Anyone really care about what's on paper any more?

[SimJen]

Some of the better UK bike mags will weigh, dyno and performance test all the bikes on a test and then you get real world figures.....depends on the mag though. Obviously MCN is full of shit, but mags like Bike and Superbike do full tests and rate them according to track and road testing etc.

[Big Dave]

Fuck it doesnt matter shit all with the 600's. The thous as well. ALL of them are good, some are just marginally better than the others. Regular mortals are not going to be able to tell the ultimate difference with that last extra kg of weight or 1.5629 hp deficit, and it basicaly comes down to the rider to make the difference, be that on road or track.

I agree entirely. It takes a top A grader or better before it makes any difference these days.
I would have said - some are better in specific departments than others. The Daytona 675 is a stand out for street use eg. The R6 I rode has the best brakes.
On A Sunday ride it would make absolutely no difference to the speed of the journey.
They all perform to places i can't - or dont want to - take them on the road anyway.

[Oscar]

I agree entirely. It takes a top A grader or better before it makes any difference these days.
I would have said - some are better in specific departments than others. The Daytona 675 is a stand out for street use eg. The R6 I rode has the best brakes.
On A Sunday ride it would make absolutely no difference to the speed of the journey.
They all perform to places i can't - or dont want to - take them on the road anyway.

Oi - you big Aussie Goit!
What's the story wid Kiwi Rider?
I rode up and down that feckin' beach and got my feet wet for Osborne and all the pictures are of Vege?!!!

[Big Dave]

Oi - you big Aussie Goit!
What's the story wid Kiwi Rider?
I rode up and down that feckin' beach and got my feet wet for Osborne and all the pictures are of Vege?!!!

hmmmm....I'll tell Geoff he has that effect on you.

Oscar: friend of publication and contributor.
Vege: Owner and Publisher.

Ferked if i know. Was all done before i stepped into the chair last week.
Not guilty m'laird.

[Oscar]

hmmmm....I'll tell Geoff he has that effect on you.

Oscar: friend of publication and contributor.
Vege: Owner and Publisher.

Ferked if i know. Was all done before i stepped into the chair last week.
Not guilty m'laird.

Hurmph...

'Bout time for a big blokes/ big bikes ride somewhere ain't it?
Raglan to Te Anga?

[Big Dave]

Hurmph...

'Bout time for a big blokes/ big bikes ride somewhere ain't it?
Raglan to Te Anga?

I'd probably have to borrow a bike - I have road tyres on the tactor for the winter - but I think I could get a katoom if we do it as a KR bit.

[Oscar]

I'd probably have to borrow a bike - I have road tyres on the tactor for the winter - but I think I could get a katoom if we do it as a KR bit.

I've only got the standard tyres on the Katoombah.
But if you can grab a 950 or the 625 that could be a laff...

[Lou Girardin]

I stopped giving bike testers much credibility back in the 80's when they praised the VF750 Honda to the skies for it's quick handling and rubbished my GPz 750 as peaky and slow steering.
But in the real world the Honda was a slap happy piece of shit that I could walk away from on the Kwaka without raising a sweat.

[XTC]

I don't care whats on the spec sheet. If I did I would have looked at the specs of the XT and thought shit this things got no power, is real slow and heavy and nobody likes them. But in reality it's an extremely good all roads bike with the capability to go a little off road and also scare road bikes through the twisty's on knobby tyres. Will cruise all day at 120-140 too. Not one of lifes most glamourous bikes but also at under $8500 new not the most expensive either. And the places it's taken me, and the good folk I've met in the last 27000km's have been worth every penny and then some. Might have to give it a rebuild at 80,000 km's or so. But had I really gone off the spec sheet instead of riding one I probably would never have bought it. Try things for yourself, don't rely on others to tell you what to think.
Just my 0.02c

Andy.

[Macktheknife]

Honestly can you buy a 'bad' bike these days ? buy the one that spins Your wheels !

I reckon this is the only way to buy a bike now, go for what does it for you. There are too many variables in rider styles and bike fit for specs to mean much. Just ride the ones you think will do the job and see which one really gets you.

[gav]

http://www.hondaitalia.com/moto/uff_...r/MOVISTAR.jpg
Still, damn good looking bike that Movistar CBR600RR, look good parked next to your Repsol 1000, huh?
I find the best way to get info from magazines is wait until the bike is a year old and then they test the latest model, then they mention all the faults that they dont seem to pick up first time round. Unless its the latest ZX10R, then you realise you're better off buying last years model.