1000cc to 600cc - Who's done it? Regrets?

[sharkattack]

Lately I've really been interested in smaller sportbikes like the 600RR and the R6. I know that they will not have the 'punch' that my R1 did and I'd have to be much more careful to keep the revs up, but for some reason, the 600 SS bikes have really got a hold of me.

Who has gotten rid of a 900-1000cc bike and gone with a smaller displacement bike? Why? What did you think? What were your first impressions? Any regrets?

Just curious. I've ridden friend's 600 SS bikes numerous times, and while it is small and light (not that much smaller and lighter than many of the liter bikes) I had to be VERY careful with the throttle to keep it in the upper rev range or else they seemed to fall flat on their face. I also had to keep shifting a lot to stay in 'the groove'. After getting off it and back onto my R1, there was no comparison. I guess I'm a 'shifting impaired' or lazy rider since I like to just ride and not dance through the gears just to keep a decent pace.

All that being said, the R6 still keeps calling my name, even more than the R1. Price really isn't a consideration since they are within a couple thousand of each other, and my insurance isn't that much anyway. I have State Farm and I'm 40 years old, so it's pretty reasonable.

So....if you've gone from liter bike to 600 SS, what are your impressions? Do you wish you still had the grunt of the liter bike, or do you prefer the higher revving, smaller bike? 95% of all my riding is strictly Sunday 2-4 hour blasts through all twisties. No commuting. No two up. No highway. No running errands, etc. Strictly a curve carver. I know which way I'm leaning (pun intended), but wnated to hear from you guys too.

Cheers all,
Scott

[hvneye]

I switch back and forth all the time. I like the 600 for the track. On the highway I like the 1000 better. Its pretty dangerous on the street anyways so you really don't need all that power because it'll never get it's full potential. 600cc is good enough

[Big Deezul]

I made the switch the other way. Its a very different ride. The 600 really needs to be wound up to make power, but when they are revved up they are a blast. The 1000 is just plain sick all the time, but are really a handful to ride well.

[dazza291970]

I went from an R1 to R6, I had to sell the R1 to fund a house purchase and got the R6 a couple of years later. I went for the 600 as my bike previous to the R1 was a ZX6R and I kind of like the fact I could use full throttle more on the 600.

To be honest wish I has stuck with 1000cc as really miss the torque, on the R1 you could just gently roll the throttle on in any gear to overtake, and you are spot on that you have to make sure you are staying in the upper rev range if you are even thinking of overtaking. That said the 600 is hardly any slower when you are up in the powerband.

Think of a big twin next! Always fancied a ducati!

[SPEKTRE]

Well if you are carving the canyons or track riding then I'd go 600. I love my R6 very much. However for highway I'd be leaning more toward the R1. In fact as radical as a design the new R1 is it's slowly growing on me. I recently rode a KTM 990 Superduke R. V-Twin torque is the Shizzznit! Sorry, got off on a tangent there, LOL. I like the seating position on the R1. It allows me to plant both my feet flat. I am 5, 11" and the R6 is almost too tall for me. Man this is a very wieghted thread. On one side you have the power of God under your wrist and on the other you have the finess of a ballet dancer on wheels. Bro I really dont think you'll be upset if you change sides. Me personally I have outgrown the power of my R6. Even high revs it just doesn't do it for me anymore. When I rode that big twin my horns busted through my helmet. And my smile exceeded the width of my face when I blew the Porsche Carrera C4S's doors off on the 15 freeway here in San Diego.

I'll stop babling now, LOL. It's your choice bro.

[Black-R6]

I have a buddy who just did the switch this year from a 600 to a 1000 and he regrets it. He is actually hinking of trading in the 1000 for a 600 after this riding season is over. He liked the handling and fun factor a lot more on the 600. He enjoyed having the higher rev for power in his R6 then basically a cruise control with no effort in his R1 plus he really misses the R6 in the twisties as he said it just handled better (for him at least).

Persoally I like the R6 over the R1 myself as I like the higher seat position and it's just a blast when you get those rpms up there. My choice and his would be to go with a 600. Good luck and keep us posted.

[smokenjoe]

I still have the a GSXR 1000 and my girl has my old R1 I continue to ride it also now and then.

The big difference is handling and quicker turning the r6 has better suspension quicker turning and you never really seem to notice the lack of top end. I can get on the gas much harder and sooner coming out of a corner. I was wondering what was wrong with my bike at the track Monday because I could not gain on the GSXR600 quick enough in the straits guess what it was a 1000.

You wont be unhappy with a R1 though they can go crazy fast too. For me it is less fun on the R1 too much worrying about the suspension and too much throttle. Note I had the front and back suspension redone on the R1 but stock is OK on the R6. You will also save a lot of money on rear tires on a R6.

That said my next bike will be a R1 change is good but I wont be selling the R6!

[BlueDevilD]

Ive been back and forth as well. 99R6 to a 00R1 to an 03R6 to 02 R1 to an 06R6

to be honest. Ill stick on the R6.... Though the torque of the R1 is nice, its overkill on the streets of CO. Ill stick on my 06 R6, no regrets what so ever...

[50thAnnR6]

i went from an 05 gs500 to an 05 SV1000 to my R6... the torque and power wheelie of the SV was awesome and what i missed the most, but i did it toooooo much... i canot get over how awesome the R6 handles!!

[SPEKTRE]

Yeah the R6handels very well. It feels a lot lighter than it is stated to weigh. I really wish there was a newer version o the old OW-02 YZF-R7. I would buy an R7 if they made it for 2010. Because that would be the perfect balance of power and handeling.