So I walked into the local dealership yesterday and started up a friendly conversation with one of the salesmen about the R6 and beginning bikes. He said that he wouldn't recommend the R6 as a beginner bike, and his reasoning was not because it was fast ("You control how fast you go", he says), but that the riding position is more flat than upright, meaning it doesn't allow for mistakes. I've heard this many times before, about different bikes being "unforgiving", and I'm wondering exactly what it means. I know the general idea (you crash easier if you make a mistake), but I'm looking for an answer as to precisely what this is. Pretty much what I'm wanting to find out is what a beginning rider (or any rider) would do to crash an "unforgiving" bike, but not crash another if they made the same mistake.

I know the answer to this.. On a bike that you are sitting upright, your centre of gravity is somewhat raised and the directional / lean angle control is made easier by weight shifting since your are sitting upright, your correction by shifting weight will have more effect. Some people say not to start off with the r6. I did. First bike, never had been on a bike in my life. I owned this incredible machine without even first having my final licence. No problems yet. The only thing I didn't like at first is that the rear brake lever is kind of high up. I can't keep my food over the break lever at all. I have to move my foot back on the foot rest . If I try to keep my foot over the break lever I get this horrible cramp in my shin. And this is with the lever adjusted as far down as I can get it. Anybody have the same problem?
And also at first the ultra compact riding position is awkward and unnatural. But it will come fast. Just take it easy and you'll be fine.
I am so happy tat I didn't first get the ninga 500 like some people I know did. Perhaps a great learning bike, but would have been too limited for me. I would have grown out of that thing in one season. I once tried the ninga 500 after a blast on my r6... and man it just feels like a kiddy bike! Nothing overwelming, but still very fun to ride.

Thanks Tristan.

Does anyone else have any other answers to this question? Or perhaps a more elaborated answer?

dude... if you go down too low, it's just harder to get back up then if you would be on an upright riding position... Also remember that the trail and rake and wheel base figures are on the twitchy side. I assume you undersand.
Feel free if not..

I'm pretty sure I get it... I just thought there would be more to it than that. That doesn't seem like a big problem to me, because I've never had any trouble coming out of a lean. Has anyone else had trouble with that before?

That's really all I can think of, but that should be it..
You will have no problems with the r6. Just respect the throttle and brakes.

Cool, thanks!