CBR1000RR or R1?

My first bike was an '02 CBR600F4i... I didn't put a whole lot of miles on it and wasn't really capable of pushing it anywhere close to the limits, but I did think that it was a little weak on torque... definitely fast enough to command respect from my beginner self, but if I get another bike sometime I'd like one with a little more grunt. I have enough sense to know my limits and give them plenty of respect... I must be getting old... Looking at maybe getting a 2005 model once they come out, and after reading a bunch of reviews I'm a little unsure... was wondering if anyone could provide some real world, non-magazine perspective on these things. The Kawi 10R looks pretty sweet, but after reading the reviews I know that it's too aggressive a bike for me. I assume the same probably holds true for the new GSX-R1000, plus the exhaust is funny-looking... So, my two best choices are probably a CBR1000RR or a Yamaha R1... I like the looks of the 1000RR a little better, but am concerned by a couple things that I have heard about it... the two concerns are: 1. Seating position has been described as sitting "on" the bike rather than "in" it... 2. Most tests criticize it for a lack of "character" when compared to the other liter-bikes... Can anyone with actual seat times on a 1000RR comment on either of these? Anyone had a chance to compare the new R1 ('04) with a 1000RR?

Ive never ridden a 1000RR before have sat on them a number of times, and for a liter, balls out, sportbike, they were quite comfortable to me (im 5'7") The ZX10 and gixxer1000 are very aggressive in terms of speed,torque, style and ergos in general. The 1000RR cant really be compared to other liter bikes in its class, simply because, while Honda has made leaps and bound strides w/ the new redesigned 600RR and 1000RR, they are still in the Honda tradition of power, speed and agility, with real world style ergos. in other words, it's not quite as aggressive as the R1, ZX10 or Gixxer. For my money though, I really like the 1000RR, she would treat you well, and have more than enough power to keep your pulse racing. Sounds like you have your head on straight when choosing a new bike, especially a liter bike...they are a blast to ride, as long as you are capable of handling the power. BTW..welcome to TWF!!! :thumbs:

Go with the Gixxer 1000. I have riden them and loved it. You will not be disappointed. I have only sat on the Honda 1000RR just as Matt has done. they are very comfortable and I am almost 6' tall. Either way, you won't be wrong. Let us know when you make a choice on one. Have you been to a dealer to sit on one yet to see for yourself how comfortable they are? :)

My first bike was an '02 CBR600F4i... I didn't put a whole lot of miles on it and wasn't really capable of pushing it anywhere close to the limits, Did you ever try to start it? I don't have to push mine. :D :D :D

jumping from 600 to a liter bike is a pretty big step, especially if you were pretty comfortable, skillz wise, on a 600...so just be xxtttrrraaa careful,and consider all your options. A 750 might not be such a bad choice, and you can mod them out to be pretty beastly! :)

Go with the 750. You will love it. I know me and Matt like ours. :D

Get Gixxer and be done with it. Eveything else is just me... :) :iagree:

Ever consider nutting up and going Italian? If you like to corner, it's the way to go. The suspension components are *way* better than anything you'll get on a Japanese bike.

Ever consider nutting up and going Italian? If you like to corner, it's the way to go. The suspension components are *way* better than anything you'll get on a Japanese bike. Is this guy smokin somin good? :screwy: Puff puff PASS!! Don't forget to pass! Twisty, do you hear this stuff????? *WAY* better than the Jap bikes.... I'll give ya that Aprilla makes a nice bike but to say *WAY* better.... :skep: I can't wait for Twisty to key in on this one!!! :whistle:

I'll call bullshiet here too..I'll put up a ZX10 or Gixxer1000 up against an italian bike any day. Dont get me wrong, I think Ducs and Aprilias are fine bikes, and many people will never own anything but one. But for all the maint hassles, and average suspension, not to mention the price tag, I'll take my jap ride any day.

My ole' man and many other non HD guys told me many times over the years. Buy what ever brand MC you want as long as it's a Jap bike. They've always been right! I think you're right Matt. I'd put the GSXR 1000 or the 10R up against any of the Italian's and see who makes the finish line first...

My ole' man and many other non HD guys told me many times over the years. Buy what ever brand MC you want as long as it's a Jap bike. They've always been right! I think you're right Matt. I'd put the GSXR 1000 or the 10R up against any of the Italian's and see who makes the finish line first... It'll be the japanese bike first, if for no other reason than his wallet will be lighter. :lol:

It'll be the japanese bike first, if for no other reason than his wallet will be lighter. :lol: GOOD ONE!! :lol:

I think y'all are putting too much emphasis on the bike. Both the Jap bikes and the Italians can make some mean machinery, but without a skilled rider they're just piles of metal, plastic and rubber. The differences are not that tremendous, or at least enough where a skilled rider couldn't compensate or overcome them.

I think y'all are putting too much emphasis on the bike. Both the Jap bikes and the Italians can make some mean machinery, but without a skilled rider they're just piles of metal, plastic and rubber. The differences are not that tremendous, or at least enough where a skilled rider couldn't compensate or overcome them. Well PUT!! :flush:

yeah, u gotta point...but u know us japanese sportbike riders..we gotta defend our turf.. :lol: either way though, I still cant justify the price tag though, unless my last name is trump or hefner.. ;)

jumping from 600 to a liter bike is a pretty big step, especially if you were pretty comfortable, skillz wise, on a 600...so just be xxtttrrraaa careful,and consider all your options. A 750 might not be such a bad choice, and you can mod them out to be pretty beastly! :) Going from a mountain bike to a 600cc sportbike is a big step as well... for either one you have to know your limits, respect them, and then for good measure stay well under them in case you were off a little... I wouldn't say that I was comfortable yet with my 'skillz' on the 600, but I did manage to find a few positions on the throttle between closed and wide open... I could also tell that long-term, I was going to want something with more power... Not that I plan on riding a liter-bike any faster than most of you could ride a 600, but there's a certain satisfaction that comes from the feeling of power even when you're not using all of it. You can feel it in the throttle and know that the machine can do everything you ask of it without having to strain at it... You may go exactly the same pace as before, but it's just better somehow.

sounds like you have a good idea of how to respect the power of the beast..just be careful, because with power comes temptation.. (which isnt always a bad thing :D )

Yeah when I use to have my (BEAT A$$)TLS, You should have seen the guys in the Duc clubs faces when they walked over to my pits and found out it was a TLS with 20K on the clock that passed them and walked away in the 1000 class. So your right about the rider because I passed the 2 brand new 999s.

Yeah when I use to have my (BEAT A$$)TLS, You should have seen the guys in the Duc clubs faces when they walked over to my pits and found out it was a TLS with 20K on the clock that passed them and walked away in the 1000 class. So your right about the rider because I passed the 2 brand new 999s. That deserved a good "That a boy!" :dthumb:

My ole' man and many other non HD guys told me many times over the years. Buy what ever brand MC you want as long as it's a Jap bike. They've always been right! I think you're right Matt. I'd put the GSXR 1000 or the 10R up against any of the Italian's and see who makes the finish line first... Motorcyclist mag did just that, and same rider had the GSXR ahead on the longer legged tracks. On the tracks with turns, the Ducati 999 was over a second ahead of the GSXR. They said it was plainly evident where the respective manufacturers had spent their money. From a guy who races a GSXR 1000, he said that the GSXR felt mushy and wallowy compared to the Ducati.

Motorcyclist mag did just that, and same rider had the GSXR ahead on the longer legged tracks. On the tracks with turns, the Ducati 999 was over a second ahead of the GSXR. They said it was plainly evident where the respective manufacturers had spent their money. From a guy who races a GSXR 1000, he said that the GSXR felt mushy and wallowy compared to the Ducati. I'll leave this one for Twisty to eat up!!!!!! :flush:

Well the rider had to be a B_I_T_C_H. I race against 999 in my class and I have no problem getting around with my GIXXER 750 with stock suspension. The new 04 Gixxer 1000 (which I have 2 of) Has the gold showa forks and shock. If guy from Motorcyclist mag ...not a racer, (Motorcyclist HAS NOT RACERS on staff) knew how to set SAG and stopped eating the jelly donuts and got his fat washed up A$$ in the gym, it wouldn't wallow. I am sure that the mag didn't tell you the rider is a 220 fat guy claiming to be a racer. I have put my 1000 ruff riding, I would guess harder than he would ever ride it and it has not ever wobbled, wallowed or bottomed out. It has a twitchy side but is also it putting allot more power down than the 999. Plus it is 12k cheaper and doesn't look like Cyclopes on wheels. I wont have to bring it in the shop every month for a valve job and WHEN did Motorcyclist even become a reliable mag? It has been proven and proven again that they take kick backs from Manufactures and parts dealers to that their products are GREAT!!!! If you want the real info here it is. Pick up Performance Bikes, Superbike or Road racing World. These are worth the money and lie to consumers.The 999 was rated the WORST bike in superbike, 3rd worst in Performance Bikes. If you lived close to me I would share mine with so that I could get the brainwashing to stop that the American Mags are doing. I can keep going but I have to work to pay for the 4 Gixxers in my garage that will wipe the track with your 999.

I want to add something. You can tell that Twisty's very pasionate about this because when you get him going his grammer goes out the window. But, I knew he'd chew this one up! :lol:

I was just thinking that, but wasnt gonna say anything.... :lol: but I get the same way too, ur brain moves faster than ur fingers when somebody gets you going :D

Yeah it does

Motorcyclists' rider wasn't a staffer. BTW- How's Yates doing on that 1k?

Yeah it does He spelled all those words right. LOL :D

Motorcyclists' rider wasn't a staffer. BTW- How's Yates doing on that 1k? He is 8th over all. Motorcyclist, like many other US mags don't do the testing them self. They buy a 2nd parties test. Say you own Joe's cycle mag, your a newer mag so you don't have the money to hire rides and no street credit to get manufactures to loan you bikes. So you find a company that does independent testing, there are a few out there mostly cars thou. But now that bikes are becoming so mainstream more and more are doing bikes, and after you buy the testing you can get the Manufactures to give you a little kick to say" the new 999 was so much better the gixxer 1000, even thou every other mag in the world said otherwise". Sport rider use to PAD the numbers for kickbacks but have gotten better. I still think they do unfair testing like putting Gixxer 750 and 600 up against the new ZX-10 :dupe: :screwy: That was very unfair testing. And Triumph will not let mags test their bikes unless you give them a padded review and submit the review BEFORE it is put in you mag so they can approve. No this is right from the horse's mouth. Performance bike cant get any Triumphs for this reason because they bad mouthed the new 995 3 years ago..... :dthumb:

Motorcyclists' rider wasn't a staffer. BTW- How's Yates doing on that 1k?How's Eric Bostrom doing on that 999? Current AMA Superbike Points: 1 M. Mladin ("jap bike") 2 J. Zemke ("jap bike") 3 M. Duhamel ("jap bike") 4 B. Bostrom ("jap bike") 5 G. May 14 ("jap bike", Privateer) 6 E. Bostrom ("nut'd up Italian bike")

And now, back to the original argument... I'm loyal to Honda as I feel they make the most user friendly street bike. All this talk about components don't really have much meaning to me on the street. If you're riding that hard on the street and you feel the need for more than stock components, then you probably should move to the track. I'm still riding around on my '98 RR with nearly 54,000 miles and still using my stock shock and forks. dispite its infierior components, it still gets me around the bumpy mountain curves just fine. Sure, after 6.5 years and so many miles I do feel the need to service the suspension this winter, but for the kind of street riding I do, I don't see much use for anything other than stock. Honda may be too "refined" for some, but I prefer refinement when it comes to the characteristics of my bike. My Honda has such smooth power delivery, I can jump on the throttle on the way out of the turns and not have to worry about spinning the rear tire up. My bike has never done anything that I didn't want it to while negotiating the rough mountain roads. Hey, I just heard that UK's 'Ride' magazine has just announced in their 2004 readers survey that the new Fireblade got a score of 100%. In fact it's the first bike ever to get a 100% in their annual surveys, so it can't be too bad at all!