Ninja 650R vs. ZZR600

I'm 19 and just finished the MSF riders course and now I plan on getting my first bike. I'm looking at the Kawasaki Ninja 650R and the Kawasaki ZZR600. Any recomendations?  

Everything I've read, including both Sport Rider and Cycle World's roundups of bikes that included the 650R, indicates that the 650R would be the better starting point of the two.  

I would not reccomend a ZZR600 as a first bike. It is simply a Ninja ZX6R from a few years ago with a more upright and comfortable riding position. It literally is a ZX6r as I said and while it's not quite as fast/powerful as the brand new ones, it's not very far off at all.

The two bikes are simply in different leagues. Having said that though if you have a good head on your shoulders I don't have anything against people getting 600cc Supersport bikes, as long as you respect it you'll be ok. I want a ZZR600 too, however, I'm 19 and ride a Ninja 250 because I'll probably hurt myself on a bike like that at this point in my life lol. Not to mention getting 65MPG @ 10,000 rpms all day is nice for a money strapped college student like myself. For a first bike though and especially if you don't have much experience the 650 will be much more accomodating.

Seriously though, your my age and I know I wanted bigger and better but get a bike small enough to learn on and then move up. I smoke squids riding 600's all the time in the twisties around here on my lil' 250...and I've only been riding a few months.

Not to sway you though...as you should get what you want. But if you want a ninja 650 I think you should look into the Suzuki SV650 I think it is a better bike to grow into and has a more aggressive riding position.  

I think it's best to do the "ladder up" approach with motorcycles, myself. Though I started on a 500R, which isn't really much more powerful than a 250R. I am currently riding a ZX600R, with plans to move to a ZX6 or a liter bike in the near future. The point is to know your own limitations early and start where you are comfortable. I think a lot of men buy motorcycles based on peer pressure or bravado or a need to show off, or a attempt to display their manliness and sexual prowess. "Hey look at me, first time rider, riding this R1. I'm a man with big balls and I am better than you, MR. 250 rider." Such thinking will get you quick and dead......  

I just bought a 2007 ZZR600, and I couldnt be more happy with it. This is my first bike, Though I did ride when I was 18 (Katana 600), I am basically a newbie.

The ZZR is comfortable, easy to ride and though extremely fast, not over intimidating.

For the money, its a great middle-size bike.