Question for riders who got the 600rr as their first bike
 

So we know that the F4I is easier to learn on than a RR. This is not a compare question. I want to hear from people who bought the RR as their first bike. Was the learning curve severe? Did you ever feel like you made a mistake in choosing such a powerful bike? Were you scared to sh%* or did you just say the hell with it and hopped on and started riding? And for the women and people under 5 ft 7 in, was the riding height ok at first or were adjustments necessary? The reason for the inquiry is because I want a F4I, but I keep finding better deals on 600rr bikes. I never really considered them, but the look and capabilities are growing on me. I can walk away with one right now for $5500.

RE: Question for riders who got the 600rr as their first bike
 

its no easier learning on an F4I or a RR. The controls are the same, power curve is similar, and its not like the F4I comes with training wheels.

But seriously, my RR was my first bike and its not that hard.

I would first suggest you learn clutch modulation. You can do this my holding the throttle at a set RPM, around 2-3k RPMs. Slowly slip the clutch until you start rolling (but dont fully release the clutch, just keep slipping) and do this over and over again for like 50 times, serious. Dont worry about burning your clutch cause it wont happen, its a wet clutch unlike an automobiles dry clutch. Clutch modulation is serious when learning to ride.

When you get that down then slowly slip the clutch and start a slow roll, but do not leave 1st gear. Then come to a stop; but the way you do this is first disengage the clutch, then slowly apply brake pressure to the front brakes. Its crucial that you disengage the clutch first before you let go the throttle because it will jerk much harder than your used to in 1st gear. One common problem that i see is when noobies get on the throttle in 1st, suddenly release the throttle causing a sharp jerk and quick deceleration. The automatic response to this is to get back on the throttle but when you do this it'll suddenly jerk forward very hard throwing you off the bike.

Then practice a slow acceleration in the first few gears.

Now try a slow roll in 2nd or 3rd at around 15 mph and lean slightly into a turn.

Next just ride, slowly but surely with a friend.

RE: Question for riders who got the 600rr as their first bike
 

i rode motocross all my life growing up and my first street bike was a 06 1000rr and i love it, havent had any problems learning with it

RE: Question for riders who got the 600rr as their first bike
 

My first street bike was a 2003 600rr I love it. I dont' think it matters how much power the bike has it's how you use the power, you don't have to use it all the first time you get on the thing. As for regreting it know way I would have only had a regret if I would have gotten any other bike.

RE: Question for riders who got the 600rr as their first bike
 

imo take the msf course first before you buy the 600 bike. itll teach you the basics and youll get a feel for what its like to be a motorcycle. i cant imagine learning all the basics on a rr.

RE: Question for riders who got the 600rr as their first bike
 

That's weird because I got yelled at constantly when I went through the MSF course for grabbing the clutch before braking. So you're telling me that I had it right all along? That really pisses me off that MSF instructors would teach someone the wrong thing. And of course MSF instructors assume you're gonna buy a standard or cruiser. Now I have to really rethink my fundamentals.

RE: Question for riders who got the 600rr as their first bike
 

im talking about 1st gear bro. you'll understand what im talking about in real world riding in traffic.

RE: Question for riders who got the 600rr as their first bike
 

My first bike was a 2005 600RR. Before I bought it brand new, the Honda R&D Team from the motorcycle plant here had done ALOT of mods to it (full race exhaust, PCIII with custom map, K&N ail filter, cam, pistons and a few other odds-and-in's) before puting it on the showroom floor. So it had alot more power than a stock 600RR. I absolutely love my 600RR to death! I purchased it in September 2005, almost had it a year, and am going to be getting a literbike, just waiting on the 2007 Honda's to come out. I'm going to be making my 600RR a full race/track bike when I do get my literbike. Anyways, with it being my very first bike, I didn't have any problems at all! I was actually ready to get a literbike after like 4 months of having it. Yeah, the motorcycle classes will help (also cheaper insurance, etc.) but in my own personal opinion, it's better to learn on your own. My buddy took me out in B.F.E. when I first got my bike, and he tought me everything that I needed to know. So, I just kept on practicing and practicing, braking, acceleration, etc., until I was comfortable with taking "road trips" and hitting the twisties pretty hard. After 2 months, I took the motorcycle beginners course. It helped a little, but like I said, I think that it's better to learn on your own. Then, take that money that you were going to spend on the beginners course and go take like an "advanced cornering"/performance class. Don't get me wrong, F4i's are great bikes, very comfortable and great to learn on, BUT, if you go with an F4i, I'll almost guarantee you that you'll be wishing that you had went with a little more power and better handling.

RE: Question for riders who got the 600rr as their first bike
 

I would consider my 04 600RR my first real bike, 'cause I hadn't riden for 14 prior and it was a kz400 for a few months. You will be OK if you learned anything in MSF course and passed. Respect the throttle and don't go beyond your level.

RE: Question for riders who got the 600rr as their first bike
 

I bought my 600RR new as my first bike. I pretty much have zero experience with riding except for MSF and riding my mini bike. It was SCARY to say the least. Not that riding was scary...but I didn't want to drop my bike. I wanted to wait till my sliders come before I hop on it...but it's so tempting to just ride around the block. The 600's are no joke compared to some other bikes. If you really aren't careful, you can drop it at a stand still quite easily. I almost did a few times when I came to a stop too fast by jamming on my front brakes too hard. I lost balance but thankfully I kept the bike upright. It sure did scare the crap out of me though LOL. So far I have not pushed the bike over 60mph. I've been riding the city streets pretty much to and from work. I have a lot of friends that ride so when I got my bike, they taught me everything to get me started. One of the first things they told me to do was walk the bike. Basically you sit on the bike with it off and walk it. This helped me learn how to balance my bike and also it will help when you need to back up into a spot or move forward a tiny amount. Then I learned to ride around the block using counter steering in turns. You also learn this in MSF but it's different on a RR compared to the 250's you ride at MSF. One problem that I have is fixation. I constantly find myself looking at the turn instead of through it. It's hard not to but you need to look THROUGH the turn. So far I put about 100 miles on my bike and I feel pretty confident. but not cocky. My buddy took me out to a few twisties yesterday in some hilly area and I did fairly well for a beginner with less then 2 weeks of riding under my belt. I learned how to lean a bit and also incorporate counter steering while entering a turn. I find myself counter steering most of the time when I turn instead of leaning. You should also note that in first gear, the throttle is NO JOKE. You have to get a certain "feel" of how much gas to apply to start off and what not. I often found myself revving too high but after you ride a bit more, it will come naturally. Good luck on your first bike. I'm sure you'll have a lot fun. Just be safe and RESPECT the bike.

RE: Question for riders who got the 600rr as their first bike
 

I took the MSF course in Nov '05 and then in May '06 I bought a new 06 600RR as my first bike... I luv it... Never had a second thought, but take the MSF course, they have good advice.. and riding on the freeways in Houston you need all the advice you can get...

RE: Question for riders who got the 600rr as their first bike
 

I took the MSF course 2 months ago and I've ridden my friend's ninja 250 a few times. Can anyone provide websites other than eBay, Craigslist, ann Flykitty for used bikes? I'm really hooked on the 600rr.

RE: Question for riders who got the 600rr as their first bike
 

i just bought mine brand new about a month ago...
i did have a prior exprience tho...my buddy had an 03 R6 which he had let me learned on...
i've had his bike for a month before i bought my 600rr...
based on my experience 600rr was alot harder to adapt on...
seats are higher...i'm 5'10" and i have to tippy toe when pushing backward
clutch was ALOT HARDER to get used to...friction zone was alot farther than R6...
performance wise i dunno...:eek:...i'm a noob...can't really tell the difference yet...
as far as the power goes just take it easy on the throttle...you don't have to use it all...

RE: Question for riders who got the 600rr as their first bike
 

I bought my 2005 600rr in may and loved it i put almost 13,000 miles on it befor i got deployed and that was between may and sept. Just take it easy and respect the bike. I would also go to the msf class that helped a lot.

RE: Question for riders who got the 600rr as their first bike
 

I bought my 06 600RR about a month ago and since then I've tried to do something to it every week but as far as hard to learn on....no way once you get movign everything is all good. Hell I went 130 on it on the way home from the dealership. And yes this is my first bike... I would recommend to anyone who has a sport bike to drop the fron end down a bit after they get comertable on it. It really improves conering and menouvering....did I spell that right?.... who cares.... so yeah 600 RR is the way to go... Also, It will straight way away from a Stage 3 Roush mustang at any speed...

RE: Question for riders who got the 600rr as their first bike
 

I took the MSF motorcycle course and two days after completing it, I bought a 2003 600RR as my first bike. I have ridden dirt bikes before once in a great great while but never owned one. After a week or so on the RR, you'll feel right at home. My only advice to you is to introduce yourself to the rpm's slowly. You'll notice, once you get to that point, that at about 9 or 10 on the tach is where the powerband begins. It's a lot of bike, 117 HP with about 375 lbs dry weight. Also, ride backroads for a bit until you start riding with traffic or on the highway, and before you know it....riding will become second nature!! :)



2003 CBR 600RR
-Jardine Exhaust
-Rear F/E
-C.A. Integrated Tail Light

RE: Question for riders who got the 600rr as their first bike
 

i had very little riding expierence. maybe a few very short trips on a friends bike, then i bought a brand new 04 600RR.. and i just thought myself how to ride.. i didn't think i ever mad the wrong decision, i rode it for that summer, put 7k miles on it, sold it, adn then bought a 954.. and put 10k on that one.. i loved both of them and i never thought i made a bad choice

RE: Question for riders who got the 600rr as their first bike
 

This is my first bike and my first real riding experience. I've ridden dirtbikes in the past but it's quite different when you're doin' 95 down I-10 tryin to pass some guy in a freakin' Jetta that's swervin' into your lane!

I think this bike is fine and would like to drive home a few points about it. Some of the people have posted that it's got plenty of power and it's all about how you use it. I totally agree with this. It's not too much different than buying a 'Vette for your first car. No problem in having a racecar when you're 16 as long as you can be responsible enough not to wreck it (or get caught speeding!). In my opinion, the bad rep given to crotch rockets is really just inexperienced riders misuing them. Someone above wrote that they hit 130 on their way home from the dealer. Hey, I'm glad ya didn't kill yourself but I really don't think that's the smartest thing to do. I went to about 5 dealerships and talked with them as well as MANY of my friends that have been riding. It seems to be a trend that most people feel it's not the bike that matters as much as the level of (or lack of) intelligence of the rider.

As far as the bike itself, it rides nice and it's got some zip. If you wanna ride around town and stuff like that it'll do the trick. I just rode it 103 miles to the beach and I'm noticing comfort is a serious problem. My a$$ is killin' me and my right hand goes numb after a few minutes of ridin' but I suspect it's just my technique. Anyway, buy the bike. It rules. Remember, this may be your first bike but it doesn't have to be your last. If you don't like it, get a different one!

RE: Question for riders who got the 600rr as their first bike
 

Thanks for the advice. It seems like a Corbin seat is automatic for this bike. I'm 28 and speeding is not concern. I'll leave that for my Civic. I just want to enjoy riding and maybe punch it here and there, but never in the 100 mph category.

RE: Question for riders who got the 600rr as their first bike
 

this is my first bike ever. and i would have to say its pretty forgiving. you have to try hard to mess this bike up. everybody who has riding the rr and rides other bikes says the same thing. they say its not the fastest but the easier to ride.

RE: Question for riders who got the 600rr as their first bike
 

I would like to thank everyone for honest replies. This really helps in my decision.

RE: Question for riders who got the 600rr as their first bike
 

06 600rr is my first bike. I only had about 6 months dirtbike ex. (100cc at that) ,rode it in a neiborhood for about an hour then hit the road!!! with me i just made sure to take it easy and LEARNED TO BRAKE!!! also went out of my way to hit lights,stop signs whatever to keep me safe if i stalled out other than that if you don`t take MSF coures just read up and use common sense, ohh yea probally best to ride by yourself for awile till you got braking down cause you`ll probally go faster,other than that most important get what you want and have FUN!!!!

RE: Question for riders who got the 600rr as their first bike
 

I like it, just bought it though... I have driven a few older bikes pre 80's and I drove a new 600rr my buddy got and well I always liked the looks way befor he ever got his but the test drive sold me so two weeks later I found one in my price range and then later in the week I got my temps.... so far I have to keep telling my self to keep it easy on the throttle and always remember that the idiots around me may look right at me but, still are prone to run into me

RE: Question for riders who got the 600rr as their first bike
 

:Dused bike websites:D

cycletrader.com

RE: Question for riders who got the 600rr as their first bike
 

My first bike besides my lawn mower Mini bike.....was an 82 Honda 650 Nighthawk...with the 4 tail pipes.... SWEET.....LOL LOL

RE: Question for riders who got the 600rr as their first bike
 

Hmm.. difference? maybe just a slight comfort but thats all. i kind of feel like my wasn't 600 isnt fast enough (though im not a speed demon) and was looking to take it back for a 1000. im waiting to break it in first too see if i'll stick with it then. im at 150 miles right now, got it 2 days ago.. and been riding my ass off ever since :D

RE: Question for riders who got the 600rr as their first bike
 

My 06 CBR600RR I bought back in June. It's my first bike. Initially, I always thought the bike was going to be hard to ride, scary as hell and always on the edge of killing myself. That couldn't be further from the truth.

Two years ago, I took the Riders Edge class through a Harley Davidson dealer here in town. BEST THING ANYONE COULD EVER DO! Riding a bike isn't just jumping on and hoping for the best. You need training, PROPER TRAINING. Take a class, (if you haven't already) and usually the fear of getting a faster one fades.

Anyway, I didn't ride a bike the entire two years before I bought mine. I jumped right on and couldn't figure out why the bike kept turning off when I put it in gear. (kickstand down). Classic noob move, but again, I wasn't on a bike for two years. It took me about 30 minutes to get used to it. The shifting, the power, leaning. Everything I got down in about 30 minutes.

I had to ride the bike nicely for the first 600 miles or so for proper break-in. After that, I gave it a couple of 0-60 sprints and couldn't believe the power the bike has. I was giggling like a little girl. Scares you a bit the first few times, but you get used to it pretty quickly. I've had the bike now for about 3 months (with 3990 miles on the odometer) when the bike originally came with 3.

HIGHLY RECOMMEND THESE BIKES. The 600rr has been praised for years for their power band, ease of use, quality of parts, fit and finish, etc. Even performance (last months Motorcyclist Magazine) the CBR600RR outperformed all other bikes in the 600cc class.

The only thing I have an issue with is the seat. It sucks. Very stiff, slippery and you get sore after about 20 minutes. I ordered a Corbin seat for my bike (299.99) with textured material. SO MUCH BETTER, even on the track.

RE: Question for riders who got the 600rr as their first bike
 

This thread makes my head want to explode... [:'(]