a stock 600 can out run a 1000, its all about the rider if your talking in terms of curves... straight linke the 750 would have to be turbo or nitrous to even hang w/ a 1000 though... 750 would be a OK compromise, but still entirely too much bike for a beginner, you might not kill yourself, but you'll be too busy trying not to die to actually learn how to ride, the problem w/ starting out big is you will never get close to harnessing the bike's full potential and thus your skills will lack, you don't learn much by holding back all the time your riding b/c the bike is just too much for you... i think a 750 is an ideal all around bike, it was my 2nd bike and i loved it, but i know i would not have liked to have started on one