I've always considered myself a Honda guy when it comes to sport-bikes (even with the RC-51 issue.)
When comparing the '08 CBR 600rr to the Gixxers however something just doesn't add up.
In all the reviews, the CBR rocks. However, either Suzuki would also do fine in the hands of the majority of us mortals.
How is it then that Suzuki includes the rear seat cowl, a slipper clutch, a gear indicator, and integrated signals from the factory? Is Honda just behind and this is some of the stuff that we can expect from the next 600rr?
If you think that loud pipes save lives, imagine what learning to really ride that thing could do.
I'm a Honda fan, but in person the Gikser just looks more the business. The extra few cc's of the 750 would likely be enough oomph I wouldn't miss the lump of the 1000 either. Then again a modern 600 would probably make me release an owl pellet anyways.
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The Seamii are awesome.
How is it then that Suzuki includes the rear seat cowl, a slipper clutch, a gear indicator, and integrated signals from the factory? Is Honda just behind and this is some of the stuff that we can expect from the next 600rr?
Honda spent that money on other stuff.
No gear indicator but you get a fuel gauge.
No integrated signals but you get a fuel tank cover over a gp-style tank.
No rear seat cowl but you get an underseat exhaust that's easier to upgrade.
No slipper clutch but you get the IACV valve right off the RC211V.
Oh and the Honda is lighter and stronger, crashes better, easier to work on, better resale, etc. Still no CBR750RR though, and that still sucks.
Evil will always triumph, because good is dumb.
-Dark Helmet
Crime ain't sumfin you should do. It's sumfin you should don't.
-Ali G
Lobster tail and Beer. Tree o' my favorite tings.
-Newfie Proverb
No integrated signals but you get a fuel tank cover over a gp-style tank.
No rear seat cowl but you get an underseat exhaust that's easier to upgrade.
No slipper clutch but you get the IACV valve right off the RC211V.
Oh and the Honda is lighter and stronger, crashes better, easier to work on, better resale, etc. Still no CBR750RR though, and that still sucks.
Fuel gauge - the Light system on the Suzi works fine
GP style tank - not too many people care
Under seat Exhaust o Easire to Upgrade ??? How the Suzi has more options for less money
The Slipper is nice, i makes you lazy.
I am not sure abut the crashing better, if we were talking about the R6 then fine but I have not noticed any diffence between the CBR and the GSXR
Buy what you like they are both very nice bikes. If I bought a bike to day it would be a CBR but that is most likely because I already have the GSXR. The 750 is nice balance and can even run with some of the older 1000 bikes.
Oooh ya, If you want to be heard buy the Full system Arrow pipe on the GSXR.
I was pleasantly surprised to have the seat cowl handed to me when I bought my gix600 without having to fork over another couple hundred bucks. Since it's a trackbike, I find the gear indicator much more useful than a fuel gauge. I refill at lunch anyway, and it's got a light, good enough for me. Sometimes I lose track of what gear I'm in so it's nice to glance down and see.
Not sure what, if any, advantage there is to a plastic cover on the gas tank as opposed to the Suzuki's metal one. If you crash, is the cover cheaper than replacing a metal gas tank? One thing good about the Suk is that there are a lot of them at the track, so someone should have spares if you don't.
I personally like the gp style exhaust on the gix, and there were many options for nice slip-ons, since I didn't have any intentions of getting a full system. One thing I don't like on the '08s is that the cat is now welded to the headers, so a slip-on won't remove it like it did on my '07.
I'm not partial to one brand, you really can't go wrong with any of the Japanese 600s, they're all great bikes, it comes down to which one you like. The Suzuki fit me. If I hadn't ridden one, I probably would've went with the Honda, just because I've mostly had Hondas. I'm glad I tried out something else and expanded my horizons. I'm really enjoying mine.
“I want to stand as close to the edge as I can without going over. Out on the edge you see all the kinds of things you can't see from the center.”
~Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.
I would add that if this bike is to have any street use, the tank cover is a definite negative. Strap on tank bags suck!!!
Wouldn't hesitate to buy a zuk again. Though I have to say I REALLY did like Jet's CBR...
I only wish I could've ridden a CBR600 prior to my purchase, but alas, that couldn't happen.
Ah, magnetic tank bags don't work on the '06 and up gixxers, either, as (like the R1/R6) the front portion of the tank is plastic.
“I want to stand as close to the edge as I can without going over. Out on the edge you see all the kinds of things you can't see from the center.”
~Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.
Fuel gauge - the Light system on the Suzi works fine
GP style tank - not too many people care
Under seat Exhaust o Easire to Upgrade ??? How the Suzi has more options for less money
The Slipper is nice, i makes you lazy.
I am not sure abut the crashing better, if we were talking about the R6 then fine but I have not noticed any diffence between the CBR and the GSXR
.
GP tank with the cover is part of what makes it more crashable. Also makes it more "paintable". And haven't you seen the Jikser frames that split in half at the headstock?
You can't install certain pipes on the Jiksers and keep the oem bodywork... Your Arrow for example.
The slipper is definitely nice, and Honda's new design on their 1000 will probably make its way to the 600 soon enough.
Oh and I almost forgot... the Honda comes with a radial master cylinder that doesn't need to be upgraded to a $300 Brembo for racing.
Evil will always triumph, because good is dumb.
-Dark Helmet
Crime ain't sumfin you should do. It's sumfin you should don't.
-Ali G
Lobster tail and Beer. Tree o' my favorite tings.
-Newfie Proverb
GP tank with the cover is part of what makes it more crashable. Also makes it more "paintable". And haven't you seen the Jikser frames that split in half at the headstock?
You can't install certain pipes on the Jiksers and keep the oem bodywork... Your Arrow for example.
The slipper is definitely nice, and Honda's new design on their 1000 will probably make its way to the 600 soon enough.
Oh and I almost forgot... the Honda comes with a radial master cylinder that doesn't need to be upgraded to a $300 Brembo for racing.
The Frames that Split were the 1000 and it was Isolated
Actually it was the Stock Pipe that does not work well with After Market Belly Pan Farrings. The Cat was melting them. The Slip on and Full system will work fine with the Stock Body Work.
I will give you the Brembo arguement but remembe the GIXXER is Cheaper So you can afford the Brembo
If you disagree with me again I will have to take a picture of myself in the Bikini bottoms and Sunglasses that were left in the truck
For once you have tasted flight you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards, for there you have been and there you will long to return.
---Leonardo Da Vinci
HGT, we'll trade bikes for a session next Month and settle this!
Deal!
“I want to stand as close to the edge as I can without going over. Out on the edge you see all the kinds of things you can't see from the center.”
~Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.
I haven't been on a GSX-R (but I did stay in a Holiday Inn Express) so my opinion is one sided. When I got on a 600RR I couldn't imagine a more perfectly balanced bike. It truly did feel like all of the weight was in the perfect place. When I upgraded from an FZR to my F4i I couldn't believe how "natural" the F4i felt, and the 600RR was lightyears beyond it.
...dude you ride an offroad bike with slicks, 1/2 the weight of a GS, double the suspension, with a browning 50 cal going off 32" from your skull as a daily freaking driver - I'd expect anything except a nitro dragbike to be bland by comparison - SSG
Interesting results when ridden by a pro and fast non-pro
...dude you ride an offroad bike with slicks, 1/2 the weight of a GS, double the suspension, with a browning 50 cal going off 32" from your skull as a daily freaking driver - I'd expect anything except a nitro dragbike to be bland by comparison - SSG
Earnest reported that he wasn't happy with his effort on the CBR, citing some bad gear selections as the culprit for his results. Hutch, on the other hand, adapted quickly to the Honda and nearly put the CBR at the top of the list - it may have even been on top had it not been for some bobbles on the brakes. While the Honda might not finish at the top of the heap on the track, it still posts excellent results considering that it has no slipper clutch and gives up a few ponies to boot
I've read elsewhere that the Honda has too short of a first gear for the track, so maybe they're bogging it through second on the really slow turns and losing the time there.
Check out the dyno chart... that Suzuki has an awesome motor.
Evil will always triumph, because good is dumb.
-Dark Helmet
Crime ain't sumfin you should do. It's sumfin you should don't.
-Ali G
Lobster tail and Beer. Tree o' my favorite tings.
-Newfie Proverb
Despite the lower track times it did still win the shout out like it has been said before, all those bikes are nice. It all comes down to personnel preference.
Actually that makes a lot of sense, as he's riding the bikes much closer to their limits, whereas the other slower rider is at his own limit.
That's how I viewed it.
And viewing the fact that Hutch had less than .5 seconds between the fastest and slowest proves that for the average guy on the street it really does come down to buying what you like. The faster guy will win on the slower bike.
...dude you ride an offroad bike with slicks, 1/2 the weight of a GS, double the suspension, with a browning 50 cal going off 32" from your skull as a daily freaking driver - I'd expect anything except a nitro dragbike to be bland by comparison - SSG
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Originally Posted by DUX
Since it's a trackbike, I find the gear indicator much more useful than a fuel gauge. I refill at lunch anyway, and it's got a light, good enough for me. Sometimes I lose track of what gear I'm in 
so it's nice to glance down and see.
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