My local bike shop got a trade in last week, its a '98 F3 w/ 10,500 miles. The fairings are in excellent shape and comes with brand new tires we worked some number and I got a price of $3400. This will be my first bike and I just completed the MSF course. Now I know I'm asking this in a CBR forum even better I'm asking it in an F3 forum but is an F3 too much for a beginner or is it an easier 600 to learn on? Any honest advice would be appreciated.

 

I started with an F3 (after coming from 10+ years of riding trails n such) and it was a pretty easy thing for me.
If you're completely new to it... have some throttle control and you should be ok.

However, that price is a wee bit high. I woldn't pay any more than 3k for it. You could get a pretty nice F4i for 3500. (If you have the money, do that!)
And on a side note, don't get an RR for a first bike. I have one as a second bike, and holy poop. Way too agressive for a first.

 

Thanks for the quick response. Yeah my goal is to get the bike for 3,000 out the door. I wouldn't ever consider an RR I'm barely considering this F3.
'

 

I say go for it. My first bike just 5 months ago is a 97 f3 with a power commander an other little goodies. I did not want too much as far as power is concerned and this is just right. I love it. I had never rode before and my friends who ride suggested this. The only thing I can say about the older cbrs is that custom fix up type parts are a little hard to come by. Custom wheels, headlights, other custom things you may see done to newer bikes are harder to find for older cbrs. One problem I had at a dealer here in Los Angeles is that they did not want to work on a bike that was 10 years old. I just wanted tires and they would rather not work on it and turn me away for something I thought was simple. So you may have to ask around when you need some service... Go get it!!

 

First bike...Heck YEAH! You can`t go wrong with an F3 esp.the `97 & 98` versions. I like riding my wife`s F3 Smokin Joes more than my CBR929. The F3 is WAY MORE comfortable, esp over a long ride. If truth be known, a 600 is all anyone would ever need, but being human, we enjoy more than we usually need. I got this Joes for my wife a few weeks ago for under $3000 CDN, so try to get your beast for that also; Best of luck on that F3, as they are sooooo nice!

 

Your response just got me all hyped up about possibly getting this bike.

 

started onmy f3 and still have it

 

yeh I agree with everyone else, my 98 F3 is my first bike as well, so it's well worth it.

 

F3 was my brothers bike...it's the first one i learned on.

It's powerban is nice...the ***** to the wall power is up high so you can be relatively safe beginning

 

Yeah I was told that almost all sportbike the powerband doesnt even kick in till the higher RPMs