Sport bikes

[4thgenowner]

Im looking at getting a crotch rocket. I would like an Suzuki GSXR750 or 600. I need help, I have no idea when it comes to bikes, thanks guys!

[nikon]

what do you want to know? a gsxr 750 is pretty powerful for a first bike, way to powerful, Ive never been a fan of the gsxr myself, but all my friends owned them whether it was a 600, 750, or 1000, I personally had an R6 and loved it. But a gsxr 600 is a good bike, start with that and move on. personally from driving both not trying to be biased but the yamaha was more comfortable and handled better. However I thing the gsxr was a little faster. not sure though. good luck. And now everyone else is gonna say nonono dont get one their dangerous...well I got hit by a navigator on mine, so y'know even being careful doesnt help...it really is a one way ticket. 2 types of riders, those that have gone down and those that will go down.

[V6Bob]

"I need help, I have no idea when it comes to bikes"

I have an idea what this will sound like to some people, but so be it. I've been riding for more years than most of you have been alive. Current bikes (6) include a Honda VTR1000. I ain't slow.

Many people want to get the fast rocketship. For a first bike that's a really dumb idea. Most people fall down during their first year, you'd like it to be less likely/catastrophic. 4 cylinder 600s (like the GSXR600 mentioned above) are 10 second machines these days, way too fast for a beginner. The temptation to open it up is generally irresistable, and you have no idea what you're doing.

I'd strongly recommend something other than a crotch rocket like a 750 cruiser or a 650 dual sport for a first bike. The KLR650 is a good choice if you're not too small for it. Decent power for the highway, flat torque curve, and the light handling single is an absolute hoot on a twisty road. Or a 750 Shadow.

But, if you're determined to get a sport bike, a Suzuki SV650 goes very fast by car standards (low 12s, 0-60 about 4) and handles great. They're very popular track/racing bikes. The smooth power curve of a twin is a lot easier to handle than a peaky four cylinder.

Take a riding course. Motorcycles are different from cars. If you don't know how to find one a dealer will.

WEAR THE GEAR. Good helmet, gloves, and jacket are a bare minimum. Many injuries are to legs so pants/boots are important. A complete riding suit is the best idea. If you don't like the cost, medical expenses are a _lot_ more.

Two guys. One on a GSXR750 in jeans and a t-shirt, the other on a SV650 in a riding suit, gloves, and helmet. Who looks like the fast rider? Who looks like a complete idiot?

[JusFlyinBy]

My buddy just joined our group as a new rider. His first bike is a 2001 GSXR 1000. He's mature and ridden dirtbikes before and respects the bike so he can handle the power. But riding dirtbikes gets all the basics done and out of the way. If you are the same way you'll be fine on a 750. But to be honest with you, you may as well go with a 600 anyway and just save the cash. The 600's are plenty fast enough. The new liter bikes are just ridiculous, pretty much rendering the top 3 gears useless. You can't use the bike to its full potential so its just a waste.

Our other new rider has a 2001 600 GSXR, and hes a total newb, and he's doing great. But once again, he respects the bike.

Anyway, are you asking for brand or year suggestions, or are you asking what to look for when you go buy one? Performance wise, the specs are so damn close you'd probably never feel the difference. So get what feels comfortable to you, and of course what looks good [img]smile.gif[/img] .

[ December 29, 2005, 09:00 PM: Message edited by: JusFlyinBy ]

[nikon]

oh by the way, my first bike was a 97' shadow 600. Wide open it topped out at 84, with me in a wierd kinda tuck on a cruiser...but I still learned alot, and especially learned how much respect you dont get. I dumped that bike once at >5mph not looking where I was going, and never did it again. luckily it was a forgiving mistake, go with the slow easy to handle bike, and if you dont like the look of the sv650 due to now fairings and such they make one that looks a little sportier, sv somethin somethin somethin, but it's still the same bike, that may be what you want to look into.

[black98V6]

I have an yamaha 1100 v-star, it's a cruiser and around town it's a great bike, more than enough power yet nimble enough (for a 600+lb cruiser). I also rode an SV650 before getting the yammie. I bought my bike used a little over a year ago for $5k it was a 2000 model with like 3700 miles or something like that on it. I will admit though I wanted something I could ride around town comfortably and get on the highway with and cruise. Well so long as I cruise around 75mph I'm good and the bike proably really has a little more power than I need around town. But in the end it really isn't well suited for either. But with bikes it's hard to get something fun around town yet you can ride all day on the highway.

Back to the SV650. That little thing had good power and handled much better than my v-star but it just wasn't for me, I wasn't comfortable at all.
I will say this first go take a course, it's good training and info and alot of fun, at least it was for me. Plus you get a cut rate on insurance. Get your license then get out there and start looking at bikes. Sit on alot of bikes, get a feel for them, ride what you can. But before you buy ANY bike ride it.

Once you have found what you want then go looking. This is a great time of year to buy a bike. There are tons of VERY low miles bikes out there that people buy for fun or a first bike, either they want to move up to something bigger or realize after a couple of years they have only put a couple thousand miles on the bike and sell it.
I would also say whatever you get save up and buy whatever you can cash. You will lay the bike down and if you do any sort of damage and don't have it fixed perfectly when you go to sell it this will devalue the bike.

I laid mine down within 2 months of buying it, went around a corner too fast and got off the road in loose pine needles of all things, well the road and a fence alongside it curved. I couldn't turn but did manage to slow down enough so that there were no injuries to me and just scratches to the bike. (had a full face helment, leather jacket, gloves, boots, and jeans on). Not to mentioned landed in the grass.

Ok that turned into some kind of rambling thing. In the end get something sensible, pay cash, take a course, and find a group of guys to ride with who do so safely, you will learn alot that way too.

[4thgenowner]

I know I don't need the power. I've ridden dirt bikes and such. My friend also recommended the R1 too. Im going to get gloves, riding suit, and a good helmet too. Im going to take a riding course too.

[Devilboy28]

An R1 for a first bike would be completely ****ing stupid. Get something cheap. WHEN you wreck it, you won't be out much money. Trade up after you have some saddle time. I had 3 bikes before I got my ZX-7RR

[CoreyCamaro]

I am a total Suzuki freak, but there is a great reason behind it. Best bike in the 600 class, best bike in the 750 class, (best in the 1000 class too if you ask me) fastest production streetbike, and cheaper than Yamahas. They have tons of racing experience and what does Yamaha have? Pretty much the worst fuel injection system put into current day Japanese bikes. Dont get me wrong, the r6 is a cool bike and the differences will be practically unnoticable to a first timer, also the r1 does have the looks but the under seat exhaust is really only worth putting up with on a Ducati (too hot). If I were you I wouldnt look for anything specific, just go on recycler.com and find a good price on a used bike and know what you are looking at (no frame dents, straight forks,ect). Thats how I ended up with a Honda and I HATE Hondas but the price was right. Only get a Honda if you have a penile reduction surgery. Aslo, stick to a 600, anything else IS completely unnecessary.

[StrtRacer98]

My first bike was a 92 honda nighhawk, 250 cc's baby!..

Then i moved to a R6 what a difference.. i had the r6 for about 3 months, and bought a used 94 yamaha yzf 1000 with alot of internals i didnt know about.. i still didnt feel completely safe , so i picked up a 2001 cbr F4i.. i had that for about a year until 2002 i bought a new cbr 954rr which i still have and have done quite a few things to it.. very fast and im completley comfortable.

but for a first bike dont get anything over a 600 for sure!

[HokieBird]

I have been pondering the idea of picking up a sport bike lately too. I have been looking at yzf 600r, older R6, cbr 600 F4i, and cbr 600rr. I went and sat on the hondas and I fit pretty well. Haven't had a chance to go sit on the yamahas yet. I heard the gxrs have a really aggresive riders position which is why I ruled them out to start with.

I say first off go sit on the bikes for a while and see how they feel. There is nothing wrong with getting a 600 they are still stupid fast. The manufacturers pretty much dumb a ton of their r&d money into the 600 class and ignore the 750s anyway.

[JusFlyinBy]

Originally posted by 4thgenowner:
My friend also recommended the R1 too.

Ehh, its really not necessary. Save the cash. For one, like Corey said, your family jewels will thank you. Thanks to the positioning of the cat, it gets HOT, not just warm. Even a short ride gets to be uncomfortable, and thats wrapped with heat tape.

Its just too much bike. Im not saying you can't handle it like everyone else, im just saying its more than necessary, so save a buck. I have no trouble keeping up with my buds in the twisties on their new liter bikes... Open road is a different story, but 170 comes fast, and thats plenty.

The suzuki's always seem to do well in the class comparisons. They've always felt the most comfortable next to the Kawi's also. They just got the fuglies... [img]tongue.gif[/img]

[ellik]

I had an FZR 600. I could keep up with the guys on the big bikes in the twisties, but they would walk me on the strait-aways. Still PLENTY fast enough (and like Bob said.... too fast if your not careful and respect it). Also, insurance will be much better for you if your a young guy on a mid-size bike.

And as someone who got clipped by a car driver, I can vouch for the importance of gear. It saved my life!!

Im looking forward to getting another bike eventually, and I wont be looking for anything more than a 600cc class bike.

[nikon]

Originally posted by ellik:


And as someone who got clipped by a car driver, I can vouch for the importance of gear. It saved my life!!

having a steel sole on my boots saved me from a broken foot, ya gear will defenatley save you alot of pain, dont ever get cocky and think that you dont need to wear it, even at slow speed road rash can get you and it hurts reallllllll bad.