Well it seems like both manufacturers are pulling out all the stops for their new line of bikes. I was wondering which bike you guys would get (in their own respective classes). I personally think that both companies are making some beautiful looking bikes now, but I'd still give the aggressive design edge to Yamaha. However, the Honda sport bikes are more practical and you can drive them for farther distances because they are just plain more comfortable than the Yamahas.

Right now I'm leaning towards the new Yamaha R1 ... but some other comments could easily SWAY me to purchasing a Honda (to match my S2000).

 

R-1... is still "THE BIKE"... but, trend is kinda going away now.
until about the end of last year, people were dying to
have R1 and R6... but, really, performance of the same size
bikes are not THAT different, if you are a good rider.
I would get R-1 over HONDA, just for the sake of fun and
thrill, reputation... etc. but... HONDA and GSX-Rs are just
as good as R-1.

 

From what my friends say after riding several bikes-

R1 is a handful. It's really good for "street" riding, but not in the twisties. Not the ideal trackday tool- absolutely huge feeling compared to the 600cc bikes.

R6 is still the same as always. Very fast, aggressive handling that can get away from an inexperienced rider. HARD kick above 10K rpm- not that it's not pulling hard below that, but it can induce power wheelies just from rolling on the throttle through that range. Very pipe/jet kit sensitive.

CBR 929RR- Rides like a 600. Super rider friendly. Probably the most impressive daily ridable 900cc+ bike out there, better than the R1.

CBR 600F4i- More aggressive than the F4- seating position slightly more aggressive than before. Still user friendly- much more so that the R6. Very easy to ride all around- more so than the CBR 929RR.

RC51- Very nice bike, but has some fuel injection problems in the lower midrange rpm- fuel mapping problem or some weird resonance problem probably. A ton of HRC kit parts available for it- if you can stomach race parts prices and reliablity for street use.

Of course, there are the Suzuki GSX-R variants that are absolutely amazing for the price/performance, and the Kawasakis that many people like (I personally don't- but a friend races, and wins, on his ZX-7R racebike).

All these bikes are "super" bikes- maximum performance, and are all the fastest of their model ranges. None are what I would consider a "first" or beginner bike, and all relatively uncomfortable (they're racebikes, damnit!). For that I would recommend a Suzuki SV650, or a Ducati Monster 600/750, or if you have the means, an MV Agusta Brutale Serie Oro...

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by seung
[B]1st ride- '94 Mazda Miata

 

Psicho; In the end it's really going to be about what you like. The R1 is a very capable bike, but it is in the select company of what I call extreme machines. Unless your already a very experienced rider you will never get all the bike has to offer, out of it. The R1, GXSR 1000, and other big bore bikes offer big thrills and offer ego rewarding appearance. The problem is they temp lessor riders to get themselves in situations they can't recover from. These days there are many great bikes to choose from. Define for yourself what you want in a bike, take an earnest look at your present skills, and pick a bike that moves you aesthetically. Then get familiar with your new bike. I got off a ZX-6 and on to a VFR 800. The VFR was not as quick nor as nimble, but has a much better comfort level, and it looks great too. Let us know what you decide.

 

All the bikes mentioned are fast enough to get you into trouble.
I picked the R6 because I just fell in love with it. I still will sit in the garage and just look at it. And when it's on the road it just sings to me. As mentioned above, pick the one that moves you

 

Honda VFR 800 - the Interceptor!
V-4 with grunt and speed, comfortable to ride all day, plenty fast and nimble.

 

One more thing to add. R6's are real hard to find in my part of the country.
Any other bike you can go to a dealer and find but none of them can keep an R6 instock very long. There must be a reason for that.

 

I still find my Bandit 1200 offfers the best mix of comfort and ease of riding. I don't get out on it much nowadays but the combination of heaps of grunt , more than good enough handling (with the right tyres), general comfort and the "hoon" factor is something you can't go past.

My longest ride on the Bandit to date was Melbourne - Broken Hll - Alice Springs - Darwin - Broome - Perth - Adelaide - Melbourne in 13 days (16 days on the road with 3 days of stops) in November '99. That's a distance of 13,000 km for an average of 1,000km in the saddle every day and believe me, the bike has to be comfortable to do that day in - day out.

When I told the guys at the Bike shop who were fitting new tyres for me that I was only going for a short ride they thought I was crazy. However, compared to a couple of other rides I have done (LA to Rio via Patagonia; and Australia to South Africa via England) it really was just a short ride

 

funcar; I know exactly what your talking about in the joy of just looking at a sharp sportbike. Hell, I love all of them! Regardless of make or color. 2kturkey, g'day mate! When you go for a ride, you really go for a ride. Tell us exactly... what is "hoon"?