would a gsxr600 work for me?

[jonko]

So I recently had my bike stolen (f***ing thieves!) and I am now looking into buying a new one. Old bike was a 98 cbr600 which I mainly used for riding around town and trackdays. I'm thinking about moving up to a ~2004 gsxr 600.

I liked my old bike because it had more relaxed ergonomics. I'm wondering if the gixxer would be too aggressive. I'm 5'5" if that makes a difference. I also liked the fact that it was just old enough so that I would not have been sad if I crashed it at the track.

Any other problems I should know about the gixxer? The couple I saw had this weird rattle coming from the right hand side on idle. One of the owners said it was normal...

The other choice would be an f4i. Suspension bits aren't as nice, and less power. Oddly, they are about the same price in my area!?

Thanks for the input!
Jon

 

[motomania2007]

First thought is that if you have doubts that it is for you then it probably isn't.

No one else can tell you whether you are comfortable on a bike...

That said, too many riders forget that lots of ergonomics can be easily adjusted - adjusting the stock pieces of replacing with different handlebars, levers, footpegs, rearsets, etc.

BTW, you could always go find another '98 CBR

 

[mototireguy]

Where are you going to park your new bike and how are you going to secure it so there's not a repeat of bike theft?

No easy way for us to say what bikes work best for you. Go sit your butt down on some showroom bikes or friends bikes and find out first hand what fits you.

 

[jonko]

Just to clarify, I haven't had a chance to test ride the gixxer yet. I'm sure I'll get a better sense after that, but I just wanted to get other people's opinion first. It's always easy to stick with what I know, it's sometimes harder to take a risk. But risks has rewards as well.

 

[tuxumino]

I have Gixxer envy, some day I will own one.

 

[jonko]

It was usually garaged, but stolen off the street at a friend's place. I plan on brake lock, lojack, and good insurance.

Btw, anyone know how to wire up a hidden killswitch? Or make it so that it only starts if the turn signal is on or something like that?

Also, alot of people seem to think lojack is a waste, since once a thief touches your bike, it's "tainted". Well, I guess I wouldn't mind spending some money to see a thief go to jail. (I hate those cowards!) Plus, if enough people get lojack, everyone benefits since it make theft less lucrative. Kinda like herd immunity.

 

[Gabe]

I'm confused as to why you want the Gixxer. It sounds like comfort and Honda-like reliability are very important to you. If that is true, get an F4i (2003 and newer, with the comfy seat) and do a little suspension work. The power difference is immaterial; unless you're racing or doing trackdays, the F4i will probably be faster on the street; more low-midrange.

But if you want the bad-ass looks and racer-oriented ergos/handling/powerband of the Suzi, go for it. It'll be a different experience, but you'll dig it.

My personal pick for a used 600 in the $5000 range would be the 2005 YZF-R6 or maybe a Daytona 675.

 

[EC70]

Jonko

A kill switch is good but will not do much, if your bike is in the open it only takke 2 or 3 guys and a pickup / van and 10 seconds and your bike is gone
I would opted for a disc lock / cable or chain lock to something that will not move

I have had a bike taken while I was at the gym back in the day and having it locked to something would have preventing it from being taken

 

[stangmx13]

my bike upgrade was from a 94 CBR600 F2 (essentially the same bike) to an 04 600RR. the change in ergonomics was def something different, but i enjoy the new 600RR more. in fact, right b4 the F2 was destroyed, i had just raised the tail and dropped the bars significantly to get more of a racer feel out of it. i feel a little stiff after 3-4hrs on the 600RR, but nothing a little stretching and a good meal wont fix.

the F4i is great choice, but if u are into trackdays id go w/ the GXSR prob. i wish used parts for my 600RR were even half as available as they seem to be for GSXRs

 

[jonko]

Gabe,

gixxer is not reliable? Please, tell me more.

I do all my real riding on the track. I pretty much chill out and cruise on the streets, so having more "usable" power doesn't matter too much to me.


tuxumino, if you sold all your bikes, you could totally get a gixxer!


Jon

 

[Cygnus]

...mainly used for riding around town and trackdays...
...I'm wondering if the gixxer would be too aggressive...

It will be hard to balance "too aggressive" with "trackday tool". After 30 miles of slab, the gixxer is less comfortable than a similar Honda; but if you're doing trackdays, comfort is not really the issue, is it? Yes, a gixxer would work for you.

side note: while the gixxer may seem the most cramped (riding position) of the lot, I've noticed that shorter people seem to like the R6.

 

[GPToyz]

all the jap supersport 600s and 1000s in the FI area are all reliable as hell, provided you change their oil, keep them clean and give them good gas, etc etc

as far as comfort + track, i think the best GSXR generation for that is the 600 k1-k3 models

the 04/05, even though the chassis and what not are pretty similar, had the ergos of the 636 03/04 generation which was too racey for running around town

that said any 600 r6, gsxr, f4i, 600rr, zx6r all feel pretty similar and are all super reliable

the japs have 600/1000s down to a science

 

[Gabe]

Gabe,

gixxer is not reliable? Please, tell me more.

I do all my real riding on the track. I pretty much chill out and cruise on the streets, so having more "usable" power doesn't matter too much to me.


tuxumino, if you sold all your bikes, you could totally get a gixxer!


Jon

Ho, ho! I never said the Gixxer was unreliable. That's what I felt you were implying in your initial post. Hondas have a much-deserved reputation for abuse-craving reliability. Suzukis...well, they're Japanese and quality products, but you don't hear that kind of praise as frequently. The stereotype is that GSX-Rs are built to be light and fast and break when used hard or crashed. Is that true? I don't have enough personal experience and haven't done enough research to know.

I think if you are doing a lot of racetrack riding and maintain your bike properly reliability won't be an issue, so long as you get a well-maintained bike that hasn't been "improved" by weird/cheap/badly done mods. So go buy one and stop bothering us!

 

[GPToyz]

Ho, ho! I never said the Gixxer was unreliable. That's what I felt you were implying in your initial post. Hondas have a much-deserved reputation for abuse-craving reliability. Suzukis...well, they're Japanese and quality products, but you don't hear that kind of praise as frequently. The stereotype is that GSX-Rs are built to be light and fast and break when used hard or crashed. Is that true? I don't have enough personal experience and haven't done enough research to know.

I think if you are doing a lot of racetrack riding and maintain your bike properly reliability won't be an issue, so long as you get a well-maintained bike that hasn't been "improved" by weird/cheap/badly done mods. So go buy one and stop bothering us!

their frames (suzuki) have been pretty janky as of late...but that's not reliability and you can avoid it by not crashing or wheelie-ing

 

[jonko]

Reading more about frame problems, it seems like there is alot of noise about 2005 gixxers having bad frames. Anyone in the know, can tell me whether it affects 2004 just the same?

 

[Aluisious]

So I recently had my bike stolen (f***ing thieves!) and I am now looking into buying a new one. Old bike was a 98 cbr600 which I mainly used for riding around town and trackdays. I'm thinking about moving up to a ~2004 gsxr 600.

I liked my old bike because it had more relaxed ergonomics. I'm wondering if the gixxer would be too aggressive. I'm 5'5" if that makes a difference. I also liked the fact that it was just old enough so that I would not have been sad if I crashed it at the track.

Any other problems I should know about the gixxer? The couple I saw had this weird rattle coming from the right hand side on idle. One of the owners said it was normal...

The other choice would be an f4i. Suspension bits aren't as nice, and less power. Oddly, they are about the same price in my area!?

Thanks for the input!
Jon

I ride an F4 and the suspension and power are good 'nuff to keep up with newer 600s at the track. Remember people used to win races on bikes like these...the bike is not going to be the slow part of your track equation.

Still, if I was going to get a new track bike, it'd be Gixxer. Better track ergos. The F4i is more of a compromise...not the best street or track ergos, but good enough for each.

 

[GPToyz]

i've have the 06 1000 and the 07 750 i try and ride the piss out of the bikes on the track

i haven't split any frames yet, then again i can't do a wheelie to save my life

and all my bikes get setup suspensions, so i'm not sure what people are doing to split their frame - but suzuki did intiate a recall on certain frames

from what i know, the 04/05 600s which are pretty much the same as the k1-k3 are solid frames

 

[slydrite]

It was usually garaged, but stolen off the street at a friend's place. I plan on brake lock, lojack, and good insurance.

Keep in mind - disc locks are completely useless for deterring theft. Any pro bike thieves just put a skateboard under the front wheel or just pick up the front end and toss the bike in a van.

Disc locks only make some feel like their bikes are less stealable, but it's simply a placebo effect.

 

[GPToyz]

Keep in mind - disc locks are completely useless for deterring theft. Any pro bike thieves just put a skateboard under the front wheel or just pick up the front end and toss the bike in a van.

Disc locks only make some feel like their bikes are less stealable, but it's simply a placebo effect.

and typically serves in injuring the registered owner and incidental property damage as you shoot yourself in the foot

 

[jonko]

Not that it matters that much, but I typically put my disc lock on the back wheel. Seems like it would be more awkward to roll off with the steering lock in front, and the disc lock in back.