Quote from: TOMIMOTOI'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.

I sincerely hope that you ride the R1 until it's worn out ... without getting a single scratch.

But if the invincibility cloak happens to fail you at some point, do us a favor and come back to report all the hairy details.

In fact, I'd appreciate hearing about your experience whether it's good OR bad.  (I hope you do "show them".)  There's nothing like up-front, tell-it-like-it-is reporting from the real life sector.  That's the kind of feedback that a topic like this needs an endless supply of.

Quote from: Michael

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.

Of course, here in the states, we didnt get any of those cool small-displacement bikes. I'd love a CBR250 or CBR400RR... but they just arent available here... at least not legally.

Careful with the R1, it's an expensive POWERFUL bike, and in my area this past year every single person (excluding one guy who has been riding for years and decided to get one) crashed their brand new R1's, 180HP is a lot and if you are comfortable with that go for it if you're not stay away as it's an expensive piece of modern art if you crash it.

I guess experience and knowing what you can and it can do is important ...
I rode my friends 2000 R1 and test rode a 2003 GSXR 1000 ... and though I in advertently wheelied the GSXR (yea down shifted when I need not have... I was thinking it was the GS  :lol: ) I felt safe on them... power is there, but they have handling... immaculate and precise and excellent brakes ... and are really light. Power is your friend or enemy depending on how good you are, but torque handling and braking and lack of weight are always your friends ... and its a balance I can handle ... Now my eli 1000 ... it has the power, and mondo weight, and no handling or brakes ... and yes it does have torque ... so 4 against and 1 for, while the R1 is 4 for and 1 against ... but guess what ... people that are blinded by the one never get to experience the other 4... and rarely do such people ride eliminators ...
Cool.
Srinath.