Looking to purchase new sport bike (600cc) advice?

[layne151]

I am going to purchase a new 600 class sport bike in a few months and was wondering if anyone out there has any favorites or suggestions. I like the Honda F4I. I am also considering the Yamaha. I want somthing i can ride for 150 miles a day without the use of a chiropractor.

 

[RedRooster]

Dont' touch the Yamahaha, too trendy. I had one for a short period, and dumped it quickly for many reasons.
The F4i is really a nice bike, great power delivery, probably of the four Japanese manufacturers, the most street ridable.
I'm riding a GSXR1000 right now, and it's ideal, but back when I rode 600s, the Suzuki was a real racer. They always have been, sort of the slightly less refined but balls to the wall power.

For comfort though, definately go with the Kawasaki, those things are like Cadillacs on two wheels.

If I was in the market for a 600, my order of preference, for me would be:
Suzuki with Honda a close second. Yamaha third a fairly distant third with Kawasaki a close fourth.

 

[The Stigenator]

first do you have riding experience?? Cause if you dont.. then I wouldnt suggest you getting a supersport.. If you dont have experience I would suggest taking the MSF course (www.msf-usa.org) and learning the basics. That course will give you a good judge of what to expect in a bike.

 

[RegaPlanet]

I second the recommendation for a kawasaki. F4i's are sweet bikes also. One thing I will say is that it's a total waste to buy a new bike, especailly a 600 imo. I currently ride a 95 ZX9R.

 

[layne151]

Thanks for the input, I rode a Suzuki 600 last summer and it was definately more powerfull than the F4I i had also ridden. However, i found that after i rode it for an hour my back was killing me. I also did not like the way it's clutch responded, it was not friendly like the Honda's. So you like the Kawasaki, hmmm i will have to lokka t one again never actually got on one for a test drive.

 

[RedRooster]

Agreed, if you have little or no experience on a bike, definately look into an MSF course first. They can be helpful.
I was an old dirt tracker before I got mine, so it was a pretty easy jump, although that extra power will really punt you in the arse for the first time.

 

[layne151]

It is nice to know there are some riders on this site, i started a year ago and love it. Unfortunately Iowa is not a great state to ride in i usually mmet friends in Mo around St. Louis to ride.

 

[layne151]

I have not taken the MSF course, i want to take it next summer, a couple of my pals who have ridden longer than i have already taken it and highly suggest for me to attend.

 

[MajesticMoose]

I've always been curious as to how one gets into riding a motorcycle w/o a friend who has one. You can't go buy one to learn on before you get a license. Is there you should go about doing it? I know there are the driver's ed type course for motorcycles, will they teach you how to ride? How would you go about getting your license w/o a bike to drive to the DMV?

thanks,
m00se

 

[RedRooster]

You can get a learner's license, it just restricts you to in town driving and during the daytime. It's a written test.
So get that, practice for a few weeks, then go for your road test.

I hear that after taking the MSF course and getting the certificate or whatever, you get a nice break on the price of your insurance? Is that true?

 

[MajesticMoose]

so technically you don't have to take the MSF, its just a really good idea? So what i would probably want to do is get the learners license, buy a small dispacement motorcycle to learn on while talking the class, then i could drive myself to the actual license test?

thanks,
m00se

 

[RedRooster]

You got it!


*post count +1 for me *

 

[Fausto]

The Kawi is for sure the most comfy of the current crop of 600s. You might also want to look at a Yamaha YZF600 (not the R6): comfy, down on HP but more midrange than the others and MUCH cheaper. Really great all-around bike.

Iowa....ouch. We are super-spoiled down here in GA with hundreds of miles of great twisties no more than 1 hour away in the mountains. You can literally ride all day up there for a week and never do the same roads.

Fausto

 

[layne151]

Yep being in iowa sucks, the only good thing about riding up here is that if a car turns in front of you and you have to ditch there are cornfields on both sides of the road and no trees. however that barbed wire fencing leaves a nasty rash!

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

A vote for the yzf600 perhaps the Suzuki bandit 600 If you want comfy and fast, there is always a bike like mine

 

[RedRooster]

<< A vote for the yzf600 perhaps the Suzuki bandit 600 If you want comfy and fast, there is always a bike like mine >>



How long have you been riding, HayabusaRider? You must've gone through three or four bikes before stepping up to this one, surely?
This Gixxer scares me enough, I don't think I'll be moving up from this ever.

 

[StrangeRanger]

I ride a yzf600 and love it. I tried all the rest and liked the yamy best b/c of over all performance and comfort. The gsxr's were fast and tight as hell, but very uncomfy on long rides. The honda F4 is great too, but there was just something....ehh..couldn't put my finger on it. The kawasaki's were absolute dogs compared to the other three. And yes, take a riding course, they are helpful in many, many ways.
j

 

[BoberFett]

Hayabusarider

What year do you have? I was browsing the Suzuki website, they finally put up the pictures of the 2002 bikes. That new grey/silver Hayabusa is BEAUTIFUL. If I can afford it, I'd seriously consider getting one in the spring.

Of course I'd keep my Intruder. I've found that all that chrome sends women into a frenzy.

Here's the new Hayabusa, for those who want pics.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Damn, well I guess I have to fess up. 44 here and have been riding for 30 of those years. The bike is really easy to ride, you just have to adjust your thinking and reflexs to fit the throttle response. Truth be told a Gixxer or R1 is faster in the corners, but I eat them anywhere else. I like this bike because I can ride to the twisties is Vermont or New Hampshire from my Boston home and be ready to roll. A lot of the R1 crowd wants to get off and have a few cold ones till their back feels better. Now the R! or a Duck or anything of that type are fine bikes. but as I take 400 to 600 mile rides, I can't get into the pain.


PS its a 99 black/gray

 

[Fausto]

Have you seen the new turbo Suzuki with the Hayabusa motor? Linkage.

They're saying 200-ish HP should it ever actually see production!! F*ck me!! That's more than my freaking car makes!

Fausto

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Here's radical for you Linky

 

[Fausto]

I don't see the clamps to keep the rider from being violently flung off the back of that thing upon cracking open the throttle.

I had a chance to ride a turbo-ed and ram-aired Blackbird a few years back....was interesting to watch the needle sweep past 140 just as fast as it swept by 40. That was about as close to being shot out of a cannon as I'd ever like to get....

Fausto

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

If you want something comfy and responsive I suggest the Suzuki katana 600 like this

I've got a yellow one. Hopefully I can change out the fairing from the 2002 version

 

[Fausto]

Man, Katanas are indeed nice bikes for the money, but Suzuki should string up whoever designed the latest bodywork for those things. Especially that "grasshopper-taking-a-dump" tail light. Echh.

Fausto

 

[SirFshAlot]

I'm still partial to the Gixxer's