GSX750F vs RF900

[OMG]

My ride has gone to the great twisties in the sky, so I'm about to go shoppin. I really liked my GSX600F, but want something a little bigger for pillioning. Have been considering the GSX750F and the RF900. What complicates it a bit more is that pre 98 GSX were 106hp (like the RF900), but the new GSX are only 92hp (only up 6hp on my 600). It seems that the RFs that are for sale are older and have higher kms, so what's their reliability like? Alternatively are there any easy and cheap mods that can be done to the GSX to up it to 106hp? Or is there something else I should consider (Suzuki's only). Any advice or opinion would be appreciated.

[Dooly]

I brought a RF900 new in 97 and found it an excellent alrounder. Reliable as, fast and comfy.
Probably the best road bike I've had so far, for being good in everything I wanted.

[skelstar]

Read some good reviews of the RF900. You should see if the GSX's motor has been 'retuned' for more useable power blah blah. Its taken me a looong time to use the power above 6k on my bike, when the peak is at 9k RPM. Soo much torque because of the re-tuning.

[madmal64]

RF all the way. Best bloody allrounder I ever owned. Great for touring & scratching around on the weekends. The most under rated bike I think.
I did over 40,000 kms on mine and the only issue I ever had was the alternator gave up the ghost at the 60 k mark. Its a common thing with them.
Ride them both but I think you will find the roll on power of the 900 a lot better than the 750.

[limbimtimwim]

Or is there something else I should consider (Suzuki's only). Any advice or opinion would be appreciated.A Suzuki Bandit? But why only Suzuki? Honda VFR? Honda Hornet? Yamaha Fazer? Kawasaki Z750?

[OMG]

A Suzuki Bandit? But why only Suzuki? Honda VFR? Honda Hornet? Yamaha Fazer? Kawasaki Z750?
Just cos I'm a Suz man, that's all.

[James Deuce]

Get The RF. The later model GSX750Fs are indistinguishable from the GSX600Fs in terms of real world performance.

Consider a Bandit 1200 too.

[Colapop]

There was a similar debate here (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=23993&highlight=rf900) (I got pointed to this when I asked a question of another member)

[Madness]

Just cos I'm a Suz man, that's all.

That can be treated with a rigorous drug regime ya know. I used to be the same 'til I bought my Zed. Don't restrict your choices based on some kind of loyalty to an invisible foreign corporation. Variety is the spice of life after all.

[Lou Girardin]

I prefer the Bandit to the RF, but both are good.
The RF has a lot more than 106HP though.

[orangeback]

Just cos I'm a Suz man, that's all.
rf hands down , great bikes , ride one you will be surprized how sporty they are and how hard you can push them , mate one use to go head to head with my 99 blade till the last 20% then the blade was all over it ,You ever thought ove a Hayabusa if you doing a lot ove 2 up riding ??? or even gs1200ss ???

[riffer]

The RF is great two-up - you just don't notice the extra weight.

The first time you put it into a corner it feels like the weight is centralised around the steering head, but when you get used to it you'll discover it isn't going to fall over.

It responds well to a really heavy hand with counter-steering (probably due to the mass centralisation being a bit high) but I've yet to have it let go in a corner and I've never felt like it was underpowered.

I bought mine a year ago with 45,000 miles on it. It's got 58,000 on it now and bugger all maintenance so far:

1 new tyre (Metzeler Roadtec Z6 - great on the RF)
oil and filter changed 3 times
cleaned out air filter with air compressor
changed brake discs, fluid

and regular chain oiling and adjustment.

A great gearbox on it (never had a false neutral), still on the same back tyre after 13,000 miles (believe it or not - Metzeler Z4).

The alternator cush drive wears out on them (expect about 30,000kms out of it) and a number of overseas riders have mentioned 2nd gear going on them but mine's in great condition.

The motor's bottom end is the GSXR1100 with a different head on it (down draught carbs). You could leave the bike in 3rd all day and ride from 30km/hr up to about 200, the torque is so widespread.

The bike's good for about 270km/hr tops. I've found the windscreen gives you enough wind to take the pressure of your wrists over about 80km/hr, but over about 220 it tends to pull on your helmet a bit so you need to get in the bubble more.

They're pretty quick - around 3.5 seconds to 100 ridden by your average rider. Change to second gear about 120 if you're nailing it, into third around 160, fourth at 200, fifth any time after that - and it comes up pretty quick.

Brakes are good, but not as good as the newer bikes - however with a good set of pads you can stand it on its nose easy enough.

[Suzi Q]

I went from a GSX600F to a GSX750F and loved the 750 - good size, did everything I wanted - took it to the track and went touring on it. Hubbie (Thunder) had an RF900 before I got my own bike and I found it to be a comfortable pillion ride and he really liked the bike. What you really need to do is take both for a ride with and without your pillion to see which feels best for the both of you. The RF is getting older now and for the same price as an older RF you may be able to get a later model 750F. Hubbie had an older 750F a few years ago that we both went on to the march hare and that was OK. It also depends how often you take a pillion. if you have a pillion alot then the RF may be better. Apparently the build quality may be better on the 750F.

[riffer]

I guess I would only really have four complaints about the RF:

1. Weight is up high so beware when manouevring it in driveways etc - it can fall over really quick and it's hard to pick up again. Avoid Motomart's driveway.

2. The motor really is quite buzzy - especially around the 4-6000 rpm mark - which unfortunately is around the 100-120 range in top.

3. The handlebars are on a funny angle - they should be flatter - they come in a bit tight and you can't quite hold the grips fully without a bit of wrist pain - hold your hand out in front of you and bend your hands outwards at the wrist until your thumbs are in a direct line parallel with the outstretched arms - this will give you an idea of the angle of the bars - but I got used to it and it doesn't worry me now although it was weird at first.

4. No bloody fuel gauge and the low fuel light is way conservative - you have a good 100kms after the low fuel light comes on.

But good points:

1. It handles surprisingly well - if you are willing to push the bars hard.
2. It is surprisingly fast - you can easily lose your licence if you don't pay atttention to your speed
3. Torque - huge gobs of it.
4. It seems to be pretty good on tyres unless you ride like a mad bastard with accellerator-itis.
5. They are well-priced
6. They are bloody hard to blow up
7. You can put the gixxer cams in it, rejet and put on a free-flow exhaust and get an easy 150HP - GSXR1100 power on a bike 40kg lighter.
8. Tyres are easy to get.

The GSX750F is a nice bike but its not in the same league as the RF

[OMG]

Well it seems almost unanimous. It's hard to understand why there aren't a lot more RFs on the road given the rave reviews everyone gives them.

Thanks everyone.

[Timber020]

The RF is a little on the heavy side but its a good all rounder, I really liked mine but I was seduced by something lighter and tighter

[cruxis]

Well, for only owning an RF900 for going on just over 2 weeks now. Theres a couple of things I personally had to get use to.

1) Gearing, I find it rather tall and especially 1st gear.
2) Suspension/Weight, I use to be able to enter my driveway at 50kph at an angle. The RF gives decent jolt/wack through the bars when I hit the guttery bit. Yeah I know its not a VT250.
3) Width, Less Lanesplitting and Cyclelane options.

Power. Its ok. I reckon its about than same as my old FZR1000.

[megageoff76]

I had an RF900 once, and loved it until some c*nt stole it from outside my work.

I would definately recommend one, the only thing that annoyed me with it was the vibrating buzz/noise from the fairing panels. Tried all sorts of things to fix it to no avail.

[DEATH_INC.]

No competition, the RF's on radials and the gsx is still on xplys (isn't it?)


The alternator cush drive wears out on them (expect about 30,000kms out of it)

Apparently you can replace it with a gixxer drive and that cures it...

[James Deuce]

No competition, the RF's on radials and the gsx is still on xplys (isn't it?)



Nope.

(10FC)

[Bonez]

http://www.mcnews.com.au/Testing/rf900.htm

There's one at Freedom Honda for around 6-7 grand. Done 41,000kms I think.

[iwilde]

U should try a ZX9R, I know you are a Suzuki man! But you'd be suprised at how these beasts ride, an RF is no compitition.

[imdying]

Motorbike mags of the day said the ZX9R was okay, pretty fat, but definitely not as good as the RF900.

[iwilde]

It would depend on the model of ZX9r, I've got more power and less weight than the RF, but at the end of the day it comes down to the riders experience and the other factors of price and application.

[OMG]

It would depend on the model of ZX9r, I've got more power and less weight than the RF, but at the end of the day it comes down to the riders experience and the other factors of price and application.
I'm not after full on performance. Looking more for something that me and Mrs can go out on for 4-5 hours and both of us be comfortable, with enough grunt to make overtaking 2 up easy (especially up the takas), but that is also a good ride when I'm on my own. The ZX doesn't look like it would be that comfy for the pillion, are they?

[iwilde]

They're not bad for the pillion, but I feel like i've had a workout after about 4hrs. Depends on your height and size as I'm 6'3". The best sports tourer I've personaly ridden has been the Busa. I've also herd good things about the Honda Blackbird. All depends on the budget you have I guess?

[Buster]

Im going to give another vote to the RF. Very good all rounder. I think NZ RF's came from the canadian stock pile which put out aboot 105hp at the wheel. But we did get a few from the euro market (mostly the purple ones) that put out a little under 120 and had a fatter mid range (different cams).

[emaN]

Comfy enough to tour Europe/UK/Scandinavia two up with tent & kitchen sink...
Fun enough for blats around the Isle of Man and into France with the lads...
Reliable enough to never (ever) leave us on the side of the road
(apart from a couple mths ago - but that was my fault)

Re an earlier post about hands/wrists; try dropping your lever positions so that they're further down,almost as far as you can turn em. This helps keep your hand/fingers/arm in line with each other, eliminating the 'turned out wrist' position you mention, and reducing fatigue.

One of the torquiest (sp?) inline fours you'll find.

[riffer]

I had an RF900 once, and loved it until some c*nt stole it from outside my work.

I would definately recommend one, the only thing that annoyed me with it was the vibrating buzz/noise from the fairing panels. Tried all sorts of things to fix it to no avail.

The fix is pretty easy. You'd taken the fairing apart? Well, the bottom of the windscreen takes the two screws that have the plastic washers/spacers in them.

If you didn't use those spacers, your fairing makes a horrible buzz.

I know, I've done it.

[megageoff76]

Thanks for the tip mate, im sure there are many RF owners out there that will be glad to get rid of that buzz.

[F5 Dave]

OMG

Do a search on ‘RF900’ on this site. I have posted a couple of improvements for very little money. Underrated bike with a few glaring faults for two up touring. Like the indicators are in the way if you want to use panniers. & there isn’t much pillion legroom. Fairly easy to fix though & not uncommon, Japs seem to think we date 4 foot waifs.

F1 do some handle bar risers that improve the wrist angle & Damon at Cycleworks can alter your exhaust if you lower the pillion pegs. I can show you if you buy one as I am out in the hutt.

[Grumpy]

I've owned both in the past and rate the RF the better bike so that gets my vote although a ride on each would help you make up your mind.

[DingDong]

My RF's only done 20,000 miles so I might be bias but...
It's got more the 106hp, mines got a full yoshi and k&n filter but standard it'd be around 120hp I think?
It has a hard time in the flipflops if your pushing it (keeping up with sports bikes) and the pegs hit the ground too (when you ride with trouble makers)

But over-all using it as intended (tourer) it's got heaps of poke, comfy, stable when cornering, reliable and good for 2up riding.

The engine is solid too, pretty much a sleaved gsx1100.

I've also owened a gsx750f, good bike but too slow for me and too small for 2up in my opinion.