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?

[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

[usn90]

I’m 6foot 1, and around 13 stone.

I’ve never sat on an R6 or any bike for that matter other than the back of my dads intruder, I just assumed, as a noobie that the majority of the super sport bikes all had roughly the same seating position, and that different seating positions were more
Dependent on the class of bike.

I’ve just had a Quick Look at the GSXR600, I like the look of those also, and with the SC project exhaust (like the R6 I posted) sounds very nice too, so on first glance these interest me also.

I do want to to get a cheap bike as my first, £2-5K sounds about right to me and in the R6 case gets me an early 00’s- 2010ish example, similar i think to the Suzuki

With the R6, I’ve read the engine is basically the same from the early 00’s to more recently, is this still the case with the GSXR’s, or is there say a year they introduced a new better sounding engine?

Edited by usn90 on Thursday 6th June 09:54

[usn90]

[quote=Discendo Discimus]


Your comment about not being scared of speed worries me slightly, we should all have a bit of fear otherwise you'll go hot into a corner and then you'll have to lean far more than if you were going slower. Look up target fixation too, it's something that catches out a lot of riders who don't mind speed but have to slow right down for corners.

. [/quote



Ive driven some pretty quick cars in my time, and I’ve previously raced these shifter karts, which again go round a track quicker than most things.

https://youtu.be/rbfaG8N7IDU

However as a poster alluded to above, i appreciate speed on a bike may be a different experience, holding onto the bike whilst
Its trying to throw you off it isn’t something I’ve experienced, and I appreciate braking isn’t going to be as effective as when in a car.

So despite me saying that, I’ll be giving speed more caution on the bike than I’d usually do with a car, as I said in my OP, the leaning aspect to bikes is something I can’t currently fathom having never ridden one, and it’s probably this which is going to keep me in check

[usn90]

Moopig said:

I got an R6 as my first bike at about the same age as you and it was amazing loved it!
Being a 600 most the power is very high up in the rev range, in an area that initially isn't somewhere you think to venture.
I found when I first rode it and it felt fast, after a while I realised I was only using half the rev counter, so Id then try a few more and it just went quicker and quicker.
Luckily with all the power up high on the rev counter, I personally myself less likely to get caught out as it took a real conscious decision to rev it that high to get into the power. (A 1000cc superbike is a very different proposition I found.) It did feel a little pointless on the road as all the 'fun' seemed to be in an area not really accessible on the road, then I did a trackday on it and everything made complete sense and I mostly lost interest in riding on the road.
People like to talk a big game, but these things are fine as long as you're a grown up, and you know and understand you limits and those around you. From what you're saying it sounds like you've got some experience of going fast and not dieing, you'll be fine. lol

Edited by Moopig on Thursday 6th June 10:17

Yes this is something I thought would actually help, having most the power up high means I’m less likely to mess up pottering about than having something with more grunt lower down.

And to begin with pottering about is perhaps all i will be doing until i gain more confidence in what im doing

[usn90]

Condi said:

You seem to choosing a bike more on what it sounds like/how loud it is than anything else, which is fine, we all like what we like, but that video in your OP is far too loud for the roads and quite honestly makes anyone around think "dick". It will also draw massive attention to you from people you might not want too much attention from (rozzers and/or thieving Irish cousins), and ps off any neighbours you have.

But in answer to your question, is it too much? Then, no, not necessarily. You can ride it as quickly or as slowly as you like. Would suggest trying a few different things and seeing what you enjoy though, resting half your body weight on your wrists and dancing on the gearbox isn't everyone's cup of tea.

Reading my posts I can understand why you’ve come to that conclusion, as your not exactly wrong.

Just to clarify, the choice of bike isn’t solely down to the noise, I want to like what I look at too, it’s just out of all the different classes of bikes, the super sport I.e R6/GSXR etc is the only type that I could see myself on, my dad comes from the classic triumph Bonnie’s and intruders, my friend has a KTM 890 Duke, but just not my type.

It’s from seeing and hearing that type of bike which has given me the desire to ride one.

I currently have a 8 cylinder V8 in one of my cars with a non stock exhaust, my neighbours are ok with it as I’m respectful with how and when’s it’s used, I appreciate I’m probaly giving off the wrong impression in my bike wish list

[usn90]

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.

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]

Well having taken the advice here on board I’ve made my mind up, I’ll be going ahead with the R6, or perhaps the GSXR600, I’ll have to sit on both, the R6 is my first choice, but a couple of you have mentioned the GSXR is more comfortable, and I still like the look of them so we’ll see.

Regarding the R1, if I’m Honest jumping ahead of the 600’s wasn’t even on my mind beforehand, Reading these posts I’ve learnt more about how the R6 delivers its power, and if I’m honest I quite like the sound of the majority of the power being at the top of the rev range, and one poster went on to mention dropping the gears to overtake in the R6 rather than cruising by in the current gear in the R1, sounds more fun and engaging to me, and not to mention more confidence inspiring, is the GSXR similar to the R6 in this aspect?

[usn90]

Just booked a CBT, closest one was 3 weeks away.

Hopefully the wait for DAS isn’t too long.

I’ll have a look at the 750’s

[usn90]

Skeptisk said:

usn90 said:

Just booked a CBT, closest one was 3 weeks away.

Hopefully the wait for DAS isn’t too long.

I’ll have a look at the 750’s

Do you have any budget constraints?

In your position I would be considering bikes with cornering ABS. If you are new to bikes and like going fast there is a reasonable chance you are going to make the odd fk up in the first couple of years. Having the option of braking and cornering is a very good one to have. Also easy to lock the front wheel if you panic brake. So ABS is really useful on the road.

There are plenty of really good bikes with the electronics.

Don’t dismiss super nakeds. For some reason insurance is less than sports bikes despite there not being much difference in performance. The wider bars and sit up position also good for riding on the road.

I wanted to spend roughly upto 5.5/6k on my first bike, purely because I’ve never ridden a bike before, and I can foresee a drop at the lights or something!

What year R6/GSXR would I be looking from for the aids you mention?

My friend has a super naked duke, not my cup of tea, I’m quite fussy

[usn90]

I’m looking to book the theory test whilst waiting for the CBT



Is that misleading, or do I actually need a motorbike provisional licence first?

I thought a driving licence sufficed

[usn90]

Thought so, thanks

So that’s CBT and theory test booked start of July, and the DAS booked for early August, £1100 for 3 pratice days, 2 test day and CBT, seemed in coordination with a couple of other places around me.

I’ve had a good look online at bikes of some of the suggestions in here, and a couple in person (dealers) and I’ve actually decided on the GSRX600.

It felt a nice height, and what I didn’t realise, but do now, is the 2008 onwards have the 3 power modes, A= full power, B= 80% & C= 60%, this I feel will be very useful for me, I’ll start of in C and work my way upwards.

Once I get more comfortable on C + B I plan on doing a novice bike track day where I will switch to A and hopefully find my limits without fear of hitting something.

[usn90]

carinaman said:

GSXR600 - Gixxer - apparently for Sportsbikes they're very good for use on the road.

Yeah I didn’t notice I mistyped!

Regarding the power modes, it can’t hurt to have it, especially for a beginner, and it may proof useful in the wet also.

Thing is it ended up being a close call between the Suzuki and the Yamaha, the modes combined with the slight bit more comfort tipped it in the Suzukis favour

[usn90]

Slight update, you may have seen my other thread regarding my licence question.

I’m going to be insuring a 125cc super sport to use on L plates once I’ve take the CBT, by way of extra pratice whilst I wait on the DAS course

Should help my original concern of jumping straight onto the 600cc as I’ll have 4-8 weeks of practicing on the 125

[usn90]

So bought a 2019 gsxr125 aswell as my riding gear, cbt is on Tuesday, the earliest I could do the DAS is end of august.

So I’ll have between the cbt and das as extra practice I guess.

[usn90]

Got my CBT today, just got back from a ride on mine.

I will say thankfully I prefer the position of my gsxr to the upright feel I had on the ys125 I had for the cbt