R1 or R6. Which one would you buy and why?

Hi folks, I have not decided yet on which one I'd like to get. I do have experience riding some fast bikes, VMAX, Honda 750S Night Hawk and 600's. The VMAX was very fast but too heavy for me. I plan to use the bike for commuting one hour, weekend rides and some track days. I have not ridden any of the latest sports bikes available so I don't know how something like the R6 would compare to the R1. I've read plenty of articles on both ansd other bikes. I have sat on a R6 and just feel in love with how my body jus molded to it. I felt very good on it. I do not plan to ride either leaned over skipping my knees over the payment. Maybe on track days but even then I'd use some caution to not ride at the extremes. Let me know what your experience has been or your thoughts and reasons why one would be better than the other for my use. Also would you recommend some other make/model? peace

After you figure out your skill level, time riding bikes, body size compared to bike size (a four foot jockey on a ZX12R is not going to work) and decide if a litre bike or 600 is the better choice, pick a color and go with it. Honestly, all of the 600 are very close in performance and so are the range of litre bikes. Find your favorite color and the one that had ergonimics that please you. Your next consideration is insurance. If this is a new bike with a lien and you are under 30 years old, you may get a rude awakening with your yearly insurance cost. FYI - 35+ Male, married, clean driving record, house and vehicles on the same plan is going to get a price quote of between $1100 to $2100 per year for a new Hayabusa. This, of course, is if your insurance company knows motorcycles and has an accurate rate chart per dispalcement. A co-worker was paying $440 a year for his 2 year old RC51 and was rubbing it in to everyone. 6 months later he got a letter that read "Welcome to your new $880 per year policy" the bike policies had been updated and it was reclassified as a superbike-we-are-gonna-hose-you-now motorcycle. Anyway, hope that didn't bring you down any. But consider the entire cost of the bike per year and you may end up with a very fun 600cc bike versus a ballistic litre bike with hellacious insurance. Loren Mesa, AZ :shutme

Anyway, hope that didn't bring you down any. But consider the entire cost of the bike per year and you may end up with a very fun 600cc bike versus a ballistic litre bike with hellacious insurance. That's a great point. I think a lot of riders forget about this when buying a bike.

From what I've seen a lot of people on litre bikes don't have any business on them. . bald spots on the middle of their tires, and the sides are clean. A 600 is more than enough for the street. . granted, I still want an RC51. lol

Yeah, i hear ya about the insurance rates. I'm married, kids, clean driving record. I know I can handle a 600 or 1000cc bike. Speed and handling is nothing new to me on bikes or cars. I also agree a 600 is more than enough for the street for most. I think I would enjoy the 600 on the street alot more than a 1000cc bike. Seems like a 1000cc is kinda like having this missle between your legs and no where to really stretch out it's legs. The 600 would be more fun and easier to drive due to it being more flickable on the roads and parking lots. But the 1000cc is like having a modified Viper or modified Corvette. Do you really need all that power on the streets? If you plan on doing some tracks days I'd say yes. It's all a game of give and take. Again I'm just going by what have experience in the past. I have not ridden any new sports bikes. They are alot lighter, even the 1000cc bikes way nothing compared to what I've ridden.

Hey Steve, I can't really recommend either but would think i'd be easier to get into trouble on the R1. That said , I'd still probably still go with the R1. :D I hope to be out riding again soon so when you get your bike give us a holler and we'll run up to Skyline and play on Rt-211... :) Hogs

Yeah RT211 is awesome in the vette. Must be really cool on a bike. Well, I'm working some ovetime until October so the bike purchase may come sooner than expected. If I get the bike this year we should hook up and cruise for sure.

r1 all the way :D

You can make the argument that the majority of todays street riders will never use an R1, 1000RR,Busa, Gixxer1000, etc, to their full-potential..so why buy them...just a waste of insurance premiums, payments can be high, routine maintenance, the potential to get in over your head etc....and yeah that may all be well and good...but riding bikes is about getting what you want, AND what you can comfortably handle. To many people, as stated earlier, have absolutely no business pickin up liter bike..but they do it because their friends have one, or they want to be the first in their group to have one of these beasts. Sportbikes are motorcycles just like any other type of ride, they are made to be enjoyed and loved by their owners..but, sportbikes are also made for all out, balls to the wall speed and performance; which appeals to all of us, otherwise we wouldnt have forums dedicated to them, websites, motorcycle clubs and organizations created to support them. My thinking is, if you are comfortable & confident that you can handle a bigger bike, and it makes you happy, then go for it...you only live once ( and try to make it last as long as you can :) )..but your content, and get that "just right" feeling on the R6..by all means, go for it. Just my 2 cents. :hi:

[QUOTE=Need4Speed750]You can make the argument that the majority of todays street riders will never use an R1, 1000RR,Busa, Gixxer1000, etc, to their full-potential..QUOTE] my r1 seen 185 on the speedo :) so i used all it had. of course i was probably only goin 175 with speedo error :ack: i had friends who always wanted to run weither on the highway or backroads. so i needed a fast bike which could handle. i didnt want come in last all the time. :hi:

trust your instinct

I am going with the GSXR1000. :D

Get a GSXR, everyone is doing it......lol

Get a GSXR, everyone is doing it......lol He is right, GSXR's are great machines. But I say got with a 10R. I talked with a guy that owned a 10R and his buddy that owned a 1000RR and they said the 10R ROCKS!!

Yeah well tell him to come see me and I'll show him what a SUZUKI looks like in front of him.

First take your GSXR and Kaw comments over to the right forum - this happens to be Yamaha and the question was R1 or R6 not which manufacturer. Second I own an R6 and it is a great bike, I am just ready for the more that the R1 has to offer and every R1 owner I talk to absolutely loves their bike.

First take your GSXR and Kaw comments over to the right forum - this happens to be Yamaha and the question was R1 or R6 not which manufacturer. Second I own an R6 and it is a great bike, I am just ready for the more that the R1 has to offer and every R1 owner I talk to absolutely loves their bike. You're right! Sorry!! And yes the R6 is an awesome bike. One of the best 600 cc bikes. But then again about all the 600's are pretty awesome!!

Right on Chris.....the 600's nowadays, are some of the most of the popular bikes in the country..they've got great speed,torque, and all around kick a$$ rides, for the size of the engine..and btw, prices going up and up every year on these bad boys. You cant go wrong with any 600..It just really all depends on how much of a bike you think you can SAFELY handle, a 600 or a 1000. :bike: :)

Oh, yeah....for sure. Not to talk about the wrong brand, but the new 636 from a brand I won't mention (green)....is setting all time, track time records. Not just in the 600cc class but in all classes. I don't remember what track but I'm sure TWISTY would know! But all the bikes are just getting insanely fast. Even in comparison to the insane 1000's from even just 2 years ago.... Watch out, we don't need another thread "can't seem to keep the front wheel down".... :bonk:

Watch out, we don't need another thread "can't seem to keep the front wheel down".... :bonk: speaking of neverendingproject...wonder where he's been, havent seen him online in awhile..

Most likely trying to fix the "project" :banghead:

There is a very appropriate article in the Oct. issue of Sport Rider that run the GSXR600, GSXR750 and Mama Kaw's ZX-10R head up against eachother. Pretty much said it all depends on what kind of riding you like most...gee that helps. haha And don't forget about the FZ6 (hey, I gotta represent right? :thumbs: ) if it's mainly gonna be a commuter and weekender.

There is a very appropriate article in the Oct. issue of Sport Rider I haven't received mine yet. :wtf:

I haven't received mine yet. :wtf: I cheated, got mine at the store. But I always thought subscription holders got 'em first..hmm

Most likely trying to fix the "project" :banghead: you guessed it. no really, i work a lot. plus my daughter and her mother just moved back from texas. been busy as hell. however, i have about $700 worth of parts left to buy, down from $1850, so it wont be long. im figuring the end of the month. anyone wanna take odds on how long it'll be till im fixing it again? :lol:

I'm :sorry: but I'm not going to guess. A few reasons. 1. Don't want to be mean 2. Don't want to curse you and have you go down. 3. Don't like thinking about riders going down. 4. See #1 :hug: :gary: :helmet:

i would ride a 600 for street riding and liter for track its just too easy to go fast with a liter on the streets like how often you are going to go over 240km/h on the local twisties pretty much any 6 would do that

I'm going to post a reply here and try to steer this post back to its original question. I recently bought a 2002 R1 for $6100. It is liquid silver and has 13000 mles on it. Having been away from street bikes for a few years I wasn't sure what size or brand to buy myself. I had heard A LOT of great things about the R1, and because of the area that I live in (i.e. riding weather and freeways) I decided to go with the R1 due to the fact that it already makes 153 hp. Granted though, short of going to a track I will NEVER really test this bike to its full potential, but still there is gobs of power at any speed above 6000rpm. I've replied to many posts like this in the past including many on mustang and corvette web boards, and basically I suggested that the potential buyer consider what kind of riding they will do and purchase a bike to that style. Furthermore, once you do buy a bike whether it's a R6 or R1, think about the kind of riding you'll be doing and that will help you determine what modifications you will do to your bike. I took the basic MSF course prior to buying my R1 (although I was requirred due to being in the military) and that actually helped me determine what kind of bike I would most enjoy as well as increased my rider confidence. Lastly, I would suggest that at a minimum you purchase a good helmet and gloves. I decided long ago (even back when I road dirtbikes) to ride with good equipment and with everything, e.g. helmet, chest protector, gloves, pants, boots, you get the idea. Anyways, I hope that helps. :thumbs:

HP is like bullets you can never have enough but you do need to know how to use them. R1

I'm going to post a reply here and try to steer this post back to its original question. I recently bought a 2002 R1 for $6100. It is liquid silver and has 13000 mles on it. Having been away from street bikes for a few years I wasn't sure what size or brand to buy myself. I had heard A LOT of great things about the R1, and because of the area that I live in (i.e. riding weather and freeways) I decided to go with the R1 due to the fact that it already makes 153 hp. Granted though, short of going to a track I will NEVER really test this bike to its full potential, but still there is gobs of power at any speed above 6000rpm. I've replied to many posts like this in the past including many on mustang and corvette web boards, and basically I suggested that the potential buyer consider what kind of riding they will do and purchase a bike to that style. Furthermore, once you do buy a bike whether it's a R6 or R1, think about the kind of riding you'll be doing and that will help you determine what modifications you will do to your bike. I took the basic MSF course prior to buying my R1 (although I was requirred due to being in the military) and that actually helped me determine what kind of bike I would most enjoy as well as increased my rider confidence. Lastly, I would suggest that at a minimum you purchase a good helmet and gloves. I decided long ago (even back when I road dirtbikes) to ride with good equipment and with everything, e.g. helmet, chest protector, gloves, pants, boots, you get the idea. Anyways, I hope that helps. :thumbs: Yeah yeah didn't help. Sell me the R1 and be gone - just kidding. That is the exact bike I want to buy very soon 02 Liquid Silver ROCKS. I say get back to the original question - don't bother which one to buy - buy both. Use the R6 at the track and R1 on the street. That is all. Over and out.

First take your GSXR and Kaw comments over to the right forum - this happens to be Yamaha and the question was R1 or R6 not which manufacturer. Second I own an R6 and it is a great bike, I am just ready for the more that the R1 has to offer and every R1 owner I talk to absolutely loves their bike. Ok, I know the question was about R6 or R1, but the poll listed other rides as well. So, I will throw in a gsxr comment for you, Mud. ;) I was at the track last year and two friends were there, one with an R1, and another with a GSXR-1K. Here's a little background: The guy with the R1 was behind a guy on the straight when someone went down elsewhere on the track, prompting the red flag to come out. The guy in front forgot that you aren't supposed to stop immediately for the red flag and he threw out the parachute. The guy behind him on the R1 was already at 135 and had nowhere to go and ended up running up the exhaust of the guy in front. Anyway, the GSXR owner was tired later in the day and decided he wasn't going to go out on the last session and offered the R1 rider his bike. The R1 rider came back in on the GSXR and said, "holy ****, I think I may just get one of these instead. This thing handles like it's on rails." Now, maybe the R1 rider didn't have his bike set up properly, so that comment may not be completely characteristic of the differences, but I just thought I'd throw it out there. As for the R6 vs. GSXR 600, I'm leaning towards the R6 for now. Been hearing a lot of good stuff about the 636, though. :cursin:

I would buy a r1 out of the list provided.Which i did in 04 and its my first sportbike ever. I have never liked the sportbike style but like full potential high h.p. motors. Which is only availiable in sportbikes. In my opinion the best streetbike ever made is the V-max.My only complaint with a v-max are those fake air intake horns,they should remove 'em or make them functional.. :seeya:

well if you want teh best then go green with the zx6r, 05 comes wthe a slipper clutch, enough said. along with the highest dyno numbers. as for a liter bike i would once again say get teh best 10r or the gixxer 1k. never talked to a person who rode a 03+ 636 and didnt say wow that is the fastest 6 i ever rode. lol

Well I ended up with a 2003 XB9R Firebolt. Could not pass up a deal like this. Let me just say I almost got the bike for free. :drool:

You ain't getting off the hook with a drop like that... details PLEASE!!

Man this is an old thread. Tell us more on obtaining the XB9R!

Since everyone pretty much pointed out every pro and con I'll make mine simple. R1

Get a GSXR, everyone is doing it......lol You aren't kidding!

Hey, I'm located near you guys and plan on getting an R6 later this year. Would you mind cruising with a n00b? :loser: Yeah RT211 is awesome in the vette. Must be really cool on a bike. Well, I'm working some ovetime until October so the bike purchase may come sooner than expected. If I get the bike this year we should hook up and cruise for sure.

Well this thread is really old, but I'll bring it back to life. If you have a lot of experience go with the R1. I'm almost unsure anymore. The gixxer 1000 is just as nice. As for as beginners or moderate experience go with the R6, however the gixxer 600 is just as nice. For those of you that want a junk bike and one that doesn't hold value very well go with a 636.

I bought a new R6 about 2 weeks ago to replace my ZZR 600. WOW. Night and day difference, huge, huge difference. I had to adjust the way I ride because the R6 is different in a number of ways. For example, the slipper clutch was a welcome change but it forced me to change my entry speed and use more breaks because I lost the engine breaking going into corners. Second I had to adjust my cornering because the R6 carries more speed, holds a tighter line, and I can flick it faster than the ZZR. Third when the R6 gets above 10,000rpm (the only place to keep it), this sucker really flys and feels smooth in corners. The brakes while stock at the moment give me a better feel than the breaks on my ZZR did. The suspension is great for being stock out of the crate. I made a few adjustments to the ZZR suspension but the R6 just gives me a better feel for the road and more confidence in corners. Overall the bike has helped me to improve my entry speed, cornering, and acceleration out of corners. On one of my favorite roads I road on last weekend I was able to take corners 20 to 30 mph faster than the week prior with the ZZR, and I take them with more confidence because it just feels better. Anyways that is my :2cents: . :twfrox:

Well that is to be expected Dude. The ZZR isn't designed nearly as "race" as the R6...

http://www.twowheelforum.com/photopost/direct_data/503/girl_on_bike.jpg :dthumb:

Another blast from the past! Your really digging for post to :whore: on today.:lol:

Another blast from the past! Your really digging for post to :whore: on today.:lol: Hey you can't blame a man for trying. :lol: