Which muscle bike? CB or GSX

**HanSoloNZ** · 27th January 2007, 21:36

Just sold my Speedmaster and am looking to buy a muscle bike next week, probably a CB1300 or a GSX1400, any ideas on which is the better bike, only to use for cruising and the occasional touring, any advice would be appreciated, Cheers.

**kiwifruit** · 27th January 2007, 21:39

In my opinion the gsx1400 is the more muscular of the two, although i haven't riden either

**Dak** · 27th January 2007, 21:59

Went through pretty much the same thing myself, in the end I bought the CB, to me it was a much better looking bike, finishing and quality was a lot better than the Suzuki and the CB felt much more effortless to ride. And I paid 1k less for the CB.

**merv** · 27th January 2007, 22:40

Sparky Bills has his CB up for sale and its almost new.

**The Stranger:Me** · 27th January 2007, 23:04

Originally Posted by HanSoloNZ

Just sold my Speedmaster and am looking to buy a muscle bike next week, probably a CB1300 or a GSX1400, any ideas on which is the better bike, only to use for cruising and the occasional touring, any advice would be appreciated, Cheers.

Get something with some real go. Buy my X11

**Waylander** · 28th January 2007, 00:30

I have doubt that either of those should be called muscle bikes. Try naked sport tourers.

**Phurrball** · 28th January 2007, 00:53

Originally Posted by Waylander

I have doubt that either of those should be called muscle bikes. Try naked sport tourers.

We're not playing that daft sub-sub-sub-genre thing again are we...

**jonboy** · 28th January 2007, 04:25

The sub genre thing sucks !!! Has it got two wheels ? If so then its a bike.
As regards choosing between a Suzuki 14 or a CB 13 this would be my view.
Suzooks have allways offered good performance/pound(sorry dollars) ratio even if the build quality is sometimes a little suspect.On the other hand the Honda will have a much better build quality and probably overall be the wiser choice. Obviously alot will also depend on wether this is a new dealer purchase or a s/hand buy.
Having riden both bikes my personal choice would be the Honda, purely becuase the riding position suited my stature and was very comfortable at high speed (130 mph +) and also very maneuverable at low speed through traffic.

Well there you have it.......

Jon

**RiderInBlack** · 28th January 2007, 06:05

The part faired or the nakeds?
CB1300S $15,795.00

vs
GSX1400 $13,995 with Yoshi can and TCP fairing (see attached pic below)
or
CB1300 $14,750.00

vs
GSX1400K6 $13995

Me, I'm looking forward ta trying a GSX1400 in black with the part fairing kit. Think it looks way better than the CB1300S

**slowpoke** · 28th January 2007, 06:06

I've never been able to figure out why such basic modern bikes are so frikkin' heavy. Anyway I had a quick look at the specs:

GSX1400

Weight: 226kg
Power: 104.59 HP (76.3 kW)) @ 6800 RPM
Torque: 124.00 Nm (12.6 kgf-m or 91.5 ft.lbs) @ 5000 RPM

CB1300

Weight: 224kg
Power: 113.98 HP (83.2 kW)) @ 7500 RPM
Torque: 117.00 Nm (11.9 kgf-m or 86.3 ft.lbs) @ 5500 RPM

That's a fair amount of grunt for such low revs so I guess the "muscle bike" moniker isn't too far off the mark if you insist on pigeon-holing bikes. You'd probably lose 10-15kg's off either bike by putting a decent exhaust system on either bike, especially the 14 with it's twin boat anchor's, er, I mean twin pipes. Less weight + more grunt = more smiles.

**RiderInBlack** · 28th January 2007, 06:12

Beleive it or not, some of us like the weight.
They are both lighter than "Roxanne's" (my CBR100FL) 230kg (Dry) and match the Blackbird's 225kg. So I don't think ya have much to complain there.

**Bonez** · 28th January 2007, 06:16

Originally Posted by Waylander

I have doubt that either of those should be called muscle bikes. Try naked sport tourers.

No, they're what I refer to as proper bikes.

You know the modern equivalents of '80 CB1100s and GSX1100Es et el before eveything had ponsy rap around fairings. Guess I'd fall into the target market after a statement like that. Funny thing is they're are of similar if not less weight than the earlier bikes with a similar power.

http://www.suzukicycles.org/GSX-series/GSX1100E.shtml

Best way to find out if you like them is go for a spin on each. I like the look of both but am bias towords the Honda. I think both represent good value for ones hard earned.

**paturoa** · 28th January 2007, 07:05

I was looking at some dyno stuff a while ago and started a thread about it. It has overlay dyno charts for both and also the XJR.

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...ad.php?t=37627

Looking at the price deal on the zook at the moment, you could still put a couple of grand of accessories on top before breaking even.

**T.I.E** · 28th January 2007, 07:50

picking up and sv but they are something to think about big nakeds. but i need that twin. still remember following someone through southisland tunnels on an SV and the noise was very impressive.
but those fours are nothing to be laughed at.