so glad i learned on a 500

[r409z]

Today i just picked up an 06 636 and i absolutely love it. After pulling out the lot, the first thing i thought to myself was "Holy SH**," I am so glad I started with a 500. The 636 is so much faster and responsive than the 500. It seems to naturally lean into corners better than the 500. I just look back at all of the mistakes I made on the 500 and didnt matter because its such a forgiving bike and cant think about how screwed I would have been if I started on a 636 So anyone wondering if a 500 is a good starting point, IMO....YES!!!

[jimmyh]

Same here, started on a 500r, and went to a 636. I dont know if the 500r is more forgiving so much as it has a much lower power to weight ratio, the controls are much less sensitive (and touchy) and all that extra power on the ZX just screams at you. Yeah, ok, that makes the 500 more forgiving.

You are going to love EFI...

[Neo]

Glad to hear it. I've started out on a 500R. This is my 2nd year and I've ridden just over 15k miles. Every once in a while I long for the sleeker look of a 600-class bike, but I'm still enjoying and learning the 500R. Your comments give me something to look forward to when it comes time to upgrade. Then again, I might just jump straight into my true desire: a BMW R1150RT touring bike. Who knows? But thanks for sharing your experience.

[r409z]

damn after posting that, i came across this in kawa forums...someone that started on a 636. Its a tragedy, but hopefully people learn from it. Anyone thinking about a 636 should read this......http://www.kawiforums.com/forum/topi...TOPIC_ID=27101

[chimera]

Makes me VERY glad I am starting on my 500..... I will keep it for at least 3 yrs or more .... learning on it to one day upgrade.... I am also glad that I was sane enough to realise that anything bigger than my 500 would have been a NO NO for me.... even on smaller cc's bike you can still get yourself in a world of hurt....it's just faster and harder on bigger cc's...

[Neo]

Originally Posted by r409z

damn after posting that, i came across this in kawa forums...someone that started on a 636. Its a tragedy, but hopefully people learn from it. Anyone thinking about a 636 should read this......http://www.kawiforums.com/forum/topi...TOPIC_ID=27101

Good night! That guy was winding a 636 out to redline before most shifts and he'd only been riding for 1400 miles. ??? I'll just bet he didn't take the MSF course either. How sad to hear of his tragedy.

[SixFiveOh]

Sad? Perhaps. But the guy is an absolute idiot. I hope he never rides again. Personally I don't want to share the road with anyone that stupid. No mention of what happened to the bike after he bailed. What did it hit? Did he toss it back on the road to endanger others - or did he even think about that. This clown is the reason insurance is so high for the rest of us. I have absolutely no sympathy for him what so ever.

[Inflame]

... that guy is a total retard, i'm glad i'm starting on a 500r...

[c00lkatz]

Lol this reminds me of a chick we met at Bike Night here in Dallas. She's like 5 feet tall, under 100 lbs., and she's starting out on a brand new '06 liter bike as her FIRST BIKE. I think it was a ZX-10R. She's so short she had to slam the bike (lowered it) after she first got it just so she could sit on it. She had wrecked it before, one of the fairings had fallen off on her way to bike night, and she fell off of it again later that night in front of EVERYONE, about 300+ bikes. She hit a small water patch and gave it too much gas. I couldn't believe that crap. Some guys said she has a lot of balls. Personally, I don't think there's any "balls" to it, just pure, good 'ol fashioned stupidity! It was a nice night, though. Got to see a $25K+ turbo Hayabusa with full carbon fiber fairings

[SixFiveOh]

Last time I looked chicks didn't have balls. But then again, it is Dallas...

[c00lkatz]

Originally Posted by SixFiveOh

Last time I looked chicks didn't have balls. But then again, it is Dallas...

Not familiar with metaphors are we?

[SixFiveOh]

Hello. Hello. Is this thing on....

Yes. I got it. Just taking a cheap shot. How'd you do in sarcasm.

[irishcarbomb]

Originally Posted by r409z

damn after posting that, i came across this in kawa forums...someone that started on a 636. Its a tragedy, but hopefully people learn from it. Anyone thinking about a 636 should read this......http://www.kawiforums.com/forum/topi...TOPIC_ID=27101

comes from people not knowing/listening to their limits...he was going way too fast for having only 1400miles on it...whats with the "moderate acceleration" shifting at 12k rpm? i think he got what was coming to him, no sympathy from me. probably would've happened to him regardless

[chesthing]

I'm trying to figure out why his bike went into a tank slapper due to his front tire barely leaving the ground. Anyone reading this ever gone through something like that?

[irishcarbomb]

Originally Posted by chesthing

I'm trying to figure out why his bike went into a tank slapper due to his front tire barely leaving the ground. Anyone reading this ever gone through something like that?

yup...when the front tire gets light, its easy for it to start shaking a bit if you dont know to hold the bars straight, specially if the road is bumpy.

[fclark78]

Originally Posted by r409z

Today i just picked up an 06 636 and i absolutely love it. After pulling out the lot, the first thing i thought to myself was "Holy SH**," I am so glad I started with a 500. The 636 is so much faster and responsive than the 500. It seems to naturally lean into corners better than the 500. I just look back at all of the mistakes I made on the 500 and didnt matter because its such a forgiving bike and cant think about how screwed I would have been if I started on a 636 So anyone wondering if a 500 is a good starting point, IMO....YES!!!

I have an 03 ninja 250 and my buddy let me ride his R6 yesterday.. The only other bike I've ever ridden was my 250 and I've only been riding 2 months... OMG!!!!! the power is unreal. I never took it out of 2nd. WOW is all i can say... I got off the bike and it felt like my stomach was down to my knees and my hands were shaking.... i can't wait to get a 600 now.

[ervins]

Originally Posted by fclark78

I have an 03 ninja 250 and my buddy let me ride his R6 yesterday.. The only other bike I've ever ridden was my 250 and I've only been riding 2 months... OMG!!!!! the power is unreal. I never took it out of 2nd. WOW is all i can say... I got off the bike and it felt like my stomach was down to my knees and my hands were shaking.... i can't wait to get a 600 now.

Oh yes, the newer 600s pack some heat so becareful. In first gear I can get the blood flowing just turning it and then when I gear up to second it starts to fly fast...Careful careful.