600CC Bike advice!

[Craiglamuffin]

I passed my test last week and am picking up a Cbr600f (1999) on Sunday. I am over 6 foot and found the zx6r and gsx600 much less comfy, just from sitting on them.

I found the supersport thing hugely tempting too, and whilst the Honda is a softer option I think it still looks great in the flesh, and am ridiculously excited to have one as a first big bike.

Obviously, your preference may be different. I suppose I'm just saying there are softer sporty options that still feel very special for a first bike. :-)

[neelyp]

Mario149 said:

Interesting, is it torquier at low/med revs or at higher revs? I always understood that the STR was basically gruntier at low/med revs i.e. the engine was tweaked to develop more low end power at the expense of absolute available power at the top end - my STR was a 2012 model and the Daytona was a 2013 from memory, not sure if that makes any difference.

I'm comparing a 2012 Daytona to a 2011 Street, the Daytona engine was changed quite a bit for the 2013 model.
The Daytona the OP could get in budget is a pre facelift model with the same gearing as the Street so it would feel very similar.
I agree the Street makes a brilliant first bike, I wanted a Daytona (I was coming back to bikes after a long layoff) and the dealer pushed me in the direction of the Street and I'm glad he did, much easier to gain competence on than the Daytona which is a lot more focussed.

[crofty1984]

Perhaps consider a zzr600? Like a comfy zx6r. But not mine. Mine's st.

[bashman]

Another vote for the CBR600F, I passed my test about 2 months ago and was in the same position. Ended up with a 2012 CBR600F, had it about 8 weeks now and very pleased with it so far. Comfy, easy to ride, excellent build quality and feels sporty enough for my first bike

[WolfAir]

Hey up. I made a thread a few days ago regarding my ninja. Excellent bikes. Not the best but after you ride all 3 you some how end up with the ninja and the biggest smile.
I have the 2006 636 in black, which incidently, i was looking to sell recently because I had already done some servicing and replaced a few parts, was having some sort of charging problem but jumped it the other day and it roared like a dragon.
Im not sure now if i want to sell it. But if you were interested give me a shout

[Prof Prolapse]

bashman said:

Another vote for the CBR600F, I passed my test about 2 months ago and was in the same position. Ended up with a 2012 CBR600F, had it about 8 weeks now and very pleased with it so far. Comfy, easy to ride, excellent build quality and feels sporty enough for my first bike

It's a proper bike, they are sporty enough! There's not much on four wheels that can out accelerate them.

I think the pictures bike was based on the Hornet, so much more comfortable compared to the old CBR "F4" shape. A little less sharp, a bit more heavy, but more road focused. At least that's how I felt when I took one out.

I'd quite like one as a "do everything" third bike actually.

[Ki3r]

Do check insurance prices, I stupidly believed it was cheaper on a bike. My first year on a Yamaha XJ6 I paid £800 third party fire and theft.

Some of the quotes I was getting for my gsxr600 at 26 with three years no claims/experience were stupidly expensive as well.

[SR7492]

Thanks all, great feedback.

Some more questions:

What are running and service costs. Can you let me know if these differ from manufacture and how long are service intervals etc.

How long do the tyres last (normal riding) and are they expensive (especially the rear)

What happens if you have a puncture when out and about?

[Löyly]

Ki3r said:

Do check insurance prices, I stupidly believed it was cheaper on a bike. My first year on a Yamaha XJ6 I paid £800 third party fire and theft.

Some of the quotes I was getting for my gsxr600 at 26 with three years no claims/experience were stupidly expensive as well.

It must depend on whom you speak to or where you're keeping the bike. My mate bought a CBF600 because his insurances quotes for a GSXR were coming back in the thousands. This was about six years ago. I paid £350 or so for fully comp cover on my 955i Daytona last year with one year NCB, and less again this year. A friend in a similar position with no NCB insured a GSXR 600 for a similar amount IIRC.

[Mario149]

Loyly said:

Ki3r said:

Do check insurance prices, I stupidly believed it was cheaper on a bike. My first year on a Yamaha XJ6 I paid £800 third party fire and theft.

Some of the quotes I was getting for my gsxr600 at 26 with three years no claims/experience were stupidly expensive as well.

It must depend on whom you speak to or where you're keeping the bike. My mate bought a CBF600 because his insurances quotes for a GSXR were coming back in the thousands. This was about six years ago. I paid £350 or so for fully comp cover on my 955i Daytona last year with one year NCB, and less again this year. A friend in a similar position with no NCB insured a GSXR 600 for a similar amount IIRC.

Location is very important. Quote for my first bike (GSX650F worth about £4K) immediately after I passed my DAS in London aged 30 was £750 TPFT - when put in my old address 40 miles outside of town in Surrey as a test to see what the "London effect" was the quotes dropped to £250.

[Ki3r]

SR7492 said:

Thanks all, great feedback.

Some more questions:

What are running and service costs. Can you let me know if these differ from manufacture and how long are service intervals etc.

How long do the tyres last (normal riding) and are they expensive (especially the rear)

What happens if you have a puncture when out and about?

I have a 2003 GSXR and I believe services are every 4,000 miles. Tyres can be cheapish or expensive, depending on what you want.

My replacement was going to cost £140 for the rear until they managed to repair it. I could have got cheaper.

Not too sure how long they last, my XJ6 had tyres that lasted nearly 9,000 miles, but I am by any means quick. This was Piolet Road 3s.