Test riding a CBR600RR on Friday...

[shot2bits]

Will let you know my thoughts - odd decision you may think because I'm currently riding a GSXR 1000 but I think a 600 would be more fun on the public roads, easier to thrash around? The GSXR feels a little heavy to change direction quickly and obviously the power is only really useable in the right conditions.

What do you guys reckon, right move to make or not?

[chilli]

My first bike was a GSXR600. Then I got the R6. before I bought the R6 I took the CBR out for a test ride....My honest opinion....I couldn't tell the difference between any of them!!! I guess you need to be an pretty experienced rider to distinguish the differences!

Are you selling the 1000 then?

[black-k1]

I think a move from a 1000 to a 600 is likely to be a good one. The only thing you are likely to miss is the mid range but if you’re happy to ‘rev the nuts off’ the 600’ then you probably won’t miss it too much.

The whole reason I’m still riding around on a 9 year old Firestorm is that having tried a number of the ‘mega-power’ sports 1000’s I realised that whilst they were supremely capable bikes, there was almost never going to be a chance for me to safely exercise their abilities on the road. As such I would rather have a bike that I feel I can use and enjoy without too much danger to my license/liberty. I would have had a 600 but I like mid range torque more than I like revs.

[Andy Oh]

I reckon you'll regret it.

I've had a CBR600RR and it was a fantastic bike but I what frustrated me was that you had to rev the nuts off it to get it to do anything because under 9,500 rpm it was as flat as as a fart and it had been dynoed by Dynojet themselves as it was the first CBR600RR road bike with an Akrapovic system, so they set it up free of charge and I just had to pay for the Powercommander. I kept it for a year then swapped to a CBR1000RR and now the R1.

If you do a lot of track work on your road bike then the 600 is the way to go but I guarantee you will miss the torque of the 1000 in all other usage.

Good luck and let us know what you think.

[rsv gone!]

I reckon you'd regret it. I posted this a few weeks back;

www.track-days.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&skin=phclassic&f=74&t=375799

[Rawwr]

How about something with the same weight, frame and fairings of a 600 but with a little more poke?

[biker's nemesis]

In the Early 90s I went from a FZR 1000exup to FZR 600 Genesis and Initially thought I'd made a big mistake. After giving it a few weeks I realy started to enjoy the lighter weight and "flick ability", yes you will miss the mid-range but you'll soon learn to live with it.

IMO you've probably already made your mind up, if you're even considering trying a 600, then again, if after a year your not that keen you could always go back to the litre bikes.

My 25yr Bike History. (Hopefully in order)


FS1E,YB100,GT185,GT250,RD250,RD400,KC100,RD350LC,RD350YPVS,RD500YPVS,FZR1000Genesis, FZR1000exup,FZR600 X2,FZR1000exupRU,FZR600 X2 again,YZF750,YZF750SP,R1(1999),KTMsupermoto, R1(2004),Husky250,R1(2005),CBR600RR.. Next bike? god knows.

[shot2bits]

Thanks for the replies. Going to have a good ride on Friday - I do love the 1000 but sometimes think that having to concentrate so much on powering out of corners and making sure I don't build up too much speed for the next corner takes the fun out. I actually enjoyed riding an SV650 last year because I had the feeling that I was more capable than the bike - putting the power down out of corners was a simple twist of the wrist rather than a "oh crap, that'll be the back spinning up" type of feeling. Although I missed the cornering ability of the K6 GSXR - far better handling bike.

It’s a real dilemma as I love the GSXR in terms of everything it stands for but it’s so damn fast for the public roads – seriously, if you’ve never ridden one it’s worth a look from the point of view it will redefine “fast” for you!

Edit to say that I'm starting to think cornering at 100+mph is normal and that 150mph really isn't that fast

Edited by shot2bits on Wednesday 25th April 22:01

[momentofmadness]

I could be wrong, but I'm sure I read (I read too much ) that the 'average' rider is quicker on a 600 - less intimidating when winding on etc.

The torque / power of a 1000 must be effortless, but ragging a 600 might be more enjoyable

I've no where near the experience of some of the posters, so just my 2p.

Bloody good test ride will probably be the most telling! I'm looking forward to the write-up!

[shot2bits]

momentofmadness said:

Bloody good test ride will probably be the most telling! I'm looking forward to the write-up!

Yeah, will try my best to write something half decent

The thing that interests me is the weight - the stats suggest my 1000 is basically the same weight (or there abouts) as a 600 yet it feels much heavier to push around against my mates 2006 R6 so I'm confused The mags also suggest the K6 1000 basically feels like a 600 so let's see because a recent sit on a Daytona 675 felt like the bike was so light it would float away - could flick it from side to side at 0mph much easier than my 1000...

[chilli]

shot2bits said:

Edit to say that I'm starting to think cornering at 100+mph is normal and that 150mph really isn't that fast

Edited by shot2bits on Wednesday 25th April 22:01

Funny isn't it. On the way into town, there's a slight bend in the A12 (just as the M25 goes averhead) and a now take this at around 120/125 (leptons, not mph obviously) and that is almost normal. Before I started biking, I'd have never gone that fast in the car. Doesn't feel "overly" fast really.

[hobo]

Ah yes Chilli, but you're now 'safe' in the fact that if it all goes tits up halfway through the corner, you can straighten up & go through the gap in the hedge you made last time.

[chilli]

hobo said:

Ah yes Chilli, but you're now 'safe' in the fact that if it all goes tits up halfway through the corner, you can straighten up & go through the gap in the hedge you made last time.

Cheers

[black-k1]

shot2bits said:

Edit to say that I'm starting to think cornering at 100+mph is normal and that 150mph really isn't that fast

I know exactly what you mean and my worry is that, regardless how safe/dangerous it is/seems, if caught at 150mph you are seriously looking at the possibility of a short break at "Her Majesty’s pleasure" followed by a long period of public transport usage.

[Mad Dave]

biker's nemesis said:

In the Early 90s I went from a FZR 1000exup to FZR 600 Genesis and Initially thought I'd made a big mistake. After giving it a few weeks I realy started to enjoy the lighter weight and "flick ability", yes you will miss the mid-range but you'll soon learn to live with it.

IMO you've probably already made your mind up, if you're even considering trying a 600, then again, if after a year your not that keen you could always go back to the litre bikes.

My 25yr Bike History. (Hopefully in order)


FS1E,YB100,GT185,GT250,RD250,RD400,KC100,RD350LC,RD350YPVS,RD500YPVS,FZR1000Genesis, FZR1000exup,FZR600 X2,FZR1000exupRU,FZR600 X2 again,YZF750,YZF750SP,R1(1999),KTMsupermoto, R1(2004),Husky250,R1(2005),CBR600RR.. Next bike? god knows.

Next bike? Looking at the pattern of your history, you're due another R1?!

[hornetrider]

Maybe a Gixxer 750 would be the right bike for you - more power and torque than the 6 but less than the thou?

[YamR1V64motion]

the new 600RR is meant to be a brilliant bike, with a noticiable boost in mid range over the old model, many mags have rated it the best in the 600 shoot out and been a Honda its very unlikely to be badly engineered, when i get my insurance pay out im strongly considering one of these myself so i would be inerested to hear your thoughts after he test ride.

[hobo]

Or maybe a new GSXR1000 with the 3 map facility ?

[YamR1V64motion]

hobo said:

Or maybe a new GSXR1000 with the 3 map facility ?

to tell the truth i dont hink that would restrain anyone, yes you can limit the bikes power but how many people are actually going to? as they know they have the full fire breathing power of a GSXR 1000 on tap, i know i couldnt.

[shot2bits]

hobo said:

Or maybe a new GSXR1000 with the 3 map facility ?

It's the light weight I'm after more than anything - I'm guessing the 3map would turn the 1000 into a heavy 600.