Sooooo, you want a sportbike....

[cbirchem0724]

My first bike was an old 89 ninja 600r, was a great starter bike and i feel like it didn't have near as much power as the new i4 600cc bikes. It was also very light to help teach me how to handle a bike around a corner. I also grew up riding dirt bikes and snowmobiles and just about everything else with a engine.

I also believe that a bike is only as fast as you make it. A liter bike can be as fast a moped if you have good self control.

[The GECCO]

I also believe that a bike is only as fast as you make it. A liter bike can be as fast a moped if you have good self control.

The point of the article is that self control isn't the only factor. New riders WILL make mistakes. LOTS of mistakes. The point of the article is to buy a bike that will forgive those mistakes. Modern sportbikes, regardless of displacement, are not forgiving.

[GMR]

I started on a 250 a few months ago so think I can drop .02

If you are really serious about learning the right, safe way and you are patient, get a 250.

If you hate buying/selling vehicles which after my 250, I did, then you should really start on a 600. When I sold my Xterra on CL it was smooth sailing, met a buyer who was satisfied with my low price, we had closed the deal within 2 days. With the 250, I wish.....

When it came time to sell the 250, I had so many people waste my time in looking at the bike and talking prices, only to use my price to negotiate with another generally older bike and try to talk them down. When you set a low price to get it sold, and take time out of your schedule to show at times which always seemed to be the most inconvenient times possible and buyers just waste your time, I can't even begin to describe how much this got to me. If people want to sit on lots of different bikes or negotiate prices, go to a dealer where they're paid to be there to assist you in the first place. With private sellers, you never know how much rescheduling they have to do in order to meet with you. I had to do a lot. I guess it's the price you pay for not wanting to get ripped off by a dealer trade-in price, but as a buyer myself I don't see how people can do that. Maybe I'm too nice.

All in all, I sold mine for $350 less than I bought it for which I don't mind, but all the rescheduling and inconveniences of meeting people over the course of a month and the costs associated with buying and registering the bike add up much more. I want to move up to a 750 but am not at all excited about doing the process all over.

I can't vouch for a 750 or liter bike as I'm sure they are beast that a beginner should avoid. Not saying it isn't possible. It's the rider more than the bike. As long as you take the MSF Basic Rider Course, you should have a good feel for a bike and should be able to get on a 600 just fine I think. How safe or unsafe you choose to ride, is always up to you. You'll probably at some point decide you want more power than a 600, so you get a 750 or a liter bike. Then that's now enough, you get exhaust and power commanders, then you get a busa, then you turbo the busa... Don't think its common? Tell me how many stock literbikes you find on craigslist.. It's a sickness many of us have

Who is crazier, the beginning rider on a 600, or the more experienced rider needing a modified liter bike or Busa/ZX14R...

Just make sure you brake more than you need to before you get into a corner. Don't downshift in a corner unless you are ready to feel some tail kick.

[Drama2]

Very interesting to read all the above....I started on a Suzuki, Gladius 650 for the street. Before the street I took the basic class and a advance riding glass and was scared but excited. After that I rode in a parking on a dirt bike KTM 450, hell why not if I drop it then not much would get hurt, did this for several months until my feet, hands, eyes and brain all connected and I didn't have to think what to do. I am very happy I took all that training and parking lot time, now I know mine is not a sportbike, according to insurance it is a motor ped or something like that, but she can corner and is so easy to handle and learn to ride. I would like to move up, and if I was 21 I would have already, but my patience is there. So any advice on moving up to as what type I would like that.