Would the Suzuki GSX-R600 make a good beginner motorcycle? Does it matter what your height/weight is?

Answer 1

No and Yes... But that wouldn't keep me from getting one if I had my eye on one I wanted...All GSX-Rs are great motorcycles...

Answer 2

Straight to the point - YES the Suzuki GSX-R600 is a good beginner bike...

...as long as you already know how to balance yourself on a motorcycle, know how and when to shift without stalling, and finally so long as you know what your limits are and not the bike's.

Gixxers are state of the art machines, but that doesn't mean that it has to be operated by professionals. Suzuki has made it easier to ride their bikes throughout the generations of Gixxers. That is why they offer various levels... 600, 750, 1000 and the Hayabusa. The same thing goes for other manufacturers. They WANT you to ride their bikes no matter what your experience is.

If you REALLY want the the 600, get it!!! Give yourself a good week to learn it and get your body acquainted with the machine.

As far as the height/weight issue... there is only the height. The 600's are pretty low... so if you are between 5'5 and 5'9, the 600 is ideal. If you are any taller, try the 2007 Yamaha R6. It might fit you better! Shop around.

*If you haven't ridden a motorcycle before, I strongly suggest taking an MSF class or AMA before you make your purchase. Visit your local DMV or dealer, they should have some brochures on lessons. Taking classes also lowers your insurance premium.

The only other thing I can tell you is BE SAFE! Take all the precautions and remember that it is you in control of the power, not the bike.

Answer 3

The trouble with a Gixxer in the hands of a beginner is that it will immediately do exactly what you accidentally tell it to do. It's got enough power to easily do wheelies, brakes that are very easy to lock in a panic stop, and lightning-fast handling. You really won't have an easy time learning how to ride when you have to deal with all that while you're still trying to remember what it is you have to do with your foot to shift gears or just how this whole countersteering business works.

I would say to stay with a 500 cc or smaller sportbike, or a 650 cc single cylinder bike. Maybe a 650 cc twin like a SV650 or Ninja 650 if you have some dirt bike experience or must have more power than a 500 offers; 650 cc twins are a lot tamer than 600 cc fours.

Weight isn't that much of a big deal with sportbikes unless you weigh more pounds than the bike has cc's. Pretty much any sportbike can carry almost any weight of rider at highway speeds; I weigh 230 lbs and ride a 500 cc bike.

Height, however, is a more important concern. Strangely enough, the "size" of the bike doesn't track very well with the engine size. While a GSX-R1300 Hayabusa has a large and "roomy" riding position that accommodates tall riders well, so does Suzuki's smallest sport bike, the GS500F. And the DL650 is larger than either one of those. You'll want to visit different showrooms and see how you fit on the bikes; you'll want one that feels comfortable and that you can get both feet flat on the ground when sitting on it.

Answer 4

Those are all terrible absolutely incredibly STUPID first bikes. All of them. They are race bikes with lights, if you think you can handle that as a first bike you're either incredibly naive or just poorly informed. Start with something that's NOT a race replica bike. Look into a SV-650, GSX-500, Ninja 650, etc etc. EDIT: A note, it is not the engine size that is the issue here; 600cc's is a relatively small engine, it's how that engine makes it's power. A 600cc engine designed to rev to 14k RPM's is a very different beast from a 1200cc bike that will never see the north side of 800 RPM's.

Answer 5

No, it's not a good starter bike. This is the same bike that the pros race in the AMA. A good beginner bike would be a smaller engine displacement, non-race styled. Go for something a bit old, so when you drop it, you won't feel so bad. My first bike was a 1982 Suzuki 450 for $600. I dropped it. I didn't care. It was a great learning experience. When I outgrew the bike, I sold it for $300.

Answer 6

I orde bikes since I was 5. My first street bike was a Suzuki TL1000R. You may not know what that is. It is a crotch rocket and it is about the same as the Honda RC51. It has a Vtwin motor on it. I nver had trouble hanging with the 1000cc inline fours tho. But that may be the case with the 600cc Vtwins. I never wrecked the bike. I am 6'2" and I could see how you may be uncomfortable on a sport bike if you are very tall. They do make foot pegs that are lower and further back. So that would help out.

Answer 7

No, it would not. Just because it's a 600cc does not mean it is slow or that you can handle it. It will do EXACTLY what you, the newbie, unintentionally tell it to, which means tankslappers and highsides into traffic.

Take an MSF course and start on a more tame bike, like an SV650 or Ninja 500. You want your first bike, not your last.

Answer 8

99% of sports bike riders use less than 50% of their bike's capability. It is a waste. To really get good on a bike, and to get the most from it, buy one that allows you to wring it's neck when wanting a bit if fun. Once you have reached the limits of that bike's speed / handling step up to something more powerful.

I have lost count of the number of times I have run rings around sports bike riders on my old BMW K100.

Answer 9

it is a good beginner bike.............but soon you are going to want a bigger bike.....my first street was a cbr1000.....but i have been riding bikes since i was a kid.

Answer 10

no go with something smaller and more laid back