Any riders here want to get together. I know this is a BMW forums but just wondering if anyone on here rides sportbikes etc. :D

i have an 02 gsxr 600...but your in nor cal

Do I hear road trip? Come on up to norcal. :D I will make a trip to socal one day on the bike!

I've got a 954 and 748 but I'm in Davis and its too fucking hot to ride to the bay.

I've got a Daytona 600. Anyone around the San Rafael / San Francisco area?

I live near sac!

I currently have a bone stock '90 VFR750.

I also have a project '89 GSX-R track bike, and a project BMW R100GS based Paris-Dakar/Adventure bike. Those won't be done in a few years.

LOL, I've had so many bikes, that I can't even remember how many I owned. :D

Kind of off topic,
but what do you guys recommend I buy as my first bike. If I buy it I will keep it for a while. I am not crazy or anything. This would be a weekend bike for me.
I really like the GSXR 600's, the CBR 600's, the YZF600's. I don't think I would go anything over 600 for my first bike.

Any inputs would be appreciated. :)

What year bikes?

Are you looking new or used?

My first bike owned is a 998cc which is what I currently ride. I did start by riding 600s my friends bikes.

Kind of off topic,
but what do you guys recommend I buy as my first bike. If I buy it I will keep it for a while. I am not crazy or anything. This would be a weekend bike for me.
I really like the GSXR 600's, the CBR 600's, the YZF600's. I don't think I would go anything over 600 for my first bike.

Any inputs would be appreciated. :)

CBR 600 is my goal.

Good bike. but I prefer the gsx-r600. :D

CBR 600rr is my goal.Fixed.

I think the R6 is ideal for me. The raven edition :drool:

Good bike. but I prefer the gsx-r600. :D
Same here

It would probably be 2001 and newer for me.
something between $3-5k.

GSXR 600. The other jap bikes are too twitchy for me... the gixxers have a slightly longer wheelbase which makes them much better on the street IMO. Also, the gixxer gearboxes are smooooth. Oh and the stock steering damper.

Fixed.

I think the R6 is ideal for me. The raven edition :drool:

You talking about this one jon. This is my friends bike. I personally like the power but not the width of the bike. It is to bulky for me. None the less good bike.

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f36/AlpinewhiteM3/Bikes/DSC00179.jpg

Same here

:cool

GSXR 600. The other jap bikes are too twitchy for me... the gixxers have a slightly longer wheelbase which makes them much better on the street IMO. Also, the gixxer gearboxes are smooooth. Oh and the stock steering damper.

I would not say all that about the gsxr 600. Kawi's are another good bike. The yamaha's are sweet too. Plus it all depends on the rider. Not all bikes ride the same way. Oh yeah the gsxr 600 never came with a stock steering damper. It is an aftermarket option.

I would not say all that about the gsxr 600. Kawi's are another good bike. The yamaha's are sweet too. Plus it all depends on the rider. Not all bikes ride the same way. Oh yeah the gsxr 600 never came with a stock steering damper. It is an aftermarket option.



I haven't ridden the Kawi, can't comment on that.

My buddy's R6 (2005) gets BIG wiggles in 2nd gear when accelerating hard over anything less than billiard-table smooth. It also gets biiig wiggles over 140mph on a less-than-smooth surface. And the gearbox is horrible compared to the same year Gixxer.

The gsxr 600's do come with a stock steering damper. Look up pics of them... here's one (http://bikepics.com/pictures/576389/)

Kind of off topic,
but what do you guys recommend I buy as my first bike. If I buy it I will keep it for a while. I am not crazy or anything. This would be a weekend bike for me.
I really like the GSXR 600's, the CBR 600's, the YZF600's. I don't think I would go anything over 600 for my first bike.

Any inputs would be appreciated. :)

The 600's of today have the power of 1100's in the late 80's. Back then, starting on a 600 meant having a bike with 60-70hp tops. Even then it was considered a bit much too start on with someone with little to no experience.

I started riding dirt bikes when I was 6, and I'm 31 now. My first streetbike at 15.5 was a beater '82 Kawasaki LTD440 twin. I rode the shit out of that thing for about a year before I saved up enought and I bought an '89 Honda NT650 Hawk GT. After becoming adept at the discipline of rigorous street riding, and canyon carving with the Hawk, then I finally got the '93 ZX-7R that you see in in my 10 year old avatar pic. After that, I've gone through several bikes, and even worked as a motorcycle courier for several years averaging about 40-45k miles a year, all aroudn the L.A./O.C. area.

First off, if you do not have your license, and do not know how to ride a motorcycle, take an MSF course. Ride their bikes, and get some instruction, and some lessons on proper situational awarness when street riding. This will really let you know if motorcycling is for you, before you spend a bunch of money on a motorcycle.

Once you are licensed, the next step is to buy gear before you buy a bike. At the minimum I reccomend a helmet, gloves, jacket, and boots. Once you have your gear now it's time to buy a bike.

I know owning a modern sportbike seems like such a cool thing, and I can assure you it is. However, there are a couple factors to bear in mind. If it's your first bike, you're going to crash it. There are few exceptions to this reality. The fact that you only intend to ride on weekends means that you will take longer to develop skils and experience as well.

Any modern sportbike that goes down can likely have thousands of dollars of damage. It's not uncommon for a minor tip over to cost $500 and up. Of course there's insurance, but have you priced insurance on a new sportbike for someone that is buying their first bike? It will blow your mind.

Better to start off on a $1000-$1500 beater and thrash the fucker. Even if you total it, consider it the price of an education. Once you've paid your dues with the beater, then you can start thinking about something more interesting.

I reccomend you look for a used Suzuki GS500E. If you learn to ride the wheels of off that thing, you will be better on a 600 than someone that started on a 600, because you will learn to carry more entry speed, and not rely on power to correct time sapping mistakes. Yes it's slow and boring, but I assure you, having less fun now will equal A LOT more fun later.

If you just can't deal with the GS500E, then the biggest bike ANYONE should start on is something like Suzuki's SV650. An SV650 is nothgin to sneeze at. If you watch the guys that race those things, they turn lap times faster than most people on a 600 (or even 1000's!) at a trackday, and even a lot of 600 club racers.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

I haven't ridden the Kawi, can't comment on that.

My buddy's R6 (2005) gets BIG wiggles in 2nd gear when accelerating hard over anything less than billiard-table smooth. It also gets biiig wiggles over 140mph on a less-than-smooth surface. And the gearbox is horrible compared to the same year Gixxer.

The gsxr 600's do come with a stock steering damper. Look up pics of them... here's one (http://bikepics.com/pictures/576389/)

Well I did not know you were referring to the 06 in general. As far as the 05 and down I am sure they do not have a stock steering damper. Yeah I agree with you on the 05 models for the gixxer being a better model overall compared to R6.

The kawi is smooth in shifting also for the 05 it compares equal in rideability to the gixxer.

Well I did not know you were referring to the 06 in general. As far as the 05 and down I am sure they do not have a stock steering damper. Yeah I agree with you on the 05 models for the gixxer being a better model overall compared to R6.

The kawi is smooth in shifting also for the 05 it compares equal in rideability to the gixxer.


The '04 and '05 gsxr600's have steering dampers too ;)

Before those years, I don't know.

The '04 and '05 gsxr600's have steering dampers too ;)

Before those years, I don't know.

My buddy has an 05 and he placed an aftermarket one. I will check it out. His sister and brother also has 04's.

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f36/AlpinewhiteM3/Bikes/DSC00190.jpg

click (http://video.motorcycle-usa.com/motorcycleUSA/05gsxr600_track2-1.wmv)


I love that duc by the way. Going to test ride a new 749 soon.


Ask your buddy about the damper, I know the 04 and 05 have them... Doesn't really matter though, it's not a big deal to put one on a bike that doesnt have it.

My buddy has an 05 and he placed an aftermarket one. I will check it out. His sister and brother also has 04's.

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f36/AlpinewhiteM3/Bikes/DSC00190.jpg

I dig that Red Bull livery, very cool! :buttrock

click (http://video.motorcycle-usa.com/motorcycleUSA/05gsxr600_track2-1.wmv)


I love that duc by the way. Going to test ride a new 749 soon.


Ask your buddy about the damper, I know the 04 and 05 have them... Doesn't really matter though, it's not a big deal to put one on a bike that doesnt have it.

They actually let you test ride them. Where? I was going to get a 749 but I figured I can get teh 999 for the same price. Both brand new too. I just remember reading somewhere that 2001 gixxers have the steering damper also. :dunno

I dig that Red Bull livery, very cool! :buttrock

Yeah he has race wheels on there also. That bike is hooked up. We will be a laguna seca this year.

They actually let you test ride them. Where? I was going to get a 749 but I figured I can get teh 999 for the same price. Both brand new too. I just remember reading somewhere that 2001 gixxers have the steering damper also. :dunno



I live in Orange County... ya just gotta walk in and start talking BS till they let you ride one.

How crazy! :D

OT... but Ben Roethlisberger is minus one Busa...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060612/ap_on_sp_fo_ne/fbn_steelers_roethlisberger_accident_1

All I can type is DAMN!!!

my 2001 gixxer 1k has a steering damper. it's not adjustable though. you can still get plenty of headshake with a twist of the wrist.

OT... but Ben Roethlisberger is minus one Busa...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060612/ap_on_sp_fo_ne/fbn_steelers_roethlisberger_accident_1
What an idiot. If it wasn't required by the NFL he probably wouldn't wear a hat during the games either.
"He talked about being a risk-taker and I'm not really a risk-taker. I'm pretty conservative and laid back, but the big thing is to just be careful," Roethlisberger said at the time. "I'll just continue to be careful. I told him we don't ever ride alone, we always ride in a group of people, and I think it makes it even more safe."
:lol

The 600's of today have the power of 1100's in the late 80's. Back then, starting on a 600 meant having a bike with 60-70hp tops. Even then it was considered a bit much too start on with someone with little to no experience.

I started riding dirt bikes when I was 6, and I'm 31 now. My first streetbike at 15.5 was a beater '82 Kawasaki LTD440 twin. I rode the shit out of that thing for about a year before I saved up enought and I bought an '89 Honda NT650 Hawk GT. After becoming adept at the discipline of rigorous street riding, and canyon carving with the Hawk, then I finally got the '93 ZX-7R that you see in in my 10 year old avatar pic. After that, I've gone through several bikes, and even worked as a motorcycle courier for several years averaging about 40-45k miles a year, all aroudn the L.A./O.C. area.

First off, if you do not have your license, and do not know how to ride a motorcycle, take an MSF course. Ride their bikes, and get some instruction, and some lessons on proper situational awarness when street riding. This will really let you know if motorcycling is for you, before you spend a bunch of money on a motorcycle.

Once you are licensed, the next step is to buy gear before you buy a bike. At the minimum I reccomend a helmet, gloves, jacket, and boots. Once you have your gear now it's time to buy a bike.

I know owning a modern sportbike seems like such a cool thing, and I can assure you it is. However, there are a couple factors to bear in mind. If it's your first bike, you're going to crash it. There are few exceptions to this reality. The fact that you only intend to ride on weekends means that you will take longer to develop skils and experience as well.

Any modern sportbike that goes down can likely have thousands of dollars of damage. It's not uncommon for a minor tip over to cost $500 and up. Of course there's insurance, but have you priced insurance on a new sportbike for someone that is buying their first bike? It will blow your mind.

Better to start off on a $1000-$1500 beater and thrash the fucker. Even if you total it, consider it the price of an education. Once you've paid your dues with the beater, then you can start thinking about something more interesting.

I reccomend you look for a used Suzuki GS500E. If you learn to ride the wheels of off that thing, you will be better on a 600 than someone that started on a 600, because you will learn to carry more entry speed, and not rely on power to correct time sapping mistakes. Yes it's slow and boring, but I assure you, having less fun now will equal A LOT more fun later.

If you just can't deal with the GS500E, then the biggest bike ANYONE should start on is something like Suzuki's SV650. An SV650 is nothgin to sneeze at. If you watch the guys that race those things, they turn lap times faster than most people on a 600 (or even 1000's!) at a trackday, and even a lot of 600 club racers.

Good luck with whatever you decide.
+1, quality advice. A lot of squids in here it seems.