First Bike after direct access
Discussion
I passed my DAS, bought a GSR600. After 4 months was bored, so bought a GSXR600. Have had this for a year and am already looking for alternatives.
As long as you have throttle control it makes no difference what you ride. Some bikes are just quicker than others.
Get the bike you want or youll only end up wanting it next month.
Just remember to learn throttle control and youll be fine.
As long as you have throttle control it makes no difference what you ride. Some bikes are just quicker than others.
Get the bike you want or youll only end up wanting it next month.
Just remember to learn throttle control and youll be fine.
Planter said:
I passed my DAS, bought a GSR600. After 4 months was bored, so bought a GSXR600. Have had this for a year and am already looking for alternatives.
As long as you have throttle control it makes no difference what you ride. Some bikes are just quicker than others.
Get the bike you want or youll only end up wanting it next month.
Just remember to learn throttle control and youll be fine.
Sums it up perfectly for me.As long as you have throttle control it makes no difference what you ride. Some bikes are just quicker than others.
Get the bike you want or youll only end up wanting it next month.
Just remember to learn throttle control and youll be fine.
Bought a 2002 ZX6R for a couple of grand and it was great.
I bought an inexpensive 2003 Honda CBR600F and almost a couple of months in (post August DAS) I'm very happy with it. Insane fast, beautiful handing if you want it but very forgiving / like a pussycat if you just want to build confidence. I think they are known as the most beginner friendly sports bike for a reason and beautifully Japanese Honda made. Colleagues have assumed my bike is a couple of years old, not 11 1/2.
jcelee said:
I bought an inexpensive 2003 Honda CBR600F and almost a couple of months in (post August DAS) I'm very happy with it. Insane fast, beautiful handing if you want it but very forgiving / like a pussycat if you just want to build confidence. I think they are known as the most beginner friendly sports bike for a reason and beautifully Japanese Honda made. Colleagues have assumed my bike is a couple of years old, not 11 1/2.
I'll be looking at these for my first "big" bike, you can pick up a nice CBR600F Sport model for a couple of grand. Not many bikes of that age have FI either which I want (cold mornings + carbs, no ta!).Tall_Paul said:
I'll be looking at these for my first "big" bike, you can pick up a nice CBR600F Sport model for a couple of grand. Not many bikes of that age have FI either which I want (cold mornings + carbs, no ta!).
I wouldn't worry about cold mornings and carbs, the issues are overstated to a degree. Maybe on older bikes it was harder, but I learned to ride on carbed bikes in November and December, and they never had any trouble starting. Likewise, my bike has carbs and starts no problem right down to temperatures where you'd rather not be a bike for risk of frost and ice on the roads.OP, just get the bike you want, but do an honest assessment of what you'll be doing with the bike. If it's an R6 you want, and you plan to mainly ride for fun, go for it. Bugger it, maybe just get the R6 whatever you plan to do, as if you're really set on an R6, nothing else will do. I'd rather not commute on a sports bike, but it can be done.
I got a GSX-R600 SRAD as my first bike, it didn't take me long to scratch the fairings but it was purely rider error, not the bikes fault at all. I got the usual "Oh you'll kill yourself", "Don't get a sports bike", "Don't get a bike with an "R" in the name" spiel. As said, it only goes as fast as you ask and tbh, 600s generally aren't powerful enough to wheelie inadvertently with clumsy throttle use like 1000s can, and unless there is diesel or gravel on the road you shouldn't find yourself have traction issues often.
The only thing to look out for is the riding position I think, and the steering angle. It's going to be very different from whatever you learned on - unless you learned on a sports bike of course. When I first rode my GSX-R home from the dealers, the riding position was so radically different from the CBF600s that it really surprised me. Also, the steering lock is vastly reduced over learner / commuter bikes. Combine that with the riding position, and an R6 could feel quite unwieldy compared to what you're used to. I don't think having a sports bike will make you any more at risk of an accident than any other kind of bike. Your biggest risk is rider error, if you're going to make a beginner mistake, it won't matter whether you're on an R6 or a Goldwing.
But as I say, get the bike you want, not the one you think you should get, as you'll just end up chopping and changing, dissatisfied until you get the bike you really want.
Tall_Paul said:
I'll be looking at these for my first "big" bike, you can pick up a nice CBR600F Sport model for a couple of grand. Not many bikes of that age have FI either which I want (cold mornings + carbs, no ta!).
A bike which you may have glossed over is an SV650.Depending on your age i.e. sub 24 it's an ideal starter bike and available for pennies!
Fuel injected, reliable and cheap insurance (As a 20 year old with 0 riding experience £450 TPFT)
I bought mine last November for £2500 of a suzuki dealer.
This was a 2009 plate with Full Fairings and an extremely low 7000 miles on the clock.
It keeps up with my buddies daytona to about 60-80, sure it lacks top end, 142 'indicated' but it's such a stable and easy to live with bike.
I'm in a similar position myself, something that i was told recently which makes sense to me (although others may disagree i'm sure) is power is controllable, weight isn't and you're most likely to drop a bike as a newbie when slow speed manoeuvring so just avoid anything thats on the heavier side.
Fortunately a Triumph street triple R is quite light
Fortunately a Triumph street triple R is quite light
Hi
I passed my test at the end of July, and had already purchased a CBR 600RR before this, everyone says buy something smaller and build up, but remember, it will only go as fast as you make it go! The Honda was easy to ride and I came straight of a XJ6 I did the test on onto the CBR with no problems at all. The 600's sport bikes are really easy to ride and have more performance than I would ever need!
Just a footnote to this, I now have a Fireblade, which is a incredible bike and it is as easy to ride as the 600RR, if I had the chance again, I would have started on the litre bikes and not tried to go up in steps, in my opinion, they are easier to ride than the 600's, as you can be very lazy with gears and revs, pulling in any gear at any speed!
I am not a fast knee down rider and I am obviously still learning after only 3 months riding! But if you ride within your limits, which as mine are very low, you will be OK on any size of bike.
just remember, it will only go as fast as you you let it go, just show restraint and you will be fine
I passed my test at the end of July, and had already purchased a CBR 600RR before this, everyone says buy something smaller and build up, but remember, it will only go as fast as you make it go! The Honda was easy to ride and I came straight of a XJ6 I did the test on onto the CBR with no problems at all. The 600's sport bikes are really easy to ride and have more performance than I would ever need!
Just a footnote to this, I now have a Fireblade, which is a incredible bike and it is as easy to ride as the 600RR, if I had the chance again, I would have started on the litre bikes and not tried to go up in steps, in my opinion, they are easier to ride than the 600's, as you can be very lazy with gears and revs, pulling in any gear at any speed!
I am not a fast knee down rider and I am obviously still learning after only 3 months riding! But if you ride within your limits, which as mine are very low, you will be OK on any size of bike.
just remember, it will only go as fast as you you let it go, just show restraint and you will be fine
Hi All,
Thanks for all the kind and informative replies. I am glad I asked the question as I was rather worried of being shot down or people thinking I am being foolish.
I have wanted to do this for the last 7 years and generally being quite a fast driver in a car I knew when I was younger I would be too immature to ride a bike and push the limits beyond my ability; in a car this is not so bad as you always are more secure but on a bike there is no chance.
5 years on at the age of 28 I know now that I am 100% mature enough to not take bait from someone or take the risk of going that bit "faster" if the risk is far too high or beyond my ability. It is with this mindset that I decided that yes a 600cc sports bike should be fine because as people have said its up to you how you use the "go" handle.
For me it was also about what 600cc sports bike would be good at confidence building/increasing my ability and by this I mean something that is sporty and good to drive but won't bite me if I do make a small mistake.
I guess a car example would be a ferrari 458 or an Audi R8 - General view is the audi is more forgiving and easier to drive and can even make a very average driver drive well due to the way the car is progressive/predictable and of course the tech. The Ferrari on the other hand is amazing but I do feel would require more skill to drive to the same ability as the R8.
With that being said the R6 is a fine bike and yes I do want one but only marginally more than say another sports bike like a daytona 675 or the Ninja I linked on page 1.
From the reviews and videos I have seen the R6 IS a wicked bike but many say it is twichy and you need to keep your wits about you to ride one, the Ninja or even a GSXR Suski seem to be more forgiving or compliant on the road not to mean you can close your eyes and ride them.
For me I would be happy to have a Ninja for the first bike and if I feel like a change then yeah ill get an R6 and then yeah ill swap for a daytona.
I do that with my cars right now, basically change every year as I just want to try something else.
The other point someone mentioned which I find very interesting is the weight and the width of the bike is very important and I can understand that as when I was in the yamaha dealership 3 years back I remember sitting on a R6 which I felt was just about ok for me and then sat on an R1 which felt like I was trying to get my legs round a double decker bus. Bearing in mind I had only ever done a CBT for a day on a 125cc at the time so that explains a lot.
Thanks for all your advise. If anyone else can shed more experience on an r6 or the Ninja that would help alot.
Thanks
Thanks for all the kind and informative replies. I am glad I asked the question as I was rather worried of being shot down or people thinking I am being foolish.
I have wanted to do this for the last 7 years and generally being quite a fast driver in a car I knew when I was younger I would be too immature to ride a bike and push the limits beyond my ability; in a car this is not so bad as you always are more secure but on a bike there is no chance.
5 years on at the age of 28 I know now that I am 100% mature enough to not take bait from someone or take the risk of going that bit "faster" if the risk is far too high or beyond my ability. It is with this mindset that I decided that yes a 600cc sports bike should be fine because as people have said its up to you how you use the "go" handle.
For me it was also about what 600cc sports bike would be good at confidence building/increasing my ability and by this I mean something that is sporty and good to drive but won't bite me if I do make a small mistake.
I guess a car example would be a ferrari 458 or an Audi R8 - General view is the audi is more forgiving and easier to drive and can even make a very average driver drive well due to the way the car is progressive/predictable and of course the tech. The Ferrari on the other hand is amazing but I do feel would require more skill to drive to the same ability as the R8.
With that being said the R6 is a fine bike and yes I do want one but only marginally more than say another sports bike like a daytona 675 or the Ninja I linked on page 1.
From the reviews and videos I have seen the R6 IS a wicked bike but many say it is twichy and you need to keep your wits about you to ride one, the Ninja or even a GSXR Suski seem to be more forgiving or compliant on the road not to mean you can close your eyes and ride them.
For me I would be happy to have a Ninja for the first bike and if I feel like a change then yeah ill get an R6 and then yeah ill swap for a daytona.
I do that with my cars right now, basically change every year as I just want to try something else.
The other point someone mentioned which I find very interesting is the weight and the width of the bike is very important and I can understand that as when I was in the yamaha dealership 3 years back I remember sitting on a R6 which I felt was just about ok for me and then sat on an R1 which felt like I was trying to get my legs round a double decker bus. Bearing in mind I had only ever done a CBT for a day on a 125cc at the time so that explains a lot.
Thanks for all your advise. If anyone else can shed more experience on an r6 or the Ninja that would help alot.
Thanks
TheAdWrighty said:
A bike which you may have glossed over is an SV650.
Depending on your age i.e. sub 24 it's an ideal starter bike and available for pennies!
Fuel injected, reliable and cheap insurance (As a 20 year old with 0 riding experience £450 TPFT)
I bought mine last November for £2500 of a suzuki dealer.
This was a 2009 plate with Full Fairings and an extremely low 7000 miles on the clock.
It keeps up with my buddies daytona to about 60-80, sure it lacks top end, 142 'indicated' but it's such a stable and easy to live with bike.
Yeah an SV650 is an option too, they've never really "done it" for me, but then every so often one will pass me with a decent can on and they do sound awesome Depending on your age i.e. sub 24 it's an ideal starter bike and available for pennies!
Fuel injected, reliable and cheap insurance (As a 20 year old with 0 riding experience £450 TPFT)
I bought mine last November for £2500 of a suzuki dealer.
This was a 2009 plate with Full Fairings and an extremely low 7000 miles on the clock.
It keeps up with my buddies daytona to about 60-80, sure it lacks top end, 142 'indicated' but it's such a stable and easy to live with bike.
just a little bit under powered if anything, would like something around the 80-100bhp mark. Insurance would be dead cheap for me, I think around £400 a year fully comp with no ncd (33 year old) if I remember correctly.Hello, I too have just passed my DAS, I've bought a Daytona 675 and pick it up Tuesday. I went round loads of garages looking and sitting on all the 600's, it came down to 3, the gixxer, Honda CBR600RR and the Daytona. I didn't want the CBR as a few friends have them and I didn't want to look like I was following them. The gixxer was lovely but very common, the Daytona though is simply stunning in my opinion, not many about at all and the engine is supposed to be sweet as. From what I read and understood from loads of forums and videos is that the Daytonas engine and power delivery is much smoother instead of having to rev it like mad.
I'm 38 with no NCB on a bike and Id never ridden a geared motorbike before June this year, got loads of quotes and I've gone with MCE as well at £585 a year fully cpm, yes the excess is high but I don't plan on making a claim and if it does come down to that then Ill deal with it at the time, after a year I will have more options and I will move on if I'm not happy.
I also thought the same that if I'd bought a bike in my early twenties then I think I would of ridden it like a lunatic, I've had loads of fast cars and now I drive a Volvo XC90 so the bike will be my bit of fun, Ive got a wife and two kids so don't plan on being a fool on the bike but there is a time and place for everything. Im planning on advanced lessons as well as bike safe and also a few track days (MCE cover these free)
Good luck whatever you get and ill put some pics up of mine when I eventually get it this week
I'm 38 with no NCB on a bike and Id never ridden a geared motorbike before June this year, got loads of quotes and I've gone with MCE as well at £585 a year fully cpm, yes the excess is high but I don't plan on making a claim and if it does come down to that then Ill deal with it at the time, after a year I will have more options and I will move on if I'm not happy.
I also thought the same that if I'd bought a bike in my early twenties then I think I would of ridden it like a lunatic, I've had loads of fast cars and now I drive a Volvo XC90 so the bike will be my bit of fun, Ive got a wife and two kids so don't plan on being a fool on the bike but there is a time and place for everything. Im planning on advanced lessons as well as bike safe and also a few track days (MCE cover these free)
Good luck whatever you get and ill put some pics up of mine when I eventually get it this week
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