h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hi everyone,
I went online yesterday to look for some tips on how to change gear as I have just passed my CBT after many years of driving a car which has very recently been written off by some van driving into the back of me while I was stopped at a set of traffic lights. Red by the way, lol.
I live in Brighton and would like to meet people from around my area.
I am without a bike at the moment but I have my heart set on either Yamaha R6, Honda CBR 600RR or Kawasaki ZX-6R, I'm sure most people would say to get something a lot smaller but I don't know if I would would really happy if I didn't get what I really wanted, that is just me.
I did the same with cars, I got a VW Corrado but it wasn't the model I really wanted, my friend who had the G60 said why didn't I just wait as I was always going to kick myself for not getting it, he was right, I was never really happy until I eventually got the G60, I was always trying to make my 1.8 16v Corrado into a G60 which it would never be, this is how I feel about bikes, yes I could get a 250 or 400, get something restricted and then move on but I don't have the money to do that either.
I am into martial arts and have tried out a few different types in my years, I haven't gone to the gym or trained in martial arts for some time due to lack of transport but I want to get back to it asap.

Can someone please point me in the right direction, DAS mid September.

Cheers

Paul

Good gear changing is mostly down to practise, getting used to the feel of the clutch and the response from the engine, also the quirkiness of the gear box as some do try to make you look a fool, it's well worth checking to make sure that green light on the cluster isn't light up before you try to pull away
I hope you have bucket loads of money to be able to insure the bike of your dreams, it cost me enough to insure a group 12 bike in my first year and the ones you've mentioned are more like group 15 or 16.

Welcome to the club, Morpheus/Paul...

To be honest with you I would reconsider your choices of bikes if you haven't ridden before. Only because engine size isn't the only thing to consider when you're buying a bike, particularly for the first time. Not that 600cc is particularly large.

I would recommend thinking about what you are going to do with the bike. Then consider whether you want a sports machine or something more manageable for a novice rider. Most bikes (excepting small scooters, postie bikes, etc. etc.) will get to 100kph in under 4 seconds. But not all bikes will flip you on your backside if you get carried away with the throttle, or chew through tires in under 10000klm - tires that cost a bit, by the way. NOTE: I love bikes that will flip you on your rear end and chew through tires.... but I can't afford to own one....

And for your first bike, I would seriously just get something that you don't mind dropping on its side, something to really learn how to ride on. Sell it in 12 months, buy yourself something more fun, but don't rush in and buy a beast before taking that amount of time. Doesn't matter how long you've driven a car, riding is totally different. How long did it take before you felt comfortable in a car?