Question to fellow audi owners who also have a bike.
 

<center><img src="http://www.hondamotorcycle.com/models/2001/images/sport/gallery_popups/CBR600F4i_04.jpg"></center><p>What would you recommend for starter to go with? I'm looking at Honda CBR600F4i and I really like this bike. I like RC51 too, but it's kinda expensive. If you know any forums like this where bike owners hangout where I can ask questions please point me to those.

Thanks alot for your help.

Igor

Truthfully, CBR 600 is way too much bike for a beginner.
 

But most people don't have the money or patience to climb the displacement ladder one step at a time.

So unless you know that you are going to love biking and spend considerable time and resources bringing your skills up to the level of your machine, forget about the top-of-the-line sport bike. The CBR 600 is plenty.

Also, PLEASE take a certified motorcycle training course. And realize that you need to be 1000x more alert on a bike because there's simply no room for mistakes.

Yeah I registered for safety school and I'm not going to buy a bike until I figure out
 

what is riding one is all about.

igor

I drive by the Ducati dealership everyday on the way home from work and those bikes are bad a$$!
 

I don't think you would want a Ducati for your first bike, though. I would have killed myself in the first week.

If you never road street bikes, 600cc is quite a jolt...
 

It can be scary at first,..let me rephrase that, it will be scary at first.

I agree...
 

When I got my first bike (Kawasaki 350 Triple), my brother told me that there are 2 types of riders...those who have crashed and those who will crash. I'm glad it was a $400 used one, since I had my share of spills. Here's my current bike (CBR600F2). It's still more than fast enough for me. Better to spend a few hundred bucks on bike while you learn, than to trash an expensive one.

<img src="http://www.users.qwest.net/~craiger/cwb_cbr.jpg">

Great bike! The Yamaha R6, Ninja ZX6, and Ducati SS 750 are also great choices.
 

My favorite is the Ducati, but that is the most expensive and hardest to maintain. If you want a sick looking bike, go with the R6. There is nothing nicer in its class. If you go to a bike forum (sorry, I only know about the one on ducati.com), most of them will tell you to start of with a smaller bike. I personally feel that you should get something along the ones I recommended so you feel good about what you paid for. Just try not to drop it!!

Just for the record, my favorite bike right now is the Ducati SuperBike 748.
<img src="http://www.ducati.com/images/pg_sbk_13.jpg">
But that really IS too much for a first bike.

Good luck, and let me know if I can help out some more.

I don't know if riding scooter (49cc) counts, but I had one of those when I was 18 :)

speaking of bikes, Im thinking of getting a new one too...
 

still need just a beginner bike, I was looking at the Buell "blast" anyone have expierence with it? Just for fun, and the occasional commute to work.

Check out the Suzuki SV650 - excellent starter bike...
 

...has good grunt (its a twin), easy egronomics, and forgiving geometry. If that doesnt convince you, just call your insurance company. The CBR will cost you half the price of the bike (no Im not joking) and the SV650 will cost you a couple hundred bucks.

That CBR is more capable than 90% of the people who own/ride them - so do yourself a huge favor and get something a little more tame. The SV650 will easily carry you from a beginner to intermediate level of riding skill, and you'll have a blast doing it.

Check out motorcycle.com under bike reviews - they did a write up on budget bikes that includes the SV650.

Incredible rides, but piss poor recommendations for a beginner!

F4, R6, or GSXR750
 

I have a yzf600 I love it if I could do it again I would buy a gxsr750. My freind has the F4 and it is a sweet bike.

I'm also looking at the CBR F4i.....
 

and the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R. The R6 and Suzuki GSX are nice, but they are more race-oriented. The Ninja and CBR have gotten better reviews as far as everyday riding/comfort is concerened. The bike I get will never see a track, so comfort is more important to me. And, 0-60 in 2.8 seconds is still fast enough!

A riding/safety school is highly recommended. I've never owned a bike and the class that the California Motorcycle Safety Foundation sponsors was a great introductory class. And, since I took the class, I didn't have to take the riding test when I got my motorcycle license, just the written test.

Good luck!

friend of mine recently bought a sv650, he loves it
 

<ul><li><a href="http://www.rahji.com/sv650.php3">his sv650 web page</a></li></ul>

I agree with KenK in TX , the SV650 is perfect for a sporting beginner
 

<center><img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/15543/bothindrive.t.jpg"></center><p>too small and you get bored too easily and too big and it will be too intimidating... either way will ruin your fun.

Don't fall for the Blast, it's a piece of junk

Nice pair! I'm currently fighting the urge to get an SV (last bike was a GSXR750)

try talking to these guys ...
 

<ul><li><a href="http://www.canyonstrafers.com">http://www.canyonstrafers.com</a</li></ul>

Awesome, thanks everybody!

"Too much" is an understatement. It's insane! (please read on)
 

I don't want to sound like an old fart, but I will give you some hard facts to think about. In some European countries, the law FORCES you to climb the following displacement ladder:

50-125cc
125-250cc
250-500cc
over 500cc

You have to pass an exam for each, and you need to keep each license for a number of years. I can't remember how many, but it takes at least five years (probably more) to get to the 500cc or 500cc+ categories. Keep in mind that at least one of these countries has speed limits of up to 85mph, so you can't dismiss them as wimps when it comes to driving. They just have far more motorcyclists than in the US and they have come up with such learning curves based on extensive experience

Make no mistake. A high performance 600cc machine is nothing less than a monster. It's very easy to make mistakes with that much power, and you will get immediately overwhelmed once you make one. Having had a scooter counts for exactly zero, and taking a few safety or performance driving classes is no substitute for years of daily driving experience.

A 250-350cc bike is already a handful for a beginner. Don't get anything more than that. Another poster was worried about the likelihood of a beginner crashing and trashing a new expensive bike. What you should worry about is trashing your body or life.

Here is the ultimate clue I just found, straight from Honda's web page, from the "Help-Me-Choose-a-Bike Questionnaire:" When you specify less than one year experience:

You answered "Less than 1 year," which means that you should consider models with an engine size between 49 and 250 cc. Of course, you should also consider your age, weight and height when selecting a model to ensure safe operation.

Probably not what you wanted to hear. Do yourself a favor and do some research before buying something in the league of a CBR 600.

Thanks for throughout explanation, I appreciate it!

Definitely do not start out with a RC51, it is a professional grade bike, I'd go with a used 600.

Or these...
 

<ul><li><a href="http://www.places2ride.com">Shameless Bike Plug</a></li></ul>

CBR600F4i is one of the best beginner bikes in the 600cc class
 

I was just reading the comparisons in the latest Cycle World. Here is the good and bad from them.

Ups:
Perfect balance of power and handling
Has shift light on dash
Ergonomics you can live with

Downs:
Vibrates more than others
Pegs scratch that hardcornering itch
Everybody wants one

One quote from their wrap up:
"From nocie to seasoned sportbike bet, our testers ranked the CBR as the easiest bike here to jump on and immediately feel comfortable."

Other bikes being compared were:
Kawasaki ZX-6R
Suzuki GSX-R600
Yamaha R6

Just thought I would interject. A 600 is still a lot of bike to handle when your first starting. Your on the right track though taking the safety course and such. Good luck.

As a former sportbiker, I agree. Get the SV650.
 

It'll take you at least a few years to outgrow it. I've had lots of big sportbikes and the SV650 is actually what I'd probably get, and I've been riding for almost 15 years. Of course, I'd rather have a Ducati monster 750 but they're more tempermental.

And you dont have $2K in bodywork to replace when you drop it.

-Dave

Don't start on an RC! Good luck finding one this year anyways

Hard to find small displacement bikes in the US..
 

I'd get something cheap, something you can learn on, nothing too powerful, nothing heavy. I had an old honda magna, 700cc as my first bike. Good learner I thought, a nighthawk is another good learner bike.

BUT if you think you can contain yourself, I don't see the issue with the horsepower, I do see the issue with weight.

Personally if I were to get a sportbike, CBR900/929RR. :)

Steve

I have a 99 F4...it's my first bike. I love it.
 

So easy to ride, goes where you point it. Looks nice and is comfortable...for a sportbike. This bike has all the power you will need too. Go for it. Like Mark said earlier, one of the easier 600's to ride. Good luck, have fun and be careful...mine has seen the pavement :>)

For a starter bike buy a cheap used bike that's 600cc or less. Hopefully less. Then when.......
 

you have learned to ride, get the bike of your dreams. If you get a bigger bike (greater than 600cc) the chances of surviving your first crash start to drop. The bigger the bike the better your chance of death.

I started on dirt bikes ( a YZ80, then CR250). My first street bike was a Honda Interceptor 500, that bike almost killed me. Then I bought a Suzuki GSXR750 which was plain dangerous. I now have a CBR600F2 and it's great just put 20K miles on it.

You should look for an old Honda Ascot or Hawk. You'll be able to find one for under $3500 and won't be bummed if gets messed up.

Alex M. '99.5 1.8TQMS & '93 CBR600F2

I have a A4 and a TT :)
 

<center><img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/13510/carcycle.jpg"></center><p>

Avoid bikes with fairings ...
 

Most likely, the bike is going to hit the ground at some point either falling off the stand or during slow speed manuevers. When the bike goes down, the fairing is going to get cracked or broken, an expensive proposition for a simple tip over. After you have some seat time, the chances are greatly reduced (but it still happens even to the best). My first bike was a Honda Hawk GT 650, a small V-twin. Here's my latest.

<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/17259/duc_st4_1.jpg"

Good luck and ride safe!!!!

$400 for a 99 CBR lower fairing...
 

I learned the hard way. That's only for the lower fairing....damn!

Ohhh....SWEET bike, U got one up on me, I'm looking to get a 2001 996 this winter.

I've been on dirt bikes all my life. And I just purchased SV650S. Its a great bike.

CBR600's are good starter bikes. Easy to ride, but fast enough to grow into.