Katana 600 as a first bike?

[remykimes]

Originally Posted by Scott L

ya shes a little daunting at first... a bit heavy. But once you trust it and get into the lean...she actually handles pretty good imo

front shox arent so hot tho

damn straightttttttttt.... front shocks succcckkkkkk.... i even went to a shop and asked if i needed them redone... nope.. "thats just how they are on those bikes.. but for $300 we can"... no i didn't let them finish that sentence

[Pa Kat]

Originally Posted by remykimes

damn straightttttttttt.... front shocks succcckkkkkk.... i even went to a shop and asked if i needed them redone... nope.. "thats just how they are on those bikes.. but for $300 we can"... no i didn't let them finish that sentence

If you're even CONSIDERING having your shocks done, ask T-mod to do them. You won't find anyone near as good as him.

[Flounder]

My current katana was my first bike, and I didn't think it was heavy at all... until the first time I dropped it. I was just lucky that it was at 0mph from coming to a rapid halt after skidding. Through spilled fuel. To avoid a jackass that cut me off FLYING around the pumps in a sheetz parking lot. I stopped on an angled surface where the lot almost meets the road, and the handlebars were cranked to the right. I felt the bike start to go and my left leg was too far out; I couldnt get my knee under it. I felt like Cleveland from Family Guy in the bathtub. "No no NO NO NOOOOOO!"

It could have been much, much worse. As soon as I realized my knee wasn't under the tank I got it out of the way as well. I was nervous for the first 1000 miles when I was doing under 25 mph. I thought all of my actions through 5-6 seconds ahead of time. That's a great idea until something urgent happens between when you plan your action and when you can actually do it. I still am more cautious in gas stations than any other place on the road, lol.

Personally I think a 600 kat is a decent starter bike for some one who is going to respect the bike, understand just how much it weighs, and takes their time. I learned on a Buell Blast and to this day wish I had that thing to actually ride for the first year. I am actually still looking at getting one, they're awesome little bikes! PLUS you get to own a piece of Buell history. And confuse people with the inside of your fuel tank.

[XyleRin]

Originally Posted by AustinF19

Okay i am new to this. im just finishing up high school and am looking to buy a toy, i have never tried riding a motorcycle but i have rode many different things like manual atv's jet skis,snowmobiles and i drive a manual car so the manual aspect of riding a bike would not be hard for me to learn and i pick up pretty quickly how to ride many different things. But so to my point, i have a uncle who is willing to sell me his 94 katana 600 and i am just wondering how easy or hard it would be to learn to ride on a bike like this, and if anyone would recommend getting it, or looking for something different. By the way i am 5'11 and 168 lbs if that changes anything

Awesome to hear I just bought one myself!!! I love it and am still working on it haha. Can't wait until its finished.

Originally Posted by AnthonyMartello

Hello friends,

It was my first, good bike had no problems out of it at all. Everyone told me to get a smaller bike to learn on, but I'm glad I went with my gut and got the Katana 600. Rode a few other bikes. And I will say that the Katana is smooth and has a little more power than most 600.

Best regards
Anthony

That's great to hear.

[black&blue]

I didn't ride much before I got the Kat, and generally speaking it's a very civil and easy bike to learn on - about the only thing that really makes it dangerous to a beginner is going past about 7k and the fact that it's HEAVY.

I think the Kat's heaviness may have a lot to do with why I've dropped it when I have.

[cintidude04]

Kats arent much more dangerous above 7k than they are below.

[scottynoface]

Originally Posted by cintidude04

Kats arent much more dangerous above 7k than they are below.

[boomer_95]

Originally Posted by cintidude04

Kats arent much more dangerous above 7k than they are below.

i think he means the ridiculously week power band (above 7K), but i agree, not all that dangerous, less your in some wildly slick pavement or gravel. every bike has a power band that you have to "watch out for" just some are weaker than other (aka our bikes )

[black&blue]

Originally Posted by cintidude04

Kats arent much more dangerous above 7k than they are below.

you're really gonna go there when we're talking about a new rider's experience on one? I never said they were dangerous, I said it's a good idea to stay out of it for a while.

Power has always been adequate for my needs. :

The last thing a new rider needs is an R1, and the kat's relatively moderate-for-its-class power level is reasonable to cope with but the sharp increase in RPM above 7 is a little tricky for a new rider to get used to.

[wickeded]

Power Baaaaand!
Oh Yeah!
Daddy Like me my Power Band!