Quote Originally Posted by redciv1 View Post
Speaking from a new rider of 18 months or so and one who has respected bikes since high school(38 now), a 600 is more than enough to learn on. You really don't understand how much power can get you in trouble. Or how quickly the bike excelerates. Gas it too much while exiting a corner and you have your self a nice little tank slapper. Don't matter how fast your car is, a bike is just that much quicker and faster. Even my big, heavy slow(compared with modern SS bikes) Katana will seem fast compared to a car. I took a MSF course and still laid my bike down twice. Once at 5 months. I was turning around in the drive way in the morning(dew on grass) and the biggie was after 8 months of riding. I came to fast in a corner and INEXPERIENCE cause me to stand the bike up instead of leaning more in the curve. Don't let that ego get the best of you. I'm 6 feet 240 pounds and ride a 94 Suzuki Katana. Katana's aren't super fast and may not handle all that good, but it's comfortable(commute 110 miles/day) cheap(paid $1000) and fun to ride. BTW, in terms of insurance you would want to call the insurance company first to get a quote on each bike. I did not get a bike in my younger years because insurance was $300-400 month. BTW, TAKE THE MSF COURSE...PLEASE.
Just how FAST will it excelerate?

It's all about the driver, always has been 90% rider, 10% bike. 250, 600, 1000. All can kill you, but I agree there is GENERALLY more margin in smaller cc bikes. That being said, the MSF course will be 10x worth the money being that you will be a better driver b/c of it! I just took it and it's pretty good. What you will receive is a CERTIFICATE for insurance and a complete run-down of the testing the DMV uses. You still always have to test at the DMV.

IMO - Go supermoto! Sport bikes make Harleys look like pigs.. and supermoto makes sport bikes look like pigs!