1000cc sportbikes on the road

Pugzilla

Just wondering if anyone has a litre sportbike they use on the road. Deliberating whether to get one sometime later in the year.

How do you find it? Is it too much power?
Is a 600 more fun on the road since you can actually work through the gears?

Del2005

Pugzilla wrote: »

Just wondering if anyone has a litre sportbike they use on the road. Deliberating whether to get one sometime later in the year.

How do you find it? Is it too much power?
Is a 600 more fun on the road since you can actually work through the gears?

Friend used to have an R1. Thing was great you could do 50km/h in top no problem then unleash the power when you want.

The vast majority of bikes have enough power to get you in trouble, it's up to the rider to ride within their limits not try to ride to the bikes limits. If you want to push a bike do a track day.

stewygriffin

I use a big bang R1 and a 996 on the road.

The R1 is gonna get me in trouble one of these days,thats all I will say.
The grin factor is huge when on it and giving some beans.







A 600cc supersport bike will be more than enough for commuting and having fun.

blade1

Too much power?
Nah!!!!
Even when the cops try to pull ya just give them the finger and let her rip!!:pac::pac::pac:

stewygriffin

blade1 wrote: »

Too much power?
Nah!!!!
Even when the cops try to pull ya just give them the finger and let her rip!!:pac::pac::pac:

I find unless you are acting the complete d!ck,that most police are very sound and nice to deal with.
Had a few nice compliments about the R1 and the 996 from some of the gardai's finest.
Alot of them are bikers themselves.:)

batman_oh

Honestly I find them boring and frustrating a lot of the time as the things that I have to do to get enjoyment are bordering on ridiculous. However the odd occasion when I do get a good run makes it worthwhile. That's why I moved away from inline 4 litre bikes to the R1 and now the 1199 which has a bit of character and more to it than just the performance. That's completely a result of my exposure to mad spins, trackdays etc though. If you haven't had one before it's certainly worth doing.

They are more pleasant on the road than smaller sportsbikes as you don't need to ring the arse off it, plus the non stop wheelies when you hit the power coming out of a corner and the pure power when you do get to open it up fully (even if it's rare) are something you can't replicate. I prefer 1000cc sportsbikes on the road to any smaller ones, but prefer 600 class sportsbikes on the track as you can use their advantages there (higher corner speed and later braking means nothing on the road really) and they just give a more enjoyable experience.

Definitely give it a go. Otherwise you'll always wonder

Pugzilla

How does the GSX-R750 compare?

From what I've read it seems to be a good compromise between the high-revs of a 600 and the torque of a 1000.

goodlad

From that ive heard a gsxr 750 is literally the perfect compromise.

I prefer large CC engines as I dont have to wring its neck like I hear a lot of lads on a 600 do. The bike will comfortably cruise at 160kmh and I can go nuts if wanted to.

batman_oh

Pugzilla wrote: »

How does the GSX-R750 compare?

From what I've read it seems to be a good compromise between the high-revs of a 600 and the torque of a 1000.

It's like a 600 with a slight overbore so still needs revving. Doesn't feel anything like a 1000, just a 600 with more everywhere (which is the appeal of it). If you want a 1000 it's not really ticking the same boxes to be honest. And any 600 is faster than you use on the road (unless you are captain 160mph straight line squid) so it's not a performance thing!
It's s fantastic bike though - and is a nice bit more powerful (around 20-25hp more than most 600s)

Wonda-Boy

TBH, you dont need a uber fast 1000cc bike. Any bike with low down torque will give you great joy and usable power on the roads.....you never miss what you never had. Obviously if you have been riding litre sportsbikes for yrs everything else will feel under-powered.

batman_oh

Wonda-Boy wrote: »

TBH, you dont need a uber fast 1000cc bike. Any bike with low down torque will give you great joy and usable power on the roads.....you never miss what you never had. Obviously if you have been riding litre sportsbikes for yrs everything else will feel under-powered.

The best bike I've ever ridden for fun on the road is the smr I own. Crippled slow compared to even a 600 on straights but it still makes a show of most on twisty roads and unless it's just dull main road spins it has no problem going faster than almost everybody I've come across on litre bikes too.
All about finding the bike that ticks the boxes for you and your use.

BlackWizard

A few days ago I was thinking of selling my 2002 Fazer 600. It's not being used and had an issue with a spark plug which meant I never drove it for months.

So we fixed the spark plug and took it for a drive yesterday evening. The sound of a 600cc engine working up the revs from 4k to 9k is just amazing. I felt a huge buzz from just using the revs and hearing the exhaust roaring. It is just so light that it was begging to go around corners aggressively.

I've a zzr1400 and a fazer 600. The fazer is the one going to get me penalty points. But the zzr is way more comfortable for just cruising and driving around casually.

I don't think I could pick one over the other because it depends on what I'm in the mood for.

Colm17RvB

Used to have a R1, found no problem with is as an everyday bike. Switched jobs which meant my commute went from about 40km round trip to 5km, and I found that such a short commute killed the bike.

Back on to a '03 Fazer 600 for the second time now, it does everything I need it to do, but it's a bit boring compared to the R1, but I guess my opinion of it is spoilt after owning the R1, before I got the R1 I thought it was the bees knees, now it's always nagging at me when I'm riding that R1 was so much more fun.

Wonda-Boy wrote: »

TBH, you dont need a uber fast 1000cc bike. Any bike with low down torque will give you great joy and usable power on the roads.....you never miss what you never had. Obviously if you have been riding litre sportsbikes for yrs everything else will feel under-powered.

Basically what Wonda-Boy said.

Have you taken any out for a spin yet? That'll be the decider, it was for me. When I was looking at the R1 I took it out for a spin from a shop, came back in after an hour or so, told them I'd be buying it within the month and asked them to hold it, job done. Weary of doing it again because I may wind up buying one again!!

The_Chap

No such thing as too much power lol

As said already you don't know what you haven't tried, I always wanted one but could never justify it coming from sports 600's, had a gsxr 750 and that was the perfect balance but got the chance to trade for a new blade and never looked back since

You have to own one at least once, it's an itch that needs scratching

Cienciano

If you're thinking of getting one and you have to ask, you know you want one.

jimgoose

Four-cylinder Jap thousands are as docile or as boolah as you want. Ducatis and some other exotica do the diva a bit, but it is possible to live with most of them day-to-day on the road as well.

Pugzilla

If I was to get one, it would be a mid noughties R1 or Fireblade (06-07).

How do these bikes compare?

blade1

Pugzilla wrote: »

If I was to get one, it would be a mid noughties R1 or Fireblade (06-07).

How do these bikes compare?

R1 is a lot more comfortable than the blade.
My brother has an R1 and i had a 05 blade which is a cracker of a bike.
It handles everything so well,some say too well as its very forgiving.

Ive had older blades and they would throw you over the handlebars in a second.
The newer blade never feels like that even hitting bumps or if the back steps out coming out of a roundabout or something, it always straightens it self out.

It also has an electronic steering damper which is great and you don't even notice it working but it does.

Seating positon is a way more racey than the R1 and take a couple of weeks to get used to.
As you can see, I prefer the Blade but thats just me so you really should test them out first as both are very good bikes.

BKtje

Never owned an out and out 1000cc sport bike but the 1046cc sports tourer I have I use almost daily.
3km commute to work (i'm a lazy git when not on the footy pitch), quick spins in the mountains, long motorway stretches(8+ hours to the Netherlands and then back again over 3 days) or weekends away 2 up. It handles everything I throw at it whether I'm going easy or feel like opening her up.

Feels slightly heavier in the mountains then my old 300cc sports bike but then again almost anything would! Dunno if this helps at all but as others have said, only way to know if it's for you is to try one.

TeaBagMania

Pugzilla wrote: »

How does the GSX-R750 compare?

From what I've read it seems to be a good compromise between the high-revs of a 600 and the torque of a 1000.

Exactly what I was going to say

Pugzilla

Pugzilla wrote: »

Just wondering if anyone has a litre sportbike they use on the road. Deliberating whether to get one sometime later in the year.

How do you find it? Is it too much power?
Is a 600 more fun on the road since you can actually work through the gears?

The 600 will do 70 mph in first gear and the 1000 100+ how fast are you planning on riding.

You dont need to get past 3rd on most trips on either. From riding both you notice it more in first gear imo.

batman_oh wrote: »

They are more pleasant on the road than smaller sportsbikes as you don't need to ring the arse off it

Dont really understand this, you dont need to ring the arse off a 600 to be doing twice the limit in most places.
I would describe the 1k as smoother if anything.

batman_oh

Tucker Ashy Risk wrote: »

The 600 will do 70 mph in first gear and the 1000 100+ how fast are you planning on riding.

You dont need to get past 3rd on most trips on either. From riding both you notice it more in first gear imo.



Dont really understand this, you dont need to ring the arse off a 600 to be doing twice the limit in most places.
I would describe the 1k as smoother if anything.

That's just for your personal use. For me a 600 has no torque and needs to be in the top end of the power range in the right gear to get really strong drive. A 1000 has it everywhere in comparison. It's not about the speed limit - it's about functional acceleration and what I'm personally looking for. I have owned plenty of 600s too and owned an Aprilia RS250, and RVF400 and still prefer my slower than a 600 sportsbike KTM 990 to any litre bike.
You are happy with the 600 for road use - that doesn't mean it applies to everybody!

listermint

batman_oh wrote: »

That's just for your personal use. For me a 600 has no torque and needs to be in the top end of the power range in the right gear to get really strong drive. A 1000 has it everywhere in comparison. It's not about the speed limit - it's about functional acceleration and what I'm personally looking for. I have owned plenty of 600s too and owned an Aprilia RS250, and RVF400 and still prefer my slower than a 600 sportsbike KTM 990 to any litre bike.
You are happy with the 600 for road use - that doesn't mean it applies to everybody!

Functional acceleration?

Whatever about the rest of your post. There isnt a 600 made that couldnt 'functionally' accelerate off the lights or around traffic with ease.

A 600 sports bike will pull in every single gear at every rpm faster than pretty much anything else on the road bar obviously a 1000.

The_Chap

I think what he means is rather than tap dancing up and down the gears, on a thou you just wind the throttle, doesn't matter what gear you are in you just ride the torque

batman_oh

listermint wrote: »

Functional acceleration?

Whatever about the rest of your post. There isnt a 600 made that couldnt 'functionally' accelerate off the lights or around traffic with ease.

Off the lights - great measure of what I'm talking about. But thanks for the amazing input. If I was an 18 year old racing cars that might matter.
You both missed the bit where I twice mentioned I prefer my Ktm - which is slower than a sports 600 in a straight line. A drag race is the last thing I'm interested in

batman_oh

Tucker Ashy Risk wrote: »

A 600 sports bike will pull in every single gear at every rpm faster than pretty much anything else on the road bar obviously a 1000.

Hence why I prefer the 1000. You just verified what I said?
You seem to have some issue because you have a 600 and have taken offence because I don't like them on the road?
I didn't attack your choice - I expressed my opinion. But continue the campaign to prove me wrong to myself

Cienciano

listermint wrote: »

Functional acceleration?

Whatever about the rest of your post. There isnt a 600 made that couldnt 'functionally' accelerate off the lights or around traffic with ease.

Acceleration out of corners when you already have speed up. Nice to have the power there rather than search for gears.
It's personal preference.
I'd go for the 1000cc myself

jimgoose

listermint wrote: »

Functional acceleration?

Whatever about the rest of your post. There isnt a 600 made that couldnt 'functionally' accelerate off the lights or around traffic with ease.

A 600 needs more Gearbox Bagpipes than a 1,000, particularly a 1l+ V-twin. While we're on the subject, and just to throw a spanner in the works, a Harley-Davidson big-twin will out-drag a Fireblade or R1 out to a hundred feet or so.

TeaBagMania

Having only ridden metric bikes that’s the first thing I noticed about my Harley, it pulls like a freight train, no need to down shift

Cienciano

Yeah, but it's a Harley, I'd rather walk :pac:

TeaBagMania

That’s what I used to think, until I rode one. Not sure about Ireland but in the states Harley has open house ride events. A lorry with every bike Harley makes arrives at the local dealer and you can take them on extended rides.

I never in a million years thought I would own one; they have come a long way since the old days

bladespin

jimgoose wrote: »

A 600 needs more Gearbox Bagpipes than a 1,000, particularly a 1l+ V-twin. While we're on the subject, and just to throw a spanner in the works, a Harley-Davidson big-twin will out-drag a Fireblade or R1 out to a hundred feet or so.

A standard HD would struggle I'd say There are some vids of this but they're open to debate and certainly aren't standard.

jimgoose

bladespin wrote: »

A standard HD would struggle I'd say There are some vids of this but they're open to debate and certainly aren't standard.

This is not altogether fool, m'lud - if you have a look at a standard big-twin torque curve you'll notice that it starts near it's peak value at about 2,000 RPM and stays there before trailing off near the redline at 5,500 RPM or so. Four-cylinder howlers start out producing much less torque and hit the peak much later in the rev-range. When they get going they bugger completely off of course, but the HD can do damage from a standing-start out to maybe a couple of hundred feet, mainly because it's easier for it to get more power down when moving off without lighting up/flipping over.

bladespin

jimgoose wrote: »

This is not altogether fool, m'lud - if you have a look at a standard big-twin torque curve you'll notice that it starts near it's peak value at about 2,000 RPM and stays there before trailing off near the redline at 5,500 RPM or so. Four-cylinder howlers start out producing much less torque and hit the peak much later in the rev-range. When they get going they bugger completely off of course, but the HD can do damage from a standing-start out to maybe a couple of hundred feet.

Yes, I'm very familiar with torque ramps for the HDs (I'm assuming it's the 1340+, V Rod size we're talking about), but no, the weight will more than counteract this, in standard form anyway.
The old HD eating the Fireblade is an urban myth tbh.

Hildo's unit was anything but standard and the FB pilot came in for some fierce criticism. That said they are to be respected, a slow reaction time would be punished.

jimgoose

bladespin wrote: »

Yes, I'm very familiar with torque ramps for the HDs (I'm assuming it's the 1340+, V Rod size we're talking about), but no, the weight will more than counteract this, in standard form anyway.
The old HD eating the Fireblade is an urban myth tbh.

Hildo's unit was anything but standard and the FB pilot came in for some fierce criticism. That said they are to be respected, a slow reaction time would be punished.

Oh old Hildo had some sort of Screamin' Eagle studded-arseless-chaps setup without a shadow of a doubt. A good point well-made though, I thought. :pac:

bladespin

jimgoose wrote: »

Oh old Hildo had some sort of Screamin' Eagle studded-arseless-chaps setup without a shadow of a doubt. A good point well-made though, I thought. :pac:

The beard prolly slowed him down a bit too, not so areodynamic.

Pugzilla

There's a famous video of a CBR600rr easily out dragging a police Harley.

listermint

batman_oh wrote: »

Off the lights - great measure of what I'm talking about. But thanks for the amazing input. If I was an 18 year old racing cars that might matter.
You both missed the bit where I twice mentioned I prefer my Ktm - which is slower than a sports 600 in a straight line. A drag race is the last thing I'm interested in

Thanks for acutely ignoring part of my post about navigating traffic (over taking) in order to back up your silly terminology 'Funcitonal acceleration' which you quite clearly made up.

And other real points to make. I dont see anyone on here claiming 1000CC bikes dont have the grunt to go to the party but your nonsense about a 600 not having enough to what was it 'functionally accelerate' is complete pony talk and belongs with the knobs than chat with you at the petrol station when your not in the mood to talk to someone who claims to be a biker.

listermint

Cienciano wrote: »

Acceleration out of corners when you already have speed up. Nice to have the power there rather than search for gears.
It's personal preference.
I'd go for the 1000cc myself

jimgoose wrote: »

A 600 needs more Gearbox Bagpipes than a 1,000, particularly a 1l+ V-twin. While we're on the subject, and just to throw a spanner in the works, a Harley-Davidson big-twin will out-drag a Fireblade or R1 out to a hundred feet or so.

I took issue with his terminology, I didnt claim a 600 would out do a 1000.

The made up terminology was inaccurate.


And drag race like an 18 year old ? Where did he get that from. Slur to back up the claim that a 600 cant handle day to day (as its designed to)

frozenfrozen

jesus christ on a motorcycle

The_Chap

It's obv a touchy subject

listermint

Caught me on a grumpy day

jimgoose

listermint wrote: »

I took issue with his terminology, I didnt claim a 600 would out do a 1000.

The made up terminology was inaccurate.


And drag race like an 18 year old ? Where did he get that from. Slur to back up the claim that a 600 cant handle day to day (as its designed to)

I know what he's getting at by "functional acceleration", and I agree with him.

listermint

jimgoose wrote: »

I know what he's getting at by "functional acceleration", and I agree with him.

So do i but its application to commuting isnt really truthful hence why i took issue with it.

I mean im not picking at his choice of 1000cc over 600cc, but it was inferred and implied that a 600 doesnt have 'functional acceleration' for commuting.

Thats horse.. whichever way you paint it.

jimgoose

listermint wrote: »

So do i but its application to commuting isnt really truthful hence why i took issue with it...

Ah yeah - where I'm at with this is I want my F1-esque acceleration in all the gears at all revs!

blade1

Just as a side note....
Don't believe everything you see on your rev counter.
Like speedometers, they are usually exaggerated.
Apparently Yamaha are the biggest culprits for doing this.

Pugzilla

2006 R6 tachometer had a 17,500 redline, was only 15,800 in reality.

Mesrine65

blade1 wrote: »

Just as a side note....
Don't believe everything you see on your rev counter.
Like speedometers, they are usually exaggerated.
Apparently Yamaha are the biggest culprits for doing this.

Can I use this as a defence with my speeding penalty points?

blade1

Mesrine65 wrote: »

Can I use this as a defence with my speeding penalty points?

You can but best defence is don't get caught in the first place!:pac: