Really feeling it.

[LunaticMarine]

Through out the years of many many speeding tickets my wife says no. But coming back from my second tour in Iraq feel I can do this. I'm looking into getting a YZF-R1 or the YZF-R6. My buddies tell me I'll get bored of the 600 and the 1000 will be fine. Oh yeah here's the thing last time drove a bike was about 10 yrs. ago. Is there such a thing as a beginner bike? Alot of people start with excess all the time. I get chills just thinkin' about it.

[hsartteacher]

LunaticMarine, I had a post typed to you and when I hit enter it disappeared.. I think they were moving the thread. I just wanted to say welcome, and trust your gut.

The 600 will do 150 mph EASY STOCk right out of the CRATE. 0-60, forget about any car on the road keeping up except MAYBE the top end Lamborghinis, Ferraris, and such. The 600 is a Race Replica. I would challenge your friends to find ONE successful pro MotoGP or other racer that STARTED racing in the 1000 superbike class. They all started smaller. The 600 (assuming late models) will wheelie in any gear and will throw you off in a heart beat.

it is pretty much insane to start out on a 1000 cc superbike. Yes, people do it, and Cycle Trader is full of low mileage road rashed litre bikes. My husband just snapped up a good deal (*he's been riding since his teens, age 49 now).. 2007 GSXR 1000 for $3500 less than the brand new rider paid for it a week ago. hadn't been down, but scared the new rider half to death... grand total of 15 miles on the odometer.

The r6 as it is would be a handful to begin with, I do understand you've ridden before... if not something tamer at LEAST start on a 600.

I think you can learn better skills on something smaller.. take it on a track day when you get back to the US!! My track day instructor was riding a Ninja 500, yes a 500. He would LAP the riders and come around to work with individual groups... yes LAP the Busas and the GSXR 1000s and the Ducatis. Anyone can go fast in a straight line, put it that way, you can really learn the SKILLS of handling, turning, etc. on a smaller more nimble bike.

OK I'll shut up now. Thank you for your service and good luck on your bike search, whatever you decide!! Take care and welcome!!

[DjWags]

welcome to the forum and welcome back to the US. First off, sign up for the Motorcycle Safety Foundation course, even if you are an experienced rider, you may learn something that could save your life.

In terms of the bikes, i noticed Hsart missed the 0-60 time. You are lookin at around 3 seconds, faster than every production Ferrari except the Enzo (which retails for over half a million dollars...) I recommend you go to a dealer and sit on a suzuki SV650 and a kawasaki 650R, you may be surprised. These bikes are forgiving enough for a returning rider to brush up on skills, yet they pack some serious power. I absolutely love mine

[LunaticMarine]

Thanks, folks. I'm really starting to consider the anything ~600. I'm 5'8" so I'll be able to handle that better I feel. I'll be doning some research and asking more questions.

[firebos7]

Ya anyone who tells you you're gonna get bored with a 600 in under a week either doesn't know how to drive properly or drives wayyyyy too f**(ing fast for the street (go watch a supersport race and you'll see what I mean, those are not slow bikes)

The 1000 cc sport bikes are incredibly powerful and I wouldn't recommend one of those to anyone unless they had been riding for a while and without a large break since the last time they rode. Normally I wouldn't recommend even a 600 cc sportbike as they aren't slow at all but considering you have ridden a bike before it might be ok. If you like the styling of the R1 take a look at the R6 as they are pretty similar, or the ZX 6R if you happen to like the undertail exhaust look.

And for the question of a good beginner bike, Normally I recommend people look at the

Ninja 250
Ninja 500
Ninja 650
GS 500
SV 650

edit: woh did topics get merged... when I posted all there was before was like half of hsarts post and just the op not the others.

[hsartteacher]

If you are 5'8" (OK that sounds dumb, you probably know how tall you are) a 600 will fit you GREAT. I am about your height. Once you're back, sit on one at a dealership or whatever.

[Hogrider]

Thanks, folks. I'm really starting to consider the anything ~600. I'm 5'8" so I'll be able to handle that better I feel. I'll be doing some research and asking more questions.

Trike Driver? Man have I got something for you.... And at 124cuin. with 122hp and 100+ foot pounds of torque it's even newb friendly.

[LunaticMarine]

Trike Driver? Man have I got something for you.... And at 124cuin. with 122hp and 100+ foot pounds of torque it's even newb friendly.

It's even my favorite color! Thanks!