Would a CBR 600 be too much for a first bike? I've ridden a dirt bike and I ride an ATV. I'd like to think that I wouldn't get on it and ride like a maniac....just starting out!

 

Well the general safe mentality is that no 600cc bike is a good bike for someone new to street riding. Riding on the street is almost completely different from riding on dirt / off road. Add to that to get a similar experience with traffic in the dirt, you'd have to essentially ride through a stampede of deer

That said, it can be done. The 600cc bike will be less tolerant of mistakes than a smaller bike. Some mistakes made on a 250cc bike will have you muttering to yourself in your helmet about how you screwed that up, like throttle control. The same mistake on a 600cc bike might give you an experience that causes your butt to pucker, like throttle control. You will learn slower on a 600cc bike than a 250cc bike. The intimidation factor of the larger bike will make you overly-cautious in some situations, like leaning confidently.

But it can be done and has been done repeatedly. Here in the US, there's a marked lack of 250cc sportbikes so many wanting one are "kinda" forced onto a 600cc. "Kinda" usually meaning our ego can't take being seen on a toy. Starting on an older bike is the wisest course. The differences between a 1995 CBR600 F3 and a 2006 CBR600 F4i are almost night and day. I know because I have both. Without the experience on the F3, I'd have gone down more than once. And I did have street experience from long ago.

Hope that helps

 

i learned on a dirt bike and rode it for about.. half a day. then rode my friends 250cc ninja for about a full day then rode my friends 1000cc superhawk for about 10 mins. and thats all the experience i've had before i bought my 97 f3 haha so far so good

 

Riding any size bike regardless, ride it with contempt & it will come back to bite you on the ****.

 

Im currently riding my 95 cbr f3. Its my first bike and love it to death. Only came off once and thats was because I took my eyes off the road. Like everyone says as long as your not a idiot with it you'll be fine on a 600. Give it the respect it deserves and gentle on the throttle to start with because they do have the power to flip you right over.

Happy Riding!

 

My 97 F3 was my first bike. It was also the second motorcycle Ive ever been on, the first was a 450 dirt bike.

Ive found this bike to be pretty forgiving. I was on a ride with a few guys on all different bikes. I was following a Ducatti Streetfighter (beautiful bike), I was about a bike and a half distance behind him when some broken pavement caused his front to start to slide out, he almost low sided. His feet came off the pegs, and he drifted half a lane before he caught traction. My bike shuttered a tad, I leaned in and got off the broken pavement very easily.

I would say an F2/F3 would be an ok first bike, as long as you know that it can, and will, hurt you if you mess up.

I agree that a 250 would be best, but if I could do it over again I would have gone with the F3 again.

 

you'll be fine. I just got my first bike last week (CBR600f4i). It is a perfect bike to start on. Easy to ride with more then enough power.