HBtoS2K

Chris S, jtmonkey, afetsman... thanks for the words of advice.

jtmonkey, that's cool man, that's not lecturing at all. Thanks for looking out bro. I'll remember what you said.

Kekoa

Yah, i'm with the other guys. i have an 02 f4i as a first bike. ride position is way more comfortable than other sport bikes, yet you still get that sport bike look. I'd stick with an 02 or 01 f4i just cuz i hate the new banana seat, but thats just me.

BlueS2000Boy

while i can't say for myself about having a 600 for my first bike because i started off with a gsx-r750, just recently it came time to purchase a first bike for my gf who mind you has ridden nothing but a dirtbike. no sort of on road experience. i personaly have a new R1 now and didn't want her touching that bike. way to much. i called a few friends who had bikes and the F4i being one of them. in all she road the F4i, 600rr and the R6. in the end the bike for her was the R6. in her opinion it was the most comfortable and easiest bike to ride. i also rode all three of them and i would have to agree that it was my fav bike out of the three. has a great ride position, very smooth ride, great handleing and very nice power band. not to mention it owned everything on the track in 04... but the one main reason i would recomend this bike for a first is it will keep you very satisfied for a while. where as the F4i can feel very slow and slugish in a short time. you will feel you've out grown the bike and want something faster. even getting off my R1 and hoping on the R6 its still a fun bike to ride that has plenty of get up and go. just my 2 cents

DongTran

I'd get the F4i. You could always track it later, as do a lot of other folks with F4i

sickestS2k00

i recently bought an 02 F4i too. It is a very comfortable and rider friendly bike. I would definitely recommend it.

b0mbrman

Cool. I've been considering both of these bikes as well.

Me:
Beginner (0 experience)
Short (5'6")
Would probably use this as a daily driver
Sexy

Would this bike still work for me? Also, what do you think of Suzuki's offering in this classs?

gstate

Advice also been taken down by me.....I'm a newbie to motorcycles too and I'm already set up to take the state sponsored safety course in Feb. then i'll be off to pick up a bike I've been checking out mainly GSX-R 600's but like the Hondas as well.

I'm there with ya b0mbrman i'm just 5'10 and probally wouldn't use it as a daily (gotta get my S in there)

Thanks to the folks who already offered good adviceand stories.

BlueS2000Boy

my friend that i ride with got a 2004 gsx-r600 for his first bike... loved it a lot. he has had it for about 5 months now and was going to buy an 05 750.... but has decided to go with an 05 gsx-r1000....

wood600rr

5 months is not enough time or miles to justify moving to a 1000, or 750 for that matter. I bought my first bike, a GSXR 600 in June of '02. After 13 months, 14,000 miles, and a track day I decided to get a new bike. I traded up to... a cbr600rr. I kept it for 11 months, 14,000 miles, and 10 track days. After that much experience, I finally decided to get a 1000rr.

I rode the 1000rr for about 1700 miles before my first track day on it. It took a while to get used to, but I felt pretty good by the end of the day. I checked my lap times and surprise... they were worse than my average times on my 600rr by 3 seconds. Well, my bike was stolen a month ago and now I'm ready to replace it, with an '05 600rr.

Point being, don't think the fastest bike equals the fastest rider.

Jason Pridmore was quoted saying "no one needs more than a 600 for the street".

Learn how to ride fast before buying the fastest bike. A shitty rider on a fast bike will only wreck faster.

Oh yeah, to the guy who started this thread: Any 600 will be plenty fast enough for you for many years. Get the one that inspires you the most and have fun with it. Take it slowly at first, you really have to learn how to ride. It's not like driving a car. Go out by yourself or with a new-to-bikes friend in a low traffic area and practice turning and leaning, body position, and looking through the turns. Speed will come with experience. And do a track day after you log some miles. You'll learn more about your bike and going fast in one day than in a year of street riding.

Good luck.

hyperpm

Ever consider naked bikes? Monster 620 or 800 good beginner bikes as well with lots of torque for city riding and more upright body position for easy manuevering in tight spaces. Pretty good in the twisties too. Weighs in at around 375-390 dry I believe