Yamaha R6 For First Bike?

Question

I am 21 years old and I weight 170lbs. I will be taking my motorcycle course in August, so I plan to buy a bike next spring. I have never rode a motorcycle before but I do drive a manual transmission car. Do you think the R6 is a good first bike or would you recommend something else. (I really don't want to go anything under a 600cc engine).

Thank you.

Answer 1

If your dead set on a sport bike, I would suggest an fzr600  instead of the R6. It is not classed as a racing bike and it would be cheaper to insure.

Answer 2

Nope, I don't.

Been riding years and I can't even begin to explain why your idea is a bad one.

Answer 3

Maybe, just MAYBE the R6S would be better, but I'd recommend an SV650SF or Ninja 650R first.  Your age only matters to the insurance companies (and boy, will they ever see you coming!), and your weight is not an issue unless you are over 250lbs or so.

Riding takes skills you DO NOT HAVE YET, and your course will only teach you the basics; it won't make you a good rider.  You know what a clutch is but that doesn't give you any advantage, it only makes your class a little easier.

Answer 4

I'd tend to agree - it's not the engine size though, the 600 class are designed for outright speed & handling - they need concentration & skill, as do all bikes, but a lapse on a 600 can & will hurt or kill you. Do some advanced rider training - in the UK, I think that Honda still offer this with all new bikes, and go for a more stable machine - if you're after a big bike, a Honda VFR 750 or 800 has around the same performance as a 600, but are far more stable & tractable. Personally, I would suggest you sharpen up your reflexes first on a 400 import - all the big makers do them, they're great!

Answer 5

My 2nd ever bike was a Honda Blackbird, i learned the hard way, which is why i now have no legs and live my life in a wheelchair!!

You should be aware that if you don't die on it, you could end up a cripple for life, its not much fun, trust me!!

Answer 6

If you can learn a respect for the bike, it will be fine. Typically, R-Bikes should be left to intermediate to advanced riders. Most people just completely under-estimate the power of these machines. With the typical 600cc R-bike coming in at a touch over 100WHP with under 400lbs, It's a street legal racing machine. Everything down to the brakes is touchy. But I'm sure you'll do fine so long as you neglect to act in a.. stupid manner while on it. Also remember. Most cars on the road don't have much respect for a motorcycle. They will pull out infront of you thinking that you can slow down just as fast as them. Just don't act careless.

Cheers!

Answer 7

Not a good bike for a beginner, not to mention the high cost of insurance on sportbikes. I would suggest a Yamaha V-Star 650, Honda Shadow 750, or something along that line of bikes AND a motorcycle rider safety course to boot.............

Answer 8

>> I have never rode a motorcycle before

Sure... Get yourself the R6.  Just know that it will probably kill you.

http://home1.gte.net/res0ak9f/bike.htm

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You need to respect the dangers of riding.  You are still learning well into 1 or 2 years of riding.  Riding a motorcycle is 25 to 30 time MORE DANGEROUS than driving a car.  You don't take short cuts on motorcycle safety.

I ride and I well respect the dangers.  So I don't do stupid stuff when I ride.  Riding a bike I'm not ready for is VERY STUPID and dangerous.

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Yes you will out grow a small 250cc bike.  But many people out grow R6.  So using that logic, everybody should start with a 1000cc bike or bigger.

NOT !!

good luck...

P.S.  Sorry to be so blunt.