Pros and Cons of a 600cc for first bike

You can absolutely start on a 600 and survive. Should you? Not if you're smart. Sportriding is full of people who started on their liter-class dream bikes and shortchanged themselves in the process, skipping crucial steps to developing good bikehandling skills. They'll probably never be more than mediocre riders.  Moderate power means you concentrate on braking and handling skills, the things that separate good riders from bad ones--also the things that tend to keep you alive during your first year. Acceleration capability is the last thing you need.

Starter bikes have great resale value. If you sell it within a few thousand miles, so what? It means you've progressed.  You can't grow out of a bike you never grew into.  

I'd have to say that if you've never ridden before (like me), it's probably just your ego telling you that you can handle a big bike.

I'm only 125 pounds, so it would be stupid for me to get a big, snarling bike not only because I'm a beginner, but because I physically would not be able to stop that bike from tumping over.

Yeah, wouldn't I be hot *** with a Hayabusa between my legs...but I'm hotter alive than I am dead or paralyzed.  
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I dont know i guess it depends on the rider.  My whole life i would constantly dream of waking up and finding a motorcycle in my driveway.  1 year ago i finally made that dream come true.  I started off on a katana 600. Rode that for a year and bought an 07 R1.  I even named her Ruby. Ive been told im a natural rider by several different instructors.  I dont know if its because ive just watched so many hours of people racing or have just been visualizing myself on a bike my entire life.  

The only thing i can say to a fellow beginner is use common sense.  Respect your bike no matter what size it is. If it doesnt feel right, something really is wrong, slow down till it does feel right.  

My first bike was an 06 Kawasaki Ninja 250cc. That was perfect for a beginner bike. My dad builds bikes so I had been on them since I was a kid. B4 I got the 250 I hadn't been on a bike for about 8 years so I was kinda starting over again, and my husband had never been on a bike b4 and I finally talked him into getting one so I had to teach him how to ride. After 6 months my bike was stolen, and now I am looking at getting a 600 my only fear is that they are too heavy and if I drop it I won't be able to pick it up, that and I need to have it lowered bc i am too short! I don't think I would have started on a 600 but to each his own, if you think you can handle a 600 you will soon find out! Have fun and be safe!  

start small & work your way up the ranks, learn to walk before you run. no amount of respect for the power of the bike can replace skill, skills operate the bike & you can only get more skills through more seat time & acquiring skills on a 100+hp supersport bike is very difficult at the least & it's more likely you'd drop the bike a few times during the process.

get used bike to learn on, dropping a brand spanking new sportbike isn't cheap to repair.  

I agree...I have riden dirt bikes in my younger days and at 32 just got my first street bike last year and have put 7500 miles on it. The zzr600 seems perfectly balanced to me; as said...the front end isn't going to come up on you unless you're in first gear and lean back on the handlebars at full throttle. It is very smooth and predictable and generates great power at high rpms which flirts with the front wheel to just barely come off the ground but not quite. It's almost as if it was designed as a full racer learning bike so you get the best of both worlds; pleanty of control with no surprises and pleanty of power to take your breath away at high revs. It's very light and easy to handle at lower speeds as well; myself being only 170 lbs it isn't overbearing. Plus it has a comfortable riding position for all day cruising but yet allows you to crouch into it like a full supersport...so yet again; kind of the best of both worlds. There is no doubt I would like to get a 1000cc later but this bike more than satisfies my need for speed and really screams! You won't be dissappointed with it. As long as you have good reflexes and are fairly agile AND good judgement you'll be fine on it. Riding in traffic is defenitely more scary than the bike itself. So defenitely get used to any bike on the back roads before you venture out onto the interstate or down town traffic. You don't want to have to think about what gear you're in or how to handle the bike; it should be second nature before city driving so you can concentrate on the cars and trucks that, if you get in the way off; will run you over like a tin can. May God be with us and keep us safe. "A superior rider uses superior judgement to avoid dangers that require his superior skill."  

I quickly went from a Yamaha YBR125 to a Suzuki GS500, and now the Yamaha Fazer600 FZS and can honestly say that in my opinion a bigger bike is easier to ride, however, nothing will ever replace respect for the machine you are riding. An advantage of a bigger bike is that it can get you out of trouble as much as not riding one properly can get you into trouble; many a time, riding the streets of London, I have been pushed and forced into oncoming traffic by pathetic car drivers whilst on the 125...with a bigger bike, you have the power to dictate the circumstances to a much better degree. I have also found that the bigger the bike, the more respect you get from most car drivers; something to consider, I hope? Anyway, I'm sure we all wish you many years of fun riding whatever you choose to get, after all, travelling by bike is the only way to travel.  

I bought a new 2005 Yellow GSX-R600 for my first bike.  I was also skeptical of what size bike to purchase, since I was new to street bikes. I didn't want something that would be popping the front tire in the air everytime I changed gears, but a bike I could ride fairly aggressive.  The 600 is a great starter bike if you are new to street bikes, but after riding it for awhile I wish that I would have went with the 750.
Bryan  

Get something that you are comfortable on and with. Do not let your friends decide what is right for you because after all, they're NOT you. I've done it all for along time on midsize bikes, a BMW R65LS was my ride for years! It was replaced by a Ducati 750 SS of "93" vintage. Both bikes did/and are doing EVERYTHING I asked of them. What could be better?

You're going to reach a point where you'll want more power but steer clear of mega-motors for now. Just riding is going to be reward enough. Don't overload yourself with "motorcycle", instead overload yourself with fun!  

I ve been riding for about ten years and started out on a 99 r6. while i eventually learned to ride after 2 major accidents and a few track days, if i had it to do over ,i would start on a much smaller bike, like a 250.the newer 600s are much too powerful and much too responsive for a new rider.  

That 600 will scare you if you whack the throttle open. It's plenty of bike.
A 250 will bore you to death after 6 months. What a dilemma.

Get the 600, just please use good sense.  

bmgcya:
That 600 will scare you if you whack the throttle open. It's plenty of bike.
A 250 will bore you to death after 6 months. What a dilemma.

Get the 600, just please use good sense.

It's really not a dilemma.  You compare a 250 vs. 600 by implying there are no suitable options in between.  

The SV650, Ninja 500, GS 500, and Ninja 650 are just a few alternatives that will put in a good beginner power range.  You won't have the whoa *** power of super sport, but you won't get bored.  

I just bought a 600cc as my first bike two weeks ago, but I'm kind of a coward when it comes to operating things I've never been familiar with. So I've been super careful with it and it seems to be working out ok. But I will say that I could've gone with a 250cc and been happier, since this is my first manual transmission that I've ever operated daily and I weigh 130lbs. It is a lot to handle to learn on.  

its not too late to trade it in for a 250. My first bike was a 1999 R6. Although I eventually learned, thanks to two accidents and numerous track days, If I had it to do over again, I would start with a 250. Good luck and take your time out there.  

I think the gs500 or ninja 500 are a good choice around 50 hp and they are cheap.  
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