1994 CBR600RR… Good first bike?

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• August 31, 2009 at 11:10 pm #3380
  asheridan07

  Participant

  Hey guy’s!

  I’m new to the forum and new to riding.

  I’m trying my best to take all the right steps in learning to ride a bike correctly

  I’m taking the BRC this month to learn the basics and to make sure that this is something that I’d like to really invest time, money, and passion in to.

  I’m and engineering student, so by nature I love engines and vehicles in general.
  I work on my E30’s for fun on the weekends… So I think that the love of riding will come just as naturally.

  When I invest in something i want it to be something i can have for a long time…. I’m a project guy so i love having something that is not perfect so i can make it perfect.

  Ok, so I’m a small guy. 5’5 145lb

  I’ve been looking at bikes and doing my research… I’m worried about getting a 250 because I hear everyone say that I’ll grow out of it so quickly, and I’d also like something that I can take on the highway back and forth from school and work, and have the confidence to know that if need be I have enough HP to get out of the way.

  I like the new ninja, but i just don’t want to spend that kind of money on such a low cc bike.

  I ran across a 1994 CBR600F2 the other day and thought that it was a good looking bike. Insurance would be lower because it’s older, parts run rampant for it on eBay, and I can get one for less than $2000 any day of the week. I was thinking about buying one that was in good shape engine and rust wise, but maybe the fairings are a little scratched up. This will drop the initial price, and when I drop it the first time i won’t care so much because it’s already a little beat up. Also, when I get to the point of being comfortable, I’ve found a guy on eBay that sells an entire fairing kit for the bike, and would paint it however I want.

  It’s an older technology bike… but I do understand that the top speed is still 150mph and 0-60 in 3.2sec, but I don’t think, being my height and weight, that I’ll grow out of a 600cc any time soon.

  I’m not to hard headed though, and the whole point of this post is to get some wisdom from those older and more experience around me.

  Thanks in advance for you comments guys

  September 1, 2009 at 12:08 am #22108
  SafetyFirst

  Participant

  I’m going to say avoid. Start on something smaller and sit on getting something bigger until you’re getting bored with something smaller. When the time comes, you’ll have no problem selling it to someone else for about what you paid for it.

  I started riding a few months ago on a Ninja 250, and have yet to find a time where more power would come in handy, other than highway going squidly speeds. There’s never been a time where I had trouble merging in highway traffic or passing another car due to lack of so called power.

  Having about 3000 miles under the belt, I’d be reluctant riding a 600cc sportsbike. There are guys who started off on 600s, and got better. But then there are those that didn’t do so well. Case in point, a class-mate in high school of my significant other. He was about to do a trick riding a CBR600, turned around to make sure everyone was watching, power got ahead of him, and before he knew it he was out of the student parking lot driveway, running into the side of a car on the street passing by the school. RIP.

  September 1, 2009 at 2:43 am #22120
  WeaponZero

  Participant

  In a word, no. While there are people who have done it and turned out ok, the majority who go that route for a first bike don’t. Read the article on the site’s homepage sidebar that says “Why 600cc’s is too much.” Avoid 4 cylinder bikes in general, although the Yamaha FZ6R has pretty well made its presence known as an exception to that rule.

  If you want a strong first bike you can expect to not ever outgrow you should consider looking at Suzuki SV650s. Mild enough for a beginner, fun enough to last you for as long as you’ll ride.

  September 2, 2009 at 3:09 am #22154
  WeaponZero

  Participant

  I misread your original post. In 1994 there was no Honda CBR600RR. There was, however, a Honda CBR600F2. Though most of what I said still applies, its not as bad because bikes 15 years ago were nowhere near as powerful as they are now. However, it is still a championship winning racebike and as such doesn’t belong in the hands of a beginner.

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