[epiphone3]

Hey guys,

I have been riding 600s for more than 5 years now and have some track experience and a smooth riding style.

I commute to work every day for about 8 - 10 months of the year.

I have a bit of dilemma... I have owned my 2005 R6 for 4 years now and am thinking of a new machine. I like the fun factor of riding the 600 in the city, i.e. active ride with lots of gear changes and you can bring up some revs without breaking the laws too badly.

I am considering a new 2009 R1 and a new 2008 GSX-R 750 as potential replacements. While there is a big dollar difference, I want to get the right bike and keep it a while. I'd like to have some extra torque for commuting in the city... that being said, I still want something that can be fun without being extremely unlawful. I love the new R1 and especially the unique sound of it but I am afraid that the gears are really long and that, for the city, I will be board having to short shift it a lot... I do like to rev things out a bit!

The 750 seems like a great balance because it is geared more like a 600 and you tend to ride it like a 600 but it has more torque. Its also way cheaper!

So any thoughts? Think I will have the fun, active ride I am looking for with the 09 R1?

I guess a side question would be, what speed does the bike do at the top of each gear??

Will an 09 R1 be fun for me?

 

[jm1389]

My R1 is fun in the city with gear changes and such.

I just changed the gearing -1/+2.

 

[strat1701]

While I don't commute, I have a stock 09 R1 and it's a hoot to ride. I don't really need more than 3 gears really, first gear is really tall in it, you can damn go near 80/90 before you get into redline. Once I get used to banging all the way into first for street turns vs. 2nd on my 6r it's got so much torque compared to my 6r and really feels planted more so than my 636 which I know can corner faster, but the R1 to me just feel so much more solid. I think an 09 R1 for the streets will do just fine imho. Trust me, you'll be all grins when you wind her up and let her wind down, sounds so close to the M1 even stock you'll be giggling like a school girl all the way to work! GET ONE!

 

[steveWFL]

bet its better than a goldwing but less cargo room huh

 

[kozumasbullitt]

the 09 is fun to ride in the city. i used mine the last 3 days to commute to work and its a blast.

 

[Devil1]

You'll look like and idiot getting used to the clutch. I know I did.

 

[Kangaroo]

1 post in 4 years... hmmm gonna think about this as a response will probably take just as long...


:drunk:

:lol

 

[black03yzf]

You'll look like and idiot getting used to the clutch. I know I did.

:lol my buddy had the same problem. didn't know why he kept shooting off from stop lights until he told me about the clutch.

 

[Devil1]

:lol my buddy had the same problem. didn't know why he kept shooting off from stop lights until he told me about the clutch.

It's odd to say the least. I feel like people are going "look at this new guy!"

 

[StevieR1der]

While I don't commute, I have a stock 09 R1 and it's a hoot to ride. I don't really need more than 3 gears really, first gear is really tall in it, you can damn go near 80/90 before you get into redline. Once I get used to banging all the way into first for street turns vs. 2nd on my 6r it's got so much torque compared to my 6r and really feels planted more so than my 636 which I know can corner faster, but the R1 to me just feel so much more solid. I think an 09 R1 for the streets will do just fine imho. Trust me, you'll be all grins when you wind her up and let her wind down, sounds so close to the M1 even stock you'll be giggling like a school girl all the way to work! GET ONE!

:iamwithst :yesnod

 

[Drafty82]

+1, go the 1!!

I stepped up from an 07 R6, and I love it. It begs to be thrown around just like the R6, but with a heap more torque. I used to be through the gears on the 6hungee, and it was happy cruising at 60km/h (~40m/h) in top gear gear, but its 3rd or 4th now (which now I actually prefer).

1st gear cornering also took some getting used

 

[epiphone3]

+1, go the 1!!

I stepped up from an 07 R6, and I love it. It begs to be thrown around just like the R6, but with a heap more torque. I used to be through the gears on the 6hungee, and it was happy cruising at 60km/h (~40m/h) in top gear gear, but its 3rd or 4th now (which now I actually prefer).

1st gear cornering also took some getting used

Ah... a fellow R6 rider!

Did you commute much with your R6? I assume you tended to rev out the R6 to much higher revs much more often than the R1 and tended to use the gear box a lot. Do you find it similar on the R1?

Everything I've heard of the R1 tells me it sounds pretty well just like Rossi's M1 in MotoGP and I absolutely love that sound. Do you find that to be as "orgasmic" as the revvy nature of the 600s?

Is 1st gear as hard to get in smoothly on the way down in the gear box for a corner as it is on the 600s?

What's the level of engine braking like on the R1? I hear its lower, but is it very different.

One more question... how are people finding on-off-on throttle transitions to be? Smooth inherently or abrupt and needing a good throttle hand? My 2005 R6 is definatley the abrupt and need a good throttle hand variety!

 

[Drafty82]

I am self employed, and thus work from home. When I do have to go out for meetings or whatever, if the sun is shining, I will be on the bike. So it was partial commuting.

It puts a smile on my dial everytime I crack that throttle! It is still a revvy engine, and I find the setup of the bike very similar to my R6, just with more grunt.

I assume the difficulties of getting back to 1st on the fly would be from the absence of a slipper clutch? as it is effortless on the R1, as it was on my R6.

I was a little concerned at all the chatter I heard about the lack of engine breaking, and thought it was going to be an experience the 1st time down a mountain. I did that just a few days ago now. I was by myself, so I took it fairly easy, but I didn't find it an issue. I felt there is still breaking there, but less throttle required to keep a nice line on the decent.

I have found the throttle in standard mode to be easy to keep constant, whereas A mode can be abrupt

 

[===>R1<===]

1 post in 4 years... hmmm gonna think about this as a response will probably take just as long...


:drunk:

:lol

:moto:

 

[epiphone3]

I am self employed, and thus work from home. When I do have to go out for meetings or whatever, if the sun is shining, I will be on the bike. So it was partial commuting.

It puts a smile on my dial everytime I crack that throttle! It is still a revvy engine, and I find the setup of the bike very similar to my R6, just with more grunt.

I assume the difficulties of getting back to 1st on the fly would be from the absence of a slipper clutch? as it is effortless on the R1, as it was on my R6.

I was a little concerned at all the chatter I heard about the lack of engine breaking, and thought it was going to be an experience the 1st time down a mountain. I did that just a few days ago now. I was by myself, so I took it fairly easy, but I didn't find it an issue. I felt there is still breaking there, but less throttle required to keep a nice line on the decent.

I have found the throttle in standard mode to be easy to keep constant, whereas A mode can be abrupt

Cool! Thanks for the response, man.

Yeah... the 2005 R6 has a pretty clunky gear box and definatley no slipper clutch, so I'm thinking this where going form 2nd to 1st in a corner is super unnerving. Also, the 2005 R6 has some pretty savage engine braking... definatley more than any other bike I've ridden! So I think that's part of it too. When running at pace on the track, especially, it feels like putting it to first from 2nd on the way into a corner will just lock up the rear. It probably won't, but it feels like it will... feels like you hit a wall almost because of the engine braking you get in first.

I guess, all in all I was scared of losing the ability to rev out a few gears on the R6 on the street and have fun on an empty stretch that way without going warp 9, you know? Mostly because of what I expect will be very long gears on the R1 compared to my R6. Can you rev out the R1 a few gears in a row like that and actually use the bike? I do my racing on the track, but I do like to enjoy the odd empty stretch when I am all alone!

Would it be correct to say that on the R1 you basically just use gears 1-4 in the city and on the R6 one would use 2-6? If that's the case, I think the R1 would still be the active ride I'm looking for.

 

[2000R1Devil]

It sounds to me like you need to take a test ride on a liter bike. What you are asking is nothing inherent about a 2009 R1 versus ANY other liter bike out there regardless of brand. Power characteristics of 600's are different from 1000's.....not just a "2009 R1".

600s need to rev out to make power and liter bikes not so much. What is your preference?

If you are a car guy its like comparing a Honda S2000 versus a Mustang or something. The S2000 will roll, but you gotta drive it like you stole it to do so. The Mustang is equally as fast but much easier to do so.

Ive got an old ass liter bike but i love the flexibility.....its pretty much a 1 gear bike after i take off....3rd gear has SO much freaking torque i can crank it from 20 to 120 with no hesitation at any time-pulls like a freight train. It sounds like wouldnt be a lot of fun for you as you like to change gears a lot.

It sounds to me like you like the super high revving 600 and there is nothing wrong with that-ts a freaking blast! My advice is to ride a Gixxer 750, a liter bike and go back to the 600 and see what you really like.

Hey guys,

I have been riding 600s for more than 5 years now and have some track experience and a smooth riding style.

I commute to work every day for about 8 - 10 months of the year.

I have a bit of dilemma... I have owned my 2005 R6 for 4 years now and am thinking of a new machine. I like the fun factor of riding the 600 in the city, i.e. active ride with lots of gear changes and you can bring up some revs without breaking the laws too badly.

I am considering a new 2009 R1 and a new 2008 GSX-R 750 as potential replacements. While there is a big dollar difference, I want to get the right bike and keep it a while. I'd like to have some extra torque for commuting in the city... that being said, I still want something that can be fun without being extremely unlawful. I love the new R1 and especially the unique sound of it but I am afraid that the gears are really long and that, for the city, I will be board having to short shift it a lot... I do like to rev things out a bit!

The 750 seems like a great balance because it is geared more like a 600 and you tend to ride it like a 600 but it has more torque. Its also way cheaper!

So any thoughts? Think I will have the fun, active ride I am looking for with the 09 R1?

I guess a side question would be, what speed does the bike do at the top of each gear??

Will an 09 R1 be fun for me?

 

[epiphone3]

It sounds to me like you need to take a test ride on a liter bike. What you are asking is nothing inherent about a 2009 R1 versus ANY other liter bike out there regardless of brand. Power characteristics of 600's are different from 1000's.....not just a "2009 R1".

600s need to rev out to make power and liter bikes not so much. What is your preference?

If you are a car guy its like comparing a Honda S2000 versus a Mustang or something. The S2000 will roll, but you gotta drive it like you stole it to do so. The Mustang is equally as fast but much easier to do so.

Ive got an old ass liter bike but i love the flexibility.....its pretty much a 1 gear bike after i take off....3rd gear has SO much freaking torque i can crank it from 20 to 120 with no hesitation at any time-pulls like a freight train. It sounds like wouldnt be a lot of fun for you as you like to change gears a lot.

It sounds to me like you like the super high revving 600 and there is nothing wrong with that-ts a freaking blast! My advice is to ride a Gixxer 750, a liter bike and go back to the 600 and see what you really like.

You might be right... for the record, I have ridden a 2006 ZX10R but it was for only like 20 minutes and it seemed to me like my typical riding would see me using gears 1-4 mostly. I am sure you are aware of this, but I was doing like 105 kph in the 3rd gear on the ZX10 and the engine was only turning 5500rpm... on my R6, I'd expect about that many revs at that speed in 6th gear~! Big difference.

I do like revs but I don't cruise around town at 10,000rpm all day... I tend to cruise for just regular riding between 4,000 - 6,500 revs. But when I come to a nice stretch, I like to knock 'er down a few gears and let the needle go.

My buddy has a 2004 ZX10R... maybe I should ask him to borrow it for a day to go to and from work or something and see how I feel.

 

[B'eater]

I notice that no one has mentioned the issue of heat riding in the city. These liter bikes run hot and will make that stop light to stop light riding miserable.

 

[epiphone3]

I notice that no one has mentioned the issue of heat riding in the city. These liter bikes run hot and will make that stop light to stop light riding miserable.

Does it really run that much hotter than a 600cc engine which makes more hp / liter?

I guess the exhaust is under your ass... for me in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, having a hotter bike may be a good thing as I ride in the cold weather a fair bit!

 

[kozumasbullitt]

Does it really run that much hotter than a 600cc engine which makes more hp / liter?

I guess the exhaust is under your ass... for me in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, having a hotter bike may be a good thing as I ride in the cold weather a fair bit!

the heat is not bad at all with aftermarket exhaust.