Motorbike Test

Hey Jeb,

My 2 Pence. The SV is a fun bike, supremely capable for what any rider needs. Maybe lacking a bit in the wants department but nontheless still a shed load of fun to ride.

You have many years of riding ahead of you. Get an R6 now you will more than likely never "downgrade" to an SV. Get an SV and you get the fun of owning a V-twin, the experience to add to your biking CV and the anticipation of knowing that there are better bikes out there. Once you have mastered the SV you can move on to the R6, which most definitely will be a fiercer beast to tame.

Anticipation is the spice of life.

The power stuff is all much of a muchness.
Restricted 33bhp has the same dire power curve on anything. It goes up then flat at 33!
On the other hand restrictor kits are available for the R6/GSXR600/ZX636/CBR6 so some folks out there have them, and I doubt it would make any of these bikes more dangerous, just rather gutless.

But, the SV comes up spades due to...
a) big low down torque for a small bore, light bike
b) the purchase/insurance costs are less crippling for you
c) everyone loves an SV, even folk used to big bikes
d) it lets you off with little mistakes rather than scares you and sets you back.
e) 33bhp is just under half the SV full power, but under a third of the R6 etc.

Also, have you had a chance to sit on a range of bikes?

In case you are not aware the R6 is the smallest of the small and if you're lanky you'll be cramped on it. Not great for a newbie.

Another to check out would be the CBR600F, much less manic than an R6 so probably a better restricted super-sport if that's where your heart lies.

It's good to hear you're not blinkered, and we're all biased towards the SV but most of us here have one as a first big bike for good reasons. I just can't seem to let go of mine after 6 years.

Originally Posted by skidmarx

I would of thought you'd be asking for trouble here...Get an SV. I'm 42 and still cant afford the insurance for a cbr600. What about some further training? IAM or Bikesafe may help you get your insurance a little cheaper

Same here... except for the age

If you think you can handle it, go for it, I want one and I have had a "proper bike" for 5 months. Try to calm down about your test, I don't mean this harsh but it will help you relax and concentrate more. My instructor put me on a right downer before the test, slated me about everything, so my hopes were not up, and I'm positive it helped me concentrate. Afterwards he told me that I was very good, but he can't tell me or I could get cocky, which I know I would! Keep calm and focus, and you'll do fine mate

hehe thanks for all your advise again on the bike and the test as for the size of the R6 im not really tall but im not short ... i guess im average (not sure of actual height) but its gotta be more comfortable than a moped as for the power thing which of the 600 sports is the fastest i was under the impression the R6 was slightly underpowered when compared to the GSXR600 CBR600 and ZXR600? well i thought it wouldn't be by much but i thought it to be a bit less im still thinking about it but i really do have my heart set on that bike lol i wont be getting it untill after my test anyways (unless i fail ) so got a bit of time to think .....

Originally Posted by Jebiah

which of the 600 sports is the fastest i was under the impression the R6 was slightly underpowered when compared to the GSXR600 CBR600 and ZXR600? well i thought it wouldn't be by much but i thought it to be a bit less im still thinking about it but i really do have my heart set on that bike lol i wont be getting it untill after my test anyways (unless i fail ) so got a bit of time to think .....

I wouldn't think of a R6 as underpowered, mate.

Personal view - I think you're being foolish. Yes it looks lovely, yes it goes damn fast, yes it handles well. But does it really make any difference to you if you get from 0 to 60 in 3 seconds or 4?

thats not the reason i want it i just love the bike, everything about it the fact that its very fast is just a bonus (but still going to be 33BHP anyway)

Hmm...R6 restricted....a bit daft if you ask me. Hayabusa...well, can be had quite cheapily 2nd hand you know.

A first bike is for learning and dropping...stick to a SV or CB500 because they will work out better in the long term. Cheaper too.

R6, you say?Give a few years. Hayabusa? Mmmmm....

Originally Posted by The Basket

A first bike is for learning and dropping...stick to a SV or CB500 because they will work out better in the long term. Cheaper too.

I agree. Yes. In fact, why not buy my bike from me? (Link in my sig below).

I rode an R6 for a week earlier this year when my bike was in for a service. I had great fun on it, but in my opinion, if you get it as your first bike you'll get yourself into much bigger trouble, much more quickly and much more expensively, than if you get something more in keeping with your level of experience.

Have you looked into insurance costs yet? (I know someone mentioned it earlier in the thread). If you haven't, then I'd do that right now. Sometimes quotes from insurance companies can make up your mind for you.

Whatever you get, have fun, and ride safe.

So, you are in love with the R6. And, I mean, I sort of am too. But, the thing is, if you try to learn on an R6, you will drop it. You will. Its that simple. You might as well put a big crack in the fairing when you buy it, because its going to happen. Probably within a couple of months.
And, this will BREAK YOUR HEART. Jesus dude. It will break my heart. You will be replaying the incident every night in your head for weeks. Thinking, if I just leant a bit more etc.
I learnt on an RXS 100 when i was 17. Drove like a complete nutter. Crashed it all over the place.
I just dropped my lovely naked SV650. And that was rough. So... yeah. If its going to be restricted... just start off with a naked bike, put on crash bungs, learn how to drive around corners quickly, buy the R6, and rock the face off it.