[starvingstudent]

Certainly looks like a potent weapon for the track, though I always thought v-twins had a good advantage. But why would someone buy this for the street? It's got low power until you get around 10,000 rpm, and I really have trouble believing that that seating position is bearable at speeds under 75 mph (where the wind takes the weight off your wrist). What I want to see in the sport world is more emphasis on smaller, comfortable sportbikes--like the YZF600R, ZX6 (no R), and maybe a VTR750 and a VFR500!

Remember, most people don't actually ever go to the track.

 

[starvingstudent]

Real riding?

Maybe you like the track. That's just dandy. For me, there is nothing more amazing than a mountain canyon or twisting two-laner through scenic territory. An excellent handling bike is great for that, but it's also got to be comfortable and have a real-world power curve. A race tuck and an engine that's gutless below 9000rpm are not nearly as nice on those roads. And I am a resident of Colorado, living right at the base of the Rocky Mountains, so I _DO_ do the riding I'm talking about. If you're ever in the Boulder/Lyons area, ride Lefthand Canyon up to the Peak-to-Peak highway. THAT's real riding.

 

[starvingstudent]

Reliability rule of thumb

Will it be a warranty nightmare?

One of the reasons the GSXR600 is being touted as so good is because of its super light weight. Where did that weight come from? Well, they made engine components smaller and lighter. 9 times out of 10, that means less durable for long-term street riding. That's one of the reasons that heavy BMW boxer engines last for so long--they've got heavy, durable components. But then again, nobody would want to be riding the Gixxer when it was 10-15 years old, because there will be a newer, lighter, faster, and more uncomfortable GSXR600 by then.