Which bike

[Richard.]

Not buying a welder buying a motor bike.
I've had quite a few bikes over the years and my last 3 have been sports bikes which I plan on sticking with for my next one.
The Gixxer k4 thou was great but a little bulky
The zx10r C1h was awsome but not in slightest bit tolerant to human erra which I learnt the hard way and the 05 fire blade I found to be dull. It was fast don't get me wrong but lacked that insanity the others gave.
What I'm asking is for non bios opinions on what you guys have rode to help me make my summer choice.
Ps the s1000rr is outside my budget at the mo but I may consider it.

 

[daleyd]

Have you considered something smaller? I'm not a huge fan of litre sportsbikes, though don't get me wrong they are fantastic bits of kit and if you want to go as fast as possible then they are undoubtedly the way to go.

But, I've found myself having more fun on smaller 600 cc bikes, you have to work that little bit harder (Which is a good thing IMO, not something to be frowned upon), they are still more than fast enough, lighter, easier round the bends, a bit more forgiving.... etc etc.

A good compromise would be GSXR 750?

 

[eSCHEn]

CG125, you know it makes sense

 

[Richard.]

My first bike was an 01 plate R6 and to be honest it was awful. I'm a 15 stone 6ft3 frame and I pretty much swamped that bike. I then quickly went to a k3 600 which was a little beefier to suit my size but I find with these high reving 6's that to get the enjoyment out of them you need to be sitting at 11000 rpm every where. This is nice as you say but can also be a real pain. With the thou I found its low down grunt very usable for road riding I've never rode a 750 so that's a test ride I must look into. Thanks daleyd

 

[MattH]

I had a GSXR K3 1000 track bike with a tuned engine. Loved it but it did need a lot of effort to get it into the turns.
I have now tracked my road bike which is a S1000rr 2013. The extra power is great but it's the fact that it tips in with little effort and the rider aids are nice to have in the background.
If you are on a tight budget then it usually means looking at the non-sport with no TC, Rider modes, anti-wheelie etc etc.

RSV4's (non-APRC) are now dropping in price and are excellent bikes.

The newer Gixer's are slimmer than the K4. You get a lot of bike for what they cost and they are suppose to turn a lot better that the 03/04.

 

[Richard.]

I wouldn't say 600's are always lighter and corner better. My old zx10r was lighter than my k3 600 and shorter wheel base too. Was a very nimble 1000 and although it's power was similar matched to the others of its year it was a bike for the insane. It's mood changed with the wind and when it was on one it was time to put it away.

 

[MattH]

P.s. I'll be selling my limited edition Aprilia RSVR colin Edwards in the spring if you want something really special (only ~460 ever made):

 

[Richard.]

Budget 5-6k so a sensible one but not s1000rr money.

 

[Richard.]

If I was going twin I'd think more about an sp2. They look awesome.

 

[MattH]

I'd be looking at a 11 plate Gixer for that money.

 

[Richard.]

Thanks Matt I've not rode a gixxer with the cat system on since 2005 so I'll be looking at a test ride there cheers.

 

[MattH]

I'm 6'3" as well and I had loads of trouble picking my latest bike as the trend seems to be making everything smaller and smaller.

 

[daleyd]

I wouldn't say 600's are always lighter and corner better. My old zx10r was lighter than my k3 600 and shorter wheel base too. Was a very nimble 1000 and although it's power was similar matched to the others of its year it was a bike for the insane. It's mood changed with the wind and when it was on one it was time to put it away.

No, there's always exceptions to the rule, but in general it tends to be true that smaller bikes are a bit easier in the corners. It used to be it was a certainty but with the shrinking of the big litre bikes (Since the first gen fireblade really) its become less of an issue than it once was....

 

[Migmac]

CG125, you know it makes sense

Want to see this 15st man on a CG, my wife learnt to ride on an SR. I had a go or three, a total laugh. Until you were going any distance - so slooooow. Much better when we got the FZR

 

[Richard.]

It does. Unfortunately we are not all 7stone gp riders.
The bike that fits me best and that's so comfortable to sit on with the perfect riding position is the ktm rc8. It's a shame I can't stand the look of it from any angle or I would of considered it.

 

[MattH]

The RC8 is weird, it looks like it would be super uncomfortable but when you sit on it it's great.

 

[Richard.]

That's what I thought, I looked at it and thought no way can that be good to sit on but I was surprised when I swung a leg over how good it was suited to my frame. Just can't warm to it's robotic looks though. Shame.

 

[overload]

You sound like a man that is hard to please!

Either a Yamaha R1 or another gixxer me thinks.

 

[Richard.]

Not really hard to please ive just been riding them a while now and I've come to a point where I really don't know what to go for now. The r1 is a bike I've never sat on so its on my list to test ride. Ive had friends that love em I've also known people to say the slightly older ones are gutless till 10 thou then they just take off. I can't say for sure till I ride one. Anyone here had much to do with R1 s

 

[pedrobedro]

I find with these high reving 6's that to get the enjoyment out of them you need to be sitting at 11000 rpm every where. This is nice as you say but can also be a real pain. With the thou I found its low down grunt very usable for road riding I've never rode a 750 so that's a test ride I must look into. Thanks daleyd

11,000 rpm everywhere, you'll be breaking the speed limit in every gear. You're my hero you are