New :)

[TurbodTurtle]

Hi!

I am from cambridge, just looking to get a new bike. I have a bit of bike history but not much!

Drove a moped for a year Yamaha Jog R (Fell off but landed on grass)

Moved up to a derestricted Aprillia RS125 (Never fell off)

Then after 5 years non riding, I decided to take my full licence, passed first time wihtout incident and got a perfect score on both parts. I had a lot of good feedback about my riding.

Got straight onto a 1996 Bandit 600, was a good bike, nice bit of power, had no issues but felt it wasn't much fun on motorways/dual carriage ways without fairings. The wind pushed me around quite a bit! I could handle the power in a straight line but i'm still learning the corners.

Anyway, I rode this for 6 months or so until I heard a massive bang, did some work on it and got it back on the road but didn't trust it again so sold it.

Now I am looking for a faired bike. I have two options and just wondering if anyone has any opinions on them. I have around £3k - £3.5k.

I went to see this and it is nice, I spoke to the dealer and he said it is a very powerful bike so I'd need to be careful as it was quite a jump: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151165443265?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

The things that put me off though is possibly too much power and it doesn't tell me what gear I am in (I like having this) but it does have datatag already on it. It is however one of the best looking bikes I have seen! They have a silver one I liked which was unfortunately sold.

The second is this:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151175249553?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

I haven't seen it yet but I have always likes the ZX6r's, it has a bit less power than the R1 and is the same price but newer (Comes with a gear display and fuel injection rather than carbs!) plus I like the under seat exhaust. The things that put me off is some people say the 07 is the worse ZX6r that was produced and i sat on a different one but it felt bigger than the R1.

What do you guys think?

I'll be going to work on it and the odd weekend fun, but I have a performance car so I would use that in adverse conditions or back roads.

[-Matt-]

I'd go ZX6 definately, but that might be me being biased

Mainly as its a much newer bike to be honest. Unless you really go for it on the road/do track days a lot perhaps it should have more than enough power for most people. That being said though I wouldn't be concerned the R1 would be too powerful either, only goes as fast as you twist at the end of the day. You can also get aftermarket gear indicators if you really need one and its a huge issue for you buying. Personally I just count up and down in my head whenever i've changed, becomes second nature after a while
https://tinyurl.com/p4n6oke

I've been on a 08 ZX and it felt little if any different to my 05, so unless something catastrophic happened to the 07 model specifically I can't see why it would be considered such a bad bike Unless people aren't keen on the looks maybe.

Have you compared insurance quotes on both as well, may find theres quite a difference depending on your age etc?

[TurbodTurtle]

Hi Matt,

That gear thing looks perfect! Is it hard to install?

I have, the r1 was around 244 fully comp for the year and the zx6r was 222! It surprised me and the only reason I looked at the R1 as I'd always wrote it off due to insurance.

I would like the R1 to be fair...but zx6r has always had a soft spot with me!

[-Matt-]

Not sure about installation myself, not good with electrics it wouldn't cost too much to get one fitted somewhere though if you weren't confident to do it yourself.

I'd try get a test ride on the same bikes at a dealership somewhere to help you decide if you can. Especially the R1, or even another litre sportbike, just to see really how much you need the extra power, if at all.

If you find the ZX quick enough i'd say its a no-brainer to go with that personally. Newer bike and equipment, and less miles to boot. And save yourself a little bit on fuel/tax/insurance

[TurbodTurtle]

Thanks

I think the ZX6r is the winner. I have contacted the seller and waiting on some further photos.

Hopefully by the weekend I will have it as have the cash waiting.

I don't think i need the power of the R1 and would like prefer a non carb bike so seems like the best way to go.

I need to try and get a fuel gauge installed though if you know of anything! It has a light that says low petrol so I am hoping it will be fairly simple to tap into.

[P.addy]

The R1 is about £1000 overpriced. I had a 2001 model, £2100 and it was perfect. It is a powerful bike but it isn't as deadly as you'd think.

For £3.5k you can get a 2005/06 GSXR1000 which is miles better than both bikes listed.

[-Matt-]

[TurbodTurtle]

[-Matt-]

Yeah you won't miss the light - the minute you check your speed its impossible to not see if flashing bright orange, normally catch it in the bottom area of vision when you're looking ahead even, but that would depend on your height probably.

[stevo as b4]

Fair play to you!
A lot of experienced big bike rider's on here always seem to steer towards logical or the biggest fastest bike available for the budget allowed.

I too have never ridden a K3> GSXR, but I massively prefer the looks of the 98-01 and 02-03 R1's TBH. I think that a few kg less and a few bhp more and maybe a bit better or more adjustable suspension counts for shit on a pure road bike.

If the R1 is mint and near std, then buy it and don't look back, as your getting a bike that's nearly a classic already and any 150bhp litres bike is way more capable than anyone on here Needs for a bike on the road.

[stinkwheel]

I have it on good authority that on an R1, you don't really need to know which gear you're in. You simply alter your speed by twisting the throttle.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.