Help me choose my next bike!

[Irezumi aka Reuben]

I'll be getting a new bike in a few months time and have narrowed it down to a few but am after some opinions as I havent ridden them all. I am looking at a Honda CBR600F4 X/Y (last of the carbed models), 2002-2004 Yamaha Fazer 600 and K1/K2 GSXR600.

I have only ridden the CBR600 out of these bikes, but having ridden later 600's I find them gutless and too smooth and boring, even when revving them hard. How does the GSXR-600 compare to this bike in terms of the way it make's it's power?

With the Fazer I am trying to ascertain whether it will be able to do the sporty side of things well enough and have that 'fun' factor. This bike will be my only form of transport and be used all year round so I will end up mainly doing commuting on M'ways/Dual carriageways, hence the requirement for a useable engine.

I am trying to get test rides on both of these bikes but getting one on the Fazer will be extremely unlikely, possible on the GSXR. So if anyone who has ridden these can offer any input it would be greatly appreciated.

[craigs23]

I don't understand the requirement of an 'interesting' power delivery if you're mostly going to be using the bike on motorways/bypasses?

The CBR's power output will be similar to the others you're considering (90 odd bhp), but maybe it's the way it delivers this (i.e. smoothly) which didn't give you the satisfaction? I'd prefer to have a delivery like the CBR if I was to use the bike in said environment, rather than having to knock it down a few cogs in order to pass Captain 3 Series.

What you want out of a power delivery may be difficult to describe, as owners want/need different characteristics from their bikes.

Best advice I can give is go and test ride them all and see which you prefer.

[Ariel Badger]

What do you ride now?
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Bikers make great organ donors, get 115 on your licence today.

[olionel]

get a fireblade... no no get a busa
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1989 CG125 - Childhood Sweetheart (she got kidnapped by baddies)
1998 ZXR400 - Teenage Love (lasted three years, then she turned lesbian and left me)
2001 XRV750 - Wife Material (still getting to know her but head over heels in love)

[colin1]

You should be able to get test rides if you try hard enough.

Private sellers will let you test ride, if you give deposit, but beware, if you drop it you have bought it.

On ebay, you can do a search for bikes within 25 miles of your post code.
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colin1 is officially faster than god

[Bullet]

never tried a fazer, but the cbr600f x/y and the gsxr600 k2 ive tried, and the gsxr would be my choice every time, you get alot more for your money as the cbr held its value well due to its 'friendly' image, and is popular with sports tourer types and new riders. the gsxr handles infinitely better more flicky, more feel, and is generally surer footed when caining it. as for the engines, the cbr has a very linear power delivery giving what feels like a fatter midrange, where as the gsxr engine needs revving, it wouldnt surprise me though if they had the same midrange and the gixxer just has more at the top, but ive never seen a dyno graph for either bike so not sure. the gsxr has a silly big under seat storage in comparison to other sportsbikes too. the cbr's brakes are better in my opinion as the gsxr's ones had bugger all feel to them, but that could be solved with a decent radial master cylinder. if you want a sportsbike with tart value get the gixxer, if you want a more allrounder commuter tourer sports bike, get the cbr - its comfyer, still sporty enough for most, has a good motor and build quality and will hold its value well, does tend to warp discs though.


id say youve missed something out from your list of bikes to choose from though..... what about a kawasaki ZX7R similar in terms of peak power, but a decent chunck more torque and midrange over the 600's far prettyer than all the others, not cramped and tiny, and with a replaced rear shock, preety comfy too. and similar money, unlike the gsxr k1 /k2 750 which is still quite pricey. i think a zx7r is definatly worth a look
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nonstop unicorns vomiting sunshine pills into a rainbow toilet
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past: ZXR750 J1, K1 & H1, GPX600R, Yamaha Radian. present: ZXR750 J2, SP-1, CB350

[Irezumi aka Reuben]

@Craig, basically the newer fuel injected CBR600's are as dull as ditchwater to ride for me, they are just boring in the power delivery. The power is too smooth for my liking. Motorbikes are my only form of motorised transport and I can't afford two bikes so it still has to be fun but useable, ie something too peaky will be a pain in the arse and something too smooth will be boring.

@Ariel, I currently ride a Honda Bros 650.

@Bullet, an older ZX7R, ZXR750, early Blade or GSXR-750 (oil-cooled) is something I have considered but I am unsure if I can find one in as good condition as the others for my price range (2 - 2.5k) although I havent really looked properly. As mentioned above this will be used all year round. If you have any info regarding this though I'd be very interested.

Thanks for the help so far.

[Irezumi aka Reuben]

Another bike I quickly thought of and which may be stretching my budget slightly (up to 3 grand) but has anybody here ridden the Triumph Daytona 600, and if so waht is it like?

[McGee]

The GSXR will have the best engine, loads of power through the revs, best sounding note, and the seating position is comfy even though focused. Granted its no ceeber (as in tourer style) but it will be much more fun when you want it to be.

The one thing a lot of people don't like about the early K series is how wide they are.

But still, amazing bike fantastic engine and I love them
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◙◙► K6 GSXR 600 ◄◙◙◙◙► K5 GSXR 1000 ◄◙◙◙◙► K5 GSXR 600 ◄◙◙◙◙► 96 RF600r ◄◙◙
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Its pronounced Jixxer!

[Bullet]

2- 2.5k will get you a mint low milage and totally spotless zxr750, a very good ZX7 a good early blade or a slightly ropey newer 929 blade. but depending on how old you are the newer blade might be pricey to insure. as for year round riding, they will all be fine so long as you keep them clean and replace the odd bolt here and there with some decent stainless ones, i ran an old zxr750 straight through winter ice, snow, and road salt aplenty, and used the scotoiler protector stuff and cleaned it once a week or so.... was still corrosion free after a couple of years and it lived outside without a cover.. so i dont see it beeing a problem for that. my zxr had polished frame and swinger aswell... just have to keep them clean


oh and 2 - 2.5 k is enough for a gsxr 750 Y / K1/ K2 same benifits as the 600 but a nicer power delivery and a bit more go
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nonstop unicorns vomiting sunshine pills into a rainbow toilet
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past: ZXR750 J1, K1 & H1, GPX600R, Yamaha Radian. present: ZXR750 J2, SP-1, CB350

[Finglonga]

[Irezumi aka Reuben]

Thanks very much for this info Bullet. Insurance may become an issue on a K1 750 as I will be 22/23 at the time of buying and probably going back to being a part-time student . I will also initially be moving back to live with my parents which is in SE London, so very high insurance.

I've been scouring adverts via the internet and getting my old man to have a quick look locally at prices back home.

Anybody here able to tell me what it's like running a K series GSXR through winter? Wave?

[McGee]

[m99dws]

Stay in NZ and buy the 1999 blade for sale at Wellington MC

[Irezumi aka Reuben]

I can get bikes at cost through my job if I wanted. I dont think NZ is for me in the long term. Described to me as the Eastbourne of the world by a friend.