Finally! - Going to upgrade from a GS500

[rangerbrown]

hey alpha your right about one thing the tq is flater than a table then drops at 9.5 the hp comes in right at 2.5k and then tops out at 8.3 on my bike,

if i canget a scaner i will post the dyno run, oo and i need a new chain, who woul dhave thought that you could see that on a dyno

[ukchickenlover]

I like how people talk about how dangerous sports bikes are and at the same time talk about how far they lean there bike over and how they redline it up to 90.

I think you will be fine with the r6 if you respect the extra power and ride safely. I have a cbr600 and for me it is no more dangerous than a gs500, I decide how fast I ride not the bike.

[TarzanBoy]

The R6 wasn't on my list of bikes that I had been looking at.   I would probably have preferred an F4, F4i, (standard seating position), or a Zx6R/636.  Suffice it to say that the few I looked at were just too expensive.  Especially the F4's.  I looked at a couple '99 models... none of their owners wanted less than $4k for their bikes (one guy even justified the price by adding in a parts list that he said was worth $70 ... guess he doesn't use the internet much!).

This R6 is the first bike in good shape I have come across for (what i consider) a fair price that was in my budget.   I actually also looked at an '01 R1.  The owner was willing to let it go for $5300.... but I would have gone super-broke buying it and my insurance would have quadrupled.  (Two signs that the bike is not right for you).

In any case... moving away from the GS is bittersweet....  I guess i'm goign to have to consider carrying theft insurance.  How much more does that cost than minimum coverage (which is what i carried on the '89 GS since its blue book value was so low).

[Alphamazing]

I like how people talk about how dangerous sports bikes are and at the same time talk about how far they lean there bike over and how they redline it up to 90.

I think you will be fine with the r6 if you respect the extra power and ride safely. I have a cbr600 and for me it is no more dangerous than a gs500, I decide how fast I ride not the bike.

It's all about managing the power, that's why. A lot of people think they can handle all that extra power, but they can't. The GS is far more forgiving. And yes, you do need to compare what you do with a GS to what you do with a sport bike. And, btw, you're in 5th gear when you're at 90, so you're not redlining it to there. And plus, those sport bikes can hit 90 in 2nd gear. That's far more power than the GS, which can be more than a lot of people can handle.

[Jake D]

I agree with Tazran Boy and Pantablo on this one. 

Few people start out riding sport bikes on a 500.  Many learn on 600's.  Very few sport bike riders ever even own 500's. 

Throwing a leg over an R6 doesn't mean you're going to crash.  You don't have to lean it over and give it WOT all the time.   

[pantablo]

It's all about managing the power, that's why. A lot of people think they can handle all that extra power, but they can't. The GS is far more forgiving. And yes, you do need to compare what you do with a GS to what you do with a sport bike. And, btw, you're in 5th gear when you're at 90, so you're not redlining it to there. And plus, those sport bikes can hit 90 in 2nd gear. That's far more power than the GS, which can be more than a lot of people can handle.

when people first got a gs they were in over their experience and skill level. they used the friendliness (for lack of better word) of the gs to learn. one doesnt need to be a master to move up to a sportbike, just that they're ready to learn again but this time not from ground zero.

[Jake D]

Who knew?  Alphafire was really just a Nancy Boy all along!

[secondgen7]

Congrats, TB!  That R6 looks sweet .. love the red & black.  I guess we won't be needing to meet up for the valve check (as if the kit would ever resurface, anyways) but we should still ride sometime.  Feel free to PM me (here or GSB) anytime.

Dave

PS  Figures that the day you get an R6, a F4 shows up for sub-4k (barely, but still). 

[Alphamazing]

when people first got a gs they were in over their experience and skill level. they used the friendliness (for lack of better word) of the gs to learn. one doesnt need to be a master to move up to a sportbike, just that they're ready to learn again but this time not from ground zero.

Very true, I just prefer to master something before moving on. From what he's said he sounds like he'd be okay moving up, so long as he respects the new bike and gets used to all the extra power.

Who knew?  Alphafire was really just a Nancy Boy all along!

Well, you should know by now at least that I'm a safety nazi, and with good reason!

[jbeaber]

Congrats, Tarzanboy!  Sounds like you have good thoughts in your head and are planning on riding the new toy right.  I'm in the same boat as you, I have similar riding experience and am eagerly anticipating the arrival of my Daytona 675.  Yes, lots more power (and the low end power in my case), and a lot of acknowledgement of the need to be patient and slow in observation of the new power.  My reasoning for getting the 675 was that my GS was having issues and needed to be replaced.  I ride an SV quite a bit and love it, but, like the GS, it has its limitations in being a bike targeted towards an entry-audience.  The modifications I would need to get it to get it to where I would want it would cost a significant amount of money (suspension upgrades, farings for wind and weather protection).  It is just finding what is going to suit your wants.  Yes, the GS is a wonderful bike but it is not suited for everyone.  Many people buy it as a great introduction to motorcycles, but as they learn more, they find their interests and tastes change.  Enjoy every second of your new bike and I wish you the best of luck. 

[DerekNC]

It's not what you ride it's how safe you ride. I've seen in many other forums where the same people who brag about their high speed riding are educating other members on the dangers of high power bikes. But our little GS500 can kill a rider just like anything else if ridden in an unsafe manner. It's strange noone really advocates safe riding.

[Alphamazing]

It's not what you ride it's how safe you ride. I've seen in many other forums where the same people who brag about their high speed riding are educating other members on the dangers of high power bikes. But our little GS500 can kill a rider just like anything else if ridden in an unsafe manner. It's strange noone really advocates safe riding.

Managing the power is part of safe riding, as is wearing all the right gear and being able to know your limits. That's what I've been trying to say, and pablo has been hitting on "respecting the power of the new bike" a lot, too. That's all part of safe riding.

[aplitz]

Safe riding = mythical

If you think there is such a thing, you have not yet come to grips with reality.  The vast number of variables in riding make it impossible to have any real control.  Some of you may have heard of Rich Thorwaldson.  He was one of the original factory motocross racers back in the early 1970's.  Before that, he was a champion dirt tracker, and desert racer.  He took up club road racing later in life, and was known for meticulously prepared bikes (since his reputation as a respected Honda dealer was on the line as well). 

Rich died in a roadracing accident on a track surrounded by other skilled riders, wearing every stitch of protective gear available, on a stellar bike.  Even in this controlled enviornment, a professional caliber rider still lost his life.  Now throw in the extra insanity of the street, and there are many times when all the gear in the world ain't gonna help.  You can think you are riding safe, but tell that to the drunk around the corner, I don't think he is on the same page.

[allmtrslut]

it really does matter what you ride, and i wouldnt recommend and R bike for a new rider. See ya u can die just as fast on a gs500, but on an R bike you can lock brakes very easy, to much throttle and you might loop it, or to much out of a corner and you might highside. With teh gs you can turn the throttle and not much happens!! but after 5k miles...you can step up to a bigger bike...unless you are not sure of your skill level. A bigger bike gets you in trouble way faster, one mistake and it wont let you recover. The gs on the other hand is very forgiving and that what a newbie needs...

[average]

As long as you are ready man(10 hail marys, one....) I mean just respect the bike,man . Most newer bikes nowadays will stand up from 1st -3rd.

[pantablo]

Safe riding = mythical

If you think ...

<snippage>

You can think you are riding safe, but tell that to the drunk around the corner, I don't think he is on the same page.

You're not talking to a new rider buying a sportbike as a first bike. tarzanboy has been riding almost a year and has racked up 4500 miles. That would suggest he's familiar with the dangers. He's probably taken MSF course too, as many here have.

it really does matter what you ride, and i wouldnt recommend and R bike for a new rider. See ya u can die just as fast on a gs500, but on an R bike you can lock brakes very easy, to much throttle and you might loop it, or to much out of a corner and you might highside. With teh gs you can turn the throttle and not much happens!! but after 5k miles...you can step up to a bigger bike...unless you are not sure of your skill level. A bigger bike gets you in trouble way faster, one mistake and it wont let you recover. The gs on the other hand is very forgiving and that what a newbie needs...

again, this isnt a first bike for someone with no experience. The jump up to a sportbike is not as huge as you guys seem to make it out to be, particularly for someone as intelligent as Tarzanboy was in starting out on a gs500. 8 months and 4500 miles would indicate more commitment to learning proper riding technique than someone who sells their gs a month or two after buying it because they're "bored" with it. Cut the guy some slack. Many people here are using the gs as a stepping stone to bigger bikes.

[calamari]

heck I remember I learned to ride on a honda 250cc during the MSF over 9 months ago... then I got the GS (double the power) and I felt i was not prepared for that 'beast'...
this morning, many months later, I met my cousin and he said "hey, so when are you buying a bigger bike? this one is like a toy no? Oh I see, you are keeping it because you save on gas uh? ...' 

In any case, there are days when I feel the GS is shrinking under me (and i'm not gaining weight!).

[vtlion]

Enjoy the R6.  I made the same move after about a year and 3,500 miles on the GS.  It was like learning to ride all over again... a little intimidating in the power department.  Just remember that those 600cc I-4's come to life VERY suddenly.  Give yourself a few hundred miles of cautious time to familiarize yourself with the capabilities of your new bike, then take her out and enjoy 

[TarzanBoy]

SecondGen - We are still going to meet up and do the valves.  I'm not going to pass up the only real opportunity I will have to do some real wrenching on a bike.... and GS is probably a better bike to start on than an R6 (it still feels wierd for me to refer to an R6 as 'my' bike).... and I am selling my GS to a new rider... so it is only fitting that I present the bike to him in almost as good shape as it was when cheesy sold it to me.

[My Name Is Dave]

Ok, so I'm pretty sure I'm not thread jacking, as we have all told him what a great/horrible decision he's making. Personally, I wish you luck with your R6; someday I'll be on one too.

But here's my question. I was looking into R6s as my next bike down the road (like DOWN the road...I am not getting rid of the GS in the near future), and got thinking about how maybe a tamer version would be better, which is the YZF600. And then I of course thought of Gixxers and all that, but also CBRs. And just while thinking and looking, I noticed there are a few different varieties of the CBR600: the 600 F4, the 600 F4i, and the 600RR (I think that's all).

What's the difference between the 3? I'd guess the RR would be the most race-specific, with a more aggressive seating position and more powerful motor. And the F4i is injected, right? But I think I also heard the seating position is more akin to that of the GS, is this true? So the F4 is more leaned forward, and the F4i is more upright?

I have no idea...