R1 (2004), ZX6R 636 (06) any experiences?

[Bandito]

I wrote off my GSXR750 K7 last month (well someone else did )

Anyway, I am after a new bike now, and my dealer has both the black 636 in and a black, red and white R1 in.
Both have caught my eye.... At the moment I am keener on the R1 as I have ridden alot of 600's, and had a 750 so going up to a litre kinda appeals to me.... Its a stunning machine and is in great nick. They are asking for £5000 for it, its done 3000 miles, but it looks like its brand new.
The 636 appeals too, its black for starters , but I love the look of the bike and when I got my 600RR in 2005 it was a toss up between the Honda and the 636, I chose the Honda because of the cheaper insurance.... but that shouldn't be a problem now...

I guess all I am asking is has anyone got any experiences with either? They are both fast as fook... both similar riding positions... I guess its more down to the handling and general quality or lack of that I need pointers about..

I am getting insurance quotes tomorrow... the R1 is a worry, with it being so much bigger, but I recently got a quote on a 02 blade and that was £600 fully comp, so I reckon the R1 will be £800 maximum..

cheers for any help

[MattEMulsion]

Are the insurance paying you out for definite? Sometimes with bikes/cars so new they provide you with a brand new one exactly the same rather than give you the cash. Why are you not considering another GSXR750 K7?
____________________
Yamaha YZF-R6

[Bandito]

[JonB]

You want a cheaper to keep running bike? Don't get the R1. Can see you getting through consumables much quicker to be quite honest.
____________________
Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it?s worth.

[Bandito]

it was the finance that was costing me a fortune Jon... normal day to day running of the bike was fine... but the brand new GSXR at £7950 was probably too much for me to afford at the time, yet I still went for it as I loved it... now my head is a bit more straight I think a cheaper to buy bike (R1 and the 636 are the same price at £4999) would be a safer bet.

[dainesefreak]

I would buy the R1, in fact I just have an 05. I'll let you know what I think when I get chance to give it a decent run. You will probably find that there's not too much difference in the insurance between an 04 R1 and an 02 Blade. A lot of it goes on purchase price and Blades have always been fairly costly to insure compared to other liter bikes. The Yam is really nicely put together, nice quality and decent components.

I can also tell you that a black bike is a real pain in the arse to keep clean and looking good. Compared to any other colour it shows up all dirt and any scratches, it looks 100 times worse. Because of the way it looks in the light it really shows up minor marks.

[Bandito]

[quacker_boy]

[dainesefreak]

It does I suppose. The R1 should be nice, it's running a decat and a Power Commander at the moment. It would be nice to have a dry day to see what it's capable of.

Fireblade R.I.P.

Edit: I'll get some pics when the weather's better.

[Bandito]

Just got quotes from insurers...

The 636 is £480 fully comp

The R1 is £600 fully comp...

both cheaper than the GSXR750... can't complaing though..

Now I just need to decide which to go for!

heres the R1 anyway:

[Misc]

You're finding it hard to choose between a 636 & R1?

[dainesefreak]

I would have to say that IMHO the R1 is the best looking Japanese bike ever built. Not being biased or anything! Good to see that I was sort of right on the insurance front too. Who did you quote with? I just found H&R > www.insurance2000.co.uk unbeatable for me.

[Bandito]

[dainesefreak]

I'm not sure of the R1 history/spec changes but I know that the 04 underseat model got a factory immobilizer which gives an insurance discount.

I've been a Honda man for quite a while and without starting the whole build quality issue argument, I'd say that Yam are running Honda close on build at the top of the tree. They have really put some thought into to design aspects, some really nice touches and the engine has been around for a while. It's the usual 20V unit that they have only really just replaced with a 16v lump for 2007. I've never heard of any real issues with the bike since the god like 1998 version. IMO Honda made a slip up with the 1000RR as far as build goes, cheap mild steel exhaust header pipes and a plastic tank that liked to scratch. Still a great bike but not comparable to the previous 954 Blade for build. The Yam seems more 954 that 1000RR, nice deep metallic paint on the metal tank and the whole thing is solid. Mine is an 05 with 4000 miles on the clock and apart from a few stubborn fly splats it looks mint still.

Have you got the cash to buy the bike outright or do you need to use a dealer? If you have the cash there are some real steals around at the moment on Ebay and Biketrader.

As it's not a new bike I wouldn't worry too much about it being an import and depreciation. It will have already done most of it's depreciating by now; although I would say that I'd be looking for a couple of hundred off the asking price in comparison to what I've seen when looking around at underseat models.

[Bandito]

totally with you on the Honda build quality... the 600RR was the same.. The sides of the tank were prone to paint fading due to Honda being cheap with the lacquer... The GSXR750 I had was the same.... paint rubbing off the FRAME for crying out loud! even going to bare metal!
I took a look over the Yam and it looked great... no marks or anything like that.

I will need to use the dealer... unless I can get a loan beforehand.. if the right bike comes up then I am up for it.. I can't travel anywhere though so it will need to be local to the North West for me.. pref Merseyside area.

[quacker_boy]

[dainesefreak]

The blade was stolen at the end of August mate, I've not really said too much about it before I got sorted as it's been dragging on for a while. The case is still injudice as they say, not come to court yet, so I'm not really able to say too much until then.

Got my insurance payout after loads of hassle at least now.

[mark83]

Shame about the Honda.

I hope the f**ker that knicked it gets what's coming to him.

As for the R1: one door closes and another one opens.

I remember when my bike instructor used to say how he's had loads of bikes but the R1 is all he'll ever need and how he would never change it.

Hope you enjoy it mate, a cracking bike.
____________________
Kawasaki ER6n -> Honda CBR600RR -> Honda VTR 1000 -> Moto Guzzi Norge 1200
Buy my Mercedes 350 Sport AMG Evo

[dainesefreak]

Cheers. The individual in question was hospitalized with multiple injuries, shame, but hopefully will be arround long enough to be prosecuted and for me to retrieve my NCB.

[Bandito]

well the 'dealer' has just got back to me with some figures for the loan....

laughable really.... its a week and a bit before christmas and hes treating it like the showrooms full of customers...
Anyway... he aint budging on the £4999 price of the R1... and it basically works out at £195 a month for 48 months... which includes £1100 I owe Black Horse on my written off GSXR, and also £300 Gap... so in total I will be paying back £9500 on a £5000 bike... my GSXR was £8000 and I altogether owed £10500....

gonna tell him to shove it tomorrow...

[mark83]

[quacker_boy]

[dainesefreak]

I didn't need to touch him mate, he did quite well on his own. Hospitalized within 40 mins of playing with my toy. One Cat B bike though, c'est la vie.

[quacker_boy]

[dainesefreak]

Cat B = Not to be returned to the road. The insurance company can keep it.