who owns a Honda CBR 600? I'm pretty much set on getting one as a first bike.

[OILFIELDTRASH]

i hear ya on the kx80, I was sporting a yz 50 about 25 years ago. =)

My first street bike was a 98 katana 600 in 98, rode it out of the show room. I was bored with it in a year and a half and got 2000 GSXR 600, then 2002 gsxr 750, 2003 Ninja 636, then a 2007 Hayabusa. I don't think i could go back to a middle weight. I think i would miss the torque too much. The hayabusa rides awesome over the distance and power off idle is breathtaking.

My brother has a zx14 but i think it ries way too soft and the infamous low rpm butterfly valve issue sucks on his first year 14

You've had a nice collection of bikes over the years. Looks like you're a Suzuki guy. I might get a 750 someday.
As far as your brothers 14 I had a '07 14 with the flies issue. I actually removed the flies myself and you have to install a power commander to have the fuel/air ratio remapped due to the fact it will run extremely lean once the flies are removed. It's a simple couple hour job and I could help him if he wants to do it. Once the flies are out all the low end is there and they scream.

 

[holden j caufield]

I'm going to get the first really good deal I run into. I don't like the 2007 and older ninja 250 aesthetics, the 08 and newer good deals are few and far between in my area. If I get a cbr 600 I'm wondering if you can hook it up to a computer and put a rev limiter/governor on it the first year or so.

 

[madeuce]

Here are some statistics for the few here that like to claim they are on there side. Statistics are only as good as those who take them, but it looks like this site did a little research.

http://www.motorcycle-accidents.com/pages/stats.html

Here's a couple I thought were interesting.

7. The failure of motorists to detect and recognize motorcycles in traffic is the predominating cause of motorcycle accidents. The driver of the other vehicle involved in collision with the motorcycle did not see the motorcycle before the collision, or did not see the motorcycle until too late to avoid the collision.

15. The median pre-crash speed was 29.8 mph, and the median crash speed was 21.5 mph, and the one-in-a-thousand crash speed is approximately 86 mph.

19. Motorcycle riders between the ages of 16 and 24 are significantly over-represented in accidents; motorcycle riders between the ages of 30 and 50 are significantly under represented. Although the majority of the accident-involved motorcycle riders are male (96&#37, the female motorcycle riders are significantly over represented in the accident data.

23. More than half of the accident-involved motorcycle riders had less than 5 months experience on the accident motorcycle, although the total street riding experience was almost 3 years. Motorcycle riders with dirt bike experience are significantly under represented in the accident data.

30. The large displacement motorcycles are under represented in accidents but they are associated with higher injury severity when involved in accidents.

 

[madeuce]

I'm going to get the first really good deal I run into. I don't like the 2007 and older ninja 250 aesthetics, the 08 and newer good deals are few and far between in my area. If I get a cbr 600 I'm wondering if you can hook it up to a computer and put a rev limiter/governor on it the first year or so.

If you get the 600 just don't go nuts. It's not difficult to control the revs. Or get a CBR1000, the limiter on them keeps them under 175MPH last I heard.

If you are really worried about being bored on a 250/500 but don't want to take any chances on a supersport try a sportbike out. Smoother torque curve, not as fast.

 

[Zenmervolt]

try searching cbr 600, let me know what you find, eh?

I find this, and this, and this, and also this. I even find this thread, by the same author, without a mention of it being a first bike, which seems to indicate that this thread is more trolling than actual request for information.

Secondly, Implying I'm a newb to the internet for not knowing about your temperment... um ok?

As I said, it's hardly uncommon for someone to get annoyed responses when they post a question that's already been answered ad infinitum. Happens all the time on all sorts of forums. It's nothing unique to my own temperament.

I would like to ask you a question. What is your experience with riding a Sooooper Sport bike that makes riding one as difficult ass you are implying? Sure, if you get one above 8k they get a little silly but if one doesn't possess the self control and maturity to not abuse the power so be it.

Never said they were difficult. Said they were unforgiving. Those are two very different things.

To use my 951 as an example, the car is incredibly easy to drive fast...up to about 9/10ths. Because of that, it's very easy to get lulled by the car and get a little sloppy. When that happens and you enter a corner too hot, you've got to manage how you correct. If you take the novice route and abruptly lift throttle, you'll end up in a situation where there back end of the car is overtaking the front and you're headed for the armco. And god help you if the turbo spools when you don't intend for it to do so. At low speeds, the car's easy to drive, but it's simultaneously very unforgiving of driver error.

A supersport is similar. The same things that make them good on a track can get you into trouble easily. The easy "flickable" handling makes them more squirrely over groved pavement and grating (bad for a novice). The peaky engine that seems "tame" at low RPM has power that comes on all at once rather than gradually, so a novice with a death-grip on the throttle (common novice rider behaviour) can easily end up in the fat part of the powerband completely accidentally if he hits a pothole or reacts poorly to an unexpected event. The great brakes that can bring them down from speed so nicely also mean that when a novice incorrectly grabs a huge handful of front brake in a panic scenario he's more likely to lock it up because he's not expecting that much reserve braking power.

It's got nothing to do with a rider lacking self-control or riding like an idiot. It has to do with the bike having very little tolerance for rider error.

to me a 600 seems well enough to learn on provided the rider has the maturity and self control to handle the bike and himself. If somebody is generally a nervous wreck on the road and or a menace to society they are gonna be Goodyear food no matter what. First bike recommedations should be handed out on a case by case basis decided upon what the riders needs and his overall poise.

And I've outlined several times why this view is flat wrong. Novice errors are not the product of being, "generally a nervous wreck", nor are they the product of being, "a menace to society." Novice errors are the product of being a novice. Even the best novice is going to make mistakes and a 600cc supersport simply does not provide anywhere close to the same margin for error that a GS500 or a 250R does.

You have a very long tirade here, but you never once addressed the substantive part of my post:

A GS500 or a 250R has worlds more room for mistakes than a 600cc supersport. An honest mistake (not riding like an asshat, just a normal, novice mistake) is more likely to get him into trouble on a 600cc supersport than it is on a GS500 or a 250R.

A bad rider may indeed be a bad rider regardless of what he's riding, but a good rider will develop his skills faster if he starts on a GS500 or a 250R. Pilots don't start out in an F-16 and novice riders shouldn't start out on a 600cc supersport.

The truth of that quote doesn't change just because someone thinks they'll be "responsible" with a 600cc supersport.

ZV

 

[lavaheadache]

You've had a nice collection of bikes over the years. Looks like you're a Suzuki guy. I might get a 750 someday.
As far as your brothers 14 I had a '07 14 with the flies issue. I actually removed the flies myself and you have to install a power commander to have the fuel/air ratio remapped due to the fact it will run extremely lean once the flies are removed. It's a simple couple hour job and I could help him if he wants to do it. Once the flies are out all the low end is there and they scream.

He is anal and wouldn't even peel off the warning sticker on his tank let alone pulling off the tank. Last time i saw it he had a transformer sticker on his tail light, lost cause me thinks, lol.

Me a suzuki guy, nah. It just so happens i have had lots of them. I can be enthusiastic about any bike really. I have had my eye on a nightrod as of late.

 

[Zap]

My first bike was a Kawasaki kx80 dirt bike.

Heh, mine was a used 1980 Honda CR80 that I bought for $225 BITD. After a couple years, the trade-in value was $400 because cost of new ones shot up. :awe: I think the only time I crashed was one time going over a small hill with a single path. Unfortunately my buddy was coming up the backside, so we almost did a head-on. We both threw ourselves to our right, so we ended up side swiping. Bent one of his fork legs, bent my foot peg. Tore the front of my riding boots a bit. I was wearing those leather/metal/plastic Axo motocross boots, and I'm glad I was.

Used motorcycle... $225
Motocross boots... $200
Crashing into the only other person out in the desert for miles... $priceless

Seriously we had a good laugh about it.

When I traded it in, I got a Kawasaki KDX200. Promptly dropped it at the dealer while bringing it to the truck.

Fuzzy got a 250, just like you guys preached. Fuzzy already dropped it.

Good thing it was a cheap bike, then.

 

[Greenman]

He is anal and wouldn't even peel off the warning sticker on his tank let alone pulling off the tank. Last time i saw it he had a transformer sticker on his tail light, lost cause me thinks, lol.

Me a suzuki guy, nah. It just so happens i have had lots of them. I can be enthusiastic about any bike really. I have had my eye on a nightrod as of late.

Nightrod or Nightrod special? They are two different bikes. 08 was the last year they made the Nightrod, the special, or DX, is still in production. The 2011 models come in a few different colors now, my favorite being the yellow with ghost flames.

 

[JulesMaximus]

He is anal and wouldn't even peel off the warning sticker on his tank let alone pulling off the tank. Last time i saw it he had a transformer sticker on his tail light, lost cause me thinks, lol.

Me a suzuki guy, nah. It just so happens i have had lots of them. I can be enthusiastic about any bike really. I have had my eye on a nightrod as of late.

First thing I did was peel off all the warning labels and the giant S on my tank.

 

[lavaheadache]

First thing I did was peel off all the warning labels and the giant S on my tank.

Me too. I peeled the s's off right away

 

[holden j caufield]

Hey guys I'm seeing many guys selling track bikes for thousands less than the same model/year bike. What's wrong with a track bike other than being ridden hard? Title issue, stolen, smog issue?

 

[Zargon]

title issue.

probably salvage or not obtainable

 

[PlasmaBomb]

I'll buy it for pennies on the dollar 2 months later... People like OILFIELDTRASH's mentality are keeping my hobby cheap.

My last acquisition was an R6 that the previous owner lost an ear on.

How the hell do you loose an ear?!?

 

[Imp]

How the hell do you loose an ear?!?

Beanie helmet and concrete = road rashed (off) ear?

 

[Hail The Brain Slug]

So would a Ninja 650R Work as a decent starter bike for someone who finds the Ninja 250R uncomfortable or possibly too underpowered?

 

[halik]

Beanie helmet and concrete = road rashed (off) ear?

No helmet, slid is at 45mph or something like that. I might have been the owners buddy actually, don't remember the full story.

Before:

After:

 

[halik]

First thing I did was peel off all the warning labels and the giant S on my tank.

I put one of these on the Telefonica

 

[madeuce]

So would a Ninja 650R Work as a decent starter bike for someone who finds the Ninja 250R uncomfortable or possibly too underpowered?

I had a 650r for a season before buying my zx6r. Great bike. Very easy torque curve, has plenty of get up and go for most people. Had an Arrow slip-on exhaust and it sounded awesome too.

 

[holden j caufield]

Anybody here own or ridden a 2005 suzuki sv 650? The torque curve should be more manageable. They are definitely cheaper than cbr600s. What's the maintenance/reliability?

 

[SpatiallyAware]

Anybody here own or ridden a 2005 suzuki sv 650? The torque curve should be more manageable. They are definitely cheaper than cbr600s. What's the maintenance/reliability?

Still, IMO, not a great first bike but MUCH better than a supersport. They're dead reliable, easy to maintain, and have a huge online following of good riders that make it easy to troubleshoot problems etc.

The biggest thing with any bike is that it's not ragged out.

 

[roguerower]

pretty sure jules has or had one. From what I've read they're great bikes.

 

[mwmorph]

Starting on a SS 600 is the same as giving a Ferrari 599 to a 16 year old. SS Bikes are Hypercars on 2 wheels with worse braking and no safety features. You MIGHT not die/get injured, if you follow ATGATT but you will probably will wreck it and definitely will drop it which gets expensive on bikes with fairings.

Id you are the most responsible rider, you might be able to get away with it, but it's not a good idea. If you're under 25 and are merely good with responsibility, it's a definite bad idea.

A SV650 is an okay bike for an older, average to large rider to start on (180lb+) if you're very responsible.

I started on a GS500F and like you hear, every rider has a wreck story, so do I. I totaled my first bike and I was 20 and no one of the most responsible people I know. There's only 2 kinds of riders, those that have already dropped their bike recently and those that will drop their bike take cost and real life into account when considering a purchase.

A first bike is like your first car, it's not supposed to be sexy, it's not supposed to do a 1/4 mile in 10 seconds, it should get you around and not kill you. The best choice for a bike that's not boring is a Ninja 500R. It's not sexy, but it does 0-60 in less than 5 seconds while being docile and easy to ride. You can't have your cake and eat it too.

Too many people think of bikes as a style statement. Forget that right now, they're not. It's time to grow up, riding is not about looking cool, it's about the love of the ride. You can't look cool anyways when you're broke dicked with an inoperable bike anyways.

 

[madeuce]

Starting on a SS 600 is the same as giving a Ferrari 599 to a 16 year old. SS Bikes are Hypercars on 2 wheels with worse braking and no safety features. You MIGHT not die/get injured, if you follow ATGATT but you will probably will wreck it and definitely will drop it which gets expensive on bikes with fairings.

Id you are the most responsible rider, you might be able to get away with it, but it's not a good idea. If you're under 25 and are merely good with responsibility, it's a definite bad idea.

A SV650 is an okay bike for an older, average to large rider to start on (180lb+) if you're very responsible.

I started on a GS500F and like you hear, every rider has a wreck story, so do I. I totaled my first bike and I was 20 and no one of the most responsible people I know. There's only 2 kinds of riders, those that have already dropped their bike recently and those that will drop their bike take cost and real life into account when considering a purchase.

A first bike is like your first car, it's not supposed to be sexy, it's not supposed to do a 1/4 mile in 10 seconds, it should get you around and not kill you. The best choice for a bike that's not boring is a Ninja 500R. It's not sexy, but it does 0-60 in less than 5 seconds while being docile and easy to ride. You can't have your cake and eat it too.

Too many people think of bikes as a style statement. Forget that right now, they're not. It's time to grow up, riding is not about looking cool, it's about the love of the ride. You can't look cool anyways when you're broke dicked with an inoperable bike anyways.

People really need to stop already with this tired crap. The statistics don't agree with you. People that actually ride supersport 600s don't agree with you. Always trying to compare bikes to cars...

No safety features on an SS 600? I could have sworn mine had a steering dampener as well as a slipper clutch and fully adjustable suspension... Can't find those on a Ninja 500.

If you know how to use a clutch, you could probably start on any bike as long as you are mature.

Take the MSF.
Wear your gear.
Ride responsibly.
Watch out for other drivers.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

People really need to stop already with this tired crap. The statistics don't agree with you. People that actually ride supersport 600s don't agree with you. Always trying to compare bikes to cars...

No safety features on an SS 600? I could have sworn mine had a steering dampener as well as a slipper clutch and fully adjustable suspension... Can't find those on a Ninja 500.

If you know how to use a clutch, you could probably start on any bike as long as you are mature.

Take the MSF.
Wear your gear.
Ride responsibly.
Watch out for other drivers.

You need to stop trying to give people advice that will put them in a hospital.


Someone else said it, and they're right... You're the motorcycle equivalent of fleabag, giving stupid dangerous advice based on your incredibly narrow personal experience.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Anybody here own or ridden a 2005 suzuki sv 650? The torque curve should be more manageable. They are definitely cheaper than cbr600s. What's the maintenance/reliability?

I have one and have over 2.5 years and 13,000 miles riding on it and it wasn't my first bike either. It still makes me grin and is faster than 99% of cars on the road (0-60mph in 4.0 seconds, 11 second 1/4 mile). It is also fairly light (about the same weight as a 600cc supersport), has a very linear power delivery that builds all the way up to the 11,000rpm redline.

The bike has a bit more relaxed geometry than a supersport which makes it easy to handle and toss into a turn and it has an excellent chassis. The suspension is budget and offers no adjustability other than preload but it is easy and cheap to upgrade to a better setup.

A common mod is to swap the rear shock with the rear shock off a Kawasaki Ninja ZX6R, ZX10R or a ZX14R (I have one on my bike-picked it up on ebay for $50) and swap the entire front end off a GSXR (600, 750, or the 1000) are all easy to drop in and there are a shit ton of them on the market because of the high number of people wrecking these bikes (ebay has multiple complete front ends ALL the time for $400-600).

The bike is easy to work on and very reliable. It requires no more maintenance than any other bike and probably less than some.