I wouldn't worry too much about being stuck in the back... unless your friends ride at some really high speeds and do alot ofhighway (read boring) riding. In that case probably not the best situation to be starting in as a street rider, its just asking for trouble.

I ride with a variety of riders on cruisers, all size sportbikes and even a guy on a 650 single dual-sportbeemer. One of the fastest was the guy on the BMW in the twisties, he shocked us all with his ex-dirt comp skills and 30 years of riding experience powersliding around corners faster than the knee draggers. The slowest? an ex-cruiser rider who got a 1kRR as his first sportbike against our advice(already dropped it and stuck the clutch lever through the side fairing). Its really like 80%or morerider and 20% or less bike on the twisties. Check out some of the speeds my friend carries on his 750 cruiser. Going fast in a straight line... anyone with bigger ***** than brainscan do it, butstopping, turning, and avoiding the left turning blue-hair or whateverat those speedsis whatgets people killed. Terminal velocity is only 120mph so once you approach that just imagine jumping out of an airplane without a parachute if anything goes wrong.

As far as the shifting, it all depends on how you want to ride. You can short shift all the way to sixth or wind the hell out of each gear, depending on the situation. Now it probably wouldn't be a good idea to run flat outredlining the gears on public roads on a 1000 unless you have a death-wish, but a 600 will build speed damn near as fast if you are riding underlike 130mph, it just requires a bit more reliance on the powerband.

As a beginning street rider I would strongly recommend the 600 over the 1000, and would even suggest looking into a 650 twin which is generally "just right" for someone with dirt experience. Also don't worry about keeping up with your friends yet, you probablywon't for a while and big power just makes for more danger and more pressure trying. Chances are unless your friends are expert riders or just generally insane it wont make much of a difference if you ride a 650 twin or a ZX-14 except the danger to you. Anythingless powerfulthan a 650 twin though and I would worry about keeping up.

I have seenfriends gamble on blind corners, etc., trying to keep up with the group and by pure luck and luck alonea good (but risky) ridernarrowly missed a head-on collision with a bus last weekend. If the cager in our lane didn't slam on the brakes and swerve to the right giving him room on the centerline he would probably be dead. That is the kind of situation the pressure of staying with the group creates. Add on to that trying to ride above your limits to keep up on a bike that wants you to ride it at deadly speeds and it takes a VERY mature rider not to give in to the pressure.

Not trying to sound preachy thats just concern for a fellow rider. It's not a matter of whether you cancontrol the bike, its whether you can control your ego and your mind. Themore powerful the bike, and the less street experience someone has the harder that is.

 

How could you figure that out in a mall parking lot? Sorry, but had to ask, doesn't seem possible to really understand the power of a sportbike of any size in those conditions. My bike doesn't even hitthe powerbandin 1st until I'm breaking the law unless I'm on the clutch.

 

pick up the 600RR it will make a better track bike when you are done riding street or take a track day too. awesome fun.

 

Might be best to test ride both if you can.

 

I just switched form a 600 to a 1000 abput 8 weeks ago. The biggest difference in my opinion is the torque and broad range of power throughout the whole rpm band. 1000 has power on tap throughout the whole range, 600 doesnt really kick in until it is revved a little. there is more shifting to do with a 600 as well, up and down. I was scared of the 1000 untilo i rode, and while it may be stronger, I was expecting a monster and it just wasn't that big of a deal to be honest. Also if you weigh more than 200lbs, go for the 1000 for sure.

 

my advice 600 for stunts and novice riders
1000 for speed freaks but if you buy a 600
youll want a 1000