I went to the Yamaha dealer around here cause im almost ready(next two months) to get a bike. the options are as follows;

1)yellow/bl/wh 50th anniversary edition R1, stock, 11-12
2)Raven(black) edition R1, stock. this is the best scheme to me. 11-12k
3)blue R1 with the Yamaha performance package that includes: exhaust, air filter upgrades, frame sliders, carbon parts/accents, and a black windscreen.
this bike is 13-15k but i can get a "deal" but i dont know how much off
4)a raven edition R6(2006) that is only 600 cc but around 140hp, the R1s are 180hp.

I have never owned a bike and have VERY limited experience with 2 wheels. I am not a stupid or crazy wheely/stoppy kind of person but want a really nice bike to drive around and occasionally go on rides. mostly just to spell my truck and take care of the need for a speedy powerful vehicle as well.

Opinions?

My friend had an r6... it got stolen... he bought an r1... said he enjoyed the r6 more...

I was qouting dealer advertizd crank horsepower^. thanks for the tip. i will be going to the license school and an additional course here in town. I will also not be riding in traffic until i get the fundamentals down. I just wanted an inside veiw as to how the mechanics and ease of use are. I personally like yamahas the best and dont want to waste the money on the r6 if the R1 is just 2k more... like will it get tired or old. the R6 is smaller too and the R1 looks/feels more like my frame needs. it is more comforable. I am not a high speed crazy or uncareful and thats why i am trying to make the best choice.

what is the big deal with the performance package? it looks to be almost entirely looks and not much function for the money! are you familiar with the one i am talking about?

btw, the R6 would not get boring :)

but with a 17k redline and decent power developing at 12k, it must be ridden aggressively

the R1 pulls strong even at 4k....more street friendly

Ok, thats the deal sealer. i love the new R6 but i understand the lack of my knowledge on the matter and dont want to get something i wont understand easily. plus in the long run the R6 sounds way more expensive when it comes to repairs. can you imagine the cost of 17.5k redlining engine part compared to 13.5! that thing also has the fly by wire stuff. I think i like the R1 better now but i think the R6 may look better. Either way the Black is where its at!

If I could give you one bit of advice, don't start out on an R1. The R6 is still a handful for a new rider, but is MUCH more forgiving than an R1 or any other litre bike in that class. Trust me when I say that starting out on a bike that powerful is going to leave you with about an 85% chance of fucking it up or hurting yourself. Start on a newer 600, they have more speed than you will be able to handle at first, and you won't get tired of it quickly like you would a 250, 500, or some other beginner bike. Hell, I still ride a 600.

disagree

both bikes generate enough speed and power to get you in over your head, real quick....rider training is everything with either machine

in fact, modern 600s actually encourage you to ride more aggressively, because quite frankly they don't pull worth squat unless you are at 10k rpm and above....when I owned a 600 I rode more aggressively and was constantly working the gearbox....that can be a good thing, but not on the street

the R1 is a big tractor by comparison....sure, it is fast, but you don't have to scream the crap out of it to enjoy the ride....and when the time comes to gun it, the thrill is unbelievable

I wont be getting a begginer bike but will drive my dads 80 750 custom first. i can afford to take my time and learn right. I just wont want to buy something i wont want for a long time and cant ride on the street. im gonna go for the R1. it feels the best sitting on it and i just wondered about streetability. I am thinkin the black/ raven one . thanks for the imput.

disagree

both bikes generate enough speed and power to get you in over your head, real quick....rider training is everything with either machine

in fact, modern 600s actually encourage you to ride more aggressively, because quite frankly they don't pull worth squat unless you are at 10k rpm and above....when I owned a 600 I rode more aggressively and was constantly working the gearbox....that can be a good thing, but not on the street

the R1 is a big tractor by comparison....sure, it is fast, but you don't have to scream the crap out of it to enjoy the ride....and when the time comes to gun it, the thrill is unbelievable


I personally don't think either is a bike that a beginner should be hopping on. I do however think it is much easier to learn throttle control on a 600 because it is much more forgiving. An inexperienced rider getting on the throttle in corners on an R1 is alot more likely to get into serious shit really fast.

I'm just tellin ya, browse any cycle forum and look for the posts that are along the lines of "Got my first bike today, GSX-R 1000!!!!". Then 2 weeks later the guy will post again about how he dumped it, or even worse lost some sort of limb because he found himself going way too fast in a situation he had no control over. There are hundreds of them, on any brand bike forum you can think of.

Do what you want, good points have been made for both. I just wouldn't reccomend any 06' model litre bike if you haven't ridden before.

Forgiving meaning that if you stab the throttle in a corner on a 600 you are less likely to lose any traction and lowside. You have to be much more gentle on the throttle, or at least have a greater understanding of how the throttle reacts on a litre bike.

I bought a '93 FZR 600 for my first bike...I had never ridden anything before, I practiced in a parking lot for about a week just getting a feel. After that I got my temps and rode for 3 years. I sold the bike because riding it on longer trips was just not comfortable.. I will be buying a road bike next time, but still enjoy the street bikes for in town curising

whoa, an r1 for a first bike, you crazie homes

how about if you're at 11,000 rpm, and the powerband kicks in right there?

see it's not that simple....again, it is more about how the engine makes power

very true and i would understand this engine better i think rather than the high winding one.

on a side note... I WILL NOT!! be stabbing any throttle for a while till i get the feel. im not the average village idiot that just goes out to get the fastest thing to inmpress his buddies. i have a lot of knowledge about bikes but not much practical experience. the R1 is more comfortable and i think i would "get" it more

a new R1 generates the same horsepower levels the Superbikes were generating only about 5 years ago....it's amazing

why don't you buy my '99 for $5k and I'll go get a new one? ha....my '99 has plenty of power for what you need

what is done to yours how many miles etc.

very true and i would understand this engine better i think rather than the high winding one.

on a side note... I WILL NOT!! be stabbing any throttle for a while till i get the feel. im not the average village idiot that just goes out to get the fastest thing to inmpress his buddies. i have a lot of knowledge about bikes but not much practical experience. the R1 is more comfortable and i think i would "get" it more


They're both inline 4's, not too much difference beyond smaller, lighter internals.

They're both inline 4's, not too much difference beyond smaller, lighter internals.

the difference would be more of a torque and feel nature.

i drove a 600 cbr on sunday and did really well. i didnt even stall and the guy whos bike it is siad i took off smoother than some experienced riders he knows. it felt natural. i only went 35 or so at first to get the feel and then one time went 70 in a straight. it was plenty fast. i may just get the 05 or 06 r6 instead. i know a guy who has a 05 r6 for 5k. its raven edition too!

So you've NEVER owned a bike and you're thinking about buying an R1?

Good luck with that. I say you look at a Ninja 250, ride that for a year, and then look into a used R6.