first bike????

I have been riding my friends sv650s for about 4 months now and i have decided on getting either the 05 GSX-R600 or an Yamaha R6. Can anybody tell me which is the better choice and why?

p.s. go easy... i know those arent beginner bikes  

If you already know what we're going to tell you, why ask. You're probably just going to do what you want anyway.

Neither bike is a good choice. 4 months? Please. I've been riding for 14 years and my 600 still teaches me to respect it now and again.  

Read this: http://forums.sportrider.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=1805&an=0&page=0#1805

Then get some professional rider training, like www.msf-usa.org

Then get your bike.

Better for what and whom? Modern motorcycles are so good these days, "better" is highly subjective. Either bike would offer a level of performance not many riders this side of a roadracer or motorjournalist can tap. Both offer as much 600cc street cred as the other.

Regardless of which you choose and for whatever reason, it is highly doubtful that you'll be disappointed.

Cheers.  

ok, better question... which bike is more comfortable because i plan on going on long rode trips as well as riding with my buddys?  

It seems like theres quite a few people who went from SV650s to Yamaha YZF600Rs (no not the R6, Yamaha's other full fairing 600).  I kinda did it backwards but if you're looking for comfort the YZF600R is about as comfortable as you're gonna get in a sportbike.  You'll have a hard time finding anyone to say it's not one of the most comfortable sportbikes out there, if not the most comfortable.

Heres a good review of the bike from Motorcycle.com

Then theres this little gem from Sportrider that has a lot of good info in it.

This pic below shows how the YZF600R would be more comfortable than the R6.  It doesn't look like a huge difference, you can tell the YZF600R is still a race replica sportbike but you can DEFINATELY feel it.  Things you don't see in that how much more comfy the seat on the YZF600R is and how much bigger the YZF600R's fairings are than the R6....which are great when you do take those longer road trips.



This dynochart below is of a YZF600R VS a carb'd 2002 R6 (so an '05 will have more uptop, but not any more in the midrange or down low really) so you can see that the YZF600R lacks the top end of the new supersports but in this graph the YZF600R makes more power up until 10k rpms.  So you just gotta think how often on the road are you above 10k vs below 10k.  Now I'm not saying the YZF600R is faster, it's not, I'm just saying it can keep up just fine on the street.



If the YZF600R isn't to your liking I'd say take a look at Triumph's Daytona650.  It makes more horsepower than any other 600 (including '05 R6s and GSXR600s) below 11-12k rpms, it's a little bigger/more comfy than a R6/GSXR600 and it's cheaper than those two also.  

thanks for the info enp83, but im kinda dedicated to getting either the GSX or the R6.  I've heard alot of diff. things about the comfort diff. of these two bikes... and can somebody just give me a staight answer plz?  

That's fine, they're both equally uncomfortable...they're modern day race replicas after all.  Seriously, 600RR/R6/GSXR600/ZX6R are all more or less equally uncomfortable.  Have you sat on both a R6 and a GSXR600 yet?  If you haven't you might as well go do that and decide for yourself, between the two of those comfort (like performance) really shouldnt be a deciding factor.

And different people will say one bike is more comfortable than the other.  Some may say the R6 is more comfortable becasue the bars are closer to the seat, others will say the GSXR is more comfortable because the bars are farther away from the seat.  Those who like the closer reach to the bars of the R6 will say they don't feel like they have to lean down as far and the GSXR guys will say  they're lessed cramped on their bike.  Is either bike more comfortable, not really, it's just preference.  

Sorry to be so harsh shifty, but you're just walking right into it. First you ask which of two HIGH PERFORMANCE, RACETRACK SPECIALIZED motorcycles would be the right choice for someone who is learning how to ride. When you don't get the answer you want to hear, you ask the equally rediculous question; Which HIGH PERFORMANCE, RACETRACK SPECIALIZED motorcycle is comfortable for long distance riding. Niether dude, niether! You might want to rethink if you're ready for this. Seriously, I'm not just trying to rip into you.  

imo, -R6 is more "comfy".

But I agree with realfastbill. This is all moot since both bikes are rather unsuited for a novice rider and a new rider already has plenty of concerns to worry about above and beyond a 600cc supersport's ergonomics.

Again, www.msf-usa.org. Finish that and then go about finding a bike.

Cheers.  

ok, i get the point. Now can you just tell me why it is that a 600cc bike is not for a novice? Im not trying to be an ass, I really wanna know. What, is it the power of the bike or the way its shaped or what?  

Most of the answers to your questions can be found in this thread. On this forum.
http://forums.sportrider.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=1805&an=0&page=0#1805

Since you want the executive summary, in essence, a 600cc supersport is like handing the keys to a Corvette or Viper to a new driver who just got their license. Doable? Yes. Sensible? Perhaps not.

With a bike like the -R6 and GSX-R600, you have a two-wheeled vehicle that offers performance equal to and in many cases, above that of a `Vette or Viper. Combine this with the fact motorcycles are inherently more demanding to operate than cars- they are less stable (either a sidestand holds it up or the rider is balancing the thing) and more vulnerable (no such thing as airbags, crumple zones, sheet metal or seat belts on a motorcycle)- and you have just got yourself a bike that makes the learning curve towards riding proficiency a lot steeper than it needs to be.

Sure, the manufacturers market these things as entry-level sportbikes and I'm sure riders out there start on a 600 but in every case I have witness, the average new rider who start out on a more "modest" bike become better and safer riders. Quicker and easier.

Ultimately, the choice is up to you. It's a free country and you can take these opinions or you can leave them.

Good luck and whatever you decide, get some professional rider training and make it a point to always ride within the limits of self, environment and bike.

Cheers.  

Thanks for the helpful info Tevo and ill think about what you said, but to be honest im prob still gonna get a 600cc. Probably the R6. My friend started out on it & has been doing ok. Even though he admits that its harder to learn on such a overpowered bike. He said he would try and coach me a little then gets sent to the middle east... damn it. So hopefully I can keep the rubber side down while learning on my own.  

Ya good... Its you hard earned money get what you want... The important thing is to get the right safty gear, and ride with someone while getting use to the bike. I rode around on a SV650S for 2 days then got a 03 636 now a 2005 GSXR750..  I like the Suzuki myself but the R6 is a good choice  

I've heard that the new Gixxers handlebars are low and with my 5'7 figure a R6 would be more comfy. Atleast thats what i've heard...  

hey, nothing wrong with the middle east. big community of riders here, except we still have to get organized! clean roads and lots of space. he'll probably come to dubai if he hears about it. my exgirlfriend came from houston to visit and she described it as a mix between vegas and beverly hills...