traffic are unforgiving. Once you feel confident then take it slow on the road and have fun.

Later

im getting a 600 for my first bike.

i dont have any m/c knowledge really except for the basics. ive ridden a 97cbr600f3 though, and i felt pretty comfortable on a 600, so thats what im getting.

i am 100% sure that i will have this bike for atleast a year before even THINKING of going bigger.

people say a 600 is too much to start, i believe that, only if your an idiot.

Im getting an '03 GSXR 600 for my first bike, and thats all im going to say.

9 pages where have I been on this one?

You boys thinking 600s are small bikes need to chill. Damn near 100 ponies at the rubber. Fact is most of you can't even get close to its limitations. Don't take it personal but if ya went to the track, you'd get smoked buy those who can actually ride the thing. Shit...the liter bikes less than a decade ago had 100 ponies. http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/dunno.gif Think about it...

I don't think any modern day sportbike is a good learner. Most guys I know who went out and bought an R6, Gixxer6, ZX6 or CBR wadded the damn thing more times than they could afford. I'm talking sensless crashes, sometimes resulting in death. You gotta crawl before you can walk kids. http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/nono.gif Go buy an EX500 and learn. I had one.

Here is whats funny, im 17, when me and my father went into the dealership to buy the GSXR, the sales person was totally was against selling me it. The thing he didnt know was I have been riding dirtbikes, racing quads, and driving snowmobiles that can out accelerate most bikes. When the guy found this out, the story changed he said he was sorry and that the GSXR a great bike. See I have had 14 years of experience, and I understand none of it is driving a bike on the highway, but im accustomed to speed with my old ATV I could bring the front end up in 5th gear. So I have plenty of experience driving fast toys. Not trying to be a dick here or anything, but im sick of people telling me I bought the wrong bike. I mean how do you know I will drop it? How do you know I will hate it and wish I bought somthing else in the future?

My first bike was a brand new 97 CBR 900RR.Had it for 3 months(6800miles) before it was stolen and never crashed. I didn't know you had to start out on a sub 600 bike to be a good rider.I think I'll park my '03 1k and buy a YSR 50 to learn how to ride my gixxer.I guess there will be no more 130mph wheelies or slides until I really learn how to ride.

SilverGSXR said:
Here is whats funny, im 17, when me and my father went into the dealership to buy the GSXR, the sales person was totally was against selling me it. The thing he didnt know was I have been riding dirtbikes, racing quads, and driving snowmobiles that can out accelerate most bikes. When the guy found this out, the story changed he said he was sorry and that the GSXR a great bike. See I have had 14 years of experience, and I understand none of it is driving a bike on the highway, but im accustomed to speed with my old ATV I could bring the front end up in 5th gear. So I have plenty of experience driving fast toys. Not trying to be a dick here or anything, but im sick of people telling me I bought the wrong bike. I mean how do you know I will drop it? How do you know I will hate it and wish I bought somthing else in the future?


Insurance must be a bitch at 17 on a sportbike http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Insurance for me is $800.00 a year! It includes theft and liability. See I live in MN so I can only ride about 5-6 months so I insured it for a 6 months instead of a full year.

My first bike was a '94 Ninja 2fiddy... excellent bike for a beginner, go fast looks with out the go fast price. very forgiving and still quick enough to scare any first time rider charging twards his first corner and a kick in the pants for any level of rider, so long as you can, 'can' your egos long enough to love it. i get lots of respect from the 600+ club i ride with http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif

I'm pretty confident in my ability to ride my sixxer. I have been riding a 200CC 1975 honda for 4 months and I just got my 600 yesterday.

However I'm not confident in road conditions, I'm scared as hell I'm going to hit a patch of dirt and lowside it, as I did with the CB200.

I could push the CB to the liimts all the time and still have more to give it, but the GSXR is a whole different story, I get scared taking it up to 5000.

I'm gonna go practice in a parking lot tomorrow and get comfortable with the seating position and all the controls.

Great info::

You are the man!! http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/punk.gif

Keep up the great work!! http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/applause.gif

Peace
Dumax

Ok, iv been riding dirt bikes for about 6 years, (dont take anything i say personal, and please correct me if im wrong) I think i could start my self out on a gsxr 1k or yzf R1 and still be ok, as long as im smart about my riding and not doing stupid crap like flooring it through turns, trying to see what speeds it will top out at, and trying to pull stupid things like that, and just stick within my limits, and comfort zone, anyone with a little riding exp that knows how to properly work the throttle, clutch, and brakes can do fine with a sport bike. besides the pricey plastics that will most likely get damaged.

This is an excellent thread. Here's my two cents:

You've never tried to ride before? Try it in a controlled environment. First time you ride odds are you'll be way to wrapped up in the overload of new senses to be thinking clearly at all. Also, try it on something that is low powered, and light. I knew somebody that picked up a moped for $200 bucks just to blast around on to start. http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif Don't laugh! Riding is supposed to be about fun!

You like? Good. Now go take a course. Take all the courses you can, this includes track courses. Trash somebody elses bike first. BTW if they (training facility) offer enduros grab that over other bikes. Enduros are great bikes for learning. Good weight, good power and REALLY good at being tossed around because they allow you to 'muscle' the bike around. Short inseams need not apply though.

After that, well that is more subjective. Hopefully, you used the training to honestly evaluate your abilities. If you find that you suck. Quit. We are talking about your life. For everbody else I'd say pick older tackle. Why? Well like someone else already pointed out todays 600's would whup older liter bikes.

Generally speaking the problem with newer bikes seem to be the power, and or the delivery. Next I'd say the handling, and last (I know this will sound wierd) is the riding position.

Out of power or delivery, I think the delivery is more of an issue, with the power being a strong modifier for disaster. Case in point would be the early fuel injection systems. Last thing you need is a powerful engine with a stutter from closed throttle in a decreasing radius turn. However, an engine with good delivery but tons of grunt down low will also need a steady hand.

As for the handling. Where to start? The current sportbike out of the box would give 5 year old race bikes a run for thier money,if not beat them. If you've never had a 'tankslapper', well I hope you never get to. The older bikes tend to have a lot less radical steering geometry and are therefore more stable (this doesn't mean that some older bikes never would). Mind you, any bike will slap if the suspension isn't maintained and setup properly. Also, you might have noticed that it is mentioned that the current 1000's lift a wheel inadvertently, just off the throttle, this kind of thing is kind of recent (last 4 years or so) so again an older bike makes sense. Interestingly, the new CBR1000RR is said to be fairly tricky to wheelie as Honda put a pretty long swing arm on to give the bike more controllable drive.

I consider the riding position to be crucial. The reason is simple. If you can't feel comfortable on the bike, it takes away from your attention. I personally don't like the sensation of sitting on top of a bike. I find it unnerving. To long a reach to the bars? Pegs to high for you? These might cost you dearly. You need to be able to CONTROL the bike when you need to. Not the other way around. Don't buy a bike based on image. Buy the way that feels good. You won't regret it. Sadly, this is the one area that old bikes aren't the best in. The newer bikes tend to be more ergonomically friendly than the old ones.

Basically, if you really want a sportbike for your first bike, find one that is 'smooth' and 'friendly'. Twitchy bikes with big hits in one part of the power band will get ya quick. ( I think I just endorsed Honda again...)

Sorry about the length, but I've had my share of 'special' moments, and I just wanted to relate some of the things I've learned.

SilverGSXR said:
Here is whats funny, im 17, when me and my father went into the dealership to buy the GSXR, the sales person was totally was against selling me it. The thing he didnt know was I have been riding dirtbikes, racing quads, and driving snowmobiles that can out accelerate most bikes. When the guy found this out, the story changed he said he was sorry and that the GSXR a great bike. See I have had 14 years of experience, and I understand none of it is driving a bike on the highway, but im accustomed to speed with my old ATV I could bring the front end up in 5th gear. So I have plenty of experience driving fast toys. Not trying to be a dick here or anything, but im sick of people telling me I bought the wrong bike. I mean how do you know I will drop it? How do you know I will hate it and wish I bought somthing else in the future?



Ok, after reading this post, I think there needs to be an essay question at the end of the Motorcycle License Test. Anyone who uses the word "toy" should automatically fail and be denied a motorcycle license. Ever.

Maybe a bit harsh, but you hit the nail right on the head with that one. I'd bet an overwhelming majority of those who have posted here about getting a supersport for their first bike have either said the word toy in relation to their bike, or thought it as such. Consider a dirtbike a toy if you like. Or a quad. Or a snowmobile. But once you put a license plate on that supersport bike my friend, it is not a "fast toy". Don't get me wrong, I get plenty enjoyment out of my gixxer, but that doesn't make it a toy by any means.

If you wish to get a "fast toy", knock yourselves out guys. Hell, if you are masters of all other forms of toys, go buy yourself a 1k and have a blast. On the track. When you leave the track, throw both your bike and your ego in the trailer and tow them home. Sure, riding a machine way beyond your abilities is your god-given right. It is not your right, however, to take such insanity to the public roads. When your "toy" surprises you (which a litrebike is sure to do to someone without much seat time) and goes catapulting down the street without you, it won't be your car that it slams into. Or you standing on the sidewalk (bikes tend to sprout wings when they slide into a curb).

I know, it's not as "cool" to be seen tooling around town on an sv650, but here's a little hint for ya: most hotties aren't gonna know the difference http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif.

I know you won't be the guy on the hottest bike when you go riding with a group, but at the end of the ride i'm not impressed by the guy on the blinged out 1k he just got that is always the last one at stops, i'm wanting to hang out with the guy on the sv650 that comfortably kept that 1k out of his rearview mirrors all day. And that guy will have the money to buy the beers as well, seeing how his insurance is about 350% cheaper than Mr. Bling. Chances are, if I'm going out on a ride, I'll be calling the guy with the sv and not the guy with the 1k, even though his leathers match his helmet, which matches his bike. And trust me, no rider that rides behind you all day on a ride is going to be giving you shit about not having a "fast toy".

Ya ya, I know, you're gonna lose aallll that money dumping it into a bike you don't really want in the first place. Personally, it cost me a whopping $600 worth of depreciation when I sold my learner bike to an eager young rider looking for the same thing I'd been looking for a year ago. Seems there's always a market for bikes to learn on, rumor has it he's passed it on to yet another future gixxer rider. Of course, I don't count the money I spent for fuel and maintenance, I guess I consider that my tuition for "bike maintenance 101". If I had that same $600 to spend again, I can guarantee you it would be best spent the same way all over again. Hell, I'd pay double that for the kind of experience and knowledge I gained from that bike, too bad you can't just buy the experience, huh? If you are going to ride street bikes for any amount of time you'll more than likely pay $600 or more for a helmet somewhere along the line. Then again, it's just a toy, an expensive helmet isn't really all that important I guess.

This post is not directed at any one individual, nor is it meant to hurt anyone's ego or feelings. Just tired of reading "R.I.P." and "In Loving Memory" stickers on people's helmets and bikes. And it truly is much more fun to be the fast guy on the smaller (older, less powerful, whatever) bike than it is to be the slow guy on the "fast toy". There's no feeling in the world like pulling into a stop on a ride, and hearing people say "man, that guy on that sv has some skills". I'll take them complimenting my skills over complimenting my bike any day of the week.

althou i do agree with the comments...my first bike was a 03 gixxer 6 which i rode for the best part of the year... and ive only laid down once(which was my dumbass fault..stoppie) but i do have alot of friends that ride also who got me into riding so i had alot of teaching while i was on it! but also the first night i was on it i was too scared to go over 80 on the highway...but as we all do i got used to the speed...now i currently own a 03 gixxer 1000 and been riding that for about 4 months now great bike but deffinatly not a begineers bike! but i did use my old bosses honda cruiser for the weekend before i even bought my 6... so i guess it really depends on who you have teaching you and how quickly you pick things up.....In my opinion!! GREAT POST though Fraggle!!!! very technical

good write up. i'll be taking an american basic bike course...but its the only thing the states offer here so far. i'll have to contemplate the bike...i have 2 weeks before the course..so i can wait....i'm was approved for a 04 gixxer 600, but now i have to rethink things...bleh.

there are 2 schools of thoughts in this thread, and we all know starting on the older, less powered bikes is really the smart thing to do...but ...man did i have my heart set on the 04gixxer 600.

i was planning on taking it slow and babying it, but after reading this entire thread...it doesn't sound like a basic riding course will even give me anything worthy of buying a gixer. it disappoints me that its legal here in the states to just get a super bike with little or no training.

no i have to really think things over. pretty bummed..i should have started when i was in my early 20's http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

i live here in washington..and i was really looking foward to the gixer for the summer. oh well..time to mull things over. excellent thread btw

I just bought my 2000 750 about a year ago and that was my first bike. If you give yourself time to get used to it you're fine.

For the longest time I did not beleive anyone why not get a newer style bike. They never gave me any reason but the sheer speed of it . If that was all it came down to then Id say screw it im getting this bike cause you can control how much speed you want. After reading this thread I have changed my mind. Basically repeated its the touchiness of everything the breaks the suspention and the throttle that I can see putting me at a nervous state going through a corner , especially with the shitty and unpredicatable roads I would be driving on. Very good thread , thank you .

ok.... i see the point on why not have it as a starter bike.... if people would just be responsible and not act like idiots on their bikes we would never realy here about subjects like this... my first bike was a 2000 gsxr 600... i still have the damn thing.... i still dont know how to do wheelies and stoppies...... shit i never have even broke traction or got the front wheel off the ground in 4 years.... its about being responsible and having respect for the bike... abuse the bike and i promice it will abuse you right back if not kill you.... if you stick some idiot in a 04' cobra, and he dont know his limit, or doesnt care.... him and possibly alot of people will die... my point is just be responsible and care for your safty and for others safty as well..... as for handling of my first bike, i just practice alot in parking lots at nite and driving around my nieborhood over and over again... it was a bit un-cofortable at first but a person can get accustom to the bike.... mabee im wrong but i dont think it is a wrong bike for me.... BE RESPONSIBLE http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif

This is more of a question for everyone. I've been riding my friends SV650 for about a season now (started riding last june and am still riding it) and right now I'm looking to buy my own bike and am considering a 01-04 750. I feel completly comfortable on the 650 and my friend even agrees with me that I'm doing great but he wants me to buy a 1980 CB400 so i can feel how the bike reacts and what not...which is a viable point but I don't get how going down a step will help me to learn to be a better rider...I don't know maybe I'm just being ignorant.

If you want a shock out of life and possibly a quick trip to an emergency room, go get the '04 750 http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif. There is no comparison here. The SV is more upright and easier to ride as mite the CB400.
The 750 is meant to "giddy up"! If you are comparing it to the SV, it's Godzilla on steroids. This is my own opinion...
Ride the SV for another season if you can. Then, if you have a friend who trusts you - take an '01 - '04 GSX-R600 for a ride and note the differences. While you are driving, keep in the back of your head that the GSX-R750 has about fifty more horsepower!!!
There was an article written a few months back comparing the 600 to the 750. Concensus was to go out and get the 600 - the $1,100 you save can go for a few upgrades and riding gear! Good Luck. Hope it helped. http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif

Yeah my friend has the 600 but he's too scared to let me ride it...but he crashed a few weeks ago so now he might consider letting me try it. I've been actually considering the 600 now I'd love to get the 750 but like ya said it's gozilla compared to the 650...I've got all winter to mull it over. Thanks for the imput man.

I'm new here but wanted to throw something of an opinion out there. I started out in the dirt with bikes, 3-wheelers and 4-wheelers. Thought I had pretty good skills so I decided to move it to the street got one of the 94 FZR 600 had that for 3 years then decided Suzuki was the way to go so I got the 97 GSXR 750. Talk about a whole new ball game, it carved corners like a knife in butter and took off like a quarter horse. That thing had power and plenty of it, now I ride an 02 GSXR 1000. Do I think that a 600 is a bad beginners bike? No, as long as you take a MSF learn how to handle it in stressful situations and respect the bike and its authority. I think a 600 makes a great beginners bike, my buddy bought a used 96 ZX-6e from another buddy and after 1 1/2 year of riding it, he is now ready to step into a little bigger bike or at least an "R" model.

true true,

Although i have to say i bought my first bike 5 months ago. A brand new gixxer 2K4 is standing in my livingroom with 14000km on it (in from Belgium). I had never even ride another bike before. If i could do it all over again, i probably would have bought the 750 or even the 1000. A 600 indeed is aggresive for a first-time bike but you get used to it pretty fast. Why buying another bike as the one you really really want ??? With a little self-control you can start off with any bike you prefer.

just my thought http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

ok so what is the proper progression? is it sv650/gsxr600/gsxr750 or is sv650/gsxr750 ok too

Hi everyone I'm new to this forum i was hopping to get some opions about getting a new bike a GSX-R -750 & also giving my wife my 03 SV650S
So first let me tell you about myself. I just got back into motorcycling on may 20, 2004 after having 12 years off. I ride a 2003 Suzuki SV650S with a few mods, I'm also race ATV's so fear is not in my nature. Since I got my SV650S I have put 10,000 miles on it with no incidents and I'm feeling that it's under powered for my riding ability, the reason I say this is because I have already been scraping my pegs in the coners at a good rate of speed. The only problem I have ever had while riding the SV was the bike likes to bounce into the oncoming lane when cornering the bumpy back roads which I don't feel it was my driving, I feel it is the crappy suspention they have on the bike and the fact that I'm 6'1 240lbs and the bike was designed for a rider who is 140 to 160 lbs. let me also say I'm 36 years old with 2 kids so I don't get to crazy like i did in my younger years. So do you think that i'm ready to step up to a GSX-R 750 or should I stay On the SV for a little longer ?
Now for my wife she is a very responsable person who has never riden a motorcycle but she is taking the MSF course so she can ride with me. She really loves & wants my SV650S, she has sat on it & can stand flat on the groung and dosn't seem to have a problem moving the bike around but I'm wondering if it is to much for a newbe ? mind ya she is a VERY strong women ( RedHead ).
So please leave me your opinions on what I should do.
Thank you so much

An excellent article on the subject can be found at
http://www.beginnerbikes.com/editorials/formequalsfunction.htm

In my opinion, buying a first bike depends on the person.

When buying a first bike, buy it for the right reasons.

Do you want to keep it for a long time? It is important to get a bike that runs most of the time. For new riders, if you are constantly fixing or adjusting your bike rather then riding it, you will not be getting the proper riding experience you need to improve your skills.

Get a bike with good performance. Get a bike that has good braking, handling and acceleration. The ability of a bike to brake, swerve, and accelerate can quickly get one out of potentially dangerous situations on the street. Obviously a new rider cannot expect to extract these features from bikes without practice in a controlled environment.

Unless you prefer to buy a new bike every year or so, get a bike that you can grow into. Once you get familiar with a certain bike, you start to know your limitations as well as the bike. Having to relearn a new bike's limitations is dangerous and when done too often is a dangerous combination.

Remember, the ultimate control over your saftey is up to you. You control your fate. If you choose to drive beyond your abilities, you place yourself in those situations. If you pace yourself and be smart about the way you operate the motorcycle, with saftey as a first priority, then any bike will serve its purpose.

thejimdaddy said:
ok so what is the proper progression? is it sv650/gsxr600/gsxr750 or is sv650/gsxr750 ok too


http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/nono.gif That's like saying all the riders on an SV or Gix 600 are on those smaller bikes because they have less skill than those on a 1k. http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif The proper progression is not to keep "upgrading" the bike, but to keep your skills progressing so your ability stays in check with your bike. It seems to be a strange perception that the main goal is to "move up" to getting that 1k, when most riders can be perfectly happy on a 600.
http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif

Great point! Well tought out and very well written. http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif

i just got a 600, fixin some scratches up and waiting to take safety class but ive seen my buddie on this and 600's are NOTHING to play around with real power. gsxr 600's run smoothly and handle great, its h ow much you turn the gas on that gets people

I have to agree with the write up. I have an SV650S. I couldn't afford the 8000 for a 600, or more for the larger bikes. My first bike was a Kawasaki 1981 KZ650CS. Large enough. Had plenty of power. It was used. So I let a friend tool around, then bam he dropped it. 15MPH and the only damage was a crack blinker housing. I had a spill on my SV. Uneven road 3 bumps half way through a turn. Not knee down maybe 2/3rds. The piss water suzuki calls fork oil didn't help. Front shttered out. I did the MSF emergency stop. In the end. Ebay, and a good knowledge of mechanics kept the cost low. I know a few guys coming home from Iraq getting Sports bikes. I just hope they ride within their limits.

You all make good points. I have ridden 600's for about 5 years now, and have tried verything up to the 1000. I am currently awaiting delivery of my 2k5 750. The only reason I'm stepping up is not because of "speed" but because I weigh 235 and I need more low end torque. I agree it all dpends on the mindset of the rider, cuz there's always gonna be those guys that get the 1000 just because its the "fastest". But I will be blazing by those fools on my 750...

I have been riding for 3 years now on road that is, I go my first 'bike' when i was 18 an old DT175 lol man i learnt a few lessons on that lesson 1: you need a little power to get you otta trouble. Lesson 2: If you don not have said power you better be on the ball 100% of the time!. I then upgraded my bike to a GSF 400 a good size bike that I did over 20 000 km in 18months now I ride my mechanics old bike a beastie GSXR750 it still amazes me how much power it really has lets not all get caught up in "my bike has XXXHp so its better than yours and your a pussy cause you only ride a GSXRXXX" riding is all about you and your ability and confidence. Test ride and pick a bike that does't make you need to change your leathers is my advice.

I started out on a 02 GSXR-600 and I'm very glad I started on a sportsbike

i think matuirty and value for your own life depends on whther you should start on a sports bike. i just got my gixxer 600 as my first bike and im not acting stupid with it. i set it in my mind that i know i need practice and will baby it, until im comfortable. im in it for the long run, not just to start off fast because i can. right now going 35 mph feels somehwat fast to me, and even 60. but then again im still learning. i practice daily on the street during times that there isnt heavy traffic, and im gettin a little more confident everyday. i wont try the highways for another month at least. your average young person, prob jumps on their first bike and dips it, with out thinking about it. i think of it as an expensive investment, that im not particularly in a rush to crash. compared witht crusiers we had for the MSF, the sportbike is more comfortable in terms of pedal placement, etc. only thing, is your wrists get sore after a while, but its worth it. and prob sometrhing i need to get used to.

Jshins said:
i think matuirty and value for your own life depends on whther you should start on a sports bike.



That really is what matters. I learned on a couple different bikes (my friend's) including a zx7, zzr1200, and gsxr 1000.

My first and current bike is a 2004 GSXR750. I love it. It's all about throttle control when it comes to being "fast".

Although, I have seen a lot of magazine reviews (for what they are worth) saying the 750 is a bad beginner bike, it's supposed to be a great track bike, and the throttle response is jerky at low speeds (till you really learn the bike that is).

Anyways still alive http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif and over 8000 miles on her.

wow...I'm glad i found this thread. I've been interested in a sport bike for some time and as a complete newbie (never having ridden a bike ever) this has completely changed my perspective. I figured i could pick up a used gsxr 600 and that would be sufficient to learn on if i was careful. i know that this is definitely not the way to go now. As careful as i would like to think i am, it wouldn't last long. I've had enough fuck ups driving cars that a 600cc sport bike isn't a good way to learn. To bad my dad sold his old triumph that seems like a good starting point.

basically thanks for havin such a good thread, its helped me out alot.

im now looking for a good beginer bike and im gonna take my time and learn right

i'm starting out a 600 GSXR now..i'm taking my time and learning along the way. i've been riding the last week and only have i just started to get a feel for throttle control, and braking. the more riding time and pratice i get iin the better you'll get.. just remember to not act dumb and go crazy on public roads, and riding above your limits. going 35 like Jshins said seems fast. i went up to about 70 on a flat straightaway and that was reallly fast. as long as u take your time, don't act stupid, and value your life you should do fine on the bike. just get in lots of pratice before riding everywhere. i plan on hitting the parking lot to pratice, every weekend night if i can to pratice so i can get better.

Hi, I recently purchased a 1997 GSXR600v SRAD as my first proper bike, I passed my test second time around three weeks ago tomorrow. First time I rode it I had to take it 80miles to get home along a motorway talk about trial by fire. Now I'm 30 in july, and I think it is all about maturity and respect for the machine you are riding, yes it's completely different to my aprilia rs125 in size and bhp, but body position is similar. And being 6 foot 14 stone, this was the only bike I felt comfortable on. I understand about the corner carver statement from the first post as some of the roads I take to work I've had to ride differently to when I used the rs.

I'm 18 and i just bought my first motorcycle about 2 and a half months ago. I bought a 2004 GSXR-600, i've heard people say that 600's are good and bad starters, but i went with a 600 since im a quick learner and i found one for $6,000 on ebay 15 miles away. I've only put 300 miles on it since it's winter here in Ky but i get it out everynow and then but i think it's a really good motorcycle. I've riden dirt bikes and my friends old kawasakiand i took the msf safety course before i bought it. I think it all depends how comfortable u r on motorcycles and if u know what ur doing. But im sure people think since im young i'm goin to do stupid stuff like pop wheelies and etc. but i value my life and the fact that i dont wanna wreck my practicaly new gsxr before i pay it off. i take it slow most of the time i dont want any speeding tickets or anything dumb like that.

I had a 98 srad 750, crashed it on my 17th bday, Im too immature to be trusted not to do stupid shit with anything.
Most guys my age are the same way, my advice, dress for the crash if you wanna tempt fate and buy a ss bike for your first.

I started out on an 01 Gixxer 1000 3 years ago!. My first bike...ever! It has never been layed down, or dropped! I road the bike slow and easy for about three months, gradually getting braver. I only drive to my ability, when I scared myself....I slowed down!!! The race track here has days that you can take your bike on it, which really helped me to learn how to ride. As long as the rider has the respect for the bike and values his/her life, then a sportbike can be a good first bike!

BTW, I have seen ALOT of people crash streetbikes because they have years of experience on a dirtbike and decide they can ride a sportbike.

I will be picking up my new 05 Gixxer 1000 this week...can't wait! A Great site tons of great information here!

iv'e neva been on a bike.....and im gettin a 600...so its gonna have to be the sportbike for that does it for me

not only is my first bike a 750 but its what i learned on.... havent encountered any trouble yet i love it. however i have to relearn on an old honda so i can use it to pass the dmv test.. im pretty sure the gixxer wont.

first bike = 03 gix 600.

Wish i would have bought somthing less minty as a first.

I read through most of the pages and the general message seems to be know your limits. Knowing that cars and bikes are totally different i drive a Subaru Sti. Most people that are 19 would probably total that car, but i enjoy living and try not to do stupid things alot. Im buying a new bike within a week and i think i might just get a 1k. I know that is probably way to much bike at first, but i plan on taking baby steps with it. I understand most of you will probably think that ill just be another dead jackass, but i think that you can learn on a super powerful bike. One of my main rreasons is that I have had a very difficult time finding a 600 or 750 and i can get the 1k for the same price as the others. You experienced riders know more than i do, but i think that if you know yourself than you can learn on any bike you want.

Very good full out explanation/answer to the subject question bro!
Nobody could have explained the subject better.

My biggest personal feeling is that it basically comes down to the specific individual themself. Think about it. Some people are just going to be able to accomplish some things very easily; where as, others will break every bone in their body before they figure it out.

The sportbike is a challenge in itself the first time you ride one, with just having to deal with focusing on the very quick, jumpy, quirky handling characteristics caused by the tremendous power and feather light weight of the bike. I remember the first time I experienced the throttle respone on one! http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif Idealy, to make this experience comfortable for a rider to get used to, the basics of riding a motorcycle all together; balance, counter balance steering, shifting, starting, stoping, etc should already be second nature to the rider, making these handling characteristics of a sportbike much easier to become comfortable with. That to me would be a reasonable answer as to say that a 600+ sportbike is not a good bike for beginners.

However, I can not only give that answer to the subject, because I myself learned to ride on a friends CBR 600. Like I stated above, it depends on the individual. I pick things up very quickly. When I first drove a car, I practiced 3 times - not even an hour each time- before I took a skill test and passed. Not an automatic, a 5 speed manual. I just knew how to drive it from watching my dad shift through the gears when I was small. I think that is one of the biggest problems in this world today. Nobody knows how to drive stick anymore. It's like the whole world got F'n lazy and decided to take the easy way around learning how to drive! If you don't know how to drive a manual trans vehicle, you don't know how to drive! http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif
That's F'n sad! Knowing how to drive an automatic isn't knowing how to drive. Lets say you dropped brown acid and wandered off into the desert, and whoops you're stranded. You happen to come across a car that someone left there??? Hell yeah, you jump in, "I'm not gonna die!" UH OH, it's a 5 speed http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif Any way sorry for rambling on. back to the subject.
I have a buddy of mine that really wants to learn to ride so he can get his own bike and rip down the streets with us. (sorry Nelson, not tryin to rip on you or anything) I understand, because that was me. http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif But he doesn't even know how to drive a manual vehicle. Sorry, but he's going to have a hell of a time trying to ride a bike, let alone a sportbike! He's not learning on mine! http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/nono.gif
There's many out there wanting sportbikes, that don't even know how to drive a manual car/ truck!
Come on people!

I personally feel that I can jump on any thing and drive it. That's just me. I'm a certified industrial equiptment trainer as part of my occupation. I train and certify employees on forklifts. Reach trucks, sitdowns, high lifts, order pickers, etc. All of them. The first time I ever drove a forklift, I was not trained on it. The supervisor just told me to give it a try. It didn't take me but a couple of hours, and I was seriously driving the thing flawlessly, as well as any of the other employees with many years of experiance on them. I didn't have but just over a year of experience on them before the company I'm now working for sent and paid for me to take a "Train the Trainer Program." I have a state certification. I'm doing company training for guys that have been driving these things longer that I have been alive.

When I first learned to ride on my buddies CBR, I just jumped on it, started very slowly at first. My only interest/concern was what the balance of it would feel like. I knew that it was gyroscopic and that the motorized rotation of the wheel would make the bike balance its self, the shifting being very much shorter and quicker than a vehicle I noticed very quickly. I did stall it once in the lot, but just screamed out "Sh*t". Being the fact that my truck is manual, and that I am very skilled with manipulating a clutch it didn't panic me, like most it would. It just embarrassed the hell out of me. I just popped the starter again, and off I went. Basically I just took it very slowly in traffic situations to begin with, and had it down flat in no time at all. My buddie was curiously confused because he spilled his older bike; that he learned on, several times while learning.
I always kept in mind while improving that as good as you think you're doing, don't get too comfortable too soon, because that's when it will bite ya. It happens to even the most experienced riders out there.

Basically all that I'm trying to say is that it depends on you, yourself. Are you extremely coordinated, and above average at operating something as simple as car, or are you average, or are you below average. Don't get into something to quickly that you honestly know and feel to yourself that you're not capable of handling. If it takes the longer route, then that's what it takes! http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Randy //Pharcyde\\

i rode my hubbys 1k the other day.... i have NO BUSINESS AT ALL on that bike.... i really dont have any business on the 750 but ego plays a big part, i think guys are a little more prone to being underly cautious. my biggest thing is my husband and i understand that if he decdes to "go play" with another bike that im not going to try to keep up, i dont push my limits too far but it seems the more i ride the more ballsy i get. im slowly trying to build skill w/o being a dumba** and hurting myself/anyone else. theres no way to make up for more than a decade of experiance that i ride with in an instant...your bike may be fast but you're not invincible

I recently got my first bike. A 05 GSXR600, I got a 600 because it was the lowest cc gsxr. I have taken the military MSF course, and all the guys I ride with that taught me to ride are MSF instructors. I think fRaGgle has a point but a GSXR600 is a good first bike as long as you keep respect for it and are going to ride the right way...

i grew up on dirt bikes, 3 wheelers, 4 wheelers and have been around sport bikes as long as i can remember, how many 13 year olds can tell you the full spec list of every major manufacturs bike from 600cc up for that model year? bikes have literally been in my life as long as i can remember.

The things that bikes taught me in youth was respect, you must respect yourself, and the vehicle you are in or on, the minute you lose that respect you get hurt bad, i've had several stupid little accidents in youth, a mis placed rock, a jump to short or to long but dirt isnt as nasty as asphalt, i rode WFO every day of my life, on the ragged edge of my abilities every minute that enviroment was my happy place, i used to want to race very badly but after watching my brother race for 10 plus years in ccs and wear events i dont feel i could be anything but a speed bump, those guys are so fast the pros just flat out fly, the bikes are always on that fine edge and its amazing to watch someone who has that much control and is that in tune with his machine, i've seen guys run several seconds faster than the pace, set track records and look so comfortable, almost at rest on the bike, then all of a sudden they lose it, the bike washes the front or the rear steps out and their day is over.

i have wanted to buy a bike for about 2 years now, local traffic and accidents i've heard about had prevented me from doing this, but my joy of riding is something i cant get out of my system, i plan to buy a 600 gsx-r, i know how fast these bikes are my brother raced one for 2 years, and i also know how quickly i adabpt to things.

bottom line be realistic about who you are, what you want, and what you need, ya the r1 and 1k are beautiful bikes but for most they are a suicide waiting to happen, ride for the love, not for the impression you leave on the guy next to you....

J~

I just bought a 600 20th Anniversary this week. Whoever says they are slow has never really got on a real sports bike.

I just bought a 2002 gixxer 1000 10 days ago. It was my first bike, almost killed myself on the way home (really dum move). After putting 300 miles on it, I feel much more comftorble riding compared to when I first hopped on it. I see why there's a huge stress for newbie riders to not get a 1k. I was actually looking for ~00 - 04 used gixxer 600 but i got a pretty good deal on this 1k.

Just to share the experience of my very first bike... The first few days I didn't even want to ride it because of all i've read bout how strong they are and how u shouldn't get a 1k as your fist bike and the sensitivity of the throttle WOW!. Along with that i was not used to the gears and turning the thing. My longest trip on it so far was 45 miles to my gf's house. So far within 300 miles of riding this bike i've experience extreme rains and heavy winds. When it rained I pulled over till it calmed a little, man was it slippery and scary. For the winds i just crouched on it really good and sped up. I now drive it daily in traffic and on the highways of downtown chicago (10miles from my house). Nervous I was the first time, but not as much now.

To wrap it up DO NOT GET A 1k as your first bike the thing uber fast and sensitive. Hypocrite i am but really its a really scary experience that i wanted to share with ya'll. I will probably get alot of bashing for this but my purpose was to share my experience of my very first ride on a bike and it being a 1k. Take care all and stay safe.

awsome, not to sound like I am un-original, but this is an awsome topic, I mean, wow... you get both sides of the story, the good.. the bad... and the funny, I am new to gixxer.com, but gixxers have been lining the walls of my room for yrs, I had a yamaha dirt bike, i dont want to say i know the mechanics of riding, but i am i figure a little better off than someone who has never even sat on a bike, i am thinking of getting a 98-02 gixxer 600 for my first bike, goin to the parking lots and down the block for awhile before i take her out into traffic, even then i will start off in non-peak traffic periods, and not looking to set her down for stupid like making sure the kick stand is down!! http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif but i am a little ignorant cause i have already made up my mind to get one, just looking for a few ideas on some good gear, joe rocket gets thrown around a lot but is it good gear? I mean nike gets thrown out a lot, but c'mon your just paying more cause they are still in contract with jordan for something like 40mil a yr, so any thoughts?

reading all of this made me rethink my plan to get a gsxr750 for my first bike but after reading through the whole thing and sitting here thinking for the last (looks at clock...shat i need to go to bed) 2 hours it seems it boils down to this...it all depends on the rider...if you're responsible and take classes first and practice (my old high school has a huge parking lot and is only 5 minles from my house on a road that doesnt have much traffic) and DONT RIDE PAST YOUR ABILITY!! there's a good chance you'll be fine...just need to resist the urge to hop on and go...and damn thats a strong urge cuz turning you're bike into a yellow blur is freakin tempting...but i dont have a death with and will be cruisin the empty parking lot for hours on end til i feel confident enough to deal with traffic and even then will be taking it easy for a LONG TIME cuz i know its a lot of bike for a beginner but i've had my heart set on one and im a 21 so good luck talking some sense into me http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif anyways i for one will be learning slowly and will never ride without my helmet/jacket/gloves as a minimum...

whew almost forgot...i wont be getting my bike for a few more months...but when i do anyone in the sacramento area that would be willing to help teach me the right way to ride i'd appreciate it greatly

hey rob im in the same boat as you except I already bought my first bike (gsxr 750 1997) and im going to pick it up on the 24th. Ive never ridden a bike or even sat on one... BUT i plan on training myself in the proper riding style and taking the class, I am currently reading Total Control by lee sparks. I cant wait to get it and start my practicing..
woohooooo
!http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a159/dante1188/gsxrside.jpg

Been said a bunch of times before.. respect the bike, no matter what it is. Don't ride above your limits..

BUT i plan on training myself in the proper riding style and taking the class, I am currently reading Total Control by lee sparks. I cant wait to get it and start my practicing..
woohooooo
!http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a159/dante1188/gsxrside.jpg




VERY nice looking SRAD. Treat her well.

Don't take this the wrong way, but how can you teach yourself proper riding style if you have never even sat on a bike before?

Take the class, and take more advanced classes as time goes by. There is no substitute for quality instruction from knowledgeable people--bar none. I am currently teaching my brother how to ride. He has taken the MSF course but is still developing bad riding habits on his own without instruction (resting his weight on the handle bars, slouched riding position, etc.).

And again..nice looking bike!

-J

reading all of this made me rethink my plan to get a gsxr750 for my first bike but after reading through the whole thing and sitting here thinking for the last (looks at clock...shat i need to go to bed) 2 hours it seems it boils down to this...it all depends on the rider...if you're responsible and take classes first and practice (my old high school has a huge parking lot and is only 5 minles from my house on a road that doesnt have much traffic) and DONT RIDE PAST YOUR ABILITY!! there's a good chance you'll be fine...just need to resist the urge to hop on and go...and damn thats a strong urge cuz turning you're bike into a yellow blur is freakin tempting...but i dont have a death with and will be cruisin the empty parking lot for hours on end til i feel confident enough to deal with traffic and even then will be taking it easy for a LONG TIME cuz i know its a lot of bike for a beginner but i've had my heart set on one and im a 21 so good luck talking some sense into me http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif anyways i for one will be learning slowly and will never ride without my helmet/jacket/gloves as a minimum...




I am going to level with you; my first bike was a Gix750. I took it slow, I took the MSF, I was responsible, I have never crashed (yet..knock on wood). BUT, I regret it for this reason here: I believe I would be a better rider today if I had started on a smaller bike.

A large bike makes you timid in the corners--especially for a beginner. It is not a problem for me now, but my learning curve would have been much smoother had I gotten a 500 or 600cc bike as my first.

The purpose of owning a bike it simple: to have some fun. Fun cannot come until you are comfortable on the bike. Anything less can be nervousing and scary, which spoils the fun. Would you rather have fun, or be constantly thinking about what you are doing (which takes away your attention from important things like watching the traffic around you).

Just consider it.

-J

hi there,
I have a 750gsxr, and would like to get some adive on the best race can for it, any body got any ideas, Im looking for top nouch stuff. also would like to big up the 600's as they really are a peace of art.

^ yeah I have 2 suggestions

1) Use the search button
2) Start your OWN thread in the APPROPRIATE forum.

^ yeah I have 2 suggestions

1) Use the search button
2) Start your OWN thread in the APPROPRIATE forum.


^^ OMG. http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif I agree with devil.

penis penis penis
balls balls balls

bought a 93 gixxer 600 for my first bike and am enjoying every minute of my learning experience. I think its safe to say that no one on here, regardless of how well versed in technical writing, can tell another what to start on. people will ride what they want and if they don't...they won't have fun.

so if the goal was to not have fun, they could just sit on the gixxer forum and read 15 pages of posts from opinionated dudes. wait a minute...

bought a 93 gixxer 600 for my first bike and am enjoying every minute of my learning experience. I think its safe to say that no one on here, regardless of how well versed in technical writing, can tell another what to start on. people will ride what they want and if they don't...they won't have fun.

so if the goal was to not have fun, they could just sit on the gixxer forum and read 15 pages of posts from opinionated dudes. wait a minute...



Opinionated from experience. While we can't tell anyone what bike to start on, we can give recommandations on it. And especially which bikes are NOT by any means a good idea. If noone learned from the experiences of others, we'd still be sitting in a cave, pounding rocks together... http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/wait.gif

And no disrespect but your bike can hardly be compared to the newer sport bikes...

http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif

Hi all, Im Doey from Sydney Australia

Iv been thinking about bikes for some time now and really think I wantto buy myself one.

Having never rode one before, im still quite clueless on the topic.

I love the gsxr with the yellow and black or orange and black colour scheme.

But I dont think i should go for a 600 at first

Im around 6 ft 1 high and roughly 100 kilograms

For a first bike, i want somthing which is a good learning bike, but will also prepare me for a race position bike more than a crusing type of bike would. Any type of help would be great.

Hi all, Im Doey from Sydney Australia

Iv been thinking about bikes for some time now and really think I wantto buy myself one.

Having never rode one before, im still quite clueless on the topic.

I love the gsxr with the yellow and black or orange and black colour scheme.

But I dont think i should go for a 600 at first

Im around 6 ft 1 high and roughly 100 kilograms

For a first bike, i want somthing which is a good learning bike, but will also prepare me for a race position bike more than a crusing type of bike would. Any type of help would be great.


Ninja 250 or EX500, GS500 or SV650 would be perfect for this. http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif

Hi all, Im Doey from Sydney Australia

Iv been thinking about bikes for some time now and really think I wantto buy myself one.

Having never rode one before, im still quite clueless on the topic.

I love the gsxr with the yellow and black or orange and black colour scheme.

But I dont think i should go for a 600 at first

Im around 6 ft 1 high and roughly 100 kilograms

For a first bike, i want somthing which is a good learning bike, but will also prepare me for a race position bike more than a crusing type of bike would. Any type of help would be great.


Umm hate to tell you dude, but I don't think you have a choice of getting a 600 at first... Your in Austrailia and I'm pretty sure their laws say you have to ride a 250cc bike for a year before you can get your "full fledge" license or whatever. I've heard a lot of you foo's down there get the Suzuki Across for the first one... (the GSX250F) it's a great starter bike, good gas milage, and satisfies the 250cc requirement. http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif

Am I just an idiot for disagreeing with starting out on something smaller than a 600? I know my limits and I know what I feel comfortable doing. I think that its what you are comfortable with. Try out a couple of different bikes and see where you feel the best. At first I was shocked by all the power that my 2k5 gixxer 600 had, now I want more. I have a friend who started out on a 929rr and hes been riding for a few years now and hes never laid it down. Just make sure you are comfortable and dont go outside you comfort zone. Just remember everybody had to start somewhere.

Am I just an idiot for disagreeing with starting out on something smaller than a 600? I know my limits and I know what I feel comfortable doing. I think that its what you are comfortable with. Try out a couple of different bikes and see where you feel the best. At first I was shocked by all the power that my 2k5 gixxer 600 had, now I want more. I have a friend who started out on a 929rr and hes been riding for a few years now and hes never laid it down. Just make sure you are comfortable and dont go outside you comfort zone. Just remember everybody had to start somewhere.



It's not the power of sport bikes that bring most new riders down - it's the brakes, especially in an emergency... Now you might feel you're doing fine but how many emergency stops have you had to make yet? http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/wait.gif

Why do you think we get all the "something was in my way so I chose ( http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif ) to lay the bike down"? Because the natural reaction to emergencies is to tense up, grabbing the brakes harder than intended. Unless you are experienced and have all the basics down and have practiced braking over and over again, if you are a new rider 99 out of 100 times you will lock up one or both wheels if you get a sudden obstacle - which mostly leads to a crash... http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/wait.gif

True, cause I cant count how many times I have locked up the rear tire...but I took what I learned in my MSF class and applied it. I really recomend that EVERYONE take that class, no matter how experienced you are. I actually plan on taking it every year, just because I develope bad habits. Thank God I havent locked up the front. I heard thats a lay down waiting to happen. I dont know that I would chose to lay the bike down. So far being a above average aggressive rider I usually just swerve and give some gas. Not saying that it is the best thing to do, but it has worked for me.

I'm just about to complete my MSF course and am trying to decide between a GS500 and a GSXR 600... are there any major differences? I'm afraid I'm going to get bored with the GS in a year or two, and I won't be able to pay it off by then to get rid of it really.

I'm just about to complete my MSF course and am trying to decide between a GS500 and a GSXR 600... are there any major differences? I'm afraid I'm going to get bored with the GS in a year or two, and I won't be able to pay it off by then to get rid of it really.



huge difference between the GS500 and GSX-R600....you could guess which is the better bike to start on and which is better to take to the track

I'm just about to complete my MSF course and am trying to decide between a GS500 and a GSXR 600... are there any major differences? I'm afraid I'm going to get bored with the GS in a year or two, and I won't be able to pay it off by then to get rid of it really.


If you get bored on a GS as a noob, you are not pushing yourself enough. There'll always be more to learn that will continually make you faster on that bike. http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif

You want to be scared on a first bike, get a Honda CR250 dirt bike and go ride that around the desert for a while. I had one of those and that bitch would pop wheelies in 5th gear. Scary ass acceleration too and you can get a feel for how fast you probably will be going on a sport bike.

You want to be scared on a first bike, get a Honda CR250 dirt bike and go ride that around the desert for a while. I had one of those and that bitch would pop wheelies in 5th gear. Scary ass acceleration too and you can get a feel for how fast you probably will be going on a sport bike.



couldn't agree more, that's the best thing to do...a dirt bike will scare you, but a ninja 250 doesn't really sound intimidating or anything like that, thats why i think people get those and take them for granted...even though dirt bike riding and street bike riding are a lot different, dirt bike experience taught me a lot, even riding an xr200 http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif

Here's the situation... you're an American guy (kid most likely) who wants a bike and wants to look cool. You can't look cool on a "little" touring bike, you need something with flash and pizzaz that screams "Hey Joe minivan driver, look at me! I'm a bad-a$$ sport biker and I bet your jealous."

That's the problem. There's this stigma that you have to have a sport bike in order to really be considered a rider. And to quote another member on another thread in this forum "If you want to look like a girl, get a Katana". Comments like that do not help the new wannabe rider.

Then there's the peer-pressure. All your buds who've been riding since thier single digit years all have big sport bikes and you want to fit in. If you're new or slightly intimitaded by a sport bike, don't get one. You're not doing anyone (especially yourself) any good if you do.

Now everyone is different. Some people have more reasonable sense than others. That's the difference between keeping the rubber side down or in pieces all over the road.

I've been in your situation too.... new rider, wants a bike, doesn't know exactly what to get, but wants a sport bike. So, the first thing I did, I bought a helmet. A nice Arai full face. Then I signed up for the MSF course. Luckily for me, they had one Yamaha FZ250 and the rest were Honda Nighthawks. Believe it or not, none of the people there wanted the Yamaha. After passing the course and getting my motorcycle endoresement on my license the next step was to find a bike.

This is where reasonable sense comes into play (I'd say common sense, but too many people lack that). Weighing the facts: 1) I'm a new rider 2) I don't know what my limits are 3) I'm probably going to drop the bike. This tells me right away that I'm not getting brand-new. I'm not going to get a big bike. And I'm not going to spend a lot. By being patient, I found a '95 Katana 600 for $3,000. It was sporty enough, already been dropped and had enough "umph" in it so that I can get out of my own way. Well, maybe I looked liked a girl as mentioned by one member, but ego is not what's important here. Being able to wake up the next morning in my own bed and get on my own two feet by myself is what is important. After a few years and several thousand miles, my limits are in check, the bike is getting 'old' and I've dropped it twice which taught me what not to do; don't always think the stand is fully down and get off the bike to turn it around when on a steep gravel driveway.

So now I'm the proud owner of an '05 GSXR750 (Blue/Black). Two weeks old and having a blast on it.

But here's some tips for the new and not-so-new rider:
Don't tailgate. You decrease your reaction time (brakes locking) and you could lose your 'escape route'.
Don't speed. You may be a professional experienced rider, but the cage coming up the road isn't and the deer or opposum crossing the road doesn't have a clue what you are.
If your riding in a group and they decide to start acting like complete brainless morons: Bow out of the pack, take a break at a coffee shop or something. Don't let the heat of the moment cloud your judgement.

Remember, your invisible (not invincible) to the others on the road. Pay attention, use your head. 10% of the riding is physical, 90% of it is mental.

Billy "Still Alive and Kicking" Blaze

Here's the situation... you're an American guy (kid most likely) who wants a bike and wants to look cool. You can't look cool on a "little" touring bike, you need something with flash and pizzaz that screams "Hey Joe minivan driver, look at me! I'm a bad-a$$ sport biker and I bet your jealous."

That's the problem. There's this stigma that you have to have a sport bike in order to really be considered a rider. And to quote another member on another thread in this forum "If you want to look like a girl, get a Katana". Comments like that do not help the new wannabe rider.

Then there's the peer-pressure. All your buds who've been riding since thier single digit years all have big sport bikes and you want to fit in. If you're new or slightly intimitaded by a sport bike, don't get one. You're not doing anyone (especially yourself) any good if you do.

Now everyone is different. Some people have more reasonable sense than others. That's the difference between keeping the rubber side down or in pieces all over the road.

I've been in your situation too.... new rider, wants a bike, doesn't know exactly what to get, but wants a sport bike. So, the first thing I did, I bought a helmet. A nice Arai full face. Then I signed up for the MSF course. Luckily for me, they had one Yamaha FZ250 and the rest were Honda Nighthawks. Believe it or not, none of the people there wanted the Yamaha. After passing the course and getting my motorcycle endoresement on my license the next step was to find a bike.

This is where reasonable sense comes into play (I'd say common sense, but too many people lack that). Weighing the facts: 1) I'm a new rider 2) I don't know what my limits are 3) I'm probably going to drop the bike. This tells me right away that I'm not getting brand-new. I'm not going to get a big bike. And I'm not going to spend a lot. By being patient, I found a '95 Katana 600 for $3,000. It was sporty enough, already been dropped and had enough "umph" in it so that I can get out of my own way. Well, maybe I looked liked a girl as mentioned by one member, but ego is not what's important here. Being able to wake up the next morning in my own bed and get on my own two feet by myself is what is important. After a few years and several thousand miles, my limits are in check, the bike is getting 'old' and I've dropped it twice which taught me what not to do; don't always think the stand is fully down and get off the bike to turn it around when on a steep gravel driveway.

So now I'm the proud owner of an '05 GSXR750 (Blue/Black). Two weeks old and having a blast on it.

But here's some tips for the new and not-so-new rider:
Don't tailgate. You decrease your reaction time (brakes locking) and you could lose your 'escape route'.
Don't speed. You may be a professional experienced rider, but the cage coming up the road isn't and the deer or opposum crossing the road doesn't have a clue what you are.
If your riding in a group and they decide to start acting like complete brainless morons: Bow out of the pack, take a break at a coffee shop or something. Don't let the heat of the moment cloud your judgement.

Remember, your invisible (not invincible) to the others on the road. Pay attention, use your head. 10% of the riding is physical, 90% of it is mental.

Billy "Still Alive and Kicking" Blaze


Excellent first post! http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/applause.gif

Definately best for any new rider to take the MSF BEFORE deciding which bike to buy. http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif

[QUOTE]
Am I just an idiot for disagreeing with starting out on something smaller than a 600? I know my limits and I know what I feel comfortable doing. I think that its what you are comfortable with. Try out a couple of different bikes and see where you feel the best. At first I was shocked by all the power that my 2k5 gixxer 600 had, now I want more. I have a friend who started out on a 929rr and hes been riding for a few years now and hes never laid it down. Just make sure you are comfortable and dont go outside you comfort zone. Just remember everybody had to start somewhere.




http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/wtf.gif

If you think you want more power than a 600 has, then you havn't used it all. Sorry. Unless you race AMA Superbike, then you aren't USING a 600cc sportbike, you are just riding it.

-J

Here's the situation... you're an American guy (kid most likely) who wants a bike and wants to look cool. You can't look cool on a "little" touring bike, you need something with flash and pizzaz that screams "Hey Joe minivan driver, look at me! I'm a bad-a$$ sport biker and I bet your jealous."

That's the problem. There's this stigma that you have to have a sport bike in order to really be considered a rider. And to quote another member on another thread in this forum "If you want to look like a girl, get a Katana". Comments like that do not help the new wannabe rider.

Then there's the peer-pressure. All your buds who've been riding since thier single digit years all have big sport bikes and you want to fit in. If you're new or slightly intimitaded by a sport bike, don't get one. You're not doing anyone (especially yourself) any good if you do.

Now everyone is different. Some people have more reasonable sense than others. That's the difference between keeping the rubber side down or in pieces all over the road.

I've been in your situation too.... new rider, wants a bike, doesn't know exactly what to get, but wants a sport bike. So, the first thing I did, I bought a helmet. A nice Arai full face. Then I signed up for the MSF course. Luckily for me, they had one Yamaha FZ250 and the rest were Honda Nighthawks. Believe it or not, none of the people there wanted the Yamaha. After passing the course and getting my motorcycle endoresement on my license the next step was to find a bike.

This is where reasonable sense comes into play (I'd say common sense, but too many people lack that). Weighing the facts: 1) I'm a new rider 2) I don't know what my limits are 3) I'm probably going to drop the bike. This tells me right away that I'm not getting brand-new. I'm not going to get a big bike. And I'm not going to spend a lot. By being patient, I found a '95 Katana 600 for $3,000. It was sporty enough, already been dropped and had enough "umph" in it so that I can get out of my own way. Well, maybe I looked liked a girl as mentioned by one member, but ego is not what's important here. Being able to wake up the next morning in my own bed and get on my own two feet by myself is what is important. After a few years and several thousand miles, my limits are in check, the bike is getting 'old' and I've dropped it twice which taught me what not to do; don't always think the stand is fully down and get off the bike to turn it around when on a steep gravel driveway.

So now I'm the proud owner of an '05 GSXR750 (Blue/Black). Two weeks old and having a blast on it.

But here's some tips for the new and not-so-new rider:
Don't tailgate. You decrease your reaction time (brakes locking) and you could lose your 'escape route'.
Don't speed. You may be a professional experienced rider, but the cage coming up the road isn't and the deer or opposum crossing the road doesn't have a clue what you are.
If your riding in a group and they decide to start acting like complete brainless morons: Bow out of the pack, take a break at a coffee shop or something. Don't let the heat of the moment cloud your judgement.

Remember, your invisible (not invincible) to the others on the road. Pay attention, use your head. 10% of the riding is physical, 90% of it is mental.

Billy "Still Alive and Kicking" Blaze


Excellent first post! http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/applause.gif

Definately best for any new rider to take the MSF BEFORE deciding which bike to buy. http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif



+1 http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif

B.Blaze AWESOME post http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif

Wats up guys im a noob, ive been riding dirt bikes sence i was about 10. My first was an xr 80. Great learner bike! Snce then ive had several 2strokes 80-250. I bought my 1st street bike last year it was a yamaha FZ6 (fairly quick for a fat ass naked bike) it has about 17K on it now. I'm debating on buying an 02 gix750. I agree though do NOT buy a race bike for your 1st bike, thats asking for death, ALSO please do not wear flip flops and wife beaters if you ride a busa. We see a lot of that down here in TX.

Well, believe it or not, but this here is my first horse, thee all new K5 GSX-R1000. I've been ridin this motorcycle since I got it on April 7th and SOOO glad I didn't get anything else, cuz I probably would've gotten bored already or gotten seriously hurt doin wheelies and what not. Of course I did take a safety course before I got it, so don't think I'm a compete idiot yet. Its really the type of person you are. I'll be honest, I rode like a pussy for the first month until I gradually got more comfortable with it, but still I'm not COMPLETELY comfortable yet and probably won't be for awhile. All I really like to do is cruise and HAUL ASS(no wheelies here), but only at the right time of night when theres less traffic(about none) on the road. So if you can control the idiot in you then roll with a stallion, otherwise get a pony!!

Well, believe it or not, but this here is my first horse, thee all new K5 GSX-R1000. I've been ridin this motorcycle since I got it on April 7th and SOOO glad I didn't get anything else, cuz I probably would've gotten bored already or gotten seriously hurt doin wheelies and what not. Of course I did take a safety course before I got it, so don't think I'm a compete idiot yet.



http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/wtf.gif http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/wtf.gif http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/wtf.gif
When you get bored with it, feel free to go ahead and run it above 8k. http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

my first bike was an 03 gixxer 1k.

Hello, my name is Chad and I'm a speed-o-holic...

Hey guys and gals...just thought I would send out a post as a n00b to the sport biking world...

Well I have been riding dirt all of my life sense I was 10. I'm 33 now and bought my first street bike, used '00 R6, Nov 04. So far I feel very comfortable on it and breezed thru the Expert MSF (You know, the one day coruse). My entire life I was actually frightened of the stories, many of which you read here, about street/sport bikes and stayed away from them. Sense I joined the military in 1990 I actually stopped riding dirt all together and got into the Muscle car and 4x4 scene. I got bored with 4x4s, prolly cause I had a boring Jeep Cherokee, and kept with the muscle cars. I recently upgraded my '95 Mustang GT in Sep 03 picking up the 10 year anniversary SVT '03 Cobra Convertible and absolutly LOVE it. I have had my Cobra stock for the last 2 years and will be aggressively upgrading it when I get back to the states from my MIddle East deployment. Anyway...enough about my baby http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Sinse Nov, I have logged about 5k+ miles on my R6 and do a very nice job of keeping up with my GSX-R750 buddies, tho on the straight aways they leave me behind after we hit about 120mph. I can not say what mods my R6 has because I bought it used and the guy who I bought it from dropped it twice, the second time damaging the bike quite a bit. He tells me it is not stock *shrug* anymore after rebuilding the bike; a mutual friend and rider told me he was showing off doing wheelies in a parking lot and the bike shot out from between his legs and tumbled for about 50 - 70 yards. He was asking $4k for the bike and after looking at it and riding it down the street I put $3k cash in his face, which he took...I still think it was a good deal.

I do have to say that, personnaly, my fears where childish and I wish I would have bought a bike years ago. Maybe its the fact I am 33 and supposed to be more mature than the typical newb rider at 18 - 20, but the bike is tons easier to control than I was lead to believe. Even tho I am still under the 10k mile mark at street riding I feel I am ready for a faster bike; the R6 tops out at 178mph and I want 200mph for both a bike and the Cobra. Can the K6 GSX-R1K do 200mph stock? Or do I have some moding to do when I get the bike? Oh ad the Cobra is chipped at 155, stupid Ford; but I'll fix that when I get back to the states to. Now do not get me wrong, I do not take my bike or Cobra out and try to break speed records everyday, I just want the capability and to do it on the track. I am more of a dragster then a curve racer to, I LOVE speed. I never did like the curves and jumps of dirt riding. Oh yeah, adreniline junky all the way.

I am already now in the process of ordering my K6 GSX-R1K and can't wait to get back to the states to pick it up. *sigh* got to wait until Mar 06 http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Ok, my tip for n00b riders...

First thing is the mental aspect. Yes I am an adreniline junky, but I have been feeding my addiction for years. Be responsible with what ever you buy. Remember, even tho the stories you have heard about wrecks seem to always encompass one bike and just the rider; do not forget about the "innocent" people out there who are not looking for riders because they are too preoccupied with talking on the cell phone in their little cage or putting make-up on while driving down the road. Who is to say your bike isn't going to smash into little suzy walking home from school when you are out screwing off finding yourself in an uncontrollable highside. Ride aggressively, yet responsibly with whatever bike you buy. Remember your skillz, please do not over ride your skillz.

Damn look and the newb with a long post...was I rambling? LoL

Excellent thread... haven't read all the posts in it of course, but I did read the initial post and have to agree with everything the author said. A sport bike is probably too much for *most* newbies to deal with. Obviously that is not true in all cases, but for the most part, that is correct.

I'm about to get back into riding after a long hiatus, and truthfully I'm a bit nervous about it. I've been looking at classifieds for used GSX-R s for the past couple of weeks - haven't had a test ride yet because they sell before I can get to them, darn the luck.

Anyway, it's been a over a decade since I've been on a bike regularly, so I might as well be a newbie. On the other hand, the bike I learned to ride on was a two-stroke Kawasaki Mach III 500. I suspect that if I could master that ill-mannered bike, I can operate a GSX with a more linear powerband, stiffer frame, and better handling. I don't expect it will get into a head shake every time I exceed 90 mph either.

Yes it's true that there's a lot of plastic on the sport bikes. The goal as always, should be not to drop the bike and yourself onto the road.

the whole goal to riding and correct me if Im wrong, "is to not drop the bike on the pavement one and your self 2?" Is that not the premise to the two wheel contraption. Cause listen to you guys its "you gonna fall, you gonna fall, hope you have life insurance" Damn. Do me a favor everyone that wrecked there bike and wasnt doing something stupid post it here. That way we Newbs will know what to look for when riding. To you idiots that wreck while doing something stupid keep your "You going down, youre going down" chicken little rant to yourself. FCK Sakes.

the whole goal to riding and correct me if Im wrong, "is to not drop the bike on the pavement one and your self 2?" Is that not the premise to the two wheel contraption. Cause listen to you guys its "you gonna fall, you gonna fall, hope you have life insurance" Damn. Do me a favor everyone that wrecked there bike and wasnt doing something stupid post it here. That way we Newbs will know what to look for when riding. To you idiots that wreck while doing something stupid keep your "You going down, youre going down" chicken little rant to yourself. FCK Sakes.



LoL

I wonder how many people saying "don't buy a sport bike for your first" have been riding for years and don't want to be out ridden by a noob? Just for thought....

I don't think that is possible unless your father is Valentino Rossi and riding is in your blood!!! http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

i should have read this before i got my bike...........

A blanket statement that your 1st bike should not be a sportbike i think can be incorrect. I've been riding dirt bikes since i was 10. At 12 i was riding a YZ250 and at 15 a cr500( I was a really big kid). 1st time on a street bike (ZX-9) felt like i never missed a beat. However if you've never rode a motorcycle before of some type, with a decent amount of experience, well start small. We had a guy a year ago buy a R-6 left the dealership and made it about 150ft. crashed and was killed. Never rode a bike before at all.

Nice to see that this thread is still spawing a lot of debate http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I picked up a used Ducati Monster last night, and rode from LA to OC (60 ish miles).

What a hoot that bike is.

Its NOT fast - I guess it tops out at about the 120 mark, but anything over about 100 is kinda tough because of the wind blast.

It makes so many crazy sounds, the noise from the twin high-level cans sets car alarms off (oops), the 'honk' from the intake when you gas it is addictive.

Then there is the handling. Despite not being a sportsbike, it has amazing brakes, I can stoppie this thing with two fingers, and the flickability that it possesses due to the light weight, clipons, and pretty decent ground clearence (aftermarket rear shock with a height adjuster) make it one of the best bikes I have ever hooned around on.

Oh, and then there are the 'in your face' looks. As if the noise and the handling where insufficient, the dammed thing just looks mean.

I paid $4K for it, and its the best $4k I can remember spending in such a long time.

Did I mention that it costs $300 / year for full coverage ?

or that a tank of fuel (3.8gals) lasts 120 miles ?

I think that this thing is just about the ideal thing for those suffering from peer pressure - looks great / individual its fast enough to keep up (I almost ran into the back of a squidly ridden R6 on a decreasing radius bend last night) in the twisties, and it does not have an intimidationg amount of power.

Love the thing....

well said by all, what I take from all this, and correct me if i'm wrong, but you have to get used to riding what you have, dont ride beyond your abilities, and learn what you can, via riding pardners, schools, demo's etc. to improve your skills on the street. my word for the day, when it comes to these types of bikes is, respect, respect, respect!!!

As a soon to be new rider, I enjoyed your write up and such. I still plan on getting a 600 gixxer though. But first I'm taking part in classes to learn to ride it. I have friends who think the 600 is too slow, not realizing those bikes are killer fast. The number may be smaller, but it dosn't mean slow.

so I'll take a lot of what you said into mind, but I still plan to buy a new gixxer.

As a good friend told me when I was agonising about my first bike,
"you can get a sensible bike and get bored of it or get a mad bike and get used to it"!

Never did me any harm...

BTW my first bike was a 87 gixxer750, which I'm still riding....

I like that man

I just joined today and I read this post first. I bought a Gixxer 1000 today, and this is in no way my first bike. My first street bike was a Honda cmt-200, those of you not familiar with that bike, I once lost a race to a stock camaro, lol. Anyway , if I started riding on something like my new bike, I would have been dead a long time ago. I know people who started out on bigger bikes and I can ride circles around them even on a much smaller bike with less power. It does depend a lot on the person but there is no way someone should start out on a sport bike. Just look around for some video of the idiots who decide that they can ride anything. You should be afraid, very afraid of a bike with over 100 hp if you have never ridden anything bigger then your mongoose when you were 15.

Just my opinion but thought I would share

a pocket bike can make a great first bike

I purchased my first bike at age 42, yep that's kinda old to be starting out. Better yet it was a '03 KTM 125sx (talk about twitchy), wanted to go motocross with my son, always wanted to do it and it looked like so much fun, just never had the guts to do it. Practiced, and practiced and practiced on it. At age 44 I began racing mx, again with my son. And while I'm not real fast, we have a blast doing it.

Always wanted a street bike, circumstance never allowed. This spring I purchased/fulfilled a dream, '06 GSX R600. Yes, my first street bike. I have tremendous respect for this bike, actually for all bikes. Did the MSF course and have been riding it since. I would agree that it is probably not the best "beginner" bike, but with that said it is right for me. My wife would probably disagree with this, I believe she had visions of a Vespa.

Am I careful, yes, do I have fun on it, you bet. It may not be the best "first bike" for a lot of people but only you can make the call.

The fun doesn't stop when you grow old, you grow old when you stop having fun.

Buy what you want and ride within your abilities.

Later.............

Very good,imformative write up.There are so very many things to consider also. Dose the person have any riding experience at all ect. My first street bike was a 1989 Honda CBR600f1 with 89 horsepower. So I had what maybe 60 bhp? it was plenty back then for me to teach myself the ways on the cruel road and how to deal with street riding which was another animal than dirt riding which was all I did up until that point. They didn't have any MSF courses I don't think back then Like they do now or nobody took em there wasn't the computer/internet craze yet where I get all my info from now either. But all in all I did ok...lol. For somebody today to go out & buy a GSX-R600 for their first bike...hmmm I might cution them as well...if they NEVER even rode a motorcycle ever I'd tell them straight up this is not for you yet. 600's today are mad fast and have alot more horsepower than my old 476lb Hurricane did back in the day..the late 80's Vanillia Ice and Don Johnson and the beginning of the Sportbike era for America I think:scratch

I will admit that 97-98 are slow but I feel i a great learning bike.

That initial posting, although 5 years old, is still strong. Lots of good stuff in this thread for potential newbie sport bike riders. And ones, ahem, like me, who need better skills to match the bike! never mind mastering it...

1. driver's licenses are way crazy easy to get & keep in the US. the average skill level here is deplorable. :ohmy :mad
so your skill level and attention/paranoia need to be very high all the time!

2. sport bikes in recent years are indeed hard edged race bikes w/ a plate. :punk
i.e., very unforgiving. like golf clubs, the great ones are only usable by the pros, too unforgiving. i need nice forgiving clubs...

3. WHY don't the Japanese manufacturers import the 400's? or did they quit making them? i rented a cb400rr in thailand in 1999. it was wonderful. realizing that i really really needed to sell my '79 cbx :sleep :shifty ;) i looked at the 600's, but they are only a few pounds lighter than a liter... so here i am with this wonderful monster that i am seriously addicted to. and not just for speed.

so, i agree with the quote about not getting a bike you will get bored with.

however, everyone's first bike needs to be a dirt bike.
statistically, road riders who start out in the dirt are less likely to have an accident and if they do, it is less likely to be severe.

oh, yeah and the dude with 600 big miles - whoa! i road that many on the first weekend!

:cheers

The piece of "advice" that always bothered the crap out of me, has been mentioned several times in this thread, and millions of times on this board. It seems to usually be mentioned by new riders, like its an attempt to excuse themselves, and other noobs, for getting a bike that's out of their realm of control. That piece of "advice" is this:

"respect the bike and know your limits."
"the rider controls the throttle and makes it go fast, not the bike"

Hmm. Its one thing to respect the bike, but as a rider, you still need to input the motions into the bike in order to make it do anything. And how is a noob to know what level of "respect" certain bikes require? On top of that, you learn to respect the throttle, and the brakes will kick your ass, or the steering. The abilities of high performance sportbikes are just too far out of grasp of new riders.

Limits? How is a noob to know their limits? They're new!
And even if they eventually learned THEIR limits, the limits of a high performance sportbike is still way out of their control.

That leads me to the next statement, that the rider - not the bike, operates the throttle. First off, there's a lot more to riding than just operating the throttle. But when it comes to the rider controlling the throttle, that's the problem. A new rider HAS NO CONTROL of the throttle. At least not advanced control to keep the bike in their "comfort zone" or "within their limits". Its one thing to tell yourself that you're gonna respect the throttle and stay within your limits, and its another thing to be able to do it. Its an acquired skill. The whole philosophy goes straight out the window anyway since its hard to ride these bikes slow, and easy to make them go fast (in a straight line). Trying to make these bikes go slow can put you on your ass just as easily as letting them go too fast.

Start with the right bike people! There's so many reasons why. And your future as a rider is depending on it.






(yes, I copied and pasted the above reply from my reply in a different thread, but I'm the author of the reply so I can do whatever the fuck I want with it :flipoff )

If you start with slow moron ... and then you speed him up...
He becomes a fast moron...
No matter what we say... a squid will be a squid.

- Where are my friends at?????????/

- Where are my friends at?????????/
Damn! You've been looking for your friends quite a bit, on a friend finding rampage it seems.
Apparently you don't have any. :flipoff

Damn! You've been looking for your friends quite a bit, on a friend finding rampage it seems.
Apparently you don't have any. :flipoff

Oh stop flirting with me... I'm not like that...

But if you go to the Tyco R/C forum, you might find a "life partner" to keep you company.

:lol

Oh stop flirting with me... I'm not like that...

But if you go to the Tyco R/C forum, you might find a "life partner" to keep you company.

:lol
There's a forum for that? Wow. You really DO know all of the gay sites. :wacko

Peep this!

That means - kiss my Gixxer 1 thousan super duper death punch!!!!

That means - kiss my Gixxer 1 thousan super duper death punch!!!!
Ahh. I was having trouble reading the Chinese.






It actually says: "av_fan pwns joo"

Well, I guess I ought to jump in here to say that my first bike is a 750. It has always been my dream bike, so when I had an opportunity to trade my turbo car for it straight up, I knew it was the only chance I had to get rid of my car for what I was looking for, so I took it. I don't consider myself an extremist, or a moron. I just took what I could get, and ended up fullfilling my dream to a larger extent. I was planning on a 600cc bike because I was reading gixxer.com for a long time before I got my bike, and even before I registered as a member here. But in my opinon based upon my own experiences as a new rider with a larger bike, it all boils down to how that person is in maturity factor. I could have 1000, but if I respect the throttle and don't get cocky, ride within my limits, I would probably be fine for quite a while as opposed to some hot head on a 500. I admit to opening the throttle up many times to get used to it, and I can honestly say, ego aside, that its not too much power for me. I actually want more straight line power, and I'm 5'9" and 145lbs. I'm a dragger at heart. I don't even personally know anyone that rides a motorcycle besides me. So I'm not trying to man up to anything or anyone. I don't believe the hype, I just love to ride.

Maybe my views will change when I finally get with the group and go carve some canyons. Who knows what the future holds...That's great.Keep ridin'.:)

Wow!

yeah im that kid im new and i want a 600 to start out on ...i read everything but isnt there just as many people out there who never did crash on a bike as they have??? And how can a 10mph crash ruin your breaks i dont get that....i am 21 years old and feel that i would be responsible with the bike and not try wheelies the first day or nothing like that, i dont want to die, i just want to cruise around the city and live the life...feel me?? Just like yall, so i wanna know, u guys all started out somewheres, what DID you start out on....and anyone who started out on a 600 gixxer....did you regret starting at a 6, or would you do it all over again??? thanks

Good write up. Just got a 99 gixxer 600 for my first street bike and I love it. Faster than a viper?

I love this thread!
First bike: Hurricane 600. It was really fast in its day. It's not the bike, it's the discretion of the rider. However, I think that even a lot of discretion wouldn't save a newbie from a newer liter bike. One bad move and it's good night sally.

Having said, let me say this: There is nothing worse than a guy that's on the latest and greatest bike, that gets passed in the twisties by a ninja 500.
That, my friend, is embarrassing.

And by the same token, you have to respect the guys that are out railing on sv650s and interceptors. I used to ride with a guy that scraped pegs on his 02 intercepter and drafted a "fast" guy on a ZX-10 every weekend.
Go figure.

yeah im that kid im new and i want a 600 to start out on ...i read everything but isnt there just as many people out there who never did crash on a bike as they have??? And how can a 10mph crash ruin your breaks i dont get that....i am 21 years old and feel that i would be responsible with the bike and not try wheelies the first day or nothing like that, i dont want to die, i just want to cruise around the city and live the life...feel me?? Just like yall, so i wanna know, u guys all started out somewheres, what DID you start out on....and anyone who started out on a 600 gixxer....did you regret starting at a 6, or would you do it all over again??? thanks
Yeah. You're that kid.
Just looking for justification to do what you want anyway.

So it turns out you don't like what has been said so far, so you baically come right out and ask if its OK for us to help you justify being a typical "cruising, living the life, being cool" squid".

OK dude.
Squid away. :squid

<snip>There is nothing worse than a guy that's on the latest and greatest bike, that gets passed in the twisties by a ninja 500.
That, my friend, is embarrassing.
<snip>
tank, it's nice to see you getting in touch with you squidly side! :D
let's see, your description above could indeed be me, but i have access to an adrenaline rush whenever i want it that the ninjoid does not. :eek
see, i do it for fun, not worrying about looking uncool. gotcha! ;)

yeah im that kid im new and i want a 600 to start out on ...i read everything but isnt there just as many people out there who never did crash on a bike as they have???
how many times do you think people had to read your question to guess at what you were asking? probably 2 or 3. anyone out here understand his question on the first reading?

And how can a 10mph crash ruin your breaks i dont get that....
this is two sentences, one of which is a question. it's the key to the right of the period key.
don't confuse coffee breaks with motorcycle brakes.
any crash would ruin my coffee break.

i am 21 years old and feel that i would be responsible with the bike and not try wheelies the first day or nothing like that, i dont want to die, i just want to cruise around the city and live the life...feel me??

good idea. i waited until the second day to wheelie my first bike.
"not try nothing like that"! ever heard about double negatives?

Just like yall, so i wanna know, u guys all started out somewheres, what DID you start out on....and anyone who started out on a 600 gixxer....did you regret starting at a 6, or would you do it all over again??? thanks
"somewheres" :lol :wacko
"would you do it all over again?" yeah, id hammer the squid of the millennium, you! :hammer
ignorance is only embarrassing here, but on the road, it kills. you should probably get a station wagon.

^:lol

This thread rocks !
It reminds me of the 1000 forum threads "can an 18 yr old handle a 1000" and the thread goes on for 25 pages because everyone can't stop talking about it.... because there is so much to say!!!

Lets keep it going fellas!!!

(Stop following me AV) :biggrin

Hi all,
this thread does in fact rock , it rocks my head to the point of saying WTF,
my first bike a 600, I just wanna cruise around the city and live the life...feel me??
Feel you mate, how about scrape you up off the floor when you either 1. high side it on the first corner, or 2. low side it at the first junction.......

Sorry to Piss on your fieworks but if you have not had a bike before and are intent on going on the road, try, just try, going on something smaller FIRST, so you know where everything is before you loose everything..............................
AND DON'T forget it does not have to be your fault......

And yea would you rather look a bit un-cool for a while and live, or try and look cool and NOT.......Also are you actually getting protective gear or is that not cool as you wanna cruise with your shorts and t-shirt.......

Respect to Ripvanwinkle and av_fan.........

Sorry to all for jumping in on this but I'm from UK and you have to test your tests to get on anything bigger than a 50cc bike, so new to bike people, THINK ON,
we go from 50cc to 125cc - then dependant on age 400 for 2 years then freedom to 400cc plus bikes ..............So someone wanting to jump straight on a 600 is absolute suicide..... A bike that will out perform a muscle car........

I'm going for a ride as it's a sunny day today in blighty, I can't think on this subject much longer as it does not add up......no bike experiance.....600 machine.... head hurts......

Whoa, whats this about these bikes being nervous..... they ride like they're on friggin tracks, maybe get a little light under acc. and a bit of headshake if acc. hard but nervous??? no way.

I got a 07 gixxer 600 for my first bike. I learned on this bike when I left the dealership.(not really learn I have past experience on dirt bikes) Do I regret it? In some ways yes. The bike was intimidating to me, even after riding 125 and 250 dirt bikes. I was timid and the bike felt timid with me.

Lets see the brakes. Yeah stop on a dime. It doesn't take much to stop either and you better be prepared for it. And it doesn't take much to lock that rear brake up as I learned when someone pulled out in front of me and I locked it up and went down with it on my first day! Yeah I was mad but I am lucky to still be alive and thank god it only did 550 dollars of damage on one fairing the engine case and handle bar end.

The power wasn't to different to the dirt bike it felt about the same so that wasn't a big deal for me..... or so I thought until I got on the street. Dirt bike riding and street riding is different. Dirt bike riding you are on a better cushion and don't have big heavy 2k-4k vehicles and tractor trailers around you either. It is scary. I have had it now for about 3 weeks and feel more confident on it but nowhere near confident to do wheelies or anything. I have taken it up to 140 on a clear highway and I didn't feel comfortable and won't do it again for a good while.

So don't think because you have rode dirt bikes you can handle a sport bike. Night and day difference. If I could do it over again I wouldn't do anything different, this bike forced me to learn and learn fast or die. I learn fast so luckily. No one can stop you from getting a street bike for your first bike. If you do though its not only the bike you got to worry about, remember you also got to look out for people on the road also.

Nice Write up.


I have over 19 years of riding experience. I started to learn on Dirtbikes CR60,CR80,RM125. My first street bike was an AR80, then moved to an RD350. Next I moved to an 86 ninja 600 it was 89 at the time.

Start small and work your way up slowly.

Ask yourself if you would buy a Porche or a Ferrari as your first car to learn how to drive....

You Are buying one of the fastest forms of transportation on the planet.


P.S. You killing the Insurance rates for the rest of the experience Riders, by buying a new bike and crashing it.

http://www.gixxer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=142532

I currently ride a HD Ultra Classic but am looking for a FUN BIKE. Yesterday I test rode some Triumph models (Sprint & Daytona 675). felt more comfortable on the Sprint as the Daytona felt small & I seemed to have more pressure on my hands. I have yet to test ride a GSXR 1000 (which I am interested in purchasing). Any suggestions???

I currently ride a HD Ultra Classic but am looking for a FUN BIKE. Yesterday I test rode some Triumph models (Sprint & Daytona 675). felt more comfortable on the Sprint as the Daytona felt small & I seemed to have more pressure on my hands. I have yet to test ride a GSXR 1000 (which I am interested in purchasing). Any suggestions???
Hey. Its you. The sticker on my bike yesterday is what brought you here. :cheers
If the Daytona was uncomfortable for you, the GSXR will be less so.
However, being how you're a cruiser guy, you probably weren't sitting on the sportbike with the proper form.
Anyway, I wouldn't suggest the 1000 as your first SPORTbike anyway. 1000cc's may not seem like a lot when you ride cruisers, but keep in mind, the bike weighs half as much, PLUS its a high performance motorcycle engine, not the overpriced, overweight tractor engine that you're used to with your Hardly Abelson. ;) I'm not just saying that to be funny. A GSXR is no joke.

Welcome to the site! Glad ya joined.

Yep, it was ur sticker that got me here. THANKS SO MUCH!!!! :cheers
Is there any sites to show the proper sitting on a sportbike? I did ride friends bikes years ago in high school & felt comfortable then, but again that was YEARS AGO :D

Since I felt better on the Sprint, is it because I was sitting better, or the fact that the bike is bigger than the Daytona? Seeing some of the Daytona 955's this weekend, they look like I would of sat better on that model. I asked Triump if they would be coming out w/ a Daytona in the 1050 & was told "Probably not. Think there will be a bigger model."

THANKS FOR THE INPUT!!! Are you going to make it to the Superbike Races At Road America June 3rd? Taking the family up for that day.

Also, I know you guys that ride the sport bikes ride them for certain reasons & I TOTALLY RESPECT that. Bottom line is that I am looking for any and all advice for the fun bike where I will feel comfortable on them.
I'm in my late 30's and am not all about speed. I just want to have fun, as well as save gas money & cleaning time in taking my p/u truck out or my HD bagger.
Also in this, my son will be 16 in 2 years & the bike would be something he could ride in a few years (he's been riding / racing dirtbikes for 8 years now).

I ride the HD bagger because it is comfortable on a coast to coast trip while riding 2 up. Like I said, just looking for a fun bike to ride. Like all you guys, I ride cuz I enjoy to ride. And I'll ride the road w/ anybody no matter what make & model you are on.........ur all welcome to ride w/ me.........just remember if I'm on the HD, I'll C Ya Later as you'll more than likely beat me to the end of the route :p
RWP,
Shooter

For more input on the subject, you should start your own thread in The Starting Line and introduce yourself and your questions there. :thumbup

You felt more comfortable on the Sprint because its made more for comfort. That's why its a touring bike. The 675 and the 955i are SPORTBIKES, made for short trips really fast.

Check out the SV650S. You'll like the v-twin power. And its a bike that you'll be comfortable letting your son start out on in a few years, too. You don't wan't to put your son on a supersport motorcycle on the street for the first time. The SV has a more upright riding position much like the sprint.

Already finding more info in the Starting Line Threads - New Riders: R Bikes as a first bike.....
Thanks again for the info.

I had a '98 600 SRAD for my first bike... all I can say is that I was happy with my choice.

It really comes down to what a rider wants from a bike and what sort of riding they want to do IMO. I had ridden in the dirt for most of my youth on some fairly potent bikes (CR250, CanAm 400's) so I had some idea as to how bikes operate.

I knew I didn't want to go higher then a 600 R class bike for my first, as I knew that bikes larger then that get somewhat heavier and less forgiving to error. (braking easier, corners easier, and more forgiving in the throttle) I also knew I didnt want to go less then a 600 as I knew I'd get bored with the bike before even getting it broken in.

I personally think a sport bike is a good place to start (If that's the type of bike you intend on riding) and manufacturers are making it even easier to get into this sports class with the advent of the CBR250's.

I had my wife start on a Suzuki GS500F. I knew she wanted a cute little 150cc but I know our area, and we need to get on highways a lot to get from place to place... and there was no way I wanted her getting blown around on a 150 or 250. After her first season on the GS500F she was indeed happy she didn't start on something smaller, and she has since moved up to a very nice Bandit 650S ABS. (Very nice bike btw... can't beat it IMO for a casual rider)

The difference in weight plays a big part in making a decision IMO. You don't want a really light bike (that isn't too aerodynamic) if you are going to be on highways, and you don't want something so heavy that slowing down, and emergency stops require more planning.

Another big thing to consider is the seat height... you don't want a bike you got to tippy-toe on... that just asking for an embarrasing bike dumping.

Those are a few things I would say anyways... and sport bike for a first bike??? Hell ya IMO :shifty

Hi im new to the forum so im not sure if this is the right thread to ask this. I am a new rider with very little experience. My brother in law has a "07 Ninja zx6-r. This is the bike hes been teaching me on which by the way scares the hell out of me cause its so powerful. Im thinking of buying a Gixxer 600R in the spring and from what ive read these Gixxer's come with an engine management system so you could have a low performance setting as well as normal and i guess a race or high performance option. now my question is when the bike is set to the low performance do you think that it would be a more suitable bike for a newbie to ride? Also how much less power does the bike have on low level setting? Is it drastic? Like the power of a 400cc or 500cc bike? Or is low level perform as a regular 600cc streetbike while the other 2 levels are insane for like track use? Also I understand everyones point of view with noobs getting on street bikes and I appreciate your concern. But I am a very stuborn person and will most likely pick one up anyway. So any tips on riding would also be appreciated. And just to let you know I signed up for the motorcycle driver training course and the local college so hopefully that will help give me experience and more knowledge of defensive driving and what not on a motor cycle. Thanks.:confused

Well if you want to start out on a 08 600 for your first bike you might as well get it into your head that you will lay down sooner or later & that insurance is going to cost out the ass. 0 years experience (insurance companies judge that by how many years you have that M endorsement on your drivers license) + 24 yrs old = Higher chance of getting into an accident that will cost insurance $$$$ even if you haven't had any tickets. So they will charge you out the ass to compensate. Of course all this depends on where you live.

Oh and don't forget how much all the safety gear is going to cost you. Helmet, jacket with CE rated pads, back protector, proper riding boots, & gloves. Oh and the labor for motorcycles ranges from $65-85 an hour if you happened to damage your bike.

My first bike is the 07 600. If I had to do this again I probably would've started on something a lot tamer like the SV650. My opinion would be to get something tamer. If you are serious about motorcycles as a sport start on something a little tamer and work your way up. Its one of the most gratifying feelings in the world to pass up someone less experienced on a bigger bike. The trackday I went one of the female instructors was tearing up the track on SV650. She was doing better on that track than guys with 1000cc bikes.

Can you survive starting on a 600? Yeah probably, but the odds are definitely against you. I only suggest a smaller tamer bike because I wouldn't want a new rider to become a statistic.

I started on a 750. No problems at all. This bike has less power to weight than my circle track car. But it has better grip, braking, and is more mannerly all the way around. What bike you start on has alot to do with what kind of equipment you are used to. I definatly agree with joe blow that drives a civic, and doesent even know what counter steering is. NOT buying a GSXR. But really folks power is nothing you can't fix with taller gearing.

I def. feel as tho this is an excellent thread. I have owned my first bike for a year now. I purchased a 01 gsxr 750 and I have to admit, it really is alot of bike for a beginner. Most of my friends that are intrested in purchasing now all get the same quote. "Get a 600".

After a rash of posts about what bike to get as a first bike, and a lot of posts defending the reasoning behind "only a 600" or "having respect", or "too big to ride a small bike"....

Why not a GSXR/R6/ZXR/CBR/996 etc?

Well, I am not sure that the fact that these are "only 600's" means a great deal, they are seen as "slow" by newer riders, and therefore easier to master than the 1000cc versions. Many people have said that they feel a 750 would be fine.

I guess that your idea of slow, is a fair bit different to mine. My idea of slow is something that accelerates like, say, a Geo Metro, not something that accelerates faster than a Dodge Viper.

Lets face it, the modern 600 is faster than a 750 of six or seven years ago, in a straight line, up to about 130mph.......

Six years ago the 750 class was in the middle of open warefare season, the (then new) SRAD 750 was the king of the beasts, trouncing the CBR900RR, and the FZR1000 or Chunderace) and destroying everything else in its path. Not just in a straight line either, but the 96 SRAD was a marvellous corner carver.

In its day, it was brutal - it still is, wild head shakes, inadvertant wheelies, and an utterly brutal rush beyond 10K RPM.

The latest 600's whilst just as fast, are only slightly more civilised, the power is not as brutal, but there is still a huge rush, and on the dyno they are only a couple of HP short of the benchmark.

So the power of the latest 600's is amazing, there is frankly more than 99% of people can use, and more than anyone can need on the street - on the track its a different matter, but we are talking street bikes here.....

Its not just the power either, its the power delivery.

These bikes are race-bikes with lights, or at least they are very, very similar to race bikes. In order to be competative in racing, where modifications are minimal, the engines are tuned to be very "racer friendly". The throttle response beyond a few thousand revs is instant, this is great if you are on a track, but merely OK on the road. If you are heavy-handed, it can be very dangerous. The MSF course teaches you to roll on the throttle in a curve, to a newr rider, rolling on is just that, add 1/4 turn maybe ? Well with a modern sports bike 1/4 turn is FULL throttle. Rolling on on these bikes means may 1/32nd of a turn - if that.

This is not a nice trait - you have just gone from 20hp to 80hp in the blink of an eye, and you lowsided - if you are lucky- into the scenery.

So, handling is the next problem.

These bikes are race bikes with lights, this means that they are super-fast handling. In fact they are astonishingly nervous, in order to make they turn fast, they are set-up to respond to minute inputs, and this is another major issue for a new rider. A new rider will not have the subltly of input that the bike needs, rather than push the bars, you apply a slight pressure, and the bike sails into the bends, push on the bars hard, and it becomes all nervous and unsettled, and again, the new rider may be lucky to get through the bend.

Obviously this will not be a good thing - to an experienced rider these bikes feel planted, and predictable, for a new rider, they feel horrible, and your confidence takes a hit.

Ok - Brakes

Again, these bikes are similar to race bikes. One of the few places that they differ is in the braking department. The brake pads have to last a little longer than race compound ones, so they are a little less brutal than those on a racer, also they have rubber hoses, which have a little "give" in them, making it harder to lock the fronts.

But, they are still eye-poppingly good, its possible to stand any of these bikes on its nose, at really, really high speeds, assumning you are hard enough on the brakes.

Then there is the rear brake, and again this is overly efficient, all too easy to lock it, all to easy to high-side as a result of the locked brake.

Repair costs.

As they are race replica's they comer covered in expensive plastic. Each side is $600 or more. A slow-speed drop could easily cost you over $1000 just in plastic bits. Add to that the normal "consumables" and you are in the $1300 range for a 10mph spill.

Combine all of these factors, and I hope that you see why a sportsbike is not a good first bike.

It has exactly the wrong set of characteristics for a new rider to learn to ride. Its too fast, too responsive, too twitchy, too nervous, the brakes are too sharp and they cost a lot to fix.

I'm not going to tell you that you should not get one (I'm not your mother), just that you need to bear in mind that these bikes belong in the "expert class", not the "new rider" one.

Im pretty new here so im not sure how anyone may agree with my opinions.

I have sold motorcycles for about a year now and I have realised one very big thing and this is what I tell all of my customers or friends.


Get EXACTLY what you want.

If you like GSXR600's then go with the GSXR and not just because you will be happier with it. This is the question I here ALL the time. Is it too much?

Financially can you afford to start small and upgrade in 2 years? If so then feel free,

But going straight into a bigger bike is no more dangerous than getting on a small one. If you are stupid, 2 Wheels WILL KILL YOU!

Does anyone know the difference in acceleration between a 600, 750 and 1000 up to 100 mph?

The 600 will get just as fast up to 90mph as the 750, the 1000 of course being the big dog will accelerate slightly faster than both and has much more torque, it loves wheelies.

The bike should be bought for the riding you plan on using it for. Recreational? Daily Commuting? Stunting? Racing?

Here is my other opinion on the matter.

New bikes bring new technology, as mentioned before, a new 600 simply mocks a 750 from back in the day. There is very little competition between the two.

New Technology makes riding easier, which translates to SAFER riding.

Average person doesn't know the difference between lets say a 2008 R6S, and a 2008 R6.

If you have either please look away, as im not fond of either. My apologies in advance.




The 08 R6S is roughly the same techonology as a 04-05 R6, in fact if you look at them, they are the EXACT same bike.

R6S - Telescopic front forks.
Much more upright seating posture.
No Slipper Clutch.
No floating rotors.
And the braking system I dont believe is ventilated.
R6. - Inverted Front Forks
Slipper Clutch
Floating and ventilated dual front brake system.
Yamaha's new chip controlled Intake

Problem with this bike, like the R1 is the YCCI valve. Google it and see how it works. Its an amazing idea and ingenius idea. the problem with it is it completely erases you low-midrange power and gives you much more highend power. Maximum horsepower at 10,500 RPM and it redlines at 14 I believe.

Lets compare

GSXR600, has everything the R6 has minus the YCCI, it also has a MUCH more comfortable posture as Suzuki has taken an extremely aggressive Ergonomic design to their new line starting in 2006.

Maximum HP at roughly 6000 RPM with a redline at 16. Anyone who has ever raced knows the advantage is in the beginning, not the end. Who cares what accelaration you have past 90mph when the race ends at 80. Rarely have I taken my bike past 110 in a street race.

CBR600 however...

if you are looking to get a 600class bike, oh wow...

So light, maneuverability on this bike is insane. When I first took a CBR600RR out on the road, I almost dropped it in a turn because it carves so tight. Acceleration is awesome, design is comfortable, Inverted front forks, Slipper Clutch, and in 08 the 1000 is getting a traction control system.


No bike is awesome in every situation in my opinion other than the 750...


The combination of extreme acceleration plus maneuverability makes the 750 my favorite bike, which of course is why I own one.




Hope ive been some help...

-T

TBagger....are you a sleazy salesman?

A 1000 is a lot more sensitive to a twitchy throttle hand, a bum in the road, a pot hole etc.

TBagger....are you a sleazy salesman?

A 1000 is a lot more sensitive to a twitchy throttle hand, a bum in the road, a pot hole etc.

"1000 of course being the big dog will accelerate slightly faster than both and has much more torque, it loves wheelies. "

Ok a bit of an understatement, acceleration however is still relative to a 750. 1000 has MUCH more torque.

Well man u blew me away with your smart piece of advice its very true i got a piece of shit chinese bike for a grand to learn on and i can tell you from experience.. even a 250cc is tough to learn on when you've never ridin on the national roads before. i had a 20mph slide on that when i tried to turn on wet leaves (ireland is full of them!) and it hurt quite bad! Bike was ok bar bit of plastic but if i had been on my 750 gsxr i would've been pissed big time. just get a cheap piece of crap to learn how to drive the roads and perfect different riding surfaces and techniques to become the perfect racing machine.. Then get on your 750 and whip it up to 130+ and see how it feels in confidence and relative safety. Thats my advice for all the good it'll do you'll prob get a 750 first anyway! Safe ridin lads:cheers

My first bike was a 2000 GSXR 750..that i bought when i was 17 years old...everyone told me that it was to fast and i was gunna kill myself....but the fact is if you respect the bike..the bike will respect you....the 750 was a perfect mix between twisties and straight-aways...the top end was enough....now i upgraded to a 2005 GSXR 1000....now that bike is a beast and would not recommend it to the faint of heart....

It's too bad the US will never have a sensible licensing program like the EU does. The MSF guys do the best they can, which is quite good.

Fact is, the License doesn't get the respect it deserves because all you have to do is a few minutes behind a touch screen and then demonstrate you have enough sense to keep the bike up on their course. Shameful.

Someday maybe the Hiway Patrols and MSF guys will get their wishes and some real restrictions on new riders will help prevent needless deaths. A tiered system makes the License WORTH something, not just an endorsement.

There is nothing at all wrong with starting out on a 750cc bike, provided it's restricted properly, and the rider is given a few years to learn how to ride. I've only 3 years myself, and find every single ride teaches me something. "Learning" on a liter bike seems just plain stupid.

Now, someone will bash me for an opinion, but they're like assholes, we all have 'em ;)

I'm new to the website and this was the first post i read and i couldn't help but post after reading 5 pages. I am 20 in April and my buddy got a 07 GSXR 600 last year. Until 2 weeks ago Ive never been on a bike. Hardly even a dirt bike. After talking with him b4 stepping on and getting some pointers we went to a parking lot and top speed was 20 mph or so. Needless to say i didn't quite understand the steering aspects of the bike and layed it down going 5 mph over loose gravel bc my bike went straight at the end of the turn bc my shoulders were straight ahead, wheel was turned. I got right back on it and practiced some more and he let me drive it in my neighborhood last sunday. I got on it just a little more but did a whole lot better turning and braking. I know this might be a long post but i need some input. I have a Jeep wrangler and i love it, always loved the freedom of it, just like a bike and after getting on his i want to buy one. My ego is not high, my self control is great, and safety is the number one reason in my head right now on getting a gsxr 600 for my first bike. Bc of gas prices and commuting to school everyday i want to sell the wrangler and buy a bike. I have an Cherokee to drive on bad weather and when its colder. I feel very comfortable on his bike and believe that i will control myself and he is willing to let me ride more b4 i go out and buy my one. The problem i have is that i get steriod shots in my back every couple of weeks bc of a wrestling injury in high school. Since i only rode his bike for 15, 20 mins, am i going to have problems with my back? I know the sitting position is not the greatest but what other options do i have in streetbikes? i really dont want to get a cruiser. He has his cage and i used the pegs are foot rest driving around the neighborhood. But i dont know if i can handle driving 45 mins to school and the to work everyday if my back is going to be killing me. Any advice?

The proper riding form requires that you use your back muscles to remove the weight off your hands and wrists. So a race replica sport bike is probably out of the question. Being 19-20 years old insurance will rape you. You'll pay more for your insurance per month than your monthly payment on your bike. Just my 2 cents.

..blah...blah..typical noob banter...blah............Any advice?Take an MSF rider course. Don't let your dumbass friends try to teach you. Don't try to say you're concerned with safety but then in the same sentence use it as your justification to buy a 600 supersport. Then if you realize that you actually can properly operate a motorcycle after taking the MSF course, spend as much money as you possibly can on riding gear, then buy a used, non-supersport motorcycle under 600 cc's and practice correctly in a clear parking lot. Then take it to the street.

^^good advice...I have virtually no riding experience and when I went to the dealer lookin for the 08 Kawi 250, he practically laughed in my face. He asked if Ive ever ridden, "No" was my reply, but then he kept on insisting that I get a 600. For almost 10-15min he kept tryna sell me the 600, it was getting rather annoying, until I scoffed and said "im not tryna kill myself and I would rather have fun learning on a 250 than be scared as hell on the 6". I would consider an SV650 or the 500 (even tho I think the 500 is ugly), but the 250 would be a lot more kind to my wallet.

Same here! I plan on getting a 750 or 600 as a first. Really pisses me off when people tell me I'm going to kill myself. I'm not reckless and don't plan to kill myself. Also pisses me off when the salesmen are trying to tell you that your gonna kill yourself or that's to big. So annoying! We get summed up with all the stupid asses who go out new and are reckless.

Point is: you can't let people tell you what to get. And if a Salesman is attempting to force his "it's to powerful,big,etc" opinion on you; just walk out and buy it some place elsewhere.

My first bike was a 2000 GSXR 750..that i bought when i was 17 years old...everyone told me that it was to fast and i was gunna kill myself....but the fact is if you respect the bike..the bike will respect you....the 750 was a perfect mix between twisties and straight-aways...the top end was enough....now i upgraded to a 2005 GSXR 1000....now that bike is a beast and would not recommend it to the faint of heart....

wow arnt you the same dude that was trying to take the rev limiter off a 750 cuz you thought it would do 190 mph??? yep thats definitly you...where a helmet, so WHEN you drop your bike...you wont die (that way youll prove everyone wrong!)

Same here! I plan on getting a 750 or 600 as a first. Really pisses me off when people tell me I'm going to kill myself. I'm not reckless and don't plan to kill myself. Also pisses me off when the salesmen are trying to tell you that your gonna kill yourself or that's to big. So annoying! We get summed up with all the stupid asses who go out new and are reckless.

Point is: you can't let people tell you what to get. And if a Salesman is attempting to force his "it's to powerful,big,etc" opinion on you; just walk out and buy it some place elsewhere.:blink Yeah. Great attitude...if someone knows what they're talking about and wants to give you advice, you should tell them to fuck off and just go do what you want instead.:hammer

People on this site are getting smarter every day.:wacko

Same here! I plan on getting a 750 or 600 as a first. Really pisses me off when people tell me I'm going to kill myself. I'm not reckless and don't plan to kill myself. Also pisses me off when the salesmen are trying to tell you that your gonna kill yourself or that's to big. So annoying! We get summed up with all the stupid asses who go out new and are reckless.

Point is: you can't let people tell you what to get. And if a Salesman is attempting to force his "it's to powerful,big,etc" opinion on you; just walk out and buy it some place elsewhere.

Your about as bright as a 3 watt light bulb.......Aren't you the same idiot who's asking how to remove the top speed limiter on a 750?


Good Luck And here's your trophy.

After a rash of posts about what bike to get as a first bike, and a lot of posts defending the reasoning behind "only a 600" or "having respect", or "too big to ride a small bike"....

Why not a GSXR/R6/ZXR/CBR/996 etc?

Well, I am not sure that the fact that these are "only 600's" means a great deal, they are seen as "slow" by newer riders, and therefore easier to master than the 1000cc versions. Many people have said that they feel a 750 would be fine.

I guess that your idea of slow, is a fair bit different to mine. My idea of slow is something that accelerates like, say, a Geo Metro, not something that accelerates faster than a Dodge Viper.

Lets face it, the modern 600 is faster than a 750 of six or seven years ago, in a straight line, up to about 130mph.......

Six years ago the 750 class was in the middle of open warefare season, the (then new) SRAD 750 was the king of the beasts, trouncing the CBR900RR, and the FZR1000 or Chunderace) and destroying everything else in its path. Not just in a straight line either, but the 96 SRAD was a marvellous corner carver.

In its day, it was brutal - it still is, wild head shakes, inadvertant wheelies, and an utterly brutal rush beyond 10K RPM.

The latest 600's whilst just as fast, are only slightly more civilised, the power is not as brutal, but there is still a huge rush, and on the dyno they are only a couple of HP short of the benchmark.

So the power of the latest 600's is amazing, there is frankly more than 99% of people can use, and more than anyone can need on the street - on the track its a different matter, but we are talking street bikes here.....

Its not just the power either, its the power delivery.

These bikes are race-bikes with lights, or at least they are very, very similar to race bikes. In order to be competative in racing, where modifications are minimal, the engines are tuned to be very "racer friendly". The throttle response beyond a few thousand revs is instant, this is great if you are on a track, but merely OK on the road. If you are heavy-handed, it can be very dangerous. The MSF course teaches you to roll on the throttle in a curve, to a newr rider, rolling on is just that, add 1/4 turn maybe ? Well with a modern sports bike 1/4 turn is FULL throttle. Rolling on on these bikes means may 1/32nd of a turn - if that.

This is not a nice trait - you have just gone from 20hp to 80hp in the blink of an eye, and you lowsided - if you are lucky- into the scenery.

So, handling is the next problem.

These bikes are race bikes with lights, this means that they are super-fast handling. In fact they are astonishingly nervous, in order to make they turn fast, they are set-up to respond to minute inputs, and this is another major issue for a new rider. A new rider will not have the subltly of input that the bike needs, rather than push the bars, you apply a slight pressure, and the bike sails into the bends, push on the bars hard, and it becomes all nervous and unsettled, and again, the new rider may be lucky to get through the bend.

Obviously this will not be a good thing - to an experienced rider these bikes feel planted, and predictable, for a new rider, they feel horrible, and your confidence takes a hit.

Ok - Brakes

Again, these bikes are similar to race bikes. One of the few places that they differ is in the braking department. The brake pads have to last a little longer than race compound ones, so they are a little less brutal than those on a racer, also they have rubber hoses, which have a little "give" in them, making it harder to lock the fronts.

But, they are still eye-poppingly good, its possible to stand any of these bikes on its nose, at really, really high speeds, assumning you are hard enough on the brakes.

Then there is the rear brake, and again this is overly efficient, all too easy to lock it, all to easy to high-side as a result of the locked brake.

Repair costs.

As they are race replica's they comer covered in expensive plastic. Each side is $600 or more. A slow-speed drop could easily cost you over $1000 just in plastic bits. Add to that the normal "consumables" and you are in the $1300 range for a 10mph spill.

Combine all of these factors, and I hope that you see why a sportsbike is not a good first bike.

It has exactly the wrong set of characteristics for a new rider to learn to ride. Its too fast, too responsive, too twitchy, too nervous, the brakes are too sharp and they cost a lot to fix.

I'm not going to tell you that you should not get one (I'm not your mother), just that you need to bear in mind that these bikes belong in the "expert class", not the "new rider" one.

Deffinately agreed with this post!!!! Not every new rider should get a all out sportbike. My first bike, was actually a 97 750 SRAD. Boy was that bike fun to ride... :wacko I made a mistake of letting a Totally NEWB ride that bike he laid the bike down... costing more than 1800 bucks in damage... Now I have found new respect for all cc's of bikes...

:cheers

Same here! I plan on getting a 750 or 600 as a first. Really pisses me off when people tell me I'm going to kill myself. I'm not reckless and don't plan to kill myself. Also pisses me off when the salesmen are trying to tell you that your gonna kill yourself or that's to big. So annoying! We get summed up with all the stupid asses who go out new and are reckless.

Point is: you can't let people tell you what to get. And if a Salesman is attempting to force his "it's to powerful,big,etc" opinion on you; just walk out and buy it some place elsewhere.

Err... I don't think anyone ever really plans on killing themselves. That's why it is called an 'accident' in most cases.

Oh, and off topic but I also would rather do business with someone that is going to try and sell me the smaller, cheaper, bike that is considered safer for a beginner than someone who is trying to push the biggest, baddest, most expensive thing there on me so they can make more commission. A good salesperson looks out for and shows some care for his customers and understands that you make more money in the long run selling someone something smaller who tells their friends and recommends them than selling something to someone that doesn't have the sense to handle it then goes out, tries to max it out, and kills themself. Or at least that would be my view as someone that buys and sells a lot of things and has a lot of experience in sales (never bikes though).

good jrrbb on this write up

As a club level racer, I can tell you even most road riders don't utilize the capabilities or are as proficient as these machines allow.

I remember when I first got a sportbike, it took me around the corner for at least a few months... and I was not really in control of the machine until I did a number of track days... and I really didn't realize what these things can do until I raced a modified machine. (and I raced dirt bikes for 5 years before buying a road bike) It is not a comforting experience when the bike knows more than you do.

I think sportbikes make a great first bike, but when you crash accept it and get back on your horse. (and pray to god a pole is not in your way otherwise you are a gonner) ...and don't try to impress anyone becuase it won't happen.

...and you can refer to the other post "What's my wrecked bike worth" becuase you might need some money to fix your mistakes too.

doesn't matter what you choose for your first bike it's all how the rider is...someone who knows their limits and doesn't go straight to wot when they're learnin would even be fine on a litre bike....

Seriously? A new rider has no idea what his or her limits are until they test them, thats when bad shit happens because they don't have the experience to recover from the "oh shit" situation they just got themselves into. If you do have a litre bike I got dibs on your spare parts, oh and also make sure you have your donor information filled out. There are lots of dying people out there just waiting for people like you.

Well I just purchased my bike, I have an 08 gsxr 1000 and I am a NOOB rider as they say.......

Ive put about 800 miles on it so far and have yet to crash or drop it......... I believe it all comes down to the rider and how self controlled they are.........

The bike has PLENTY and I mean PLEANTYYY!!!!! of power but nothing that cant be controlled if your responsible..........

GSXR stands for Gran Sport eXperimental Racing..... yup, exactly what someone with no riding experience should jump on:rolleyes
Oh and if you watch Suzuki's commercials or see the ads for gsxrs in magazines they all state 'suzuki engineered the gsxr for experienced riders'. Wonder why they say that?
Maturity and self-control are NO substitute for experience, and those same two things won't get you out of the 'oh shit' situations which are inevitable:cheers

awesome... good read and couldnt have said better myself

awesome... good read and couldnt have said better myselfYou clearly haven't read all the replies. :banghead