Ok, here I come to disagree with everyone.
I would have to recommend to NOT start on a 600 let alone on a 1K. Bish is a good guy with a lot of good things to say but this one time I must respectfully disagree with him. (Disclaimer: this is directed towards newer supersports and not all 600's.)
This is coming from someone who started small and moved my way up through the sportbike thing. I read a lot of articles on why to start small and I'm glad I did. Search around and you'll find some. There is just way to much bike in a 600 supersport to actually develop your riding abilities that you need to have before you start ripping around on a low, low 11 or even high 10 second street bike.
I started on a Ninja 250 that I bought brand new. Now, I'm not saying you have to buy a 250 but something that is light and less powerful is so much less forgiving on the street. I could toss it around and if I did screw up or had poor judgement in a situation, which you will at some point, I wouldn't dump it. I learned to ride so much better and so much quicker when I was riding my 250 over my other friends that were riding around on newer supersports.
Bish stated that most of sportbike riders are dumb and try way to much way to soon. This is actually true and I think it starts with the idea that a 600 supersport is a good starting point. People need to get out of the idea that a 600 is slow. They are not slow. I rode my 6R faster at the track then most ride their 1K's.
Not to mention that a lot of the smaller bikes are looking better and better. I would say look for something smaller or start on something less powerful. For example: SV650, GS500 and the 650R are both bigger bikes but are far less forgiving then a 600 supersport. Bikes hold their value well and you can always learn, sell it and move up. You'll be a much better rider in the end and you'll end up enjoying your 600, 750 or 1K supersport that much more.
I would be happy to lend any other info or discuss this topic further if anyone would like. I am very passionate about riding.
I will add this to Troll's comment about the comfort of sporkbikes. I rode them for years and I was fine UNTIL I went on a very long ride. Supersports ride rough and you aren't sitting in the best "cruising" position so longer rides will probably play havoc on your back. They did on mine. But I would give up the comfort of other bikes for another sportbikes every time. I'm actually thinking of biking up a 1k when I graduate in the next few weeks.
Either way, good luck and be safe.
Originally Posted by Troll
Sportbikes are not comfortable. Unless you're into hardcore corner carving or insane straight-line speeds, get a dual-sport bike as your first streetbike.
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