First Bike!

Wolfchild

Wolfchild

Wolfchild

Associate
Joined
5 Oct 2004
Posts
341
Location
West Lothian, well in the sticks
Long story short, was going to buy a nice soft top for the summer but after being made redundant and then getting a new job i will have a company car again :( which of course means deisel dullness and slow!

So im going to buy my first motorbike. Passed last year but never got round to getting bike etc.

So help please on whats best for me and also all the gear i need etc etc, costs too if anyone knows so i can budget out my redundancy.

Bike wise i have narrowed it down to 4 choices

CBR600
R6
ZXR6 Ninja
Triumph Speed Triple (cause i have had a soft spot for them for years)

Forgive if model numbers are wrong but you get the drift. Budget for bike approx 4k although lower better but dont want a crock!

I'm 5 10 and 13 stone and have only ridden the honda before but since i know nowt thought would ask here and see what is recommended!

Many thanks!
 
Of the bike choices, the Triumph is the odd one out, it's a great bike, a little down on build quality etc, but having bugger all fairing and different bars etc it is very different to the 600's. I'd also add in the Suzuki GSXR600, it's always been neck and neck with the others and does offer it's own 'feel' that some people prefer.
What year CBR600 was it? if it's newish model, then the ZX6R is a fraction more hardcore, the R6 is about the same, the GSXR600 is a tad more forgiving.
I'd certainly test ride them all, when I did, it was amazing how different they felt, even if they are all similar performance wise,a nd you do tend to find one of them will gel with you better, whether it be comfort/noise/suspension behaviour etc.. Also different year models can be completely different, as for example, there is a world of difference between an older ZX6R and a new ZX6..

Reliability wise, all the Jap stuff is bullet proof, and as long as it's serviced you should have no issues other then consumables.

My comment would be about the age of the bikes, all the models have evolved differently over the years, a 5 year old CBR600 is a more comfortable/cosseted ride then the newer, sharper more track focussed models, same goes for the ZX-6, there is a world of difference ride wise between an old ZX6 and a new one.. The R6 has always been track focussed, and has just improved over the years, as has the GSXR600.

Equipment wise, it's entirely up to you and your budget,
I'd always suggest leathers, practically a zip together two-piece or one piece suit. Heine Gericke are cheap and cheerful with some quality, but if you have the money, get the better brands.
Boots and a reasonable Helmet are a must, are as decent gloves..
(And an cheap waterproof oversuit stored under the seat is wise).

I'd say a minimum of £600 should get you 'started'...

Finally, if you are going to leave it un-ridden for days/weeks, I'd suggest an optimate battery charger to look after the battery!
 
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CBR600 = Indestructible, Can ride it all day but is a bit boring.
R6 = Same as above but more suited to smalller riders, No front end but wheelys Great.
ZXR6 Ninja = Awesome 600 bike that begs to be ridden, I Love the ZXR's in all sizes.
Triumph Speed Triple (cause i have had a soft spot for them for years) = What the **** :confused: A Personal choice so if they do it for you then go for it.

Not a lot of difference between most 6's so just go with your heart. Mine is with the ZXR's :cool:
Best bike I've ever ridden is a ZX9R, It rode itself & made me feel God like :D
 
malc30 said:
CBR600 = Indestructible, Can ride it all day but is a bit boring.
R6 = Same as above but more suited to smalller riders, No front end but wheelys Great.
ZXR6 Ninja = Awesome 600 bike that begs to be ridden, I Love the ZXR's in all sizes.
Triumph Speed Triple (cause i have had a soft spot for them for years) = What the **** :confused: A Personal choice so if they do it for you then go for it.

Not a lot of difference between most 6's so just go with your heart. Mine is with the ZXR's :cool:
Best bike I've ever ridden is a ZX9R, It rode itself & made me feel God like :D
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The problem with the bikes is, they have all changed over the years, the CBR and ZX6 being the two that have changed the most.. a CBR600RR is not 'a bit boring'.. older models certainly where!

A ZX9R is good, but not a patch on the GSXR1000/R1.. but again we are talking old stuff..
 
Twas an 2001 CBR600 i rode

Yeah the triumph is odd choice so should strike that as really after a sport bike

Guess i want reliable and forgiving (relatively speaking), something i can ride all day if need be and less focused.

So do we think CBR600 best then, or the ZXR, as i love the looks of them....

What brands should i be looking at for helmet and gear etc if not Heine Gericke?

Many Thanks so far!
 
Theres a lot of fairing to be repaired in that list if do drop the one you get! :D

What year are you talking for each bike and what is your budget?
 
I'd go for the CBR600 out of those for a first bike, such a forgiving smooth ride, the R6 is abit extreme in comparison, and the ZX6 (certainly the new ones) will try to bite your head off.

If your brave though a low milage ZX9R like malc says might be worth a shot, but it's in a whole different league power wise and then you would have to start thinking of gixxer 750s also though they command higher prices I guess.

The 9R was such a underrated bike mainly coz it was never updated to keep up with the R1s / Blades of the day, but it's got a monster engine and big roomy riding position.

I always used to buy the fastest bike I could afford when was younger, dangerous I know but a ton of fun to be had :)
 
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I find 600's a bit boring, yes they are fast, and the sports orientated ones go round corners well and stop in an instant, but I prefer the oomph of a 1000+ cc's

In other words, I personally would never buy another 600.
 
Gixxer would be my choice. i loooooove gixxers!

me mate has an oldish Gsxr750-srad and its lush imo:)
 
atpbx said:
I find 600's a bit boring, yes they are fast, and the sports orientated ones go round corners well and stop in an instant, but I prefer the oomph of a 1000+ cc's

In other words, I personally would never buy another 600.
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It's his first bike! A sports 600 is extremely quick in this context, a 1000 would just be idiotic for him would it not?
 
Demon said:
Heine Gericke are cheap and cheerful with some quality, but if you have the money, get the better brands.
Click to expand...

Hein Gerricke is proved to be better quality than most of the bigger brands, especially Alpine Stars and Dianese, both of which are actually quite poor in terms of protection (the do look good though!)
 
Flukester said:
I'd go for the CBR600 out of those for a first bike, such a forgiving smooth ride, the R6 is abit extreme in comparison, and the ZX6 (certainly the new ones) will try to bite your head off.

If your brave though a low milage ZX9R like malc says might be worth a shot, but it's in a whole different league power wise and then you would have to start thinking of gixxer 750s also though they command higher prices I guess.

The 9R was such a underrated bike mainly coz it was never updated to keep up with the R1s / Blades of the day, but it's got a monster engine and big roomy riding position.

I always used to buy the fastest bike I could afford when was younger, dangerous I know but a ton of fun to be had :)
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The CBR it is then, well once i ride it plus the ZX6 just to be sure.

What should i be looking for when i go to look for one, should i go dealer for warranty?
 
Get the Speed Triple or the Street Triple.
They are real world bikes for real world riders on real world roads.
You will be faster on one of those that on any sports bike unless you are an extremely competant rider.
 
Rilot said:
Get the Speed Triple or the Street Triple.
They are real world bikes for real world riders on real world roads.
You will be faster on one of those that on any sports bike unless you are an extremely competant rider.
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What about reliabilty, i know you have just got a tiger but thats much newer. Got about 4k to spend on the actual bike but want something that just needs serviced.

Have always loved the speed triple but whats the difference between that and the street?
 
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