'07 600RR or '07 GSX-R600?

[geddyt]

Man, I can just picture the tidal wave of "Gixxer!" that I'm about to get, but I'm trying to decide which bike to buy here soon. It'll be my girlfriend's street bike for the next couple of years and then will become my next race bike at that time.

At first I was pissed off about the ridiculously high price and lack of trick parts on the Honda when the final press realease was made and, resultantly, as recently as a week ago I was thinking all Gixxer. But after sitting on the RR a couple of days ago and seeing it in person, then coming home and reading unanimous heaps of praise for it from every journalist and racer that's ridden it and wrote about it... I dunno.

Sounds like this thing's gonna be a demon in the track ;) and yet have pretty decent real world ridability. So is there ANYONE that thinks it's worth the extra $1500?

Just curious if I'm the only one out there that's bought into the hype...

[Steve]

You'll find more people running GSX-Rs at the racetrack thus you will have a higher chance of finding spares if you need them.

[piper907]

Suzuki... Hands down. Don't get me wrong, I have owned a Honda (street bike) and I really do like them a lot but If you are planning on racing this bike at any point I believe you will have much better luck on a GSX-R. Spares a-plenty, most everything from a 2006 OR 2007 GSXR 600 OR 750 will work on either bike so finding used stock parts will be easier and cheaper. There are definatly more GSX-Rs on the track as well, so finding used race parts will be easier and more than likely cheaper as well. Also, there are more aftermarket and hop-up parts available for them. If you read some articles in mags like roadracingworld, they take "racer friendliness" into consideration when they test their bikes and you may be able to find some useful information on this... Suzuki definately makes the GSX-R with the racer/trackday rider in mind. If you would like, I can go with you down to Mt. Baker Motor-Sports and introduce you to a good friend of mine, he could probly give you a good deal on a Suzuki if that is the route you choose to go. They are both very good motorcycles... but 1500$ MORE for a honda??? sounds like a no-brainer to me.

[AndrewN]

Too many god damn GSXR's out there, some one needs to step up and get honda's back in the popularity race , and that someone is you !! :-) All the stuff they said about parts and stuff is true, but I'm a big fan of Honda's, especially the new '07. I also sat on it at the show months back (that white one) and thought it felt aswesome. I'm a guy that believes all the hype, and i think most people get GSXR's now because everyone has em and talks them up so much...i'm not saying there bad (all those bad ass riders can't be wrong who ride them - but who knows if they ever gave honda a chance! I want to see more hondas on the track ! :-)

[Hypnotiq]

Gixxer :) Plenty of parts. :D

[Mr Sunshine]

You meet the nicest people on a Honda....because they have no idea how much of a PITA it is work on them.

[Moto]

Too many god damn GSXR's out there, some one needs to step up and get honda's back in the popularity race , and that someone is you !! :-) All the stuff they said about parts and stuff is true, but I'm a big fan of Honda's, especially the new '07. I also sat on it at the show months back (that white one) and thought it felt aswesome. I'm a guy that believes all the hype, and i think most people get GSXR's now because everyone has em and talks them up so much...i'm not saying there bad (all those bad ass riders can't be wrong who ride them - but who knows if they ever gave honda a chance! I want to see more hondas on the track ! :-)

you'd see a lot more Hondas if Honda cared about their contingency for these areas.

other regional series where they pay better people use the Hondas - so...who's the head of contingency for WMRRA?..ya' need to crack the whip on him (her)!

[Mr Sunshine]

you'd see a lot more Hondas if Honda cared about their contingency for these areas.

other regional series where they pay better people use the Hondas - so...who's the head of contingency for WMRRA?..ya' need to crack the whip on him (her)!

That would be Jeff Weiand...you know the Race Director. I DARE you to go crack a whip on him....I'll bring the video camera so we can get it in the next Jackass movie or America's Funniest Video (so I can make $10k and pay for my racing)

[geddyt]

No need to try getting me a deal at Mt. Baker. They've never done shit for me in the past. Plus I found a dealer back east that's selling them for $7500 out the door. Even after shipping, nobody around here will come close to that.

I think you guys are right, if just for the cost alone, I think I'll go with the Gixxer. Maybe in a few years I'll just trade it in on a Honda once the results are in. Maybe the mid-model refresh will make it worth it. And maybe halfway through the summer when the sales haven't quite gone to plan and the price drops dramatically (a la R6...), I'll reconsider.

[jwinn76]

Suzuki Hands Down!!! :d

[AndrewN]

No need to try getting me a deal at Mt. Baker. They've never done shit for me in the past. Plus I found a dealer back east that's selling them for $7500 out the door. Even after shipping, nobody around here will come close to that.

I think you guys are right, if just for the cost alone, I think I'll go with the Gixxer. Maybe in a few years I'll just trade it in on a Honda once the results are in. Maybe the mid-model refresh will make it worth it. And maybe halfway through the summer when the sales haven't quite gone to plan and the price drops dramatically (a la R6...), I'll reconsider.

booo !!! sell out !!! :-)

[geddyt]

Don't worry, Andrew, I'm still a LITTLE on the fence. We'll see. I found a deal for the Honda for $8300 out the door. Once you negate the price of a steering damper, which the Honda doesn't need, you're only talking about a $400 price difference. I'm still talking it over with people and shuffling my feet before pulling the trigger. I, too, hate seeing an all-Suzuki/Yamaha grid.

[piper907]

The Suzuki doesn't need a new steering damper either, other than the one that is already on it. For street riding, I doubt you will need anything other than the stock one.... And when you convert it to the track, just send the stock damper to Barry (GPNorth) and he can put thicker oil in it for a very reasonable price. It really stiffens the stock unit up and would work GREAT for a 600cc racebike... we'll see, I may even have him do it to my Ohlins damper.

[Moto]

The Suzuki doesn't need a new steering damper either, other than the one that is already on it. For street riding, I doubt you will need anything other than the stock one.... And when you convert it to the track, just send the stock damper to Barry (GPNorth) and he can put thicker oil in it for a very reasonable price. It really stiffens the stock unit up and would work GREAT for a 600cc racebike... we'll see, I may even have him do it to my Ohlins damper.

no...it really does need one lol. the OEM damper is a piece of crap. thicker oil is ok i suppose. i've done it. however, it's not adjustable. different chassis setting etc require a different damper setting.

the HESD of the Honda does all of that on it's own. have you ridden a Honda with the HESD?..they work and they work well.

[piper907]

I have ridden one on the street.... But not in any situation to be able to feel the HESD or its effects. I have noticed that the new GSXR 1000s also have the electrically controlled damper...
It's good to hear that it works well. It must, since it seems to be catching on with other manufacturers... I guess I am still sceptical of hooking something electrical up to any device that controls my ability to steer.

having an adjustable steering damper is really nice, but I seem to find a spot that I like and leave it there unless it starts to fade. The only reason I used the adjustment on my Scotts last year was to stiffen it back up as the oil degraded. If I was taking my bike from the track to the street and back again I could see more of a benifit. I guess its just a personal preference thing.

[geddyt]

I have a 1000RR for the street and that's the old style HESD, but I still LOVE it! I ran that bike for my first two (well, one and a half) track days and it worked plenty well at the track, yet I never even notice it there on the street (what you want, I guess). Apparently it's no good for racing because it's so heavy, but the new one is half the weight or something like that and racers are actually keeping that thing on because it works so well.

[228antone]

I just purchased a 07 cbr 1000 for this race season, ill tell you parts were not hard to find, taking it to GP suspension north was not a big deal for them, in fact barry was stolked to work on a different bike brand,,,,the stabilizer is sweet and yes its as light as any after market, parts may not be as plentyful at the track when i have a far and few between accident ;) but they are all over the net so im just doubling up now,,i think everybike out there is kickass in its own way just wanted to go with a honda,,there contingency is also not to shabby either, there getting there butts in gear in that area as well as motocross,,gixxer is a great bike, honda's a great bike as well as everyother bike out there pretty much,,just wanted to race something different,,,,and how does everyone have so much time to talk on here, i need ur jobs!! tone

[Moto]

I guess I am still sceptical of hooking something electrical up to any device that controls my ability to steer.

why? it's nothing "new." they've been doing it in GP for some time...

it probably won't break. if it does, you'll be going too fast to feel anything :D

[piper907]

Antone... I looking forward to seeing this new bike of yours! I have been hearing about it from you for almost 6 months now... I'm sure it's gonna be sweet. Remember to buy yourself some spare clip-ons homie;)

[geddyt]

Well I decided to go with the 600RR for the simple reason that if nobody buys one, how will we ever KNOW if it'll stomp the R6s and Gixxers out there? But now I'm discouraged. After getting my loan approved and whatnot, I'm finding that no dealer in this state is willing to work with me on price. And here's a good one:

Yeah, shipping is only $400, will take about five days to get to Seattle, and will be fully insured. Your bike will carry the full factory warranty, so don't believe the crap the local dealer is telling you [*caugh*Smokey Point Cycle Barn*caugh*]. Oh, and it's $8500 out the door after doc fees [$1028 lower than the LOWEST price I could get from a NW dealer]. Wait... What's that?... Oh... My partner here just reminded me that we're not allowed to ship Hondas. Yeah, we can sell you any other bike over the phone, but you have to purchase a Honda in person. Smaller out of state dealers complained to Honda that we were undercutting them so often and Honda sided with the dealers and will pull our franchise license if we ship out any more Hondas without an in-person transaction... You still thinking about that Gixxer? $7600 out the door and we can do the deal over the phone and mail?...

Are you SHITTING ME!?

*Commences nasty letter to American Honda*

So now I can either settle for getting bent over locally, catching a flight to Ohio to sign paperwork, or saving about $1200 and buying a Gixxer like everyone else. Man, we might as well just have a spec bike series here before long...

[Mr Sunshine]

Well I decided to go with the 600RR for the simple reason that if nobody buys one, how will we ever KNOW if it'll stomp the R6s and Gixxers out there? But now I'm discouraged. After getting my loan approved and whatnot, I'm finding that no dealer in this state is willing to work with me on price. And here's a good one:





*Commences nasty letter to American Honda*

So now I can either settle for getting bent over locally, catching a flight to Ohio to sign paperwork, or saving about $1200 and buying a Gixxer like everyone else. Man, we might as well just have a spec bike series here before long...


Ask him not to ship it. Then contact a local shipping company that is willing to go to the dealership and pick it up for you. :)

[geddyt]

It's not the shipping that's the problem. It's the signing of the paperwork. I have to "take delivery of the vehicle in person." I even ran this one by him: "Okay, so what if I retain a local Toledo attorney? Give him power of attorney to act on my behalf? Pay him for an hour of his time, which should be plenty of time for him to go down there and sign all of the paperwork on my behalf and get the ball rolling? From a legal standpoint, how could Honda prevent that?"

He says, "Uh... you know? That's a pretty good idea! Lemme run it by my boss."

I'm on hold for five minutes while he tells his boss, who also thinks it's a good idea so HE calls Honda. Who doesn't like the idea at all. So there's just no dice. No way to do it unless I'm--even if just for one minute--physically there, apparently.

I even asked him, "Okay, so not to be dishonest or anything [which was a totally dishonest way to start the question...], but how would Honda know if I were there or not?"

He replied that there really wouldn't be a way, but because the stakes are so high, they just aren't willing to risk it.

But, like I said, I'm not done fighting this yet.

[geddyt]

Called American Honda customer feedback line asking for the email address of somebody involved in this decision by the company so I can send in a letter of complaint. They wouldn't give it to me. All they permitted me to do was complain to the customer service phone jockey who fed me a bullsh*t line that, "That policy is put in place to protect the customer" and said my complaint would be filed. So dead end there. Good times.

[Mr Sunshine]

Well Geddy have fun on the Suzuki!

[Moto]

hmm...i don't understand what you're so upset about. it's a new bike - it's a great bike. it's $1200 more. so what - big deal. you can't sit there and tell me that you haven't wasted at least $1200 last season. you're apperently financing it so it's not an upfront cost out of you pocket - you won't notice the $1200 'till a few years when it's compounded with interest etc anyways.

just buy it, be happy, and don't be like everybody else.

[Steve]

Buy the Gixxer for $7600 OTD and call it good.

[CBRmania]

$1200 is a lot of race goodies and you will need close to $1200 to get it track ready. Call it a day and you will be happy with your purchase.

[geddyt]

hmm...i don't understand what you're so upset about. it's a new bike - it's a great bike. it's $1200 more. so what - big deal. you can't sit there and tell me that you haven't wasted at least $1200 last season. you're apperently financing it so it's not an upfront cost out of you pocket - you won't notice the $1200 'till a few years when it's compounded with interest etc anyways.

just buy it, be happy, and don't be like everybody else.

I'm not upset that no local dealer will cut a deal. That's fine, they're out to make money (although it would have been nice had the RMC sales manager not "laughed at [my] offer and said, 'Tell him have fun getting anyone to do THAT for him!'"). What upsets me is that I don't have the option, then, of going to a dealer that will. Seems to me that American Honda is not only supporting local price fixing and anti-competitive business practices (as also suggested by two separate dealers back east), but also really dropping the ball in spreading their brand name on the west coast. I explained that to the customer service guy at American Honda (who apparently had a direct line to "The Man" in charge and was writing down what I was saying), but I don't think anybody was getting the picture. I explained to him that it would be stupid of me to cry over nobody wanting to give me a bike for free, and so that wasn't what I was trying to do. Honda has the right to price their bike however they want, no matter how much of I ripoff I personally think it is, and dealers have a right to ask that much. Especially on a new bike that is selling like hot cakes at MSRP. Everything's understood there. But shouldn't a consumer have the right to say, "Okay, then I'll go next door where they're selling it for less"? And furthermore, wouldn't it make sense from Honda's standpoint to allow this for the purpose of making the sale in the face of extremely stiff competition that WILL let you shop around? (In fact, I've never heard of ANY car/boat/motorcycle/etc. company forcing in-person delivery until now.) My logic was very simple: Would Honda rather I buy an out of state bike or not buy one of their bikes at all? Because by being the only company with that rule, they're almost forcing my hand.

Believe me, I DO want to have something different than what every other guy on the grid is running, which is why I'm working so hard on resolving this. But I'm not just going to light a thousand dollars (the difference between buying there--INCLUDING shipping--and buying here) on fire without a fight. I've hit a dead end with Honda, so I've spent quite a bit of time shopping for cheaper shippers and cheap flights to see if I can still make it work. I'm also still planning on meeting with Everett Powersports on Tuesday who said they could come "really close", whatever that means.

When all that's exhausted, conformity it is. I mean, hell, if it's $1700 difference between Honda and Suzuki, I can rent umbrella girls for the whole season with that! Ones that aren't from Whatcom/Skagit county, even!

In the end, I'll be happy either way. I mean, new bikes are cool! I'm just trying to get the best one at the best price without feeling like I made a mistake or regretting it later. I mean, racing's expensive; I NEED that extra cash!

[pscook]

Maybe you should look at a Triumph 675. I would think that the dealers around here should be willing to deal, plus you don't see that many around here. That would be much different.

[Moto]

$1200 is a lot of race goodies and you will need close to $1200 to get it track ready. Call it a day and you will be happy with your purchase.

$1200 may have been enough back in 1963 lol.

[Moto]

Especially on a new bike that is selling like hot cakes at MSRP.

you said it right there. they don't have to. the bike does it for them. that says something about the bike.

I can rent umbrella girls for the whole season with that! Ones that aren't from Whatcom/Skagit county, even!

hmm...i don't find that likely since i'm actually friends with umbrella girls, but, ok. if you can, send them my way and i'll get them in touch with an agency that pays them properly.

I NEED that extra cash!

sure, we all do. you can't get upset with Honda because their dealers aren't wanting to cut eachothers throats. there's a reason that they don't allow you to take written quotes out the door...

as mentioned, there's always the Triumph - that's a pretty neat bike.

[geddyt]

I was just joking with the umbrella girls. I would have no idea what that would cost!
As for the Triumph, the only problem is that for a year or two this will be my girlfriend's street ride and that thing has the tallest seat ever. I love 'em, though! If it were just me, I'd consider going that way.

[piper907]

675... now THERE is an IDEA!
I bet Howard would work with you in a heartbeat If he knew you were going to race it. Not many of those around either, My friend Jason has one and they are SWEET! (I got to blast down chuckanut once:)
It seems they are quite competitive in a few classes as well.
I hadn't even thought of that, but I would look into it if I were you.

Tell you what, If I had the $$$ for another bike... THAT would be the one...

[geddyt]

Yeah, Jason brought that over right after he bought it so I could drool over it. Such an awesome bike and, strangely, I love the yellow. We went for a blast down Chuckanut as well, but he had JUST bought it, so I didn't want to ask him if I could try it out. Last I heard he had some idiot back into it while it was parked at work or something and he was finding it impossible to get replacement fairings, although that was late last summer and I imagine he's gotten it fixed by now.

Like I said, though, that bike is just way too tall for my girlfriend. Hell, it's almost way too tall for me! And she'll be the one riding it at first.

[piper907]

Lowering a bike a bit is usually not a big deal... especially if it is going to be a "street" bike while it is lowered where swingarm angle is not a big factor.

[Moto]

As for the Triumph, the only problem is that for a year or two this will be my girlfriend's street ride and that thing has the tallest seat ever.

hmm...seems you need to have a look at your priorities :p

[geddyt]

hmm...seems you need to have a look at your priorities :p

I deserved that...

[Metric Racer]

I say go Honda, they don't break down like suzuki's so don't worry about parts hahah. Levers, rear sets, fairing u can always get that. Plus new CBR600RR has most factory HP and lightest.

[geddyt]

Yeah, I'm happy to say I finally pulled the trigger and picked up the Honda. I'm even HAPPIER that I didn't have to fly to Ohio or Tennessee to do it!

Everett Powersports hooked me up with a deal that's as good as any I've heard of on the west coast (although still NOTHING like what they get in the midwest!) and treated me great. They met my price over the phone so I wouldn't waste an afternoon's worth of driving (unlike other dealers), and they didn't get me there and then jerk me around like one dealer in particular. If you live in that area, I totally recommend checking them out. Even the parts and gear people were way cool.

Overall, my dealer experiences with this whole adventure were as follows (in order of proximity to me and on a shitty to ten scale):

Al's Honda: 0 (they're so shitty I didn't even call them and give them a chance)
Smokey Point Cycle Barn: 1 (for sure the shadiest experience and most time wasted)
Everett Powersports: 10 (again, these guys rock! Met my price, showed me REAL numbers on the invoice, quoted over the phone to save me a drive, and BS'd with me for a bit while signing the paperwork about the back section at SRP)
RMC: 2 (salesdude was pretty cool, but sales manager laughed at me and told me "Good luck finding anyone to do THAT," which, hillariously, I DID a week later at Everett Powersports)
Hinshaw's Honda: 8 (couldn't meet my price, but was at least way cool and honest about it and told me he'd hate for me to drive all the way down there if he couldn't do it)

Now, I was too stupid to take pics while it was actually out of my van and in the sunlight, so all of my pics suck because it's crammed into its little house with all of my other bikes (people are going to start mistaking my mother-in-law apartment for a Honda dealer...), but here they are anyway:

http://procrasti-nation.net/media/newsixhundie/1small.jpg
http://procrasti-nation.net/media/newsixhundie/2small.jpg
http://procrasti-nation.net/media/newsixhundie/3small.jpg
http://procrasti-nation.net/media/newsixhundie/4small.jpg