Yamaha R6 first bike
Discussion
Discendo Discimus said:
Having owned both the R6 and an R1, I genuinely think the R6 is more fun and engaging.
With the R1 you can reach 90mph in first gear (sounds daft but it's true), so overtaking can be done in any gear and you could easily keep it in 3rd or 4th all day.
With the R6 you'll be using 1st to 5th quite regularly and overtaking is a bit more of an event having to build the revs.
I'd take the R6 over the R1 any day.
That’s interesting, thanks.With the R1 you can reach 90mph in first gear (sounds daft but it's true), so overtaking can be done in any gear and you could easily keep it in 3rd or 4th all day.
With the R6 you'll be using 1st to 5th quite regularly and overtaking is a bit more of an event having to build the revs.
I'd take the R6 over the R1 any day.
The last time I made the choice between the two was a Fireblade and CBR600. The ‘Blade back then would probably be considered a sports-touring bike nowadays but was the one I went for.
This question gets asked often with varying results.
Getting an R6 or there supersport bike for your first bike isn’t guaranteed to kill you. However statistically you are more likely to drop a bike/have an accident in the first few years of riding. Getting a license is the beginning of the process of learning to ride, not the end (does it ever end?)
There is also some survivor bias on here as in those whose started on big bikes and got killed or maimed unlikely to be posting!
I started with a ZX6R. In retrospect I don’t think it was the best choice, despite loving it. Would I have listened to advice at the time? Probably not.
Getting an R6 or there supersport bike for your first bike isn’t guaranteed to kill you. However statistically you are more likely to drop a bike/have an accident in the first few years of riding. Getting a license is the beginning of the process of learning to ride, not the end (does it ever end?)
There is also some survivor bias on here as in those whose started on big bikes and got killed or maimed unlikely to be posting!
I started with a ZX6R. In retrospect I don’t think it was the best choice, despite loving it. Would I have listened to advice at the time? Probably not.
Unless I've missed it this entire conversation is pointless until you've done a few insurance quotes.
I thought things would have calmed down for me after 17 years riding (since I was 17) but I'm still paying the best part of £800 on a f
king V Strom (no claims or points). My CBF500 on the other hand is £100 inc Business use.
A quote on any remotely modern superbike (say 2015 onwards) was in excess of £1,500 and supersports not much less. So it knocked that dream on the head for me as I was not paying that.
Closest I had was a Triumph Speed Four when I was 17 to 25. Basically a supersports TT600 without the fairings. It was hideously uncomfortable even then and certainly wouldn't have gotten better now I'm 33. The handling was fanstic however as I know the R6 to be as well. Absolutely fantastic round corners. I wasn't a particuarly fast or reckless rider by any means but it did encourage you to push on. I came off of it once in heavy rain due to panic braking and locking the rear wheel - had I of chosen something more sensible (like a CBF500 with ABS.....) i wouldn't have come off. Bare in mind that the majority of them have NO rider aids to rely on.
If you want a bit of fun and something nice to look at then go for it.
Don't expect it to be even remotely comfortable though. Don't expect good tank range or mileage or to be in any way shape or form practical. For the type of back road, nadgery lane riding I do now a sportsbike is fking horrendous. If you're on shorter rides but smoother roads then they're great.....
I thought things would have calmed down for me after 17 years riding (since I was 17) but I'm still paying the best part of £800 on a f
king V Strom (no claims or points). My CBF500 on the other hand is £100 inc Business use. A quote on any remotely modern superbike (say 2015 onwards) was in excess of £1,500 and supersports not much less. So it knocked that dream on the head for me as I was not paying that.
Closest I had was a Triumph Speed Four when I was 17 to 25. Basically a supersports TT600 without the fairings. It was hideously uncomfortable even then and certainly wouldn't have gotten better now I'm 33. The handling was fanstic however as I know the R6 to be as well. Absolutely fantastic round corners. I wasn't a particuarly fast or reckless rider by any means but it did encourage you to push on. I came off of it once in heavy rain due to panic braking and locking the rear wheel - had I of chosen something more sensible (like a CBF500 with ABS.....) i wouldn't have come off. Bare in mind that the majority of them have NO rider aids to rely on.
If you want a bit of fun and something nice to look at then go for it.
Don't expect it to be even remotely comfortable though. Don't expect good tank range or mileage or to be in any way shape or form practical. For the type of back road, nadgery lane riding I do now a sportsbike is f
king horrendous. If you're on shorter rides but smoother roads then they're great.....Discendo Discimus said:
With the R6 you'll be using 1st to 5th quite regularly and overtaking is a bit more of an event having to build the revs.
I'd take the R6 over the R1 any day.
That's what I didn't like about my ZX6R in the end, following traffic for a while in 6th, come to a passing place and I need to go down 3 gears so I have enough power to pass safely... I much prefer the lazy riding that a 1000cc+ bike offers nowadays.I'd take the R6 over the R1 any day.
Alex@POD said:
That's what I didn't like about my ZX6R in the end, following traffic for a while in 6th, come to a passing place and I need to go down 3 gears so I have enough power to pass safely... I much prefer the lazy riding that a 1000cc+ bike offers nowadays.
This is what edged me towards ever bigger engines in recent years. I now prefer riding at lower revs, and enjoy the feeling of the bike pulling well from the engine speed that I was already at.croyde said:
Come to think of it, back in my day lads were jumping straight on to RD250LCs with L plates.
Even after graduating to a Kawasaki Z550, I found the 2 stroke peaky Yamaha a handful when I bought one for Production Racing.
They were producing about 40bhp; an R6 is about 115bhp, so quite a lot more.Even after graduating to a Kawasaki Z550, I found the 2 stroke peaky Yamaha a handful when I bought one for Production Racing.
Ken_Code said:
They were producing about 40bhp; an R6 is about 115bhp, so quite a lot more.
I know, but I'd rather ride an R6 
Makes me laugh that my GPZ900R was considered a Super Bike back in the day, just over 100 horses I think and bloody heavy.
Now a Monster 937 or a Street Triple, both with 100 horses plus are considered good bikes to learn on
Biker9090 said:
Unless I've missed it this entire conversation is pointless until you've done a few insurance quotes.
I thought things would have calmed down for me after 17 years riding (since I was 17) but I'm still paying the best part of £800 on a fking V Strom (no claims or points). My CBF500 on the other hand is £100 inc Business use.
A quote on any remotely modern superbike (say 2015 onwards) was in excess of £1,500 and supersports not much less. So it knocked that dream on the head for me as I was not paying that.
...
I’ve had a Quick Look at one of the comparison websites, fully comp my best quote on an R6 was around £900, but the others were double that, out of interest I then quoted the Yamaha R125 which was coming in at £600, both was declaring the exhaust modification which I’d imagine isn’t helping.I thought things would have calmed down for me after 17 years riding (since I was 17) but I'm still paying the best part of £800 on a f
king V Strom (no claims or points). My CBF500 on the other hand is £100 inc Business use. A quote on any remotely modern superbike (say 2015 onwards) was in excess of £1,500 and supersports not much less. So it knocked that dream on the head for me as I was not paying that.
...
was more than I was expecting considering my multi car insurance is around £600 which covers a Ferrari and a type R which I’d imagine drives the premium up due to statistical risk.
Saying that somone suggested doing an advanced course once I passed the test which I’m seriously considering, that may help lower the insurance.
usn90 said:
I’ve had a Quick Look at one of the comparison websites, fully comp my best quote on an R6 was around £900, but the others were double that, out of interest I then quoted the Yamaha R125 which was coming in at £600, both was declaring the exhaust modification which I’d imagine isn’t helping.
was more than I was expecting considering my multi car insurance is around £600 which covers a Ferrari and a type R which I’d imagine drives the premium up due to statistical risk.
Saying that somone suggested doing an advanced course once I passed the test which I’m seriously considering, that may help lower the insurance.
Not completely out of this world at least then.was more than I was expecting considering my multi car insurance is around £600 which covers a Ferrari and a type R which I’d imagine drives the premium up due to statistical risk.
Saying that somone suggested doing an advanced course once I passed the test which I’m seriously considering, that may help lower the insurance.
That VERY rarely makes a difference to insurance costs unfortunately. Most don't make any adjustment at all. You will, however, need a beard and to talk a lot about "making progress"....
croyde said:
I know, but I'd rather ride an R6
Makes me laugh that my GPZ900R was considered a Super Bike back in the day, just over 100 horses I think and bloody heavy.
Now a Monster 937 or a Street Triple, both with 100 horses plus are considered good bikes to learn on
My first “proper” bike was an RD350 FII YPVS, a monster if a racing bike for the road on about 65bhp.Makes me laugh that my GPZ900R was considered a Super Bike back in the day, just over 100 horses I think and bloody heavy.
Now a Monster 937 or a Street Triple, both with 100 horses plus are considered good bikes to learn on
Biker9090 said:
Unless I've missed it this entire conversation is pointless until you've done a few insurance quotes...
Can I ask where abouts you live? I've never paid over £500 for my insurance and I've had about 10 bikes ranging from a Suzuki GN125 to the current KTM Superduke 1290 GT.
I'm 33 and live in Worcestershire so maybe that factors in, but I can't believe some of the quotes you guys are getting.
Discendo Discimus said:
Can I ask where abouts you live?
I've never paid over £500 for my insurance and I've had about 10 bikes ranging from a Suzuki GN125 to the current KTM Superduke 1290 GT.
I'm 33 and live in Worcestershire so maybe that factors in, but I can't believe some of the quotes you guys are getting.
Suburbs of Reading. I don't have a garage and some utter tI've never paid over £500 for my insurance and I've had about 10 bikes ranging from a Suzuki GN125 to the current KTM Superduke 1290 GT.
I'm 33 and live in Worcestershire so maybe that factors in, but I can't believe some of the quotes you guys are getting.
t down the road left his £15k GSXR parked on the pavement with a £30 Oxord Chain. Another, 50 yards from him left a Grom on the pavement with no lock or chain. Both stolen within months of each other which certainly hasn't helped things. There are also a LOT of people who have left their cars unlocked and junkies have rifled through them without finding anything or doing damage yet they still all lodged a claim...... Hence I beleive I'm in a high risk area.......
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