I was inquiring about possible upgrade bikes next year in this thread and I'm wondering now wether I should just keep the GS and upgrade it with the money I would have spent on a new bike.

If I got a new bike I'd turn the GS into a track bike, so she's not leaving me just yet. By the time I bought a new bike next year I will have racked up somewhere in the vicinity of 10,000 miles on it, most likely. I put about 1000 miles a month on it when I can, more during the summer if I can help it. That's the benefit of having a 10 month GOOD riding season.

So, my question to y'all is this: Should I upgrade to a "fancier" bike next year and turn my baby into a track tool or keep her for yet another year and continue to mod the hell out of it with the money I would have spent on a new bike?

On another note: I should be participating in 4-6 track days between now and then, if at all possible.

buy a bike better suited for the track-older cbr600f3/f4 or something like that...keep the gs for around town.

Aren't SV track bikes fairly cheap, or would an I4 be better suited for the track?

sv's are a good choice too. might be cheaper, might not depending on how much you paid for the sv. if you paid under $2000 for a salvage wrecked bike, then fixed it up-that'd be the way to go...


having said that, I would never run an sv, or any Vtwin on the track...something about them just doesnt sound right on the track. Thats just me though-I prefer the scream of the I4 to the staccatto of the twins. Yah, ducatis are born for the track. rc51's are on the track often too...still, WFO, they just dont sound right to me...


whatever you do, whatevr you get-a track bike should be a beater.

I got to see the AMA Superbike races at Laguna Seca this year (and the MotoGP race too  :nana:  :nana: ) and the sound of the Ducati 999 could be heard a few turns back. When it came down the corkscrew, that BRRRRUUUMMMMMM was absolutely intoxicating. Maybe only because it was different than the NNNEEEEEEEEEEEER of the other bikes there.

I prefer twin tone to the harsh scream of an I4, but I think a 2 stroke would be the best sounding track bike of them all.

NSR500 baby!!!


I say keep the GS for street use, buy a beater track, and do light mods to the GS as budget allows.  Suzuki hasn't changed the GS for a long time because they got it right.  It's cheap, reliable, takes abuse/neglect pretty darn well, and it's one of the best commuting rides I've seen/used.

Quote from: Mk1inCaliI say keep the GS for street use, buy a beater track, and do light mods to the GS as budget allows.  Suzuki hasn't changed the GS for a long time because they got it right.  It's cheap, reliable, takes abuse/neglect pretty darn well, and it's one of the best commuting rides I've seen/used.

+1. Well said. Ever notice how a lot of the guys that upgrade to bigger bikes always miss the GS? There is a reason for that. I say hang onto it and buy a beater track-only bike with larger displacement and more aftermarket support. Use it as your toy, and the GS will be your REAL bike  

Which ever route you choose, if you choose to track the GS, it will make you a better, smoother rider on your new street bike; if you decide to buy a used track bike that is already set up, it will make you a better, smoother and faster rider on the GS. So the real question is: Do you want to spank 600 supersports on the street with your GS and maybe edumacate some wannabes into investing in some skillza?

I thought your yen for a new bike sprang out of the desire to have something big-displacement for the street?

Quote from: RoadstergalI thought your yen for a new bike sprang out of the desire to have something big-displacement for the street?

Nope. It was more along the lines of added tech (FI, better suspension, etc), better aftermarket support, okay yeah a bit more torque would be great, better selections for rubber, and the added bit of uniqueness. The only reason I was comparing liter bikes was because there aren't many middleweight bikes that aren't either horribly expensive, hideously ugly, or unique at all. The SV650 is so prolific nowdays; they are like rabbits. I am also just in love with the SV1000 and the Z1000. That had a lot to do with it.

scratch, so basically no matter what I do it will make me a better, smoother rider on the street because of the fact I am track riding, right?

A CBR600F2/F3 can be had for less than $2000 for a clean titled one in decent condition. If I find a salvage titled one that is dirt cheap I can fix it up for nothing and have a good ol' fashioned beater track bike.

Well, then it depends on some things... your budget... what kind of aftermarket you want that the GS lacks?  I'm not sure the Z1000 has much more.  You've already crashed the GS, so that worry might be less... but you didn't trash it, so it's still a nice street bike.  Middleweight modern fuel-injected bikes?  650R, FZ6, Moto Guzzi Breva 750, used F650CS...

I'd say just keep what you got until it no longer fits the bill.  When that happesn just get some race rep with an undertail like everyone else is doing...

Quote from: RoadstergalMiddleweight modern fuel-injected bikes?  650R, FZ6, Moto Guzzi Breva 750, used F650CS...

650R - ugly as sin, can't buy used
FZ6 - hate the styling (damn I'm picky. I like the FZ1, though)
Breva - Reliability?
F650CS - not exactly sporting

My budget will be in the $4000 range. If I had the cash though, I'd jump on the new Daytona 675... Maybe I'll save up for a few years and buy one. Man that would be sweet.

Quote from: AlphaFire X5Breva - Reliability?

I wondered about that, too, but it's a very simple and easily-maintained machine with a proven FI system (the last from Dave of Guzziology, and I trust him).

Quote from: AlphaFire X5F650CS - not exactly sporting

Have you ridden one?  It's sportier than the Breva - the handling is delightful, and it'll lean farther before it scrapes.

If you had an F, I'd trade you a nice TLS.

$4000 and EFI?  You can get TL1000S and R's, some Milles, and R1 and R6 here and there, F4i's, GSXR 750 (some 1000's), Buell XB's, and a sleugh of other bikes.

Quote from: RoadstergalHave you ridden one?  It's sportier than the Breva - the handling is delightful, and it'll lean farther before it scrapes.

I think he means asthetically.  Most beemers are absolutely visually hideous.

(a little trivie:  do you know the difference between a beemer and a bimmer?)

Slough or slew, take your pic.  

A beemer is a bike and a bimmer is a car.  I love beemer looks these days.

Quote from: RoadstergalA beemer is a bike and a bimmer is a car.

It's aamazing how few people know that...


I like their new R line-up...and I like the OLD OLD OLD OLD R line up...all the rest, despite their more than adequate performance, look horid to me...

I like the new K series. The R models look nice for touring though. Aside from those, bleah bleah bleah.

Quote from: Roadstergalwhat kind of aftermarket you want that the GS lacks?

Umm, considering the GS has essentially NO aftermarket support... :lol: The Z1000 actually shares many parts with the ZX-9 mill, so parts can be interchanged between the two.