[black95gs-t]

Here is the basics about 600 cc's down and dirty.
1. Suzuki GSX-R 600 This is a great bike with lots of extras that come with it stock. It comes with a built in stabilizer (02 and later), fuel injection (03/04), and an abundant after market. They are cheaper than CBR's, and way more comfortable. Insurance is also lower and parts are less expencive. They are lighter and more responcive than an F4i.
2. Yamaha YZF R6 Possibly the best Japanese 600 on the market. It should run about the same price as a similar GSX-R, it does't have the built in stabilizer like the GSX-R, you can buy one though. Super responsive and agile. Sport Rider Magazine did a comparo between this bike and the GSX-R 1000 at a road track in Arizona. Long story short, the GSX-R only won buy .04 seconds. The GSX-R had 152 RWHP. The R6 had 107 RWHP. The finish line was at the end of a straight. Nuf said.
3. Kawasaki ZX-6R This is also a great bike. The aftermarket isn't as good for this one as it is for the R6 and the GSX-R though. That and IMO, all Kawi colors are just ugly.
4. Honda CBR 600 F4i. This bike is geared more towards the streets. It is more civil than the others. It is higher priced than the others. CBR seats are notoriously the most uncomfortable on the market. I've ridden alot of bikes. Ducati seats are more comfortable, and they are straight race seats. Insurance is generally higher on this bike. Parts are more expensive for this bike. This bike is the second heaviest in the 600 super sport class. It is a good bike though.
5. Honda CBR 600RR This is the most expencive bike in the class. It is also the heaviest. The seat is way more comfy on the F4i. When I say it feels like you are sitting on a piece of wood, I'm not kidding.This bike has no trunk space. It is down on power to the R6, the GSX-R, and the ZX-6R. IMO the throttle play is way too much, but thankfully there is an aftermarket. Definatly the most tortures or the 600 torture racks. This bike has the most aggressive riding position in the class, which is good for the track, but makes long street commutes really painful on the lower back.
Here are my personal favorite beginner bikes.
1. Suzuki SV650. All the bikes above are inline 4's. This bike is a V twin. The riding position is fairly upright. Stearing is light. Power is not scary in the lower RPM's, but in the upper RPM's it has got some go to it. This is a great commuter/learning bike. It inspires confidence in the rider. It is not as expencive as the other bikes. I believe it is about $1,000 to $1,500 cheaper than the super sports. Parts are fairly cheap. It gets really good gas mileage. It looks fairly sporty too. There is actually a race series for this bike. This is my favorite beginner bike. Way lower insurance rates on this bike than any of the super sports above.
2. Yamaha YZF 600R I like this one because it looks almost exactly like the R6. It is toned down and less aggressive than the R6. It gets better gas mileage, is more comfy, has lower insurance rates, and is not nearly as intimidating.

Remember, always have a mechanic check it first. Try to buy one that isn't heavily modded. Try to get one that hasn't been down before. Before you buy anything, call around for insurance quotes. When I say insurance is insane on the supersport bikes, I mean some companies charge upwards of $8,500 for 6 months for full coverage in some areas on those bikes. If you have any more questions, post em up. I'll answer em.
J