This is THE bike I recommend to every new rider who asks my opinion, except for a couple of wimmen who thought they wanted something smaller. All have so far ignored my advice. Not just newbs either…the SV650 is plenty of bike even for solo touring. At 6’5" the ergonomics are a bit tight for me, otherwise I might have one in my garage.
New, they cost far too much, but BMW F650s are excellent as well. If you got a decent deal on a used one, you probably wouldn’t lose much if any on selling it, as they hold value much better than anything similar.
It’s not mainstream enough, and sadly no longer in production, but the MZ Skorpion would be a contender for exactly the same reasons…and with only one plug and one carb, a little less to go wrong. With only a single counterbalancer, they aren’t quite as smooth as the F650s.
blinx has it right–I’m looking for something with a full fairing only because of the trips out of town that I’m going to have to be making this semester. If wind protection on these long rides wasn’t a factor, I’d easily go for the SV650 or the FZ6 as my first choice. I’ve only heard good things about the Thundercat though, as it’s a good all around sportbike (many would agree that it’s more sport tourer though) and not as heavy, and less of a radical riding position than my original favorite (Suzuki Katana). Some people even suggested getting a 250cc bike, but after riding on them all throughout the MSF course, I’m convinced that one will not get me through my long trips comfortably or efficiently at all.
casdave: I won’t be the one paying for the insurance. My parents have agreed to take on the insurance payments, provided I wear all my gear and stay safe. We have a relative who owns an insurance agency, and he takes care of the insurance on all the vehicles, so he’s assured my parents and myself that he’ll be able to get me the best possible rate on the YZF600R. The discount that I get with taking the MSF course should help make it just a little bit more manageable as well. I’m also learning (from a friend) to do all the basic maintenance on a bike, and I’m more than sure he’ll be able to walk me through whatever upkeep is needed on whatever bike I settle on.