i just bought my first bike in aug it was leftover 03 ZX9R i love it wouldnt want anything smaller besides who wants a bike slower than ther car. the sporster is a chick harley have you looked in to victory's they are really nice and might be a bit cheeper.

Your kidding me right? Anything smaller? Slower than a car? Been to a track yet? Seen 600's in action? No offense man, but please, don't preach propaganda. Someone on here might be interested in buying a bike for the first time... And because of sayings like this, they are swayed from 600s.

I've said it once, i'll say it again. Unless your name is Rossi, you won't use a 600 to its full potential.

go to www.uponone.com and see what sportbikes are really capable of... i RIDE a '99 r1

On the track you are right, just about anyone would be faster around it on a 600 vs. an open class bike. On the street it's different, who wants to buzz around at least 8k to make decent torque (why vtec Honda car engines aren't much loved on the road). When you go open class you can ride the torque wave short shifting at 6k and still outrun anything you like. Much less frantic and much more enjoyable IMO especially since open bikes are no bigger than 600s these days

Well.

Personally, the 883 is a girls bike. I would get a 1200 if you HAD to get a sportster and drop the rear for sure. Tough choice but IMO get the Harley..

(but SERIOUSLY think about the 1200)

Nah. I'm saying if you want the Harley image, don't skimp and buy a Sportster. Don't get me wrong, I'm a crotch rocket fan too, but some people think all cruisers are slow.

On the track it's all rider I lap 2 seconds faster on my 954 than my 600. I take the corners at the speed I'm capable of no matter what I'm riding. The big bike gets out of the corners and down the straights faster, you brake harder and make up a little time.

BTW my 600 is a 92 F2 w/ 83hp and the 954 is an 02 w/ 174hp and wieghs almost 100lbs less.

Hehe, I think the poll speaks for it self I’ve had LOTS of bikes before the EVO and I really love bikes. I’ve generally had fast Japanese bikes, ZX9, TL1000S, R1 and finally a GSX1000R which I bought new in 2001. You get tremendous performance for little $$$, the draw backs are bad weather and the risk of injuries. I know as I spent about a month in a hospital in 1993 after a car pulled out in front of my brand new CBR600 Luckily enough I didn’t get any permanent injuries and recovered 100% even tough the first 24h were in a respirator. So be careful which ever bike you go for but I didn’t stop riding even after that crash so I’m not preaching in any way.

If I were to choose myself I would seriously look into a larger engine, I don’t know anything about your previous experience and such but people who buy smaller bikes often very soon like to change to something more powerful. Maybe a Monster S2R and take it a bit easy in the beginning?

Ducati!

What you can get out of a peaky four cyl (aka 600) you can make up for in a larger twin, or even triple. I have plenty of aquantences and buddies that ride 916, 996, 998, and yes 999s around and the only thing they complain about is the ride comfort. I never hear them complain about torque, power avaliability, or streetability. Ducati has tried to capitalize on that aspect and moved their fine motors over to some other bikes with more streetable ergos.

As far as the liter+ 4 cyl. bikes go, be careful. Of all the bike classes, I've had more friends go down on GSXR1000, 939, 954, CBR1000, and R1s than any other friends. They will catch you by surprise and are not very forgiving when they buck. If I were to get a liter class bike, I'd probably go with the intention of replacing the body work and controls on a track session, just to let me know what the bike does under limits. On the flip side, you can get some more streetable versions that look absolutely incredible like the Z1000, FZ1, 919, and such.

Another suggestion to throw out is a Triumph S3. It revs almost like a four, and almost has the torque band of a twin. You can still play with it, and get great factory support. In fact the S3 is kinda like the EVO in the respect that its a bike that 'evolves' based off of customer feedback and support.

If you want to pay to play with "Image" please purchase a Hardley. But, question for ya. Did you purchase the EVO based off of "image?"

Good Luck,

Cheers,

jcnel.

P.S. As much as I really like the quick revving 600s, they are still too peaky on the street. I am, however, eyeing an FZ6, and hopefully will be able to test ride one this coming Spring.

before i got the R1 i had an R6 and i have to admit i miss the thing. the R1 has great power and handles better than my old R6 however i can't beat on it like i could my R6

i used to be able to go full throttle up on ramps them hit second gear at red line. if i do that on the R1 i'm at 100mph before i even hit second. you could ride the R1 for years without ever needing to leave 1st gear.

the R6 ask for you respect. the R1 demands it. you just can't use the full potential of the R1 on the street without dying or getting arrested

don't get me wrong i would still buy the R1 if i had to do it all over again but I think i would have kept the R6 too.

the 883 is a p.o.c. have you ever rid a 883 sportster? The 883 is a beginers bike it is also very top heavy,slow,brakes are prehistoric,and it handels like a boat. I think it would get beat by a Suzuki Burgman 650 scooter Good luck!

I'd go for the Monster if I was in your shoes but since I'm in my own shoes, I'll stick with my '03 R1.


(of course not a pic of mine, but then again when open the garage door I intend to ride it, not gawk)

I like my combo, My Custom Painted Hayabusa and Yellow EVO

And just exactly how do you get the flame job to change shades?