View Full Version : GSX-R 750 K8 or CBR900 Fireblade (954cc)
There is a buyer's guide for the 954cc Fireblade in "Bike" mag this month.
They compare that version of the blade to the current GSX-R 750.
I'd never thought of upgrading to any of the litre bikes just yet, but would love a GSX-R 750!
Given that i'd have to get finance for a GSX-R K8, but could probably get the blade outright suddenly getting a fireblade looks really tempting.
How close a match are they? And is it a good upgrade from an SV650S, 3 years commuting, ~15k, road use - no trackdays yet.
I think there are a few on this forum, Hovis? Jelster?
http://www.deeknow.com/notes/motorbike/blade/images/RR3-03-954.jpg
kwak zzr
30-12-08, 11:22 PM
GSXR 750 finest bike ever built!
kwak zzr
30-12-08, 11:23 PM
ooo check out the insurance, it was the only thing stopping me from buying one.
:laughat:GSXR 750 finest bike ever built!
test ride them you must
i thought i wanted a gixxer1000, untill i rode the blade, i loves it and the 954 is the best looking of them all. and its surprisingly confortable
and £3500 for a blade tis a bargin against £8000 for a gixxer
oh and its a honda, so tis all good
the blade gets my vote
muffles
31-12-08, 04:34 AM
I thought about the 954 Blade when I got my K8 750, same sort of reasons (well, cost mainly, but also power is about the same). Insurance looked around the same from the rough checks I did online.
I love the look of the 954, too. I went for the 750 in the end, partly cos I can (not a good reason, I know!), partly for the warranty, and partly for the extra spangly bits like radial brakes, (probably) sharper handling, etc. Obviously it will hold more value, too.
I haven't really helped you here have I? But one thing I can say is I'm over the moon with the bike I have now - certainly not disappointed in the slightest.
fizzwheel
31-12-08, 08:50 AM
I honestly dont think theres much between them, Peak BHP isnt far off being the same, but IIRC the blade has more Torque.
The only other thing to factor in is the Honda build quality over the Suzuki. My GSXR isnt to bad, its lasted much better than my SV did, but then it doesnt get ridden over winter.
I like that shape blade and I dont think you'll be disappointed whichever one you plump for, but best way of finding out is to get a test ride on both so you can compare them.
:D Test rides in the spring then... my local dealer won't give test rides on 2nd hand bikes though so may have to go a bit further afield. Having read the buyers guide looks like a minefield buying a blade private (e.g. any crash damage can easily damage the engine).
I'm glad no-one came back with "the blade is a monster and will kill you" though!
squirrel_hunter
31-12-08, 12:13 PM
my local dealer won't give test rides on 2nd hand bikes though so may have to go a bit further afield.
Which one you using?
:D Test rides in the spring then... my local dealer won't give test rides on 2nd hand bikes though so may have to go a bit further afield. Having read the buyers guide looks like a minefield buying a blade private (e.g. any crash damage can easily damage the engine). realy? im surprised by that, just do the usual checks, HPI etc (i think i may get the ride mag just for a look)
I'm glad no-one came back with "the blade is a monster and will kill you" though!
:p
oh, and the picture you posted is probably the worst colour scheme, and the can has to go
mike_avfc
31-12-08, 12:17 PM
Which one you using?
that'll be George White, they won't do that. The Honda side will but you have to pay £25 for an hour and if you buy it they take that off.
Fowlers in Bristol may do, or try the one on Gloucester (forgot the name), i think they will.
you definately looking at uppgrading then Tim ??
squirrel_hunter
31-12-08, 12:20 PM
If thats the case then its another reason not to use them. I'd go to ArtDeans, after all they lent me a B-King...
mike_avfc
31-12-08, 12:23 PM
If thats the case then its another reason not to use them. I'd go to ArtDeans, after all they lent me a B-King...
i remember reading that one and was well impressed with it.
so much so, that i called them this morning for a warranty repair on the gixer rather than GW, unfortunately the one lad who is in thei week got beat up at the weekend so is off sick. i'll take the bike in next week now. But after reading your thread earlier in the year they're having my servicing business going forward.
no way would i pay to test ride a bike, i took a blade out from dragon honda in cwbran just to see if i liked it, which i did
then i got one private
and the rr2 (2002) had a few probs, which were sorted out by the time they relesed the rr3
St0rmer66
31-12-08, 12:26 PM
Half the price for the same performance (the 750 might be slightly better handling). I know I'd go for the 'blade :) .
Dangerous Dave
31-12-08, 02:09 PM
For everyday I would personally go for the Fireblade, although both are great bikes (not yet ridden the K8, will do when I see the folks next) the Fireblade is the more rugged.
Best thing for you to do is have a test ride on both, its the only way you will find out which bike suits you and your needs best.
I'd go to ArtDeans
+ 1, I am good friends with the half owner of Artdeans and blag a ride on the shiniest and newest bike when ever I go up to see the folks.
muffles
31-12-08, 04:14 PM
oh, and the picture you posted is probably the worst colour scheme
Sacrilege! That colour scheme is bloody lovely, better than the red/black or yellow/black (sorry!) IMO...not sure if there are other schemes I've not seen.
Dangerous Dave
31-12-08, 04:24 PM
Sacrilege! That colour scheme is bloody lovely, better than the red/black or yellow/black (sorry!) IMO...not sure if there are other schemes I've not seen.
Its all a personal preference, for example my favourite is the white....
http://www.mcnews.com.au/newbikecatalogue/2002/Honda/CBR954/Blue_RHF_700p.JPG
muffles
31-12-08, 05:31 PM
Oh yeah definitely just preference....loving that white though. Think I might have seen it before but forgotten about it!
the white one is an 02
i think it would look betterer with out the blue,
imo the yellow and black one is the best, not the black and yelllow one
rictus01
31-12-08, 06:09 PM
IMHO everyone should at some point own a proper Gixer (only one engine size falls into that description) and weather or not today’s Gixer’s are as outstanding as the late 80's version is debatable*
Given a criteria of sunny Sundays and trackdays of the two the 750 would be my choice but doesn’t have the durability of the Blade, I’d be much happier riding the Honda all year round and touring/distance riding, both bike will do either job well enough it’s just they both have areas they are better at, the Gixer will probably raise the biggest smile**, but the Blade the longest***.
* within it’s current peer group
** handling demon
*** still be riding when the gixer is all tucked up to stop the road salt eating it away.
Cheers Mark
Tim in Belgium
31-12-08, 07:15 PM
Get a blade, leave the GSXRs for me...
chakraist
31-12-08, 07:39 PM
I'd go for the new 'Blade, it's, what, a grand or so more than the 750?
Buy whatever one you like the look off
kwak zzr
31-12-08, 08:17 PM
i got test rides no problems at streetbike Halesowen.
muffles
31-12-08, 11:20 PM
I'd go for the new 'Blade, it's, what, a grand or so more than the 750?
Yeah, but the 1098s are going quite cheap now, I reckon you can get a new-or-nearly-new one for only a grand or two on top of that...maybe even a 1198 base model?
So...that's settled then. 1198 it is :)
Which one you using?
George white, perhaps fowlers. When I start looking seriously I'll look at smaller dealers.
Yeah, but the 1098s are going quite cheap now, I reckon you can get a new-or-nearly-new one for only a grand or two on top of that...maybe even a 1198 base model?
So...that's settled then. 1198 it is :)
LOL.
I'm talking about a 6 year old blade for 3.5k!
Roll on may!
Balky001
01-01-09, 12:41 PM
why the 08 GSXR, get a K6/K7 for £5K, closer to the blade, more aggressive styling and a much better looking exhaust system. With the cash saved a PCIII, half system and off you go. Sorted
you definately looking at uppgrading then Tim ??
Yeah, finance on this bike ends in may - so could sell privately.
Got the blessing from the Mrs to a) buy a new bike, and b) get out on it more!!
Sooooo because i fancy a GSX-R750 but can't afford it outright, if the older blade is equivalent it's pretty tempting!!
Balky001
01-01-09, 02:19 PM
Yeah, finance on this bike ends in may - so could sell privately.
Got the blessing from the Mrs to a) buy a new bike, and b) get out on it more!!
Sooooo because i fancy a GSX-R750 but can't afford it outright, if the older blade is equivalent it's pretty tempting!!
Tim, what's your budget then as £8K vs £3.5K leaves a lot of bikes in between. Are you worried about reliability if you are getting an older GSXR? As long as you get a well cared for one, you could get a 750 for £3.5K that is still reliable. As I said before, £5k on a K6 750 would be my choice
Tim, what's your budget then as £8K vs £3.5K leaves a lot of bikes in between. Are you worried about reliability if you are getting an older GSXR? As long as you get a well cared for one, you could get a 750 for £3.5K that is still reliable. As I said before, £5k on a K6 750 would be my choice
if I could get £2k for my k6 SV650S part-ex or possibly 2.5-3k private, I can lay my hands on £1.5k to get a £3.5k bike.
I could take a small loan to get a 5k bike but really want to have more cash every month.
I am concerned about reliability but if it is from a dealer with warranty or the bike has obviously been well maintained that's fine.
(I hate looking at 2nd hand bikes with dull paint and swirlmarks etc, then a bike next to it immaculate and shiny, I think general appearance shows how the owner cared for the bike)
kwak zzr
01-01-09, 03:47 PM
i think i dropped on lucky with my gixer, its a k7 600 and when i got it it only had 1300 miles on, i hate running in bikes so the last owner did this for me.
this was from a dealer for £5300 with a free service, breakdown recovery and spare data tool fob programmed (for some reason they only had one?)
never had any problems with it, i think there bulletproof.
Alpinestarhero
01-01-09, 03:50 PM
i think there bulletproof.
That they are. My dad's K6 750 has something close to 9000 miles on it now, and he has had a bit of a sticky exhaust valve (cured with some WD40!) and a tailpack rubbing against the tail unit, which he had to repaint (and did a better job than suzuki). No other problems to report, and he;s ridden it in some appaling conitions (a week in france where the sun shone for about 2 hours over the whole week.)
kwak zzr
01-01-09, 03:56 PM
friend of mine has a k1 in yellow and black, he abuses it to hell! its never serviced, its thrashed everywhere! but it never lets him down.
mike_avfc
01-01-09, 05:08 PM
Yeah, finance on this bike ends in may - so could sell privately.
Got the blessing from the Mrs to a) buy a new bike, and b) get out on it more!!
Sooooo because i fancy a GSX-R750 but can't afford it outright, if the older blade is equivalent it's pretty tempting!!
tough one, you do need some kind of warranty / breakdown cover on it as you use it for work. i think you're better off getting rid of yours in a part ex as it's such a buyers market out there. you'll get a better deal on a brand new one as they just aren't shifting them right now. trouble is, the cost will still be there and i don't think the 750 is on 0%.
Whatever you get, we'll have to go out for a blast again when the weather is a bit better.
Balky001
01-01-09, 06:17 PM
I wonder how much more the insurance will be for the blade against a 750? May sway you.
I had a GSXR600 K2 with about 21K on the clock. My mate had it for 2 years and did not run it in properly or was very sympathetic. Considering how hard you rev the little 600 and the number of track days and mileage it did it amazed me that I did not have a single problem with it. A K4/K5 750 would be a great choice for £3K IMO. I got a K6 750 last Feb for just under £6K, with 6k miles on the clock from my local dealer. It is a beautiful bike.
the blade is group 17 just for example my first quote was £2500 which i got down to £600 (age 33 no NCB)
the gixxer is 16,
not too keen on this color
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/HONDA-CBR-900-RR3-FIREBLADE-2003-03-Redg-Only-3700mls_W0QQitemZ300283702833QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK _Motorcycles?hash=item300283702833&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A7%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318
Balky001
01-01-09, 07:01 PM
the blade is group 17 just for example my first quote was £2500 which i got down to £600 (age 33 no NCB)
the gixxer is 16,
not too keen on this color
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/HONDA-CBR-900-RR3-FIREBLADE-2003-03-Redg-Only-3700mls_W0QQitemZ300283702833QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK _Motorcycles?hash=item300283702833&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A7%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318
That is ugly -:pukel: , how much for a paint job, might work out cheap.
kwak zzr
01-01-09, 07:30 PM
last summer i got a price of 7200 for a brand new 750 k8 from chells in stafford.
yorkie_chris
01-01-09, 07:39 PM
That they are. My dad's K6 750 has something close to 9000 miles on it now,
Are you serious? 9k miles proves nothing. Maybe when it's got 10x that on it then comment on reliability!
Dear god this is amazing...
Just got a quote for A 2002 954 FIREBLADE worth £3500.... £300 fully comp!
2003 GSXR-750 worth £3500 £181 fully comp (also quotes there for £360, £408, £411 etc)
(I'm paying £500 a year for my SV650S, ebike PAYG - just because I haven't bothered shopping around for a quote - just did a quote for that at £150 fully comp!)
This is all off tesco compare and I have heard that they don't always honour the price. There are several companies coming in low/reasonable though!
kwak zzr
01-01-09, 08:29 PM
pays to shop around dunnit, mines up soon.
fizzwheel
01-01-09, 08:35 PM
Are you serious? 9k miles proves nothing. Maybe when it's got 10x that on it then comment on reliability!
To be fair 9K miles is alot for sports bike like a GSXR when you consider what alot of people use them for.
Mines done knocking on for 18K now, only thing its needed was a new set of front brake pads and a clutch cable. I think they are reliable, but then you can say the same about any bike provided its ridden regularly and looked after as it should be.
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