Korea's next bike should be...

[Korea]

I bought, I bought. What did I buy?

[Trudes]

CBR600??? In sexy black??

[skelstar]

GN250....think you can handle the power?

[Korea]

GN250....think you can handle the power?

Whoa! Easy tiger - nothing quite that hardcore...
Think of the children!

[limbimtimwim]

Fie-yah-blade!

Do I get a go based on being correct?

[Kendog]

When do you collect the mystery machine?

[NighthawkNZ:Me]

CBR1000RR Fireblade ('06 would stretch budget to the limit but could be oh-so-perfect)

Sounds like you have made your mind up all ready

Keeping my licence would be a bonus, but that will depend on the nut on top.

You can loose your licence on just about any bike

Am a little concerned that 1000cc would be overkill for most NZ roads but haven’t owned one before and wouldn’t mind taking the next step.

Take a few for a test ride... just because its a 1000cc doesn't mean its any faster than a 600. The 600's may also be quicker in the twisties as well... But most 1000's will have more low down power (especially the VTwins)

I bought, I bought. What did I buy?

I black shadow...

[Reckless]

You bought a twin cause they are the best for every purpose you described.

[Black Bandit]

A race bike ? I don't see any coathangers for your plate.

[Korea]

Test ridden: ’06 R1

Like trying to get through Lord of the Rings, the saga continues, but this quest has drawn to a close...

Weekend before last I headed out to the good people at TSS motorcycles in Lower Hutt and was given the opportunity to try an ’06 R1.
This (slightly) used R1 has done about 8,000kms and still looks like a minta. It’s been modified with some framesliders but otherwise seemed stock.
How was the ride?
Well, after warming it up while raving about MotoGP racing with Stuart – big boss guy (he’s a good fella eh?), I limped the R1 in 1st and 2nd to SH2 heading in the direction of Haywards hill.

Green light, 1st gear, *bwaaarp*, 2nd gear *bwaaaarpr* look down at speedo and ‘Jee-suuuhs ~!’. To say the R1 packs a punch is about as big an understatement as saying Rossi is kinda fast...

Anyway, speed aside - rubbish! Absolutely rubbish...
Read: I was absolutely rubbish. To be honest, I couldn't really ride the thing. The bike is awesome in a straight line, but it really needs to be 'put' into the corner - quite aggressively. Not sure if this is true of all R1s but I really need to learn how to ride this one to get the most out of it - sure to be a great learning experience.

[Korea]

Next up was an '04 ZX10R.
I've been told that these bikes like to bite - which was pretty much the first thing I thought as I rounded the first corner: Bitey!
The steering angle is noticeably sharper than the R1 - it's really easy to steer into corners, so much so in fact it feels like a 600 but with a thumpy powerplant below.
Power delivery was also smooth and easily as good at losing you your licence as on an R1 - although not quite as aggressive.
Overall, I felt really confident thrashing about on this bike - it's really at home in the corners, but it does give you that slightly unerving feeling it could have a snap at you if you disrespected it.
Overall, definitely my style and very nice indeed.

[Korea]

...and finally...

Last weekend I finally had the chance to test ride the big brother of my old bike - CBR1000RR.
I heard that there was a silver '06 model available in at Dowman / Keowyn Honda in Wanganui and they stayed open late on Saturday to let me come by and try out the 'blade.

Yes, Hondas get a bit of stick on KB, possibly because they're generally reliable and easy to ride. And this one is no exception.

There's a perfect road just around the corner from the shop that winds up a hill and out into some lazy curves and fast straights. Perfect for putting a bike through its paces. (But not me, no no.)

First of all, the CBR feels really light - centralised mass makes it nimble on its feet. And it's small - the front fairing even looks smaller than my old 600.
Ergonomics were fine for me although sitting on the 'blade is definitely a 'crouch on stilts' affair. Legs fit snuggly around the fueltank and bar distance/height was as you'd expect - mildly forearm numbing but fine.

The Ride: The CBR1000RR doesn't deliver power in the same raw fashion as the R1. Mind you, with 170bhp the '06 still fucks off like granny on her way to bingo and lifts its nose when you're ham-fisted with the throttle.
Gearbox - very smooth, ta very much.
Steering - steers every bit as quick as the ZX10 but without that ominous feeling...

Overall, the bike feels light, nimble and has more ponies than I really know what to do with. Other litre bikes might be a bit edgier / have more character but at end of the day the CBR is confidence inspiring, turns on a dime, and makes me more attractive to the opposite sex.

Verdict: SOLD!

[skelstar]

Next up was an '04 ZX10R...but it does give you that slightly unerving feeling it could have a snap at you if you disrespected it.

So would you see someone pushing a Hornet around having a good time on one of these? ...or maybe a bad time

Thing is I'm not sure if I would know if I am disrespecting a bike.

[limbimtimwim]

Thing is I'm not sure if I would know if I am disrespecting a bike.

When you are 10 feet in the air, you'll know.

[Korea]

So would you see someone pushing a Hornet around having a good time on one of these? ...or maybe a bad time

You keen on getting a one?

To be honest, I don't know what all the fuss is about. The ZX10 is quick steering, powerful, and great fun.
(I personally prefer the side exhaust '04 model - havn't tried the later ones).
Some bikes get reputations for being flighty or whatever but at the end of the day it's up to the rider and his/her right hand, innit?

Morale of the story is: ZX10 - Good.

PS: Thanks for listening to my 5 pages+ of bike buying drama.
See you all out on two wheels soon