Should I get a FZ6R as my first bike?
- Thread starter Extrnoa
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DakinechicK
Active Member
No. Buy a car. You're 16. You need to learn the rules of the road, etc.... enough said.
Thank you and good night!
Thank you and good night!
she makes some valid pointsNo. Buy a car. You're 16. You need to learn the rules of the road, etc.... enough said.
Thank you and good night!
Although I probably wouldn't have admitted it a year or more ago, I'd have to agree with Dakinechick.. getting a bike as a first vehicle is not a good idea. I had the same idea (wanted to get a bike at 16), parents made me wait until they thought I was ready (4 years later).. which even though I resented it at the time, was probably one of the best things my parents have ever done for me. Riding a motorcycle is dangerous to begin with, but to learn to ride before you've even gotten used to the stupid crap other people do on the road is just a recipe for disaster. Please do yourself a favor and hold off a while, get a car for at least the first few years on the road.. then go from there.
Unless you can get a GN125, or something like that I would say the same. Even then driving in itself is an art that most people don't know how to do well. Once you learn all that, you'll know exactly what to look out for on the road and how you and your motorcycle can stay out of trouble.
If you're financially capable enough at 16 for a new bike, get a reliable car. In my first years of college I had a junker car that I couldn't trust and a good motorcycle. The bike would start and run every day, no questions. Ride through the snow one time and you know why you need a car.
Also, your brain is not fully developed yet. Get a car and be safe.
For what reasons do you want a motorcycle?
Also, your brain is not fully developed yet. Get a car and be safe.
For what reasons do you want a motorcycle?
I turn 40 this year and I don't think my brain is fully develop either when I get on a bike... or a car :leghump:
Brock Kickass
New Member
I doubt any of this is the advice you were hoping for, but it is valid. I have wanted a bike all my life and waited until I had almost 15 years on the road to get one. It was for $$ reasons, but having logged over 30 000km on a bike now, am I ever glad I waited. The road is a dangerous place, full of useless and unaware drivers who will kill you and not even know it until it's too late.
If I was you, I'd split the difference. Get a half-decent car and get a track bike. Keep your riding off the street until you've spent enough time in your car to develop your "sixth sense." This is what enables you to predict the erratic moves the unwashed masses will make while sharing the road with you. Once you have your eyes and your brain trained to identify threats and scan efficiently, you're close to ready for the road. Developing this skill takes years, not months.
Meanwhile, on the track, you get to learn to handle a bike, predict how it will handle, and test the limits of yourself and the bike in a controlled environment. By the time your brain is ready to ride on the street, your body will know how to ride a bike. Get a track bike, take some courses, have some fun getting your teenage ya-ya's out on the track, and save the road running for later.
When you're 16 you hear people say "life is short" all the time, and it seems really true. Life is, in fact, very, very long. You will have all kinds of time to do the things you want, so don't rush it. I have been driving literally as long as you have been alive. I still have tonnes of riding to do, and all kinds of time to do it. With a motorcycle, you can never have too much experience. You're never completely ready. Be patient and practice practice practice. You'll be glad you did!
If I was you, I'd split the difference. Get a half-decent car and get a track bike. Keep your riding off the street until you've spent enough time in your car to develop your "sixth sense." This is what enables you to predict the erratic moves the unwashed masses will make while sharing the road with you. Once you have your eyes and your brain trained to identify threats and scan efficiently, you're close to ready for the road. Developing this skill takes years, not months.
Meanwhile, on the track, you get to learn to handle a bike, predict how it will handle, and test the limits of yourself and the bike in a controlled environment. By the time your brain is ready to ride on the street, your body will know how to ride a bike. Get a track bike, take some courses, have some fun getting your teenage ya-ya's out on the track, and save the road running for later.
When you're 16 you hear people say "life is short" all the time, and it seems really true. Life is, in fact, very, very long. You will have all kinds of time to do the things you want, so don't rush it. I have been driving literally as long as you have been alive. I still have tonnes of riding to do, and all kinds of time to do it. With a motorcycle, you can never have too much experience. You're never completely ready. Be patient and practice practice practice. You'll be glad you did!
Also, at least in my area, think of all the accidents. They are going to happen. In the DC area it's not IF, it's WHEN. Rather be on 4 wheels when it happens. Still living with whiplash pain daily....
You're too young. Mistakes happen, and on a bike it's easier to die. I had to wait a few years before I could trust myself on a bike. Threw a leg over at 26 and glad I waited. Also think about ice, snow, rain, etc.
An alternative might be a scooter. 50cc are cheap, and 150cc are still fairly inexpensive. I had a Ruckus I motor swapped, stretched, and did a lot of crazy stuff to. It was a ton of fun. Get a car and a scooter!
You're too young. Mistakes happen, and on a bike it's easier to die. I had to wait a few years before I could trust myself on a bike. Threw a leg over at 26 and glad I waited. Also think about ice, snow, rain, etc.
An alternative might be a scooter. 50cc are cheap, and 150cc are still fairly inexpensive. I had a Ruckus I motor swapped, stretched, and did a lot of crazy stuff to. It was a ton of fun. Get a car and a scooter!
this. Plus your insurance rates would be through the roof.No. Buy a car. You're 16. You need to learn the rules of the road, etc.... enough said.
Thank you and good night!
RoadRunner
New Member
If you're going to get a street bike, the FZ6R is a good choice for your first bike. Bikes are inherently dangerous, no matter which one you get.
Of course, since you ride dirt bikes, perhaps a moderate displacement dual sport bike would be a good choice. I have an '07 BMW F650GS (single) for sale.
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what about the new kawi 300, that would be a nice first bike. not enough to go nuts with but enough to get the job done and not get tired of for some time.
but he should still get a car first.
I would get a car and if you have to have a bike...get a dirt bike. You can learn to be a good driver in the car while having more protection around you. With the dirt bike, you can have fun on a bike without the problems of the road. I'm not saying dirt bikes aren't dangerous, you just don't have to worry about the other drivers. When you have some experience with both, maybe convert the dirt bike into a supermoto.
At 16, you are going to be temped to show off, act a fool, and do things that aren't safe in the name of having fun. Please don't tell me that you wouldn't do it, because even at 29, I still want to that stuff some times. The difference comes in the maturity in wanting to do it and actually doing it. If I would have had a bike at 16-18, I would have got myself into trouble/pain.
At 16, you are going to be temped to show off, act a fool, and do things that aren't safe in the name of having fun. Please don't tell me that you wouldn't do it, because even at 29, I still want to that stuff some times. The difference comes in the maturity in wanting to do it and actually doing it. If I would have had a bike at 16-18, I would have got myself into trouble/pain.
A friend of mine rode my wife's 250 and loved it so much he's think about selling his GS500 and getting a Ninja 300! I've been doing a lot of reading and watching about it, maybe upgrade my wife next year or something. I think it sounds fantastic.
Only problem I see is they are WAY expensive right now since they just came out and everyone wants one. If you want to go out the door in the neighborhood of 6 grand though, be my guest.
I got my FZ6R when I was about 16 and a half. I just turned 18 now and it's been a great experience so far. Granted I HAVE gone down, and you more than likely will too if you get any bike at this age. In the past year and a half I've racked up almost 15000 miles on my bike and I still learn more and more every day that I ride (which is every day seeing as it is my only vehicle) but I DO recommend getting a car for your first vehicle. Having just a motorcycle isn't very practical. I use mine to get to college and work and there are times when its pouring raining and I wished I had a car. I personally would recommend to get a beater of a car and drive it around for a year or so until you feel you are comfortable enough with the rules of the road. I won't tell you not to get one since I got one at 16, but just be very cautious if you do.
I got my insurance on mine when I was 17 for only around 55 a month. The policy is in my name too, not listed under my dad or mom or anything.