First off, I read thru the sticky and found it very helpful. It mostly reinforced what I'd already read, but drove home some good points.

Anyhow, I want to purchase my first bike and I am looking for suggestions.

To start with, I am registered to take the Bike Rider Safety Course in a few weeks and I'll obviously be doing that before any other riding. I am 26, never had any traffic issues, and consider myself a safe driver.

I don't plan to buy anything without full leathers, helmet, gloves, etc.

I am wondering what bikes people here suggest to start with? I love the look of the CBR600, but I think that's too much bike to start with. I was leaning towards a Ninja 500 because it has similar looks to the CBR, but has (what I think) is a more reasonable displacement for a new rider.

Just wondering the take of you guys.

 

I started on on a GS500F. It is basically the same as a Ninja 500, but with a little more agressive look. IMO it was a great starter bike. Maybe check into one of those.

 

IMO, it's not the displacement so much as the hardcore race-oriented nature of today's 600 and 1000cc sportbikes that makes them not such a good idea for newbs or for experienced riders who want a good STREET bike.

You'll be a helluva lot more comfortable and confident on a Ninja 250/500/650 or SV650 or Gladius or FZ-6 or etc. etc., and IMO you'll have more FUN than you would on a CBR-RR, ZX-R, R1 or R6, or GSXR. And you'll spend way the hell less money.

 

I prefer the nakeds for looks and riding position, but there are also faired models that give you the bodywork of a sports bike with the more upright riding position. FZ6, SV650, 599, etc.

 

Nakeds tend to cost less when you drop them at zero MPH (less/no cracked bodywork). Another plus for a noob.

 

tha cbr 600rr was my first bike ever, and i love every minute of it

 

I love the look of the CBR, but my wife is a little nervous about the bike thing so I am trying to approach it in the most convincingly safe way possible.

I think that includes a smaller bike to start with. A few thousand dollars for her to be accepting and happy w/ this hobby is worth it to me.

 

Another good bike to start on are the 1980's honda CB's. My first bike was a 86 450 nighthawk. only things i ever had to do to it was clean the carbs, and replace a throttle cable. i had it for 3 years and it was a perfect bike to start on.
those bikes are wicked cheap, reliable, easy to fix if something breaks, and really forgiving for a new rider.

 

Start with a 250CC. For a beginner bike, anything larger is just not necessary, and IMHO, counterproductive.

 

-get a bikey large enough to challenge you for a couple of years
-varies if your in shape, takes about 2mo to get used to the sportbike riding position, nothing odd here most bicycles are this way and its accepted. when was the last time you saw someone on a single speed bicycle who was not on his way to drug rehab.
-get out of the 90's, fuel injection + an ecu are functional
-there are lots of sportbike parts plastics, lo cost, on sites like gixxer.com, people parting out crashed bikes. you could strip off the oem plastics and buy sharkskinz. get some sliders
-consider the weight of the bike and how much junk is on the bike.

again everyone is different. in my office someone was doing some hi voltage testing and he just had to touch the thing. not getting a big enough jolt he also touched ground with the other hand. this person should get the single speed bicycle. anyone can ride a 1 liter motorcycle, just dont go fast. ride within your limits and with understanding friends.