how many bikes do you hve to go through

[bcutrufelli]

to ride like a new r1 for example i mean do you need to go through another bike or two after the gs because it seems like the jump from the gs to a literbike would be still kinda crazy as the new liter bikes have like 140hp over what the gs has.  wow the literbikes are getting crazy powerful kinda sad that anyone with a lisence and the balls can go out and be turned loose with one

[Dom]

I personally do see what anyone would want with a litre bike unless they want to drive from Seattle to Portland in two hours with a passenger.  All I can say is test ride.  Bigger bikes are heavier, with a seemingly larger turn radius.  You won't be able to throw it around as much, but you won't get blown around as much by cross winds or big trucks either.  Plus, bigger bikes usually tend to cost more.

[se7enty7]

I live just outside atlanta..


I'd be happy ending up with a gsx-r 600, r6, etc.. and REALLY happy with a 750.  Around here there's just not much point for anything more.



I worry about my air/oil cooled gs sitting in traffic  

[Cal Price]

Well there's litre bikes and litre bikes and thereabouts. There's a Yamaha 900 shaftie that is almost sedate compared with some but it is comfortable on long rides. Honda's XL1000v Varadero touring trailie type bike is 1005 different again as is the VTR1000SP-2, VTR1000 Firestorm, which brings me to what has become the ultimate hooligan bike of choice around here, Honda's CBR1000RR Fireblade, brilliant bike but could be very uncomfortable on a long ride for all but the fittest and leanest amongst us. I always had a fancy for the CBR1100XX Super-Blackbird, twist your wrist and the world changes shape !

Test and try that's the answer but if you have the slightest feeling that you may be getting out of your depth, wait awhile. Which reminds me, one of my co-workers has just become a Daddy and is looking to sell his Fireblade HMMMMMMMMMMMMM 179 kilo, 170 Horses, wow, I wonder if the wife would notice if I painted it blue ?

[Rema1000]

My "dream garage" would have a Scarabeo 250, GS500, Speed Four, GS1150, and a Road King .  But for me, I don't think I'd want to move to the Speed Four or GS1150 straight from the GS.  The GS is just too forgiving.

I think that a SV650 or a VStrom 650 would be a good stepping-stone to get from the GS to the Speed Four or the big bimmer.  If I were so inclined, the Speed Four might be good training for a liter sportbike.  So I guess if you're talking about a liter sportbike., then in my case, I'd be thinking of two bikes between the GS500 and there, with a couple of years on each.

But that's just me.

[aplitz]

I believe that its 100% personal.  I rode my GS for about 9000 miles in a year, and switched immediately to my TL1000S.  I feel safer and more in control then I ever did on my GS, and I don't let all that HP under my ass get me in trouble.  I think people need to get over the 'liter bikes are excessive' crap and realize that they are very worthy bikes.  There is a reason that they are popular, and they aren't just going to chew you up and spit you out.  YOU are in control, and a bigger, more performance oriented bike can be just as controlable as the GS.

[The Buddha]

to ride like a new r1 for example i mean do you need to go through another bike or two after the gs because it seems like the jump from the gs to a literbike would be still kinda crazy as the new liter bikes have like 140hp over what the gs has.  wow the literbikes are getting crazy powerful kinda sad that anyone with a lisence and the balls can go out and be turned loose with one

Surprisingly ... I think an R1 is a easier bike to ride ... than an R6... torque is your friend, high strung and revvy ... is not. I'll setp up to the 1 but not a 6... funny ... I test rode a 93 GSXR 750 back in 95 and felt it was too revvy and pipey... then a few months later I test rode a 90 1100 GSXR ... and it seemed like the GS's elder brother.
Cool.
Srinath.

[Argon5W]

Jumping up to 1000cc just depends on your ability to keep your hand out of the throttle.  

With the GS you can whack it wide open with little concern but my SuperHawk (Firestorm in Europe) is a different story.  If you roll the throttle open too quickly in first gear you will end up on your back.

[scratch]

Surprisingly ... I think an R1 is a easier bike to ride ... than an R6... torque is your friend, high strung and revvy ... is not. I'll setp up to the 1 but not a 6... funny ... I test rode a 93 GSXR 750 back in 95 and felt it was too revvy and pipey... then a few months later I test rode a 90 1100 GSXR ... and it seemed like the GS's elder brother.
Cool.
Srinath.

I concur, the R1 is easier to ride and is a more streetable bike; the R6 is a racebike.

It also depends on what kind of 1000 you're talking about. A BMW R100 (or 1100) would produce nearly the same horsies, but would be enormously heavier. As, opposed to a R1, which if you learned throttle control and how to be smooth would be a weapon to be rekoned with.

Ultimately, it comes down to time in the saddle, skill, confidence and good judgement.

[dgyver]

The newer 1 liter sport bikes are not really all that heavy. They weigh right with the GS if not less. But the power to weight ratio is much greater.

There is a major difference in power from a GS to most any 1 liter bike. Riding maturity plays a major role. Peer pressure can have a detrimental effect.

I trully agree that it is sad that anyone with (or even without) a license can purchase any motorcycle regardless of experience or ability. I wish there were different levels of licenses for difference types of bikes.

I have to admit that an ZX1000R Ninja was my first street bike back in '87. Not quite the hp of the bikes today.

[bikenut]

The R1 does not weigh much more than the GS.  Just because a bike has 140 hp does not mean that you have to use them all.  But if one has 140 hp the temptation to use it just might overcome your good sense.  That means that you will reach triple digits much sooner than on the GS and you will not realize just how fast you are going and how long it will take you to stop.

Are you proficient enough to handle the cornering speeds that you can attain on the GS?  Because if not, you should not be going faster on the R1.  

I think the real question is whether you can live with the ergos on any true sport bike.  My GS is still fun to ride, especially during my daily commute.  The lack of power helps me control my speedfreak urges.  When I joy ride or go on longer trips, I take my REX.  The REX is so powerful, I rarely go over 5grand.  While I am constantly changing gears on the GS, I can ride in 2nd and 3rd on the REX.

[pizzleboy]

My professional opinion would be 3.

One to learn, drop etc.
a junior SS, like a 600.  Learn to have the new power and to respect it.
1K SS.

[ghettorigged]

But for me, I don't think I'd want to move to the Speed Four or GS1150 straight from the GS.  The GS is just too forgiving.

I think that a SV650 or a VStrom 650 would be a good stepping-stone to get from the GS to the Speed Four or the big bimmer.  If I were so inclined, the Speed Four might be good training for a liter sportbike.  So I guess if you're talking about a liter sportbike., then in my case, I'd be thinking of two bikes between the GS500 and there, with a couple of years on each.

But that's just me.

I think moving to a Speed 4 would be fine. It's an inline 4 correct? I think it will have much less 'bite' than the SV650's v-twin would have. So, if you really want the Speed 4, go for it! I have been looking at used ones since I seem to gravitate towards orange motos.  :lol:

The Vstrom is a totally different animal. Upright seating, geared for touring...  :dunno:  Doesn't seem logical if you are into sportbikes. :mrgreen:

[pantablo]

I think it depends on the person. But my observations lead me to believe the R1 would be too big a step. I have a buddy who is an experienced rider of many years who bought one of the 04 R1's. He cant keep the front end on the ground. it just happens if you give it too much throttle. I also saw 2 guys at my first trackday toss their 1000rr and zx10r in the first session because they were too hard on the gas ( one on the first lap, first corner and the other last "cool down" lap). Too hard on the gas with tires that were cold had their rear slide out and both ended up highsiding.

I stepped up to a 600rr and to be honest I was astonished (still am) at the power of this bike. The speed 4 is a 600cc sportbike stripped of bodywork (was the TT600). Moving up to a 600cc bike is a good step-still a big step though. You can master throttle control all you want but the latest crop of liter bikes really takes some serious experience, IMO.

For what its worth, the R1 FELT significantly lighter than the gs500.

I think there is definitely one bike between the gs and a literbike. Also, keep in mind that the liter vtwins are easier to ride IMO than the liter inline 4's because of the peaky nature of the 4's.

[danci1973]

Well, for what it's worth - new generation of liter sports bikes (R1, ZX10R, GSX-R1000) really ARE lighter than the GS!

I think that new generation liter sports bike is a too much for someone to jump on from the friendly GS.

I'm just guessing, but some other liter bikes might be just fine - sports-touring bikes like Yamaha FZS1000 (I think it's called FZ1 in the US) or SV1000(S) or even the V-Strom 1000 - all pretty powerfull and exciting, but without that 'vicious bite' that sports bike might have...

 D.

[Michael]

I trully agree that it is sad that anyone with (or even without) a license can purchase any motorcycle regardless of experience or ability. I wish there were different levels of licenses for difference types of bikes.

Here in AUS we were limited to a 250cc for our learner period and for the first year of licenced riding.  After that, it was open slather.  What happened was we got some truly lethal 250s, and good learners bikes like the GS500 were not available to those who would benefit most from them.
This has recently changed in some states and will soon change in most others.  Now the powers that be have realised a power-to-weight ratio limit makes more sense and the GS500 is legal as a learners bike.  (So are all the Harleys- good power but excess weight  :lol: ).  Hopefully we will see alot more riders who know a bit more about what they are doing before they get onto the hypersports thingies.  And a lot more second hand GSs.

[Briggs]

It seams to me that many people are under the immpression that you have to end up riding the fastest most powerfull  bikes. Just the fact that this thread was started proves it.  Allmost like if there were 3 liter bikes that make 300hp people would be saying "Is going fom my R6 to the "R30" to big a jump?" I think after about 100hp they are all pretty rediculous. After that is more on how big your wallet and balls are.

[Argon5W]

The horsepower of today's road bikes is excessive.  I really enjoy my VTR1000 but it isn't all that powerful of a bike.  The last time it was on the dyno it was 118 hp and 81 ft/lbs of torque.  Big twins are a completely different riding experience.  

I enjoy riding the VTR on the street but the GS was the most fun I have had on a small track.  Big tracks like Texas World Speedway aren't as fun on the GS.  You feel like you should pull out a magazine on the front straight.  We endurance race so you have all classes on the track at the same time.  You're on the GS wrapped out at 125 mph and getting passed by liter bikes doing 170+.

[Hi-T]

I'm biting...

I will always recommend a gs500 as a first bike-  I will always say give it a year and/or several thousand miles.  After that- buy whatever you like.

Riding is all in the mentality.  If you want to ride hard and dangerous, a 600r anything will get you in the same trouble (only about a second slower) as a litter bike.  

Remember- most supersport liter bikes are built to race- lightened this, alloy that, fiber here, advanced engineering there- 10,000 will buy you a very fast, light bike with lots of cool goodies.  The only place where you might find a difference in ridability would be the track or some sick twistie action- otherwise, to each his own.

[TOMIMOTO]

The 04 GS weighs 400lbs with 40 hp. The 04 R1 weighs 380 with 180 hp.

The new 05 Gixxer 1000 weighs something like 360lbs and it has about 178hp.

I'm planning on getting the solid black 05 R1 in the Spring and yes this will be a jump from my 04 GS but it's all about control. I weigh 130 so after oil/gas and me on the bike it will come out to a total of 500lbs with 180 hp. Everyone says I'm gonna die but I guess I'll just have to show them.