Yamaha R1, Suzuki K6 750 or Honda CBR1000?

[enolz]

Hi guys... I would really appreciate your help in this... Right now I dunno which of these 3 bikes to buy.... Each has its pros and cons but I really can't made up my mind...

 

I want a sports bike that's good for track and long distance and only these 3 are within my budget....

 

So i would really appreciate your comments on this... Thnx alot in advance!!

:weep:

[Bensim]

Originally posted by enolz@January 03, 2007 01:30 pm

I want a sports bike that's good for track and long distance and only these 3 are within my budget....

Should be 750. Gd in track after seeing feedback. Long distance will not be a problem.

[enolz]

But I check out some shops at S'goon and Alexandra area who hav ppl returning their K6 750 back cos they say the posture not good for long distance riding.... wat do u guys tink?

[S0nic]

Originally posted by enolz@January 03, 2007 09:57 pm

But I check out some shops at S'goon and Alexandra area who hav ppl returning their K6 750 back cos they say the posture not good for long distance riding.... wat do u guys tink?

There's no real all rounder tool that will fit your intended purpose 100%. For long distance you need to consider luggage and when you quoted the models you're looking at which year R1/CBR1000 are you looking at?

 

For long distance, ideally you should be looking at a Honda ST11/13 or Honda Blackbird. Supersports bikes are crap for carrying luggage and hugging the tank for miles is about the most comfortable you'll ever get. I strongly recommend a kidney/back protector for any journey more than an hour otherwise, get a subscription to a good chiropractor.

 

If you insist on a Supersports bike then here's my two cents on your selection.

 

Here's the objective opinion:

 

The R1 is and has always been a fabulous bike. For realworld use and track. But if you want a track bike and you're looking at the R1, then you should be looking at 2006/07 models because the EFI lag is corrected in these models and the 2007 model has a slipper clutch which will be great for late braking, minus the wheelspin on track day. The 2004 is a good bike as well, if you can bear with the EFI lag on track days - a good price compromise too, if you can bear with the EFI lag and you're not a serious track day nutter. Although, the 2001 R1 is the last of carb'ed R1s, it not a good idea for a track bike because the sub-frame comes welded onto the mainframe which spells a total write off if you have a bad tumble at the track. Later models have bolt on sub frames that are replaceable. Also, the 2001 R1 lacks the bhp needed to match more current supersports bikes on track days unless you consider pouring in more capital to pimp it up bhp-wise.

 

Honestly, if you spend more time on the track than long distance riding then the R6 is probably a more nutter track day bike than an R1. With the R1 you have to be more gentle on the throttle which forces you to be less aggressive into corners. Most corners will have to be taken with the throttle closed and punching out early is risky with the amount of torque you'll be laying down on the tarmac. The R6 also makes you feel more like a 'racing hero' because you can really ride the bike to the edge of your ability, whilst only few can push an R1 beyond its limits on the track.

 

The CBR1000 or popularly known as the Fireblade, is a realworld bike more than a nutter's bike. It has always been for years now and its only now that Honda is gearing it more and more towards the nutter's market. In terms of riding posture its probably the best from your selection and is probably a good toss up between track and long distance. Provided you don't intend to win track days and lean more towards spending track days just messing about. The handling is less aggressive compared to the other 2 choices you've chosen and word on the street is that the Fireblade suffers from gearbox design defects but you'll have to carry out a survey to confirm this.

 

Can't comment on the K6 since I've never really had a go on one but the reviews do make it seem tempting. Never could bring myself to buy a Suzuki though because of the terrible second hand market price. Added to that, although Suzuki's look great new, but the build quality is probably the poorest amongst the 3 choices you've selected. The paint fades and the engine starts sounding rough (I've been told that this is a 'characteristic' of Suzukis but I prefer my engine purring instead of making grinding noises) after a few months.

 

... and here's the biased opinion:

 

I used to ride a Fireblade myself but shiffted to the R1 camp a few years back and doubt I'll change in a hurry. Moving from Fireblade to R1 opened a whole new world of riding experience. I find the R1 more precise and agile compared to a Fireblade. Making line changes mid corner a breeze. Braking is also ace on the R1. So far, R1's have proved to be relatively maintenance free as well, whilst Honda's tend to suffer from alternator issues after a while. Honda spares are also a lot dearer compared to Yamaha. The R1 also doubles up as a great daily commute tool and its sporty lines and aggressive design makes it a serious looking tool as well.

 

Won't buy a Suzuki or Kwak, if I can avoid it. I would love to buy a Kawasaki ZX-6R but the second hand price and poor spares support is a major discouraging factor. Suzuki,... as mentioned earlier, despite the rave reviews in mags, the build quality sucks. You have to remember bike mag journos get to test BRAND NEW Suzukis and rave on about them whilst buying one means you'll have to live with it. As they say in marriage, for better or worse; in good health and poor but don't take my word for it. Check with your Suzuki riding mates and see how many Suzukis are still wearing their original paint job after 2yrs and how many don't suffer from grinding engine noises, after the first year.

 

So, in summary, if you really have only so much dosh and must choose between the three makes of Yamaha, Suzuki and Honda. Choose between a Yamaha or Honda but personally I'd go with an R1 over a Fireblade now, any time.

 

All the best... see you on the roads mate...

[enolz]

Thnx a bunch for ur comments and sharing ur experience wif us, S0nic...

 

I don't think I'll be a serious track day nutter bcos I just wanna try the track purely for the experience. I prefer to try the long distance riding rather than on e track and have thought about getting a Fazer 1000 and R6 but maintaining 2 big bikes is an impossible job for me to accomplished.

 

For the 3 bikes, I'm talking about the latest 2007 edition so thnx again S0nic for providing me with the info. I have thought about other aspects as well such as maintenance, resale value, design etc and Yamaha and Honda do come up tops. I guess I have to experience myself the handling, braking and agility to know which bike is really for me. Guess I'll be getting the R1 soon den. Thnx again for ur comments bro....

 

I would appreciate if other fellow riders out there who would love to share their experience wif us here...

 

Cheers! :bouncefire:

[Tourer]

Get the R1. It has good power and good sitting posture for long distance commuting. Definitely track capable also, though one may lament about its slightly slower turning-in under hard-braking. That's for the 06 R1.

[ulysses_sc]

Originally posted by enolz@January 04, 2007 12:52 pm

Thnx a bunch for ur comments and sharing ur experience wif us, S0nic...

 

I don't think I'll be a serious track day nutter bcos I just wanna try the track purely for the experience. I prefer to try the long distance riding rather than on e track and have thought about getting a Fazer 1000 and R6 but maintaining 2 big bikes is an impossible job for me to accomplished.

 

For the 3 bikes, I'm talking about the latest 2007 edition so thnx again S0nic for providing me with the info. I have thought about other aspects as well such as maintenance, resale value, design etc and Yamaha and Honda do come up tops. I guess I have to experience myself the handling, braking and agility to know which bike is really for me. Guess I'll be getting the R1 soon den. Thnx again for ur comments bro....

 

I would appreciate if other fellow riders out there who would love to share their experience wif us here...

 

Cheers! :bouncefire:

If you only want to track for fun and would like to tour, then why not consider the VFR800? Considered by many as the best all-rounder. Capable on the track, comfortable on the roads.

 

Make no mistake that the VFR is slow. There are folks turing very respectable times at PG on it.

[enolz]

Thnx guys for ur comments... To me the VFR 800 is abit too bulky for my liking unfortunately... But I guess I'll b considering that bike too... Still have around 1-2 more mths b4 I manage to save up enough to get a big bike so in e meantime I'll be asking arnd for reviews around here...

[Bensim]

Originally posted by enolz@January 03, 2007 09:57 pm

But I check out some shops at S'goon and Alexandra area who hav ppl returning their K6 750 back cos they say the posture not good for long distance riding.... wat do u guys tink?

Don aspect much from the sportbike posture. I have sit on those 3 bike before. I think 750 is more friendly. Maybe u can try K6 G1 or 06 R6. If u ask my choice i will take R1.

[ronald814]

Hi there

 

My 2 cents worth

 

If this is your 1st big Class 2 bike, pls go for a second hand sportsbike. Usually, there will be minor accidents or incidents which are totally unexpected, wait maybe 1 more year after riding the old sportsbike then U buy a brand new Class 2 bike, U would take care of it better then and have more experience handling it.

 

This is just my personal view, I bought my CBR1000RR 1st hand and drop it twice within 2 mths. I also know of so many newbies at Class 2 who did that like me but there are newbies who are very good at handling a brand new class 2 straight away but the success stories are really very few.

 

Now 1 mth with my VFR, I think the power is enough for me, the CBR1000RR is too fast for my ability.

[enolz]

thnx for ur advise ron.... yeah, this is my first big bike... been riding an rx-z for 5 yrs now... hehehe.... i hav thought of getting a 2nd hand bike first bcos of e same reason that u state... but i dun tink i can sell the bike after juz riding a yr on it cos i can't afford to pay full cash though....

[ulysses_sc]

Originally posted by enolz@January 06, 2007 03:00 am

thnx for ur advise ron.... yeah, this is my first big bike... been riding an rx-z for 5 yrs now... hehehe.... i hav thought of getting a 2nd hand bike first bcos of e same reason that u state... but i dun tink i can sell the bike after juz riding a yr on it cos i can't afford to pay full cash though....

Seriously consider a CBR929. Good specimens can be found for about $6K.

[enolz]

hmm...

I'll check it out... You know any shops that have a CBR929 still in gd shape?

[redders]

Originally posted by enolz@January 03, 2007 01:30 pm

Hi guys... I would really appreciate your help in this... Right now I dunno which of these 3 bikes to buy.... Each has its pros and cons but I really can't made up my mind...

 

I want a sports bike that's good for track and long distance and only these 3 are within my budget....

 

So i would really appreciate your comments on this... Thnx alot in advance!!

:weep:

can kindly narrow yr search.. u wan a 1000cc bike den look for bikes like R1,cbr1000,suzuki 1000 or kawa 1000..that to name a few..not incude italian bikes..

 

if u prefer 600cc dan must compare the 600 cc lor

[enolz]

thnx 4 e comment redders...

i oredi narrow it down to R1 '07, CBR 1000 '07 and Suzuki K6 750... to me kawa is abit over my budget... so yeah, onli dis 3 bikes in my mind so far....

but i'll do consider some other bike above 600cc if there's any bros recommend lyk the cbr 929...

[S0nic]

Originally posted by enolz@January 13, 2007 01:40 am

thnx 4 e comment redders...

i oredi narrow it down to R1 '07, CBR 1000 '07 and Suzuki K6 750... to me kawa is abit over my budget... so yeah, onli dis 3 bikes in my mind so far....

but i'll do consider some other bike above 600cc if there's any bros recommend lyk the cbr 929...

Just popped in and read the progress of your thread. Maybe the advice to take on a secondhand superbike is a good consideration. Not sure whether the maths work for you but in any superbike ownership, the party that always stands to lose the most (monetarily) in a bike purchase is the first owner.

 

The best alternative that I've always gone for is to be the second owner of a well kept bike and if you're fortunate, it may even come decked out with the necessary accessories. A superbike in stock form usually isn't pimped up enough for most, to go touring.

 

The minimums to consider are:

 

1. a taller windscreen, esp on R1's because the stock isn't useful at all

2. braided hose brake hoses all round (ie x 3 because the front has 2) and maybe;

3. headlight protectors

 

The taller windscreen lowers wind buffeting at high speed and is great to hide behind when you decide to go ballistic - its difficult to go beyond 180Km/h without lying prone on the tank with proper wind protection.

 

Braided hose brake hoses eliminate brake fade - the spongy feeling from heated brake fluid interacting against the stock rubber brake hose. You can go fast but coming to a stop fast is even more important. Braided brake hoses gives you more predictable feedback at any speed and duration of usage. This is especially cogent on track days where high speed braking is constant over a shorter duration.

 

Headlight protectors prevent debris and pebble chips on your expensive headlight - chips make the light look like shite and in the long-term can cause the headlight surface to appear fogged over permanently. Reducing light transparency.

 

If you get the 3 items mentioned, expect to dish out an additional $400 - $500.

 

...and of course. For goodness sake make sure you never skint on tires on a superbike. They are the only 2 contact points to the road and good tires can some times make the difference between another day of riding or months spent healing and repairing your precious. Besides, what's the point of having one of the best machines on earth if you can't lean it over with confidence?

 

I don't mean to sound like a wet blanket but the other consideration, which I'm not sure you've covered since its not mentioned, is insurance. Depending on your current age and years of riding experience, a litre bike maybe really impractical to own with insurance going as high as beyond $1K per annum for those below 28yrs of age.

 

On top of that, I would also seriously encourage you to consider the advice of the others that have posted on your thread - to maybe start with an older model of superbike before launching your superbike dream by buying the latest machine out this year.

 

The rationale is simple. Bearing in mind that I'm not aware the degree of skill and experience that you may currently possess (no offense intended - for all I know, you may whip my arse on the road) but erring on the side of caution, the more current models of superbike are not for the faint of heart - they go fast SERIOUSLY quick!

 

Whilst older models perform admirably but will be more manageable than the current models. I've been a super sportsbike owner for years now, moving from Honda to Yamahas after owning each for a few years and I can tell you, my latest move from my 2001 Yamaha R1 to the more current R1 still requires some time for me to adjust to this latest beastie's power output. Its a LOT more intense than my older 2001 R1 and I've to admit that I'm still learning to get the most from it. And... that's after years of riding superbikes. Now, I may be a slow learner compared to you but all things considered, please make your own honest assessment of your own abilities and purchase a machine that you can truly squeeze the most satisfaction from.

 

After all, if you get a Honda 929 for $6K now, given that its reached its maximum depreciation, you'll only stand to lose at most, $2K upon selling (assuming you sell it for $4K) after using it for a couple of years. I mean, who wouldn't want to buy a Honda 929 for $4K any day?

 

You could buy it CASH if you've saved enough to put down for a 2007 Yamaha R1 and thereby giving yourself more time to accumulate money to buy a good conditioned secondhand 2007 R1 in about a year or two's time?

 

As a bonus, by then you'll also be more experienced to handle its power and also have plenty of stories on your Honda 929...

[S0nic]

Originally posted by S0nic@January 17, 2007 07:49 pm

Just popped in and read the progress of your thread. Maybe the advice to take on a secondhand superbike is a good consideration. Not sure whether the maths work for you but in any superbike ownership, the party that always stands to lose the most (monetarily) in a bike purchase is the first owner.

 

The best alternative that I've always gone for is to be the second owner of a well kept bike and if you're fortunate, it may even come decked out with the necessary accessories. A superbike in stock form usually isn't pimped up enough for most, to go touring.

 

The minimums to consider are:

 

1. a taller windscreen, esp on R1's because the stock isn't useful at all

2. braided hose brake hoses all round (ie x 3 because the front has 2) and maybe;

3. headlight protectors

 

The taller windscreen lowers wind buffeting at high speed and is great to hide behind when you decide to go ballistic - its difficult to go beyond 180Km/h without lying prone on the tank with proper wind protection.

 

Braided hose brake hoses eliminate brake fade - the spongy feeling from heated brake fluid interacting against the stock rubber brake hose. You can go fast but coming to a stop fast is even more important. Braided brake hoses gives you more predictable feedback at any speed and duration of usage. This is especially cogent on track days where high speed braking is constant over a shorter duration.

 

Headlight protectors prevent debris and pebble chips on your expensive headlight - chips make the light look like shite and in the long-term can cause the headlight surface to appear fogged over permanently. Reducing light transparency.

 

If you get the 3 items mentioned, expect to dish out an additional $400 - $500.

 

...and of course. For goodness sake make sure you never skint on tires on a superbike. They are the only 2 contact points to the road and good tires can some times make the difference between another day of riding or months spent healing and repairing your precious. Besides, what's the point of having one of the best machines on earth if you can't lean it over with confidence?

 

I don't mean to sound like a wet blanket but the other consideration, which I'm not sure you've covered since its not mentioned, is insurance. Depending on your current age and years of riding experience, a litre bike maybe really impractical to own with insurance going as high as beyond $1K per annum for those below 28yrs of age.

 

On top of that, I would also seriously encourage you to consider the advice of the others that have posted on your thread - to maybe start with an older model of superbike before launching your superbike dream by buying the latest machine out this year.

 

The rationale is simple. Bearing in mind that I'm not aware the degree of skill and experience that you may currently possess (no offense intended - for all I know, you may whip my arse on the road) but erring on the side of caution, the more current models of superbike are not for the faint of heart - they go fast SERIOUSLY quick!

 

Whilst older models perform admirably but will be more manageable than the current models. I've been a super sportsbike owner for years now, moving from Honda to Yamahas after owning each for a few years and I can tell you, my latest move from my 2001 Yamaha R1 to the more current R1 still requires some time for me to adjust to this latest beastie's power output. Its a LOT more intense than my older 2001 R1 and I've to admit that I'm still learning to get the most from it. And... that's after years of riding superbikes. Now, I may be a slow learner compared to you but all things considered, please make your own honest assessment of your own abilities and purchase a machine that you can truly squeeze the most satisfaction from.

 

After all, if you get a Honda 929 for $6K now, given that its reached its maximum depreciation, you'll only stand to lose at most, $2K upon selling (assuming you sell it for $4K) after using it for a couple of years. I mean, who wouldn't want to buy a Honda 929 for $4K any day?

 

You could buy it CASH if you've saved enough to put down for a 2007 Yamaha R1 and thereby giving yourself more time to accumulate money to buy a good conditioned secondhand 2007 R1 in about a year or two's time?

 

As a bonus, by then you'll also be more experienced to handle its power and also have plenty of stories on your Honda 929...

...oh I forgot to include the crash bobbins or mushrooms as part of standard kit for any super sportsbike. I've binned my bike a few times and I can tell you - the crash bobbins/mushrooms are lifesavers. Again, as a bonus, they also make your bike look trick too!

[enolz]

hey s0nic... i reali dunno how to thank u enuff for the advices that u've given me... haha! im reali glad u comment here cos ur advices are reali useful... i still hav a few more mths to go b4 i finally decide wat my precious shall be... thnx 4 e comments again bro... n ur welcome to add in aniting u lyk anitym over here.... i reali appreciate any enlightenment dat u hav to offer... cheers!

=)

[asjunior]

Hi there

 

My 2 cents worth

 

If this is your 1st big Class 2 bike, pls go for a second hand sportsbike. Usually, there will be minor accidents or incidents which are totally unexpected, wait maybe 1 more year after riding the old sportsbike then U buy a brand new Class 2 bike, U would take care of it better then and have more experience handling it.

 

This is just my personal view, I bought my CBR1000RR 1st hand and drop it twice within 2 mths. I also know of so many newbies at Class 2 who did that like me but there are newbies who are very good at handling a brand new class 2 straight away but the success stories are really very few.

 

Now 1 mth with my VFR, I think the power is enough for me, the CBR1000RR is too fast for my ability.

100% UPZ for you bro. :thumb: