My first bike was a Kawasaki Ninja EX650 but I only rode it for a month and 800 miles before I traded up to my new CBR600RR. My roommate decided he wanted to ride and always loved my ninja and said he'd take the bike off my hands when I wanted to trade up so I'm like **** here ya go, threw him the keys and went and bought the bike I originally wanted.

I know I'm new to the whole world of two wheels but I've put 300 miles on my new CBR already and I dont feel like its too much bike for me. It's all about respecting the bike and knowing it can kill you and your self control. If you buy this bike as your first, you have to know your limits as a rider and never do anything that will put your life in danger. I've done this myself and I've never once had a "OH ****!" type of situation happen. I have yet to use all the power this bike has to offer, and I wont because I understand I'm a new rider and probably not ready for it. If you truly want this bike as your first, you need to think long and hard if you have enough self control and respect for the bike. If you don't then you should pick up something slower that won't give you the "urge" to go do something stupid.

I've seen way too many wrecks and horror stories about motorcyclists to go out and do something stupid on my CBR and I think thats whats keeps me in the state of mind that I am with this bike. Anyways, good luck on whatever you do, just be safe and be careful. And if you do decide to get the 600RR please respect the bike and know your limitations and just plain be safe and careful, nobody wants to see you as a headline in the next newspaper.

-Dave

 

Wow, the responses here are pretty funny. Anybody and everybody knows that when you start riding that you can learn on anything, including a 1000rr if you wanted. But you have to keep in mind that these bikes are built for the track from the factory! THE BIKE DOESNT KNOW YOUR NEW! So naturally its gonna react to how you react and its gonna go where you tell it to. Anybdoy can hit the throttle and brakes, its when you get into those ****ty situations is where your experience and the bikes ability will either kick the **** outta ya or its gonna give ya that 2nd chance. I had an f4i before this and the throttle on it was forgiving. No sense in having a fast bike if your always gonna live in fear of its potential.

Respecting the bike is fine for daily riding, but wait till you hit a rock or a pothole and a potent 600rr will throw your rpms up 7k with a minor flick of the wrist.

 

Thanks for all of the suggestions, this is a great site! I think I'm gonna go with the 2003 f4i, or RR. I haven't sat on an f4i yet, but I love the appearance of the RR, so we'll see.

 

I bought my 03 rr because the deal kind of fell upon me, not my first choice for a purchase. Im not new to bikes, but very new to ownership. I have read hours upon hours of reviews for this as well as reading forums, I suggest you do the same. Like has already been touched on, these bikes are said to be unforgiving, track built, wicked little machines. To tell the truth, I was excited out of my mind to get on the road and get ripping, and thats why I havent yet. I havent made it more than 650 ft from the garage. granted i have built and torn it apart a ton of times in the last week, part of the reason I havent hit the open road yet,but just from screwing around in front of the house, I see how somebody new could very easily get outta wack on one. I have a buddy that owns an f4i, and is completely happy with it after 25k miles and the bike is pretty damn comfortable. Definitly a better starter bike, and still fast enough to do something stupid on.

 

Get the f4i, youll be much better off.


Here is TODAY's story on why to go with a forgiving bike when new to riding. So we were taking some frontage roads today and i had my 06 and my buddy (new to riding) has an 04 600rr because he thinks "omg it looks kewl so i want ti" well today that kicked his *** big time. We took some sweeping turns and well he was going about 10mph, hit the throttle (and of course the unforgiving throttle on our bikes) made the back tire kick out and he went down, scraped the whole side of the fairing, broke the handlbar end and scrated up a ton of other stuff....now had he had a forgiving throttle that tire wouldnt have been given as much power as it was

 

I call BS on this, maybe you should have been a better friend and said keep the bike out of the power band, like one gear higher than you think.
As I was riding today I was thinking Honda is a company that prides itself on Safety, why cant they make the bike were you can program the rev limiter.
So for a new rider set it around 7k, that way when the bike starts coming on, it will hit the limiter. Kinda the same thing Suzuki is doing with the new GSXR 1k.


Lets get real here people, they way everyone talks this bike is a rocket, no it isnt. Jump on a CBR 1000RR, and you will see we are riding a very tame bike. That requires you to really work it to get the power.


Todd

 

Im with abadfish on this one. Yes, you can buy a 600 and survive. I think a very good scenario is to buy a used 250ninja, ride it for a season or two. drop it in
the driveway once or twice, learn what it is you like about the bike, what you dont. get comfortable just being on the bike. What happens if you do this wrong, if you do that wrong, learn alittle more fine motor skills. as has been said, modern sportbikes are not forgiving. a small mistake can turn into a huge mistake very quickly if you are not comfortable with the small inputs the bike needs.

then, sell it next season for close to what you paid, scratches and all. then go and buy you a new 600 if you wish.

 

Wow please tell me your joking? How am i gonna be a better friend? Should i ride 2 up with him and make sure he doesnt twist the throttle? I mean seriously try and listen to what your saying. A bike that does 10.7 in the 1/4 mile is tame? Moving up to a liter bike is gonna save you that precious second but its mostly useless on the street anyway. Not sure what 600rr u ride but these bikes are very well capable of whopping anybody's *** if you jump on it and somebody who ISNT use to the bikes power is gonna get hurt and /or killed

 

+1

 

I currently ride an 07 600RR, and yes it has nice power, and is a blast to ride, but it is no where near the torque and power of the 06 !000RR I just sold or the 06 GSXR 1000 I sold before getting the CBR 1k. All I am saying is yes the bike has power, but it is not like just bump the throttle and you are doing a wheelie. You have to work this bike to get it there. On the liter bike just roll it on and the front wheel is in the air. What does it take to get the front wheel off the ground on the 600RR about 10k and slip the clutch.

When I take new riders out, I lead, and make them aware of hazards. Especially the first time on a new road!!! If we are approaching something kinda tricky, I will slow them down let them go through it at a very slow pace, and we can go back and try again. For instance we have a few turn we call the TX corkscrew. It is comprised of a nice 30 mph right hander, and immediately a sharp left as you lose altitude very quickly. If you glance away for a second you are off road, and going down. Even skilled riders I have not ridden with before or are not aware of this, I slow them down. I would rather them be slow than hurt.

I tell all new riders " Pick your riding buddies very carefully" and be honest with your abilities, so they can adjust the pace.

It takes no skill to ride a modern sport bike 150 mph, the skill is controlling it in the corners.


The long and short of this whole thread is, should he get a 600rr as a first bike.

YES, but with stipulation, (are you level headed, mature, and willing to open your mind to constructive criticism)

Or are you like most of the SQUIDS, want to see if your health insurance really works.

This bike will get away from you if you let your EGO control it. Use your head and it is a well balanced, and very capable bike, and for all intensive purposes safe bike to ride.

I mention BRAKE