1st bike and I want to buy a R1 or GSXR1000 and need advise

I am currently in the market for a bike, I've never rode on anything except for a pocket bike once.  I'm more interested in a GSX-R1000 or R1 but I've been told that it would be better to stick with a GSX-R600 or R6.

I know that the more powerful bikes arent for a beginner rider but I know that I will be looking to upgrade as soon as I get the hang of how to control the power of a 600.  

I currently own a 700+hp car that goes low 10s in the 1/4 mile so I am not afraid of going fast but I think I am controled enough to not push the bike more than my limit.  

I know that having a fast car doesnt mean I can control a fast bike but my plans would be to take the bike to the drag strip once I am comfortable with it and this is one of my main concerns since I dont want to be looking to sell a 600 6mths after I buy it for a 1000.  

Any advise would be greatly appreciated.  

I sugggest you start with an SV650 then go to R1 or GSXR1000. if you want to go as fast as your 700HP car then I have an 03 BUSA for sell...  

My 03 busa is fast enough to take to the drag strip. It might get you to reach 200mph on a 1.5 miles strip. theres few mods done to this busa.  

for the street you dont need anything more than a 600.  i took my 600RR down the strip and ran mid 10's on a pretty much stock bike.  there is no possible way to out grow a 600 SS bike on the street.  maybe on the track (not drag strip) to an experienced track rider.  as your first bike i highly recommend not to even go with a SS bike.  if you must have a SS then go with a 600.  a SS bike is not very forgiving.  if you dont have the bike experience then it will probably be too much bike for you in the regards to being forgiving not power.  get some experience and ride for about a year then get what you want.  you are going to drop your first bike.  i dont know anyone that hasnt done it.  2 types of riders out there, one that has gone down and one that will go down.  you are going to get what you want but i just thought i would throw in my .02.  i dropped my 2nd bike, brand new with less than 200 miles.  

An R1 or the Gixxer for a first bike? I don't know if one could even call the 600's you're looking at 'first-bike' material. I don't want to rain on your 1000cc parade, & I'm sure you are confident in your abilities in the car, however built for sraight line speed cars, and twisty back road eating bikes are not the same species at all. You are very correct in the statement that control in a fast car and on a fast bike are very different things. The current 600's on the market are about as fast as the very best liter bikes of 4 or 5 years ago. Don't worry about outgrowing a 600 too soon, certainly not in 6 months. 99% of the people who ride for years, take race classes and get out for track days never even get close to squeezing all the potential out of their bikes. That being said, the R1 (& R6) is a better handling bike the the Gixxer in my opinion. Why not sign up for a race school day a see what you think of the 600's in a controlled environment before commiting either way?  

I had an '85 S-10 Blazer that ran 7.40's in the 1/8th mile and was my work truck, but I never rode it at 170 MPH while sitting out on the hood with nothing but air around me or tried taking a corner at 60 MPH in it. In other words, nothing about a car translates to riding a high powered bike. I took the MSF course before I bought a $2500.00 600 Bandit. I still have it but I moved on to a VFR in a month and a half. My wife ended up taking it over, but it was still instructional. When you buy a bike, buy something that you can crash without losing a bunch of money, because you will crash. Also, it will be your first bike but probably not your last. Get something cheap (used), naked (save the cost of replacing plastic) and expendable (a rat). You won't regret it.  

DO NOT GET AN R1 OR GSXR1000 as a first bike! I dont care how much power your car has, having either one of these bikes will leave you dead or without a license. even 600's are fast as *** and most definintely more than enough for the road.  save yourself the pain and speeding tickets and start off easy. even an sv650 is fast. dont underestimate these machines - they will bite you in the ass harder than any 700 horsepower car.  

You want to end up in a box, get the R1 or gixxer 1000. Reality is, start with a mellow bike. Anyone can let the clutch out and and go for a ride, but there is so much to learn. I have ridden for about 25 years now, and currently ride a 600RR...which I probably cant ride to its full potential. I know the liter bikes are way bitchin, and the chicks dig a guy with the bad-ass crotch rocket..but give yourself time on a "slow" bike, get practice riding well and develop good habits. I gaurantee that the R1 and big-boy gixxer's will be around for years..so good luck.  

hi i dont feel like typing a whole letter but yes jwelchy is no fool ive been riding for 36 years and ride a bmw airhead and 07 gixxer 600 and im no slug. learn to ride first dont be a fool even a 600ss  IS NOT a starter bike your gonna fall over ALL-ALL-ALL beginners fall you drop that new bike and your gonna cry like your girl just died..get a old dirt or street bike 250-500cc and have fun then with experience move up.good luck see ya in the corners....  

Hey guy by all means pay close attention to these guy's and their advice. A 600 is more than enough power to weight ratio than you will ever need on the street and the track short of modifications to the motor when u arrive at that level. I ride a 600 and do most of my riding on the track for several reasons. To many think that hitt'in canyons makes you fast, NOT!! the canyons do not allow consistent speeds like the track does less danger when on track. Too many friends have died right in front of me while Sunday riding the canyons, Please save yourself the trouble of these tragedies learn really how to control a bike and then make that upgrade later you will probably stay with the 600 because you will wear guy's out that are riding 1000's,which will give you a sense of accomplishment  

Let's see here, R1 or gixxer one thou???  Hmmmm...NEITHER!  Sportbikes are real easy to make go fast,and I mean real easy but get hard on the brakes and see what happens. Start on a 600 or a 750.  You wont be that poser rolling around with a chicken strip thinking hes all that and a bag of chips.    

Listen, it isnt about "Posing with chicken strips, and Busa's doing 200.  Its what these last few threads have eluded to, life!

Be smart, start off right, and work your way into it.  Same as you did with a 700hp car. You didnt get into that at 16 for your first car.

So, there you have it!
EVERY REPLY HERE IS SUGGESTING THAT YOU START WITH SOMETHING A BIT MORE MANAGEABLE!
Be smart!


Not that you cant handle it, but others on the road will give you some scares. If you're not comfortable you're likely to end up crippled or dead.  

Wow, another squid to get in my way.  Gotta love these poser wannabes, great for getting cheap parts later on.  

OKAY. LET'S TAKE ANOTHER ROUTE. HAVE CHECKED INTO COST OF THE BIKE AND INSURANCE COVERAGE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE 600 CC VS. THE 1000 CC? NOW THAT WOULD BE A REAL REASON WHY TO LOOK AT THE 600 CC BIKES. I TRUELY THINK THAT YOU DON'T CARE ABOUT ANYTHING WE HAVE TO SAY AND YOU ARE GOING TO BUY WHATEVER YOU WANT, BUT COLD HARD CASH HELPS TO MAKE A CHOICE. AS A FORMER MOTORCYCLE SALESMAN, I'VE SEEN ALOT OF MOTORCYCLE DREAMS GET CRUSHED BY THE INSURANCE AGENT. I REALLY HOPE TO HEAR MORE OF YOUR QUESTION DOWN THE ROAD!! MAKE A GOOD SOLID CHOICE BASED ON THE RIGHT REASONS.  

If your going to drag race buy a Busa or ZX14R. But if your going to carve caynons or the track, that takes skill which is not easy to learn on modern sport bikes. I started my son on dirt bikes then a KZ650, 750 Katana, ZX10R. He was learning quickly until the ZX, and he even will say so.