Newbie Question

[coolc]

Hi guys,

I have a couple of questions/advice to ask. First off I just turned 30 yesterday, and i've finally decided to get a motorcycle after knocking the idea around for about 10 years. What I need to know is what size bike wold you reccommend for someone that's 6'2" and weighs around 275lbs? I have a couple friends that say a 600 would be too small and that I should get either a 1000 or the hayabusa 1300. But I beg to differ, since both of these are extremely powerful bikes.
I was thinking along the lines of either a 600 or 750gixxer, 600 or 750 katana.
Any advice would be greatly helpful.

[Mike Burnham]

Starting with a 600 would be fine for the weight. I would go though a training corse before you buy. You could find you don't like the bike as much as you thing right now. But then again I am more the cruser type.
If a 450 can haul 350 pounds with no problem a 600 should have no problem getting you down the road. Also check insurance prices before you buy. The bike is no good if you can not keep it on the road.
Good luck with your search. And happy riding.

[Louis]

Someone suggested a Hayabusa for a newbie??? The most terrible thing is that I'm not even surprised...

We do not recommend a Gixxer for a newbie, specifically, as you said (Thank God) because they are too powerful. A Katana 600 would be a nice bike or even the SV650S.

Please do take the MSF and as for insurance, some insurance companies do not classify the SV into the Sportbikes category so you could save a bundle on this aspect.

Good luck.

[Uncle Bob]

You don't buy a bike according to size, matter of fact is that most bikes are made to fit the "average 5'8", 140 lbs " rider.

A corvettes power to weight ratio is about .277hp per pound
A Hayabusa power to weight ratio is about .366hp per pound

Factor in that the Busa's wind drag coefficient is half that of a corvette and you have one extremely fast bike.

Matter of fact is that on a nother site we've been discussing the factors that allowed a stock Busa to outrun a highly modified 900hp Dodge Viper.

To use your size as reasoning for getting a Busa would only come into play if you weighed around 3,000 lbs, in this case your bike would probably become a suppository.

Fact is that 60hp or so is more than enough to move your manly body around, no way we would recommend anything more for a beginner. Of course someoen smaller riding the same bike would have an advantage on you in acceleration and top speed but these should not be factors in buying your first bike.

After a year or two of riding you can trade up to something more powerfull if you wish but please don't take the ill advised suggestions you've been offered so far.

Btw my bike only puts out 50 hp and I'm 6'2" and 240 lbs, it's a cruiser so much heavier than most of the sportbikes out there yet I really enjoy it. And yes it's fast enough to beat most cars onthe road.

Do not get the Gixxer even the 600 has almost 120hp twice the power of the average bike on the road. The Kat would be a much better choice not only because of less power but mainly because it doesn't come with hairtrigger controls and brakes that'll only magnify any newbie misakes you may make.

[Gixxerdale]

Well said, again. Take the MSF class, check insurance rates, and do some research before you decide on a bike. Some of us have some pretty high HP bikes, but I still would not want to see anyone learning on a gixxer. An SV 650 is a lot of fun and a very versatile bike. It gets my vote for a great entry bike. Good commuter, loads of fun in the twisty canyons,excellent all around bike.

[TireSMKN]

I just bought a 600GSXR and first bike...my insurance is 60$/month!!!

[SenorCorwin]

Well i need a bike to keep my show car in the garage and in FL insurance is super cheap so thats no big and ive already called about taking an msf course sice its required here to get your lisence if your under 21. Im 6'2" and 185 ive been looking alot into the jixxer 600 like a 98-00. Think this would be a good bike for me? I dont want to have to buy a smaller bike then buy a new one in 5 months. Ive ridden dirt bikes here and there but ill still take the class to really learn everything.

what you guys think?

[pitbull76]

Originally Posted by SenorCorwin

Well i need a bike to keep my show car in the garage and in FL insurance is super cheap so thats no big and ive already called about taking an msf course sice its required here to get your lisence if your under 21. Im 6'2" and 185 ive been looking alot into the jixxer 600 like a 98-00. Think this would be a good bike for me? I dont want to have to buy a smaller bike then buy a new one in 5 months. Ive ridden dirt bikes here and there but ill still take the class to really learn everything.

what you guys think?

I'm almost as tall as you (6'1). I only weigh 160, but I have to tell you that the Kat is comfortable for a taller guy.

I don't recommend a GSX-R for a first bike, even the 600.

I still think that you would be better served by buying an inexpensive bike, riding it for a season and then selling it. If you choose well, you might sell the bike for nearly what you paid when you're done with it.

[Uncle Bob]

We do not recommend a Gixxer as a first bike.

60HP tops for first season.