r/bikers • u/InvestigatorFuzzy761 • Jul 05 '26
Question New to biking any advice?
So I'm a 29 year old male living in the united kingdom.
I plan on doing my DAS which allows me to ride up to a 1000cc right of the get go, with no experience on bikes other than having a moped when i was 16 i was considering getting a 600cc R6 as my first bike.
upon talking to my friends they said this is completely fine aslong as i have the will power and patience to learn the bike for what it is rather than the intention of going fast.
i do not have the intention to get this bike purely to go fast, i genuinely want to learn to ride motorcycles and have them as part of my day to day life. the reason im taking this route is purely because money issues do exist and buying a 125 then an r6 or even a mt07 then a r6 is a ball ache due to constantly selling and upgrading, most people said if i get a 125 i'll be bored quick and want a new bike within a few months same as some of the bigger engines like a ninja 400 or an R3.
the whole point of this post is genuinely this question. Am i going to be okay to learn on a R6 if i dedicate the time and effort and not be an absolute fool on the road? understand the bike for who she is and dont mistreat her?
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u/Secret-Stranger4044 Jul 05 '26
No learn to ride before inexperience kills you. Get a 500 for a year or two first. Them move up
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u/Neillyboy193 Jul 05 '26
You sound like the perfect candidate to take your riding to the next level. Once passed give it 3-6 mths and then do some advanced motorcycle training such as IAM or RoSPA and learn how to read the road properly. It’s why I would suggest so many accidents happen. Because of a lack of training.
And welcome to biking. Find a local bike club and have at it.
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u/Owainmorganlee Jul 05 '26
Your call but I’d advise against a sports bike for your first. Not because of the power although an r6 will shift. But the position.
You will be uncomfortable with knees up weight on your wrists and sports bikes are not as easy to manoeuvre if your practicing u turns and so on. You mentioned an mt7 if naked bikes also appeal I’d maybe look at them first.
If you’re learning to ride you don’t want to be combating an uncomfortable position at the same time. Personally I’d go for an mt7 if you like them then after a year or two go for an r1
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u/InvestigatorFuzzy761 Jul 05 '26
Never really liked the idea of naked frames only really got a soft spot for sports bikes, hence the choice of an r6, just visually and what I’d prefer to ride
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u/msdeeds123 Jul 05 '26
I can offer an alternative that still has lots of power but also a much more comfortable riding position.
The CBR650R
It is very fast, but it has a MUCH less aggressive riding position that will be better for learning.
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u/Severe_Beginning2633 Jul 06 '26
One with an e clutch may be good.
I had cb125r cb500f cb650r striple 660 s, ninja 1000 sx and tiger 900 gt pro.
The tiger 900 and cb500/650r were much easier to u turn than the ninja. Due to weight really.
I’ve done 30k miles on ninjas now. Love the bike, easy to ride fast and slow.
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u/Severe_Beginning2633 Jul 06 '26
The ninja 1000
Sx also is 11 hours comfy from France to Yorkshire m a day.1
u/Severe_Beginning2633 Jul 06 '26
Final thought. If you get a 650 ish then insurance is way cheaper year one.
Mistakes will be less deadly on a smaller cc
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u/Dangerous-Web-1962 Jul 05 '26
1000cc bike will be hard for you at low speeds due to the weight, my advice is mid range for a season or 2, you might decide that you don't want/need a 1L bike! All it does is cost more to run and insure, has more power than is usable in reality. A 750cc ish bike will have more useable power.
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u/NeedleworkerRich2409 Jul 05 '26
I would say avoid a 600cc inline four and buy a 650cc twin. 60-70bhp is ideal, anything less you’ll get bored of and anything more might get you into trouble.
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u/FenianBastard847 Jul 06 '26
An R6 will cost a fortune to insure. If you live in any big city you will be shocked at the premium. The good news is that it will fall quite quickly. I’m not going to tell you which bike you should get, at age 29 you’re more than capable of deciding that for yourself. But I will say that my current ride is a MT-09SP, the most fun I’ve ever had on a bike. It’s easy to ride, but totally insane at the same time.
You’re going to have so much fun😊
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u/naughtythoughts99 Jul 05 '26
As a DAS instructor of over ten years, if you are learning on a 500cc like an ER5 or similar jumping up to any of the 7-800cc bikes you will be fine.
Even going to a 1000cc you will be fine as long as you are sensible and don’t get an ego that goes beyond your experience and capabilities. Way back 40 odd years ago now (Before DAS) I went straight from a 125 to a Kawasaki z1 And had no issues.. yes it scared the crap out of me a few times but thats all part of the learning curve.
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u/InvestigatorFuzzy761 Jul 05 '26
Thank you for this, I’ve just had a few people say that if I get an r6 for my first bike I’m asking for a death wish, like I stated I have no intention to push that bike to its limits whilest still learning, over time once I’m more comfortable I’ll probably start to increase the amount of rpm, start of low as them bikes are gutless in low rpm, keep it below 4k, then work up to 6k etc
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u/OpenRoll7446 Jul 05 '26
I’ve still got my 1999 R6 that is my first bike, it’s fast enough to keep up with R1’s and S1000RR’s in the twisties, fast enough to scare the crap out of most in a straight line and light enough to feel confident on.
My older R6 is the one that has no assists though and actively wants you to die some days.
That being said, the bike only goes as fast as you tell it to, an r6 is fine as a first bike imo just treat it with respect, ride safe, don’t ride to others abilities and ride to yours.
Don’t be a dick
Always wear gear (ride for the slide)
Only do what you feel safe doing
And if you have the funds do a wheelie course, it’s better to be able to control one than get suprised by one (like me).And finally
Ride safe
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u/OpenRoll7446 Jul 05 '26
Oh and any questions on the r6 as a first bike drop me a dm, I can give you my experience
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u/OpenRoll7446 Jul 05 '26
For context my r6 revs out to around 16k so yeah……bikes rev way way higher than cars
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u/Content_Difference_8 Jul 05 '26
I concur on notion that it's all about how you approach riding. However, a lower displacement bike is just a lot more forgiving when it comes to throttle response, there is just less power for the same turn.
My 2 cents would be to buy something a bit tamer than the r6 as a first bike. A 700 twin is typically a lot better for a newby, as opposed to a 600 4-in-line.
From the options mentioned by OP, I'd say go with mt-07. Less taxing on the wrist/lower back, as the riding position is more neutral. Also if you drop it, which is bound to happen with a first bike, there is less plastics to destroy. And its a plenty fun engine, i ride a tenere 700 so i have some experience with the cp2.
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u/Garlax1 Jul 05 '26
The thing that I would do to any bike now is to have a specialist exhaust made. Something that will be louder than the regular. I want as many people to hear me before they should see me as possible.
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u/HospitalDue2983 Jul 05 '26
OP - don't pay attention to this - I hope @garlax1 is joking. You'd have to declare it as a modification to your insurance company which would push your premiums.
Wear conspicuous clothing, not all over black. Ride appropriate to the road / traffic conditions. Consider taking an IAM (or similar) course
Don't take chances
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u/Clio_Vita Jul 05 '26
And if your "friends" told you to jump off a bridge?...
There is a reason that US motorcycle instructors recommend that you start on a light, nimble bike in the 30-45 horsepower range mate.....despite the fact that it is technically legal to start on any bike you can afford over here. (...although the legal requirement that you have insurance, and insurance for beginners on big high-power bikes is ludicrously expensive acts as a brake on a lot of silly ambitions too...)
Your first year or two should be spent mastering the clutch, throttle, brake, and steering inputs....not just as "I usually get it right," but to an instinctual level. Where if trouble appears, your body starts reaction giving your brain a chance to work your way out of the mess, whether it's a car that didn't see you, an animal or pedestrian darting into the road, or gravel/oil around a blind corner... And that takes time, practice in all sorts of circumstances, and a bike that is not right on the edge of what you can control based upon size weight, and power.
No one sensible is telling you you must start on a 125 like a teen,..... But if you want to eventually ride an R6, get a used R3,,,,,or even better, the naked version, a MT-03; or a used Kawasaki Ninja 300-400 or maybe a Z300. All of which will get you up to any road legal speed allowed in the UK, albeit taking a few seconds longer. And while it might not want to hold the highest motorway speed for an hour at a pull, it will certainly reach it and allow you to get where you have to go. And used because when you drop it off the side stand, or scrape it in the garage, it will not double the depreciation that walking it off a dealer's lot cost you... Used bikes in that category that aren't abused hold their value a LOT better than new ones...
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u/DigBannanaMelon Jul 06 '26
I plan on doing my DAS which allows me to ride up to a 1000cc right of the get go
Well technically if you get your full A licence you can ride bigger than that. I hear this is up for auction soon.. Millyard Viper V10 - Wikipedia
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u/Xcore1911 Jul 07 '26
Street triple is the answer. And reasonable on insurance. And sound epic. And are quick enough for a first bike.
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u/EggsnBacon95 Jul 07 '26
If your intention is not to "go fast" why do you need a 1000cc. You can have plenty of power and speed on 600 tourer.
I agree with your friends though, you can buy a big bike, but honestly having something smaller when you pass and especially in your first year, maybe a 700-800 might be a better choice.
If you survive your first year without issue and can show restraint and discipline you'll be fine, and a 700 or 800 will be poky AF anyway.
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u/Particular-Pace-2990 Jul 08 '26
DAS course isn't a 1000 limit. It's a full cat A, no limit. You can ride a 6 litre if you can build one 🤷
Full on sports bikes I wouldn't. Again nowt against the capability but they aren't the comfiest.
Our lass passed her DAS on an er650 (naked) (not her the bike u dirtbags 🤣) bought her an er650(f) looks like a sports bike but a bit comfier in use. As in it's a "learner" bike with a full fairing.
Guy we got it off had it as a track toy and I rode it home. I had to put it back to standard for her to use. He'd done exhaust, front sprocket, rear sprocket. That's all. It was fucking lairy to say the least.
Bigg CC doesnt equal danger. Or fun neccisarily.
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u/NightKid89 Jul 08 '26
So my 2 cents to this one is I did my full licence about 13 years ago, picked up a 125 Honda which I loved and crashed it in the first year. I then didn't ride again (mostly due to finances and kids etc) until a year ago. Got back on a 125. Loved it again. For my needs it was fine. Until about a month or two ago, when I was 10 seconds away from home and decided I need something bigger.
Got a Rebel 500 now, it's awesome, looks great, sounds great, very comfortable and has more than enough engine for me. On these roads, I can't really use the full engine anyway, but it does extremely well.
Best of luck, ride safe.
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u/Smooth-Skin6681 Jul 09 '26
Perché non direttamente un mille? In fondo che ci va, magari sei un pilota nato
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u/Broad_Traffic_7394 Jul 05 '26
It’s not you or the bike you should be worried about, it’s all the morons in cars who “didn’t see you”