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Taken from another forum, but it pretty much reflects my sentiments.
originally at http://forums.cycleworld.com/eve/ubb.x/a/tpc/f/16860151/m/9180048521
This may seem a bit redundant, but I have recently had a few experiences that many newbies should know about. I have recently started working at my local honda/suzuki/yamaha motorcycle dealership as a mechanic. I get to test drive many of the bikes that come in for service (to make sure they don't fall apart when the person picks them up), as well as many of the brand new bikes for the same reason. Within my first day there, we sold a brand new gsxr600 to a kid that has ridden dirt bikes for about a year. Of course the salesman had no arguement against the kid getting the 600, because it "wasn't a 1000, so it was a good bike to start on" and he was getting paid to sell it. The bike left at noon. It came back at 1:00. There was blood all over it, the whole right side plastic was gone, and the kid was a mess. there was 42 miles on the bike. We had to make him go to the hospital because he was dripping blood on the floor.
Its easy to forget that the new 600's are NOT FOR BEGINNERS. Period. they are 100 hp, and closer to a race bike than any 17 year old has any right to own. I have goten a chance to ride many of them. I currently ride a suzuki bandit 1200 (obviously not a beginner bike) and I have been riding for about 7 years now. After swallowing my pride, i had to admit that the 600 scared me a bit. My bandit is certainly much faster as a whole, way stronger throughout the rpm range, but the 600's were more than I expected. The power band hits hard around 45 mph on most of them, and to some it may come as a surprise. Back in the 80's, a 500 ninja or interceptor, or maybe even some of the 600 fzr's could be considered beginer bikes. Not anymore. Not by a longshot. Since the first kid wrecked his bike, I have seen the exact same scenario play out twice. I have been working there for 2 months, and 3 bikes have been wrecked with less than 100 miles on them.
Why should anyone care? because of insurance. I pay $1000 per year to insure my bandit because people wreck sportbikes. It gives our sport a bad name, and people think that bikes are "dangerous", when they really don't have to be (except for the cage drivers).
Maybe this whole novel I wrote is worthless. People will always be attracted to fast bikes that push thier skill level too far. But Please, if you are looking to get in the sport for the first time, consider a gs500, or maybe a ninja 500. Heck get a honda rebel or nighthawk 250, all are fantastic bikes for beginners. Even with the smaller bikes you probably won't be able to ride them to their full potential for a year or so, and it might save your life when you start out.
originally at http://forums.cycleworld.com/eve/ubb.x/a/tpc/f/16860151/m/9180048521