gsxr 1000 k6 or k8 ? advice wanted

[barwel1992]

Im in the running for a new bike after getting rid of the KTM

Has any one ridden both gsxr 1000 k6 and gsxr 1000 k8 and whats peoples opinions on both bikes.

my budget is around £6000

I can pick up a k8 for around £5000 with nice exhausts and decent millage around 5k-11k on the clock. leaving £1000 for an alarm (insurance) and a nitron rear shock and some fork spring and maybe at a push some ohlins fork valves

or i can get a k6 for around £3500 to £4250 with decent exhaust and decent millage, leaving £2000 ish to spend on suspension and other bits, with my connections i could get a set of ohlins forks and rear shock for not far off that price

opinion please ?

[joe_f59]

Ridden the k5-6. Want it, but my 750k4 is good enough for me. Very small, balanced, silly power you arguably never need. But a beautiful beautiful bike. The later K8 has euro 3 issues and less midrange as far as I'm aware.

A k5-6 GSXR 1000 beats an s1000 to about 130. Should justify silliness needs

[Ninthbike]

Depends what you want from it. The version of choice for the serious petrol heads was the K5 which was tuned differently to the later versions and (I believe) had more power higher up the rev range. The later versions have all been tuned for more mid-range with more progressive power delivery. If you would like exact details, let me know and I'll consult with my colleague who runs a K5 track bike.

[barwel1992]

I'm not really in the hunt for all out power figures i want a very rideable bike that handles well

[Ninthbike]

Then you won't find a lot to choose between the K6 and K8. Both are excellent and far more than most mere mortals will ever be able to handle.

[TheRamJam]

You really want the K5 thou but its hard to get a clean one with decent mileage.

I owned the K8 for 2 years before I binned it. For me, it was a great bike. I found it more comfortable to ride than my SV was and could do 4 hours on her no problem with no aches or pains. The gearbox was silky smooth and you could quite easily put it in sixth gear and ride all day. The power delivery was smooth and predictable until you hit around 10k RPM and then it just takes off. Its an easy bike to ride too. I had the decat pipe on mine with twin Arrow cans and the sound was addictive.

Give it a try, you'll definately come back with a smile on your face. I think you can get them at a decent price nowadays ;-)

[Red Herring]

Unless you are seriously gifted or seriously bonkers you won't separate either on performance on the road, and if you are going on a track it will be all about what's been done to it. If I was in that market I would have a good look at what is around and find one with the right goodies on it, in a condition I want and hopefully with a genuine history.

My K5 is purely a track bike, yes it's a bit trick, but it's quite capable of staying with any of the later bikes.

[Bibio]

I'm not really in the hunt for all out power figures i want a very rideable bike that handles well

so why a thou?

it wont matter what bike you get your still going to have to do some suspension work to make it ride right on the road.

[barwel1992]

so why a thou?

it wont matter what bike you get your still going to have to do some suspension work to make it ride right on the road.

Because I miss the power of a il4 thou I'm just not interested in wether it as 170bhp or 190bhp as long as it has the sort of power a litre thou produces then I'm not fussed if the newer one has 5 bhp more or not

My last bike was almost perfect on the road, handled exceptionally well but just didn't have the top end rush that I crave

[joe_f59]

Try riding a full system tuned 750 with -1/+2 teeth and see if you still need a litre

[andrewsmith]

The gixxer 1000's are a wasted vehicle on the road (any 1000 superbike is). I do believe 80 bhp is enough on the UK roads, seeing thats 125 mph+

I have kept up quite a lot of screamers, pace set for a lot of them and then proceeded to clear off (the last time quite a few of them were shocked when I hit NSL and got 200m on them in 3 corners).

It says it all at the Hartside Cafe when they pull in and look for what over took them through the tight corners

[Wideboy]

The gixxer 1000's are a wasted vehicle on the road (any 1000 superbike is). I do believe 80 bhp is enough on the UK roads, seeing thats 125 mph+

I have kept up quite a lot of screamers, pace set for a lot of them and then proceeded to clear off (the last time quite a few of them were shocked when I hit NSL and got 200m on them in 3 corners).

It says it all at the Hartside Cafe when they pull in and look for what over took them through the tight corners

Then clearly these people that thought you were god can't ride a bike, or maybe, you know, just out for a leisurely jaunt.

a bike is only as good as the rider and a majority of the time will only do what the rider tells it too. Having ridden plenty of thou's i can say they're not wasted on the road at all, top end maybe so but you still have the handling and rev range to play with. How many have you ridden? To say they are wasted is utter rubbish.

Personally out of the gsxr1000 I'd go for the k5 over them all. Only ridden one k5 and it was awesome! but it was seriously tricked up.

[Ninthbike]

All 1 litre bikes are largely lazy performance. I think it was the K5 that did something like 104mph in first gear, which is, on the face of it a waste of time on the road. However, as previously posted they are great for "twist and go" performance in any gear at any speed. As the saying goes, anyone can go fast in a straight line.......

[DJ123]

All 1 litre bikes are largely lazy performance. I think it was the K5 that did something like 104mph in first gear, which is, on the face of it a waste of time on the road. However, as previously posted they are great for "twist and go" performance in any gear at any speed. As the saying goes, anyone can go fast in a straight line.......

All 1000cc superbikes will do over 100mph in 1st & rightly so.
I agree with WB, yes the top end is 'wasted' however the rest of the engine is still very useable on the road and does require self restraint to be safe and not kill yourself.

[Spank86]

The gixxer 1000's are a wasted vehicle on the road (any 1000 superbike is). I do believe 80 bhp is enough on the UK roads, seeing thats 125 mph

It's not the top speed it's the acceleration.


It's completely unnecessary yes, but then so's a 600 when I weigh as little as I do and wring its neck.

If you're a big guy however I'd say there's definitely something to be said for getting a thou over a super sports 600 and certainly over an sv650.

[andrewsmith]

Then clearly these people that thought you were god can't ride a bike, or maybe, you know, just out for a leisurely jaunt.

a bike is only as good as the rider and a majority of the time will only do what the rider tells it too. Having ridden plenty of thou's i can say they're not wasted on the road at all, top end maybe so but you still have the handling and rev range to play with. How many have you ridden? To say they are wasted is utter rubbish.

Personally out of the gsxr1000 I'd go for the k5 over them all. Only ridden one k5 and it was awesome! but it was seriously tricked up.

Not ridden thousands as can't get away with il4 bikes.
Nah, they were going it in the case I'm on about. They work around here if you stick to A roads and that's boring, most my riding is battered B roads

sent from the shredded wheat factory

[Balky001]

K5/K6 is lighter but had suspension issues. MCT created a fix for it and it was fairly well publicised in the mags. However, it was light and awesome handling.

The K7/K8 is a few KGs heavier (twin exhausts/emission control) but a decent de-cat and end cans change sorts that out and the suspension is better quality. Also the first to have the electronic fuel map options.

I just got a K7 and have now done 50 miles on the road and 500 miles around Jerez (had only 2200 miles on the clock when I got it). Did come with PCIII/Promach rearsets and de-cat/twin Akrapovic but suspension is standards. It has been brilliant and power is good. 158mph on the clock in 3rd is a bit overgeared.

MCN does a good review for each model

[Red Herring]

I guess like most things with bikes it's going to be down to personal preference and what is important to you. Big sports bikes do have a serious kick and in the right place and hands there is little that will touch them A to B on the roads, including on the "twisties". The top end rush the OP refers to is addictive and if that is what floats his boat then good luck to him.

[Bibio]

i agree that big IL4's have that mega rush but you need to be doing silly speeds for it to kick in properly and most people that i have seen riding them tend to laze them about due to the fact. i doubt that the average rider could keep a gsxr1000 on the boil on public roads. the 750 might be a better bike all round. 600's are a bit screemy.

but individual taste, willy waving and bragging rights is what it's all about.

[Spank86]

I actually find the thunder ace BETTER in the wet on horribly surfaced roads than the speed four.

It's more stable and less twitchy, however when it dries up it won't corner quite so quick...which isn't the same as not being able to corner quite so fun.

[Ninthbike]

i agree that big IL4's have that mega rush but you need to be doing silly speeds for it to kick in properly and most people that i have seen riding them tend to laze them about due to the fact. i doubt that the average rider could keep a gsxr1000 on the boil on public roads. the 750 might be a better bike all round. 600's are a bit screemy.

but individual taste, willy waving and bragging rights is what it's all about.
I changed my GSXR600 because I was spending my life at over 100mph without feeling as though there was any speed involved. It was going to end badly either painfully and/or in the unemployment queue so, even though I loved the bike it had to go.

[barwel1992]

thanks for all the opinions ect

but in all honesty i came asking advice about two specific il4 1000cc sports bikes and therefore im not really interest in any other engine sizes whether or not in your opinions a 1000cc il4 are pointless for the road.

just for some background info, i owned a tuned yamaha Fz1000 with 150bhp at the wheel so im not new to the 1000cc sports bike engines or the power, my last bike was 950cc v-twin ktm supermoto so once again i know that 100bhp is fast enough for the road but I want an il4 1000cc superbike, i have never owned a superbike or a sports bike of any kind so its something i want to do and once its out of my system i will most likely agree that il4 1000 sports bikes are pointless on the road or i will love them....

so thanks for all the opinions but im already sold on a 1000cc sports bike of the IL4 nature

if any one else has a better opinions of a sports bike around the £6000 mark that would be helpful :)

[Bibio]

do you want excitement or for it to do what it's told?

get the K6 see how you feel and if you like it then splash the cash on suspension goodies. if you don't like it then your more than likely not going to like the K8 then move on to the next ltr bike like a blade

[barwel1992]

The bike will be for fun only although I want it to be competent

That sounds like a good plan, although looking harder I have come to the conclusion that there's only £500 between the years as the k6s with decent mileage are fairly pricey

What are the blades like to ride ? I sat on one a few years ago and thought it was very uncomfortable

[fizzwheel]

opinion please ?

Ask on Gixerjunkies you'll probably find there's already plenty threads on the same subject.

Can't give you an opinion as not ridden either, but in your shoes, I'd be buying on condition, milleage and service history, rather than trying to make a decison over one or t'other of what you're interested in.

TBH with gixer's they all look the damn same anyway dont they ;)

[Bibio]

i think your suffering from 'the grass is greener'. you will never get it out your system as there are far too many bikes and too little time.

once you have had the thou SS you will then want to know what a zzr14 is like or a busa the list could go on and on.

best concentrate on what kind of riding you like doing, fast A road, B road or single track. if its speed and fast A road you crave then best go and do it on a track where you can enjoy it at its best with a bike more suitable for doing such. if you like just going to different places for days out then concentrate on a bike that's going to do the miles with ease.

your life, your decision and your still young. go ride as many bikes that take your fancy but you will one day come to the conclusion that a bike is a bike and they all have their forte. the hard part is deciding what YOU truly want out of biking.

[TheRamJam]

I have ridden a 12 plate Honda Fireblade. In my opinion its as easy to ride as the GSXR. I only had 45 mins on it so can't really comment on how comfy it is on longer ride outs but for the time i was on it I did feel at home. The pegs were a bit low for my liking but decent rearsets will sort that out.

The power delivery is similar to the Suzuki in the way it seems to gather pace once you go past the 10k mark. The power is not savage like the 1000RR but more linear and predicatle. The suspension seemed to cope with most of the bumps but was setup too soft for my liking. Easily fixed with some tinkering though. Newer blades come with BPF forks which is a nice upgrade.

For me the only thing that let the blade down was its braking performance. I was on a non ABS model and in my opinion a bit more bite would have been nice. Again nothing that a simple upgrade can't fix. :smt040

[Balky001]

What's all this talk about a blade now?

If you haven't had a SS thou before you should try and get a ride on each one. the 06 CBR1000 is beautiful to ride but I thought it felt completely different to a GSXR in terms of seating/pegs/steering. Super smooth but I'd pick the GSXR every time. The K7/8 is different from the K5/6 but only if you try them side by side. But you need to give them all a go and R1. I'd leave the ZX10R unless you go for something newer