I second the idea of "try it like it is" a while before you go to lowering it. Check it out then mod it later is my word of advice. As far as brand preference goes... There's a reason you pay a bit more for a Honda... and it's not just the brand name. The sport-bike market is a tight one, and there's a lot of fierce competition. Pricing can cut the legs out from under you, as a company, if you do not provide a superior product. I love the "wasp" look to the R6's... all sharp angles and everything... but hands down, I believe Honda just makes a better machine. If you go back to older models and read reviews and comparisons, you'll get 2 things that show up in the RR catagory, a small amount of drive-train lash and smooth, but slightly less power on the dyno(usually)... oh, and seat comfort (so make that three things). These same articles will be FLOODED with comments on smoothness, dead-on cornering "like it was on rails", and references to the quality of the overall finish. You've already said you've read up on these new 07 600rr, so there's no need to re-hash the things they have to say about it. If you want the best, you gotta pay for the best... and Honda's got it.