My first ride on an IL4 sports 600

I recently have gone from a Twin to a IL4 and all i can say is, although the SV was great fun and a brilliant bike to learn on I don't think i could ever get back on a Twin unless it was something like a TLR/Mille or a SP1/2, something with MASSIVE power!

All in all, personally i think IL4's are the way to go, not only for the top-end power but for the smoothness too.

Do it, go out today and buy one

Originally Posted by Ransom

I recently have gone from a Twin to a IL4 and all i can say is, although the SV was great fun and a brilliant bike to learn on I don't think i could ever get back on a Twin unless it was something like a TLR/Mille or a SP1/2, something with MASSIVE power!

All in all, personally i think IL4's are the way to go, not only for the top-end power but for the smoothness too.

Do it, go out today and buy one

Yeah, the smoothness was lovely, no need to slip the clutch, quieter (until you open it up). And the brakes and forks... the SV loves to dive if you use the brakes too hard, but the gsxr... one light touch on the front brakes and it's down from <insert semi-legal speed here> to nearly stopped within no time at all... and yet it's so composed while doing it... no feeling of bottoming out. Could see stoppies being way likely with those sort of brakes and an empty road.

The need to change down a gear or two always put me off... on the SV it's more likely I'm looking for 7th gear on the motorway, but changing down was surprisingly easy once you know you need to do it, and the greatly reduced engine braking means changing down a gear or two (without slowing down a lot) doesn't have the same scary possibilities as it would have on the SV.

Originally Posted by kwak zzr

<you'll have him after you!

Yeah, that did concern me. I didn't feel dangerous on the bike, but the speed limit felt irrelevant the whole time I was on it... when there's that sort of braking and acceleration on tap, you start wondering if the same rules should apply... don't think that would stand up in court though. Mate who had it said he'd had to take it as fast as it would go every time he got on an open stretch of road. I can believe it.

Definitely got more looks from peds - either appreciative or in respect of the noise it makes... either way they hear you coming...

Are steering dampers fitted as standard to all sportsbikes now? I thought it was only 1000's that had them as standard? This gsxr didn't have anything visible but my mate said it did and there was definitely more stiffness at low speeds on mini roundabouts which was a bit worrying until I realised there must be a damper somewhere.

dont think the GSXR has a damper as standard. . . not 100 percent on that tho.

the CBR doenst have one as standard.

the heavy steering you feel on roundabouts means that your tyres arnt up to temperature - and need warming up a bit.