Well that would make sense

 

+1

If I cared what I looked like when I ride, I wouldn't ride. I'm too big to look at home on anything but a custom bike.

 

My first bike was my 2000 F4 - 600cc. If I was you I would alter your search for a CBR that is between 2001 and 2008 - the reason I say this is because they switched to fuel injection in 2001 on the F4i's and since you are in Maine I think you will find this a positive on cold start mornings. The first couple times you ride it you will probably feel like it is beyond fast, but you will get used to it very quickly.

Oh - also the F4i's look better with the split seat, and the newer style headlights.

 

While I agree that most if not all 600 sportbikes are apparently made for midgets, they have enough power to scare the daylights out of you above 8 grand or so. My F2 is pretty damn quick when it's in the powerband.

Having said all that a 1000cc while maybe looking more like a man's bike and fitting better for anyone over 5'3 and 130 lbs...they have a lot of power...death inducing power if you are not a seasoned rider.

If I were you I'd go with the CBR 600 RR or a Kawi ZX-6R. Plenty of bike both of them.

 

I would buy an older 600 or even a 500 to relearn on you haven't ridden a bike in over 5 years. The bikes handle completely different then your rebel did and on top of that the technology is better.

The best thing I describe it as is if you got put into an Formula 1 car and stuck on the freeway..

No one could see you, you have 10x the power of everyone around you and your breaks will stop so fast that you can flip your bike over your head.

Now do you think anyone driving Formula 1 started from his civic and hopped into that Formula?

Think about that. Buy used buy slow you can always resell it for what you bought it for 5 months later.

 

Some very good suggestions, so I thank you all. Seafordguy is the fuel injection in the 01's alright? (Meaning is there a "learning curve" for the CBR's going to efi from carb.) What’s working on a CBR like? Is it like working on a Honda auto? (Im a Honda auto tech by trade)

 

The CBR's are like any other bike to work on. Sometimes a snap, sometimes you have to remove tons of bodywork to change a spark plug. Goes with the territory.

 

I had a little dirt bike riding experience years ago, but I got a 2001 F4i as my first bike. The plan was to start with a 600 and upgrade to a 1k later, but 4k miles later I'm loving the agility on all those twisty's and corners with my 600. I'm loving it so much my plan might change a little and upgrade to a 600RR next year instead of the 1k. Just my 2c.

 

What ever you decide, just use common sense and dont get carried away with the RPM's for a while. Most of these bikes are very "street-able" if you keep the RPM's under a certain level. When you go over that level and dont have enough seat time to back it up...... well..... thats when bad things happen. So just use your head and a little restraint and welcome to the CBR world. :-)

 

thank you all