Today I rode:

[308mate]

A new R1, a new GSXR600, the current Fireblade and a current GSXR750. Round Silverstone.

Sadly it wasn't the arena circuit, it was the national circuit but it was still bloody good cause I haven't ridden silverstone at all.

Didn't think much to the R1 it pains me to say. Deceptively, mind bendingly quick but ruined by hideous mid corner fueling/power delivery.

GSXR600 was loads of fun. Most time I've spent on a 600 and I cocked up the gears a bit while I got used to it. Definitely got a new found enthusiasm for 600s.

Blade was easiest to ride. Real quality feel, easy, planted and FEELS faster than the R1, but this was not borne out on the speedo. R1 wasn't as enjoyable but assuming the speedos can be believed, loads faster. Maybe it was just more accesible to me cause I have one? Anyway, others had similar experience.

GSXR750? Well now I really get these. Not ridden one since I did about half hour on an old SRAD on the road. But now I REALLY get the 750. None of the previous 3 bikes made sense compared to this. They're not exactly a best kept secret but if you're a litre bike stalwart who has avoided anything without 3 zeros in the name, it's worth swallowing your pride for and trying out. I'm a convert. Now if only Yamaha made one these days....

Anyway, this is all purely subjective and IMO yaaada yaaada

In other news, parked behind me was a black ZX6 with a sissy bar and a "CMR" sticker on the screen.

[Rawwr]

I do miss my 750 sometimes

It really was accessibly thrashable. I never really lived in fear of it trying to kill me and it just begged to be caned like a filthy little we. Though as you said, the Blade is 'easy' and just gets on with it, and of all the litre bikes I tried at the time, the Blade felt the most connected and compliant without any of the IMGOINGTOKILLYOUIMGOINGTOKILLYOU feeling that you get with the ZX10R.

YMMV.

[smack]

I stopped by late in the afternoon, but all that was running was the Haslom School...

[308mate]

smack said:

I stopped by late in the afternoon, but all that was running was the Haslom School...

We were still running the national circuit until half four. I think Haslam were using another section and the European GT boys were setting up too. It was standing room only. Capirossi evaluating new Arena circuit for GP use Thursday by the way.

[Chilli]

The GSXR750....IMO, the perfect bike.

[y2blade]

thanks for sharing your thoughts

[Battlecat]

Great aren't they.

Due to the 25th anniversary of GSXR, MCN did a feature on them last week and came to the same verdict.

[RemaL]

308mate said:

A new R1, a new GSXR600, the current Fireblade and a current GSXR750. Round Silverstone.

Did you see a chap, 5ft 10" little goatee, talked with a South west accent called Chris. As my mate was also there

[Biker's Nemesis]

Did you ride the R1 in "a" mode?

[_DeeJay_]

Rawwr said:

without any of the IMGOINGTOKILLYOUIMGOINGTOKILLYOU feeling that you get with the ZX10R.

YMMV.

I do wonder if I'm just too slow a rider to appreciate how scarey the zx10 is. I've got an 05 plate (dyno's at a conservative 163BHP at the wheel on a non-dynojet dyno) and it feels like a pussy cat. Admittedly, it's not stock but it's a really easy bike to ride (too) fast and it never feels like it wants to kill me.

What's scarey about them, and at what speeds do they become so?

Edited by _DeeJay_ on Thursday 29th April 11:07

[Biker's Nemesis]

_DeeJay_ said:

Rawwr said:

without any of the IMGOINGTOKILLYOUIMGOINGTOKILLYOU feeling that you get with the ZX10R.

YMMV.

I do wonder if I'm just too slow a rider to appreciate how scarey the zx10 is. I've got an 05 plate (dyno's at a conservative 163BHP on a non-dynojet dyno) and it feels like a pussy cat. Admittedly, it's not stock but it's a really easy bike to ride (too) fast and it never feels like it wants to kill me.

What's scarey about them, and at what speeds do they become so?

There's nothing scary about them if you're a competent rider.

[308mate]

Biker's Nemesis said:

Did you ride the R1 in "a" mode?

Good question.

I wasnt able to find anyone close at hand for that session who could tell me watch each mode did, so I flicked through them and settled on "std", in case A & B were softer settings assuming that standard would be just that. I wish I'd read up on it now.

Having said that, we were sat with a magazine Journo at lunch and asked his thoughts. He said the launch bikes were all faultless but of the 15-20 he's ridden since, he didnt think any two were the same and although there were good ones, the majority of those had a snatchy power delivery which would was worse in "A" mode.

Regardless, I never selected A mode myself so cant comment. They were only 25min sessions so I wanted to just set it and use the opportunity to concentrate on my riding.

Oh and the new Dunlop GP Racers are really really good. Which was to be expected really.

[Biker's Nemesis]

308mate said:

Biker's Nemesis said:

Did you ride the R1 in "a" mode?

Good question.

I wasnt able to find anyone close at hand for that session who could tell me watch each mode did, so I flicked through them and settled on "std", in case A & B were softer settings assuming that standard would be just that. I wish I'd read up on it now.

Having said that, we were sat with a magazine Journo at lunch and asked his thoughts. He said the launch bikes were all faultless but of the 15-20 he's ridden since, he didnt think any two were the same and although there were good ones, the majority of those had a snatchy power delivery which would was worse in "A" mode.

Regardless, I never selected A mode myself so cant comment. They were only 25min sessions so I wanted to just set it and use the opportunity to concentrate on my riding.

Oh and the new Dunlop GP Racers are really really good. Which was to be expected really.

All modes give the same peak power. Std is well what it says, B is for rain, I used b mode for the first time last week and it felt good in the wet, fely like the bike had an extra 100 kilo's attached to it low down the reves but once wound up it was as it would be usually.

A mode, not any good at all for riding on the road IMO as it's far to aggresive, the smalest amount of throttle see's the bike lurching forward, not good when you're on a bumpy road at full lean.

My road bike doesn't have any snatchines at all, infact it's so smooth and predictable it's a pleasure to ride, my mates 09 track bike on the other hand is a bit of a nightmare, rolling off the throttle and then back on it snatches all the time, it takes a while to get used to it. His bike has a Bazzaz TC/PC3 type of thing fitted, I was kind of thinking it could be that?

I ride with 3 other lads on the road that have 09 R1's and they've not mentioned anything other than a hatred of the "a" mode for road riding.

[Dibble]

Biker's Nemesis said:

I ride with 3 other lads on the road that have 09 R1's and they've not mentioned anything other than a hatred of the "pink" mode for road riding.

EFA

[Biker's Nemesis]

Dibble said:

Biker's Nemesis said:

I ride with 3 other lads on the road that have 09 R1's and they've not mentioned anything other than a hatred of the "pink" mode for road riding.

EFA

Dibble you bastid.

[Castrol Craig]

Dibble said:

Biker's Nemesis said:

I ride with 3 other lads on the road that have 09 R1's and they've not mentioned anything other than a hatred of the "pink" mode for road riding.

EFA

he shoots....he scores.

[Dibble]

Biker's Nemesis said:

Dibble said:

Biker's Nemesis said:

I ride with 3 other lads on the road that have 09 R1's and they've not mentioned anything other than a hatred of the "pink" mode for road riding.

EFA

Dibble you bastid.

Sorry. Ish. Actually... No.

[thewildblue]

Rawwr said:

I do miss my 750 sometimes

It really was accessibly thrashable. I never really lived in fear of it trying to kill me and it just begged to be caned like a filthy little we. Though as you said, the Blade is 'easy' and just gets on with it, and of all the litre bikes I tried at the time, the Blade felt the most connected and compliant without any of the IMGOINGTOKILLYOUIMGOINGTOKILLYOU feeling that you get with the ZX10R.

YMMV.

Isnt that what makes the 10R so much fun ? I know riding mine makes me grin like a bd and feel happy to be alive everytime I return home.

[308mate]

Biker's Nemesis said:

308mate said:

Biker's Nemesis said:

Did you ride the R1 in "a" mode?

Good question.

I wasnt able to find anyone close at hand for that session who could tell me watch each mode did, so I flicked through them and settled on "std", in case A & B were softer settings assuming that standard would be just that. I wish I'd read up on it now.

Having said that, we were sat with a magazine Journo at lunch and asked his thoughts. He said the launch bikes were all faultless but of the 15-20 he's ridden since, he didnt think any two were the same and although there were good ones, the majority of those had a snatchy power delivery which would was worse in "A" mode.

Regardless, I never selected A mode myself so cant comment. They were only 25min sessions so I wanted to just set it and use the opportunity to concentrate on my riding.

Oh and the new Dunlop GP Racers are really really good. Which was to be expected really.

the smalest amount of throttle see's the bike lurching forward, not good when you're on a bumpy road at full lean.

// my mates 09 track bike on the other hand is a bit of a nightmare, rolling off the throttle and then back on it snatches all the time

Those symptoms are exactly what I found. Liveable (just) if you have a clear line through a corner but on a track day picking through traffic, you're on and off the throttle trying to pick a line. It trips over itself off the gas and getting back on, the bike suddenly fires forwards out from between your legs like a Wyle E Coyote cartoon.

The difference between yours and your mates would seem to back up the journo's experience.

Edited by 308mate on Thursday 29th April 19:29

[308mate]

RemaL said:

308mate said:

A new R1, a new GSXR600, the current Fireblade and a current GSXR750. Round Silverstone.

Did you see a chap, 5ft 10" little goatee, talked with a South west accent called Chris. As my mate was also there

I may have done. More likely to recognise the leathers and helmet though!

I was Black Arlen Ness leathers and blue Kagayama rep lid in yellow group.

Edited by 308mate on Thursday 29th April 19:51