ANOTHER 600cc bike thread. Let's access the difference between Sport and SS

[MIKe30]

I've been reading a lot here lately, seems every noob wants (or wanted - i fit under this catagory) a gsxr600 or something of the sort.

Of course (and probably rightly so) all the vets say "NO, YOU'RE GOING TO DIE ON THAT" - or some variation of that.

Now my question is about the differences between 600cc sportbikes, and 600cc super sportbikes.

Sometimes I read, "look at katana's, they're a bit more forgiving than gsxr600" etc,etc... other times (such as in the stickies) it always reads ANY 600cc is a "SS". From what I've been told by a friend of the family who has been riding sport bikes for a number of years (he is 40), suzuki katana is a great starter bike, has linear power curve, is forgiving to minor mistakes, and is something i can keep for a long time - i wont get bored of it. Also been told at the dealer today that the sport bikes - katana's, cbr600 f4i's, yzf600, etc are good starter bikes, with linear curves, and the supersports should be left alone as a beginner (gsxr's, cbr600rr's, r1's, etc)


Is there a true difference between the two, or not? Should they both be considered SuperSport's? It seems that way from what i read on this site, but not by what I hear from people I know (people, not just peers).

Just something that has been bothering me while reading and feel it should be discussed, as 600cc bikes are obviously a huge topic of debate in this subforum.

-mike


edit: also, would just like to add i'm not looking for justification of my purchase or what not, fact is i dont have a bike yet and am waiting till after my msf course (starting fri the 11th) is complete and passed to purchase one. Just really feel there should be a difference distinguished between the two if there really is one. If there really isn't, please say so.

[stevo_x]

your testicles will fall off if you get a 600 for your first bike....

[phail]

About 8 horsepower and some bling.

Dont kid yourself, 600s from the late 90s/early 2000s can be ridden just as fast as a brand new 600rr.

[soccerpimp09]

F4is/YZF600's etc... are not slouches - they are the top model from a few years back - still supersports... a sport model would be something more like a ninja 650- or sv650. The katana is down on power to most I4 600s, but it is a pig - it is very heavy and Bush will be here at some point to tell you - a katana is not very newbie friendly. You can't just throw in the word 600 and have it be a bad bike instantly... A 650 twin is much tamer than a 600 I4 - and newer 600s are much more powerful than older ones (but old ones are not slouches) - I personally have an f4i and can say i wouldn't recommend it to a newbie... the bloody thing puts out close to if not more than 100hp - the idea that its a good starter because it was THE racebread SS of the past is a poor asumption...

Will you die for starting out on a 600SS - no... not always - but the odds are against you ... I coulda done fine on my f4i if it was my first bike - but I'm very glad for the time i had on my 250 - and I'm not sure i'd have half the skill i have now without it....

You can't just judge by age and CC's - age doesn't mean much more than a few more pounds and a few less HP - the CCs mean nothing without being paired with gearing and cyl. configuration.... (the VFR is an 800 v4 - very different powerband and feel to that of a 750 I4... not comparable if you ask me)...

[Samurang]

i think the word you were looking for is "asses - v. to estimate or judge the value, character, etc., of; evaluate"

[ImpulsePainter]

Just going to throw this out there, not bashing you, just a word of advice.

Don't look to sales people for advice on a bike. Most of the time (close to all), they're their to tell you what you want to hear, to by the bike they want you to buy. I'm sure they'd recommend a Katana 600 over a 250 Ninja, because it costs more.

[Gaolee]

If you really want an inline four, look at an FZ6 or Bandit. I guess Bandits are 650s now, but both have more upright riding positions, lower pegs and better learning ergos than either a new or old supersport bike. Once you get used to riding, then you can decide if you like your butt in the air and your chin on the tank or not.

[bush]

The Katana does not have linear power delivery, at least not by my butt-dyno. It has the same I-4 power delivery as the supersports, albeit slightly tamer. I still don't recommend it.

[Dr.K]

Get a cheap small bike for a season or two. Than buy whatever you want. just my oppinion. Get a 500 twin or smaller. Than if you drop it you won't care cause there ugly anyways. Cheap on insurance as well.

[MIKe30]

Originally Posted by soccerpimp09

F4is/YZF600's etc... are not slouches - they are the top model from a few years back - still supersports... a sport model would be something more like a ninja 650- or sv650. The katana is down on power to most I4 600s, but it is a pig - it is very heavy and Bush will be here at some point to tell you - a katana is not very newbie friendly. You can't just throw in the word 600 and have it be a bad bike instantly... A 650 twin is much tamer than a 600 I4 - and newer 600s are much more powerful than older ones (but old ones are not slouches) - I personally have an f4i and can say i wouldn't recommend it to a newbie... the bloody thing puts out close to if not more than 100hp - the idea that its a good starter because it was THE racebread SS of the past is a poor asumption...

Will you die for starting out on a 600SS - no... not always - but the odds are against you ... I coulda done fine on my f4i if it was my first bike - but I'm very glad for the time i had on my 250 - and I'm not sure i'd have half the skill i have now without it....

You can't just judge by age and CC's - age doesn't mean much more than a few more pounds and a few less HP - the CCs mean nothing without being paired with gearing and cyl. configuration.... (the VFR is an 800 v4 - very different powerband and feel to that of a 750 I4... not comparable if you ask me)...

see, i didn't know the f4i's were the SS race versions of the past... I thought they were the tamer, for lack of a better word, "street" version of their 600cc race replica's

That clears a bit up on the f4i's. What other 600 bikes are better choices to start off on? I understand that it may not be the BEST choice, but it's a bridge i'll have to cross when it comes time to purchase a bike. Right now it's coming down to gs500f or katana... any other similar options?

Originally Posted by Samurang

i think the word you were looking for is "asses - v. to estimate or judge the value, character, etc., of; evaluate"

and i'm usually decent when it comes to grammar

Originally Posted by ImpulsePainter

Just going to throw this out there, not bashing you, just a word of advice.

Don't look to sales people for advice on a bike. Most of the time (close to all), they're their to tell you what you want to hear, to by the bike they want you to buy. I'm sure they'd recommend a Katana 600 over a 250 Ninja, because it costs more.

yea, no offense taken. i understand what you're getting at, besides i have pretty thick skin (not thick enough to not wear gear though )

and like i said i understand what you're getting at, i used to be in sales and learned a lot about how the industry works. point taken.

Originally Posted by bush

The Katana does not have linear power delivery, at least not by my butt-dyno. It has the same I-4 power delivery as the supersports, albeit slightly tamer. I still don't recommend it.

if you dont mind, answer this one honestly - do you regret getting it as your first bike?


thanks for all the input, please keep it coming - it's appreciated and not something i've been taking lightly. I came onto this board three days ago thinking a gsxr600 was the right thing to do, now i know a racebike personally isn't an option for myself.

[soccerpimp09]

The F4i was the CBR600RR of 2001-2002... their top line model - they actually knocked down the power on her a lil whent the RR came out - and THEN the f4i was tame only in comparison - and barely so -

If you really can't stomach a smaller bike - an SV650 may be perfect - or ninja 650 - I'm looking to get one as a track bike soon hopefully..

[emericanchaos]

don't start on a 600 whether it's an SS or not. i'm learning that if you really want to learn to ride you should get the smaller bikes you alway hear about around here.

you seem to learn best by being able to ride at the limits of the machine. or at least pushing the machine. a new rider will NOT be able to handle the limits of a 600. these things will look down on you every chance they get. they will try to throw you off and they'll accellerate so hard you'll want to not ride it. why? because you don't know what you're doing.

start small. tame a more mild beast before playing with the monsters.

[F4sSprintST]

I wouldn't recommend my old 1994 CBR600F2 as a beginner's bike, as evidenced by my BIL dropping his several times then crashing it

[brent98rt]

the new Ninja 250 is a nice starter bike, the New SV650 is one also. and they look very good.

My 1st bike was a 2007 GSXR750. But that was just me. i liked it and it fit me. i rode it well. was a blast of a bike.

If you know anyone who has a bike and see if they can lket you ride it around the block. i found that a good way to see if you liek the way it handles, feels, power wise, size, weight. i told a few friends of mine that and they did and went a different route on buying a bike.
to each his own i guess.

just my .02
good luck

[Anthonyd5189]

If you have come down to the GS500F and the Katana....go with the 500. I love mine, it's a great bike. Got enough get up n go to keep me happy but nothing to extreme to the point where I'm in over my head. Smooth predictable power delivery. Pretty good brakes too. The only thing is the front suspension is a little soft but that's an easy fix. Overall I'm super happy with mine, going on my 3rd riding season on it once I get home from school!