K7 GSX-R 1000... first ride today!

[DarkLord]

First of all - no I didn't buy one. This morning I caught up with a mate of mine who owns one at BP Taupo, and seeing as it was such a nice day we decided to go out for a quick blat to Tirau, via the backroads - Old Taupo Road and such. It was a cracker of a day and the roads and scenery were stunning.

After a quick bite of lunch of my friend very generously offered me to take the Gixxer back to Taupo via SH1, while he followed behind on my yellow Hyo. He's a very generous guy - letting a newly fully licensed motorcyclist ride his howeverfarkinexpensiveitis machine. To say I felt a wee bit intimidated by the occasion, was an understatement. At the same time, I've dreamed of owning - or at least riding - a Gixxer Thou for a long time, so I was also very excited!!

So I hopped on, after a pleasant lunch and chat at one of the Tirau restaurants, and we went on our merry way. The first thing I noticed - of course - was the power. My gawd. The power. The slightest twitch of the throttle and the thing jumped at me. I really struggled to keep it under the speed limit in the 50k and 70k zones.

Then, we hit the open road. Up to 6th gear, and the bike was trundling along quite happily at 100 at about 4,000 RPM. It has a very solid feel to it - even though it is around about the same weight as the Hyo I felt it to be somewhat heavier through the corners. Quite a bumpy ride as well - you certainly felt every last bit of the road surface. Not that I was complaining, mind you.

I then had the chance to pass some cars on the beast, and this is when it really came alive. Didn't need to drop a gear or anything - just open her up, and away she goes! The acceleration was phenomenal - it would hit 160 without even trying and obviously had far, far more to go. At one point I passed about 4 cars in what felt like a split second, while I was hanging on for dear life. I've never experienced wind resistance like that - felt like I was about to be blown off the seat. The ride went without a hitch, and we swapped bikes again in Taupo, making plans to catch up again soon.

It was an amazing experience getting to ride this bike. Some good points, and not so good points about it:

Good points -

1. The power. Good gawd, the power. More than you will ever need, and then a whole lot more after that. Passing cars would never ever be a problem ever again (I say that because passing cars is a mission on the Hyo).

2. The overall engineering and design of the bike. Everything was smooth, accurate and responsive, plus it was nice having the (aftermarket) GPS right in front of me.

3. Comfort. Some people don't like the seating on the Gixxers, but I loved it. It was quite a thick, padded seat - thicker than I was expecting. I like the aggressive seating position as well, and didn't feel in the slightest bit sore after being on it for about 80-90 k's or so.

4. Looks - super mega ultra sexy. 'Nuff said.

5. The sound - loved hearing the whirr of that engine once she got going.

Not so good points:

1. The power. As amazing as it was, I felt it was a little too much at times. I honestly didn't know what to do with so much acceleration. I was scared I was going to get launched off into space, or something if I opened it up too hard. I don't even want to know what the top speed on the beast is. Also found it very hard to control in low gears around town. Definitely not a commuter bike!!

That'd be about it for the not so good points.

All in all, a fantastic experience for me and I am very grateful for the opportunity. Suzuki have always impressed me, and I would like to get a Gixxer as my next bike (once I can afford it) however, I think a 600 will suit me just fine.

DarkLord out.

[bikerboy011]

3. Comfort. Some people don't like the seating on the Gixxers, but I loved it. It was quite a thick, padded seat - thicker than I was expecting. I like the aggressive seating position as well, and didn't feel in the slightest bit sore after being on it for about 80-90 k's or so.

Awesome stuff to be honest i found the seat to be a bit to stiff and uncomfortable when i test rode a k7 gixxer thou but that's me every one is different.

[riffer]

Yeah the K7 is a nice smooth ride all right.

You may be interested to know though, that it's probably the most docile gixxer thou they've made.

If the K7 scared you try the K4 or K5. Fabulous midrange. But one hell of a lot harder to control the front end on - it comes up waaaaay too quickly under hard acceleration compared to the K7.

[p.dath]

Get it down to a track day so you can have some real fun in a much safer environment.

[White Boots]

Hey man didnt happen to have a play with the 3 different map systems on it? Thinking bout getting one. Cheers

[SixPackBack]

[QUOTE=DarkLord;1129269084]

1. The power. As amazing as it was, I felt it was a little too much at times. I honestly didn't know what to do with so much acceleration. I was scared I was going to get launched off into space, or something if I opened it up too hard. I don't even want to know what the top speed on the beast is. Also found it very hard to control in low gears around town. Definitely not a commuter bike!!

That'd be about it for the not so good points.

All in all, a fantastic experience for me and I am very grateful for the opportunity. Suzuki have always impressed me, and I would like to get a Gixxer as my next bike (once I can afford it) however, I think a 600 will suit me just fine.

DarkLord out.[/QUOTE]

Power. Directly connected to your right hand and under the riders control. The bike has lots of torque and superlative fueling, it will happily trundle along at very low revs. You do not have to break the speed limit.

Commuting. On my second Gixxer [with well over 100K traveled in 5 years] that gets used every work day commuting. No crashes, problems or complaints. The bike is comfortable and has proved to be the safest owned.

The fact you found the bike hard to control is an indication that perhaps you are not ready for a bigger bike, comments on power are more likely linked to your own ability to trust yourself.

[puddy]

Hey man didnt happen to have a play with the 3 different map systems on it? Thinking bout getting one. Cheers

The K7 is cool, but the mapping thing is a bit of a wank! Leave it in 'A'.

[driftn]

Yeah the K7 is a nice smooth ride all right.

You may be interested to know though, that it's probably the most docile gixxer thou they've made.

If the K7 scared you try the K4 or K5. Fabulous midrange. But one hell of a lot harder to control the front end on - it comes up waaaaay too quickly under hard acceleration compared to the K7.

I concur, K7 is awesome. Nice and smooth FANTASTIC wheelies comfy BUT,
The K3 is the one to have I reckon more savage power delivery and lets you know your going f@#king fast were as the K7 I found to be to smooth the way it comes on and you dont really feel like your going all that quick (untill you look at the speedo of course)

[Lurch]

I know what you mean Dark, I haven't ridden a GSXR thou but on Friday got my full and make a sudden upgrade from my Hyo to a brand new SV1000.

I must admit I noobed it for the first few K's in traffic although a fair bit of that was getting used to the hydro clutch and late engagement of it.

The leap in torque and accelleration is definitely a shock for the first 100ks or so, it demands a steady hand and good riding technique to ensure that all of your inputs are smooth and deliberate.

I'm loving the leap in ride quality also, with the larger bike feeling much more locked in on the corners.

I reckon a GSXR600 or 750 would be pretty much ideal bikes but in my case the SV was just too good a price new to turn away.

[White Boots]

The K7 is cool, but the mapping thing is a bit of a wank! Leave it in 'A'.

So you reckon if i was to make a gsxr1000 into a street fighter it wouldnt be to nuts to make an 06 into one? Was guessing that the 3 different maps wouldnt be that great. Thanks mate.

[puddy]

So you reckon if i was to make a gsxr1000 into a street fighter it wouldnt be to nuts to make an 06 into one? Was guessing that the 3 different maps wouldnt be that great. Thanks mate.

Go with the K6! More mid range! A bit less top end, but more mid!

[Bend-it]

The fact you found the bike hard to control is an indication that perhaps you are not ready for a bigger bike.

That's unfair... every rider riding a >250cc sportbike for the first time will take some time adjusting. Think back to when you first rode a properly powerful sportbike...

The fact that darklord survived the 80 or 90kms; overtook the 4 cars at 160 and had the good sense to slow back down; and the unsquiddish comments like deciding that a 600 might be enough; commenting on comfort etc tell me he might actually have the sensibility to own a faster bike and have control of your right wrist...

DL> Good on ya! The difference between a good and bad rider isn't their bike or even skill, it's their attitude...

[gtr boy]

So you reckon if i was to make a gsxr1000 into a street fighter it wouldnt be to nuts to make an 06 into one? Was guessing that the 3 different maps wouldnt be that great. Thanks mate.

have a pm to "out for a duck"
greg has done this and looks good to

[EJT]

After a quick bite of lunch of my friend very generously offered me to take the Gixxer back to Taupo via SH1, while he followed behind on my yellow Hyo. He's a very generous guy - letting a newly fully licensed motorcyclist ride his howeverfarkinexpensiveitis machine. .

What a mate If he is up this way ask him if I can go for a blast Seriously though - first time on a thousand after a 250 will be a bit of a shock - but all good if you keep the right wrist under control.

[Stormer]

Sounds like you had a blast.
The power`s like anything good, you just have to learn to control it.
I went from the VTR1000 to the GSXR1000, and winding the thing to redline is like, ye bloody ha!!
Addictive in a good way.