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

Yes, the Sprint ST is just about the one other bike on my shortlist
along with the super sports. There really is little else, the other
bikes in the 'sports tourer' category are mostly rather long in the
tooth. There are a couple of V-twins that might be there but I'd
really prefer more cylinders.

The current VFR800 is significantly heavier than the last VFR750Fs
were, I got the VFR750F because it weighed almost exactly 200kg. The
Blackbird and the Hyabusa are both around 220kg. I don't really feel
very attracted to those big beasts anyway, the Sprint ST is where I'd
want to be if I go that sort of way.

 

'scuse me for butting in, but I have to agree. Like some others on
here I've run both bikes.

I ran a 9R (E1 model) for 40k ish miles then happened to have a go on
a K3 gixxer. The difference was astounding and I knew there and then I
had to have one. I'm not convinced the fueling was ever spot on on my
9R mind because the biggest bugbear I had with it was throttle
response (plus the sodding carb icing in coolish weather). Every
service I asked the dealer to check carb balancing but it always felt
hesitant and glitchy. The 9R was a good bike in many respects but is
completely outclassed by more modern sportbikes.

Couldn't get hold of a K4 when I was looking to trade in so went for a
K5 instead. Suffice to say I'm not disappointed so far (5k miles in).
I like it so much I'm even on the look out for a winter shed to save
the gixxer from the ravishes of winter. Don't normally bother with
this sort of caper but I plan on keeping this one long term and don't
want to shag it out through winter.

A big factor in most peoples ownership (if they actually do any miles
on the bike) will be comfort. I'm 5' 10" and find the gsxr much more
comfortable than the ZX9R. Always felt that the 9R was a bit too much
of a stretch to the bars for me.

No doubt the 10R is an equally exiting machine and some people will
prefer it over a gixxer. I have not ridden one so can't really
comment. Horse for courses I would guess.

 

Good advice, I'm just about to do it!

 

Blimey, don't tell me Kawasakis *still* do that, my 1000GTR used to do
that, you'd have thought they would have worked out a way to avoid it
by now!

That's interesting, 5' 10" is about the size I am too.

 

Well, if the ZX10R could carb ice that would be a really clever trick
;-)

Like others have advised, go and ride a few candidate bikes and pick
the one that fits best.

 

Sorry, but wrong. I've drag raced a newish 9R and he was close up to
around a ton but after that the GSXR left him. Easily.

 

Depends how you ride obviously. But the big brutes as you call them
have got to be worth considering if you like a torquey motor, they're
also comfy, and surprisingly agile - though clearly not in Gixxer thou
class. Check out this month's Bike magazine where they test the 'Big 4'.

 

Bear says...

In your opinion, having never owned a Gixer or done serious miles on
one. It's not tiny, it's quite significant.

As Champ said, a rider's skill is no measure of the bike's capability.

The 9R isn't a top level sports bike, it never was because the R1 pipped
it to the post before it was released. Granted it's quick and it
handles, but it's no way in the same league. You are the *only* one who
thinks it is.

 

It's a lot better now I've played with the suspension. The tyres are
still shit but with decent sticky rubber on it I reckon it'll be ok.

My take on the whole 10R v K5 bollocks is that it's all a matter of
what you want. The 10R is always going to be more of a **** to ride on
anything but good road surfaces straight out of the box but that's
what makes it attractive to certain people.

I don't think there's anything in it when it comes to power, claimed
figures are pretty much the same and the K5 has come out tops in tests
because the 10R is in need of a damper and decent tyres. I chose the
Kawasaki because it was considerably cheaper than the Suzuki and they
were offering interest free credit. I'd have probably made the same
choice if the prices were identical because of the hype about it being
something of an animal but if the Suzuki had been cheaper I'd have
gone for that.

As far as I'm concerned there aren't any other litre bikes in the same
league and no matter what Yamaha do the R1 will still look **** awful
with those manky underseat pipes.

 

snip>

I'm certain that on roads with a shit surface (like the Ardennes where
we were recently) I would be considerably quicker on my lardy old 9R
than on my standard 10R. That's mainly down to the fact that the older
bike was a lot more forgiving when it came to hitting bumps etc in the
road than the 10R and those roads were 'variable' to say the least.

Obviously the fact that I'd done 20k miles on the 9R compared to 1k
on the 10R helped as did the Ohlins shock and better tyres on the 9R
but unless you want to screw the bike in straight lines (which I
wasn't bothering to do) the extra bhp means **** all. I could make the
10R out handle the 9R quite easily by swapping the shock but I'll be
seriously fucking pissed off if I can't make the standard one work
well enough by playing with the settings.

The wheelies over tiny bumps are optional but it's nice to have the
option. I didn't have that with the 9R and that in itself is a good
enough reason to change to the newer bike. According to Mike there's a
huge difference between the older gixxer thous and the K5 but we'll
not see the owners of the older models admitting to that one will we?

 

Honda do the same as anyone else when they've got a radical upgrade in
the pipeline - they discount the older model. That's all Kawasaki did
with the 10R. Honda are going to have to sort the Blade out in a big
way if they want to keep up with the others.

 

Andy Bonwick says...

The older ones are a bit slower, but not by huge amount. The difference
isn't as pronounced as that between say a Gixer K1 and a 9RC2. The K5 is
definitely more nimble and as a result a little bit less stable on bumpy
roads. The K5 will wheelie everywhere, the K1 is less dramatic in
delivery, but still lifts easily, but not as easy as the K5. I haven't
pushed a K5 to silly limits as the ones I've tried weren't mine and I
wasn't dressed for thrashing them either[1] It doesn't feel like a
1000cc bike in physical size, whereas the K1 did.

[1] I was in suit trousers with textile overtrews, textile jacket and
flip-front lid with no gloves both times.

 

Andy Bonwick says...

The Blade is the most practical of the lot imo. I like to have a bike I
can chuck luggage on easily and **** off somewhere. 10R's pipe is too
highly slung, K5 is too wide and has a seat like a plank, R1 has stupid
exhaust design that limits throwovers, unlike Honda's u/seat design
which works well. The Blade isn't that far behind anyway, and most
owners can't ride the fucking things so I'm at an instant advantage.

 

"Lozzo" wrote in message

On a recent trackday my Blade had little problems keeping up, least on the
straights anyway! There were several K5's but only the one 10R in my group
(mid) to make a comparison against. Perhaps its a bit lardy, and on paper
that lets it down a little. The race guys would like a few more revs from it
too but its a lot more capable than most riders sat on it I'd suggest.

Forget practability and bid on this ...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Aiming-Sports...4575605099QQcategoryZ9806QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Tullyhubbert

 

One of the reasons I've not (yet) test-ridden the K5 is that it would
seem to be less practical for the all-round use to which I put my
gixxer.

Or it could be that I'm scared I'd like it so much I'd have to get
one, which is just a lot of hassle. Well, prolly not, acherly, but I'd
take a big hit on the p/x, unless I finally got round to sorting out
an insewerants claim.

OTOH I do tend to stick with the old "it ain't broke, don't fix it"
attitude. This caused me to hang on to the Triumph far too long,
though, so I have to be careful...

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

 

You're basing this whole 'practical' thing on throwover panniers. I
find that a decent capacity tank bag and tail pack gives me more than
enough luggage space, even when I'm combining work and play so have to
cart decent clothes[1] and a laptop and stuff around.

[1] Well, newish jeans and clean T-shirts.
--
_______
..'_/_|_\_'. Ace (brucedotrogers a.t rochedotcom)
\`\ | /`/ GSX-R1000K3
`\\ | //' BOTAFOT#3, SbS#2, UKRMMA#13, DFV#8, SKA#2
`\|/`
`

 

Ace says...

I'm looking for excuses not to buy a new bike. I don't *need* a new bike
even though I may *want* one.

 

Well yes, as I said down there VVV somewhere. OTOH I can't really say
that I _need_ a gixxer at all, although I suspect it could be
justified as a 'keeping me sane' machine.

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

 

Well I have to say (OP here) that throwover panniers seem to me to be
one of the most practical ways of carrying things on supersports. Is
it really easy on a Fireblade as opposed to the others? What panniers
do people have on their fireblades?

 

They tend to take a lot longer than a tail pack to fit, wear big holes
in your paintwork, don't carry _that_ much more ('cos they need to be
short for exhaust clearance) and will effect the aerodynamics much
more. Of course, they also mean that you can't take a pillion, but it
you've ever tried sitting on a throwover's straps you'll realise that
that's no different.

Can't comment on the 'blade questions.

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