Like many, the idea of owning a motorcycle had always been a thrilling thought. My brother and I finally decided to make that dream a reality. Neither of us had any real experience beyond a small 75cc mini trail bike from childhood. When it came time to buy, I was determined to get a “starter” bike, opting for a 2002 Suzuki Katana 600. My brother, on the other hand, went for a brand new 2002 Suzuki GSX-R 600.
The Suzuki Katana 600, while a fine machine, isn’t going to win any speed races against a GSXR, F4i, R6, or ZX6R. It’s definitely on the slower side compared to those sportbikes. But that’s exactly what I was looking for in a first motorcycle. We both rode away on our brand new bikes, excited for the open road.
However, the learning curve can be steep. My brother’s experience highlighted this immediately. On his very first day, he dropped his shiny new GSX-R on our neighbor’s lawn. Then, not long after, he had a more serious mishap, misjudging a left turn, hitting a curb, and trashing the right side plastics and muffler. The damage was considerable, likely costing around $800 to $1,000 in parts to repair. Fortunately, I managed to keep my Katana upright throughout my time owning it.
It didn’t take long, just one riding season, for me to feel like I had outgrown the Katana. Its milder performance, which was initially comforting, eventually left me wanting more. But that was the point of a starter bike, wasn’t it?
Almost every seasoned rider will tell you that dropping your bike is practically a rite of passage. While not every rider experiences a fall, it’s common, especially in the early stages of learning. This brings you to a crucial decision when considering your first motorcycle.
You essentially have two paths to choose from. The first is to invest in a less expensive, smaller beginner bike, or even a used motorcycle with some existing cosmetic damage. Learn the ropes on this forgiving machine, build your confidence and skills, and then sell it to upgrade to a bigger, more powerful motorcycle when you’re ready.
The second option is to jump straight into owning a nicer, larger, and potentially more powerful bike from the start. This path comes with the inherent risk of drops and falls on a more expensive machine, as my brother quickly discovered.
Choosing the starter bike route was definitely the right decision for me. The Katana 600 taught me invaluable lessons about bike control and road awareness. It gave me the confidence to eventually move on to a more performance-oriented bike, like my current F4i, which I acquired a few weeks ago. Jumping directly onto a high-performance motorcycle without prior experience can be intimidating and frankly, a bit nerve-wracking. My brother, despite his initial mishaps, is now a skilled rider, and still has his GSX-R, battle scars and all. He chose to only replace the most critical fairing and muffler, leaving some scratches as a reminder of his early days.
For anyone considering their first motorcycle, seriously consider starting with a “Best Starter Bike”. It’s a less stressful and often less costly way to enter the world of motorcycling, allowing you to develop your skills and confidence at your own pace before moving on to bigger and faster machines.
