2007 R1 vs 2007 GSXR 1000

[richtvr]

changing my tl 1000r and am stuck between these two bikes, the only problem i have is seems as i'm 20 no one will let me test ride them. the write ups on the R1 in MCN are very good on it and the GSXR not rated as good as the old one (K6). but Performance bike rate the new gixer. has anyone on here got ever bike yet if so whats your verdict

cheers

rich

[veetwin]

I have ridden my friend's K7 Gixer Thou and like the bike. Great braking, handling, acceleration is the same as the blade on 14/42 gearing. Even though it is a fantastic bike, I would choose the blade again due to the overall build quality. Suzukis seem a bit brittle to me. On the track it matches the blade like for like in all areas. None of the bikes gaining anything anywhere.

No information on the Yam, sorry.

[essex.newb!!]

could only give an opinion based on looks.....r1 every time

although the stealth suzi looks pretty awesome

[richtvr]

veetwin have you riden the k6 thou as this is said to be even better handling. the onlything what makes me swing towards the R1 is that i don't want to pay £7300 for a k6 when it's an old model when i can pay £7699 for the new R1.

[BobM]

I was choosing between these two and rode them more or less back to back. The only real noticeable difference for me was the riding position although I didn't really open the taps on either. I'm 6' 5" and found the R1 more roomy, I think the footpegs are just a bit lower. I thought maybe the R1 was a bit easier round town, feels very neutral round the slow corners, doesn't try to drop in or anything. On the open road they really felt very similar, both have very smooth motors with great fuelling.

I went for the R1 because it felt comfier for me and I prefer its looks, particularly the underseat exhausts. I had trouble finding an R1 in the colour I wanted (black), most dealers had sold out of R1s with no more available till end of June (I was looking back in early April). One local dealer had got 3 in and sold them all within a fornight having not sold a single new R1 in 2006. I ended up buying an import, bit of a no brainer really at £1,300 below UK list price.

I've done a 1,000 miles on it now and absolutely love it. You can take for granted that it's stupidly fast, but it's just so easy to ride. Makes great crackling noises on the overrun too

[veetwin]

richtvr said:

veetwin have you riden the k6 thou as this is said to be even better handling. the onlything what makes me swing towards the R1 is that i don't want to pay £7300 for a k6 when it's an old model when i can pay £7699 for the new R1.

No, just the K7

[r1_jon]

The magazine reviews of these bikes does make me laugh when they talk about the Gixer being miles ahead of the R1 and others. On the road with average riders it is just meaningless because the bikes are just so much more capable than the rider.

Anyway, get the R1, it looks nicer and is better made.

[jonathanf]

I have the new R1 and it looks lovely. Thats the best reason for buying one

[anonymous-user]

r1_jon said:

The magazine reviews of these bikes does make me laugh when they talk about the Gixer being miles ahead of the R1 and others. On the road with average riders it is just meaningless because the bikes are just so much more capable than the rider.

Anyway, get the R1, it looks nicer and is better made.

Exactly right! I'd love to see a comparison test done by Average Joe, without him knowing which bike was which - I reckon it would make interesting reading . . . errr . .. maybe! Those final percentage difference that the mags find (often only on track too) would be totally lost on tha majority of buyers, so . . . buy on price, comfort, feel and looks and you really can't go far wrong - it's largely subjective anyway, otherwise why would anyone buy a Beemer?

[sjtscott]

I'd love to be able to cost effectively insure either of those two.
Out of interest how does a 20 year old get insurance for a TLR let alone R1 or Gixxer1k? We must be talking multiple £K per year at least for a new 1k 4 cylinder. Guess if money is no object then its possible.
I can afford either of the bikes no problem but can't justify the cost per year in insurance let alone get quotes from some companies. Oh and it will def get nicked from where I live in East London, I had enough hassle with a gixxer600 that went walkies hence being hammered for just a CBR600 per year.

Edited by sjtscott on Monday 21st May 16:05

[C8PPO]

veetwin said:

richtvr said:

veetwin have you riden the k6 thou as this is said to be even better handling. the onlything what makes me swing towards the R1 is that i don't want to pay £7300 for a k6 when it's an old model when i can pay £7699 for the new R1.

No, just the K7

Go see if you can find yourself a K6 to test. I'm on my 2nd (first one stolen... ) and bought the first after having a K2. I can honestly say that the K6 sold itself to me within about 2 miles of starting the test ride - and this was on a cold damp day! The handling is awesome, just awesome.

To further put it in perspective for you, a close mate of mine (ex-BemSee racer) had a K3 which he'd had all manner of work done on, including custom suspension at both ends (he understands these things!). Anyway, I offered him a lap of the Nurburgring on my K6 on one of our trips last year, and on the strength of that one lap he went straight out and bought a K6 when we got back, without a further test ride. Says it all for me!

The K7 is apparently good but as someone said further up, plenty of testers rate the K6 higher. And then there's the cost of junking those twin cannons, er, exhausts, to factor in!

[slim_boy_fat]

r1_jon said:

The magazine reviews of these bikes does make me laugh when they talk about the Gixer being miles ahead of the R1 and others. On the road with average riders it is just meaningless because the bikes are just so much more capable than the rider.

Anyway, get the R1, it looks nicer and is better made.

That about sums it up. Buy any litre bike and you will love it.

Buy the one that fits and you like the look of.

I bought my zx10 without riding it, and i love the bike.

I ride like an old woman so a 100cc scooter would probably do me!!!

[2priestsferrari]

I have a K7 - I guess looks wise you have to decide for yourself but performance wise the K7 blows everything and anything into the weeds, period.

It will indicate 186mph (all it goes too on the clocks) in 5th gear...

But don't take my word for it if you saw any film of the North West 200 suzuki blew everything away and I can't see the Isle of Man TT being any different...

[slim_boy_fat]

2priestsferrari said:

I have a K7 - I guess looks wise you have to decide for yourself but performance wise the K7 blows everything and anything into the weeds, period.

It will indicate 186mph (all it goes too on the clocks) in 5th gear...

But don't take my word for it if you saw any film of the North West 200 suzuki blew everything away and I can't see the Isle of Man TT being any different...

You must have been watching a different NW200 to me.


Dont believe eveything you read in the mags.

[R1_nur]

I have an 07 R1 and it is great except for a bit of a weird unpredictable throttle response. I wish I had kept my 04 bike.

Not tried the GSXR but I agree with the general opinion it won't make much difference.

[veetwin]

2priestsferrari said:

I have a K7 - I guess looks wise you have to decide for yourself but performance wise the K7 blows everything and anything into the weeds, period.

It will indicate 186mph (all it goes too on the clocks) in 5th gear...

But don't take my word for it if you saw any film of the North West 200 suzuki blew everything away and I can't see the Isle of Man TT being any different...

Then why can't my K7 owning chum shrug the old Firebucket off in any circumstances? Road, track, corner speed, braking, acceleration (any gear), top end roll on.

We are both at the same (or similar) skill level.

Don't read into the hype too much, the media are tainted by the manufacturer's ability to shower them with luxury on the press releases. I guarantee that average Joe would be hard pushed to notice the difference apart from riding position and colour.

Pick the litre bike you most like the look of, test ride it, then if happy buy it.

[2priestsferrari]

Your mate must be shit - sorry to be rude but a K7 GSX-R 1000 murders everything and anything from an engine point of view.

Hey not saying this is the be all and end all in bike ownership but from an engine strength point of view the K7 is strongest. Either your mate is a poor rider, he is using the low power engine map or the Fireblade is not stock.

I'd take bets off anyone that the K7 GSX-R will be the production bike to have come the TT, which is about as real world as it gets..

[r1_jon]

2priestsferrari said:

Your mate must be shit - sorry to be rude but a K7 GSX-R 1000 murders everything and anything from an engine point of view.

I disagree, a K7 does not 'murder' a CBR1000, R1 or ZX10 from an engine point of view. My vague recollection of the tests I have seen put the K7's rear wheel power maybe 5bhp above the others. Christ, you can find more than 5bhp variance between the same bikes straight from the factory.

2priestsferrari said:

Hey not saying this is the be all and end all in bike ownership but from an engine strength point of view the K7 is strongest. Either your mate is a poor rider, he is using the low power engine map or the Fireblade is not stock.

Yes the K7 is the strongest engine but by about 5%(max) maybe which doesn't actually mean much when you take into account all the other variables in the equation.

2priestsferrari said:

I'd take bets off anyone that the K7 GSX-R will be the production bike to have come the TT, which is about as real world as it gets..

You might be right on this point but that is where the 5% above might make a difference; in a race where the bike is in the hands of driving gods, not average bikers.

[veetwin]

[quote=2priestsferrari]Your mate must be shit - No, he isn't
He is using the low power engine map - No he isn't
The Fireblade is not stock - Bingo (Yoshimura RS-5 and 14/42 Gearing)
[quote]

I rode the K7 and wasn't that impressed, it was easier to get your knee down on but that was about it. Also the build quality is poor compared to the Honda and Yamaha. The rear sprocket looks like it came from a Meccano set.

[2priestsferrari]

Mate like I said in my posts before engine power is not the be all and end all and ultimately you pay your money and make your choice... I'm not blinkered to that by any means.

But you can't deny the engine advantage Suzuki have right now. You say 5% power advantage as if it is a trivial matter - that is a huge number and actually if you are a naff rider then you'll need all the help you can get..Not sure about you but I think you and I can ride down the straight bits as well and Rossi - so it follows that in this area we can all make full use of the equipment available.

The NW200 was visible proof that Suzuki's could just pull out and frankly take the piss in a straight line. But hey the GSX-R isn't shabby in the corners..I mean it had to be within a few bike lengths in the first place to make the most of its power advantage.

Back in the real world as I said before I take your point but then again my K7 will do nearly 130mph in 2nd gear. We have 600cc bike that will do over 170mph, so you could just as easily argue its all pointless and we should just ride 125's?