I'm thinking about getting a street bike (brand new 06-07, 600cc), but which one is the best for beginners?

Answer 1

If you're a newbie just starting out, forget a sportbike and forget something brand new.

Sportbikes are not very forgiving. They have very quick steering, touchy brakes and lots of power. They also have lots of shiny expensive plastic which will break the first time you accidentally drop it.

You also shouldn't get a new bike for several reasons. First being that after a year or two, you're going to want something bigger, more powerful or just different than what you're learning on and it's a shame to throw away all that money on depreciation. Second is it's highly likely you will drop it at slow speed. This is nothing to be too alarmed about, but you don't want to scratch and bang up a new machine. Last is you'll be walking in green into the dealer and more than likely they will manuever you into the purchase instead of you making the best and most intelligent decision.

For a first bike, I'd stick with something 500 pounds or less, not too old but clean and reliable - perhaps 1-5 years old. Something with a broad powerband, centered ergos and a more upright riding position. Bikes in this category would be the Suzuki SV650, Yamaha Fazer and Triumph Bonneville. Ignore the cc's as some bikes with huge engines produce very little power and some with only 600 cc's can produce over 120 horsepower.

Buy something that you can flat foot when you're sitting still on and with controls that are light and easy to use.

After a year or two when you get some miles and experience under your belt, then go and sell your learner (without much depreciation) and get whatever you really want.

Answer 2

For a beginner, the best new 600 cc bike I can recommend is a Honda Shadow. It's a pretty easy to control bike that's good for relaxed rides.

If you have something sporty in mind, I would not recommend a liquid cooled 600 cc four cylinder sport bike to a beginning rider. These things have around 100 hp, and generally weigh around 550 lbs with a rider on them, fast enough to seriously frighten a beginning rider if you let it get out of hand. And the trouble with one of these in the hands of a beginner is that it will immediately do exactly what you accidentally tell it to do.

Something with 50 hp or so is still quite fast, and will have no trouble keeping up with highway traffic or pulling away hard at a stoplight. So I'd suggest checking out what Kawasaki, Suzuki, and Buell have in 500 cc sportbikes. I ride a Suzuki GS500F myself and it's something I can in good conscience recommend to most beginners.

If you want more power, and preferably have some dirt bike experience, the next step up is a 650 cc twin like a Suzuki SV650 or Kawasaki Ninja 650. Maybe the Katana 600 falls into this category too. They're quite fast compared to most things with four wheels - even a Corvette - but not quite as dangerous for a beginner as a 600 cc race replica four.

Answer 3

If you are intending to get a 600R they are all the same. (Honda, Suzuki, Kawi, Yamaha)
Pick the color you like and sit on them to see which one is best. Yes I know there are loyalists out there for all brands but they are so close that the rider make more difference than the bike does.

A 600 sport bike is a fast bike. I would not recommend it to most for learning. You better respect that bike for a long time because it can bite ya. When you are riding one day and you start to think, this aint so fast. Look out!!

Starting on a 600 is not for most but if you can control your wrist which is usually driven by ego you will be ok. If not your doomed and that bike could be a death sentence.

You may want to consider the following as starter bikes -
SV650 or 1000
FZ6
Ninja 500
Ninja 250

I like the SVs. They have there own race class and they are supurb in the corners.

Answer 4

If by street bike you mean a sport bike, a.k.a. crotch rocket, I have always favored the Yamaha R6. It is an extremely fast bike that weighs next to nothing and handles like a dream. I also feel that it is one of the more comfortable sport bikes out there. If you do get a rocket for your first bike be extremely careful, if you grab to much throttle you will find yourself on the ground in no time flat.

If you are thinking of getting something more like a cruiser, or touring bike you might want to think about going with something a bit bigger than a 600. It all depends on how comfortable you feel with a bigger bike too, but chances are if you buy a 600cc cruiser, you will want to upgrade to something bigger next year. My first cruiser is an 1100 and after having it for 1 1/2 years I am thinking about upgrading to a 1500- 1800cc bike this summer.

Sometimes the easiest way to find your bike is just to visit bike shops and try sitting on several of them to find out which is the most comfortable bike for you and then go from there.

Good luck, ride safe, and have fun with your new bike!

Answer 5

if u are considering a 600cc sport bike as ur first bike, i highly suggest u dont even think about it. sport bikes barely break 500 pounds if that, have mostly plastic and/or fiberglass that will get seriously scratched up or shatter the first time u drop it, and the water cooled engine is twice as powerful as an air-cooled engine of the same cc class.
sport bikes are for twisty roads. a long distance cruiser it aint. if u live in mostly flat land, fo-git about a sport bike; u wont have any turns to bank it to the pegs.
these bikes are also the most unforgiving bikes u can sit on. 1 wrong move, and it will put u down instantly. they do exactly what the rider tells it to do, instantly. most of them have 6 piston front brake calipers; extremely touchy and easy to lock up. u can get away with a rear wheel lockup, but u wont get away with a front wheel lockup....it will send u over the bars and on yer head.

u should first break into the biking world with a cruiser. they'd give u plenty of time to judge setting up the curves, and learning how to actually ride the bike. the cruiser's will less likely to run away from u vs the sport bikes. anyone can twist the throttle. u seriously need to take the msf course also. there's alot of things to riding than meets the eye. what u dont know can get u killed.

Answer 6

if you are begginer start with a 250 ninja or 400 kawasaki because they make the 600s to run almost as fast as most 900s serious .. try a 250 first they are comfotable and will get you used to that type of bike

Answer 7

I cant say what is best for beginners but I am going to be getting my first motorcycle this summer and I plan on getting a Kawasaki Ninja 500. My brother is also a beginner and is planning on buying a suzuki gsxr 600. I hope that helps you.

Answer 8

if you want a 600cc, and you do want to learn, stay away from the high hp bikes (gsxr,R6,RR).
try a yamaha yzf600, or a suzuki gs500f, kawasaki ninja 500...

suzuki SV650 is a great bike to start with/on. that would be the one i would reccommend.