Next bike - CBR1000RR, GSXR750, GSXR1000, R1 or what?

Ace says...

I won't be amongst them. I don't like the ZX-10R, Gixer K5 or the R1. If
I was to buy a brand new current model superbike it'd probably be a new
FireBlade.

 

Bear says...

The 9R was the last clit bike, and having also owned one I can
categorically say it wasn't a patch on the Gixer, though you seem to
think it's better without having the benfit of a few thousand miles on
each.

 

Heh.

Sadly, it was the work. Cunts actually expect me to do some once in a
while. How unreasonable is that, I ask you?

--
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..'_/_|_\_'. Ace (brucedotrogers a.t rochedotcom)
\`\ | /`/ GSX-R1000K3
`\\ | //' BOTAFOT#3, SbS#2, UKRMMA#13, DFV#8, SKA#2
`\|/`
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Ah. Well it is for me.

Mebbe. But the evidence (of high Honda sales over the years) doesn't
always support this theory.

I'm confused. The 10R's only been out for what, a year and a bit? Or
is that all you meant by 'a long long time ago'?

You may have a point, but I'm far from convinced. It's when both are
combined in one bike that you get a real winner.

Had a couple. They were OK.

He's just softened up the shocks a bit so far (since I last saw
him/it), but reckons it's made quite a difference. Sounds like a set
of Ohlins/Maxtons or whatever might be on the shopping list.

--
_______
..'_/_|_\_'. Ace (brucedotrogers a.t rochedotcom)
\`\ | /`/ GSX-R1000K3
`\\ | //' BOTAFOT#3, SbS#2, UKRMMA#13, DFV#8, SKA#2
`\|/`
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Bear says...

You say it frequently in person when we chat, and you mean it too. I'm
sure you've said it here, but I cba to spend hours poring over google
for something so trivial. The Gixer is miles quicker under any
circumstances, I know this, I've owned both. Champ says the same, he's
owned exactly the same models of 9R and Gixer that I have.

I've never had a 9R stay with me on my Gixer. I think you on your old
one against me on my Gixer would be an interesting situation, try to
borrow it from Rufus and we'll give it a go.

Iyho, having never really done serious mileage on one. Like I said above
the Gixer is miles quicker in outright acceleration and on top end. You
seem to forget I had a known tweaked ZX-9R that was a touch quicker than
a standard out of the crate version. Even my old 9R feels hopelessly
slow compared to my Gixer. I also find the Gixer more stable at all
speeds and a hell of a lot torquier than the 9R. It turns better, holds
a line in bends better and is easier to move around on, as well as being
a shedload lighter with about 20bhp more on tap. Comfort-wise, for me
there's so little in it, the biggest downside is the Gixer's screen
which is a touch too low. That is partly my fault for buying the wrong
D/bubble screen for it and previously buying a brilliant one for my 9R.
I don't have standard brakes on my Gixer, so I won't do a comparison of
them.

All in all I find I can ride to the absolute limits of my own capability
on the Gixer, it gives me so much feedback and confidence and allows me
to really try hard. I still may not be as quick as Champ or Daz, but I'm
a fucking sight quicker as a rider because my own skills have improved
on this bike through having the confidence to ride harder. As good as it
was, I didn't get that level of confidence on my 9R, which was a
disappointment as I'd waited so long and worked so hard to buy one.

I don't think that many will. I certainly won't, even though I'm in a
position where I can finally afford to buy a brand new bike again. I'm
going to stick with my old Gixer because it does everything it can to
scare me, and there's a limit as to how much scaring I can take.

<shudder>

 

Bear says...

ZX10R - too flappy and difficult to control for a squirt like me. I like
a superbike to feel like a superbike, not a 400. I rode one last week at
one of my dealers, I didn't like it.

K5 - seat like a fucking plank, and hideous appearance. Can't fit
throwovers on easily either. It goes well enough and if Suzuki could
address those issues I'd consider one because I like the whole Gixer
ethic. Build quality is now miles better too.

R1 - I just don't fit them properly and I hate the handling, way too
light up front for my tastes. Also don't like the look of the pipes.

Blade - comfy, quick, stable, light without being flappy, well built and
reliable. Also not that common, which I think is more down to price than
spec or specific issues. I also like the way they look, even the exhaust
and I'm not a fan of underseats except on Ducatis. Ridden a couple of
used examples and liked them both.

 

Sorry, that's n how I read your reply, nor what I would say I'm lookig
for, no. On that day, neither Daz or myself were really going
balls-out for pace, but just enjoying riding fast and wel.

Open-minded, me ;-)

Yupp, sounds that way. Thing is, you see, that Suzuki manage to make
it work for nearly all road conditions straight out of the box. Until
that's reversed I'll wager[1] that gixxer sales will continue to
outstrip those of the 10R.


[1] I won't, in fact. I don't do betting.

--
_______
..'_/_|_\_'. Ace (brucedotrogers a.t rochedotcom)
\`\ | /`/ GSX-R1000K3
`\\ | //' BOTAFOT#3, SbS#2, UKRMMA#13, DFV#8, SKA#2
`\|/`
`

 

Bear says...

I'm not trying to sell it. I gave it some thought last week when I found
a new K4 in a dealer, but I looked at mine and thought that selling it
to buy a bike of inferior spec purely because it was newer was a daft
thing to do. I'd have to spend about 10K to buy a K4 and bring it up to
my K1's spec. It's just not worth it

 

Bear says...

Not when I looked. 10Rs are being discounted like **** at the mo, and
they offer 0% finance. Honda don't need to do that, the Blade sells as
is.

Maybe compared to a new one, but not compared to what i own.

No, I'm dead serious. I don't suffer from the same degree of brand
loyalty that affects some folk, though I do sometimes lean towards
Kawasakis. I'll buy whatever's right at the time at the right dosh. Look
at my last three bikes, Thunderace, ZX-9R and Gixer.

 

Bear says...

Exactly. Mine's only 3 years old and already considered a lardy sports-
tourer. A far cry from it being crowned as best sports bike ever 4 years
ago.

It's just a thought. If anything happened to the Gixer that's the route
I'd hope I could take.

 

Bear says...

It doesn't flatter, it's harder work riding a Gixer fast than trying to
ride a 9R fast. It brings out the best in you because it is so much more
capable, whereas the 9R felt like a lazy old tool. I find the Gixer
leery in a controllable "just bang the throttle hard here and I'll
wheelie for the next mile" way, but the 9R was leery in a "keep this up
and I'm throwing you into that fucking wall" manner. This sounds like a
contradiction, until you've done similar amounts of miles on both and
can understand it.

Horses for courses of course.

 

Bear says...

He's more likely to side with the Kawasaki.

 

Bear says...

Lol

Now *that* was bait.

 

Bear says...

You see things differently to me. I didn't see condescending or
patronising in there. I see the words of a man who bought a Gixer and
couldn't stop grinning like a wanking monkey after a ride from Belfast
to Bedford on the day he bought it. I never had that feeling from the
9R. In fact, I loved it while I had it, but after owning this one for 6
months I've realised how disappointed I would be if I tried to ride the
old 9R hard. It was good, but nowhere near as good as a Gixer. Face it,
as a sports bike the 9R was outdated before it was released, the R1 beat
it to the post. That was in 1998, the 2001 Gixer was a far better bike
than the original R1 no matter what you might say, go figure where the
9R stands in comparison.

I'm almost sorry I made the attempt, just almost mind.

 

You keep saying that, but it's no more relevant now than it was last
night. No-one's disputing that a well screwed together, well-ridden 9R
can be quick, but by your own argumant sheer pace is not what it's
about. And don't foget that yours was significantly better than a
stock bike in all ways, so you're no even doing a fair comparison.

In the measure of 'how good' there is a much greater difference than
'how fast'. I've not ridden a 9R for any length of time, so wouldn't
like to comment on how much better the gixxer is. At the risk of
sounding patronising some people may feel that you're little more
qualified to make these subjective judgements than I.

--
_______
..'_/_|_\_'. Ace (brucedotrogers a.t rochedotcom)
\`\ | /`/ GSX-R1000K3
`\\ | //' BOTAFOT#3, SbS#2, UKRMMA#13, DFV#8, SKA#2
`\|/`
`

 

Yes, exactly! As the OP who is considering migrating from a VFR750F-T
to something 'more exciting' I'm trying to get a feel for which of
Fireblade, Gixxer, Kawasaki is going to be most fun for me. I don't
want to scare myself too much. Thus I could well go for the 'safe'
option of a Fireblade. not to mention Honda's build quality which has
certainly served me pretty well with the VFR750F. It's almost ten
years old since I bought it new, it's done 37000 miles and all it's
needed is servicing (by me) and a new silencer.

 

Under the circumstances, it was a brisk ride up. We could have gone
faster, but there was no point.

If we'd ridden ala, the week or so before, then we would have seen the
difference between a 9R & Gixxer. But I do have a level of self
preservation[1].

I've ridden both and the Gixxer *is* way better than a 9R.

To be honest, I can't see how anybody can begin to believe the 9R as
good. It simply is not.

Even for a racing snake like me the Gixxer is very comfy. I am
speaking of the K4 of course. But having now ridden a K5[2] I went to
the shop last Saturday to buy one.

So if the difference between a K4 & K5 is that much, what does it say
about the 9R.

[1] Believe it or not.
[2] EOSM - Thanks Daz

 

You could take a view that as you've had a Honda for so long that you
most probably have a relationship with a good dealer. So a Honda
looks a good bet.

Or go for something else, like a Gixxer. The Kawasaki is *great*[1],
but I suspect not the sort of *fun* you're looking for.

[1] Make no mistake

 

Or not. I bought it from Revetts in Ipswich who closed down many
years ago, I service it myself so have no contact with any local
dealers at all.

That's what worries me! But is the Fireblade really significantly
tamer than the Gixxer? Trouble is that there's very little else in
between where I am (VFR750F) and the super sports. I don't want
anything heavier so that rules out the big brutes like the Hyabusa and
Blackbird. I don't really want to go down to a 600 as I really like a
(relatively) low revving motor.

 

I can;t answer that question, but the consensus id that the gixxer is
more 'involving' to ride. I'm sure the Blade is a great bike too.

Not strictly true. You seem to be ignoring the category which is
closest to your current VFR - that of the 'sports-tourer'. Currently
the new Sprint ST seems to be ruling that roost, and a damn fine bike
it is too.

Have you actually compared their weights with that of your VFR? And
riden them? You may be surprised. Big bike weights have come down
dramatically in recent years.

--
_______
..'_/_|_\_'. Ace (brucedotrogers a.t rochedotcom)
\`\ | /`/ GSX-R1000K3
`\\ | //' BOTAFOT#3, SbS#2, UKRMMA#13, DFV#8, SKA#2
`\|/`
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