Thread: what to look for in a sport bike

I'm looking around for a moderately priced 600 to learn on, take to the track/strip and see if its my thing. Its gonna be my first sport bike so I'm not sure what to look for. Any tips? Any things I should stay away from? I'm kind of partial to Yamaha but I've seen a couple Ducati's and Buell's that look pretty sweet. What bike would you recommend and why?

Why not start on a smaller bike like a Ninja 250 or a heavy bike like a sport touring? If this is your first bike, you will be tempted to get crazy or accidentally let the bike get out of control and a 600 can get scary- faster than you will be able to react. Not saying that you cant handle a 600 but I am an ER RN and a fellow rider (full gear 100% of the time regardless of where I am going or how hot it is outside) and have seen many traumas/deaths from said events. Its a never a matter of if; its when....
Nik

Originally Posted by MSRT8:Nik

Why not start on a smaller bike like a Ninja 250 or a heavy bike like a sport touring? If this is your first bike, you will be tempted to get crazy or accidentally let the bike get out of control and a 600 can get scary- faster than you will be able to react. Not saying that you cant handle a 600 but I am an ER RN and a fellow rider (full gear 100% of the time regardless of where I am going or how hot it is outside) and have seen many traumas/deaths from said events. Its a never a matter of if; its when....
Nik

Honestly I know I'd get tired of a 250 or something similiar really fast. I've ridden a couple of 600s and it seems like something good to start off on for me. While I have little experience with sport bikes I'm no stranger to motorsports. I'm a speed junkie and have built up a couple of fairly quick toys and just feel like a 600 would be a good starting point and anything less would just not be enough. Thanks for your feedback I appreciate it. My biggest concern is the other drivers on the road knowing how little attention people pay to their surroundings when they drive honestly scares me thats why I've stayed away from these in the past but now that I'm living in a more rural area outside the city I think that it will be easier to avoid other drivers.

Sorry, was under the impression that you have not been on a 600 before. You are correct that its almost always someone in a vehicle that causes an accident that involves a motorcycle, other include excessive speed, bad road conditions, etc. But your assumption of riding in rural areas is the wrong one- most of these people will only be looking for fellow cars and are more likely to blow thru stop signs/ or fail to yield to you. My major ER experience is from rural West Texas.
Any of the bikes you listed are great bikes and, as you learn, will offer you one hell of a riding experience. Buy a helmet, take a intro rider class and then take the experienced rider class, get your license, get a great riding jacket-gloves-boots, and then finally your bike! Ride smart, ride safe!

duks or buells dont make 600s....well buells dont make anything...street legal anyways.

nobody can really tell you what bike will be good or bad for you as they are within 10ths of a second when it comes to all performance, and within 10 lbs of each other....the only difference is ergonomics (seating position) and powerband.

ergonomics:
gixxer makes you feel like you sit inside
cbr600rr make you feel like you are seating over the tank and windshield
zx6r feels like you are floating
r6 is close to the cbr but not as bad
675 daytona is a skinny bike (in a good way)

powerband:
675 daytona feels almost like a twin.
gsxr has the most midrange of the inline 4s
cbr has the best balance...good top end and good midrange...but not the best at either
zx6r will be the second fastest
r6 will be the fastest of all the 600s

its up to you to decide what you want. but i would go with a 250....of all the bikes i own (i own a lot, i mean a lot) the ninjette is one of the most fun. and you wont out grow it....that is if you actually ride it like its meant to be and not just go in a straight line.

Thanks Bignmz04. I think I'm gonna have to wait and take a 250 and 600 for a good long ride and see what feels right. I'm starting to like the idea of a 250. Are all the 250's from the big 4 similiar in performance? Is there any reason to pick one over the other in your opinions?

Just checked out kawasaki's webisite and they have a 400r that seems perfect for me. Just cant get over how the 250s sound like a dirtbike.

I loved my 1st bike- GSXR 750
like BigN said it feels like you're riding in the bike like youre on with it...

I ddint like my friends' ZXs and the CBRs I rode made me feel like I was on a sofa

of course worse of all I hated my R1- it felt like I was perched on top like a bird or something... of course thats the one I went down on and walk with a limp today

check out a buell blast!

but i will second what everyone said. get a 250 and max it out to its potential. You will then appreciate a 600, 750, etc... a lot more

Originally Posted by mrmikey32

check out a buell blast!

but i will second what everyone said. get a 250 and max it out to its potential. You will then appreciate a 600, 750, etc... a lot more

I am surprised you didnt say cafe racer

have you seen the video of erik buell crushing the buell....if the creater of the bike thought it was horrible.....well..enough said...they are known pos bikes....handles like crap and that half a harley engine breaks all the time.

Ps. I am at the texas mile and some dude just unloaded a norton cafe racer that is supposed to run....and another dude is running his tr750 two stroke!!

Originally Posted by WESTOF7

Thanks Bignmz04. I think I'm gonna have to wait and take a 250 and 600 for a good long ride and see what feels right. I'm starting to like the idea of a 250. Are all the 250's from the big 4 similiar in performance? Is there any reason to pick one over the other in your opinions?

well only two companies make 250s. the honda, which i like but everybody hates...cause its heavy and slow (compared to the ninja 250) it looks better though.
and the ninja 250....its fun as hell...tons of aftermarket parts. you can race them in E superstock at wera (just for ninja 250s) and has been around forever..