500 vs 600

[4afe]

As you may or may not know, I am looking into buying my first bike . how ever this wont be for a while do to "unsafe backing" I plan on buying my first bike around March so I figured untill then I shuld do as much research as I can. I have heard alot of talk about guys/girls getting a 500cc bike as thier first, and for the most part people dont think much of it, yet when some one says "I want to get a 600cc bike" then every one is flinging shit at each other. Whats the deal how much of a power differance is there( I know its 100cc's) but does 100 make that much of a differance? My dream bike is a Honda CBR600f4i but I DONT want that as my first bike, because when I lay it down I will really start crying, no joke I will start to cry right there, like when I did my unsafe backing into this other car( I treat vehicles like my life, I love my car more than the world) I am not a speed devil or any thing like that. I have another question I have NO intent in doing this but, right now DRIFTING is populer in the Import car scene, is it possible to DRIFT on a motorcycle, I would think it would be hella scary and if you did it you would be digging your grave. But is it possible to drift on a bike?? I would never do it in a car, I know one time I hit an oil slick on the road when I was turning and It scared the shit out of me when I started to drift. Sorry I got off track alot, but I am filled with questions and not many answers.


Ryan

Please dont be rude "if you dont have anything nice to say dont say any thing at all" how ever I do love a bit of CONSTRUCTIVE criticism

[eddie98]

It's a good thing that you are at least considering something smaller for your first bike. LIke you said, odds are that you will drop it and it will be expensive if it's a new bike.
I would recommend getting a used 500 bike for your first bike. If you have never riden a bike before even the 500 will be a lot for you to handle. Ride at your own pace and learn that bike, you will probably never test the limits of the bike on the street. I would say keep it for a year or so until you feel comforable riding.
As for the drifting question, yes you can do it. The only place to do it is the track. If you do it right the bike will spit you off and lauch you into the air . CLICK HERE FOR PIC Look at the rear tire and how it's leaving a black mark. I know that rider personally and he's been riding for years and it takes lots of practice.
Also insurance will be cheaper for you on a smaller bike since you don't have experience.

[Steel]

Ah, well the main difference between 500's and 600's is pistons+power. Generally, 500's are two cylinders with more managable power. 600's tend to be inline 4's, and nowadays have astronomical redlines. I mean, sure its only 100cc's difference, but 100 cc's is a lot in bike terms. The kawasaki ZX-6R has a power advantage over the other 600 classes becasue it has only an extra 37cc's of displacement.

I've never heard of motorcycle drifting, and with my knowledge of physics, it can't happen. At least not without a lot of pain, and you won't make it through the turn. Motorcycles and cars use two totally different ways to turn. For a bike, you generally want to keep you back tire from spinning out, because you'll just lose traction and dump it when in a turn.

[4afe]

WOW, I didnt think it was possible to drift on a motorcycle, it still looks scary as hell, I wouldnt try it in a million years. That is a drift no doubt about it you can tell because of the mark and how he is counter steering alot like in cars. I thought it was physicly impossible to considering center of gravity and power off the back wheel. thanks for all the info I didnt know that generaly 500's have only two cylenders. I did know that most 600's and up have inline fours well in the street/sport bike class any ways.

thanks again guys. ohh yeah, that was a cool pic had to see to believe.

[Steel]

eh, i wouldn't exactly call that a 'drift'; more like an 'oh shit' moment where he lost traction, and it looks like he's working hard to get it back. He really isn't sliding sideways at all..

Not to mention.. drifting is a really really slow way to make a turn. Cool looking, without a doubt, but slow as hell. That's why F1 and LeMans racers don't do it. They can whip around the apex faster if all 4 tires are stuck to the road. And motorcycles can do it pretty fast too.

edit: no offense to you or your buddy by that, eddie. It just seems like motorcycle drifting falls under the same category as FWD drifting.. its just ballsy sliding for a couple seconds. Not that i'd try it myself.. I like to keep the rubber side down

[eddie98]

I wouldn't say it's drifting but that's the closest thing I could come up with.

[offroadmike]

Drift a Bike??? On the street??

Well theres pretty much 2 ways to drift a bike:

A: Get a full blown moto gp bike, with race tires, add years of skill, and copy what Rossi does at the end of the races he wins. (lots of times they pull off little drifts/powerslides where the rear spins with smoke and all the the bike starts sliding sideways)

B: Supermoto. Suped up dirt-bikes with 13 inch rims that use lots of rear break and throttle to slide their way into corners. I've seen the good guys slide pretty far with lots of smoke.


But none of these can really be done on the street. Especially with a 500/600cc sport bike with regular tires and a new rider.

[speediva]

Way to consider a 500cc bike!!! There's ALWAYS someone learning to ride, so getting rid of it once you're done is not a problem. Everyone says you lose money by buying smaller bikes to learn on, but apparantly they don't understand the idea of supply and demand.

As for the "drift", it's already been discussed that it's sorta more of an "oh sh!t" moment with a major "pucker factor" written all over it. I have video of my friend doing a slide like that on a track, and I can assure you it was a Pucker Factor 10.

Wanted to commend the GREAT discussion!!! Way to be, everyone!

[Sexy beast]

I like to watch those 600 sportbikes drifting and doing wheelies, they seem to break the laws of motion.

[4afe]

I would like to say it has been a great disscusion. and That I have heard alot of ideas and good thing thrown around and I really like the fact that evey one has been so helpful and not really critical. Thanks agian every one.

Ryan

[Blue02R6]

Here are some specs to put the power differance in to perspective...

Basically the fewer pounds per hp the more experience you need to safely operate the bike.

Kawasaki Ninja 500R('01) 500cc
Hp= 50.2 @ 9250 rpm,
Trq=30.9 @ 7750 rpm,
wet weight=443 lbs,
1/4mi time=12.81 @ 101.2

lbs per hp= 8.82

Honda F4i ('01) 600cc
Hp= 95.5 @ 12,500,
Trq=42.6 @ 10,250,
wet weight=435 lbs,
1/4mi time=10.71 @ 126.7

lbs per hp= 4.55

Yamaha R6 ('01) 600cc
Hp= 96.7 @ 12,500,
Trq=42.1 @ 10,000,
wet weight=426 lbs,
1/4mi time=10.75 @ 127.6

lbs per hp= 4.41

Suzuki GSX-R1000 ('01) 1000cc
Hp= 143.6 @ 10500,
Trq= 76.7 @ 8250,
wet weight=437 lbs
1/4mi time= 9.76 @ 148.40

lbs per hp= 3.04

These figures were taken from http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/performancedata/