Ok, I'm finally able to afford a bike and now I cannot make up my mind.
Its between these bikes....

2001 Suzuki Bandit 600S
2001 Suzuki Katana 600
2001 Suzuki SV650S
2002 Honda 919
2001 CBR600F4

I've never ridden before and I would really appreciate advice from anyone with experience on these bikes....

 

you've got a good list there. i think any of the suzi's are ok, the 919 is alot of bike, and the f4 is pretty wicked.

i think you need to spend a few months going to the dealers when you have time, sit on all the bikes and ask lots of questions. meet other riders in the shops that have these bikes and talk to them.

try to meet some riders around you and talk to them, too. you will learn a lot from them.

take a motorcycle safety class, if they have them.

choose the bike you feel the most comfortable with, even if that is just sitting on them at the dealer and leaning them back and forth.

depending on how big/tall you are, the 919 might be OK to learn on, if you sit on it and its comfortable, your feet touch the ground and you feel that you can wrestle the bike back and forth with your arms, then it could be ok.


you can kill yourself just as fast on any of these bikes, so its really up to you. make safety your first priority and have fun!

Joe

 

I agree, speed does kill so hopefully you have someone around who knows what's going on. The safety class isn't such a bad idea... better sign up now for next summer.

As far as your bike choices are concerned, frankly I think the 919 might be your best bet, as long as you don't have to share it with anyone...

But sharing can be fun, if it is reciprocated.

The Katana, no. Bandit, no. The SV650 might not be a bad idea either, however the F4i will be a little lighter, have better suspension, and top notch brakes; very key.

People think that because it is a sport bike, you have to ride it like a lunatic. This is not true, I have a sportbike and I am very SEDATE. Sportbikes are lighter, therfore easier to manuver and quicker to stop. The F4i is also very forgiving should you make an error.

I suppose it is all in what you want, and how serious you are about it.

 

Tha Bandit and Katana you will outgrow very fast.

SV is a great beginner's bike.
919... if it's anything like the FZ-1 it's a good 2nd bike. Trying to learn throttle control on a (near) liter bike is... fun.
F4i is also a good bike to start on.

I hear DR 350's can be had for a grand or so, learn the basics on that then sell it.

 

Funny you ask this question. On Thursday I went out with a buddy who is looking to get his first bike. He ended up going with an '01 SV650 (it think he got it for like $5,200). The SV650 or the SV650S are great first bikes. They had a SV650S out back a I took it for a quick ride and I liked it, that being said, it's far from my RR.....which in NO WAY should be anyones first bike!!!!!! As for the 919.......NO WAY!!!!! I'm thinking about either the 919 or the VFR for '02, and I've been through a number of bikes over the last 13+ years of street riding. The F4 is a great bike. However, as a first bike......I'm not 100% sold on that idea. The F4 as your second bike......yes!!!!! Oh ya, take a safety class and don't cheap-out when it comes to getting your gear.......your skin will thank you!!!!! If I was you, I would go the used route........less expensive and you won't **** a brick if you end up doing a low speed drop, which is bound to happen with you're first bike. Lord knows it happen to me. Be safe.

 

I agree with the last 2 posts about recommending the SV. I've owned my Sv650S for 3 years and its a great bike. The Katana and Bandit are priced similarly but weigh more, accelerate slower, don't handle as well, and have older air cooled engines. The F4 and 919 are great bikes but might not be great learning tools. Good luck.

 

get something used for your first bike. You will at least drop it, so its better not to have the slickest thing out there because everybody else thought the same thing and now there are no parts left cause others cant stop crashing and dropping!!! Sorry had to vent on those ******* who dont understand back orders!!!

Insurance on a rocket is damn expensive. The 919 woul dbe good for later, and It will be a potent machine. Anyone ridden the last gen 900RR? Same motor. No de-tuning at all. They are also pretty rare. We are only getting 1 this year and its sold.

 

Get a used bike, preferrably a standard(unfaired). Also 600 cc to 750 cc is plenty to get used to especially if you are a beginner. But do yourself a favor and enroll yourself in a motorcycle safety course.

One last thing. If you crash with four wheels, your car will get hurt, crash with two, and you and your bike will get hurt......

 

That's a pretty narrow list. If you can aford a 919 or an F4 you should look into Suzuki's higher end models like the GSX-R's. As much as I love Hondas (I own two of them) I think the F4 is a little over-rated for my taste. If it were me I would also stay away from the R6's and R'1's, sure they are nice but I see them all day long. To get back on track I would pick the 919 if they are easy to find in your area...

 

By the way, since you have never ridden before be very carefull. The amount of power you can get into can be overwhelming to a beginer. Don't go fooling around carelessly or your front tire may get vertical with your *** planted firmly on the tarmac...

 

Thanks for all your help and suggestions....
I'm pretty sure I'll end up with the 919 or the SV650S.
And no, I won't ride without taking a safety course first...

 

ahh i remember the first time i could rev over 4000 on my kawi..it was like warp speed! I remember thinking, no one should be allowed to accelerate this fast!

ah now its full throttle to redline 1st, 2nd,3rd...oops 95mph in a 40 zone ... all in about 7 seconds......

there is a guy that can install a turbo on my 750...up the HP from 75 to about 120...

i couldnt imagine

 

I thought the same thing at first. And I have a slow bike!