Hey...
In Iraq I promised myself I would buy a rice rocket as soon as I got home. Listeing to other people who said I needed to start with a smaller bike, I bought a new 2004F4i. Since buying it, i put yoshi pipes on it and dropped a tooth off the front sprocket. Even with mods, I feel I have outgrown the bike and I am thinking of upgrading to a liter bike (CBR or R1) next summer. On the flip side I have heard that the CBR600 RR and R6 are faster off the line than liter liter bikes and better handling. Can I have some advice on what I should buy?

 

well, this is just a simple case of physics. faster off the line than liter bikes? no....... better handling? yes.........

faster off the line most of the time is a close call, but anything after 2nd or maybe even third if u have a highly modded 600 is total ownage by the liter bike due to the fact that it has more than 1/3 more horses than the 600. you dont want to pull up to a 1000 and do a roll on off of 3rd gear, you'd get eaten alive.

about the handling, many people stick solely to 600 or 750's(ducati 748 is a highly popular choice at the local track) because of the handling and manuverability. most 600's weigh anything from 50 to 100 pounds less than liter bikes and because of that, its a hell of a lot easier to take a hair pin when your on a bike weighing that much less, even before lightening it up with mods.

if your the type of guy who likes to ride moderatly, prefers better handling over excess amounts of speed, than i just suggest you stick where you are. on the other hand, if you do like that thick powerband, and your heavy on the throttle when there's a long straight up ahead then upgrade, just be sure that you can handle yourself on a liter bike. also, if your not leaning towards the cbr for a liter bike, than i suggest you try out the zx-10, it'll rip that r1 a new one...

 

1st...let me say that I salute all our troops in Iraq, my hats off to you and please stay safe. As for bike choices, this question has been asked many times, and it really boils down to personal preference. I have the 1krr and have riden both the 600rr and the R1....the 600rr is a serious bike, and would be my choice for a track bike, but not for the street. The 1krr has lots of power from top to bottom, and honestly handles just as well in the twisties, provided you have the skills. Its also more forgiving. The HESD is, IMO, the best factory installed damper on the market, and really makes controlling this bike much easier. The only issue with the 600RR is the RPM range required to make power. You really have to keep the revs up. The R1 is less street friendly than the 600rr. 180 hp and a super tall first gear make this bike an adventure to ride at any speed short of b*lls to the wall. Its fairly comfortable, but you are really on the wrong forum to get any positive feed back on Yamahahahha's. If you plan to do some track days, get the 600RR, if you are going to spend most of your time on the street, the 1krr is a seriously exciting bike to ride. In either case, you can't go wrong buying a honda....hell, i think American Honda should offer a screaming deal to you and any of our troops that want a new scoot when the get back. I wish you all the best!!!

 

wow bro 180 hp? i dont know where you'r pulling that from, the r1 has been tested to push at MAX around 150 hp...........

and do 600's not come with a dampers as well? your talking like the 1000 is easier to take twisties on the track than a 600....
on top of the damper situation, given his 04 doesnt come with a damper, spend 200 dollars on a used ohlins are you'll be fine.

not to sound like a dick, but get your facts straight.

 

yamaha claims there r1 to be 180 hp at the motor...and no 600rr don't come with hesd...talk about getting your facts straight...you just start riding last week or something? the 600rr and 1krr are both potent track bikes, and both are great in the twisties...but in all seriousness, and IMO, i find the 1krr to be easier to ride in the twisties...and go ahead and adjust your damper on the fly, while the ohlins is a great stabilizer, provided its set right, the hesd adjusts itself for the speed. The R1 does ride like a 600, since you have to keep the revs up to make power....I don't mind admitting when I am wrong, but it sure is irritating when I am not....

 

The old saying goes... 'Tere is no replacement for displacement'. The liter bike is by far faster off the line and really shines in 2nd and 3rd next to a 600. I ride my F4 with guys who have a 600RR, R6, and Honda 954. My buddy on the 954 just whips us silly.

Also, the 190 tire looks 800% more badass then us on our 180's. I plan on moving up to a good used 929 next year.

 

yamaha claims the r1 to be 180 i know. but i've seen the r1 dyno tested myself and i'm sure i know how much it really can put out at the REAR WHEEL......

and read my last post, since when did i even utter the words 600rr? i'm 100% sure you can swing by the local suzuki dealership and get a factory damper on the 600, same goes for kawi's 636. when was i talking about hsed?
and on top of that, ofcourse you find the 1krr to be easier to handle, considering you own one and you probably ride it daily enough to be more than comfortable on it.

yes they are both potent track bikes, but one will perform better than the other in certain aspects. it's a simple case of phsyics. whos going to be able to maneuever corner's better? a bike that WEIGHS 320 lbs or a bike that WEIGHS 420 lbs? its so simple its silly. is there a higher percentage of 1000 rr's/954's/929's being stunted over the 600's? hmmm yet again a simple case of maneuverability and throttle response, which your having a hard time understanding

don't get me wrong i'm not bashing your bike, but if you've actually raced and have delt with track bikes and are familiar with lap times then you would understand where im coming from.im gonna stop trying to argue with you like a little kid though...

 

totally depends on preference and where you are going to be riding. i prefer the bigger bike. but i am a bigger guy and the ergo's fit me better. and i truely believe that the liter class bikes make better streetbikes. it's all about the power delivery. you don't have to be above 10k to be putting down decent power (less tapdancing on the shifter). but if track riding was my main focus, i would be on a 600. and it has nothing to do with the weight (which is less than 100 lbs. difference by the way). the 600 is more forgiving when pushing it. headshake is much less, rear wheel chatter is less, brakes seem better because it is lighter, and the tendency to wheelie is way better than the 1000. and the sound. that beautiful sound of a small displacement engine at 15,000 rpms. it's like an indy car.

i prefer the bigger bike (i ride a 929) but my focus is mainly street oriented. i've done the occasional trackday but they are few and far between. all my opinions, of course.

 

no more arguments, i can agree with that..how suzukis got tossed into the mix is beyond me the topic was about the 600rr vs 1000rr, please read the 1st post...in any case this post was about giving advice out to a fellow biker thats in Iraq, and i think I along with several others have already covered that.