Hi boys and gals, finally a thread from me where i’m not whinging about something
I’m looking for a bit of guidance from anyone who has ridden both a 600 sports bike and a 1000cc. I’ve got a ZX636 2005 at the mo and use it for everything including commuting (11000 miles), but I’m getting a 2000 ZR7 for that job. So what to do with the Ninja?
Do I spend money on new Brake discs, power commander to go with the end can etc etc… Or I am very tempted to chop it in for a new Fireblade since I know a guy who can get me 1 at a ridiculously low price. What i’d like to know is, I enjoy my weekend riding through the twisty’s and do the occasional Track Day. The chasis on the ninja is planted and really enjoyable but you need to rev the **** out of it to have any fun which is starting to infuriate me, and the constant changing of gears. So would I be better going down the thou route? I’ve heard alot of people recently have changed back to 600 from a 1000 and commented on how much more fun they are.
So what would people who have ridden both recommend…???
I’m with you guys in that I reckon a 750 would be the way to go, but I kinda just wish there was more choice. Not to say that I don’t like the suzuki as origionally I was really thinking about getting 1 and they sound great as standard ( really like the new TT blue edition).
It’s more the fact that the guy I know mentioned he could get me a blad at cost it gets your mind wandering places, that maybe it shouldn’t.
I’ve ridden the 04/05 model blade and the 06 too - the 06 is quite a lot better than the previous incarnation the minor tweaks to gearing and wheelbase have made it more rideable.
The only comment I would make about the blade is it makes going fast too damn easy… i.e. oh I’m doing 140… . Everyone raves about the GSXR750, B has or had one and he rated it - think his is/was a K6.
If I was in the market for a sports bike it would probably be a 600 or 750 rather than a thou for self control issues. Not sure what’s with the current crop of sports bikes, but they seem to be designed for midgets
Good point biggus regarding size. Forgot too mention I’m 6ft 4 and this does really become an issue for me. The ZX6R C1 was a nice bulky size whcih felt comfy for me. However having sat on the new R6, CBR and GSXR 600’s they are all way too small. 750 not soo bad. Not sure whether a thou would be more comfy for me.
When going 120 on the R6, you’d know about it…On the R1 it’s only just clearing its throught and that catches me out until I look down
The R6, you’d have to work the gearbox anywhere you were, especially in town…The R1 you can just leave in third…Even from a stand still at a push.
I think a litre bike belongs on track…So far I’ve found it easier to manage…You can concentrate on your lines as being precise with your gear changes isn’t as big a deal.
It depends what you’re after…A 600 / 750 is a more involving ride because you have to work the gearbox to be in the power sweet spot, but a litre bike allows you to use your attention elsewhere as long as you can be considerate with your throttle hand.
Having ridden both 600 and 1000 sports bikes, I am currently on an 05 Blade, I would say go with the 600. When I went out on the 600 you felt like you had ridden it, you could scream the nuts off it and feel like you are getting the most out of it. On the 1000 bikes if you scream the nuts off it you are asking for trouble, and they do catch you out, the number of times I have looked down to find myself doing 140+ thinking I was doing about 90 - 100. They do make you a bit lazy as you don’t have to try so hard, if you are in too low a gear then not to worry as you usually have the low down grunt to get you out of it.
You can’t really get anywhere near there full potential, and I find that a bit frustrating and then end up screaming the nuts off the Blade and doing stupid speeds just to get the thrill of taking it to the max which is no less thrilling than taking the 600 to the max only a few weeks less in jail if you get nicked.
I am enjoying the Blade but I will go back to a 600 when I have finished with this one.
But if you have never had a 1000cc then I would say go for it, you have nothing to lose (apart from your licence) and if you don’t like it then change it again!
I do totally agree with you Trojan, I’m never likely to be able to ride a 600 to it’s full potential let alone a 1000. It’s more at the moment I seem to be having to change gears an awful lot and have to be keeping the bike in between 7000 and 8000 revs to have any fun. Maybe that means I’m getting lazy and but having a 1000 would mean less work and more time to concentrate and enjoy. Providing my right hand doesn’t get twitchy…
As for the MV Augusta and Vtwin suggestions. Weeeeellll if I had the money I might be suaded with a 1098s.
All this talk is making me want to go out and test ride now…
After popping to the shops on Foxy’s new 750 and coming back a long time later with the biggest grin on my face, I can tell you, the 750 is just god-damned INCREDIBLE! Sod big bikes.
I don’t claim to be Carl Foggerty, but I know what you mean when you say a 6 is more effort in terms of keeping gear selection right, to keep revs at the right level to get the power you want as you wind on the gas again.
Many bods here I’m sure can and do ride a 600 to close to or to its limit, but I doubt there are any who can say they can do that on a litre bike - unless there are some pro racers on the site.
Good luck trying to red line a litre bike in anything over 2nd gear
Was this close to deciding on buying a FZ1 litre bike today but have read some dodgy reviews, some mentioning throttle on off jerkyness. Need to test some more ‘upright’ litre bikes me thinks…
Then at least I can say I had ago.