A Yamah YZF-R6 too much for a newbie?

[MagMan5446]

R6's are a good newb bike.

droppin it won't hurt it all that bad just scuff it up a little.

r6-forum.com i think it is.

[Carbon]

The R6 is a great bike. I really wanted one, but ended up getting the fz6 due to insurance, and practicality. The hooligan part of me still really wants one.

I'd say 'yes, the R6 is to much for a first bike'. The new R6 is designed specifically for the track, and that's really the only place your going to get the most out of it. It is a bike that gets all of it's power in the high RPM range. I mean really high. But it gets up to those rpms really quickly, quickly enough to get yourself out of control if you don't know what your doing.

Have you considered the R6S? It's a little cheaper, and uses an older generation R6 motor.

Also, plan on spending a lot of money on safety gear. Get a decent helmet ($150), protective jacket ($250), gloves ($50). I also wear riding pants, and I'm waiting on some nice boots when I go out for a riding 'session' with the guys. You'll definetly want to invest in some frame sliders when you first get it. It is inevitable that the bike will hit the ground sometime. Probably something stupid, but the frame sliders can protect against some costly damage.

You seem pretty responsible, and you realize that the bike is fast as hell and can run you into trouble (with the law, or with a tree) really quick. A 600 is a lot safer than a 1000, so your good there. Always ride within your limits, and always assume your invisible.

I'd never heard about the gas tanks exploding. It's a sweet bike. I want one really bad.

actually the R6s's was what i looked into primarily. In fact thats probably my first accessory on the bike.

[gimp]

yeah, the R6s will save you a few bucks, and be a little more tame for a first bike. Did you look at the FZ6 at all? That's what I ride and I really like it.

[SCpoloRicker]

Way, way too much bike. You should look into used (like 8-10 years) standard-style (not crotch rocket) Japanese bikes with less than 750ccs. I'd recommend a twin, as its a more torquey motor than the inline fours most sport bikes use.

But you really shouldn't buy a race-rep bike as a learner. Take all the courses you can, and ride a beater for at least a year.

Get good safety gear. Full face, leathers/synthetic full suit, boots, gloves, back protector. Wear it all. Every time.

/thus endeth the sermon
//SV 650s are also an option, but expensive, and still a lot of bike

[Loguzzzzzz]

Carbon,
You are a responsible adult that understands that your experience it limited. Respect the bike and don't ride above you skill level and you will be fine. I believe that the R6 will be a fine choice as a first bike for you. Remember.....The bike will only go as fast as you want it to.

I bought a Ninja 250 for my son as his first bike when we was 16. He still rides it to schools every day (he is in his second year of college now at 18). He really has out grown the bike after about 2 years and is ready for the R6 or 748 (Ducati) now. I ride a Ducati 996 and my son has ridden it a few times, he respects the additional power.

Gimp said it.............ASSUME THAT YOU ARE INVISIBLE.............I preach this to my son often.

I have been riding motorcycles for 40 years. Started on a little Honda 55 "step thru" when I was nine. The only time I went down (on the street) was when I was 18, messing around doing a wheelie on the street and grabbed to much front brake after I set the front end down. My fault for F***ing around!

[Carbon]

thnx for the responses erryone!

[SCpoloRicker]

erryone!

/sorry
//hangs head

[Carbon]

/sorry
//hangs head

ROR!

[gimp]

Carbon,
.....
I have been riding motorcycles for 40 years. Started on a little Honda 55 "step thru" when I was nine. The only time I went down (on the street) was when I was 18, messing around doing a wheelie on the street and grabbed to much front brake after I set the front end down. My fault for F***ing around!

Those darn wheelies, they're always trouble. I ride with guys that have been riding and doing wheelies for years, I think every single one of them has gone down doing a wheelie. Usually just from catching the rearend on the ground on the way up, or going into a headshake when setting down from a high speed wheelie.

[Caffiend]

Caffiend: im 27, yes i've looked at insurace, all of it seems to be do-able. I think the biggest hit for me financially for me is the combined cost of the safety training, gear, registration and the bike itself.

Glad to hear you looked at insurance, I hate seeing people buy things then not being able to ride them because they can't afford the ins. For you biggest hit, didn't you just list everything?
the NEW R6 is way too much bike for beginners. An older one isn't too bad (2000 or so). Brand new ANYTHING is too much, there's not much difference between the 600's and 1000's now. Well, at least to beginners and even some novice riders. The SV's aren't that bad of a bike either. My friend had one for almost 3 years as his first bike.

I ride a Ducati 996

Uh, lucky

[slade]

first of all, http://www.pbnation.com/showthread.php?p=24258626

the R6 is pretty much the first bike i was interested in, and still am interested in, although sadly ive never had the chance to ride one.

as others have said, though, if its what you want, dont buy new. it will be that much more painful when you drop it, scrape it, etc. if youre a new rider, youre more likely to drop the bike, even if its in a driveway or stopped at a stop sign.

also, take the MSF course. but realize that the course is severely lacking in one area: hills. you can get your licence from just taking the course, but the entire damn course is in a flat area. starting a bike on a hill can be very hard, so take that into account when you ride on the road. also, its much easier to tip the bike when youre stopped if the road slants to the side... especially if you dont realize it at first.

on another note, why does everyone suggest a v engine for beginners? what is it exactly that makes that better for beginners than an inline engine?

lastly, i would be out riding right now, but a thunderstorm started .

[Lohman446]

Trek makes some very nice bikes I put about 30 miles a week on mine

[Bear_Claw]

Slade the reason for suggesting a V-Twin engine over an inline 4 engein is the twin make very smooth controled predictable power makeing it ALOT safer when rolling on the power opposed to the comparible inline 4 cylinder. This is due to the fact that at the same RPM you only hve half the pulses of power of that from a inline four.

This is also the reason ducatis doo so well in raceing they can be on the trottel long befor the inlines outa the corner because their power even if slightly less is alot more stable and preditable letting them get a jump outa the corners.

Dont confuse a Sport bike V twin to that of the common Cruisers engein their a FAR differant breed. Crusiers run v-twins for the simple fact of getting LOTS of TQ from a small package two cylinders in a V pttern alow for a much longer stroke in a manigble packae than that of most other configurations. And well then theirs the sound and nostalga LOL.

While on the sport bikes your usually running VERY short stroke with MASSIVE bore makeing a VERY high hp high rpm Screamer than lacks in the tq of their cruiser brothers. These engines although great for high speed would be lost trying to cruise along in 5th gear at 50km/hr (30mph) up a hill witch is quite common place for a cruiser (do it all the time with my V-Star).

[slade]

Slade the reason for suggesting a V-Twin engine over an inline 4 engein is the twin make very smooth controled predictable power makeing it ALOT safer when rolling on the power opposed to the comparible inline 4 cylinder. This is due to the fact that at the same RPM you only hve half the pulses of power of that from a inline four.

This is also the reason ducatis doo so well in raceing they can be on the trottel long befor the inlines outa the corner because their power even if slightly less is alot more stable and preditable letting them get a jump outa the corners.

Dont confuse a Sport bike V twin to that of the common Cruisers engein their a FAR differant breed. Crusiers run v-twins for the simple fact of getting LOTS of TQ from a small package two cylinders in a V pttern alow for a much longer stroke in a manigble packae than that of most other configurations. And well then theirs the sound and nostalga LOL.

While on the sport bikes your usually running VERY short stroke with MASSIVE bore makeing a VERY high hp high rpm Screamer than lacks in the tq of their cruiser brothers. These engines although great for high speed would be lost trying to cruise along in 5th gear at 50km/hr (30mph) up a hill witch is quite common place for a cruiser (do it all the time with my V-Star).

...great so i tend to like sports bikes (ducatis, yamaha, honda, suzuki, etc) but i dont need a lot of speed... i need help dealing with hills, especially starting on hills. any suggestions? not to hijack carbon's thread or anything, just looking into one more factor of a good starting bike.

[Bear_Claw]

well when ya stop on a hill keep you foot on the rear brake rather than keeping your hand on the front brake.

Then when its time to go simply keep your foot on the brake while releasing the clutch with a little throttel till th rpms start to dip and then release the brake. Its actually alot easier on a bike then in a car really. With a little practice youl be golden. A good place to practice is go to some were like a big mall later at night and practice useing the docks they have for unloading trucks. Have a freid or family member come with you in a car just in case you need some help as well. And hey If/When you dump the bike dont fret bikes can be repaird all of us have dumped em at one point in time. I droped my mothers bike last year in some gravel at work and the engein was not even running. I just grabed too mutch rear brake when i was rolling outa the shop (down hill) and floped it on its side at low speed.