My Instructor Recommended Me A First Bike...

Sailormoto

Sailormoto

Wannabie Member
...and it was a 600cc sport bike. Opinions?

So, I'm plodding through my UK direct access course at the minute to be able to ride any bike on the roads and have been learning on a Honda cbf125 (for my CBT) and a Honda NC750s for the rest of my lessons. He noted that I've taken to the lessons pretty well and I have my tests in the next week or two.

Anyway, we got into a discussion about first bikes and what I should be looking for. I said I wanted to go down the sport bike route and mentioned various bikes I was looking at (ninja 300/cbr500r/etc.) and he told me I would get bored very quickly. He went through a loads of things with me about various things to look at but in the end basically said that a 600cc would be a good start for me. He even told me my riding was responsible without him having to prompt me about things and thought I could definitely handle it. The training place is connected to a Honda dealer so he took me round the store to get a feel for some bikes and I had a sit on the 650f, the cbr600rr and a fire blade and even though they're a Honda dealer he recommended the ninja 636 while the sales guy said the Daytona 675 would be his choice. They don't allow testing for new riders but they're going to let me try the 600rr and dress it up as a lesson so at least I'll get a turn.

So, just asking for some opinions as this seems to fly in the face of all internet advice ever??
 
Do you have any riding experience prior to this? Maybe dirt bike riding?

For some, starting on the street on a 600 is no big deal. I personally did, although I had previous experience riding and racing dirt bikes. Whether or not you start out on a 600 is your choice, and if you have no prior experience I would say maybe you shouldn't. I would also buy a used bike for your first bike and not a brand new one. As a new rider you will most likely drop it and dropping a used bike as opposed to a new one is easier on the wallet. Take this all with a grain of salt though, as it is all just my personal opinion.
 
I don't know why but some people get all ape sh*t crazy whenever someone ask if their first bike can be a larger than 250cc motorcycle.

The general idea of starting off with a 250cc as a new rider is to focus on improving riding skills without being overcome by the HP and torque of a more powerful bike, apart from other factors like weight/size/easiness of handling/etc. This is the main reason why "The Internet" says people should start on a 250cc. It is not a wrong concept.

However, starting off on a larger cc bike is not wrong either. It just that you'll need a steeper learning curve to improve your skills fast (than compared if you are on a 250cc) or the bike might get you killed if you fail to understand and handle it (not the bike's fault). Having a high level of discipline to not ride over your limit (don't get all throttle happy), and a humble attitude (don't need to show off how powerful your bike is to others, cannot be slower than smaller cc bike rider), identify your weakness (in riding) and improve on it.

End of the day it's your money, you can buy whatever you like. I have known new people who just got their license and straight away riding some hyper sports like ZX14R. As long as you know what you need to do to manage it, go for it.
 
My personal opinion would be get the larger bike as it will take you longer to out grow it.

Depending on the bike it may even be easier to ride than a 250.

I also think you will also learn discipline faster on a larger bike.
 
Everything depends on whether you have the willpower to ride after passing your test taking the least risks having assessed them properly. If so, no problem. If you plan to ride as fast as you can and get your knee down on country curves, just make sure your life insurance is enough to cover what your family needs.
 
A bike is only as dangerous as your throttle control. My first bike was a Street triple 675cc 110hp bike.

People make too big a deal about having too much power. Even 125cc bikes go up to the speed limit and can easily get you killed.
 
Your instructor has seen you ride. I'm presuming that you're looking at a new bike, rather than old? That could be the mistake, get an older one


I've known people to start on 1k bikes. It's how you respect the bike that counts!

Book yourself on a couple of track days while you're still fresh, you'll end up a better rider than someone who's ridden for two years riding on the roads
 
dandoolittle said:
Your instructor has seen you ride. I'm presuming that you're looking at a new bike, rather than old? That could be the mistake, get an older one


I've known people to start on 1k bikes. It's how you respect the bike that counts!

Book yourself on a couple of track days while you're still fresh, you'll end up a better rider than someone who's ridden for two years riding on the roads
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This is the biggest reason I'm thinking about a larger bike. This person has seen me ride more than anyone else. That along with getting bored and the fact 99% of my riding has been on a 750.

I'm not necessarily looking brand new it really depends on what's around and what I like the look of best. There's always that risk of dropping it though.
 
SighBored said:
I don't know why but some people get all ape sh*t crazy whenever someone ask if their first bike can be a larger than 250cc motorcycle.

The general idea of starting off with a 250cc as a new rider is to focus on improving riding skills without being overcome by the HP and torque of a more powerful bike, apart from other factors like weight/size/easiness of handling/etc. This is the main reason why "The Internet" says people should start on a 250cc. It is not a wrong concept.

However, starting off on a larger cc bike is not wrong either. It just that you'll need a steeper learning curve to improve your skills fast (than compared if you are on a 250cc) or the bike might get you killed if you fail to understand and handle it (not the bike's fault). Having a high level of discipline to not ride over your limit (don't get all throttle happy), and a humble attitude (don't need to show off how powerful your bike is to others, cannot be slower than smaller cc bike rider), identify your weakness (in riding) and improve on it.

End of the day it's your money, you can buy whatever you like. I have known new people who just got their license and straight away riding some hyper sports like ZX14R. As long as you know what you need to do to manage it, go for it.
Click to expand...

The attitude is a big thing, I guess. Although totally different vehicles I got in more trouble in my 1 litre first car than I ever have in my current one. This is another reason the guy thought a 250cc would bore me as my car would be more exciting.

The thing with a 600 is that it will scare me for a little longer than a 250 will and they both have the potential to kill me.
 
As others have said it all comes down to will power. Whether your on a 250 or a litre bike if you rip the throttle open mid corner its going to spit you off into the nearest tree. The thing is, the 250 will do it relatively slowly and probably give you a little warning where as with the litre you will be wrapped around the tree before you can vlog it.

I would very much recommend a track day or two on whatever you buy, if nothing else at least you crash where there is plenty of run off!
 
Sailormoto said:
The thing with a 600 is that it will scare me for a little longer than a 250 will
Click to expand...
Na, it won't.
It only takes a couple of rides to get used to the acceleration. I doubt it'll scare you at all. Having that acceleration when you need it] is a :D:D:D moment
 
Sailormoto said:
The attitude is a big thing, I guess. Although totally different vehicles I got in more trouble in my 1 litre first car than I ever have in my current one. This is another reason the guy thought a 250cc would bore me as my car would be more exciting.

The thing with a 600 is that it will scare me for a little longer than a 250 will and they both have the potential to kill me.
Click to expand...

A 600-750cc bike is really not as big a deal as most people make out. If you never rode at all, it might be different. Also if you are over 6 feet tall and/or 180lbs it may just be a better option than a 250 or 350. I did the MSF course on the 250s they provided and it was painful to ride for me, because I'm 6'2" and 200lb. Even a v-2 Ducati M750 was easy for me to get used to and those are torquey little sumbitches. Something like a Kawi 636 or Honda CBR600rr isn't going to have a big learning curve.

I can tell you from experience that a 1100cc V-Twin Superbike is a learning curve for damn near anyone. They are bitchy at low speed and can get out from under you faster than a hooker covered in olive oil.
 
I jumped on to a 650 straight from a 125 , I seen no problem with it ,at the end of the day its up to you though if you are comfortable riding the larger engined bike then get it , I almost got a 1200 straight off but shit out of getting it at the last second and then got the 650 ,it is plenty for me,
 
dandoolittle said:
The nc750 is nothing compared to a half decent 600 fella. It's actually quite a gutless bike. It's what 80

It's way belo law most 'proper bikes', I've ridden 400s with more power
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Ah yeh I'm definitely aware of that im just using it to point out im not going from a small (as in physical size) 125cc directly to the 600cc.
 
It's down to what you want the bike for really. If you need to get plenty of stuff around, then maybe an adventure or tourer is better, if it's weekend riding, then a sports bike will be fine.

As mentioned, size is down to how much you respect the bike and your brain-wrist connection.

Go to a used independent dealer and have a look round the range of bikes, see if there's a style you like. Street Triple has plenty going for it, but may be more comfortable than a similar powered 600 sports bike.

Main thing is, enjoy the rides when you do get it :)
 
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