Take a look at the horsepower/torque curves of mid-90's 600's. March, 1995 issue of Motorcyclist compared 600's and listed top torque average of 43 lb./ft. at 9,500, and horsepower around 90 at 11,500. Look at the latest 600 comparison I could find, the June, 2003 issue of Motorcyclist. Torque averages around 45 at 11,500, and horsepower averages around 105 at 13,000. The latest 600's are probably higher.

Anybody see a trend? The torque's about the same, but peaks 2,000 rpm higher on the newer bikes. Torque is what pulls you away from a stop. Torque is what newbies need. The lower in the rpm-band it occurs, the easier to ride from stop signs and around curves.

The racers are saying "what about the weight? What about the horsepower? Okay, the 1995's averaged 465 pounds, wet of course. The weights were thrown off by the heavy-487 pound Suzuki RF600R (the 600 Gixxer wasn't produced in 95). The 2003's averaged 425 pounds, thrown off by the "heavy" 445 pound 600RR. Who cares about horsepower on the street.

But even with the extra weight, those older 600's would be much easier for a newbie to learn on and enjoy, than the peaky, newer 600's. I would recommend an old F3 for a newbie, or even get one myself.