Just took a Gixxer for a test ride

[L3nny]

I like my SV and though I am not a particularly fast rider I am starting to be aware of the limitations of the SV so have started to see what else is out there.

I have been toying with the Idea of doing a GSXR front end swap but thought I'd probably be better off just getting a gixxer instead.

Saw a 2004 GSXR 600 in my local dealer this afternoon and thought I may as well take it for a spin, the dealer said it had been sat for a couple of weeks and needed a run out anyway

First impressions when sat on it was the riding position is pretty similar to the SV, your bum is in the air a bit more but it's no less comfortable.

Driving round town at low revs was a piece of wee wee, there is no snatcyness low down like you get on the SV and the steering is light and fast.

Got out of town and opened it up. OMFG is all I can say, didn't use full throttle and didn't get in the top end of the rev range but 3 figures showed up on the speedo way quicker than I was expecting. Didn't really get to test the handling much but it seemed a lot more planted than the SV, wasn't as unsettled by pot holes and the front didn't dive every time I braked.

I don't know what people are on about saying it has no low down power, it has plenty, but when you do get it past 10,000 it just gets silly. How anyone could ride that and then say no, I need more power than that I must buy a 1000 is beyond me!!

Want to take a few more out before I make a decision on whether or not to swap and what exactly to get, next to the Gixxer in the dealers was an R6 and a Ninja 600 so might take them out too.

Only reservation I would have is whether it would be up to the 2 weeks in Europe I have planned in the summer.

[fizzwheel]

Originally Posted by L3nny

I don't know what people are on about saying it has no low down power, it has plenty, but when you do get it past 10,000 it just gets silly.

I've been saying the same for ages and nobody listens to me...

[L3nny]

Is that what you have then mate? Did you notice a difference in running costs over the SV? Assuming you had one before?

Originally Posted by fizzwheel

I've been saying the same for ages and nobody listens to me...

+1

Think about it this way: what does your SV do better than the gixxer you test rode? Chances are very little - you won't regret the change.

[rictus01]

limited perspective, but glad you enjoyed it.

Cheers Mark.

just out of curiosity why is the gsxr750 made out to be a nutter bike more so than the 1000?

been around bike since i was 5ish and as soon as the gsxr750 pops up in conversation all people seem to say is its a mad bike bla bla bla

is it more mad than the 1000?


l3nny just out of intrest how much was the 600?

[L3nny]

Bike was £3800!!! Which I thought was just a starting point for negotiation, but they said they wouldn't budge on the price. Then when they offered me £2000 for my SV, I walked away, especially as there was a bog standard K3 SV in their showroom for £3000. Bike wasn't in perfect condition anyway and it looked like the brakes would need doing soon.

I am looking to spend a maximum of £1000 on top of what I get for the SV for my next bike, including 100 or so for the extra insurance.

Bike is in Frettons in Leamington if you want to go and test it yourself.

ugh hate that shop but might go and take a look

and £3800's a bit steep for a k4? there was a k7 gsxr750 in daventry bikers world for £4500 and a new 600 for £6000i think

Originally Posted by barwel1992

just out of curiosity why is the gsxr750 made out to be a nutter bike more so than the 1000?

been around bike since i was 5ish and as soon as the gsxr750 pops up in conversation all people seem to say is its a mad bike bla bla bla

is it more mad than the 1000?

Mainly because when the SRAD came out - it was by a leap and bound more mental than anything else out there. Huge Bar raiser basically.

IMO anyway

[fastdruid]

Originally Posted by L3nny

I don't know what people are on about saying it has no low down power, it has plenty, but when you do get it past 10,000 it just gets silly.

Originally Posted by fizzwheel

I've been saying the same for ages and nobody listens to me...

Depends what you mean by bugger all, on a modern 600 10k+ in first is speeding[0] let alone 2nd so that 10k+ rush is useless unless you are prepared to break the law. My VFR in comparison pulls like a train[1] and all the power can be used at legal speeds (or you can keep going up to ~150 if you want).

IMO modern 600's (and above) sports bikes are pointless on the road, the SV650 with the same handling (ie GSXR suspension) is a far better bet in the real world as it has more useable power.

Originally Posted by L3nny

How anyone could ride that and then say no, I need more power than that I must buy a 1000 is beyond me!!

They don't use all of the power and/or want the low down grunt that a litre bike gives.

Most never even use full throttle, why you would buy something with ~170Bhp and only ever use ~100 is beyond me but wtf, its their money.

Druid

[0] The hornet6 10k came in at 50mph, I'd expect the GSXR with more power to be slightly higher geared.
[1] My wife said "its just like the SV, except at the point I was expecting you to change up it accelerated harder".