For those that read it, you’ll remember I went to a dealer to test ride an Aprilia RSV1000R and GSX-R1000 two weeks ago. Well, they had naff all fuel available so I only got fifteen minutes on the RSV that day ( http://londonbikers.com/forums/shwmessage.aspx?forumid=35&messageid=33627 ). Today I arranged to go back and try again, this time actually getting on the GSXR.
If you didn’t know, I ride a GSX-R750 K3 normally so was very interested in how the 1000cc bike compared. They had a K2, K3 and a K4 model available for riding, so naturally I took the latest and opted for the K4. I supposed to give the biggest indicator in difference between the 750 and 1000 I should have gone for the same version as mine, but I wanted the most recent!
Controls are very similar; just a couple of tweaks, so that was no different really. The same could not be said about the riding position, however, which felt quite different. Not massively, but the bike felt a touch more compact and a bit narrower which was a tad surprising. Also on the move it felt nimbler (which hardly seemed possible) and extremely responsive. I don’t know if the geometry changed between the K3 and K4 (or even between the 750 and 1000) but it felt like it. Being that the bike felt different from the off, it’s highly likely. It was impressive, however, that the flickable nature of the bike did not mean it lost any stability at speed. I noticed it was fitted with the same OEM steering damper as my K3 and I’m sure it needs it.
Onto the power (which was the real reason for the ride! 
). I can sum it up in one word: never-ending. Due partly to the torque, I’m sure, it pulls from nothing all the way to the redline. One of the most noticeable things about my 750 when I moved from a 600 was the fact that so much more of the rev range was usable. On a 600 you have to keep in the top half of the rev range to make full use of it’s potential. The same is true of the 750 to a degree, except that it would pull from lower down and would do so acceptably well. The 1000 is like taking that jump again. It will begin to pull hard (for example) from 4,000 revs in top gear. I didn’t nail it too much in the lower gears (£1,000 excess hanging over my head if I binned it) but the front wheel went light everywhere. Might save you some money on tyres but will ultimately cost more in front forks! 
110mph in second gear is about the same as my 750, so I don’t know if the gearing has been altered, but either way, it flies! Final thing to mention is the sound. My 750 with a race Akrapovich sounds nice, but the 1000cc bike with a standard can sounded awesome. Imagine what it’d be like with a nice illegal exhaust…
I got back to the dealer and declined the offer of the RSV again on two grounds; a) It was bloody freezing this morning and my fingers were blue b) after riding it before, and now having ridden the GSXR I knew it stood no chance. The lazy power delivery of the twin just does nothing for me, and if I felt like that on a test ride, what would I be like owning it?
So, the GSX-R is the bike of the two, no doubt about it. Do I need that much power on the road? Of course not, and I already knew it. Do I want it? Yes please! Now, anyone want to lend me a couple of grand?
GSX-R750 K3 vs GSX-R1000 K4
Dry Weight: 166kgs : 168kgs
Power: 123bhp : 144bhp
Torque: 63.4 lb/ft : 74.8 lb/ft
I had planned to drag Jeanette along to the dealers because they had a big sale on today and also to get her first ride on her new NC30. She’s been bunged up with flu since yesterday so didn’t fancy it. I did send her in the car though because I was on the look out for a nice big Goretex jacket and wouldn’t be able to carry it back. Did I find a jacket? No. But my credit card did find a nice new armoured Dainese jacket for Jeanette (to replace the crappy Buffalo one she’s currently using). She better not mention Valentine’s Day in my vacinity! Anway, £150 reduced from £299. Just needs some trousers and then she’ll be ready for the track!
Attachments
