Yamaha R6 first bike

[usn90]

At the age of 33 I have the urge to acquire a bike licence, like
Cars I find I have an certain taste, and the only type of bike I’d be interested in are the (super?) bikes.

I find sound a big factor, this ticks the box for me

https://youtu.be/gHQACjaXgLQ?si=73dlgDpamTHqVlhG

Could a total novice jump straight onto an R6 or would I end up dead, one friend mentioned an R7 would be perhaps more sensible whereas another friend said an R6 given respect would be fine.

what puts me off r7 is the sound and they are more expensive considering there’s plenty of older R6’s around the 5-6k mark.

In my head the bike will only go as fast as you pull the handle, speed doesn’t frighten me, what I am cautious about is leaning, but I guess that comes with experience, and the same would apply on an r7.

So could/should I jump straight onto an R6, or is there an alternative I should be looking at?

[Steve Bass]

Firstly, speed on a bike is completely different to speed in a car.... have a read of the "Twist of the Wrist" first book to understand how your attention is a finite commodity and the less experienced you are in riding, the more of it you have to spend just managing the bike, revs, gears, braking, turning etc.
But, as you said, the throttle goes both ways and to get a 600 Supersport to hustle, it takes a fair bit of cable pulling and revs to get the avaliable bhp deployed.
Doing your test doesn't equate to being a good rider, that only comes with experience and knowledge.
If you can accept that and dial yourself back sufficiently to engage your brain, take additional courses or even a novice track day to appreciate the bikes capabilities, then why not....
What's the worst that can happen... right?

[Exasperated]

Get the R6, but learn the bike and don't be a d*ck.

[Dog Star]

usn90 said:

Could a total novice jump straight onto an R6 or would I end up dead,

As stated - the throttle works both ways.

Mrs DS went straight from test to an R1. She’s sat next to me now, she isn’t dead.

[usn90]

Some reassuring posts.

I’d just rather get the bike I’d prefer to have and take my time getting used to both the bike and riding, rather than rushing from one bike to another.

But just wanted to tap into ph’s experience for a sense check

[hiccy18]

Have you actually seen an R6? They're very compact, too small for me to be comfortable on.

[Exasperated]

usn90 said:

Some reassuring posts.

I’d just rather get the bike I’d prefer to have and take my time getting used to both the bike and riding, rather than rushing from one bike to another.

But just wanted to tap into ph’s experience for a sense check

To add to my previous glibness, it's not really the speed that messes with your head, it's the way the bike responds and reacts to your inputs. My first bike was a GSX-R600 K3, which was an eye-opening experience after completing my DAS on an ER5.

The riding position is the first thing you'll need to get used to—they aren't comfortable and feel incredibly unnatural the first time you perch on top of one. The straight-line performance will blow your mind, even if you're used to fast cars, because it's almost infinitely more visceral and requires actual physical effort on the part of the rider. Finally, it'll take some time before you've learned what it can do around corners and bends. Its capabilities will far exceed yours but having the confidence to explore those capabilities will be the thing holding you back. Try and resist the urge to get sucked into a corner too quickly and build up your knowledge and confidence on a road you know well.

[airsafari87]

But the bike you want rather than the bike you think you should get.

[Mr_Tickle]

Buy the R6, you'll be fine. They're not monsters that you need moutains of experience to tame, you can easily potter about if required then give it some revs when you feel like an adrenaline rush. Plus as mentioned, always better to buy the bike you actually want. Have fun!

[snagzie]

My 2p seeing as you're looking for opinions:

An R6 is extreme by its nature. It isn't a user friendly bike. It's uncomfortable (both position and suspension on UK roads) and you have to rev the st out it to get decent power out of it. Being at >8k+ revs is not natural for a new rider. The torque is really low as all the power is in the high rev range.

If you want to enjoy motorcycling by means of riding the bike (as a new rider), it would literally be one of the worst choices (for me anyway).

If you want to enjoy motorcycling by having something you love the look of, love the sound of and knowing that it's one of (if not) the best 600 supersports on track, then it could be the best option.

I honestly recommend test riding one first, and something else that's more suitable for new riders.

Bear in mind the sound of any bike (exhaust note) can be easily changed with a different exhaust. I don't know if you've heard an R7 with stock exhaust? They won't rev as high as a R6 though as they are a parallel twin so make their power much lower than the R6.

Also both R6s and R7s are very nickable. R6 cos its a proper supersport and everyone knows it. R7 because it looks like a proper supersport but also because you can buy a thing on ebay to nick these bikes very quickly (defeats the immobiliser I think) - same with MT-07/XSR700 too IIRC




Edit - also check insurance first! SS 600s are a bit of a cliche for a first bke and insurers will not get the lube out for you

Edited by snagzie on Thursday 6th June 07:42

[Steve_H80]

Get your test sorted first. Then if you still want an R6, and you fit on one, an you can afford to insure one, go for it.
Get an older, cheaper one first because at some stage you'll drop the bike and a scratched fairing on a £3k bike doesn't upset as much as on a £13k bike.
Right, crack on, summer is coming.

[Dog Star]

Steve_H80 said:

… at some stage you'll drop the bike …

This has to be the biggest myth in motorcycling.

[Exasperated]

Dog Star said:

Steve_H80 said:

… at some stage you'll drop the bike …

This has to be the biggest myth in motorcycling.

I've never dropped a bike

(yes, I know I really, really shouldn't have said that, but I'm not riding today so I think I'm safe)

[carinaman]

The R7 may be cheaper to insure. The anniversary white ones with the red speed blocks looks great to my eyes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NE3jKrOORH4

[croyde]

I'm 61 and have ridden all types of bikes since I was 17.

The other day I was concentrating on all the stuff that I do automatically when I ride.

Fek me! it's a lot. Far more things going on compared to driving a car quickly.

I'd hate to be a novice again

As to the R6, see if you can try one, as you might find it uncomfortable but treat it with respect and you'll be fine.

Maybe try one on a track if there's such a thing.

Finally, maybe look at the CBR650 as it's a sporty looking machine with decent power but not such an extreme seating position.

I had a couple of CBRs in the late 80s and early 90s and they were a hoot. I moved to CBRs from a Kawasaki GPZ900R

[Timbo_S2]

My first bike was a GSXR600. You'll be fine, just take things steady. Approaching it as a more 'mature' new rider, you should already have a good idea of roadcraft and hazards, as well as a greater appreciation to risk...

Good track bikes too...

[snagzie]

Dog Star said:

Steve_H80 said:

… at some stage you'll drop the bike …

This has to be the biggest myth in motorcycling.

I think its more true than not (which doesn't make any sense but you know what I mean )

[snagzie]

Timbo_S2 said:

My first bike was a GSXR600. You'll be fine, just take things steady. Approaching it as a more 'mature' new rider, you should already have a good idea of roadcraft and hazards, as well as a greater appreciation to risk...

Good track bikes too...

GSXR600s will be more comfy that a R6 too for most

[snagzie]

Timbo_S2 said:

My first bike was a GSXR600. You'll be fine, just take things steady. Approaching it as a more 'mature' new rider, you should already have a good idea of roadcraft and hazards, as well as a greater appreciation to risk...

Good track bikes too...

GSXR600s will be more comfy that a R6 too for most

[Alex@POD]

usn90 said:

Could a total novice jump straight onto an R6 or would I end up dead

In my experience, you risk ending up dead when you don't realise you're too fast of the situation, i.e. coming into a corner, etc. In isolation, how fast the bike accelerates is irrelevant, you could easily enter too fast into a tight corner on a 125, panic brake and end up in oncoming traffic.

The R6 will be a steeper learning curve than, for example, a Hornet, which has wider bars and a more comfortable position so a lot easier to handle. If you take your time getting used to the bike though, there's no reason you shouldn't enjoy it.