[vrecksler]

A couple of my buddies from high school recently got in contact with me to get my advice on motorcycles. They recently got their learner's and are looking to buy a bike, and are interested in picking up a 600.

I know most people say buy a beater like an EX500, Hawk or one of those other great starter bikes. I started on an F2 and with the BCSC course I had no real problems. But I do not want to give bad advice and then have them hurt themselves.

So far I said buy used because the chances are you are going to drop it at least once. I mentioned the normal 600's, except Sukuzi--mainly because their dependability seems a little suspect from what I have heard.

I told them to check out this site, because the more different opinions they can gather, the better informed they will be. So I hope they will check us out and ask a lot of questions, so you experienced guys can help them out too.

 

[FastMickey]

tell them to take the course for sure, that way they will have a better idea of how they ride, and maybe they can ask the instructors for more "professional" unbiased advice.

 

[LimitedEdition]

Take the course and get a USED 600 ... thats what I did and many other people who didn't want a 250 starter bike. I kinda regret it because now I have no way of safely feeling what it feels like to take a bike to its LIMITS.

I'd say you can ride around safely on a 600 after a riding course.

 

[KatRider]

I agree with FastMickey. They should definitely take the course. They will start out with good habits and be better prepared for sharing the road with "the cage people".

Also, they should make sure that they get good riding gear. It frightens me when I see what some people wear when they are riding. :eek

 

[Quasi]

My 90 FZR 600 will more then likely be for sale end of May or early June, right now its got 41k on it probably put on another 2k by May since I'm only a fair weather rider. It's got an Older Yoshimura Slipon, jet kit, K&N and the chain and I'm pretty sure the sprocket have been changed.

 

[CBR600F2]

Also, they should make sure that they get good riding gear. It frightens me when I see what some people wear when they are riding. :eek

I knwo what youre sayin..... I was down at White Rock on Sunday and I saw a guy on an Yellow something.. I think it was a Gixxer or a Ninja... and all the dude was wearing was a white t-shirt.... is this wasnt stoopid enough, the same guy had a chick in the back seat... WHAT A DUMBASS!!!

Anyways... back to the topic... I agree... go through one of the courses... it only takes a weekend.... they learn all the basics, the reality of the danger involved in riding and all that... and plus this will be a favour to the rest of us cuz there not only be MROE RIDERS on the road but MORE SMARTER RIDERS....

And I do advice a 600, I have an F2 right now, I just finished a course and before that I had a 250 Ninja to learn on... those are fun.

 

[atomlowe]

I'd try to talk them into a course for sure. The instructors do this for a living and know how to get their point across. We could spend all the time in the world showing them how to go through cones but thats not all there is to learn. As "simple" as your classroom lecture seemed when you took the course, there was alot of info there. I personally wouldn't feel comfortable "instructing" anyone. I know that I'd probably forget something pretty important.

As for bikes, if they are set on getting into the 600's, I really don't see any problem with the F2's, FZR600, GS500, Katana, ZX6. If they've got their minds set on 600's try talking them into ones that are less then perfect. The cost is lower and the care factor isn't there like having something new. If you drop it, nothing major. They have to remember that anything on two wheels has the ability to bite you and spit you out regardless of cc's. If you don't treat it with respect it'll hurt ya.

They have to look at the money factor for the first year as well. If they sacrafice and buy an older used bike, they could then afford the course and proper riding gear. Learn on this bike and possibly sell it the following season.

just my .02


atom

 

[CG]

if they are short on cash and can't afford to upgrade for awhile but want a newer 600, then tell them to take the beater route. Buy a cheap bike, $600-$1000 bucks, LEARN HOW TO RIDE FIRST ON IT.... then once you can handle a motorcycle on the streets safely and takin a motorcycle course, flip the bike for the same price you paid for it or more, and go out and buy a new 600....

I had a choice of either wait and get a new 600 or buy a older 600 like a F2 or F3.... I choose to wait and learned how to ride on a $600 dollar beater.... then took the BCSC course and went out and bought a 2k1 gixxer 600, then sold the beater for the same price I paid for it....

 

[Bluestone]

whatever they decide to buy and do, no one but themselves can be blamed for anything they end up doing, be it good or bad. So all you can really do is strongly recommend taking a course and they will learn and decide from there. Letting them try your bike in a parking lot might scare them off of getting a 600 as a starter bike, or maybe letting them ride on the back too.
I started with a 250 and i was able to do much more within my abilities than if i had bought a 600. The difference in weight and power deffinately saved my butt several times!
One of the concerns new buyers have is that a 250 generally is going to be a standard bike while what they want is a sport bike, even if it just to learn on, we all have to admit the appeal of looking cool on a sportbike! I went with a newer model 250Ninja which has the best of both worlds.

 

[vrecksler]

Letting them try your bike in a parking lot might scare them off of getting a 600 as a starter bike, or maybe letting them ride on the back too.

A good idea, but I traded the 600 in 3 years ago when I upgraded myself, and there is no way in hell that I will let them try my 929! They only have their learner's so they have not ridden anything just yet.

I rode that 600 before my course, and I remember how I was at the mercy of the bike, I never felt in control. After the course, it still did not handle as easily as the bikes used by BCSC, but I gradually learned to adapt the skills I learned to my 600, and it served me well.

Thanks for all the input everyone, they are smart guys and I am confident they will make the right decisions.

 

[FastMickey]

whatever they decide to buy and do, no one but themselves can be blamed for anything they end up doing, be it good or bad. So all you can really do is strongly recommend taking a course and they will learn and decide from there. Letting them try your bike in a parking lot might scare them off of getting a 600 as a starter bike, or maybe letting them ride on the back too.
I started with a 250 and i was able to do much more within my abilities than if i had bought a 600. The difference in weight and power deffinately saved my butt several times!
One of the concerns new buyers have is that a 250 generally is going to be a standard bike while what they want is a sport bike, even if it just to learn on, we all have to admit the appeal of looking cool on a sportbike! I went with a newer model 250Ninja which has the best of both worlds.

But you just had to go and get the Ninja 6R !!!!!!

 

[Human]

they have to take a course....just beat it throu their brains....without which, just send them toombstone for xmas....

in terms of decent 600 cc bikes buy used ofcourse....also what are they interested in ? cruisers ? sportbikes ? street bikes? dual purpose ? cheap ? got money up the wazoo ?

Suzuki, ummmm in my opinion the ones listed below I haven't heard anything bad all praise..... the Kawi 125 is a real hoot of a bike.....but I also like the Duc. 620i and the bandits are legendary especially in Europe.... and the GS500E I was going to buy hat bike at first, VALUE FOR MONEY PLAIN AND SIMPLE...people race the damn air cooled parallel twin GS, though the EX is better performance wise it is also more expensive a wee bit and I don't like that 1/2 fairing look, the GS has that cafe racer & don't fuck around with moi kinda attitude....


Kawasaki 125 Eliminator
Kawasaki 250 Ninja EX
Kawasaki 500 Ninja EX
Kawasaki ZX6
Kawasaki ZX600R (1988-1997) (my first bike 1995 ZX600R C8)
Kawasaki KLR 650

Suzuki 600 bandit
Suzuki SV650
Suzuki GS500E
Suzuki 600 Katyana

Yamaha YZF600

Honda CBR F2/F3 ??

Ducati monster 600
Ducati monster 620i

BMW F650
BMW F650CS
BMW F650GS
BMW F650ST


I dunno can't think of any more 600s....

 

[dknite]

Well everyone in here is pretty much on the same wavelength but ill throw in my .02 as well,.. First all definatly take the course,.. if they are limited on money tell them to buy a bike that is $600 cheaper so they can pay for the course,.. thats no1 i think.. and second as far as bikes go,. i have looked at, at LEAST a dozon bikes over the past 2 weeks cause my GF is wanting to get into it,.. as far as good learner bikes pricewise my GF only wants to spend $2,000-$2500 and the best bikes i have seen so far for starters in decent shape are the old honda 600 huricanes,.. (older CBR's) i have looked at 5 or 6 ex500 and ex250 and no offence to the kawi guys but all of them needed LOTS of work,.. so i would be weary of those ones,..

 

[James]

My suggestion is an early 80s 550 Nighthawk, they have decent (about 55) horsepower, they are almost bullet proof, they are also dirt cheap to maintain with shaft drive and hydraulicly adjusted valves.

 

[Jamie A]

watch your mouth about the kawi shit, or youll find that your brakes wont work all of a sudden! those bikes need repairs because the owners were morons, am i wrong?





just kidding!

 

[R1 GIRL]

DUDES!!!

Man you guys are wussies!!! Brad, which friends from high school want to ride? Anybody I might know? (Brad and I went to junior high school together).

My first bike was my F3. $6,500. Okay bike for me to start on, enough power to keep up with everyone else (which is important because riding isn't fun when you're left behind as my roommate can attest to, she rides a FZR400) and not too much power that I felt intimidated. I rode my F3 with instructions from a friend around the block for 2 hours before taking my course. I even grabbed the throttle really hard once (on purpose, kinda) and I almost let go of the handlebars because it took off so fast, heh, but it sure was fun. I even took my road test on my F3 instead of the bike Action loaned me for the course because I felt more comfortable on my own bike. Anyhow... enough about the F3, I would recommend the R6 as a first bike for anyone. This bike is newer (I think they stated in 98?) and more reliable. This bike stops on a dime and it moves if you even just will it to in your head when you're cornering, okay, maybe not quite, but I swear that is the case. Tee hee!!!

My two cents are totally different than everyone elses. I would say buy a newer bike, but not brand new, and keep that for a few years. If you buy a cheap bike for the first year or two you have to go through the hassle of selling it later, buy a good 600 to start off with you should be good for a few years and can really get to know your bike well. The R6 was PERFECT, new rider or experienced rider, I only sold it because I wanted the ego boost of owning an R1. My girlfriend Michelle had (and still has) a R6 as her first bike, think this is her third year or so. She loves it. I love it, BUY A R6 GUYS!!!!!!!