[acp914]

would you suggest this bike for a first bike? ive been looking around, reading specs, visiting the local dealers and test-sitting (lol) alot of bikes lately. and im wondering if this is an ok choice for a first bike. ive really only ridden a spree (lol) and a dirtbike (minimally), but ive always wanted a motorcycle. i like the fact that this bike has, what seems to be a good mix of performance and sensibility. what do you guys think?

any opinions would be greatly appreciated....

thanks

 

[Aenygma]

:welcome to the forum.

If you do a search, you will find a number of threads on this subject, and with many varying opinions.

I myself do not feel this is an appropriate first motorcycle. It really has a little too much power, and weight. There are a zillion choices of motorcycles out there, and many others that I feel make a better first bike.

 

[krushchev]

:welcome to the forum.

If you do a search, you will find a number of threads on this subject, and with many varying opinions.

I myself do not feel this is an appropriate first motorcycle. It really has a little too much power, and weight. There are a zillion choices of motorcycles out there, and many others that I feel make a better first bike.

plus, you don't want your first bike to be a new bike. You will invariably drop it within your first year of riding...

 

[Pretender]

:welcome

As Enygma said, you will find many opinions on your question. If you were 18, I'd say no, since your profile says you are 30, I'd say you'd be okay starting on the FZ6. Just keep in mind that a lot of new riders (or riders who haven't ridden in a long time) lay their bikes down on the 1st day they get them. I'd say an MSF course before buying would be highly recommended. Or at least get a little practice on a friend's old bike or dirt bike or something if you haven't ridden in awhile. I think the FZ6 is a pretty good bike for your situation because it can be docile if you are sensible with it and it can also rail when you build up the experience to do that. Do a search for a lot of good advice and opinions that have been posted previously here on the board. And whatever you decide, ride safe! :cheers

 

[KevinTheCake]

This bike is a docile commuter below 6 grand on the tach. As long as you have a long inseam, and you are responsible enough to learn the bike before you go crazy seeing what it will do, you will be fine. Just try to keep in mind that the bike can and will out ride you. You have nothing to prove except how mature and responsible you can be on a machine that is fast enough to kill anyone here if they try to push it too hard. Ride safe, take baby steps in the learning curve and you will be OK. Just get you some sliders because you almost certainly will drop it.

PS welcome to the best forum for the FZ6!

 

[acp914]

:welcome

As Enygma said, you will find many opinions on your question. If you were 18, I'd say no, since your profile says you are 30, I'd say you'd be okay starting on the FZ6. Just keep in mind that a lot of new riders (or riders who haven't ridden in a long time) lay their bikes down on the 1st day they get them. I'd say an MSF course before buying would be highly recommended. Or at least get a little practice on a friend's old bike or dirt bike or something if you haven't ridden in awhile. I think the FZ6 is a pretty good bike for your situation because it can be docile if you are sensible with it and it can also rail when you build up the experience to do that. Do a search for a lot of good advice and opinions that have been posted previously here on the board. And whatever you decide, ride safe! :cheers

thanks for your opinion......

when you say "lay them down" do you mean crash?


what does "MSF" stand for?


thanks again

 

[acp914]

This bike is a docile commuter below 6 grand on the tach. As long as you have a long inseam, and you are responsible enough to learn the bike before you go crazy seeing what it will do, you will be fine. Just try to keep in mind that the bike can and will out ride you. You have nothing to prove except how mature and responsible you can be on a machine that is fast enough to kill anyone here if they try to push it too hard. Ride safe, take baby steps in the learning curve and you will be OK. Just get you some sliders because you almost certainly will drop it.

PS welcome to the best forum for the FZ6!

thanks........

i definately have a long inseam....lol 34 !!!!


what are those sliders for? hopefully you will let that slide if it is a dumb question

 

[227fz]

:welcome IMO, You should start with a use bike. Something cheap that you can get used to the weight and hadling of a b***** bike (b***** than a spree or dirt bike). The MSF course would be good too.

 

[acp914]

:welcome to the forum.

If you do a search, you will find a number of threads on this subject, and with many varying opinions.

I myself do not feel this is an appropriate first motorcycle. It really has a little too much power, and weight. There are a zillion choices of motorcycles out there, and many others that I feel make a better first bike.

thanks for your opinion........im looking to pick up an oldr starter bike for around $600 or so, and get some major hours racked up for experience...

its just that i have this other guy on my shoulder telling me...." but that FZ6 looks soooo sweet"....

lol

 

[twister216]

"Lay Down" = Crash
"MSF" = Motorcycle Safety Foundation
"Sliders" = Frame Sliders

Good Luck!

 

[redF7sp]

I don't think this a very good first bike. The layout and weight aren't bad but there is no way around it this bike has a inline4 600cc sportbike engine along with all that characteristics that type of engine has. It is not a forgiving engine like a Vtwin and the combination of getting used to the finickiness of the I4 and just basically getting used to riding a bike on the streets in general can lead to problems. If you really like the FZ6 which why wouldn't you maybe look at picking up a used SV650 naked lots of them around for fairly cheap and you can get your money back out of it. Ride that for a year then trade it off on a new FZ6 after you have some miles on. Thats just my opinion though.

 

[FrednearBoston]

welcome to the forum! to me, "lay down" means a slow-to-no-speed topple over - like forgetting to pull in the clutch when coming to a stop with the front wheel turned on your first day out on the bike.... (luckily i did that to my 250!) i'd have to agree that this is not a good first bike for the majority of new riders. I feel much more comfortable after having ridden a smaller (less weight, less power) bike for 2 years. There is NOTHING like gaining confidence in your clutch/throttle/brake coordination before getting onto an FZ6, especially in traffic. "MSF" = Motorcycle Safety Foundation

 

[acp914]

welcome to the forum! to me, "lay down" means a slow-to-no-speed topple over - like forgetting to pull in the clutch when coming to a stop with the front wheel turned on your first day out on the bike.... (luckily i did that to my 250!) i'd have to agree that this is not a good first bike for the majority of new riders. I feel much more comfortable after having ridden a smaller (less weight, less power) bike for 2 years. There is NOTHING like gaining confidence in your clutch/throttle/brake coordination before getting onto an FZ6, especially in traffic. "MSF" = Motorcycle Safety Foundation

thank you for your opinion.....im leaning towards a smaller bike now

the conservative side of me says its a good idea.

 

[FrednearBoston]

i don't think you'll regret making that decision.

addendum: and then when you're good and ready buy an FZ6!!!!

 

[rasmar]

I'm gonna differ from the gang here as i think this is just fine for a first bike.
I can only go with my own personal experience and this is my first bike. I hadnt even been a passenger on a bike since i was maybe 12.

Lots of people said 'get a used bike first!' and that is solid logic. However i wasnt going to buy some ragged out sport bike for 2-3000 bucks when i could buy the fz6 with 1 mile on it for 6ish.

At 6 feet tall and 220 pounds, the fz is cake to handle even with little experience if you use moderation with the throttle!

I'm at 10.5 months of ownership and almost 5000 miles and have yet to lay it down or have an issue *finds wood to knock on*but the concern over doing that keeps me paranoid enough to always pay attention.

There are always safety concerns and i highly recommend the motorcycle safety courses if you're not sure what you are getting into.

 

[drfaulken]

I'm gonna differ from the gang here as i think this is just fine for a first bike.
I can only go with my own personal experience and this is my first bike. I hadnt even been a passenger on a bike since i was maybe 12.

Lots of people said 'get a used bike first!' and that is solid logic. However i wasnt going to buy some ragged out sport bike for 2-3000 bucks when i could buy the fz6 with 1 mile on it for 6ish.

At 6 feet tall and 220 pounds, the fz is cake to handle even with little experience if you use moderation with the throttle!

I'm at 10.5 months of ownership and almost 5000 miles and have yet to lay it down or have an issue *finds wood to knock on*but the concern over doing that keeps me paranoid enough to always pay attention.

There are always safety concerns and i highly recommend the motorcycle safety courses if you're not sure what you are getting into.

I agree wholeheartedly. This is also the first bike I've ever owned. The considerations posted by others in this thread are VERY VALID, however, and you should trust your gut on if you would be more comfortable with a used bike than a brand new bike of any kind.

Just two other things:
* Take the Motorcycle Safety Course before, BEFORE, BEFORE!! you buy a bike of any kind. You might find out you don't like riding motorcycles, as the MSF course makes you do a bunch of not-so-fun but important stuff like walking a bike around with your legs and learning how to work the clutch. We had someone decide riding wasn't for them, and it saved them a lot of money, and possibly pain, by finding this out in a 2 day course as opposed to underneath a car The MSF course will also introduce you to some of the things already mentioned in this thread, like stalling the bike. You won't hurt yourself if you stall a 250cc Virago, but you will have learned to pull the clutch lever in before you come to a complete stop.

* I think the main reason I haven't done anything bad to my bike is because it was brand new and expensive. I didn't want to drop it, and my mindset was "this is an expensive bike (for me), don't do something stupid." To this day, I take an extra second or two pulling away from tollbooths or intersections where there might be slippery deposits from other vehicles. Take an extra second to turn onto a roadway that might have gravel. I don't want to have a laydown because of something stupid, and this coupled with the psychological value of having a brand new bike keeps me from really squirreling out.

That being said, I'm sure I'll do a 5MPH lowside tomorrow and get parked on by a cager, while the driver is on the cell phone and beating their kids :squid:

 

[acp914]

hmmmm.....uh oh !!!!!!!!!!1


a couple of devotees bucking the trend and buying the FZ6 as the first.....


this is making the devil on my shoulder o so cocky !!!!!!


lol



thanks for the info

 

[acp914]

all in all the one constant is the MSF course ......no matter what i do ill definately do that....



thanks

 

[Aenygma]

all in all the one constant is the MSF course ......no matter what i do ill definately do that....



thanks

Good to hear that. A very smart move.

 

[rival81]

I too am considering the FZ6 as my first motorbike. I'll see how i go on the courses i'm gonna do first. The courses will take me around 15 hours of riding, and then hopefully i'll be confident enough to go very easy on something like this...that's the idea anyway, i may change my mind when i actually start riding some 250s and realise how much power motorbikes have even at that class!