Bike conundrum - what would you do?

[6x6]

OK chaps here's a puzzle for you.

Currently I have a '02 CBR6FSport owned from new and a '04 BMW R1100SS that I picked up last year.

I have to confess since getting the BMW I've not used the CBR a great deal on the road. I love trackdays but haven't done many recently, so obviously my thoughts have turned to flogging the CBR and getting a trackbike, with enough left over for that set of leathers I need

Alternatively, for what they're worth together I could have a single bike that's a bit silly.... litre supersport, K1200S or something along those lines.

Hmmmmmmm......

[M1CK]

Flog the CBR and get a track bike, you should have plenty of change left over.

Or just buy some race fairings for it keeping all the originals for when you sell it.

[Mad Dave]

I can't imagine the CBR F is particularly sharp on track, and that BMW's gotta be worth a pretty penny, so why not have your cake and eat it? Sell both, buy a ZX6R as a trackbike (may even find a crash damaged one cheap and just fit track fairings) and buy a litre supersport for the road - I paid £4250 for my '03 R1 and i'm sure you could get one for less than that on eBay.

[y2blade]

how about a K1200R ....yeah baby

[6x6]

Mad Dave said:

I can't imagine the CBR F is particularly sharp on track, and that BMW's gotta be worth a pretty penny, so why not have your cake and eat it? Sell both, buy a ZX6R as a trackbike (may even find a crash damaged one cheap and just fit track fairings) and buy a litre supersport for the road - I paid £4250 for my '03 R1 and i'm sure you could get one for less than that on eBay.

It's not that sharp you're right. I've had a track bike in the past and the CBR is too soft, the pegs go down everywhere, plus there's the fear of what it'll cost if it goes down. Plus the lack of track tyres and extra weight were I reckon slowing me up by about 3 seconds a lap compared to the old track machine. And you don't half feel an arse when you're the only person in the fast group with headlights

I have investigated crash damaged machines and from salvage dealers they cost a fortune! The only way to get one cheap is to beat the dealers to it at the auction.

If I had a trackbike the sportsbike fix could still be had when I needed and I'd want something a bit more all round for the road, so I'd probably keep the BM. (It's not worth as much as you think it is )

[kingb]

Mad Dave said:

I can't imagine the CBR F is particularly sharp on track, and that BMW's gotta be worth a pretty penny, so why not have your cake and eat it? Sell both, buy a ZX6R as a trackbike (may even find a crash damaged one cheap and just fit track fairings) and buy a litre supersport for the road - I paid £4250 for my '03 R1 and i'm sure you could get one for less than that on eBay.

i think this guys speaks alot of sence.

i looked at bikes similar to your that were selling on ebay and assuming yours would reach the same money set myself a budget and found you could have a lovely looking ZX10R road bike and either a 636 or ZX7 trackbike. with a bit of extra money left over for those leathers 2!!

[6x6]

Nah you're missing the point slightly.

I like the all round abilities of the BM, personally I think things like that make better road bikes than race reps - and if I had a trackbike I wouldn't feel the need to have another sportsbike in the garage.

[Mattmeister]

6x6 said:

Nah you're missing the point slightly.

I like the all round abilities of the BM, personally I think things like that make better road bikes than race reps - and if I had a trackbike I wouldn't feel the need to have another sportsbike in the garage.

agreed, BMW make superb road bikes for those who arent obsessed with speed above all other things... i use to think of my R1100S as a characterful GT like an XKR or DB9 versus the Jap litre bikes which i would compare to maybe Scooby or Skyline. (fast but lacks class/character) its horses for courses of course....or perhaps more like bikes for tracks? sorry im rambling now..........

[black-k1]

Mattmeister said:

6x6 said:

Nah you're missing the point slightly.

I like the all round abilities of the BM, personally I think things like that make better road bikes than race reps - and if I had a trackbike I wouldn't feel the need to have another sportsbike in the garage.

agreed, BMW make superb road bikes for those who arent obsessed with speed above all other things... i use to think of my R1100S as a characterful GT like an XKR or DB9 versus the Jap litre bikes which i would compare to maybe Scooby or Skyline. (fast but lacks class/character) its horses for courses of course....or perhaps more like bikes for tracks?

Totally agree . For “real world” road use it is hard to beat a BMW and the 1100S is a great bike, full of character, respectably quick and practical.

From the original post, I would suggest trying both the K1200S and the R1200S. If neither ‘lights your fire’ then keep the 1100S, sell the Honda, buy a track bike and spend the rest of the money on a trip to the Alps/Pyrenees on the BMW.

[6x6]

black-k1 said:

Mattmeister said:

6x6 said:

Nah you're missing the point slightly.

I like the all round abilities of the BM, personally I think things like that make better road bikes than race reps - and if I had a trackbike I wouldn't feel the need to have another sportsbike in the garage.

agreed, BMW make superb road bikes for those who arent obsessed with speed above all other things... i use to think of my R1100S as a characterful GT like an XKR or DB9 versus the Jap litre bikes which i would compare to maybe Scooby or Skyline. (fast but lacks class/character) its horses for courses of course....or perhaps more like bikes for tracks?

Totally agree . For “real world” road use it is hard to beat a BMW and the 1100S is a great bike, full of character, respectably quick and practical.

From the original post, I would suggest trying both the K1200S and the R1200S. If neither ‘lights your fire’ then keep the 1100S, sell the Honda, buy a track bike and spend the rest of the money on a trip to the Alps/Pyrenees on the BMW.

Hmmmmm... I had a K1200S for a day when the 11 was in for a service. I found it - and I hesitate to say this - *too fast*.... not as in scary, cos it wasn't... as in you had to get it up to stupid speeds before you felt like it was doing any work. And the gearbox was totally redundant. 3rd is good for everything from 30 to 120 so why use anything else. The handling and stability were superb though.

Methinks I need to get me a go on a R1200S

[black-k1]

6x6 said:

Hmmmmm... I had a K1200S for a day when the 11 was in for a service. I found it - and I hesitate to say this - *too fast*.... not as in scary, cos it wasn't... as in you had to get it up to stupid speeds before you felt like it was doing any work. And the gearbox was totally redundant. 3rd is good for everything from 30 to 120 so why use anything else. The handling and stability were superb though.

Methinks I need to get me a go on a R1200S

That is exactly what I thought of the K1200S, great bike but possibly "too good" at going fast. (As I said in another thread, my license and liberty are too precious.)

I’ve not tried a R1200S yet but I must admit, I am tempted to try it. If you give it a go, let me know what you think.

[Mattmeister]

black-k1 said:

[If you give it a go, let me know what you think.

me too! do they do any decent colours yet?

the launch colour schemes were all pretty grim...

[scobby17]

6x6 said:

Hmmmmm... I had a K1200S for a day when the 11 was in for a service. I found it - and I hesitate to say this - *too fast*.... not as in scary, cos it wasn't... as in you had to get it up to stupid speeds before you felt like it was doing any work. And the gearbox was totally redundant. 3rd is good for everything from 30 to 120 so why use anything else. The handling and stability were superb though.

Methinks I need to get me a go on a R1200S

Yep they are really fast, we had a few of them on the focused events days for demo's and naturally we had to try them out in the interests of safety . Darkies, oh yes, brakes - fantastic, even turning the bike was really easy. Very impressed.

Downsides as a track bike - the tyres do not last long Again in the interests of science we worked out you might, just might, get a single track day out of a rear.