Like the title says, I've been digging around in here for a few days now and thought I'd finally become a member. As for experience, I'm as fresh as they come. I've always had a secret love for Sportbikes and I was hanging out with my friend the other day, he owns a CBR600 F4i, watching him play around on it doing wheelies and endo's and such. Got that bug inside of me burning to get a bike and learn how to ride it.

I'm in love with the way the F4i's look, and sound, and I dig the fact that its fuel injected. I'm at the point now where I'm saving up to get one and trying to get signed up for an MSF course. I have a lot of respect for bikes simply because I've seen what being a tard on them can do, hell, my Dad lost an eye and put a hole in his leg with a Harley over the years when I was a kid, just because he wasn't giving his undivided attention to what he was doing.

I have a few questions I'm sure have probably been asked before, but I'm just looking for some clear, tailored answers.
-For the owners of F4i's, what year would you recommend, can you give me some examples of things you love and dont love about your bike, if there are any? Also, how much should I be expecting to save up to buy one? Lastly, is it wiser to buy one used that has been taken care of, or to buy one new for the warranty/assurance that hasnt been mistreated?
-For the owners of other bikes in the 600cc range, are there any alternatives I could look at that are a lot like the F4i as far as power and handling(ect) go?

I appreciate the feedback and look forward to hanging around here. God I cant wait to get on a bike.

 

welcome!!

 

thanks

 

welcome
new 04, 8199 plus tax, dealer fees
used 01, < 5300
most people prefer the 01-03 seat, but i personally prefer the much more comfortable banana seat found on the 04.
perhaps you should look for a dealership that might have a leftover 03 and pray that you don't drop it

 

Drop my bike, never, I'll hear nothing of it . I know accidents happen. Oh yeah, that brings me another question that I havent found an answer for, what are typical payment plans on bikes? like, 3-year, 4-year, etc? because I know I dont have and wont have 5 grand to outright buy a bike before I go totally crazy staring at everyone elses.

 

i financed about 4 grand. my loan is for 60 months with monthly payments of $100. interest rate is high, but i plan on paying it all off within a year.
i think you can apply for a honda credit card with super low interest and low low monthly payments. only catch is, if you make a late payment or don't pay off the bike in the given number of years, then the interest rate will skyrocket. i'm sure there are other people here that are more knowledgable about this matter though.

 

whats up albuquerque. ill be there in a few months. there are a few f4i owners on here. as far as beginner bikes go, im partial towards r6's. thats the first bike i plan to buy. but gl and be safe

 

Whats up abq .

 

Check out the new gixxers, they definatley stepped up the competition. You could get a gsxr750 for what the F4i or 600rr costs.

 

how is that?
a new gixxer 750 costs at least a grand more

 

500cc bikes are good starters that is what I am after this weekend, and welcome.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by DeLiRiOu5 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">how is that?
a new gixxer 750 costs at least a grand more</TD></TR></TABLE>

my bad, for some reason I thought the 750 was in the 8K range. But the gsxr600 looks to be a great bike; I believe its the lightest from the bunch, and comes with reverse forks, and radial calipers! I haven't seen any other 600's in this price range with those options.

 

i like the way the 01-03 look but the 04 is supposedly a lot more comfortable. I'd rather just change the seat on the 01-03 out. the 04 look uglieee

 

Ya don't need a new Gixxer either - newbies on 10 second bikes=less newbies.

 

I went and checked out an 04 600 f4i today, just sitting on it gave me what old people call "the *******" that bike feels/looks awesome, and is comfortable as hell. Its like 8200 new, I want to try and find a used one, but thats not as easy as it sounds --;. But thanks for the warm welcome everyone, I appreciate it.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 99_SH &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

my bad, for some reason I thought the 750 was in the 8K range. But the gsxr600 looks to be a great bike; I believe its the lightest from the bunch, and comes with reverse forks, and radial calipers! I haven't seen any other 600's in this price range with those options.</TD></TR></TABLE>

*cough* the Kawasaki ZX-6R. *cough*

retails for $100 less, has inverted front forks, radial mounted calipers with 4 pad system instead of Suzuki's 2 pad system. has more RWHP and smoother powerband, dynoing 3-5hp and 2-3ft/lbs tq more on average over the Gixxer in all of the latest reviews. it's also a couple of pounds LIGHTER. best off, the bike was introduced last year, so many of the bugs have been worked out for 2004. the Gixxer is all new from the internals to the plastics this year... the end of the year will determine its reliability.

both are great bikes, but neither is good for someone new to riding... the Gixxer is a bit more tame until it goes wild on you after 11k rpm, while the ZX-6R is wickedly fast after 8k rpm, powers up the front tyre in the first 3 gears (no lifting, no shifting, no clutching... it just comes up), and is extremely flickable. both bikes will send a new rider into the pavement in a hurry without notice.

 

the only kawa I've ever considered purchasing was an older 250 ninja, but after sitting on one, I found out that my 6'5" 210 lb body didnt fit quite as nicely as I had hoped it would.