I am 18 years old from atlanta georgia and i found this post real interesting everyone has great points...i understand that a lot of people say beginners need to start out on a 250 or whatever but i won't do that...not because i wanna look good or anything because you can bet your ass I'll be riding the bike like a grandma for a long time...i don't really have a lot of friends around here to be honest more like aquantainces...so i could care less how i look but i just want to get real comfortable on the bike and work my way up...the bike i plan on getting is a gixxer 600 because it is a short bike i'm 5'7"...honnestly i've heard a lot of interesting opinions from all different kinds of riders and when i asked these guys at community service what kind of bike i should start with i got real interesting feedback one of which was an older rider who'd been riding for a very long time and the other an ex cop. the cop started with an r1 and he said it was his only bike while the other guy had a repsol cbr1000 rr and an r1...they both gave me the same advice...start on a literbike...i thought this was insane their reason was get a bike that you're a little bit afraid of and will take it easy on and they also said i would get tired of a 600 and want more power after a few months...i said i think i would stick to a 600 as a first bike..i was raised riding dirt bikes and drove a stick stang for a couple of years ever since i was able to drive...and the mustang is totalled now...by my mom! alright but the point is that i am aware of how dangerous these machines are and i'm confident that i can handle it...i do think it would be nice to find someone to ride with around here with experience that can teach me every once in a while without pushin me too hard but i will make sure i ride within my limits just because i am aware of the dangers. I'm sorry but i refuse to waste my time on a ninja 250 because I don't want to its all on me and if somethin shitty happens it happens you could die walkin down the street. I am a very fast learner and driven person when i find a passion which i need these days because i've been heading down a bad path...the only reason i say this is because nobody knows me so i don't care im just giving an opinion...but yea im goin with the gsx 600r no doubt!  

o yea and i do plan on doin the motorcycle safety couse...seems like a good way to get a feel for everything  

WOW, MUST SAY THAT IS A HEART THUMPING DEAL.... I MAY HAVE HAD SOME ROAD RASH IN MY TIME TOO, AND SEEN FRIENDS GO DOWN AS WELL....... BUT NO MATTER HOW WE LOOK AT IT.... AND THOSE THAT HAVE ANSWERED TO THIS, IT IS THAT DAM PEER PRESSURE THAT WILL KILL EM ALL IN THE LONG RUN.... IT IS TOO MUCH FOR A MAN TO SAY "HEY- F U BUDDY UR ASS AINT NEW TO THIS". YA FEEL ME? BUT ALL OUT WE DO NEED TO CHECK OUR CHINS WHEN RIDING... EVEN IF IT'S 60- 150 ON THE QUICK JUMP CAUSE YOUR FEELING LUCKY... THERE IS ALLWAYS SOME OLD LADY IN A DUECE THAT DON'T SEE WELL AND CAN'T SEE YA COMMING DOWN THE ROAD AT 100 PLUS!!! SO IT'S KEEP IT REAL AND LIVE TO RUN ON A TRACK FOR TOP SPEED, OR BE LIKE A BUG ON A WINDSHEELD..... CAN YOU SAY SPAT!!! I DO FEEL YOU FOR A LOST OF A FRIEND, AND IT IS HARD TO STOMATCH THE IDIOTS THAT WANT TO SHOW IT OFF... YA KNOW THEY MAKE FUNCTIONS TO GO TO FOR THAT, AND IT'S SOON TO BE JUST WHAT HAS BEEN STATED.... PROBLEMS FOR ALL OF US ON THE ROAD... SO IF THOSE THAT CAN'T AGREE, WELL..........IT'S UR ASS OUT THERE WHEN SOME SUV WITH A DRIVER ON A CELL AND BEATING DOWN KIDS WHILE FEELING HER WAY THROUGH A PURSE FOR WHO KNOWS WHAT THAT SEE'S YOU RIGHT?... IT'S BEEN SAID AND DONE FROM SOMEONES POINT AT ONE TIME IN THIS LIFE... AND IT'S JUST THAT... LIFE-CAN YOU AFFORD TO PLAY WITH IT?...  

Im completely new to riding and have signed up for my riding course and before i read this post i had my heart set on a honda cbr 600 as my first bike cuz everyone i know who rides said its a good starter bike dont know so much now.... i would appreciate any feedback from anyone with a cbr 600....  

Just start S L O ***

I was fortunate that I got my first bike when I was 4 years old, an Italjet JC5C.  Then I went through the natural progression - YZ80, CR125, 250, 500.  Had a couple of Suzuki 500  Quadracers.

By the time I got my first street bike at age 18 I had been riding 14 years.

I picked up a ZX-10.  No one dared insure me.  But I just took it easy and learned the machine.  Putted around for several weeks, maybe a few months.  Eventually I got attuned to the bike.

Regardless of what machine you get just respect it.  Todays 2 wheelers are insane.  And the crazy part is you can buy one without a license.

The other aspect of riding is road hazards, particularly other drivers.  I always ride as though everyone on the road is on a mission to crash into me.  I fully expect that the car behind me will floor it, while at the same time the bus in front of me will lock up the brakes, and the car two lanes to my right will yank the wheel as hard as they can to swerve into me.

It really goes beyond defensive driving.  It's paranoid driving.

Start slow, get really used to the bike in low/no traffic areas, and after a few years you'll be hanging long wheelies and having a big time.  And you'll be alive, too!

I'm 38 now, so I've been riding for around 34 years.  Other than the crazy high jumps on dirt bikes during my teen years I have yet to crash.

Knock on wood.