Originally Posted by 99maxima5sp
Wow, really good info guys. I'm very picky when it comes to things, and while starting out on a smaller bike might be smarter...I felt quite confortable on my budies '06 GSXR 600 (he's insane for letting a first timer ride it!). Obviously, im not gonna slap down 9K on my first bike, but i've been looking @ 2001-newer bikes. I think i have it narrowed down to either a YZF-R6 or GSXR 600.
My main concern is that im quite short (5'5") and i have a feeling i may drop the bike at low speeds...
At 5'5", I do not see you "needing" to lower the bike.
Look at these guys, no one has ever acussed any of them of being "big".
Moto GP Class Riders 
Repsol Honda Team
#3
Max Biaggi
Date of birth : June 26, 1971
Nationality : Italy
Height : 170cm
Weight : 64kg
#69
Nicky Hayden
Date of birth : July 30, 1981
Nationality : U.S.A.
Height : 173cm
Weight : 68kg
Team Movistar Honda MotoGP
#15
Sete Gibernau
Date of birth : December 15, 1972
Nationality : Spain
Height : 177cm
Weight : 70kg
#33
Marco Melandri
Date of birth : August 7, 1982
Nationality : Italy
Height : 168cm
Weight : 58kg
Camel Honda
#4
Alex Barros
Date of birth : October 18, 1970
Nationality : Brazil
Height : 174cm
Weight : 68kg
#12
Troy Bayliss
Date of birth : March 30, 1969
Nationality : Australia
Height : 174cm
Weight : 68kg
Konica Minolta Honda Team
#6
Makoto Tamada
Date of birth : November 4, 1976
Nationality : Japan
Height : 171cm
Weight : 61kg
250cc Class Riders
Team Telefonica Movistar Honda 250
#1
Daniel Pedrosa
Date of birth : September 29, 1985
Nationality : Spain
Height : 158cm
Weight : 43kg
#73
Hiroshi Aoyama
Date of birth : October 25, 1981
Nationality : Japan
Height : 165cm
Weight : 54kg
Team Scot
#34
Andrea Dovizioso
Date of birth : March 23, 1986
Nationality : Italy
Height : 162cm
Weight : 56kg
#55
Yuki Takahashi
Date of birth : July 12, 1984
Nationality : Japan
Height : 163cm
Weight : 53kg
Team Fortuna Honda
#48
Jorge Lorenzo
Date of birth : May 4, 1987
Nationality : Spain
Height : 169cm
Weight : 54kg
#55
Hector Barbera
Date of birth : November 2, 1986
Nationality : Spain
Height : 168cm
Weight : 55kg