I was hoping to get my first bike in the next month or so. I was wondering if anyone has had, or knows someone who has had an experience with either the Suzuki GS 500, or the Kawasaki Ninja 500R. I would really appreciate any info to help me decide on a first bike. btw this is my first post.

 

Willis; I don't think you can go wrong with either. I have had good luck with Kawasaki. Just go with the one you like and that feels the best for you. Both are proven work horses. Is this going to be a brand new bike or used? Welcome aboard!

 

I am also considering my first bike, and was wondering if people could give contrasting opinions on the following bikes:

Honda CBR600F4
Suzuki SV650S
Yamaha YZF R6

I'd appreciate any advice/opinions on these bikes anyone might have!

Thanks!

 

thanks Chipster for the help. I was hoping to find a 2 or 3 year old version of either. One more question, what does a bike of this size sound like (500cc) compared to the bigger bore bikes i hear all the time.

 

oh yeah, my first choice was an sv650, but i thought that might be a lil too big for a first bike. I want to learn how to ride the right way, and figured it would be easier to do it with a smaller, lighter bike. I figured that the cbr600 f4 would be way too fast for a first bike, am i wrong?

 

Willis; Not too sure what sound has to do with anything? Given the availability of aftermarket pipes and can's you can make it sound anyway you want. First things first. Pick a bike you dig, then go to school to learn how to ride it. Sylvain; The three bikes you have asked about cover the performance spectrum. Starting with the SV650 a great entry level bike (Willis!) that can be modified to be a really quick durable motorcycle. Chris can tell you a lot about the SV650. The F4 & F3 are high performance and very capable bikes that also could be a good starter bike, but has much more power than the SV650. The R6 is pretty much at the top of the 600cc heap. It offers very high performance to a skillful rider, but it's not real comfortable on longer rides. Insurance on this bike might be prohibitive to a new rider. I think I am safe in saying that the SV 650 is a bike that most people that hang out here, would feel good about recommending to both of you.

 

I wouldn't take the F4 or the R6 as my first bike. (specially the R6, I have a '01 ) Unless you got some kinda death wish, then go ahead. I think the Kawi 500 is a nice bike to learn on, it was my first bike. I rode it for almost 1 year, then went on to the zx-6r and now the R6. Even now, I can honestly say that I still have not pushed the R6 to it's limits. And I probably never will, it's too much of a bike for a amateur like me. If you are planning to ride in a straight line without turning nor cars, then I guess you can ride any bike as your first bike. Anybody who can twist their right wrist can go very fast on a bike, but it's how low can you go

 

Very true on the comfort part, just ask my butt

I agree on the SV650 too, one of the best starter bikes out there.

 

I'm not interested in pushing my limits. However, that being said, there are many technical reasons why the R6 and F4 are superior to the SV650 in ways unrelated to horsepower. Braking power, cornering ability, styling, are just a few to name. I'm not buying a bike to go racing (I do that in the S at the track), but to have a bike that I can grow with. Every used SV650 I see is someone who got it as a "great first bike" yet they always without fail feel the need to buy a different bike within a year? I would like to make a purchase which I can grow with over a few years, and if that means being overly cautious, having a sharper learning curve to control a more powerful bike, so be it. I'm mainly asking for opinions as to ridability of each bike, is one bike more forgiving on throttle? easier turn in? smooth shifting?

 

My answer is simply this. If you feel you can handle a F3 by all means do it. BUT understand that you may over estimate your own abilities. Even a small mistake on a F series, Ninja, or R6 can cost you thousands to replace the plastic bits. The SV 650 is a whole lot cheaper to fix after a tip over. You will make mistakes! Hell we all did (do). What's wrong with a bike like a 500/650 to learn on? Then when you feel it's time to move up to something that really moves you.(pun intended) You will have some good experience to back up the urge for the new bike.