So I landed a new job and have been saving up for a nice fun fast bike. I was thinking of getting an Evo x but im afraid the stiff ride, low fuel economy, and chicago traffic commutes will kill me. So I decided on a bike. I had a bike a few years ago, a Kawasaki zx-6 .

Now my dilema is whether to get a 6 or a litre bike. I was lookin at <07 R6's and R1's. I just need help justifying the extra $2-4 on the extra 398cc's. I don't track much (well yet ) i don't stunt, i just use it to cruise. 600's are hella fast, but litres are just brutal. roll-on wheelies all day. I know the 600 will be sufficiently fast, but i don't know if its the macho "bigger is better" thing in my head that wants me to get the R1.

So I was hoping you guys could help me out. Weigh the pro's and con's of a 600 and a litre.

 

600: Goes as fast as you'll ever need a bike to go.
Litre: Is a waste of money.

Is that good enough? xD

 

600 is more than enough in the chicago burbs IMO. even more fun out in the country. save the 2-4k and use it to buy gear and mod your 600 lgihtly. youll be happier...and safer

 

A bike is more comfortable sitting in traffic than an Evo X?

 

youre right that statement didnt make much sense did it. i should have said $35k vs <$9 k was my determining factor.

i just moved there a 4 weeks ago actually too btw from milwaukee. got a job at a hospital down there. love your nsx btw

phee and takran thanks for ur input.

 

R6

 

GSX-R750 best of both worlds

 

get the R6, save the money to spend on modding that bike, or for hospital bills.

I hope to own an R6 one day, the problem is I can't curb my spending on modifying my cars

 

so you work at a hospital and want to buy a bike?

That being said, I bought a new 04 R6 in college and loved it. I put about 15k a year on it in the 2 years I had it and would def. recommend the R1. I am now toying with the idea of getting one myself.

As for pros, super hot looking bike, fast, did i mention one of the best looking bikes out there?

Cons - none ha i mean besides laying it down but you work at a hospital so no worries

 

A 600 can hurt you just as badly and quickly as a 1,000.

Whatever you get, just be sure to gear up.

Enjoy the ride.

 

Save the money, get the r6 and use the funds you saved to buy some nice gear.

I was just looking at some leather riding jackets and was shocked to see some of the nice ones going for $450.

http://www.alpinestars.com/Alloy_Lea.../p/310358.html

 

i think the R6 looks nicer but ive never had a chance to ride it and that might make me think differently. Gett the 600 though it'll save you some bills like everyone else already said, and having a tricked out or lightly modded bike is better than a stock bike atleast thats what i think

 

be safe man be safe.

 

Get the R1...it's faster

Of course don't get it if it's too much for you to handle safely.

 

Define "handle safely" a liter bike.

 

I'm scared to add up the costs of my gear collection sitting in the closet... helmets, gloves, boots, suits, jackets... ugh. And I'm an Alpinestars and Suomy slut, too. Not exactly the cheapest brands.

But they allow me to walk away from triple digit speed wrecks, so they are worth their weight in gold.

Again, no matter what bike you get, just use your head and be sure to gear up. It doesn't cost a whole lot to get good street gear. Check www.newenough.com in their Bargain Basement section.

 

big werd, I can't imagine how bad I would have come out of my wreck without my gear

 

the key is insurance...a 600 for me was about $400 a year...a 1000 was quoted to me at $2800 a year

 

what is your riding experience?

If you're new to bike, get a R6, hell, get a 250
If you've already been on 6 for awhile, go for liter by all means.

or get a 6 with extra cash to mod and buy gears.

whatever your pick is, gears comes before anything.

 

Thanks for all your input guys. ive been internet deprived since my move to chicago, so i havent checked this since i posted it. Anyways as far as riding experience i learned how to ride as a kid, my first bike was my Kawi zx6 in 06. Had to sell it for specific reasons. But id like to get into a litre but i know i dont need it.

 

Personally I hate Kawi's but it's up to you. I had the R6. Bought it used for $4,000 and rode it for over a year. Sold it later on for exactly $4,000. Waited a while before I bought my next bike which was a 2006 Gixxer 1000. My R6 was a great bike. No problems... only did oil changes. The Gixxer was UNREAL. Stupid, stupid fast. Never lost to any car.... Z06's, 1/4 mile muscle cars, and one time a Ferrari 360 Modena spyder. Buy your first bike used for sure. You can usually buy it and ride it for free.

It sounds like you're not an experienced rider. If I were you I wouldn't even think of a 1000. It's not a waste of money by any means but it's just that the 600 is much more forgiving when you make mistakes (overthrottling etc)
I'm not saying the 600 is not fast. They run the quarter mile around 11 seconds but the 1000's are ridiculous.

 

thanks for the input dude.

 

like everyone else said, stick with the 600.


Just out of curiosity, how come you are limiting yourself to just the Yamahas?

 

im not, ive just really wanted an >07 r1 since it came out. im also lookin at zx10's and gixxers, repsol cbr's. if i wait and save some, i might, MIGHT, be able to get the ducati 848..ugh, hot bike, 13k sticker.

oh and i got quoted full coverage r1 = 7500, r6 = 5100. With liability only its about 1100 for the r6 and 1500 for the r1.

 

meh..personally id stay away from the Ducati...between the price of the bike and all the maintenance..a jap bike would be much better.

The newer CBR600RR is a really nice bike. Plenty of power, comfortable for what it is (to me at least)...looks good.


You should go to a couple of dealers and sit on the bikes and see what is comfortable to you....last thing you want to do is dump a few thousand dollars into a bike that breaks your back after 10 minutes of riding.

 

I had an R6 and just like your ZX-6 you'll want a bigger bike at some point. An R6 is definitely fun and almost as fast as an R1, but when your around other bikes (GSX_R 750's, R1's...) it's still a little 600cc. I've also been riding since I was 8 years old and if I'd get a new bike tomorrow I'd get a B-King!

 

And you are worried about the evo killing you???

 

^ haha, yeah i explained that already somewhere up there.

im still shopping around, the SV's are nice too, v-twin wheelie monsters, and its seat isnt as agressive as the other bikes. im leaning towards a 600 right now, i know ill want a litre in the long run but this isnt gonna be the last bike ill ever get, unless i crash and am mamed, (had a patient who was in a bike accident, hit by a drunk dude, lost both his legs, litterally, was just a torso, open wounds all over, MRSA, man i felt so bad) but yeah.

and yeah the ducati is just coz of the name, and the fact that it is badass.

 

The SV650s are a real fun bike in the twisties...but if you are used to the power of an I4 sportbike may get boring quickly.

I used to work at a used bike dealership...and got spoiled by getting to ride almost everything under the sun...kinda sucked having to get on my old pos bike at the end of the day though


I really liked the B king until I saw it in person and sat on it..was much too wide for my tastes..plus, for the money youd spend on it id rather buy a used GSXR1000 and put a set of dirtbike bars on it, and make my own upright...still a very cool looking bike.

 

I voted other just because I hate motorcycles.
For myself anyways. And I see too many stupid moto drivers out there that think they are king of the road, and it really pisses me off.


Get a car.

 

^ - I take it you've actually never ridden a motorcycle?

 

we have a cager.

That's is what happens when a cager sees a squid or two or three and assumes that all motorcycle riders are squids. FALSE.

 

 

...ok... anyways, i found an 04 r6 with 8k miles clean as a whistle, will update you guys on what happens.

 

I BOUGHT IT!!! 04 yamaha r6. black and sick! The ride home was cold but insanely fun. So glad i got back on. pics coming soon, maybe start a new thread. thanks to everyone that gave their 2 cents.

 

No need for new thread...post pics here.

 

AWESOME! Congrats bro, take some pics for us!

Also, just like everyone else, Gear UP, or lay face up - you know how it goes. Be safe big guy.

 

Congrats on the bike.


What about the gear?

 

Congrats! I almost got a R6 Anniversary Edition, but it was sold the day I went to pick it up. Nice bikes. Good choice. Be safe.

 

Thanks guys, i have some ok pictures, didnt have time to PS them up but whatever. As far as gear i already have gloves from my last bike, i have a jacket, and they actually threw in a sweet flat black HJC helmet. Though they had BELL helmets half off, i would have but taken it but a free helmets a free helmet! :p anyways, heres the show!









wasnt a big fan of the flames but whatever, who cares really.