I've seen many discussions about newbie-friendly motorcycles. Sometimes Honda 599 appears in the mix, and people's opinions vary.

I'm creating this thread as a reference to new riders looking for answers; wanting to know if that bad-ass looking 599 is a viable option for a new rider. Let's help them out. Talk about your experience with the Honda 599 as your first motorcycle.

I'll start:
I learned the basics of riding at a MSF (Motorycle Safety Foundation) course, which I highly recommend, where I rode around on a 125cc Yamaha standard. Within a month I decided on the 599 over the Ducati Monster and bought a used 599 at SF Moto dealership in San Francisco. I wasn't suicidal enough to ride that thing from San Francisco to San Jose (45 miles or so), so I had it delivered. I did however, take it around the block a few times before I left the dealership.

I remember it as if it was yesterday. The bikes power was overwhelming to me then. It ripped from the spot and flew and roared. I loved it but it scared me. I wondered if I made a mistake buying a 600cc toy as my first bike.

When it was delivered, I rode it around parking lots for a while. Accelerating to 30mph down my street felt like such a rush! :twisted:

... but let me get back to the point...

After a couple of weeks it didn't feel like such a monster... 8 months later it feels kind of small (not to be confused with "not powerful enough", I'm talking about the size of the bike.)

I strongly believe that Honda 599 makes a good newbie bike because:
1. If you don't push the RPMs beyond 6,000 rpm, the bike is very tame and doesn't do anything new riders consider scary.
2. You won't get bored after 6 month (think Ninja250). 599 is a great bike that will grow with you as your skills grow and let you discover it's power in due time. (think 7, then 10,000 RPM range)
3. It has a comfortable sitting position which promotes easy steering.
4. It's NAKED (Yeah baby!), and given you put some frame sliders on it, dropping it in a parking lot will not cause hundreds of dollars of damage. I've dropped mine multiple times and the sliders prevented ANY damage to it.
5. It's relatively light (about 400lb)
6. The seat hight is good for people with short legs, which helps A LOT in the confidence department.

Anyway, did I mention it looks BAD ASS?! :rad

I think it's hard to put a yes or no answer to the question.

Certinly all the points above are good arguments for the yes, but I voted no and here's why.

1. If power is there, people will use it and maybe much too soon

2. You're going to drop your first bike (or crash it). I think it's a better idea to drop/crash a smaller crappier bike. The 599 is simply too nice!

I think it's a good second step bike, but I'd recommend someone starting on something with less power.

It's possible to start on the 599 or even a larger bike. Everyone is different. I just like to play it safe and I'm glad I started small. To date I've never dropped or crashed a bike on the street. I give credit to my dirt bike skills for that.

Those are good arguments, Steve. I considered putting "Depends on the rider" option into the poll but realized that everyone will click that option... and that's not very helpful to those trying to make a decision.

The power is there, and yes, if you use it way too soon you might regret getting the 599 as your first bike... if you live to regret it, that is. So the trick, if you're thinking of any 600cc+ bike as your first, is to know thyself, and be confident that you have the self-conrol required to not unleash the beast before you're ready for him.

As far as dropping your bike goes... I dropped mine a few times. Every time I was either already stopped or hardly moving. The worst damage was a bent back break pedal which it took a whole of 2 minutes to pull it back. Still though... if you don't have the frame sliders or you drop it at a higher speed, it would be SUCH a shame to scar this beautiful beast.

I find that a lot of people start with a 600cc sport bikes these days. Some of the so called "newbie" rides around here, when you look at the pictures, are made up of people on 600 supersports. In comparison to that, 599 is perfect... AND it's made for the street.

//Disclaimer: I think you're definitely better off starting small. As my MSF instuctor said, "the smaller (cc-wise) you start, the longer you'll live". If you don't mind a Ninja250 or a Rebel, or something of equal status, you should give that a real good thought.

If my 6er was my first bike ide be dead

This is an interesting thread. I took my MSF course 2 weeks ago. I had fully planned on buying a used Ninja 250 and NOT starting on a 600cc bike. I ended up reading articles about the 599 and then found Hornets Nest for the UK. I went to buy an 06, but the dealer wouldn't move much on price so I scratched the idea of getting a Hornet.

I happened to be on Ebay tonight and there just happened to be a 2004 with 2003 miles on it. Lots of photos, all paperwork, serviced at Honda dealer with all paperwork etc. I ended up bidding on it and won the auction. So I won a 2004 Yellow with 2003 miles in immaculate condition, one owner experienced rider, no stunting, racing, never been layed down or dropped. I won the auction for $4649.

So, my first bike will be an 04 Hornet. I don't plan on leaving my subdivision for quite a while.

I read the mixed reviews on whether it was beginner friendly or not. All I can say is I sure as hell hope it is...because I just bought one.

Nice to be here on the board...and I hope to be a member and enthusiast for a very long time to come.

Chris

Congratulations Chris!!! That's awesome news. Take care of her and make sure you take it easy on her. I guarantee that you'll be overwhelmed by its power the first few times around, but take it easy, eeeeaaaase the clutch out very slowly, and watch that right wrist.

Welcome to the familia. :wink:

Main thing for me riding any heavier bike is the weight not the power. Prior to this bike I've ridden friends Gixxers 750 & 600, cbr 600s, yammy r6 and the power didn't bother me while keeping the rev on the lower half but the weight has always been an issue. If you are a bigger rider weight should be less of an issue and keeping the rev in the bottom half will be plenty of power for a begginner.

The 599 is on the border of this issue and I would suggest going smaller to be on the conservative (safe) side

By the way how much did the dealer ask for the 06? $4649 is a great price for a 04 with such low miles I think, the engine is at about the breakin stage.

My 06 OTD was just over $7100. Dealer charged me cost plus tax, license, and registration no other charges.

He got it on eBay, and it's an AWESOME price.

Wow...fast replies.

I won it tonight on ebay... here is a link to the auction (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300035979675&sspagename=ADME%3AB%3AEOIBSAA%3AUS%3A31) with description and pics of the bike.

What do you guys think...did I do bad?

I'm 5'9'...so I'm short. That's one reason I liked the idea of the 599 is because I can flat foot it. I sat on the 2006 model at the dealer and it felt really comfortable to me. It didn't feel big. It felt well balanced to me...although I don't have any experience to compare it to other than my MSF course where I road a Rebel.

I am somewhat concerned that I've bitten off more than I can chew. I'm afraid I'll be the one that grabs a fistful of throttle accidentally. But, I just couldn't pass up the chance on this 599 when I saw it on ebay. I was bidding back and forth with 2 other guys in the last 60 seconds of the auction. The last 60 seconds of the auction the price increased by about 2000 dollars.

I am 30 years old, and just smart enough that I don't feel like I have to show off on a bike or twist the throttle as fast as my wrist allows. So, I'm hoping this is to my benefit.

I wish there was some gadget that I could incorporate into the throttle that would limit the amount of twist the throttle has. Now that would be perfect. For example...something that would only allow me to twist the throttle 1/3 of it's full twist.

ANyway...check out the auction and let me know if you guys think I did ok. I'm a new rider and new to all of this.

I did atleast buy ALL my gear before ever purchasing a bike...I posted under the "gear" thread here for that.

Chris

i think the 599 is a great first bike because it's not TOO overwelming, but you know that it has enough power to grow with you....

i've ridden dirtbikes since i was real young, so perhaps that's why i wasn't overwhelmed (i'm not bragging, just saying)..... but it definately has enough power for me for a while to come

Congrats for the 599... don't worry when i was 15 1/2 i got my first bike, a air cooled Honda Nighthawk 250, within a month i wanted to go 600... just ride with extra care and you should get used to it... the 250 was cool to commute to high school with... but was super scary going on the freeway hitting 60mph... felt like the engine was going to blow up and forget about trying to pass someone up on a 250...

and by the way I'm 5'4" and with the 599 at a 31inch ride height i'm very comfortable with it even though i'm on tippy toes or flat footed only on one side. : P

congrats again about the 599 it's a good newbie bike yet it will last you forever i think...

I think the 599 is a great second bike, but not a first bike.

My first was a 200cc Honda Twinstar (anybody remember these?). It was a good bike to get started with -- it was light (easy to maneuver) and there was not much power there to abuse. We crawl before we walk, and a reliable slowpoke bike is a good place to start. While riding the Twinstar, I had to concentrate on the machine. Not the scenery, not how I thought I looked, nothing but the task at hand. Doing so, I think, gives a newbie rider a good chance to make a proper relationship with the fact that he's on two wheels and much more vulnerable to other infuences (cars, weather, pedestrians, distractions, obstructions, etc) than in a car.

I kept the Twinstar for a couple of months and sold it to another first-timer. Then I picked up a 600cc Yamaha Radian and started learning again. Having spent some time with an underpowered bike made me better respect the power and handling abilities of a much newer, more technologically advanced bike. Again, crawling before walking.

Having kept the Radian for a while and then riding my brother-in-law's Yamaha R1 for a bit, I got a new batch of learning done with an even more powerful bike. That ride also gave me a good lesson in "I don't need a thousand-cc engine." So I'm back to the 600-class, and as happy as a pig in slop.

Opinion time: Every new rider should start with a small underpowered cycle. Every new driver should start with a VW Bug (or something similarly durable, forgiving, and underpowered. Once the newbie gets hold of the basics of acceleration/deceleration, handling, emergency maneuvers, etc, then he can step forward to a more powerful (more comfortable, more exciting, better equipped, etc) vehicle.

As Dennis Miller said, that's just my opinion... I could be wrong.

lol and it has enough power to KICK YOUR BUT RIGHT OFF !!!!! if ur not carefull :lol:

With some of the post I'm reading here on the forum...I'm beginning to get really worried that I have made a grave mistake buying the 599 as my first bike...

took mine out this evening down what few backroads we have... rolled to a stop sign and rolled back on the throttle, and of course, i was feeling froggy so in came the clutch, wack went the throttle and she kissed the sky for a good 20 seconds... I've done trackdays on this bike, while it CAN be a newbie's bike, it can rip your NUTS off if you don't know what you're doing.

With some of the post I'm reading here on the forum...I'm beginning to get really worried that I have made a grave mistake buying the 599 as my first bike...

You've not made a mistake in buying a 599. Just be careful out there. Know your limitations, and keep a level head about you. As my grandfather taught when I was learning to drive: "always keep a close eye on the man in front of the man behind you. "

And if you know somebody who's got an old Twinstar, see if you can get a chance to take it around the block. It'll change your perspective. :)

As long as you don't ride beyond your limits and you respect the bike and the road you will be fine. As soon as you go beyond either one of those, you're endangering yourself and others.

With some of the post I'm reading here on the forum...I'm beginning to get really worried that I have made a grave mistake buying the 599 as my first bike...

IMHO, no.

for a newbie/biginner/novice/rookie, whatever. it's just soooo damn hard to be "good" on this bike. :lol:

you guys know what i mean. :lol2

I wouldnt really consider the 599 a "starter" bike. I say this because of the lack of driver training (car and motorcycle) prior to licensing in the US (don't mean to generalize, but Indiana is horrible at anything related to cars / motorcycles). But if you take it easy it should be an ok bike to start on. much more power than the 50cc I started on....

If someone grew up riding dirt bikes, or has experience on dirt bikes, i'd say a 599 would make a great first bike. The street is a whole lot different experience than riding on dirt, but the basic skills are intact. I started riding on a Honda mini-trail 50 in the 3rd grade, and my first attempt at climbing a hill didn't work out too well. I thought 3rd gear, seeing as it was a higher number, was the proper choice. So you can picture me starting up the hill, getting halfway up, stalling out, and falling right over. I lived, but a mistake like that probably wouldn't be as harmless to me or my bike on the street. Don't take anything for granted and you will be fine. Take baby steps through each of the processes. Just sit on it and work the throttle to get the feel for how quickly the engine responds to the input. Let it idle, have it in first gear, and get the feel for the clutch engaging as you ease the clutch out. Don't pull away, but get a feel for the engagement point and how much throttle you need to pull away w/o stalling. On level ground, w/ careful clutch control, I bet I could pull away at idle w/o any throttle input. You DON"T want to apply too much throttle, have the bike buck and cause your right hand to jerk at the throttle. Relax, and keep your wits about you, and you will be fine. Someone mentioned THINKING at all times. Very important. If you are sitting there going through the basic skills, and feel yourself tense up and not thinking clearly, stop and give yourself time to clear your head. Like everyone else said, there's something inside your head that makes you want to go fast on these things. You gotta resist that urge. After you ride awhile, going 55 mph down the road feels like you could hop off and run along side the bike. At about 100 mph things start to happen fast, the road seems narrower, and the whole experience really holds your interest. It's addictive. What little bit of riding I did w/ another person, was w/ a guy that has an '05 GSXR1000. He's an amazing rider. I could never keep up w/ him, and didn't attempt to. He literally left black marks in the turns from riding the machine so hard. He rides wheelies for over a mile at 150~160 mph. (the videos are on the web somewhere and I have it on DVD ;~) He rides them so far that when he drops the front wheel smoke flies off it because it's not spinning and he's going over 100 mph. What i'm getting at is: Don't get in a situation w/ other riders where you let them push you to ride over your head. This happens all the time. Ride at your own pace. You can catch up w/ them later. So, 599 for a first bike?....If you're reasonably intelligent and use your head, it would make a great bike that you won't ever really outgrow. If you're prone to excitability, and somewhat uncoordinated, you'd probably be better off starting on a lesser machine. My choice would be "It depends". 8)

Well - my Hornet was my first bike, and I was around 30 when I got mine. It's proven far more capable than me, so no real "getting tired of it". You only have to take it on a track to realise you'll be reaching your limits well before the bike reaches it's limits.

I don't think you should have any real problems with getting carried away to start with, just treat her with a little respect and their VERY tame.

In fact even if you abuse them, they're not THAT much of a monster.

It'll be once you've grown used to riding her that you need to take stock, as that's when you'll be far more interested in seeing exactly how far you can push it. Believe me, from painful experience, you can push it far further than is sensible (in all my accidents - the bike never put a foot wrong - I was just riding far too close to a limit to be able to respond). The road is NOT the place to try this. So once you've grown "used" to her, and want to develop further, I recommend track days or wheelie school etc.

Just my take on it...

but I'd definitely say that the Hornet makes an ideal first bike.

I mean a 125cc may be safer - but only for the first month or so until you grew tired of it. Those first couple of months I'm sure you'll be cautious anyway. Don't be frightened of her - just respect her.

I'd say the 599 would make a borderline first bike. If you're mature and self-controlled, you can learn to ride on this bike, but your learning curve would be rather steep. My first bike was a Ninja 250, a decision I've never regretted. I learned the basics on the Ninjette pretty quickly, and when I developed the skills and confidence to do so, I started thrashing that thing for all it was worth. Whether on the street or on the track, I could keep up with or pass anyone in the corners, even guys on supersports. When I eventually moved up to the 599 two bikes later (there was a BMW F650 in between), I was able to adapt pretty quickly to the added weight and increased power. If you don't feel like you can push your bike near the limit on occassion while at the same time being in control, you're on too powerful a machine.

At least you didn't buy a Yamaha R1 as your first bike. My buddy bought one for his first bike took it out for a couple of weeks and collected dust for about a year before he sold it to a friend. Ouch...

I came across this awhile ago, and it fits nicely into the theme of this thread, and it's pretty funny. This guy bought an '06 599, then documents his mishaps that start at mile 1. :shock: Good read.

http://www.david-steuber.com/599/mishaps/

http://www.david-steuber.com/599/mishaps/

Wow. If there was anyone I'd say didn't need a bike, it's that guy.

who is this guy? is he on this forum.... ouch... definetly makes me more cautious...

If there was anyone I'd say...
$hit happens, careful not to judge – not quitting or giving up is admirable. But I don't think the 599/hornet/CB600F is a smart first bike AND although it’s a good start I don’t' think the MSF courses even comes close to being adequate to obtain a license for any bike you like and off you go. 4 days and off you go WTF?!? For emphasis, it’s IMHO.

Ok, bring the pain... :tomato

I don’t' think the MSF courses even comes close to being adequate to obtain a license for any bike you like and off you go. 4 days and off you go WTF?!?
Okay, I'm TOTALLY with you on this one. When you leave the class, even if you pass, you still have no clue. You're lucky if you learned to release the clutch slowly enough and twist the throttle firmly enough not to freaking stall.

I hated that class... with a passion! I dreaded every minute of it! I got yelled at because I couldn't break without locking up the breaks, because I didn't shift smoothly enough, because my elbows weren't bent... it was no joke how much I hated being in that class. But I would do it all over again because it gave me a foundation of respect for the bike and taught me some very important basics. It's is a fact that people who take MSF are less of a danger to themselves and the society.

As far as the bike goes... in one of the books I read about learning to ride a bike, they were using a 599 as a training bike. ...so debate is still on.

I think we need a motorized division of social services to take abused bikes away from their owners and put them in a happy loving home.

:D Crashed at mile 1! :lol:

... in one of the books I read about learning to ride a bike, they were using a 599 as a training bike. ...so debate is still on.

What do the other books say? I could see in a controlled setting with proper instructors (Rossi :thumbsup ) even starting out on a MotoGP bike AND making a ~valid argument for it, but…

The question is, “Is the Hornet a Newbie friendly bike?” I say not a smart choice, there are many better options. A new, never ridden – strait from the MSF Basic course rider (at the very least I hope) just doesn’t know how to use to his/her advantage, have the coordination, judgment, knowledge or feel to know what is possible, what is NOT possible, what to do, how to do, what to look for and all that when things get dynamic and they are at speed and have a bike like the 599 underneath them. Just too easy to get into deep trouble quickly for an inexperienced rider.

Trying to keep this on the bike side and not the MSF side, but after 8 or so hours in the class room and the same in a parking lot, here's your 600cc unrestricted 90HP 400 pound sport bike off you go... Like handing a 16 year old the keys to a brand new Lancer EVO3 or Impreza WRXsti. There is no reason a new driver can’t learn on and drive those or a 599 safely…just saying it’s not the smartest choice. My opinion.

If this is a debate, lets talk about the points that make an ideal newbie bike and the points that disqualify a newbie bike. On the former point I offer the following strikes:

- most expensive bike in its class (SV and FZ6)
Why: First starting out, there is a high degree likelihood of either dropping or otherwise damaging a bike plus it may not be wise to put too much money into a new activity before one knows a sport type bike is enjoyable or even if motorbikes at all are enjoyable.
- higher power to Weight ratio than a Ferrari F50 (0.37kw/kg –V- 0.31kw/kg)
Why: Easier to get into situations of potential danger like high speed (not "top end" but rather for a particular situation and circumstances) or sudden application of power in a turn or slick surface. On the flip side the capabilities of the bike also make it easier to get out of sketchy situations and that is also unhealthy as it may lead to unwanted risks and false confidence.
- higher insurance cost than a smaller sport or equivalent sized cruiser
Why: It may not be wise to put too much money into a new activity before one knows it is enjoyable plus it may lead some to a poor decision to choose lower coverage when in all actuality higher coverage should be selected.
- relatively scarce spare parts.
Why: In the case of a mishap it is extra expense and time away from the activity and may lead to some poor decisions trying to avoid damage to the bike rather than life and limb.

All points against it being a friendly newbie bike. I'm ready...:tomato
Now as a second bike... :thumbsup

For folks with some bike back ground like dirt then it would be okay but for folks with none what so ever except the MSF course then I'd say no...and agree that it is not a smart choice as a first bike

rndthought makes some very good points as to this bike's non noob friendliness. I agree with them all even though I voted yes. The reason is that the bike is great in theory but probably not in reality. I'm using my baby as a stepping stone. This is my second bike but I love it and maybe I will outgrow it but for now, it's perfect.

I am currently bikeless and have never owned a 599 (although i'd like to change that come next season...hence my subscription... :) ), so take my comment in that context.

My first bike was a '82 Yamaha Seca 650. About 75 hp and 500lbs. It was a great bike to learn on, although you did have enough power to get yourself in trouble if you weren't careful. But if you were careful (i was) and respected the bike (i did) and were scared enough of the bike to just take it easy (i was)...it really taught you a lot about riding a bike, even if the learning curve was fairly steep. (I was 19 years old at the time, so teenage self control is possible after all... ;) )

As far as weight, i think the 599 weighing 'only' ~400lbs is a real bonus and great for a first timer...though even lighter might be better. One of the hardest things to learn is slow speed handling...trying to walk the bike around is the only time i ever dropped it. But add to that another 20 or so hp with a revvier engine, and, well...perhaps that's not so good. I know 600cc bikes are a lot more powerful nowadays than they were back in the 80s so i can't say i really know what the 599 feels like.

The single most important practical factor to consider (besides safety) is that if it's your first bike, you WILL damage it in some fashion, usually in some stupid, noob mistake that you'll be kicking yourself for.

So i guess i would sum up with this: If you just HAVE to buy a new bike and you don't necessarily want a 'learner bike' than the 599 *might* be your best choice. But i'd tell anyone never to buy a new bike for your first one, mostly because of the reasons already mentioned. There are so many other older, cheaper, cool, bikes out there that you can easily pick up a bike for $1k-$2.5k, learn to ride, learn to take care of it, damage it, see if motorcycles are for you, and then sell (you can often sell an old bike for the same that you bought it for) and get what you think you want after having some experience with bikes. So i guess ultimately i would say that, no...the 599 is not THE best first bike.

I have already taken the MSF course...I took it 3 weeks ago.

The 599 will be my first bike. I picked it because I read so much that said it is forgiving, nimble, and relatively easy to learn on.

After this thread...I'm beginning to think I read some misinformed reviews.

The 599 will be my first bike. I picked it because I read so much that said it is forgiving, nimble, and relatively easy to learn on.

After this thread...I'm beginning to think I read some misinformed reviews.


You weren't misinformed. The 599 is quick, but it's also everything you mentioned above, and as long as you've got self-control you'll be just fine.

I guess now I'm becoming scared of accidental wheelies that leave my butt stuck somewhere I'd rather not be. In all honesty, I don't think I would like to wheelie...

Does the bike wheelie that easily??

just keep it in the bottom half of the rev range and you should be fine with power, I think weight and slow manuvering is more of a concerned

Relax. I've never had my bike rip the front end skyward unexpectedly. While they have plenty of power, they definitely aren't a rip-snorting green-eyed monster just waiting for you to make a mistake so they can chew you up and spit you out. In my opinion, you would have to intentionally make these bikes wheelie, perhaps by bringing them up to a certain rpm in first gear (right below where the powerband curve begins to spike), then whacking the throttle to loft the front end. I've wheelied 600cc streetbikes, but not this one. The most i've ever had my front end off the ground was a few inches once when I shifted from first to second at high rpm's. I've read R6 forums, CBR600R forums, etc., and the majority say it takes a dedicated effort to pull a wheelie, even on those more powerful machines. 600cc machines aren't wheelie monters. They lack the torque of 750's and liter bikes to easily, or unexpectedly, raise the front end. They may wheelie, but they aren't going to point the front end vertical at the twist of the wrist. On these bikes (599's), you could get rolling in first at 10 or 15 mph, nail it wide open, and they would simply go forward in a nice straight line. We may have painted the wrong picture for you. They are fast if you want them to be, but they are very docile at low rpm's. :ride

The guy I sold my 500 to accidentally pulled a wheelie. Right before he hit a rock and crashed it.

You have good clutch control, as do all people who have ridden a bike a lot, but a noob with no expriance like my friend doesn't. That's how you can accidentally pull a wheelie.

:cry: That bike was so awsome too. I did every mod possible. Suspension front and rear, brakes, everything! At least it still works, just a little banged up and with a bent handlebar.

True. If you rev her up and pop the clutch, you'll be running behind it trying to hang onto the handlebars. The same thing would happen on mini-bike. It just takes a little common sense. If you can drive a car w/ a manual clutch, you should have some inkling of understanding about clutch/throttle input, even though the controls, of course, are different on a motorcycle.

I thought the same thing. My friend who bought my 500 drives a car with a manual transmission and he's really into his pedal bike. He's got the fancy shorts and everything.

I gave him a once over, and I told him how it works then I set him loose.

It turns out I was wrong, handling a clutch with the hand is more different than I though.

The funny part is when another guy let me drive his Z06 I stalled it a few times like a little wuss. :lol:

Better to err on the side of caution. At least you didn't tear off like you were doing some of that new-fangled drifting type racing. :lol2

It just takes a little common sense.
See, this is what is in short supply for a Newbie...even for riders who have miles/years under their belt. A monkey can drive a bike. That isn't the issue. It's all the other things going on when things get dynamic and the unexpected happens. You can sit at your table and practice the "roll on the throttle / squeeze the clutch" jive but when it counts it has to be automatic. No mnemonics, no check lists no procedures. A bone head mistake or brain fart at the wrong time could yield dire results. Know I'm turning into kind of a PIA on this but it's just my thing. Seen too many people get too complacent too comfortable too confident too cocky way before their time and it truly sucks every time the story turns tragic. It's healthy for a new rider to be a bit scarred and it's good for all to remember to THINK THIN THINK before/during/after each ride. SO no more from me on this.

[SO no more from me on this.
Well one more thing :banghead
Please all new riders, really, no passengers for at least the first year.

Even if she's way hot? :wink:

My girlfriend is inflateable. Does that count?

I figure she would come in handy incase I loose control and ride off a cliff into the ocean. :D

Does the bike wheelie that easily??

Been riding 599s since February... I'm yet to lift the front end an inch off the ground. It just won't do it unless you do it intentionally... and even that you need to know how to do. Which I don't :oops:

As mentioned before, if you keep her under 6,000 rpms (which is extremely easy to do) the bike is not likely to do anything to scare you.

Even if she's way hot? :wink:
Especially so. Just call me and I'll be more than glad to accommodate her with a good spirited ride. And yes even if she is inflatable :lol:

6 months if she's way hot... 9 if she's just hot.

Is the 599 a good bike for someone like me? I'm on the wrong side of 30 (not 40 yet though!) I grew up riding enduros up and down my road as a kid, never did really any dirt riding. I had a Yamaha Special II 500cc as a street bike that I put about 500 miles on about 18 years ago and sold for a quad. I haven't ridden a bike in about 15 years or so, and I was what I would consider a novice rider when I stopped. I will be taking the MSF before I buy my next bike. I'm about 5'3 so I'm on the balls of my feet on the 599 and SV650. Weight is not an issue as I'm a powerlifter, but I would definitely feel more comfortable if I could just lower it a hair.

So do you guys think I should start out with a smaller bike this time around?

It's a tough question Johnny. It really depends on what you're looking for in a bike and how well you can control yourself once you're on it. Review the entire thread carefully and you'll have just about all the answers you need to make your decision.

My advice: Take the MSF class and then seek out a test ride on the 599. If you like it, get it. I believe you can lower it a little bit to work with your height.

I definitely read and re-read the thread. And it is a recurring theme on all of the SV and 599 sites, and it's really making me question myself on what to buy first. I am definitely taking the MSF, so I'll see how I feel from there I guess. Hopefully I can somehow take some test rides. As for lowering the seat height on the 599, what's the common concensus? I'm guessing a seat reupholstered with lower foam?

Thanks for the reply!

Johnny 5 ALIVE!!

Ok, just had to get that off my chest. Anyways, I don't know how much you could lower the seat using less foam, the damn thing is already hard enough. You'd have to wear two pairs of underwear as not to become completely sterile if you removed all the foam.

You don't need a lower seat or bike. My first street bike was a DRZ400S. At 5'10" (I tell girls i'm 5'11") I couldn't get both my feet down. The seat height was 34" and my inseam is only 30.

All you need to do is slide one buttcheek off a little then put one foot flat on the ground. Just like a kickstand.

"Us locos kick your butt. Us locos kick your face. Us locos kick your balls into outerspace!"

My favorite line :lol:

Hopefully I can somehow take some test rides. As for lowering the seat height on the 599, what's the common concensus? I'm guessing a seat reupholstered with lower foam?
I'm under impression that there is a way to lower the bike a little without having to mess with the seat. Call any motorcycle shop and talk to them about it, or do some research online.

It shouldn't be too hard for you to find test rides. To make your decision test ride both of the bikes, they feel WAAAAAY different from each other. SV is a v-twin so it sounds very "thumpy" (which some people really like) and 599 is an inline 4 so it sounds and feel smoother. After I downed my first 599 I test rode the SV and didn't like it a bit... and went back to another 599. But that's just my personal opinion. Do your test rides and decide for yourself.

Good luck.

As a matter of fact Alex, you can. You can set the sag on your shock to lower the stock height.

This isn't the inteded purpose of setting sag but it works.

^ There you go, Johnny.

Cool Thanks guys... setting the sag to lower the height, will that adversely effect the handling?

I think the 599 is perfect for you Johny.

Setting the sag lower will have some effect, but not horribly. I don't think you're trying to get better lap times or anything.

There's no way to really tell because everyone is different. Ride it stock, then mess with the shock. If you don't like it, adjust it back.

If you don't have a shock adjuster tool thingy already pick one up at your local bike shop.

I think the 599 is perfect for you Johnny.
Me too Steve... I just wish they were a bit less expensive. It's EASILY the best looker in the class (my wife thinks so to, she wants me to get the 599 except for the prices).

On a side note... my local Honda/Suzuki dealer where I've been spending some time (A LOT of time LOL)... the owner has an absolutely MINT '91 Hawk GT that he took in on trade 10-12 years ago. It's his own personal bike, and it has only 2800 original miles... he said he may sell it and he'd give it to me for a couple of grand... so this may be the route I go... it's a great looking bike right in my price range, and it also sits lower than all the others. I'd rather have the 599 for sure (or even the SV650), but the economics of it will be the determining factor.

Hawk GT is a sexy little bike. If you can get it, go for it. It'll give you the training you'll need to get on a 599 as your next bike. Plus, those things hold their value like there's no tomorrow.

:thumbsup

Hawk GT is a sexy little bike. If you can get it, go for it. It'll give you the training you'll need to get on a 599 as your next bike. Plus, those things hold their value like there's no tomorrow.

:thumbsup
Thanks Alex, that's kind of what I'm thinking as well... do you know how much tamer the Hawk is than the 599?

I never had the pleasure to ride the Hawk, so no, I don't know. You should do a little bit of research about the GT or find a GT forum to read through, kinda like you did with this site.

Yeah I've found a couple of decent sites, this bike has quite a following. It says stock the top end is below 120... I was a little concerned about low RPM torque due to it being a V-twin, but the general concensus is it's a great beginner/intermediate bike. It's actually a lot heavier than I thought, the listed dry weight is 393 lbs! It seems when I sat on it that it was much smaller than that. He may not even sell it though... and based on some Ebay searches he may be able to ask over $3000 for it. If that's the case then I may hold out for a 599 or and SV. We'll see what happens....

Thanks for the help, much appreciated.

The Hawk is a good bike, but very tame. You're looking at around 65hp at most. The SV650 makes 68 for a first gen and 72 for a second. The 599 is pushing 86 hp out the box.

Don't worry about weights. The listed weights can be off by more than 50lbs because the bikes are never weighed.

My EX500 was a great beginner bike, although I wasn't a beginner when I bought one. The 500 makes around 54hp and will top out around an indicated 135mph. I've had mine up to 125 before and it had more power to go. Very practical bike.

I've heard it said several times that manufacturers weigh each part of the bike to come up w/ the accumulative weight of the machine, which is what they list in the specs. That means no fork oil, no engine oil, no shock oil, no brake fluid, no coolant, and no fuel. Obviously the actual ready to ride weight would be substantially more. Also, most speedometers and tachometers are wildly optomistic. Not all, but most. The same goes for horsepower numbers. If you look on your title, it says 100 and some change (I think). Parasitic drive train loss renders the 599 into the low 80's for actual rear wheel horsepower, or, crank horsepower and rear wheel horsepower are way yonder different.

Steve is dead on... Hawk is tame. But you can die just as fast on it as any other bike.
SV650 is a couple of notches below the Hornet/599/CB600F, was a toss up between and older tube frame SV and the Hornet/599/CB600F. SV would have been cheaper and easier to work on but I liked how the Hornet/599/CB600F looked.
(What exactly are we calling our bikes?)
Stats are worthless unless given the parameters and conditions of the test (like HP at what point in the drive train? Humidity at 0% or at 98%?) I'd just treat them as ballpark figures.
My Speedo is off by 10-15% (Reads fast which I like cause I think I'm a bit more cautious even thow I know it's off, like setting your clocks 5 minutes fast)

I"m a couple of days late on this discussion but I thought I'd chime in anyway! As some may know, our 599 ("our", because me and my wife both ride ours independently) is our first bike after taking the MSF course in June on Ninja 250s. I've written on other boards that the transition to the 599 was VERY easy with riding posture, size, etc being similar. The biggest change or course was the much greater power. Like others have said, if you ride conservatively, the 599 is very friendly.

We love our bike and haven't had any trouble with it, but let me state what I think is the biggest problem with starting with a 600cc bike. It's the power of course. But I don't just mean that it will go fast and rocket through 60-70 mph in first gear if you wring it out to 13K. The closest I've come to making a serious mistake is accidentally giving it too much throttle in a low gear. For example, on the Ninja in second gear and low speed, twisting the throttle way around gave some "ok" acceleration (I weigh about 235) but on the 599, a heavy twist on the throttle will jerk the bike forward so hard that you had better have a decent grip on the handlebars or you're going to be off the back of the bike, or worse, still be on the bike across 3 lanes of traffic when you meant to just move over one lane. The front wheel will easily pull off the ground and then for us newbies, you're just along for the ride. If you're in the middle of a lean or starting a lane change with opposing traffic, the results could be disastrous.

Now, I'm not trying to scare anybody away from the 599. Everything we do has its dangerous aspects (even sitting in your living room). Instead I just wanted to point out what I have experienced as the most "dangerous" aspect of riding a 599. Everything comes as a risk and I feel that knowing what to watch out for is always helpful.

Since I'm a beginner, am I exempt from being able to vote in this thread??

Since you're a beginner you should have one of the most valid opinions of all...and what it might lack in objectivity it should more than make up for in relevance. So post away... :wink:

Since I'm a beginner, am I exempt from being able to vote in this thread??

We listen to everyone's opinions... even if they are wrong. haha, j/k. Vote till your heart's content.

Definitely a beginner friendly bike...with the ability to get real nasty real quick. Keep your right hand in check and stay below 6-7K rpms and the bike is really quite docile.

Geeeez....and to think how horribly bored I would be right now if I had bought a 250...

to think how horribly bored I would be right now if I had bought a 250
Oh, stop it Chris, you'd find just as many things to mod and gear to buy with the 250 :lol:

well my turn! Things are very different here in France.
I got my "bike" licence (yes we have a special one!) when i was 19 and when you get it before your 21 you have to drive a 34hp bike until you turn 21. so I started with a .... 599 !!!!!! 34hp version! (admission pipes changed, CDI changed) and drove like that untill nov9 when i had those admission pipes replaced with real one (much bigger holes!) and the CDI changed also! now i drive the "real" 599! and i must admit having to drive a "restrained" 599 isnt a bad thing.
now the thing is it doesnt work he same way in the US and i havent started with the full 599 so i dont know if my opinion really matters here, but i tend to think its ok to start with this bike as long as you know well what you are buying and that you are aware of the danger and incidents you risk when riding not safe while being a newbie. yes this bike can be dangerous if you drive with your brain unplugged but all bikes are in that case!
be cautious and nothing will happen! :wink:

I got my licence and rode a 250 Nighthawk my first season. I had a devil of a time keeping up with the other riders & was always tired. It seemed I had the trottle 'clocked' all the way alot & going on the highway? Forget it! Now, with my 599 I can get my butt away from dangerous american drivers & not tire as easily from being buffeted around.
As a new rider I wouldn't have traded my first season on that 250-- But as a woman who loves performance on demand--God I love this Bike!!

as a woman who loves performance on demand

whoa... must... resist... comment.... :twisted:

Yes, i think you and Steve should be banished from any thread in which a girl participates... :lol:

Yes, i think you and Steve should be banished from any thread in which a girl participates... :lol:

:headbang

+1

as a woman who loves performance on demand

whoa... must... resist... comment.... :twisted:
What's really funny is I doubt any of you could provide the kind of performance that would be demanded. :roll: :lol:

And don't mistake this for me claiming I could. :lol:

as a woman who loves performance on demand

whoa... must... resist... comment.... :twisted:
What's really funny is I doubt any of you could provide the kind of performance that would be demanded.


Hehe...speak for yourself buddy...:popcorn

Well, I bought a Suzuki GS500e.

I thought long and hard, sat on and checked out many, many bikes... and decided to heed the more cautious opinions.

Even though I'm a somewhat experienced rider from some years ago, I just felt a bit uncomfortable on most of the 600+ cc bikes for size and weight. The only one that felt really comfortable was the Hawk... but I just couldn't justify spending 3500 bucks on a 15 year old bike (no matter the condition). I checked out a couple of GS500's and really liked the size and bang fer buck factor... I picked up a '98 with 14k in very good shape for around 1000 bucks. This way I can ride the crap out of it, if I drop once or twice it I won't cry(to hard). It felt pretty good on my test ride... so I took the plunge. I'll ride it for a year and see where I am at that point, I'm thinking I'll be ready to sell it and buy my ultimate 599.....

That's great that you got back on two wheels. In a few years maybe there will be something else great in the naked bike market. I loved my EX500. So much that I may end up buying another one someday.

Congrats on the purchase J5, and hey, ya never know, maybe you'll sell it in a few months and upgrade to a 599. Stranger things have happened.

Smart move, johnny5. I did the same thing, but with an old Yamaha Seca 650. It was still kinda heavy, but i wouldn't go to pieces if i dropped it. (Never did, but still...buying cheaper bike is a good idea when you're first getting into it.)

Cheers!

Hey Guys,

Well the 599 is my first bike. I did want to go with a smaller 500cc bike at first but because of my 6 ft. height, the 500cc bikes wound up being uncomfortably small. I was searching a couple of months for a bike. Looked at everything. Finally was down to a '01 Triumph Bonneville (a little big for first bike), a Kawasaki 650r (too expensive) and the 599. I found a used '06 599 with 9500 miles on it with 3 1/2 years left on it's extended warranty. Picked it up 3 weeks ago from a guy named Vince for 4600 bucks. He offered great advice and now am having great but safe fun.

A USED '06! :gtfo No really, that's prertty amazing. Good find and congrats on your purchase!!!

Some people could start out on anything, I guess, and be OK... My first bike was a Shadow VLX600 and I'm really glad. Even underpowered bikes like the Shadow can get one in a little trouble in the beginning. I rode the Shadow for 4000 miles before the 599. If the 599 would have been my first I probably would have a few dings in both the bike and Me! (Of course, I'm an old guy and the reflexes are not what they once were.) :D

my 2006 599 is mi first real street bike but ive been rideing dirt bikes since i was 2 and a half. i dont no but its a graet bike for mi first in fact its mi first vehicle and its paid for 8)

HEEEY!!!

:lol: :lol: Just like in real life, the funny stuff goes right over my head -- or here it happens after I leave the room LOL!!!!!

I feel the 599 is not a good 1st bike ...

It's too fast ... the throttle responce is very quick.

Some have mentioned that you take it easy at 1st.
If your a noob, this bike will bite you.

I personally like street and trail bikes as a first bike but that is just my opinion ...

I have been riding motorcycles since the mid 80's and mini bikes as a kid.

It depends on the newbie.

It depends on the newbie.

Would you like to elaborate?

Well, of course. I thoroughly understand that as modern sportbikes go, the performance of the 599 is mild. But as motorvehicles go, it is easily in the top .1% at the very least.

In my mind, a 599 is the equivalent of a very high-performance sports car. Take that kind of power to weight ratio, the fact that you have only two wheels and a very tiny tire contact patch. There is a lot of potential for traction loss and serious consequences if it does happen.

If you are an experienced bicycle rider and have mastered the front brake, you will probably have no problem with motorcycling. If you have the experience to operate a high-performance rear wheel drive sports car "competently"(fast) and/or the maturity to drive it with restraint (slow), a 599 will work for you. Otherwise, get a 250 of some sort.

...If you are an experienced bicycle rider and have mastered the front brake, you will probably have no problem with motorcycling...
Be carefull with that panic stop...the motorcycle front bake is on the RIGHT...your bicycle has ito n the LEFT. :shock:

This is one of those places where no experiance is almost better than some. :wink:

(pricelister - you and me are on the same page :thumbsup )

Good point. :oops: As long as you are not afraid of that front brake. :ride

Alot of good post here. Some interesting reading indeed as I debated and researched this question alot last summer when I was looking for my bike. I tend to agree most with "it depends" on if a 599 suits the noob rider. I think all motorvehicles should be treated with respect... and if you can't manage that much then stay away from the 599 and perhaps vehicles in general. If you can respect the ride then the 599 is a forgiving bike to learn and grow on. Take your time and don;t push it too hard too fast. I also agree with someone saying that your bike should not far exceed the riders limits. you should be able to push it comfortably on whatever your ride (the main reason i got the 599 instead of the 919.

I was worried a little about the 599 but i actually also pondered the 919 as an option. I started riding snow mobiles when i was 4, atv's when i was 6, and boats when I 14. so i grew up rideing something. Though these vehicles didn;t teach me alot about motorcycles I certainly learned limits, coordination , and how to respect machinery. I think this is as equaly important as any bike experience you may or may not have. I got my liscence 2 years ago and rode a maxxim 550 and a BMW dakar GS650 and an kawi ltd 750. I still considered myself a relatively new rider when i got the 599. But i'd recomened it to anyone who's new.... but you need to respect.

-Ride Hard!

Be carefull with that panic stop...the motorcycle front bake is on the RIGHT...your bicycle has ito n the LEFT. :shock:

One of the gurus I work with rides a BMW of some sort, but spends more time on a mountain bike. He has swapped the brake controls on his mountain bike such that the front brake is under the right hand. One definitely doesn't want to swap mountain bikes with him for a trail ride without knowing that! :?

I just got back from my first real ride in traffic and the 599 is my first street bike. I think it can be a great newbie bike if you have some expericence on two wheeled vehicles. For the last 5 to 6 years I've been mountain biking and I think that helped when I got my CRF450R last August. Before that I had ridden ATC's growing up and a motorcycle only a handful of times. The 450R taught me to respect the throttle and ride within my limits. The 599 will only go as fast as you let it.

Can't resist chiming in here. I've had my 599 for about six weeks now. With some recent good weather, I'm really getting comfortable on it. It's a hell of a lot of fun!!

BUT!!! I started out on a used Nighthawk 250 (like HondaGirl) for the last several months, and I'm really glad I did. I don't know how it compares to other 250s, but the Nighthawk is plenty responsive and can be thrashed to some degree. All without throwing yourself figuratively (or literally, with one local road) over the cliff.

This past Sunday, I took both bikes out. 599 first, then the 250. Each ride was equal fun, though in different ways. The 250 ain't much for sustained riding over 55mph, while the 599 is great at any speed and WAY more responsive. You just have to work up to that, some.

Anyway, I think the 599 is, for me, the perfect all-around bike. The Nighthawk was perfect to learn on and get past the need to think through every process of riding. So, a second bike for sure. First bike? Not so much. Your mileage may vary. 8)

I think the hornet is a genuine do-it-all bike, which is why its been such a sale success in Europe for years.
Personally I think if you take it steady the hornet can be tame enough for a newbie, after all most of the power is right at the top end waiting in case you want to really go, but to be honest you just don't need a 95bhp bike as your first introduction to 2 wheels. I've been riding 6 years on the road, the hornet is my 4th bike, I started with a 125cc 2 stroke, went to a 250cc parallel twin and then on to a 500cc twin before buying my hornet. This slow and steady progression was largely financially and license (in the UK you're restricted to 33bhp for your first 2 years after passing test) influenced, but I'm glad I didn't go straight to a 600. I don't think I would change it if I could, especially since riding small bikes really teaches you about riding.

But having said that, the hornet is a bike that grows with you as your riding improves. A recent article in a respected UK bike mag included the hornet in its top 10 list of cornering weapons! so its more than capable enough in experienced hands... but the same things that make it such a good cornering tool for good riders make it easy for newbies- confidence inspiring, light weight, good high bars and predictable power delivery.

Very well put Jimbo, nice to see you arond here...Welcome.

...but the same things that make it such a good cornering tool for good riders make it easy for newbies- confidence inspiring, light weight, good high bars and predictable power delivery.

I agree that all these things are good for building confidence in a newer rider. They certainly have helped me these last several rides. The ergos are great in all areas, at least for me, and physical comfort is a huge factor. But if I'd ridden a 599 right out of the MSF course, I wouldn't be riding now. Sure you can keep it tame, but you do have to know how, though I don't think it takes very long to learn that.

I don't have a settled opinion on tiered licensing, though it definitely has it's good points. Taking that approach voluntarily is a great way (if not the best) to get a good handle on how to ride properly. Anyway, I really think the 599 is going to last me a long time in terms of both skill-building and the variety of uses it can fulfill.

if you're like me you can switch between front brake being on the left or right....

I mountain bike with the front brake on the left and rear on the right cause I'm right handed and find that I have more control (modulation) of my rear brake with my right hand then my left...the front brake doesn't need the same level of finensse

I have swapped my scooter brakes so that it is also like my MTB, cause a scooter rides/handles more like a bicycle but at higher speeds

but on a moto I use it as normal

I race a mini motard and a scooter back to back and have no problems switching between the two, left or right hand as the front brake

But if I'd ridden a 599 right out of the MSF course, I wouldn't be riding now. Sure you can keep it tame, but you do have to know how, though I don't think it takes very long to learn that.


I agree, personally when I first started riding at 17, I was a dumb teenager who really couldn't be trusted with a 600. But maybe someone getting into biking later, at a more mature age, would have the sense and the sense of mortality needed to take it steady and treat it with respect. I think you have to think carefully about what kind of person you are and make a well considered judgment on whether you can handle it or if you should start slower instead.


I don't have a settled opinion on tiered licensing, though it definitely has it's good points. Taking that approach voluntarily is a great way (if not the best) to get a good handle on how to ride properly.


Its a very contested subject in the UK, where we have the 33bhp limit for 2 years after riding (note: if you take your test at age 21 or over, you can do a 'direct access' test and aren't subjected to this limit, also controversial...). Personally even though I bitched and moaned about it as a teenager, in retrospect I realise the reality is I couldn't of afforded a bigger bike anyway, insurance would of been crazy and given my lack of skill and road sense theres definitely an increased chance that I wouldn't be here today.
Riding small cc bikes is also an experience in itself, like a biking right of passage. You learn about wringing every last drop of power from an engine, you get to really thrash the bike without going crazy fast and if you want to maintain momentum you need to concentrate on corner speed, you can't just gun it on the straights like any squid can do.

I had a Kawasaki ninja 250r when I was in Florida as a cheap runaround and it was a great little bike, we don't get it in Europe for some reason! If you ask me thats the perfect first bike... screaming redline made it great fun (it would touch 100 with enough road), light weight and nice handling, OK looks and practical for day to day use so you put the miles in.

You're right on about maturity. I'm 40 and I still wonder when the heck I'm ever going to grow up! :D

Something else you have to consider when just starting is why you want to ride. For me, it was one of several things I'd always wanted to do and a series of events made me take stock and decide I'd better get started on at least some of them. Plus, it's nice saving by buying less fuel.

Its a very contested subject in the UK, where we have the 33bhp limit for 2 years after riding (note: if you take your test at age 21 or over, you can do a 'direct access' test and aren't subjected to this limit, also controversial...).

Yes, I can see how it would be controversial. :roll: On the one hand, nobody likes being told what they can and can't do. On the other hand, in US states that have no helmet laws, idiots who won't wear a lid have far worse crash outcomes. So maybe it's not such a terrible thing that the government writes a law to help you live to ride longer.

Riding small cc bikes is also an experience in itself, like a biking right of passage.
I know what you mean. You have to learn finesse to ride a 250 well. Another thing I learned was that I really like the standard or naked look the best. :) [/b]

Not for the new newbie, never ridden at all, too much get up and go with our bikes, maybe a beginner sport bike if have previously ridden, or someone with prior dirt bike experience. Where else to go after this is the liter bike and frankly I don't know if I will go ever go there.

It's interestesting that we're looking at about a 70 yeah 30 neigh on this newbie friendly bike thing but the most recent pages of posts have largely been neighs. Further proof that bad news/negative reviews travels faster and louder than good I guess (not saying that anyone is frowning on the 9er, just an observation on this particular topic).

I guess it all depends on your perspective. As an almost-newbie (not exactly brimming over with self-confidence anyway), it just seems like more bike than is really good for a brand new rider. But that's just me.

Charleegirl's point about not moving to a literbike is a good one. I mean, even with the 599's motor tuned away from the racebike level of the CBR, you can still easily outrun most sports cars in 0-60 and 1/4-mile times. With that on tap, who the heck needs a liter? I've already got way more potential than I can legally use. :twisted:

Don't get me wrong, though. I absolutely LOVE this bike! It's been getting a lot of notice around my usual haunts. :drool

And as they say, speed doesn't kill people. Stupid decisions do!! :mrgreen:

I've had my 599 for less than a week. Wow, more fun that anyone should be allowed to have. Comparred to my Shadow Spirit cruiser, this thing really wants to move. It' begs to move compared to my previous ride.

I've REALLY had to watch my speed. Once this week, I came up on a turn a little (not much) faster than I expected. Not a big deal, I had it under control. On the interstate (for just a couple of minutes) this thing hit 80 before I knew it.

I would not recommend a 599 for a new are near new rider.

599 is my first bike and im loving it as a learner bike, never made it fall, took it way over the speed limit and it stil owns :D

I have to say I test rode an sv650s today (a friend of mine is getting his license and looking for a first bike, so I went with him to look at an sv for sale) and to my mind its a much more sensible newbie bike. The seat is low and the bike feels really light, the handling is neutral and the v-twin engine is more forgiving, it doesn't have the rush or the top end kick of an inline4 (I was thrashing it looking for that sweet spot you get on the hornet but it never came) instead it justs pulls respectably at lower revs.... I came off it thinking it was a really nice little bike and perfect for someone new to riding, which is what I told my mate. I think the revvy hornet needs to be treated with a bit more respect, whereas the sv benefits from its 20bhp deficit (in a way) because you can just thrash it without fear of it biting you. But coming from the hornet it really felt a little underpowered and overall... a bit tame really.

It was an interesting opportunity for me because I considered the sv but went for the hornet in the end.... and I've never been more glad. The hornet may be a little bit too much for newbies, but that means it has enough to still entertain when you get more confident. Its my 4th bike, I've had it nearly 2 years and I'm still not bored of it. Great bike.

Any bike can be a deathtrap in the wrong hands.

Before I picked it up, a lot of veterans suggested that there's a big learning curve in taking it easy. As if the bike would, of it's own volition, leap out from under me. I had visions of a ridiculously sensitive throttle when I picked it up the first time. That wasn't the case, thank god.

I've found the 599 to be accommodating. It's a matter of self control. For a novice, you can take it easy and the bike won't fight you. With more experience, the 599 will perform. For me, that makes it a great starter bike. I'm growing with my 599 and plan to stick with her long after my loan is paid off.

It's a matter of self control.
I can resist anything but temptation.

It's interestesting that we're looking at about a 70 yeah 30 neigh on this newbie friendly bike thing but the most recent pages of posts have largely been neighs. Further proof that bad news/negative reviews travels faster and louder than good I guess (not saying that anyone is frowning on the 9er, just an observation on this particular topic).

For what it's worth, I have kept out of this discussion because I'm a very vocal "nay." I'm willing to stand by this opinion but I'm usually far outnumbered and every time I try to defend a point along those lines, I get ad-hominided into submission.

So I'll keep my trap shut aside from that.

Nothing wrong about voting "nay."

I'm not sure what I'd say. I'd be inclined to point someone toward something like a GS 500 or a Ninja 500 (at most) for her first bike. I'm also partial to a Ninja 250, which is a very underrated little bike.

On the other hand, the 599 is light and manageable, and it is pretty flexible when kept under control. It really does not take long to learn how to use the loud handle. So . . . some beginners might well be able to handle a 599 with little or no risk.

I think you should start on a smaller bike. 250 Rebel or the like. Then you should ride the crap out of it for 4-5000 miles. It is much eaiser to get used to shifting, turning, stopping, on a lighter less powerful bike.
I'm know many people start on 599 or greater and eveything turns out fine. Just my opinion.

For what it's worth, I have kept out of this discussion because ... So I'll keep my trap shut aside from that.
Man, you suck at keeping your mouth shut :lol: (love Skier nothing but love)

FWIW if you go back and read I'm with you on the "not a real good idea"... IF someone has had motorcycle experience ever (dirt or 10 years ago what ever) then maybe...but as a first bike (as in EVER) I'm still thinking they'd be doing themselves a disfavor. I reall don't like the "if you just take it easy" argument because when someone gets into trouble it isn't because they consciously (99.9x out of 100 anyway) decided "hay, let's push the boundaries" it's because they've unwittingly gotten into a corner. Either thru inattention or not having the nuance/automated-reaction of control. These are only developed with time and practice and having a wide margin of power and handling to be lazy with or laying in wait to bite when miss used - isn't ideal.

Smaller used bikes are cheap and have lost any value they will ever loose, there is no justification financially to trying to get it all done with one bike they THINK is the one. Silly and ego driven. And again, not saying it can't be done but I think they are cheating themselves out of a better experiance.

AND THAT IS THE LAST I'LL SAY ON THE SUBJECT (man I suck at not saying anything more! :lol: Get it from my Dad...)

I can resist anything but temptation.
Temptation and chicken wings. Given these weaknesses, I would point you away from the 599 to start with. :P

Is it the ideal newbie bike? Hell no, but it's far from a bad choice. I'm glad I started on an old Interceptor for a short while before the 599. It was a great choice and took on my "Holy crap, I'm new" drops. And I desperately want that old baby back.

I've had my 06 599 for 4 months now, I had ridden a 74 cb 350 for about 2 months prior to this. I'm glad I didn't invest much in the 350 because after only 2 months it was too slow. I'm 45 and don't ride fast by most standards but riders will quickly outgrow anything smaller than the 599. The 599 if you keep revs low and tool around town in 3rd gear is smooth on and off throttle. If you downshift and try to ride around slow curves in second then it can be pretty abrupt on and off throttle. The 350 was so weak I was constantly having to shift just to keep up with little old ladies so this probably affected my 599 experience. I would have been smoother on the 599 if I had never ridden the 350.

Hook, your 350 is a lovely little bike but it is also 33 years old . . . I know because I had a '71 once. A modern 350 or 400 could be quite suitable for a lot of people. I know many people who have chosen to stick with Kawasaki's little Ninja 250 and can keep up with anyone.

Unfortunately for us, none (or very few) of the modern under-600 cc bikes are offered in this country. If they were, they'd quickly become cult classics like the CB 400 Four and the CB-1 Hondas, or the 400 cc Suzuki Bandit. Lovely bikes, but just not what the testicle market was going to buy.

(Thanks to our dear Meach, I own a CB-1 again now!!!) :D

Hook, is that a 350-4 or a twin? I have three of the 350 twins right now, and there was another a few years back that donated tons of parts. The twins are fun, but the 350-4 was indeed, rather pokey.

Sachi, that must have been a twin in '71, what variant was it (cb/cl/sl)?

BTW- I voted yay on the 599 being newbie friendly. Its been a while since I was new, but I find this is a very forgiving bike. And the way I see it, those that were smart enough to buy the 599 over the competition, are also probably smart enough to know their limits. :D

Mine was a cb350 twin, yes. As I recall, though, there were four cylinders in 1971?

In '71 the only 4-cylinders to come from Soichiro's bicycle emporium were the CB500 and the CB750.

My 74 is a four. It goes when revved to 10,000 but I feel nervous revving a 33 yr old bike like that. It doesn't seem to have any problems though. They made the 350 four in 72,73 and 74 I think, then made the 75 400 four which today is more valuable to collectors. Mine is in excellent cosmetic condition and running condition. My Dad and I bought a 73 and a 74 off of ebay. He just sold his 73. It was in excellent condition mechanically and cosmetically. The guy who bought it will likely buy the 74 too. I'm torn about whether to sell it or not.

So the general consensus here is that if you take it easy, though the learning curve is steep, it's not a bad starter bike? I've got some experience with ATVs, not really good for much but shifting, and though I've never used a clutch with my hands, I've been driving manual trannies since I got my learner's permit, so I know the basics of how engagement works and how different takeup points can be, how to work the gas, etc.

Is downshifting something I should be worried about? I mean, do I have to blip the throttle while braking, or can I just hold the clutch in until I'm ready to get back on the gas? I think I'll have some trouble trying to blip it while on the front brake...

I found a 599 about two weeks ago and instantly fell in love with it...

You do not *need* to blip it when downshifting but it is a good skill to learn.

That skill is a great track day skill.. But on the road, as Sachi said, Is not a must.. I have'nt rode a motocycle in 6-7 years until I bought my 599 last week. Its not a hard bike to learn at all. And since you have rode ATV's, your a little better off than someone starting Cold Turkey... I think My best advice to you would be to not get it over 5000-6000 RPM until you get the Basics down. Maybe even less then 4500 RPM..The reason I say that (and I'm saying it from 1st hand experience). Once you get above 6000, You better be ready..This is deff. not the fastest bike around.. But it WILL suprise you as I found out today.... I'm gonna have to say Yes Its a newbie friendly bike simply because if you respect waht It can do, It will behave...But If you go crazy and decide you can handle it in the first 6 months or year, Your gonna get bit, Hard... But you have all the room you need to grow

Any bike can be a good first bike if the new rider understands that they must have patience and learn how to ride over time.

I think that every new rider MUST take the MSF class. It's part of the Darwin model, take MSF and you survive.

I bought my 04' 599 in January as my first bike after riding a rebel in my MSF class. The 599 is a big bike compared to the rebel, but several friends told me that if I bought a 250 I'd be buying another bigger bike in 6 mos to a year. I'm giving myself a year to learn how to ride my bike. I ride regulary (a few times a week, sometimes 10 miles to work), I always keep in mind, is the bike OK to ride, Am I? I'm making mistakes, and learning, I've dropped it twice at slow speed. I've had several close calls, all learning experience. After 5 months I discovered that my 599 has rocket capabilities that was very useful in getting me out of a dangerous situation on the freeway. It took time for me to learn how to safely acellerate. So I guess I'm in the depends on the rider colum too.

I'm a fisherman at heart but, I want a 599 to ride to work.

I'm new here - this is my first post. The wife has given me to OK to buy a bike and after looking at everything on the market the 599 is the one I want.

My last street bike was a ZX7. That was ..... wow....... 12 years ago.

I'm a new rider and took a lot of consideration in choosing my first bike. On paper the 599 seemed the perfect blend of safety, practicality and fun. Now that I've ridden her for a couple months and continue to learn I think I can honestly say it's a great bike to learn on for most. Maybe not for some though. If you're realistic, safe and conservative while learning to ride it's fine. If you can't control that urge to twist your right hand then you may run into trouble.

Just the thoughts of a new rider learning on a 599 as his first bike!

i would say yes, solely based on my own experience BUT i would say only with taking a form of motorcycle school beforehand.. i took my course in 2005 and got on my first bike just a few weeks ago and i was rusty although i've driven a stick shift for my whole life.

i think school's necessary because you dont want to drop your 599 too many times while you're learning. correct me if i'm wrong, but isn't the damage potential greater for naked bikes since there are no fairings?

Good lord no. And the insurance companies know it too. What do you think those fairings are, armor?

...isn't the damage potential greater for naked bikes since there are no fairings?
Guess the answer is yes and no. Or no and yes...? Anyway, if you consider scratched plastics damage (I've seen some ugly sport bikes) then yes (or was it no?) but if you don't mind scratched plastics then it's no (errr, yes?)

Drop it at speed and it won't matter if you have plastic or nekked...

Clear?

Damage is damage I think...and my plan would be to not drop it even once... :thumbsup

Plastics are expensive... I'd say they just add to the damage...

"She been so good to me!"

I think the 599 would be a good beginner bike. I'd limit the rider to under 5,000 rpms for the first 1,500 miles though. I've found in my experience that it takes about 1,500 miles to get to where the bike and you are "one".

I'm saying that it takes about 1,500 miles to get to where you're really "one" with ANY bike, not just a 599.

I think anybody would be fine starting out on a 599 as long as they didn't freak out and let the throttle go. One of the fine points of this motorcycle is that one can continue to grow with the bike. There are very few riders out there who's capabilities are significantly greater than what the 599 will cover.

All around it's an outstanding bike. Very safe, very stable, rock solid, very predictable bike.

This is an interesting thread. I took my MSF course 2 weeks ago. I had fully planned on buying a used Ninja 250 and NOT starting on a 600cc bike. I ended up reading articles about the 599 and then found Hornets Nest for the UK. I went to buy an 06, but the dealer wouldn't move much on price so I scratched the idea of getting a Hornet.

I happened to be on Ebay tonight and there just happened to be a 2004 with 2003 miles on it. Lots of photos, all paperwork, serviced at Honda dealer with all paperwork etc. I ended up bidding on it and won the auction. So I won a 2004 Yellow with 2003 miles in immaculate condition, one owner experienced rider, no stunting, racing, never been layed down or dropped. I won the auction for $4649.

So, my first bike will be an 04 Hornet. I don't plan on leaving my subdivision for quite a while.

I read the mixed reviews on whether it was beginner friendly or not. All I can say is I sure as hell hope it is...because I just bought one.

Nice to be here on the board...and I hope to be a member and enthusiast for a very long time to come.

Chris

The dealer here in NY was ready to sell my thr 2006 for 6000 and change.

WOW! You have no idea how many issues arose over that auction back then. Man...that was a doozy.

You must have went way back to have read that in the thread...lol...

Hm - let's see:

I took the MSF course, then went out and bought an old (82) Kawasaki GPz 550. I rode that a few weeks until the chain practically fell off one day - turned out there were big problems with the back wheel...

Got a Suzuki GS650 next, also an older one. Rode that for a couple months. All this time I was doing my serious shopping for my 'real' bike. Narrowed it down to SV650 and the 599 - finally settled on the 599.

Maybe it was the extra couple months experience, but I found the 599 the EASIEST to control of the bikes I had ridden - including the Nighthawk we used at the MSF course. Personaly, I had the most trouble starting from a full stop - the other bikes I would stall out all the time. The 599 - well, it happens now & then, but rarely.

Now, 18,000 miles later, I still haven't explored it's full capabilities.

I'm also very satisifed with it - my next bike will probably be another 599 - whenever I get ready to trade this one in...

I don’t' think the MSF courses even comes close to being adequate to obtain a license for any bike you like and off you go. 4 days and off you go WTF?!?
Okay, I'm TOTALLY with you on this one. When you leave the class, even if you pass, you still have no clue. You're lucky if you learned to release the clutch slowly enough and twist the throttle firmly enough not to freaking stall.


Don't know about the class you took - but the instructors at my MSF class made damn clear that this was just an introduction - they told us we should go practice, a lot, doing all the stuff we did in the class.

I have already taken the MSF course...I took it 3 weeks ago.

The 599 will be my first bike. I picked it because I read so much that said it is forgiving, nimble, and relatively easy to learn on.

After this thread...I'm beginning to think I read some misinformed reviews.

So what's your opinion now, after a few months with it?

So what's your opinion now, after a few months with it?

SEARCH.

No seriously...if you will just look at some of my later postings you'll see. I love the bike. If I had my time to do it again...I would have bought two. One to ride the hell out of and one to park in my bedroom to look at while I masturbate...

Oops...can I say that? :headbang :headbang :headbang

i had never riden a bike until last month when i bought my 06 599 brand new i love it i jumped on and took off in a month put over 1500 miles on it i love the way it rides since i bought it i have ridden a 07 ninja 650r, an 07 ducati monster 695, and and 04 sv650 by far the 599 is best in my opinion it is a very easy bike to ride

Edit: Derr. :tomato

Thanks Leatherwings, I shoulda read that more carefully before calling B.S.

I always sucked at that drinking game anyways.

I think he's sayin that he's just ridden all those other bikes.

I just got my license in August and bought my 599 in September. I haven't looked back since. At first, much like a lot of people have said, it felt to powerful for me, but with time and practice I think I have become a much better and more comfortable rider. Its been about 3 months now wit out laying down my bike or even really any close calls, but I have been keeping a close eye on traffic conditions while I ride. Anyways, the 599 is an amazing bike and I recommend it as a first bike. You will not get bored of it!

I'm buying my first bike this winter, and I've pretty much settled on the 599. A local dealer (Coquitlam, BC, Canada) has a couple of '06 models, and connections to a local riding school.

I'm 38, and have never ridden a motorcycle before, but I used to ride ATVs and snowmobiles when I was younger. I've ridden bicycles (road bikes and mountain bikes) since I was 5, including commuting on some pretty busy city streets. And I drive a '96 Dodge Stratus, so I'm used to being gentle on the throttle when I don't want to leap from a standing start. (Not that the Stratus is a power machine, but you get a surprising range of torque in the first inch of pedal travel, which requires a good amount of control on ice.)

The reason I've chosen the 599 is because I'm going to use it as a commuter bike. I have two very different commutes (I work out of two offices), one of which involves a couple of highways, and I don't want to be wringing out a smaller bike's motor to maintain 100+ km/h (62 mph) for fifteen minutes.

Even on the highway, though, I have no intention of getting anywhere near 100 mph (160 km/h). Driving on the highway, I push the speed limit along with everyone else (120 km/h or so), but I certainly know how to respect the road.

So based on the information I've collected, and the informative posts on this forum, I predict that the 599 will work for me as a newbie bike--but of course I won't vote until I've put a few km under my belt. And, just in case, I'm going to have the "drop pegs" put on as an accessory.

It will probably be at least a month until I can take my riding course (which will be spread over a week riding a Honda 250), after which I will get my Class 6 license.

It was great to find a forum devoted to my bike of choice. I hope to have some good stories to share for some time to come. :)

(FWIW, I've read all 10 pages of this topic.)

Good luck with your purchase!

Even on the highway, though, I have no intention of getting anywhere near 100 mph (160 km/h).

rndthought notes a statement from geobeck 12/6/2007 at 4:20pm EST

Alt note: investigate geobeck's concept of "near"


:lol:

Alt note: investigate geobeck's concept of "near"

Near is a relative term...

- Near the Sun is 30,000,000 km
- Near a nuclear blast is 50 km
- Near a Van Halen concert is 1 km*
- Near dangerous highway speed is when you're passing 90% of traffic


*Especially now that they're all old and are losing their hearing. No one plays louder than a deaf band. :wink:

Near is a relative term...
Thus the investigation...

Don't get distracted by shinny things, I'm looking in context of "...near 100 MPH" Further investigation will go into the modified "anywhere near" but work must first lay the foundation, horse then cart.

Horse then cart as an illustrative proof of concept. To be effective, the horse must be near the cart. If the beast is not near the cart, control of a live animal using bit and tackle becomes cumbersome at distance and so does maneuvering. But if too near, the a gap for the poop will become insufficient and interfere with the purpose of the cart - to transport any cargo of intent, which unless you are one of them hyper green granola "pack it in pack it out" types, shit is generally not the intended cargo. So you see, we can put useful boundaries on "near" in non-relative terms...even without concrete numbers.

We'll get to the roll of "intention" as it relates to doing anything at a later date.

BTW. No one plays louder than Spinal Tap (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spinal_Tap)

in the last couple months of summer i started looking for a bike, first i was really gettin into the new Ninja 650R until i came across the 599 this bike put me in awe. the naked stlying is awesome all that plastic bull is for the pretty boys. anyway i couldnt get one bc my truck broke down so now im back looking again and i looked on hondas website and could not find it on there. did they stop production? i have come to the conclussion that th 599 will be my first bike, ive read your reviews and it being an on the line between a beginers bike and 2nd level bike i think i will be alright bc im not the crazy type that wants to rid around going 90mph everywhere and im 6ft 230lbs so i think ill be able to handle the 599, what do you guys think.

Control the throttle and you'll be fine, I think. Now, there are certain beginner situations that even those being responsible might not be able to avoid (accidentally giving too much gas, you fall backwards, give it even more while trying to hold on), but overall, I'd rate it as an alright starter bike. Even 7 months in, I'd probably still be more comfortable beating on a 250, but I'm still happy with the 599.

The U.S. only got the bike in 04 and 06. It doesn't look like we'll be getting the new bike for at least another year. That said, you can still find brand-new bikes (even 04s) at dealers for wayyyy under MSRP and used bikes for under $5k.

If you want a BRAND NEW 599 and you like the current styling, you better get one now. If you wait too long for a BRAND NEW 599, you'll be buying a 599 that looks completely different than the '04 or '06 models. http://www.honda599.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=25837&highlight=#25837
Check out the maroon '07 model in the above thread, and elsewhere on the Internet.

I've always been a bit risky in a car. I like to push myself and the car to have fun. I knew this would not be a good mentality for riding a bike, so I waited until I was 25 years old to even consider getting a bike. I took my MSF course and a few days later, bought a Suzuki Boulevard M50 as my first bike. I rode it around for a couple hundred miles before I knew it wasn't for me. I knew I needed something more exciting, but I wasn't so sure I trusted myself on a "rocket". So after 1000 miles on the Suzuki and a lot of reading, I bought my second bike: my 04 599! I kept the low RPM theory in the back of my mind for the first couple... miles. It just didn't work... I love to rev this bike up and feel the power between my legs. It's so much fun and so comfortable for hours on end. I can see someone getting into a lot of trouble with this bike, but considering my experience with fast cars, I think I have learned when to get off the gas. I've put a few thousand miles on my 599 and still haven't layed it down. So as someone who went almost directly to a 599 after my MSF, I say all it takes is good judgement to be safe with any vehicle. Having said that, I did vote No on the poll for this thread. I can see some 16 year old kid convincing his parents that the 599 is a standard rather than a sports bike... Which I guess it is, but the 599 keeps right up with sports bikes. And I know if I had a 599 when I was 16, I would not be here today. So I guess I would have to agree with the "depends on the person" crowd.

I'll put it this way, I'm a "mature" experienced rider on the shorter side who hasn't ridden in 19 years. I went out and bought a 599 and I love the bike and have been struggling to keep the throttle mostly closed. The other day I was coming around a turn at high RPMs and was probably doing around 40MPH. I goosed the throttle for fun on a sandy and wet surface and had the back wheel break loose. I didn't realize how slick the surface really was. I promptly had my asshole pucker, counter steered into the skid and gave the bike a good nudge with my left leg to straighten the bike up. I went into a tank slapper that I luckily controlled, had I panicked I would have eaten pavement and thru the slapper I had my legs high like you would ride a bucking bronco so if I got tossed I wouldn't get my legs trapped. To sum up, while I am a bit "reckless" I do have the skills. As a first bike at a young age I can't recommend this machine even though it is so forgiving. If you are mature enough not to twist the throttle you'll be fine but the temptation is way too high for any spirited person. Add to that developing skills and the courage of youth and you have a recipe for disaster. Just my .02 cents.

You may think you have full control of what you do on your 599 and decide you're gonna twist the throttle real fast or accelerate real hard from a slow speed just to "see what this baby can do". You'll freeze up and find yourself at the mercy of a raging beast.

Too powerful in my opinion. Start with something around 50hp then you won't be able to do the things that you think you are ready to but aren't. My 2 cents.

I'm finally going to give my two cents on this topic, having ridden my 599 for the last couple of weeks after getting my license.

I voted 'yes', but with some reservations.

For this to be a good newbie bike, you've got to be a mature rider with no intention of screaming down the road at insane speed or impressing the hotties on the sidewalk. If you've got problems with your fine motor skills or a twitchy right hand, stay away from this bike or you'll get into trouble really fast.

I've put just about 800 km on my bike so far, and haven't had any problems. Now's the time for me to be careful though, because I'm starting to get confident in my riding skills, enough so that I can stop focusing on what my feet and hands are doing and start enjoying the ride.

So basically I agree with what most of the others who voted 'yes' have said: If you're the kind of rider who will respect the bike, it's a great first ride. If you're an impatient noob who wants to show off, get a CBR125 instead. You can still kill yourself on a little bike, but your remains will be easier to identify. :P

It may be worth noting, for those of you who don't remember the 70s, that way back when, a 600cc motor would have been considered big. My uncle had a Honda with a 250 that used to provide plenty of thrills for all of us. No way a 600 or 750 would have been a starter bike. And they certainly didn't make as much power as the 599 does!

Im going to agree with geobeck.

Ive had my 599 for just over a year now, and it was my first bike. The first motorcycle i ever rode was the nighthawk 250 in the beginner MSF. I'm 29, and ive had enough scares from "spirited" driving in both 4x4s and my little 280zx. I know that i can control myself on this bike, and thats the most important thing.

Even as a low end bike, this thing will hit 60 in first gear and do it faster than most cars on the road. It is noob friendly in that its not a 1000cc 150hp beast. To my limited experience, its got a nice ride and has always done what i want it to when i wanted it. And its comfortable too.

If you are responsible, i think its a great first bike. Ill add that the beginner and Intermediate MSF courses should be required to own a motorcycle, theyve helped me that much.

I'm going to agree with the wobbler, this would make the perfect first bike.
It's broad powerband makes it very user friendly for new riders and it does everything well. and you wont out grow it in a month ...heck a vespa scooter or 250 rebel is fast enough to get you killed if you're a moron..and like the wobbler said everybody should take all the msf course's not just the beginner ...the advanced courses are priceless in my opinion....just my two cents .... DO NOT click this link if blood tends to make you zuke.... and when in taiwan take a bus

>>>>>>>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GaHP97EVwnc >>>>>>>>
NOTE...>>>>>> Be warned, this is the very graphic link that can also be found in the video section <<<<<<<<

For this to be a good newbie bike, you've got to be a mature rider with no intention of screaming down the road at insane speed or impressing the hotties on the sidewalk. If you've got problems with your fine motor skills or a twitchy right hand, stay away from this bike or you'll get into trouble really fast.

I'd say that's generally true for any bike.

I sold my 599 back in November :( A few weeks ago, I picked up a V-Star 650. Even though the V-star doesn't have the same level of power as the 599, it's a vastly different creature, and one that I seriously doubt I could have handled a couple years ago when I got my 599.

When I took the MSF course, on a Nighthawk 250, my biggest problem was stalling out or taking off too fast when starting from a dead stop. The 599 was MUCH easier to control. I never intended to do any fast riding or anything like that - I bought a commuter to deal with the drive from Riverside to Orange County along the 91, through the Santa Ana Canyon - a drive of about 40 miles that could take up to 3 HOURS at times. I wanted something easy to handle and maneuverable, that could get through traffic with reasonable agility. The 599 was a great choice for this.

Adding to the 11 pages of the topic. :D I think that this bike is well rounded bike for people that have years of riding and people who don't. I just got mine last Friday and i have rode for over 4 years on many different bikes and this bike has the power and also this bike forms to the rider. My girl she has never been on a motorcycle(though we got her permit before we got the bike got to love a 25 question test.) so we took it to a empty lot and suited her up and let her go (hoping that she didn't drop my new bike)haha within the first hour she wanted to get on the road. I was really worried about this because it still new to her. But she talked me into it and went around the streets for a good 2 hours with her riding next to me. Everything went well. So is this bike good for new people? That really depends on the rider and thats what it comes down to for her yes this bike was great, she loves it and I do as well. But is the bike to to powerful for a new person I don't think so, the bike will only go as fast as the rider makes it go. But if your a new rider looking to go fast, and thats the only reason your getting a bike then maybe you should go home.
But there's my thought on this bike and I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hope everyone rides safe and has fun.


*I have to get it lowered now so she can fully flat foot the ground.
Pic of her on the new bike.
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii286/DocChaser/AmandaontheHonda.jpg

...I just got mine last Friday... My girl she has never been on a motorcycle... we took it to a empty lot and suited her up and let her go (hoping that she didn't drop my new bike)haha within the first hour she wanted to get on the road.
WOW. That's bravery!!! But says a lot about a new rider's mentality and how newb friendly the 599 can be.

...I just got mine last Friday... My girl she has never been on a motorcycle... we took it to a empty lot and suited her up and let her go (hoping that she didn't drop my new bike)haha within the first hour she wanted to get on the road.
WOW. That's bravery!!! But says a lot about a new rider's mentality and how newb friendly the 599 can be.

I was thinking that the real bravery was from the boyfriend who let his newb girlfriend ride his brand new motorcycle!

:shock:

...I just got mine last Friday... My girl she has never been on a motorcycle... we took it to a empty lot and suited her up and let her go (hoping that she didn't drop my new bike)haha within the first hour she wanted to get on the road.
WOW. That's bravery!!! But says a lot about a new rider's mentality and how newb friendly the 599 can be.

I was thinking that the real bravery was from the boyfriend who let his newb girlfriend ride his brand new motorcycle!

:shock:

+1 I'd never let anyone learn to ride on my bike!

Just because something is "friendly" doesn't mean it won't bite you if you're not careful. I'm sure most dogs that bite people are described as "don't worry, he's friendly" about five seconds prior to grievous incidents.

So, sure, a 599 might be "friendly" to a newbie, but I wouldn't recommend one to somebody who has never been on a motorcycle. Yes, it is easy to ride; yes, the thing is a very confidence-inspiring machine. That gets people in trouble.

I've had mine for about a month or so now, and I love it. It's also my third motorcycle, and I've been an MSF instructor for the last five years. I started on a 250cc cruiser. If anything, I ride my 599 MORE conservatively than I ever rode my first bike, mainly because I know a lot of stuff now that I didn't know then...whether from my own mistakes or from watching students do those things every weekend.

Can people start on them and be okay? Obviously, because it's happened. I just wouldn't recommend one to a newbie because I know what very well COULD happen.

I started on a 250cc cruiser...I ride my 599 MORE conservatively than I ever rode my first bike...

No kidding!

I took my riding course on a 250 cc Super Sherpa dirt bike. I used a substantial amount of throttle travel to do anything, including accelerating to normal street speed. I have yet to use more than a small amount of my 599's throttle travel, even when merging quickly onto the highway from 70 to 120 km/h.

I couldn't ride my 599 the same way I rode the Sherpa. I would imagine that a 250 cc cruiser would be even less responsive than a dirt bike of the same displacement.

Not just conservative in terms of speed, but conservative in terms of everything; obviously I'm not using nearly as much of the 599 as I did of the 250 (there's about a 70 hp difference, after all). I don't take as many risks or do nearly as many lamebrained things as I did on the Virago (I rode it for two years as a daily commuter to college). Like scraping pegs going around corners at 70, which is just about the top speed of that bike. If you ride over your ability on a motorcycle that can only go 70mph, it's a much different thing than if you ride over your ability on a motorcycle that can go around twice that fast; most new riders can't gauge their riding ability very accurately, and this is why a lot of bad things happen.

Occasionally I still have episodes of dumb (I don't think there's anybody that doesn't...), but they're not as big an issue as they likely would have been if I were a new rider with a 599 as my first bike.

(My second bike was a Suzuki Marauder...an 800cc cruiser thing. Many thousands of happy miles on that one...until I got to test ride a 599 and realized how terrible cruisers really handle after being in denial for years...)

...I just got mine last Friday... My girl she has never been on a motorcycle... we took it to a empty lot and suited her up and let her go (hoping that she didn't drop my new bike)haha within the first hour she wanted to get on the road.
WOW. That's bravery!!! But says a lot about a new rider's mentality and how newb friendly the 599 can be.

I was thinking that the real bravery was from the boyfriend who let his newb girlfriend ride his brand new motorcycle!

:shock:
Perhaps I was unclear. That is exactly what I was referring to.

(My second bike was a Suzuki Marauder...an 800cc cruiser thing. Many thousands of happy miles on that one...until I got to test ride a 599 and realized how terrible cruisers really handle after being in denial for years...)

I test rode an 800 cc Suzuki "cruiser thing" at a recent demo ride. Twist the throttle and wait... twist some more and wait... I couldn't believe it had 200 more cc's than my bike! As for handling... well, you know the deal on that.

Actually, the most disappointing bike I rode that day was an 1800 cc Boulevard monster. Gobs of torque in a straight line, but I practically had to lay the thing on its side to get it to take a tight corner that my 599 would barely notice. I guess 200 pounds of chrome adds a bit to a bike's inertia. :D

Not just conservative in terms of speed...
Conservative... it's a way of life (just ask Steve :lol: )

Bellilig... that is a great way to express it. :clap Thanks for your thoughts and welcome aboard!

I guess 200 pounds of chrome adds a bit to a bike's inertia. :D
Well that and the fact that the Boulevard is designed with going straight in mind... :lol:

honda 599 is my first bike, it's been good to me.

I'm probably a little cocky with her, I love going fast which is why she shares a garage with miss maybelle (95 M3 not stock), but she's been nimble enough to get me out of some silly mistakes.

I'm glad for now that I didn't get a rr r6 or gsxr as my first bike, but my second bike will for sure be something over the 100 hp mark.

as a newbie, with a little over 200 miles and three weeks on a 599 -- my first bike, which I bought after taking the MSF course for work purposes -- I think it is friendly if you don't overly provoke it, and the MSF course helps you put things in context. I've ridden surface streets to work, SoCal freeway to work 80-90 mph, and nice twisties (25-45) on the way home. If you respect the bike it does what you want and what you can. So I think it's a great newbie bike and also a bike that one can grow into.

It's been a great newbie bike for me for the last 3 1/2 months, but I'm not sure I'm a noob anymore...

http://img123.imageshack.us/img123/9664/dsc00071640fn5.jpg

i just bought my '04 599 as my first bike, and i am surprised at how easy it was to learn on. after 3 months, i keep up with my buddy who has a 140 horse triumph speed triple and has been riding since he was a kid. just be careful when you get apast 6-7000 rpms the first time. it will scare the living shit out of you how it comes alive!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My first post here. I'm debating on what to get as my first streetbike. I'm a Honda guy and there are only 2 streetbikes that they offer that I'm interested in buying, a 599 and an Interceptor.
I'm 40 years young, 6' 210 lbs. I have about 5 years motorcycle experiance racing Vet Class moto on a KX250 and CRF450R. Due to a couple major injuries, braking the ball on my femur :shock: and 2 years later breaking my back :shock: , I had to give up racing. It was killing my finances being unable to work those 2 years it took to recover. I have a definite respect for what can go wrong if you're not careful and riding outside of your limits. I've got a plate and a rod in my leg, along with back issues as a constant reminder. My go-fast racing days are over. Having said that, I've got the itch to ride again so I signed up for an MSF class to get my M-class license. :D
I really want to buy an 08' Interceptor since most of my riding will be done on the highway but the 540 lb wet weight has me a little hesitant. The cc's don't bother me but the weight factor has me alittle concerned.
My local dealer has an 06' 599 still on the showroom floor and I'm debating on wether or not to buy.
I know some of you don't recommend a new bike as the first one. I went that route with dirtbikes but their is a world of difference between a new and an old bike IMO.
What are the must-have upgrades for the 599?
Decisions, decisions........

What are the must-have upgrades for the 599?
Decisions, decisions........
Those are the same two bikes I'd like in my garage together - so you are in quite a situation. I don't think the 599 will be a bad bike to start with considering your background and likely better than an 800cc V4. While the 599 is more maneuverable, particularly at slow speeds, the Interceptor is no slouch. For extended rides, the Interceptor will likely prove more comfortable, while the 599 rocks for shorter and twisty rides. I see them as very different bikes that perfectly complement one another. Which is why I want both. :P

The (almost) universal 599 upgrades are adjustable levers (Pazzo, ASV, etc), better mirrors, and bike protection. Adjustable levers can improve clutch control and overall feel for the bike - as well as a nice kick in aesthetics. Better mirrors can both improve rear visibility, have less vibration, and again look better. Last, some drop protection - frame sliders, engine bars, etc. I consider those universal to any riding circumstance and, beyond that, it's really up to preference. Some folks don't change a thing.

I recommend above all else that you budget at least $1000 for protective gear and get the very best protection that is comfortable for you. Full face helmet, full-length (gauntlet) gloves, jacket with CE armor in shoulder/elbows/back, proper riding pants, riding boots. You can get under $1000 easily using clearance sites, but to have great protection AND comfort, you'll likely spend more.

My first post here. I'm debating on what to get as my first streetbike. I'm a Honda guy and there are only 2 streetbikes that they offer that I'm interested in buying, a 599 and an Interceptor.

Hey Kalash,

I'm a complete newbie and I've found the 599 to be a great bike, for me at least, to learn on. I took the MSF course before I went shopping for bikes. My instructors suggested an SV650 or something similar.

The characteristics I like the most about this bike is that: 1) its light, and easy to handle, it gets much easier after time too. 2) there's some free play in the throttle, I found some bikes don't have this. 3) the throttle isn't twitchy, I've heard the Triumph Street Triple (sorta similar bike) is very twitchy, which is probably something a beginner doesn't want, 4) the bike isn't a speed demon unless you want it to be. I've been fairly tame with accelerating, but from what I hear on this forum you can really go nuts on the 599 if you want. I've never "stumbled" on this power and given myself an unwelcomed surprise, I've been able to control how quickly I accelerate and ride.

I'm sure other folks have many more reasons why its a great bike. I think its a unique motorcycle, there's not many around and it can serve any style of riding I think. It's also a Honda and I've heard their bikes can't die.

Good luck!

... Trans nailed it!

Well, of course he would... he's done all the possible 599 upgrades, hasn't he? :lol:

Kalash, I think you have to look at what kind of riding you really want to do to make your decision. Most of the benefits I see to the VFR involve its superiority as a freeway cruiser (in the relative sense). If you don't plan on riding cross-country, or if your physical condition rules it out, a lot of that appeal seems lost to me.

That is not to say that long-distance can't be done on a 599 (see the thread about the ride to the Arctic Circle)...

Also, someone in the past year has added a brand new Interceptor to their stable (wife's bike, I think) and they had a unique opportunity to ride them both back-to-back. I don't recall any mind-blowing surprises, but if you can find that thread, it's a VFR through a Hornet owner's eyes, which is a pretty interesting viewpoint.

Anyway, if all else fails... at this point, a showroom-new 599 is almost an investment-grade purchase... :wink: They are getting rarer, it seems. Good luck!

1. If power is there, people will use it and maybe much too soon

2. You're going to drop your first bike (or crash it). I think it's a better idea to drop/crash a smaller crappier bike. The 599 is simply too nice!


With #1, hard for me to judge that coming from a FZ1. I guess it does get you on the slower "legal" side of matters when it comes to public roads, however you still can do over 100mph but not as easy or stress free like on a partly faired or fully faired motorcycle. My wife will only go 5mph over the speed limit on the 599....just because there is power not all users will hammer it and test it out.

With regard to #2, I never dropped my first bike *shrug* I had rode it for 14K miles (Ninja 250), I dropped the FZ1 on the Interstate due to another vehicle after about 10K miles on it. There are plenty of people that NEVER go down. For example my wife, although she does not have the miles that I have. But as of now, no she has not gone down or dropped the bike.

I do not think you should buy a motorcycle if one is worried about "dropping" it. Everyone is different, so to scare people and say you will go down will usually make them subconsously do just that, go down.

I bought my 599 a little over a month ago as my first bike. brand new '06 right out of the box. towed it on my trailor home because i didnt have any experience with street bikes. took it ridin around a little (i live in a smaller town so i didnt have to worry about traffic too much). i was amazed how fast it could get going just 0-30 off of a stop sign. i eventually started cruising it for short distances on the highway... 0-65 in like 4 seconds is a rush when you first do it. ill admit, it seemed like a lot of power and it hasnt got to the point where it seems weak. Top speed ive got on her is 105 give or take a few mph. this being my first bike i would have to say its a perfect beginner bike for the following reasons, most have probably been mentioned:

1. Shes pretty tame when you want her to be, as well as a beast when you want her to be.
2. Can handle multiple skill levels.
3. Its sexy.
4. and neked.
5. Great RPM range
6. Quick
7. comforable ergos
8. like someone said before, if you put frame sliders on it, nothing critical gets messed up if its dropped. (know this from experience)
9. affordable
10. good gas mileage if you baby it.
11. you can mod lots of things on it to make it unique

the list goes on and on and on and on....
the point is, if your on this forum trying to decide on buying the 599... just get it. you wont regret it.

I am getting in on this late . . . but wanted to give my input.

The 599 is my first bike. I took the MSF Course last fall (07). Spent almost a year contemplating a bike. Found a used 2006 with 3000 miles in August, rode it and bought it.

I think it has been a great first bike. Of course, I have nothing to compare it to as it is the only motorcycle I have owned. This bike can be just a manageable as the rider wants it to be. I am not even coming close to using up all its performance/ability. But I am glad it is there if I need.

2006 I've had mine over a year, about 4800 miles.

I've just taken the 'Total Control Clinic' class, before that the BRC & ERC. The TCC class shows you how to get a lot more out of this bike.

My Ohlins fork springs should go in this week & today I just ordered an Ohlins for the rear.


I can go as fast as I need to go with this bike or slow and smooth, it does both relatively well.

It's a nice bike for me, only other ride was a 650 Yamaha Special about 20 years ago.
Right now I have the Givi windscreen on it. I'd like to find something a bit more protective for highway driving out here in Phoenix.

What do people think, are there likely to be any more new 06 599s in dealers anymore?

There are very few in-crate 599s left I imagine. They are out there, and if you go to a Honda dealer, I'm sure they could track down one that has been left behind and forgotten. But more than likely, the market is going to be in used bikes.

Honda's make the best used bikes, that's why they hold their value so well. As long as it's not scratched up the internals should be fine. Just change the tires, breaks, oli, and give it a wash and she'll be as good as new!

I think this is a very newbie-friendly bike. It's not powerful enough that you will accidentally grab too much throttle and get bucked off. On the flip-side, it is more than enough bike to last years without feeling too sluggish. The bike grows with the rider, and that's what I love about it.

As far as grabbing one new, my thoughts are this: If you are a newbie, look for a bike that's been well taken care of. That way you won't dump unnecessary money, and if (God forbid) you drop it, you won't feel as bad about it.

It's my first bike and I plan on riding it for a long time, or at least a few years till I can afford a new Triumph Speed Triple.

What do people think, are there likely to be any more new 06 599s in dealers anymore?

I found mine near the first of this month brand new in charlotte! They had it as a demo bike so I gotta decent deal!

As far as a good beginner bike, it's my first and I love it. I fell in love with the first 919 I ever saw and I knew the 599 would have to be mine. For what I wanted and how I ride, I don't think I could have picked a better bike.

Hello all,

Im a cherry rider as well and just bought a 06 600 as my 1st bike. Man Im like the brother that just bid and won on his bike...... I sure hope I can handle it just starting. Im also very happy to find this site and become apart of the hornet family. This feels hella cool to be here and I look forward to future endeavors on this site.

Hello all,

Im a cherry rider as well and just bought a 06 600 as my 1st bike. Man Im like the brother that just bid and won on his bike...... I sure hope I can handle it just starting. Im also very happy to find this site and become apart of the hornet family. This feels hella cool to be here and I look forward to future endeavors on this site.

welcome to the party!

the hornet's my first bike too, been riding it for over half a year and i haven't had a problem so far

just respect the bike and your local laws and take it slow, you should be fine

it took me probably less than 15 mins in the driveway just to find the sweet spot where the clutch catches, and i was up and riding in about half a week (still had a few nervous moments here and there) but within another week, everything just felt natural on the bike

enjoy your lil demon ;)

IMHO

points that make it a great newbie bike, compared to many of the much older bikes I have ridden:
-honda reliability. loosing power or having mechanical problems half way through a corner is a serious risk to ones health. very unlikely on this bike
-big fat tyres, wheels great size to make bike agile. keeps a solid contact patch with the road. very forgiving with line changes.
-alright stock suspension setup
-brilliant rider position -> head up and high gives a god, comfortable view of what crazy s*#t the oblivious cagers are up to.
-smooth clutch, brakes and most importantly power delivery.
-ground clearance. if you have brought too much speed into a corner, and you have some faith, look through the corner and weight the bike correctly, you will make the corner. Some bikes scrape the pegs while the tires still have heaps of grip remaining.

So the only thing that makes it a bad thing for a newbie, is the 90+ bhp at the rear wheel (yes, I know there are higher claims), which can come in a rush from about 6000-1000 revs, but nothing like that produce by the litre plus bikes.

I'm not a newbie, but learnt on bikes that had none of the above points, and they were probably far more dangerous. A 1300 cc bike is obviously also more dangerous than a hornet.

problem is, people attracted to bikes are more likely to be HOONS than the average joe, and that might be a bad combination with the fairly solid middle and upper rev range.

In my case the engine keeps whispering my name, saying "it's so boring and lonely up here in the 9 and 10 thousand rev range, please USE me, at least let me BREATHE".

The trick is knowing when those newbie skill levels (knowledge of bike + roadcraft) have improved to a point that occasionally succumbing to temptation might be a little bit OK. "Never use up your bucket of luck before your bucket of experience has been filled"

being a noobie I voted yes...beats the hell out of an SV650 :)

Hi All - So glad to find this forum. I'm new to riding and just bought a used '06 599 - love it!

This thread has been a great read - my 2 cents as a beginner...

I'm 32 and have been driving standards since I was 14. I've had several "learning opportunities" as a young guy discovering various machines. I ride moutainbikes, have my pilot's license and drive an '08 M3. I'm hoping that qualifies me to start on a 599 - trust me I respect the performance...

That said, I spent my motorcycle safety course (about 12 hours on bike) riding a cbr125. It was decent to learn on but the 599 seems friendlier - better riding position and more stable (I swear I was getting blown around on that 125!) Any other beginners get this impression? I like that I don't need to grab a ton of throttle to get the 599 up to highway speed.

Glad to hear there are so many happy 599 owners - Thanks for posting!:thumbsup

being a noobie I voted yes...beats the hell out of an SV650 :)

As a bike period, I would think so. As a beginner bike, though, I lean more towards the twins. I recommend the SV and Ninja 650 to any of my friends that are interested in riding (well, after I get the expected response that a 250 is a pussy bike). I think I got pretty lucky that all the times I got too hard on the throttle and was just hanging on for dear life, there were no cars or curves around. The twins are narrower, too, so a little less intimidating.

Goods, the people demand pictures of the M3.

Ha ha - here you go. (That's my wife's miata in the background...)

Ha ha - here you go. (That's my wife's miata in the background...)

SWEEEEEET Bimmer. but don't discount the Miata, voted best all around sports car ever built. I have one with 285,000. miles and does not burn a drop of oil, runs like new with no major repairs. I gave it to son #1 when in college and he gave it to son #2 now in college. I want to keep it in the family to see how long it will last ??? Secret is synthitic oil from new.

Aw yeah... that's the stuff right there...

Sweet rides. I'm sort of looking for a Miata myself, but I'm picking up a Honda XL project next month, so that along with the track may suck every penny I have.

(well, after I get the expected response that a 250 is a pussy bike). I think I got pretty lucky that all the times I got too hard on the throttle and was just hanging on for dear life, there were no cars or curves around. The twins are narrower, too, so a little less intimidating.

Goods, the people demand pictures of the M3.

plus for the money their isn't much out there. I got mine thinking i would upgrade in a year or so. but now I don't see a reason to.

SWEEEEEET Bimmer. but don't discount the Miata, voted best all around sports car ever built.

My wife still gets so many compliments on that miata - she looks pretty hot in it w/ the top down. :mrgreen:

This was my first bike, and at first I thought it might be too much, yet I kept my wits and rode at a speed comfortable to me. I suppose I am probably a little older (and hopefully wiser) than most new riders, my first ride on any motorcycle was on a Kawasaki Eliminator 125 at the local MSF course at age 37, about 11 months ago. After about a year of riding my 599, I feel comfortable enough to ride it almost anywhere. I Dropped it once at about 10 mph, was doing a u-turn when the front tire hit some soft sand and the front wheel went out from under me, and stalled it a bunch of times(not lately). One of the first times I rode it around the block, I thought I was really going fast, then I looked down to the speedo to see I was doing a blistering 20 mph. I think as a new rider you just have to get used to the fact that a motorcycle will accelerate up to speed a lot faster than a car.
I have had only one real near crash, I was following a panel truck(probably too close) that stopped suddenly :shock:,I did not panic, hit both brakes and when the rear tire started to go sideways I let off the brakes and swerved across the other lane and into the grass. Fortunately there was no one coming at me in the other lane and I was able to keep the bike upright. Good training and keeping calm helped me avoid what could have been a bad accident.:ride

I have had only one real near crash, I was following a panel truck(probably too close) that stopped suddenly :shock:,I did not panic, hit both brakes and when the rear tire started to go sideways I let off the brakes and swerved across the other lane and into the grass. Fortunately there was no one coming at me in the other lane and I was able to keep the bike upright. Good training and keeping calm helped me avoid what could have been a bad accident.:ride

Remember that if you lock up the rear brake you don't want to just take all pressure off it, especially when the bike starts going sideways. If the back end starts to go sideways and you take the rear brake off the wheel will want to re-align and this can cause a high-side accident, essentially bucking you off.

Glad to hear that you're getting along well though. Keep practicing (I will do the same) and stay safe out there!

The 599 is my first street bike. I have been riding motocross bikes for about 10 years now. One day my riding buddy pulled up in my driveway with 02 919, after that the search was on. I originally was hunting for a 919 till I found out about the 599. I only weight 175lbs so I new the 599 would have adequite power and I like the idea of it being a bit lighter. I have only put about 600 miles on it and already feel pretty comfortable. I would have to say that street riding is very different form offroad, but there is a lot that crosses over. One of the most important is staying in control when you're on the verge of losing it. Not that I ride recklessly, but you never know when a panel truck might slam on the brakes. The sideways skid is just part of riding offroad.

The 599 may not be the quickist bike on the stretch but it has everything i need to get me to the the point, last year i rode a Gxr1000 for 11months and the bike was a beast and and i also rode the Suzuki 1300 bad boy before that i and love that power but the hornet will surprise you everytime .I also love to ride the Suzuki M109,But the 599 is my ride of choice .

My 599 started out as my wifes bike. I test rode it at the dealer and thought its nice mellow power was perfect for a newbie. My wife had not ridden before.

When I got it home, she and I practiced getting her used to the controls and getting it rolling in 1st and then pulling in the clutch and applying the brakes for about a 1/2 hour. Then she decided she wanted to pull it in the garage. Our driveway is inclined and requires more throttle before slipping the clutch.

Long story short...she gave it the gas, she was scared by the revs and froze when she slipped the clutch and crashed into my concrete front steps 20 feet away.

One broken collarbone, 9 months, and two surgeries on the collarbone later and she is finally back in one piece.

The hornet had slightly bent forks (repaired) and required a new flyscreen, new fender, new tail section, new left footpeg, and new upper and lower trees.

The good news is that the 599 is good as new and is mine now and I love it. The moral of the story is that the 599 is a poor choice for someone with no motorcycle experience.

Just my two cents.

My 06 599 was my first bike and I am glad it was. I just couldn't pass it up when I saw it on craigslist for 3500 with 6000 miles on it. Took the MSF course and now I know how to control this beast a little better.

I've had the 599 for a little over a month now, and I've been alternating between it and an '88 Ninja 250 that a friend lent me.

I actually find the 599 a bit more stable at speed, and feel somewhat more comfortable riding it. That being said, I am very gentle with the throttle on the 99, as opposed to the 250 where I feel like I have to really wring it out the to get moving (I'm 6'1, 185#).

After my limited experience, I can definitely tell you that the Hornet puts a smile on my face every time I ride. The ninny, not quite so much, and if I didn't feel obligated to put some miles on her, I would ride the Hornet every time!

so my advice: reasonable beginner bike, but like the D said, "f- her gently!"

I believe that the 599 is an amazing bike to learn on as a first bike. My 04 599 was and still is my first bike. I took a motorcycle course and it was very intense for someone that never rode before. I did some research and lets face facts the looks of the 599 sold me. I was a little scared at having 600cc between my legs at first but let me tell you its not as bad as people make it out to be. There is 600cc but whether you choose to use all of them out of the gate is the responsabality of the rider and the choices him/her makes.
I found the bike light and very manuverable, it was responsive and easy to learn on and build up my comfort level driving in traffic. Now that I have owned my bike for a little over a year I have not once had buyers remorse or regreat.

My wife took the safety course through our local Harley dealership where they have them ride around on Buell Blasts.

To her, it's a major transition from the Blast to the 599. Although the seat height is great on the 599, the power and throttle response was a surprise to her, and although she didn't crash it on the first ride, I think it scared her a little.

I would say that the 599 is a great bike to grow your skills on, but it's probably not appropriate as a 'learners bike.' After all it does have the guts of of a CBR600, and as many of us owners know, it's got plenty of extreme power and agile capabilities. Its a great bike though for someone to learn how to push the limits of their abilities -- it allows you to lean into corners aggressively but comfortably. So I would say the 599 makes a good 'big boy bike' :) but a newbie might want to learn on something with a bit less power range, and a bit less heartbreaking if you crash or lay it over.

Getting off the Blast and onto my bike to go home after the safety course was weird. It felt like a supersport in comparison. And it actually had power.

Another thing to note, although I still don't think it was the best choice for my first bike, is that the extra weight on the rear wheel and 20-30 HP deficit has probably saved me from a few highsides. I've had the rear sliding unintentionally before. While it wasn't anything huge and didn't scare me, I think if I'd been on a bike with more power and all the weight over the front wheel, it would have been much more dramatic.

I've had the rear sliding unintentionally before. While it wasn't anything huge and didn't scare me, I think if I'd been on a bike with more power and all the weight over the front wheel, it would have been much more dramatic.

I totally hear you on that. I've had that back wheel locked up a few times, and strangely it actually felt somewhat stable --- almost like I could slide along like that forever. Not that I'd want to. Actually (this might be off topic), I think the back wheel on the 599 locks up a lot more than other bikes I've had (Old CB's, Nighthawk, Seca, Vision, FJ, Hawk). I'm often surprised during a hard stop, that the wheel is sliding. I just chalk it up to awesome brakes... can't be user error. Ha!

I've had the rear sliding unintentionally before. While it wasn't anything huge and didn't scare me, I think if I'd been on a bike with more power and all the weight over the front wheel, it would have been much more dramatic.

You mean like a powerslide? Ain't that fun? :mrgreen:

I've found it to be pretty common for me in second gear, on smooth asphalt roads, or roads with a little silty stuff... Or the holy grail - the smooth asphalt road with silty stuff. :twisted:

I think's usually oil that gets me. In fact, I did it on a Gixxer, too, and it definitely scared me more on that bike. Maybe it had something to do with me not really being used to it and it not being mine, but I really didn't think I was taking the turn very hard.

I think's usually oil that gets me. In fact, I did it on a Gixxer, too, and it definitely scared me more on that bike. Maybe it had something to do with me not really being used to it and it not being mine, but I really didn't think I was taking the turn very hard.

Oh, I meant just going in a straight line. :lol2:

The last time I did it, I gassed it to pass a blue-hair on this kindof dirty, industrial back-road. I don't know which was funnier, the look of fear on his face because a bike was wailing past him at 10K rpm, or the look of fear on MY face because I though my back wheel was going to pass the old guy before my front wheel did... Good times!

Is Honda 599 a "Newbie Friendly" bike? Yes. Period.


I'm a n00b and I love my 599!

I loved it... but I will in no way recommend it to a friend that's trying to ride (have him sold on an EX500).

Oh, I meant just going in a straight line. :lol2:

The last time I did it, I gassed it to pass a blue-hair on this kindof dirty, industrial back-road. I don't know which was funnier, the look of fear on his face because a bike was wailing past him at 10K rpm, or the look of fear on MY face because I though my back wheel was going to pass the old guy before my front wheel did... Good times!

I've only broken it loose in a straight line once. I was trying to clutch it up when it was about 38 degrees out maybe 5 minutes after I left work one night. That was fun, would do again.

Oh, I meant just going in a straight line. :lol2:

The last time I did it, I gassed it to pass a blue-hair on this kindof dirty, industrial back-road.....


a "blue-hair" eh? never heard of that term before? just some geezer?

a "blue-hair" eh? never heard of that term before? just some geezer?

Yar. A geezer. :wink:

I am a newbie and the 599 is my first bike. I took the MSF class first and rode my buddy's Yamaha FZ1 before buying the bike. His FZ1 seemed to have a smaller friction zone (or at least it seemed harder to find). So my 599 was easier to learn on than his bike. I would suggest anyone that starts out getting a 599 practice so you can get used to the throttle. But as for me being a newbie, the bike is great for me.

I've only broken it loose in a straight line once. I was trying to clutch it up when it was about 38 degrees out maybe 5 minutes after I left work one night. That was fun, would do again.

wet pavement and a cold tire are fun, but expensive. Michelin stock is definitely in no danger of tanking as long as i'm ridin.

I started with a CBR250R and enjoyed the zippy yet not-too-powerful fun that bike offered. A perfect bike to move into the 600cc zone as I found the Hornet is forgiving and I've found more power and handling performance as I've become more confident & experienced. It's very good for riding two-up as well - more comfortable then a sports bike and powerful enough to enjoy the ride.

A perfect stepping stone before the CBR1000RR is parked permanently in the garage :-)

Hi,

For me the 599 can be your first and last bike as it is at the middle range. It's half sport and half touring, so it really depends on the user of the bike whether you want to be wild or not. It is a nice bike, so before doing some modifications on it you might want to get use to it fisrt as a beginner, then spend the money and buy accessessories when your more confident and at ease with the bike.

I started doing modifications on my bike and we're in the process of putting things on, like e.g. Rizoma grips and bar ends, Rizoma mirrors, Pazzo Levers, GSG foot pegs, ArtFibras rear hugger, Rizoma LED turn signals, Rizoma frame sliders, GSG fork sliders, Arrow steering damper, Rizoma oil cap cover and HID head lights.

This bike is a beauty and can be babied. It is a bike to keep and even if i plan of buying another bike which is a Ductati Monster, I would still keep this bike.

My bike had 26,000 KMs on it when I bought it, but still looks brand new and the engine with lots of power. I know this bike is worth buying. This will be a good bike for new rider who is in a tight budget but still get the performance.

Once the bike is out from the shop I will take some pictures and post it.

Hope this helps

I would say hell yeah from my own personal experience. I went to a Honda MSF course and there was a 599 along with a lot other models in the lobby. I had threw my leg over several bikes already but this was the bike that I felt confident and comfortable on which are two important factors for a new rider. Secondly I don't think a 600 is too much for a newb because by the time I started pushing the throttle I was glad I didnt do the 250 thing. Is my next ride gonna be a 1000?.......yeah maybe but if its not im still cool with a 600. Its a nice happy lightweight bike. I have got many compliments from riders and non-riders which made me feel like I made the right choice. The 599 is not the most cool looking bike stock but its like that chick in school who never put on makeup or dressed nice and you don't realize it until that one day and she looks like she could be on the cover of Maxim. I got a lot of inspiration from this forum for my bike and will share some pics soon of what I did to it. Its all cosmetic for now but I had my bike for almost 4 years (06 599) and am still loving it. Next round of mods are performance. I ran into a fellow 599 owner leaving work in Ontario California where sleek fairings and and loud pipes are the norm and we chatted for a minute or so and I realized that this forum and the people that own this bike are really cool so I have contribute a little more. Then I realized that I have only seen two 599s in the last 4 years and I would like to say that the glass is half full because that makes me pretty fuckin cool because I saw more 599s in Europe for 3 weeks last year than in the U.S. for 4 years.

I recently bought a Hornet 599, so I can't judge very much about it. But I know, that Honda is really good brand for two wheels. Like says in promo- Power of the dreams. I can say, that it's my first bike, because first was Minsk 125cc but it was about 10 years ago when I get it and ride on it~4 years. I can't say anything bad in the direction of my new bike. Year-2005, km-7500. Absence of technical problems. Like a new one.
It's only a little problem with height. I'm approximately 1,70-1,72m tall and if I put one foot on the ground normally than other fully placing on the ground is problem. Needless to say that I am a girl and you already know(I think) what can happen if rider have that problem(short legs) riding on sandy surface.
P.S. Sorry for my english, but it's not my native language.

english, but it's not my native language.

No worries about the english, we'll manage! :welcome

Hope you enjoy that 599. She'll treat you right!

No worries about the english, we'll manage! :welcome

Hope you enjoy that 599. She'll treat you right!

I really enjoy it. :thumbsup
I love bikes.

I really enjoy it. :thumbsup
I love bikes.

There is an appreciation around here for girls who love bikes.

There is an appreciation around here for girls who love bikes.
Positive. Ou. I want to ask. Maybe someone have service manual for Honda Hornet 2005?

Look in the "Repair and Maintenance" section. There is a thread at the top.

I bought my first bike 2 weekends ago and it's a 2006 599 and i love it. I feel great on it. I took the msf course a month ago and was also looking at getting a ninja but i changed my mind and im so glad i did. I know this bike has lots of power that i am not sure what to do with yet but i will learn on this bike and grow with this bike. I love this bike!!!! I couldn't have made a better choice!!!

Personally speaking, the Hornet 600 would not have been a great choice as my first bike, aged 16. I would certainly have killed myself on it.

Many years later, after the typical midlife return to biking via a Kawasaki 305, I bought the Hornet, as a 'mature' 45 year old. In the cold wet UK, Honda in their wisdom fitted the bike with Michelin Hi Sports, which are excellent tyres on hot dry tarmac. Having never ridden such a relatively powerful bike before, I assumed that wheelspin in second gear in the wet was par for the course. In short order, I dropped the bike, by panic braking and locking up the front in the rain.

Followed by an almighty first gear high side, just gave it full throttle in first gear, rear span up, bike went sideways, then gripped and spat me off, really hurt that did.

And then a truck driver took me out, changed lanes without looking. He was found guilty of careless driving and I got compensation, but in hindsight I really ought to have seen that last accident coming, not riding defensively enough.

And then there was the time when I opened it up in earnest, on a less than perfect tarmac surface. My very first 'tank slapper'. Scared the life out of me, I was convinced that something in the suspension had broken. That was with a 16" front wheel, don't think Honda inflicted that on the US market.

However, on the plus side. Of all the bikes I've owned or ridden, the 599 was my first 'four', and I was amazed at how easy to ride it was. Perfect balance at low speed, easy clutch, turbine smooth engine, progressive brakes, low seat height. Ridden by someone with iron discipline, it would be OK as a first bike.

Personally, the temptation to go nuts is just too much. I'm still loving this bike 11 years on.

Richard

With respect, I would like to attempt to respond to Richard as to why the 599 is still a good beginner's bike provided that beginner is not a restless 16 year old kid.

Personally speaking, the Hornet 600 would not have been a great choice as my first bike, aged 16. I would certainly have killed myself on it.

Granted, that makes sense. Agreed.

Having never ridden such a relatively powerful bike before, I assumed that wheelspin in second gear in the wet was par for the course. In short order, I dropped the bike, by panic braking and locking up the front in the rain.

This would have happened on ANY bike not just a 599 given the fact that you should have gently come off the throttle as soon as you noticed wheel spin. Plus, spinning in second gear to me means you where too throttle-heavy to begin with. A front tire lock-up also suggests you were too "grabby" on the front brake especially in the rain. Again, not caused by the 599 per se.

Followed by an almighty first gear high side, just gave it full throttle in first gear, rear span up, bike went sideways, then gripped and spat me off, really hurt that did.

Again, grabbing a ton of throttle and spinning the wheel is not caused by the 599. That's overly aggressive riding, the result of which would happen on any bike. Being a relative n00b, I would NEVER give ANY bike full throttle in first gear!

And then a truck driver took me out, changed lanes without looking. He was found guilty of careless driving and I got compensation, but in hindsight I really ought to have seen that last accident coming, not riding defensively enough.

"Not riding defensively"...'nuff said. That accident could have happened on a scooter or a Harley, not just a 599.

And then there was the time when I opened it up in earnest, on a less than perfect tarmac surface. My very first 'tank slapper'. Scared the life out of me, I was convinced that something in the suspension had broken. That was with a 16" front wheel, don't think Honda inflicted that on the US market.

You're making this too easy for me..."opened it up in earnest, on a less than perfect tarmac surface"...not due to a 599.

Yes, the bike has lots of power but if you keep that power in check and ride defensively you can easily start out on the 599. IMHO!!!

You can "start" on Hayabusa. I know someone who did. Never dropped or wrecked it.


He's also a sliver of a percentage-point minority of all bikers out there. And yes, the bike matters. Going WOT on a scooter has very, very different consequences from cracking the throttle to the stop on a ZX-14 or what-have-you.

I'm sure it's been said before, but there is no better safety gear/equipment than your brain. If treated with respect, any bike could be a good beginner bike. Not that i would recommend a Busa for a first, or second.

With some of the post I'm reading here on the forum...I'm beginning to get really worried that I have made a grave mistake buying the 599 as my first bike...

:clap. The fact that you're thinking that way should keep you relatively safe mate. You've just got all the other nutters on the road to deal with then :wink:.

Think about putting a bit more freeplay on the throttle than is standard. When it begins to bug you, it's probably time to adjust them back up and just enjoy what the bike can do.

:clap. The fact that you're thinking that way should keep you relatively safe mate. You've just got all the other nutters on the road to deal with then :wink:.

Think about putting a bit more freeplay on the throttle than is standard. When it begins to bug you, it's probably time to adjust them back up and just enjoy what the bike can do.
FYI - that guy is long gone and that post you quoted is ancient. :thumbsup

\ Having never ridden such a relatively powerful bike before, I assumed that wheelspin in second gear in the wet was par for the course.
Richard

I guess it depends on the pavement and tire, but I have to try pretty damn hard to break it loose in second on wet pavement. I mean wring its neck and dump the clutch hard. First gear, however, is a different story. If the front stays down, its a helluva lotta fun until you let off!

FYI - that guy is long gone and that post you quoted is ancient. :thumbsup

:thumbsupJBarx. Need to down that second coffee before I start tapping.

Personally speaking, the Hornet 600 would not have been a great choice as my first bike, aged 16. I would certainly have killed myself on it.

Many years later, after the typical midlife return to biking via a Kawasaki 305, I bought the Hornet, as a 'mature' 45 year old. In the cold wet UK, Honda in their wisdom fitted the bike with Michelin Hi Sports, which are excellent tyres on hot dry tarmac. Having never ridden such a relatively powerful bike before, I assumed that wheelspin in second gear in the wet was par for the course. In short order, I dropped the bike, by panic braking and locking up the front in the rain.

Followed by an almighty first gear high side, just gave it full throttle in first gear, rear span up, bike went sideways, then gripped and spat me off, really hurt that did.

And then a truck driver took me out, changed lanes without looking. He was found guilty of careless driving and I got compensation, but in hindsight I really ought to have seen that last accident coming, not riding defensively enough.

And then there was the time when I opened it up in earnest, on a less than perfect tarmac surface. My very first 'tank slapper'. Scared the life out of me, I was convinced that something in the suspension had broken. That was with a 16" front wheel, don't think Honda inflicted that on the US market.

However, on the plus side. Of all the bikes I've owned or ridden, the 599 was my first 'four', and I was amazed at how easy to ride it was. Perfect balance at low speed, easy clutch, turbine smooth engine, progressive brakes, low seat height. Ridden by someone with iron discipline, it would be OK as a first bike.

Personally, the temptation to go nuts is just too much. I'm still loving this bike 11 years on.

Richard


I guess everyone has different experiences on two wheels? I was on a road motorcycle for the first time (pretty much any motorcycle, when I was around 12 one of my friends had a dirtbike that I probably spent a total of three hours on) when taking my msf course last September at age 22. I was on a Suzuki D200 (single cylinder dual sport - really cool bike actually) for 5 hours Saturday and 5 hours Sunday. That Tuesday I bought my first bike, an '04 599. I rode it home approximately 25 miles in a light rain at 9pm. No issues, no wheelspin, just a lot of fun. I have been in pretty much all road conditions (including a brutally cold, heavy fog, 200 mile Thanksgiving weekend ride) except snow and have only spun my rear tire about four times - downshifting too quickly in the wet twice, going down a dirt road a little too fast once, and passing on a backroad in the wet (grabbed too much throttle while the tire was on the yellow line). The only time that it was even remotely scary was when passing in the wet, it felt like the rear wobbled back and fourth about eight times (my friend riding behind me said it was only three tho). Ive been on all major interstates in virginia (95, 295, 395, 495, 64), been through downtown DC, Richmond, and Norfolk in various states of traffic, had my bike die on me on a slightly uphill grade, and been in temperatures ranging from under 30 degrees to over 100 degrees. I've never felt like the 599 was anything LESS than the ideal bike.

The low seat hight (I'm about 6' so I flatfoot both sides with my knees bent), neutral bars, and smooth engine make for the best possible beginner bike. IMO, the engine makes almost no power before 5k rpm - so as a new rider all I had to do was go easy on the throttle and shift early. I was like riding the single cylinder in MSF - nice relaxed riding. Between 5-9k the bike makes a decent amount of power, so after getting comfortable I was able to explore that range and have a little more fun. To me, it felt ridiculously fast. The sensation of speed is so high on a motorcycle it felt like I was accelerating faster than I ever had before (faster than a corvette Z06, faster than a three rotor rx7, faster than ANYTHING!). After about three weeks of riding as much as I could I really started exploring the upper ranges of the bike. After 10k the bike just screams. The first time I redlined first, slammed second, WOT all the way to redline again, and slammed third was one of the best moments of my life. I screamed in my helmet for like three miles afterwards. It's a great amount of power, and it still keeps me satisfied. Almost a year into riding I have no desire to move to a more powerful bike (though I can certainly see the appeal).

Because of all this I couldn't suggest a better starter bike for anyone who has a good head on their shoulders. Something like a ninja 250 or even 500 is a poor choice in my opinion because of the lack of power. You aren't able to ride safely on every road with that type of power. US interstates travel at approximately 80mph, and in some states even higher. A small bike does not fare well in those conditions. Something like a modern 600 class repliracer also isn't a great choice - grabby breaks, awkward seating position, and can be too much power. A cruiser type bike can be very heavy and difficult in low speed situations. Maybe something like a sv650 would be a decent choice - similar to our bikes but with a little less power?

However; if one is going to ride faster than conditions permit, grab full throttle at every chance of acceleration, and just generally want to squid it up - they shouldn't go with the 599. They shouldn't go with any bike at all and stick to video games. If one can't control a throttle hand and can't control emotions while on a bike one shouldn't be riding at all. Our insurance rates and death tolls are high enough.

I guess everyone has different experiences on two wheels? I was on a road motorcycle for the first time (pretty much any motorcycle, when I was around 12 one of my friends had a dirtbike that I probably spent a total of three hours on) when taking my msf course last September at age 22. I was on a Suzuki D200 (single cylinder dual sport - really cool bike actually) for 5 hours Saturday and 5 hours Sunday. That Tuesday I bought my first bike, an '04 599. I rode it home approximately 25 miles in a light rain at 9pm. No issues, no wheelspin, just a lot of fun. I have been in pretty much all road conditions (including a brutally cold, heavy fog, 200 mile Thanksgiving weekend ride) except snow and have only spun my rear tire about four times - downshifting too quickly in the wet twice, going down a dirt road a little too fast once, and passing on a backroad in the wet (grabbed too much throttle while the tire was on the yellow line). The only time that it was even remotely scary was when passing in the wet, it felt like the rear wobbled back and fourth about eight times (my friend riding behind me said it was only three tho). Ive been on all major interstates in virginia (95, 295, 395, 495, 64), been through downtown DC, Richmond, and Norfolk in various states of traffic, had my bike die on me on a slightly uphill grade, and been in temperatures ranging from under 30 degrees to over 100 degrees. I've never felt like the 599 was anything LESS than the ideal bike.

The low seat hight (I'm about 6' so I flatfoot both sides with my knees bent), neutral bars, and smooth engine make for the best possible beginner bike. IMO, the engine makes almost no power before 5k rpm - so as a new rider all I had to do was go easy on the throttle and shift early. I was like riding the single cylinder in MSF - nice relaxed riding. Between 5-9k the bike makes a decent amount of power, so after getting comfortable I was able to explore that range and have a little more fun. To me, it felt ridiculously fast. The sensation of speed is so high on a motorcycle it felt like I was accelerating faster than I ever had before (faster than a corvette Z06, faster than a three rotor rx7, faster than ANYTHING!). After about three weeks of riding as much as I could I really started exploring the upper ranges of the bike. After 10k the bike just screams. The first time I redlined first, slammed second, WOT all the way to redline again, and slammed third was one of the best moments of my life. I screamed in my helmet for like three miles afterwards. It's a great amount of power, and it still keeps me satisfied. Almost a year into riding I have no desire to move to a more powerful bike (though I can certainly see the appeal).

Because of all this I couldn't suggest a better starter bike for anyone who has a good head on their shoulders. Something like a ninja 250 or even 500 is a poor choice in my opinion because of the lack of power. You aren't able to ride safely on every road with that type of power. US interstates travel at approximately 80mph, and in some states even higher. A small bike does not fare well in those conditions. Something like a modern 600 class repliracer also isn't a great choice - grabby breaks, awkward seating position, and can be too much power. A cruiser type bike can be very heavy and difficult in low speed situations. Maybe something like a sv650 would be a decent choice - similar to our bikes but with a little less power?

However; if one is going to ride faster than conditions permit, grab full throttle at every chance of acceleration, and just generally want to squid it up - they shouldn't go with the 599. They shouldn't go with any bike at all and stick to video games. If one can't control a throttle hand and can't control emotions while on a bike one shouldn't be riding at all. Our insurance rates and death tolls are high enough.


:clap:clap:clap

As someone who got a 599 as my first bike. I think it is a good beginner's bike for a mature rider. Now, that has nothing to do with age, but being mature enough to respect the power, and ride it within your abilities makes a big difference. The bike definitely has the power to get away from you, but it's also forgiving enough that it won't get away from a new rider that is careful to stay within their limits.

As someone who got a 599 as my first bike. I think it is a good beginner's bike for a mature rider. Now, that has nothing to do with age, but being mature enough to respect the power, and ride it within your abilities makes a big difference. The bike definitely has the power to get away from you, but it's also forgiving enough that it won't get away from a new rider that is careful to stay within their limits.

Afjay, let me be the first. +1+1+1

I guess everyone has different experiences on two wheels? I was on a road motorcycle for the first time (pretty much any motorcycle, when I was around 12 one of my friends had a dirtbike that I probably spent a total of three hours on) when taking my msf course last September at age 22. I was on a Suzuki D200 (single cylinder dual sport - really cool bike actually) for 5 hours Saturday and 5 hours Sunday. That Tuesday I bought my first bike, an '04 599. I rode it home approximately 25 miles in a light rain at 9pm. No issues, no wheelspin, just a lot of fun. I have been in pretty much all road conditions (including a brutally cold, heavy fog, 200 mile Thanksgiving weekend ride) except snow and have only spun my rear tire about four times - downshifting too quickly in the wet twice, going down a dirt road a little too fast once, and passing on a backroad in the wet (grabbed too much throttle while the tire was on the yellow line). The only time that it was even remotely scary was when passing in the wet, it felt like the rear wobbled back and fourth about eight times (my friend riding behind me said it was only three tho). Ive been on all major interstates in virginia (95, 295, 395, 495, 64), been through downtown DC, Richmond, and Norfolk in various states of traffic, had my bike die on me on a slightly uphill grade, and been in temperatures ranging from under 30 degrees to over 100 degrees. I've never felt like the 599 was anything LESS than the ideal bike.

The low seat hight (I'm about 6' so I flatfoot both sides with my knees bent), neutral bars, and smooth engine make for the best possible beginner bike. IMO, the engine makes almost no power before 5k rpm - so as a new rider all I had to do was go easy on the throttle and shift early. I was like riding the single cylinder in MSF - nice relaxed riding. Between 5-9k the bike makes a decent amount of power, so after getting comfortable I was able to explore that range and have a little more fun. To me, it felt ridiculously fast. The sensation of speed is so high on a motorcycle it felt like I was accelerating faster than I ever had before (faster than a corvette Z06, faster than a three rotor rx7, faster than ANYTHING!). After about three weeks of riding as much as I could I really started exploring the upper ranges of the bike. After 10k the bike just screams. The first time I redlined first, slammed second, WOT all the way to redline again, and slammed third was one of the best moments of my life. I screamed in my helmet for like three miles afterwards. It's a great amount of power, and it still keeps me satisfied. Almost a year into riding I have no desire to move to a more powerful bike (though I can certainly see the appeal).

Because of all this I couldn't suggest a better starter bike for anyone who has a good head on their shoulders. Something like a ninja 250 or even 500 is a poor choice in my opinion because of the lack of power. You aren't able to ride safely on every road with that type of power. US interstates travel at approximately 80mph, and in some states even higher. A small bike does not fare well in those conditions. Something like a modern 600 class repliracer also isn't a great choice - grabby breaks, awkward seating position, and can be too much power. A cruiser type bike can be very heavy and difficult in low speed situations. Maybe something like a sv650 would be a decent choice - similar to our bikes but with a little less power?

However; if one is going to ride faster than conditions permit, grab full throttle at every chance of acceleration, and just generally want to squid it up - they shouldn't go with the 599. They shouldn't go with any bike at all and stick to video games. If one can't control a throttle hand and can't control emotions while on a bike one shouldn't be riding at all. Our insurance rates and death tolls are high enough.

+1 Huzzah! You sum it up beautifully! (btw, the sv I think would be slightly less appropriate because of it's torque. I got the sv's front wheel up by accident first time I was on it. Whoops! The more gradual increase of the 599 is superior, I think.)

However; if one is going to ride faster than conditions permit, grab full throttle at every chance of acceleration, and just generally want to squid it up - they shouldn't go with the 599. They shouldn't go with any bike at all and stick to video games. If one can't control a throttle hand and can't control emotions while on a bike one shouldn't be riding at all. Our insurance rates and death tolls are high enough.) :clap :clap :clap :clap :clap :clap :clap :clap

I started on a 2006 Kymco Venox 250. I loved it. Peppey little bike, got up to 100-115mph, so it was fine on the highway, great around the Boston/Cambridge area for commuting - 45 city 50-60 highway. and it was a 250 so great on insurence. Plus you could pretty much ride it cruiser or cafe style, so it gave a rider the ability to choose what kind of ride they wanted to stick with.

I got tired of polishing chrome...and I wanted a newer smoother ride. Especially since I am in the city sport bikes are just nice rides and the honda four cylender is just so, I guess the word I am looking for is smoooooooooth.

That said, I truly think 90+ horsepower is a lot for a new rider, but that does not mean the 599 is not a beginner bike. I feel my Kymco with 30hp kept me in the realm of concentrating on getting to know a bike in general, not wanting to test the limits of a bike that can truly push the limits, even in the hands of a seasoned biker. This is my third season on a bike and I am glad I have made the progression, but I would not try to turn someone off from a 599 as a first bike.

:clap :clap :clap :clap :clap :clap :clap :clap

I got tired of polishing chrome...

Imagine how the Harley guys must feel. He got tired of polishing a kymco!! Add an extra 40 square feet of chrome and you're too tired to twist a throttle!!

Imagine how the Harley guys must feel. He got tired of polishing a kymco!! Add an extra 40 square feet of chrome and you're too tired to twist a throttle!! :thumbsup

There is a guy two houses behind me and that is all he does...gives me $hit for "switching over to the other-side" I laugh at him and say, just finished a two hour ride, oh, you still polishing? :lol2:

Got my 599 about two months ago. Didn't know anything about riding, took the class, and then bought the bike. I was advised by everybody not to get a 250. They thought I would be bored in a matter of weeks. I have to say that I have yet to really figure out what my bike can do. But I love that there is more for me to learn and be able to push the limits. And it was so much fun the first time I took it to 1200 in second gear. I was laughing so hard, because of the speed I just got - in 2nd gear. Michigan's crappy roads limit what I can do. I am terrified of going fast around a corner just to find a series of potholes that could wipe me out.

Welcome BzEgir1!! Just take your time and it'll all make sense eventually. The 599 was the first bike for many. If you took the time to read all the posts and varying opinions in this thread it would be near impossible to form your own opinion, so i would say just get out there and ride!! But take your time and use your own common sense. The MSF course is not the end all be all but it's a good foundation.

There is alot of good info to be gleaned here so hopefully you'll stick around..and we could use some more ladies 'round here!!