New rider looking for help on first bike... well kind of.

[jodieKti2]

Hi there! 

 

In January I passed my test and got my full license.  In February I did the sensible thing and got a zx4R which I kind of regretted after a month or so.  In April a friend let me ride his R6 and shortly afterwards I sold my 4R.   I should have just got a 600 of some variety right from the get go but didn't!  So I'm now looking at getting either a R6, zx6R or CBR600RR.  I've ridden all 3 and still can't decide which to get.  The R6 is a little more edgy and uncomfortable but exciting, the zx6R seems a good all round sports bike and the CBR seemed to be a little more manageable than the other 2.  But as I'm not exactly the most experienced rider yet and a short test ride doesn't really give you much insight those opinions aren't exactly based on much so I'm looking for help and advice on what to get.   It's mainly for ride outs during the summer night and weekends, the occasional commute but as I love riding it could end up being more.   Budget is < 5K and I'd like to keep it longer than the 4R.    

 

I understand that with the right rider a 4R could be just as quick round a track than the bikes mentioned but those high revs on a 600 are totally addictive!  

..

 

Edited Thursday at 17:50 by jodieKti2

[bonio]

Yes. A 600 inline 4 is the right bike for anyone with a slightly lunatic streak. I know... I had one.

If I were you I'd just go for the one that's most comfortable to ride as this is the one you will ride more, and for longer distances. Id have thought that the other differences between them, while they exist, are less important.

[jodieKti2]

If I want comfort I'll use my car as it's got heating and a radio plus I do my lippie in the mirror

 

Dunno about lunatic streak as being female I don't have the same need to prove how big something is but riding that R6 got me very excited  even though it was just a short ride!  The reason I got rid of the zx4r was it lacked the noise and that "Holy shit" feeling that makes all the right senses tingle that's for sure and for me that's part of the appeal of owning a bike.  

 

The R6 felt more twitchy than the zx6R.  Is that normal or was the one I rode just poorly maintained or something?

 

I've narrowed it down to a 2003 R6 or a 2008 ZX6R  (but green doesn't really match my handbag).  Should have enough left over for a new handbag or either a  Akprovic or Austin racing exhaust.        

Edited Thursday at 20:10 by jodieKti2

[onesea]

You obviously know what you want, inline 4's are great bikes.  Smooth powerful etc

As you say you don't know how or why you will end up riding - 10 years ago my first big bike was an FZ6-N imagined as similar usage to you. 

The second winter riding was enough, fairing quickly sneaked in on the agenda and various bikes from 125 to 1200 cc later.  My suggestion don't think of a bike as forever thing bikers change bikes more often than you change handbags like handbags frequently having more than 1.

When buying look at the maintenance history.   Do you want to spend more time cleaning your bike or riding it?  Be aware if buying older faired bikes, replacement fairing and parts can become challenging.

Your a new rider you will drop it, hell even after 10 years it happens.

Why my present choice of bike? I rarely ride on motorways, when on main A roads they are famous for zero tolerance and my licence is now important to me.     
85mpg compared with 40mpg for my last 1200cc  I have found for me at the moment, there is more fun to be had on a dirty twisty B road than the busy cluttered and policed A roads.

Then its taken me a fair few bikes to get to this point,  your milage may differ and go down another avenue.

So my advice buy with eye to selling, consider splitting the budget and getting 2 bikes!

Edited yesterday at 00:36 by onesea

[jodieKti2]

13 hours ago, onesea said:

So my advice buy with eye to selling, consider splitting the budget and getting 2 bikes!

 I'll probably end up with a few different types of bikes as I would like an enduro style bike at some point but I'll always have some kind of sports/super sports bike.   

 

I dropped my 4R twice, once in a car park at slow speed trying to manoeuvre out of a parking space, that was embarrassing and the other time I just kind of fell off it for no apparent reason while stationary.   Once you accept you will drop it at some point and that you'll have moments when you wished you wore your brown pants riding a bike seems less scary.