I've never been on a sport bike

[Winston001]

Thanks for all the insightful answers guys. Very much appreciated. I've got more of a rounded idea of what to avoid taking for a first ride now and think I'll take the advice you've all provided and see whats cooking in my local bike shops.
Looking forward to some awesome test rides.
Thanks again

You appear to be a sensible polite chap so how'd you end up here with us?

Please understand that a sports bike is very different to sit on and ride from what you are used to. Its cramped to begin with. Some people get sore backs and find the seats are thin. Sports bikes don't make long journeys easy - which explains why cruisers are popular.

I do speak from experience going from a BMW to a Ducati ST4 (which has an injected watercooled 916cc motor). The first test ride I nearly rode into the back of a car at 160+ because I was inexperienced and had no idea of my speed.

Nevertheless, loved the bike and no regrets.

[Dave-]

whooooa

whatever you do, don't ride a sports bike.

women everywhere will want to have sex with you all the time.

[dogsnbikes]

I'm feeling like taking one out on a test ride to see what I'm missing. Any recommendations on one that would tempt me? I've got my full licence so I'm not limited to how many cc's I can ride.
Cheers
D

Just go sit on the bikes at the shops around town...get an idea of the reach and sitting positions,remember that if you have bad wrist you will proberly find a sports bike isn't for you

Joe letts has a Triumph 1050 Sprint go try that and then PM me and come try my Triumph Daytona 955i for a comparsion of the 2 different riding postions...

[hellokitty]

Just go sit on the bikes at the shops around town...get an idea of the reach and sitting positions,remember that if you have bad wrist you will proberly find a sports bike isn't for you

I can vouch for that... I tried a few bikes with my dodgy wrist and couldn't cope with the really sporty handlebars. The more upright sportstourer with the higher and flatter bars are perfect though. Perhaps being a woman with shorter arms makes it more of a problem.

[HRT]

As above, try a few on. When I had an older CBR600f4 I went to try a few bikes out at the shop. One new a new new CBR600 and one of the other being a VFR800. The CBR was a LOT more hunched over, thin seat, peaky power etc etc where as the VFR was a lot more like the f4 in that there was a bit more size and comfort to it, the riding position was a lot more relaxed but it still went fairly well. You could tell straight away which one you would feel comfortable on for a few hours at a time. The CBR600 was a great bit of fun, but after half an hour I wanted my old bike back. The VFR on the other hand I could have stayed on for hours on end quite happily. Probably the same reason I've ended up with the bike I'm on now and have no desire to change it.

[Banditbandit]

I'm feeling like taking one out on a test ride to see what I'm missing. Any recommendations on one that would tempt me? I've got my full licence so I'm not limited to how many cc's I can ride.
Cheers
D

OK ... it's coming up for two weeks. How did it go? Which ones did you try? Are you still with us?

[JafaSaffer]

I'm bored to will throw in my 2 cents. The 675 is a really nice machine. Not badly prices either. the New F3 by MV Agusta is also a sweet little ride. I test rode one of them and really liked it but having ridden liter bikes I missed the power.

For a first super-bike you wont go wrong with any of the main 600cc bikes. GSXR, Baby Blade, etc. Just go and ride one, any one, as a start... and see where that leads you.