My thoughts on the 08 CBR1000RR

**cowboyz** · 19th January 2009, 21:07

City honda had a couple of demo bike on show at manfield last weekend and the 08 CBR1000RR caught my eye. The styling is really nice and it got me thinking enough to get my arse into town for a test ride.

Sat morning I headed to town with Meanie on his wifes honda (couldnt possibly go ride a honda on my own) and we quickly run through the process of me ending up with the keys to the demo bike.

As soon as I sat on it I wasnt sure if I liked the perched riding position. The 1000cc bike felt really really small under me and I am not THAT big. (que the pie jokes). The rider position is very forward and it took a few minutes to get used to. Took it out on the back roads round palmy which are dead striaght and cruised at 100k. The power was obvious and not disappointing but at the same time it was very tame. There is no urgency about the bike but twisting the throttle and the bike launches to licence losing speeds very quickly. Sitting on responsible speeds was not very difficult and the perched position became very natural in a short time.
Called in on the Yod so he could have a drool over it for a few minutes before heading out to Ashhurst for Mrs Cs sign of approval. She wasnt as enthusiastic over it as I was but sat up (WAY WAY WAY UP) on the pillion seat and quickly decided that this is not a touring bike.
Decided to give the bike a run through some twisties so headed out through the gorge where we got stuck behind a heap of traffic. At 70K/hr my wrists were starting to getting a bit of a tweak after about 10km. Then onto backroads through balance and over the track. As the roads got tighter the bike came into its own. The bike is unbeliveably responsive and found 2nd and 3rd was all that was needed to get through the track at a fairly brisk pace. The bike shines in the corners with rock solid handling and the perched position just makes sense. The brakes are fanatastic.
All in all it is a fanastic machine but the $23000 price tag (moving to $26000 very soon) might be its downfall.
Called into local kawasaki dealer on way home and a new ZX10r can be had for $19500 but no demo bikes.
I have a bit of thinking about what I actually want from a bike and the more touring I do the ZX12 or ZX14 is looking more and more desirable but still undecided.

Anyhow, Meanie has some pics and if he is nice he might even post some up

**Brett** · 19th January 2009, 21:28

Wow...at 23K nevermind $26K I do not feel that it is value for money. Your write up sounds familiar from what I have read, interested to see what you decide.

**yod** · 19th January 2009, 21:32

just give in and buy the 14

you know you want to

did you get the email with the link to the customised zx12 from Meanie?

**MentalFacility** · 19th January 2009, 21:59

Yeah i know its SHIT.

Just kidin. When u get used to it becomes something very special.

**cowboyz** · 20th January 2009, 06:17

Originally Posted by yod

just give in and buy the 14

you know you want to

did you get the email with the link to the customised zx12 from Meanie?

I like that 12. Dont like the damage to it though.

**Owl** · 20th January 2009, 06:28

ZX14

**DMNTD:Me** · 20th January 2009, 06:45

Originally Posted by Owl

ZX14

Agreed...it's the only bike that we've owned that I haven't got bored with. It does a bit of everything,including sport riding well if set up right.
Annette(Unit) has done 33000kms on ours in about 15months now with zero problems or complaints. I/we simply can't think of a better (road)bike to replace it with

**NZsarge** · 20th January 2009, 07:19

14
________

**robertydog** · 20th January 2009, 07:37

14
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**86GSXR** · 20th January 2009, 07:38

Good write up. I'll be keen to see what bike you come up with. Make sure it's another fun one, the 9 has been a bloody hoot eh

23K, that's serious money, hmmmm.

**NinjaNanna** · 20th January 2009, 08:13

Hi Cowboyz.. I replaced my 95 ZX9 with an 03/04 R1, very happy with the comfort levels of the bike, in fact I'd say its more comfortable than the 9.

Only complaint that I have is it isn't as much fun to ride, simply because you had to work to make the old bike go quickly, the modern R1 just does everything well. The end result is faster speeds needed to get the same thrill. I'm conservative enough to not have had a problem yet but just be aware of that little bit of info.

I rode the ZX12 as well - but I don't do enough 2up to justify it and riding solo the bike was a bit too much bike for me.

**eelracing** · 20th January 2009, 18:35

Good write up chap.Im finding that all the modern sport thou's are much of a muchness these days and really come down to which styling takes ya fancy.Am getting bored with fours anyway and am starting to look hard at twins or even a Trumpy 3 cylinder.Bikes on the to test ride list are a KTM Duke and the above triumphs.Or even the Norton if they ever get there shit together.