Tiggs

get the aprilia... then get yourself down the chippy and start impressing 14yr olds

Tiggs

ps- 2 strokes are for motorcrossers, GP's and lawnmowers

fast bloke

Jim - Have you tried a Honda CB500. My first bike was a ZX6R, then I bought a CB500 for a winter hack, as I didn't want salt etc on my lovely kwacker. Excellent bike - Cheap to buy - service it yourself with a spanner, doesn't destroy tyres at the flick of a wrist - good for 130 MPH (maybe more, but I can vouch for 130) Reaches a tonne quickly and without fuss. Drop it, pick it up and ride on.

ZX6R is absolutely blinding, but servicing is dificult, tyres at 150.00 quid a pop don't last much more that 1500 miles. Dropping it is expensive

Any 600 > sports bike will have the same downers as ZX6R.

Avoid strokers if you want to have a penny to your name in a couple of years. Fuel consumption, oil, servicing, engine rebuilds, broken knees when piston decides to become detaches at 9000 RPM

ZZR is good - compromise between CB500 and 'proper' sports bike (sorry ZZR peeps, but it doesn't cut the mustard any more )

R1, Blade, Zx9R - not recommended as first bikes - not for fragile minded people under any circumstances.

Busa, Gixer1300, Blackbird - Still scare me - 6th Gear - 20 MPH - 200 MPH in a matter of seconds.

If you don't car about outright speed, try and find a ZXR250. Redlined at 18000 revs. Stops and corners like you wouldn't believe, but struggles to find massive speed

ptholt

ooo i just thought of a good one, whats the naked (as in no fairing) honda 600 that is basically older cbr600..... hornet wasnt it?

Then all the tuning products from that model cbr600 will fit etc....

I reckon that would be a pretty good place to start.

fast bloke

Hornet, 600 Bandit or 600 Fazer are good. All naked versions of 600 Sports bikes - but they aren't that cheap to buy yet