Acceptable price for a sports bike and differences between them?

油井緋色

油井緋色

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I'm asking this now as I am planning to get one within the year. I've noticed on Kijiji that most 600s, and 1000s are averaged at ~$9000 with mods (looking at models 2006 or newer). It has been kinda hard to find one stock. I have also, however, seen a few ads here for as low as 5000 for something post 2006. What is an actual reasonable price? Perfect cosmetic condition, no mods, less than 24,000 km? Also, is it really that bad of an idea to buy a street legal bike that has been tracked with?

Now for the harder question, what exactly defines the difference between the following bikes:

CBR600RR
CBR1000RR

ZX-6R
ZX-10R

GSXR600
GSXR750
GSXR1000

I am not considering R6s or R1s because I see them all over the place. I understand the obvious differences between the 600 and 1000s, but what makes each brand unique and why did you get yours?

Thanks! (I am not trying to start a brand war btw lol)

EDIT: And how many of you would buy new if you had the money, and why?
 
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Look harder. Ive gotten all my 2007 600's for under $7000. If you can wait til fall it's even cheaper.

I've owned zx6r, gsxr600 and now cbr 600 and the Honda quality is best of all three. Also happy with the mid range this bike has. Missing the slipper clutch and gear indicator tho.
 
daisoman said:
Look harder. Ive gotten all my 2007 600's for under $7000. If you can wait til fall it's even cheaper.

I've owned zx6r, gsxr600 and now cbr 600 and the Honda quality is best of all three. Also happy with the mid range this bike has. Missing the slipper clutch and gear indicator tho.
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That is what I have heard from mechanics as well, what do you mean by quality or is it simply "**** doesn't fall apart?"

And yes, I will 99% wait until November to January to purchase.
 
I picked up my GSXR600, 07 for $6k with slight discount. Bone stock except for paint job/sliders but 30k on it.

I had no real reason other than I liked the look of the GSXR, it just seemed more "me" (and no i'm not a squid!)

I would say $6500 is the average price, i've seen some nice 600s with some mods about that price. I wouldn't consider any 600 over 7k but that's just my threshold.
 
Kawi got slipper clutch after 06 and best midrange in the 600's
Suzuki is the only one with a 750 SS
Honda is a bit more expensive but considered to be of slightly higher build quality

Looks wise

Kawi generally has solid colour schemes whereas the others got funky graphics if thats your thing...
Suzuki has some ugly cyclops eye syndrome in some model years particularly the current gen
 
LoneRonin said:
Kawi got slipper clutch after 06 and best midrange in the 600's
Suzuki is the only one with a 750 SS
Honda is a bit more expensive but considered to be of slightly higher build quality

Looks wise

Kawi generally has solid colour schemes whereas the others got funky graphics if thats your thing...
Suzuki has some ugly cyclops eye syndrome in some model years particularly the current gen
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I actualy like the cyclops eye thing man lol, at least your bike isn't constantly winking at night then.
 
Little things like switches, tabs, welds and how every fairing peice is painted and clear coated.

Also the Gsxr and cbr are more comfortable and lower seat height then the Kawi. R6 being the tallest and most uncomfortable of the big 4
 
daisoman said:
Little things like switches, tabs, welds and how every fairing peice is painted and clear coated.

Also the Gsxr and cbr are more comfortable and lower seat height then the Kawi. R6 being the tallest and most uncomfortable of the big 4
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Which brand is more known for big problems? (engine related, the expensive stuff). I also plan to eventually get onto the track with the same bike, so I suppose performance and handling will be a small factor then (I'm not a skilled enough rider to fully utilize any sport bike obviously))
 
Honestly, they're all good bikes. None of them have huge failure rates for engines or anything else. Most people buy their sportbikes on emotion..they like how it looks. That's as good a reason as any frankly. All those bikes are fast and do the job they were built for very well. Try the seating position and see what's comfortable for you. I liked the R6S frankly..good, fairly comfortable seating position, stupid fast on the track..overshadowed by it's newer, faster, more uncomfortable successor. Don't rule it out just because there are "a lot out there". Litre bikes are nice on the street with a passenger simply because they have more torque available at a lower RPM and they're not as frantic to ride quickly. On the track, you won't ride a 600 at its limit for years so it's not like you'll get bored or something ridiculous like that as some people claim.

You can get good deals for new bikes in the fall..even now Honda has 2011 CBR600RR's for $3k off..that's $10,500 or so I think. If you buy the right used bike, I have no problems buying used.
 
invictus43 said:
Honestly, they're all good bikes. None of them have huge failure rates for engines or anything else. Most people buy their sportbikes on emotion..they like how it looks. That's as good a reason as any frankly. All those bikes are fast and do the job they were built for very well. Try the seating position and see what's comfortable for you. I liked the R6S frankly..good, fairly comfortable seating position, stupid fast on the track..overshadowed by it's newer, faster, more uncomfortable successor. Don't rule it out just because there are "a lot out there". Litre bikes are nice on the street with a passenger simply because they have more torque available at a lower RPM and they're not as frantic to ride quickly. On the track, you won't ride a 600 at its limit for years so it's not like you'll get bored or something ridiculous like that as some people claim.

You can get good deals for new bikes in the fall..even now Honda has 2011 CBR600RR's for $3k off..that's $10,500 or so I think. If you buy the right used bike, I have no problems buying used.
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Yeah I really need to get out for more demos. I've only been on the GSXR-750. Since my current bike is also a Suzuki, I have a slight bias towards them. Plus, surprisingly enough, I see a lot more R6, R1 and RRs than the ZXRs or GSXRs.
 
I recently bought a used CBR600RR.
The reasons why I went with the CBR:
1. I liked the look and design of it the most.
2. I talked to a lot of people about comfort and the CBR seemed to get the least complaining.
3. Quality of the product/manufacturing is high.

Pricing for the CBR was definitely higher than the rest.
From what I noticed was that the CBR was the most expensive followed by the R6, then the ZX-6R and the GSXR was the cheapest in the used market circuit.
I kept a spreadsheet of all the prices I found on the net for the CBR. (Autotrade, Kijiji, GTAM, Craigslist)

Once I knew an approximate "Upper Limit" for the bike I wanted (but under the initial budget I had for a bike), I found the colour I liked and started sending out messages on the various sites. Found one which fullfilled my needs and I made the deal.

So I would suggest you start with a HARD budget, then find the design you like the most (because all the bikes really perform similarly), do some pricing research and make the decision!
 
LOL @ the stiff prices you guys paid for your bikes, I got mine for $3,000 flat in mint condition, a 750cc sport-tourer that looks like a supersports basically, and goes as fast if you give it 3 extra seconds.
 
Pegassus said:
LOL @ the stiff prices you guys paid for your bikes, I got mine for $3,000 flat in mint condition, a 750cc sport-tourer that looks like a supersports basically, and goes as fast if you give it 3 extra seconds.
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What year is your bike again?
 
TheNewDude said:
I recently bought a used CBR600RR.
The reasons why I went with the CBR:
1. I liked the look and design of it the most.
2. I talked to a lot of people about comfort and the CBR seemed to get the least complaining.
3. Quality of the product/manufacturing is high.

Pricing for the CBR was definitely higher than the rest.
From what I noticed was that the CBR was the most expensive followed by the R6, then the ZX-6R and the GSXR was the cheapest in the used market circuit.
I kept a spreadsheet of all the prices I found on the net for the CBR. (Autotrade, Kijiji, GTAM, Craigslist)

Once I knew an approximate "Upper Limit" for the bike I wanted (but under the initial budget I had for a bike), I found the colour I liked and started sending out messages on the various sites. Found one which fullfilled my needs and I made the deal.

So I would suggest you start with a HARD budget, then find the design you like the most (because all the bikes really perform similarly), do some pricing research and make the decision!
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Thanks. I was originally leaning towards the RRs until I demoed the 750. Perhaps I need to get on one (probably soon before the demos end) to make a decision.
Funny how I never hear anything about the ZX-6R but the 250 is so damn popular.

And @ Pegassus; I'll let someone else flame you because 3 seconds is the difference between a supercar and a sportscar. Same can be said for motorcycles. Also, looks have no play in why sportbikes are sportbikes, it's the fact that the bike is designed to be raced with: I'm not looking for a bike to only commute on.
 
Wouldn't it be easier to just do some research as to the little differences between the bikes, rather then asking to be spoon fed? You'd think someone actually interested in the hobby would enjoy reading the plethora of magazine reviews that you can find online for free about every SS bike usually on their own, and in a shoot out.

Come back when you have some actual questions.
 
FriendlyFoe said:
Wouldn't it be easier to just do some research as to the little differences between the bikes, rather then asking to be spoon fed? You'd think someone actually interested in the hobby would enjoy reading the plethora of magazine reviews that you can find online for free about every SS bike usually on their own, and in a shoot out.

Come back when you have some actual questions.
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Meh..it's a motorcycle forum..there are enough inane, useless discussions on here that a thread about people's opinions might actual be a relief..
 
invictus43 said:
Meh..it's a motorcycle forum..there are enough inane, useless discussions on here that a thread about people's opinions might actual be a relief..
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Japanese bikes have no souls.
 
invictus43 said:
Meh..it's a motorcycle forum..there are enough inane, useless discussions on here that a thread about people's opinions might actual be a relief..
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The discussions are great when people want to show up with specific questions. Just blows my mind that someone would pick up something as a hobby but not be interested in learning about it when there is an endless amount of free information out there.

Not hard to figure out the differences between brands by reading a shoot out, and then coming back with questions about if something really makes that big of a difference, or why is it that XXX characteristic is claimed to make it a better road bike, etc.
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