Triumph, Honda or Kwacka?

**Slim** · 3rd August 2004, 11:39

Originally Posted by moko

I know this is an old thread ....

I`d think that changing from one CBR to another, albeit quite a lot different, would give even more of the same feeling so unless you`re actually unhappy with what you`ve got you`ve done the right thing holding onto your bike. Think I`ve mentioned doing a similar thing myself, chopped in a CB500, real wolf in sheep`s clothing, screw the nuts off it and it flies and handles really well, for a Yam XJ600N, on paper better, in reality I kicked myself for buying it for a few months then bit the bullet and got rid of it. I loved that little Honda and only changed because I had a bit of spare cash and thought it should be a step up, should`ve got some decent suspension and a tune-up for the CB instead.

Mmmmm. I've heard a rumour about the price of the Daytona 600's coming down even further! If that truly comes about, I'll be going down to see my bank manager! In the mean time, suspension is probably the next thing to look at on my bike - the rear suspension damper screw has seized up. Will get The Man to help me have a look at it at some stage in the not too distant future. The Dyno run proves that it's already running superbly, so there's just the minor carb balance to think about & maybe an air filter.

Honda's are the Toyota of the motorcycling world - do regular maintenance and they just about refuse to break.

**aff-man** · 3rd August 2004, 11:56

cept for the chargine system

**Cajun** · 3rd August 2004, 12:26

Slim let me know if you wanna look at a gsxr600k4, thats if you are interested in one of these.

I must say its not a down and out racer, i mean i can ride this bike all day i couldn't do that on my old gsxr1100.

**wkid_one** · 3rd August 2004, 13:07

Originally Posted by moko

Well he was honest enough to say that now he`s got the CBR he wonders why he chucked his money away,not that the CBR isnt a brilliant bike but he thought he`d buy the Honda and be blown away by how much better it was,and in his opinion he`d paid a lot more for not a lot more that was relavent to him or the use he wants from his bike plus he couldn`t get on with the riding position.

Interesting that and true. For the average road rider, you would have a shit show of telling the difference between the CBR600RR, 636, R6 or GSXR6 in performance and handling terms. It would all come down to comfort and taste. Same goes with the thous and other classes.

We get told in magazines not to buy X bike as it pushes in the front when cornering, or Y Bike because it has a tendency to have a vague rear end. However the failing in the magazines is that

The testers are ex-racers
The magazines get kick backs from manufacturers
The test riders often have allegiances to sponsors
The Magazines will always prefer new over old
The bikes are fettled and set up by pros
They are tested on tracks within inches of the bikes maximum limits
They too have preferences and tastes
They get off the bike and don't have to ride it every day
They have no money invested in the purchase of the bike - therefore no consideration about the long term benefit of ownership
etc etc

I tend to take what a magazine says with a grain of salt - as in all honesty - who can tell the difference between a GSXR, CBR, R1, ZX10 etc on the road anyway. The performance of the bike infinitely exceeds to capabilities of 99% of riders (otherwise we would all be racing SBK/GP) and the conditions/environment in which we ride.

At the end of the day - if you buy a bike solely because of a review/opinion of 3rd party/magazine etc you are a bloody idiot. Interestingly enuf - out of all the new thous - I would buy the one down on power and reviews - the CBR1000RR - as for me, it was the nicest and easiest bike to ride hard. At the end of the day - it isn't about most horsepower or highest top end - it is about fastest point to point (if you are so inclined) in the most comfort with the least dramas. Cajun hit it on the head 'I could ride this bike all day'.

I still think 600's/750's are the best bike for road conditions tho providing the best blend of handling and power.

Now - where are my crutches - I need to get off this soap box

**moko** · 3rd August 2004, 18:48

Originally Posted by wkid_one

For the average road rider, you would have a shit show of telling the difference between the CBR600RR, 636, R6 or GSXR6 in performance and handling terms. It would all come down to comfort and taste. Same goes with the thous and other classes.

This guy by the way had the old GSX600(still a steady seller here)not a Gixxer and that was his whole point,he was well aware that his old Suzi was a long way from being the hottest thing on the street,they never were when they came out years ago let alone now,and having read the breathless articles was expecting the CBR to be light years ahead.Well it was definately better in every way as he says but not enough to make him glad he`d chucked his life savings at it and if he`d known what he knows now he`d have settled for a new GSX which is loads cheaper than a CBR (not far over Bandit 600 prices)and just as good for the guy`s use.
I agree with everything you say,mate of mine bought himself a 900 Hornet when all he uses it for is trips into town and to his Mother`s,I spent hours trying to tell him before he bought it that for what he wants it`s pure over-kill and all he`s doing is shagging the motor which hardly ever gets the chance to warm up let alone a good run.Same guy,same reasoning really couldn`t understand why I run a 600 when there are so many bigger bikes around.No matter that the Fazer was one of the best-selling bikes in Europe and known for being an excellent all-rounder didn`t matter,I "should`ve got" a V-Max,XJR1300 or whatever,well fine but as a year round rider no way do I want to slide to work on a Max in winter,or lug a big XJR around the country roads I do my leisure riding on.Do people like that ever listen?Like hopefully most of the people on KB I bought my bike after weighing up what I wanted it for,how much I wanted to spend running the thing,the kind of roads I use,how fast I ride,how practical it is for my needs,cost and availability of spares and hours and hours of scanning mags,web-sites e.t.c.My mate Mike?"Biggest I can afford is a 900 Hornet".He`d never ridden one or even sat on one,it was 900c.c.......deal done.
Best tests we get here are by Ride magazine,they test used bikes and contact readers who own the same model for their features.They also compare new models with old and even let readers with older models try new ones and give their opinions,their annual survey is very interesting as well and has thrown up a few suprises over the years.