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Thread: 2003 GSXR600

  1. #1
    Join Date
    5th November 2002 - 11:20
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    2003 GSXR600

    My Background:
    Started riding in 2000 on a GPX 250 for 7 months. binned it, bought an 89 ZXR250 to replace it. Rode that for two years everyday and twice at pukekohe for a track day. sold it. bought a 97 ZX6R in early 2003, rode that everyday till november 2003 (incl two more track days and cold kiwi rally plus countless day trips) when i got this little puppy.
    With that in mind!...: (flick to the end for a less convoluted summary!)

    First impressions with on the GSXR were mainly limited to
    "damn, this thing looks mint!"-the alstare rep paint job absolutely looks fantastic from any angle and any distance and under any light. I had some localised fading on the tank after a month but that was replaced under warranty. Purple Belly fairing is picking up some stone chips that are showing up the yellow base coat but otherwise no dramas.

    "Geez, these brakes aren't half bad" - VERY confidence inspiring. Spent a day at pukekohe chastising myself for not using them properly into the hairpin (thats going from 250khr to about 50) and slowly learnt just how good they were if hauled on. It feels very stable under braking. on the open road, i don't feel over commited if I need to brake a little harder when already leant over - something I could feel a big difference on from the zX-6R despite it being fitted with a supercorsa (street grade semi slick) front. it seems very forgiving of me changing my mind and made the castrol esses at Pukekohe a lot more enjoyable. Encourages the rider to learn/perform stoppies!

    "How crap are these tyres?" Fitting Dumbplop 207u's to a bike like this should be illegal. Maybe its because I commute everyday that I notice it but the complete lack of grip given out by these things when cold is a travesty and downright dangerous... not to mention expensive if you try and zap out of your driveway too quickly! (trust me - i found out the hard way). I've done the last 5000kms on Pirelli Diablo Corsas and haven't had a scary moment to blame on the tyres since.

    "I can't believe I only paid $13000 for this". Definitely the bike of the year if you're after a sports bike. Suzuki NZ piggybacked on a large order from Suzuki Canada and got them into NZ for a silly price. With the other Jap 600's costing from 14,500-17,000, the suzuki was a natural choice.

    So that was first impressions:
    recent thoughts (bikes now coming up 5 months old)
    'Damn that bike looks good!' - Still makes me smile when I walk out to say hello in the morning. I understand this is usually reserved for expensive italian bikes.

    'I wonder if I really need a 1000?'. The engine is rather manic. The ensuing noise is intoxicating even without a new can. Unfortunately, the bike really does not encourage legal riding on the road. its definitely a bit of a hoon machine and it takes a lot of will power to resist that twitchy right hand sometimes (I kid you not.. i get VERY edgy sitting behind some cars at 100kmhr on the motorway and occasionally just feel the need to ring the throttle right out in 2nd or 3rd gear for therapy). That said, i've only really wanted more outright power when chasing the 250k barrier at pukekohe so i'm not to desperate for more power gains or a bigger bike yet.

    and the only real problem I'm having with the bike is that its slowly killing my neck. it is by far the tallest bike I've ever sat on and would be a pain for shorter people (I'm 5"10). it makes for good corner clearence but is a disaster zone on straight roads that force you into one head up position. 50km on the motorway hurts a lot more than 250km in twistys. strange but true. So its not the sort of thing you'd want to do long km's on in one day without planning some stops. They say you can't sport on a tourer but you can tour on a sportster.. but the GSXR is probably pushing the truth of that statement (despite being well fitted with bungee points, a soft seat and the biggest damn boot space I've seen on any bike - fits two bottles of wine and a tool kit!)

    so all in all
    PROS:
    SO cheap
    looks awesome (other people agree)
    Very very good brakes and engine if not outright class leader (but see point one)

    CONS:
    -Looks fearsome (distinct lack of egotistical drivers to play with all of a sudden). This also means for expensive paint jobs if you damage it. never leave home without full insurance because you'd need to go to the top paint man for the work and even he may refuse to do some of it due to the spooky decals.
    -ain inducing for your neck
    -Tall for short riders

  2. #2
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    3rd July 2003 - 12:00
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    Nice review, CK. Got me drooling, anyway... How about posting a full-sized picture of the bike?

  3. #3
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    25th January 2004 - 06:14
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    alstare review...

    Good review - I concur brudder although haven't had major neck probs yet... mind you I'm only 5'8".

    BTW CK do you know how many Suzuki NZ brought into NZ? Word 'round the campfire was about 10... can you confirm brudder?

    ching_ching

  4. #4
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    21st December 2002 - 11:00
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    Quote Originally Posted by Coldkiwi
    CONS:
    -Looks fearsome (distinct lack of egotistical drivers to play with all of a sudden). This also means for expensive paint jobs if you damage it. never leave home without full insurance because you'd need to go to the top paint man for the work and even he may refuse to do some of it due to the spooky decals.
    -Tall for short riders
    Also - never leave home without insurance as you never know what driveway you are going to spin out on.

    Also - is it short for tall riders?

  5. #5
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    13th February 2004 - 06:46
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    Quote Originally Posted by ching_ching
    Good review - I concur brudder although haven't had major neck probs yet... mind you I'm only 5'8".

    BTW CK do you know how many Suzuki NZ brought into NZ? Word 'round the campfire was about 10... can you confirm brudder?

    ching_ching
    I have a funny feeling it may have been less than 10.

    Not sure. Good review, CC, although I find mine bloody comfortable all the time. I never have a problem with my wrists even though I thought this would be a problem when I first bought it.

    Oh yeah. You forgot to say they do AWESOME wheelies and kill GSX-R750K3's at the standing Quaters. Eh Jimbo

  6. #6
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    5th November 2002 - 11:20
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    actual figure I got from colemans/holeshot was 22 or 23 so they're not as rare as we'd like. (still... won't take long for that number to get cut down the way the average gsxr owner rides!)

    wkid, I read other reviews that said the 600 actually did a remarkable job of fitting all sizes once you were tucked in. small or big it didn't matter once in motion but those shorter in the legs would have more trouble getting legs to the ground.

    J... i've put about 3 pics into the gallery shortly after I got it so hunt them out or PM me and I'll flick ya some if you have a hard time finding them.

  7. #7
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    29th August 2003 - 10:00
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    Quote Originally Posted by White trash
    I have a funny feeling it may have been less than 10.

    Not sure. Good review, CC, although I find mine bloody comfortable all the time. I never have a problem with my wrists even though I thought this would be a problem when I first bought it.

    Oh yeah. You forgot to say they do AWESOME wheelies and kill GSX-R750K3's at the standing Quaters. Eh Jimbo
    Well it took me a while to pick up on this one. The reason you got me at the 1/4 ers is because I've got an extra 20kg's on you. That's an extra 20kg's that's going to suplex off the top rope your ass.

    I'll be seeing you at the next drags boy.

  8. #8
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    13th February 2004 - 06:46
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    Quote Originally Posted by jimbo750
    Well it took me a while to pick up on this one. The reason you got me at the 1/4 ers is because I've got an extra 20kg's on you. That's an extra 20kg's that's going to suplex off the top rope your ass.

    I'll be seeing you at the next drags boy.
    You're going to "Suplex my ass off the top rope"?

    What you do in the privacy of your own home is your business, pal but don't bring me into it thanks!
    Vote David Bain for MNZ president

  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by White trash
    You're going to "Suplex my ass off the top rope"?

    What you do in the privacy of your own home is your business, pal but don't bring me into it thanks!
    That's WWF speak for "fuck ya shit up for ya."

  10. #10
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    5th November 2002 - 11:20
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    hey White trash, ui'm still trying to understand why the gsxr hurts me and not you. what sort of excercise do you normally get? I figure my problem is linked to laziness as much as the bike and office work. is your lifestyle much different?

  11. #11
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    21st March 2003 - 20:23
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    Quote Originally Posted by Coldkiwi
    hey White trash, ui'm still trying to understand why the gsxr hurts me and not you. what sort of excercise do you normally get? I figure my problem is linked to laziness as much as the bike and office work. is your lifestyle much different?
    Nah you're probably too old to be riding sports bikes. I suggest get something like a tourer/cruiser. Will be kinder on your back!!

  12. #12
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    20th May 2003 - 06:18
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    Re back

    Quote Originally Posted by Coldkiwi
    hey White trash, ui'm still trying to understand why the gsxr hurts me and not you. what sort of excercise do you normally get? I figure my problem is linked to laziness as much as the bike and office work. is your lifestyle much different?

    Its unlikely you are lazy CK, try spending more time on the bike ! Sooner or later your body will get used to it.,

    Firefight
    "Kiwi Biker, still a great place despite the mods "


    "Would crawl over broken glass before owning Suzuki"

    The only reason I only ride in the Iron man Class is I have no friends left to enter the two man events,
    my own fault really.

  13. #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by Firefight
    Its unlikely you are lazy CK, try spending more time on the bike ! Sooner or later your body will get used to it.,

    Firefight
    No I think its because you do a lot at the gym FF. How much did you say you could bench press again?

  14. #14
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    6th March 2003 - 16:47
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    CK; maybe you should think about getting a taller screen to keep your head from getting buffeted. I know that probably sounds silly but it really can make a difference and particularly if you're riding all the time, like you do, a double bubble keeps the blast above your chin so doesn't tend to get under & lift the head back and keeps your neck warmer too which helps also. plus they look nice and you can go faster 8-)

  15. #15
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    13th February 2004 - 06:46
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    Quote Originally Posted by Coldkiwi
    hey White trash, ui'm still trying to understand why the gsxr hurts me and not you. what sort of excercise do you normally get? I figure my problem is linked to laziness as much as the bike and office work. is your lifestyle much different?
    Sounds like me, mate!

    I don't excersise, EVER! Who needs to with the perfect body?

    All I do is ride, ride, ride. Try riding a V-Rod 400km in a day at stupid speeds then you'll know the meaning of pain!
    Vote David Bain for MNZ president

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