Which is better a 600 or 1000 for a new rider?

I am looking to buy a street bike and have been told that due to my height (6'1")  that I need to buy a 1000. I am haven't ridden in 20 years so I don't want to have to buy a 1000 if possible until I get used to ridding again.  I have been looking between the gsxr's and R- series or possbily Honda?

Any advice much appreciated  

If you haven't ridden in 20 years, I wouldn't say a 1000cc full-sport bike is a wise decision.  I started on a 636 Kawi in 2003 and that decision, although a good one, was borderline.  I don't have the Kawi anymore, but I am 6'3" and am thinking about the Triumph Sprint ST for Sporty Comfort, with the touring capabilities.  But then again, the adrenaline junkie in me is dreaming about the ZX-14.  All I can say is that the bike will only do what you tell it to do, so go with what feels more comfortable, and ride safely!!  Peace and hair greece!!  

I don't know what you were riding 20 years ago, but I definitely would not recommend starting again on the 1000.  When I first started going to track days on my R6, I could ride around nearly everyone in the level 1 group who had a 1000.  Those guys all do the same thing - whack it in the straights, park it in the corners.  The incredible power of the literbikes makes new riders very timid in the turns.

The ergos might be a *little* cramped for you on a 600, but not by much compared to the literbikes.  I'd actually not even recommend a 600 supersport to a new or re-entry rider like yourself.  I would recommend something a little easier to handle first.  Maybe get a used Suzuki SV650 for a few months first, get used to riding again, sell it for nearly what you bought it for, then move on.  

Just my 2 cents, but I second OrangeDog's post.  From everthing I understand, a late model 600 super sport will be quicker and more demanding then any bike made 20 years ago.  An SV650 would be a good choice.

I've read in these forums of several taller guys that ride the SV and they haven't mentioned any ergo issues.  

if you want to be able to go fast when you want but not when you dont, and have the rev ability of a 4 cyl, a kawasaki zzr600 is probably a pretty good choice. thats what i ride and i love it.  unlike many of the current supersports its still carbed.  its the same bike as the 2002 zx-6r, with raised clip-ons.  super fun and easy to handle.  i dont know if your height would be a prob or not though, cause im a little short guy (5'5")  

Alright brotha, lemme see if I can help you out here. I started on an old school 600, that made roughly 50 hp. I thought it was one of the fastest things I had ever experienced. Two years later I bought my R6 with more than twice the power than the previous bike and thought I was handling a rattle snake like I was the Steve Irwin or something. I rode it for 2 years then I bought the R1 I have now. Now I'm 6'3" and 245 and not once did I think the R6 was underpowered because I was taller than a lot of the guys I ride with.

Todays 600cc sport bikes are making more power and torque than the liter bikes of 20 years ago. To put it in perspective my R6 would blow the doors off most any high powered sports cars in a 1/4 mile drag and my R1 would just plain slaughter a Z06 vette. There is no way to describe how hard the 1000cc machines pull and words cannot express how fast and tempermental they are. The throttle response is frightening and it goes from devilishly fast to "ludicris speed" in mere seconds.

I always reccomend a sport bike with less than 100hp to new or returning riders for at least a couple seasons. Older model R6, GSXR, CBR or Ninja would do just fine. The bikes themselves are so similar in ergo to the 1000cc bikes that comfort is attainable on 600. So don't buy into that "your a big guy, get a liter bike" garbage. Learn technique and develop your skill before hoping into the saddle of a 1000cc bike. You'll be glad you did.

Have fun and happy riding.

PS. yeah any bike will only do what you tell it too, but sometimes you didn't mean to tell it what you did and 1000's don't pay as much attention to you as a 600 when you say "oops my bad".