>>7245663>>7245741My first bike was nearly identical to pic related, except mine was black scheme instead of silver. When I bought it I nearly bought a 750, but decided the 650 was plenty for what I wanted. The 650 proved to be a bit overpowered for a beginner, but I'm a big, athletic dude so I somewhat lucked my way through it, survived the first few months, learned fear and respect along the way. Almost a year into it, riding 4 or 5 days a week and usually 3 to 6 hours on those days, I really was a part of that bike.
I stress the luck part. Several times I should have wrecked but somehow didn't.
Still. A 650 will kill you quick. One of my friends died on one, we'll never know what happened because no witnesses. Another (on a 750) survived hitting a deer in the middle of the night, due to luck and a lot of leather. He shredded nearly every scrap of leather off sliding down the road, lucky to slide on a straight stretch. He figures he was doing something like 70 or 75 MPH at the moment of impact, barely even saw a flash out of the side of his eye as the deer jumped out of a corn field. "Minor" road burn and he still has scars 30 years later.
Don't start with anything bigger than a 650, and you better be fit and smart if you start that big. Anything 400 to 550 is plenty for starting out. I retired mine after twelve years. I miss it, but I've got injuries that inhibit my ability for the reactions required to stay alive. You need exceptional self-awareness if you plan on seeing old age, at all or with the ability to walk.
