Finally, I got my bike. a beutyfull Honda CBR 600RR. I have always wanted a bike but figured it wasn't practical, or I didn't have the money or something always got in the way. Finally, yesterday i went for it and got it.

It's absolutley perfect. Balance, power, OMG and I thoght the RX was fast, this thing is just stupid fast. I'm not riding the hell out of it thogh, I'm not that eager to die :-) and I still have to get more comfortable in it. but damn, I twisted the throtle a couple of times, not all the way mind you, and the pull is just mind bogling.


Anyway, I am verry verry verry happy with my purchase and wanted to share the news!

Congratulations. This thread is worthless without pics!!! It specifically stated that pictures are in this thread. You must be still overwhelmed by the sheer acceleration of your new CBR. LOL :mdrmed:

Welcome to the Honda family. I own a Superhawk 996 (if you're new that's a V-twin to your inline 4). I advise you to get lessons or talk to someone about how to ride a sports bike. And race it on a track. 9/10 sportbike owners have no clue what their bike is capable of or how to handle it because you simply cannot realize it's potential on a street. When you commit such experience to instictive memory you are much safer in the real world when things get scary (its not if, its when). Not trying to sound patronizing, just trying to be helpful, coming from a guy who's saved his own ass a couple times.

And if you look at the specs, you are now faster than anything on 4 wheels that is insurable, so yes, you are correct! Have fun and try not to forget your now powerless (by comparison) RX-8!!! :)

Here are the pictures :-)
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/11/web/2459000-2459999/2459852_1_full.jpg
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/11/web/2459000-2459999/2459852_2_full.jpg
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/11/web/2459000-2459999/2459852_3_full.jpg

Hey , I still LOVE the 8. And the fact that I now own 2 of the highest reving production engines is prety cool.

flomulgator: You are right, I will definitiveley take lessons. i did the same with my 8 and I am verry pro going to the track to learn your machines potential.

I just have to get a little more experience on it on the street so I can take better advantage of the lessons on the track (correct me if i'm wrong I know it sounds a little backwards) but, If I am still stalling it sometimes when releasing the clutch, I will waste time on the lessons learning this when I should be learning, emergency breaking, handeling, wheight shifting ect.

Goodluck not killing yourself. Starting with a bike like that is just asking for trouble.

Ike and his always POSITIVE coments :-)
No I don't ask for trouble, i just get it and then deal with it. Kidding.

I do know how to ride, just I dont have much experience with sport bikes. Anyway I am aware that it is TOO MUCH bike for me right now, just like the RX8 was too much car for me when I started with it. Dont get me wrong, I did know how to drive before the 8, I just hadn't done a PERFORMANCE driving school. And it DOES make diference, so for the bike I'm taking the same aproach. Learn how to properly drive it on the street, and THEN learn how to race it on a track with instructors and people that can actually tell me how not to kill myself.

Ike and his always POSITIVE coments :-)
No I don't ask for trouble, i just get it and then deal with it. Kidding.

I do know how to ride, just I dont have much experience with sport bikes. Anyway I am aware that it is TOO MUCH bike for me right now, just like the RX8 was too much car for me when I started with it. Dont get me wrong, I did know how to drive before the 8, I just hadn't done a PERFORMANCE driving school. And it DOES make diference, so for the bike I'm taking the same aproach. Learn how to properly drive it on the street, and THEN learn how to race it on a track with instructors and people that can actually tell me how not to kill myself.

Did you have to take a safety class in order to get your license? If not, do so before doing anything track related. I can guarantee you that you have some bad habits and will develop more if you haven't taken one yet. Not trying to be a dick, just be careful.

I know (the dick part).


Sadly in Puerto Rico you regular drivers licence works for both bikes and cars, so if you have a licence, you can go and kill yourself in a bike and not be the wiser. There is a safety course they ofer in the naval base. I havent taken it yet but will taket ASAP. It has always been on my priority list of things to do.

And yes, IKE, I have been around here long enogh to know that you ARE a dick so why front? :-)

realy, you are keeping it real and I apreciate it. thare are too many people out there that go out and buy powerfull cars and bikes without knowing how to properly drive them and end up hurting themselves and others.
Luckily I am aware that i dont know everything there is to know about riding, and am willing to learn so mabe that counts for something in terms of keeping me safe. Only time will tell.

Anyway Ill keep you posted.

I know (the dick part).


Sadly in Puerto Rico you regular drivers licence works for both bikes and cars, so if you have a licence, you can go and kill yourself in a bike and not be the wiser. There is a safety course they ofer in the naval base. I havent taken it yet but will taket ASAP. It has always been on my priority list of things to do.

And yes, IKE, I have been around here long enogh to know that you ARE a dick so why front? :-)

realy, you are keeping it real and I apreciate it. thare are too many people out there that go out and buy powerfull cars and bikes without knowing how to properly drive them and end up hurting themselves and others.
Luckily I am aware that i dont know everything there is to know about riding, and am willing to learn so mabe that counts for something in terms of keeping me safe. Only time will tell.

Anyway Ill keep you posted.

I ain't frontin foo!

Someimes I try to be a dick, this time around I wasn't trying ;) :cwm27:

Congrats on the bike. I'm jealous. Very. Be careful. It would be nice to have a red bike to go with my VR 8.

p.s: what rims are on your 8?

ikes just lookin out, sometimes it may come out wrong but he's just being real.

hot shit! I like the matching colors.....but know you'll have to get black wheels for your 8 to complete the match!

Ike is right, but I was being specific about the sport bike thing. There are particulars to riding a sport bike that they will teach you wrong in beginner class because classes are set up for cruisers or "sport"-touring. For example (FREE LESSON!). In moto class they will teach you to use both brakes evenly. NEVER EVER EVER use the rear brake!!! At least not for the first couple years! A sport bike is weighted in a way that takes all pressure off the rear tire under braking, and using the rear brake in this condition will garauntee a rear tire skid. Add turning and you get to experience your first lowside wipeout. Many race bikes don't even have a rear brake on them. That being said, there is street value to class. Naval bases are especially good about this (because a lot of enlistee's blow their enlistment bonus on a bike and never make it to basic.) So you are in a good situatjion.

And Ike likes putting chevy motors in his RX's so I'd be suspicous of him :buttslay:

Ike doesn't have an RX -_-

congrats,

my helpful tips on bikes...i spent years dirt riding... as i think everyone should before they go to the street.... gives you the basics.

if you dont have that get yourself to a safety training something. to start... track time is helpful for control, but so is riding in dirt... it is the street part that is hard....

my first street bike was a 83 interceptor.... the 3rd in tx.... i now ride a 02 zuke vstrom. i guess i have about 200k miles on the street in between......

street riding is like a video game.... the game is they are all trying to kill you.... if you look at it like that you have a chance...

be aware of everything around you!!!

hope this helps..

beers :beer:

congrats,

my helpful tips on bikes...i spent years dirt riding... as i think everyone should before they go to the street.... gives you the basics.

if you dont have that get yourself to a safety training something. to start... track time is helpful for control, but so is riding in dirt... it is the street part that is hard....

my first street bike was a 83 interceptor.... the 3rd in tx.... i now ride a 02 zuke vstrom. i guess i have about 200k miles on the street in between......

street riding is like a video game.... the game is they are all trying to kill you.... if you look at it like that you have a chance...

be aware of everything around you!!!

hope this helps..

beers :beer:

To add on this... Think of yourself as being invisible to everyone else on the road. I lost and friend of 15 years last summer who also happened to be my best friend's wife, who also happened to be a close friend's sister. I have a VERY close group of friends and it has been a rough year since...

Swoope, how does dirt riding help? (asides from the fact that motard flat-trackers could make it around the very tight and slow race track I practiced on faster than I could on my big heavy v-twin, or anyone else for that matter.)

Swoope, how does dirt riding help? (asides from the fact that motard flat-trackers could make it around the very tight and slow race track I practiced on faster than I could on my big heavy v-twin, or anyone else for that matter.)

Teaches you a ton about balance, control, and how to react quickly to surprising changes in conditions.

Swoope, how does dirt riding help? (asides from the fact that motard flat-trackers could make it around the very tight and slow race track I practiced on faster than I could on my big heavy v-twin, or anyone else for that matter.)

you understand braking, steering, the fact that the front brake has the power. sliding.

if you ride dirt. you have the basics stuck in your head.... if something happens on the street. you dont panic and just lock the rear brake...

just my opionion i could be wrong...

beers :beer:

Nice bike oreo.

l get the urge to 2-wheel it when I watch movies like "Easy Rider" and see ads for Buells and Indians and Yamahas in my CarandDriver. I think I'd be a damn fool to ever ride here in Orange County, though, just too dangerous.

Maybe years down the road when I move to Maui I'll get a nice bike and have some fun.

I think you learn all these things on the dirt they would certainly help but they are things that don't seem exclusive to learning in the dirt arena. Perhaps what you are getting at is that it is a safer place to screw up while learning than in rush hour traffic? That I could most certainly get behind :)

And Blue, if Ze Terminator can get taken out by a soccer mom in the OC, your prudence is probably justified :yesnod:

hehe, thanks guys.

As for the Rims on my 8, they are Indy performance wheels (a knock of of the konig unknown wheels) 17" so they are lighter and I can go to the local race track and get used race tires for cheap :-).
url for the wheels: http://www.konigwheels.com/catalog_product_details.cfm?CategoryID=1&ss_id=373

Thanks for the input and keep the coments coming.

Ike: I'm verry sorry for your loss man.

Great bike, fellow Honda owner here (Fireblade).

If you go to a track, don't take your new bike, use a school bike, why chance it. Come up to Shannonville here in Ontario, a school will cost you just $500 a day with your choice of a new model year R6, GSXR6, or SV650s. Top AMA guys used this school, i.e. Miguel Duhamel. Been there four times, can't go wrong. The lead intructor is Michel Mercier, former superbike champ, first class guy. Once you do this, then do the track days, you won't believe what that thing is capable of.

As for the rear brake chat here, ALL proper racebikes have a rear brake, and while its use on a track is not for amateurs, it can be used in specific racing situations.

And the warnings about killing yourself, with all due respect to those who lost, we are all more likely to know people who died in a car accident than anybody on a bike. Be careful, but don't be afraid.

numbers guy, I had been told that but haven't seen any proper race bikes up close and personal.....didn't know. So now I am trying to envision racing situations that would involve rear brake (trail braking, pre-turn deceleration....) and am not coming up w/ much. The only thing I could imagine is very high speed straight line gradual deceleration, where it won't upset the balance but comes on a lot "lighter" than the massive front discs. ???? maybe kick the rear end out on purpose? My racing experience definitely falls under "amateur."

numbers guy, I had been told that but haven't seen any proper race bikes up close and personal.....didn't know. So now I am trying to envision racing situations that would involve rear brake (trail braking, pre-turn deceleration....) and am not coming up w/ much. The only thing I could imagine is very high speed straight line gradual deceleration, where it won't upset the balance but comes on a lot "lighter" than the massive front discs. ???? maybe kick the rear end out on purpose? My racing experience definitely falls under "amateur."


I'm no pro either. But the answer is simple really, the same reasons we should use a rear brake on the street are the same reasons why a racer would use them. The key difference is that a racer needs much more skill to effectively use it. Even for the pros it is a skill that some are better at than others, some actually have converted the right rear foot lever to a thumb lever since our fingers and hands are far more sensitive than our feet in modulating pressure.

As for the reasons, some pros use the rear brake to “settle” the bike before a turn, since it tends to compress the rear suspension. This is optimal before you get hard on the front binders and shift the weight to the front. But it ain’t easy, since at that point you’re already shifting your body weight, downshifting, matching revs, progressively getting on the front binders, all while looking for the turn-in relative to the apex….at an insane rate of speed. You can screw it up in a car with little consequence, not so easily on a bike.

Racers also use the rear brake is to “back it in” – which means to feather your rear brake to induce a slight rear slide in a controlled way to tighten your line. Some also can do this with the throttle. Also, rain or brake fade conditions can have you using the rear more often as well.

Most racing schools won’t teach this, since its very advanced and they want their race bikes returned at the end of the day. :) The Freddie Spencer school does teach some rear brake technique, as Freddie was famous for being Mr. Smooth, always using the rear in every turn.

Some on these things I use on the street, i.e. in U turns or tight turns I use the rear brake to tighten my radius, or in the rain, etc. But I too avoid them on the track.

Using rears with the front will reduce stopping distances for 99.9% of all riders, since few can feel a pending lock up with the front brakes. And as you likely know, you can easily get away with locking the rear on a bike, as for the front you’ll nearly always go down. My non sport bike has ABS, something we should see on more bikes IMO.

Well, after reading this thread, I think it's time I post this video... http://videos.streetfire.net/search/motogp/0/ECB30E0F-4915-4408-B1D8-CFDC967B8311.htm
for no reason other than there are motorcycles and the theme song to top gun in it.


As well, I want to see some pictures of your house, it looks pretty cool from the garage/patio type shots

Great bike, fellow Honda owner here (Fireblade).

If you go to a track, don't take your new bike, use a school bike, why chance it. Come up to Shannonville here in Ontario, a school will cost you just $500 a day with your choice of a new model year R6, GSXR6, or SV650s. Top AMA guys used this school, i.e. Miguel Duhamel. Been there four times, can't go wrong. The lead intructor is Michel Mercier, former superbike champ, first class guy. Once you do this, then do the track days, you won't believe what that thing is capable of.

I have only ever done shannonville in a race car, but was planning to take a bike school there next spring. It's a good track to learn on in a car, it would proabably be even better on a bike. Nice to know it comes recommended.

I have only ever done shannonville in a race car, but was planning to take a bike school there next spring. It's a good track to learn on in a car, it would proabably be even better on a bike. Nice to know it comes recommended.
Nice vid Blue.

You’ll love the FAST school, they are real pros at a cost fraction of the US schools. Francis Martin was our group instructor (they group you into groups of 6-8 riders once they gauge your skill level in the morning), and he was last years Canadian Superbike Champ. I tried to push him and noticed that he was looking back, knee down, one hand on the bars, not even sweating. Humbling. :bowdown:

Shannonville has a lot of run off, safest course I know of. But if it is your first time, don’t worry cause they pace everybody, but sign up for the Fabi course rather than the Nelson. Nelson has a bumpy run-off area on grass at the end of the straight, guaranteed to throw you off. Plus, its a faster track and the pavement is more grooved by the cars…try not to drop into it at full lean. The long track or combined course is only used for phase 3, which is the prep course for racers.

9291150. Thanks for the detailed explanation. I can't quite figure how applying rear brake will compress the rear suspension though? I reviewed my experience and realized that since I am running a 1 liter V-twin, I am always running strong compression braking anytime I get off the throttle coming into a turn. I do remember the 600's having a more-difficult time settling into the lean and I could never figure out why......I had assumed that it was because my bike was about 70# heavier but this makes sense if it aids in "setting" the bike. I could see adding a minor slide to improve radius......according to "Speed Secrets" for cars at least a 5-8% lateral slip is the optimal traction point. However, I have never been bold enough to enduce such a slide on my own!

It also makes sense why I am more catious w/ my rear (after a few scary lockups!!) If I am running compression braking it will only take a minor amount of additional rear brake to lock 'er up. Whereas a bike like Oreo's 600 CBR will need more rear brake because it has none to begin with.

I've never ridden a bike w/ ABS and the idea scares me, judging by the chatter it produces in a car it seems that it would be upsetting to the balance of the bike when you need it most. Also, I would note that any bike that comes w/ ABS is not as leaned over and thus has a higher rear weight distribution, justifying more rear brake application. So I'm guessing you street ride either a Honda Interceptor or a BMW....am I right? What do your ride track?

Sorry for hijacking (kinda) your thread Oreo, your bike still rocks!!

just watched the video, it was awesome!!! Gotta love it when people are trying to squeeze that last 0.5% out of a machine. Those suspension shakes and shimmies gimme the willies though!!

9291150. Thanks for the detailed explanation. I can't quite figure how applying rear brake will compress the rear suspension though? I reviewed my experience and realized that since I am running a 1 liter V-twin, I am always running strong compression braking anytime I get off the throttle coming into a turn. I do remember the 600's having a more-difficult time settling into the lean and I could never figure out why......I had assumed that it was because my bike was about 70# heavier but this makes sense if it aids in "setting" the bike. I could see adding a minor slide to improve radius......according to "Speed Secrets" for cars at least a 5-8% lateral slip is the optimal traction point. However, I have never been bold enough to enduce such a slide on my own!

It also makes sense why I am more catious w/ my rear (after a few scary lockups!!) If I am running compression braking it will only take a minor amount of additional rear brake to lock 'er up. Whereas a bike like Oreo's 600 CBR will need more rear brake because it has none to begin with.

I've never ridden a bike w/ ABS and the idea scares me, judging by the chatter it produces in a car it seems that it would be upsetting to the balance of the bike when you need it most. Also, I would note that any bike that comes w/ ABS is not as leaned over and thus has a higher rear weight distribution, justifying more rear brake application. So I'm guessing you street ride either a Honda Interceptor or a BMW....am I right? What do your ride track?

Sorry for hijacking (kinda) your thread Oreo, your bike still rocks!!
My flat twin engine (BMW R1150 w/ABS) also has strong compression braking like your 1000cc V-twin. Without rev matching, on a downshift it’ll slip its rear all the more (without a slipper clutch), which would only be complicated by rear wheel braking on a tire that’s already slipping. Rev matching is my Everest, can’t do it consistently while two-finger’n the front brakes, thats why I don’t always rear brake on the track.

Its hard to answer your question in words, but I certainly can feel the rear suspension compressing when I just use the rear brake. That’s what keeps less weight from being transferred at the initial grab at the front levers, you’re kind of hunkering down - or settling - the whole bike rather than just the front. But don’t know if I can explain it, something to do with inertia, pulling against the center of mass, position of the moon…

As for the ABS, its a semi integral system (front lever operates both, rear operates only rear). There is no ABS chatter, just servo noise. Otherwise it feels 100% conventional, but slightly wooden. In corners, it does stand the bike up more on the brakes than my sportbike, but I think that’s more a chassis design factor than a braking issue. Keep in mind that a telelever front suspension on a BMW nearly eliminates brake dive, so a conventional telescopic fork with ABS may feel differently. Its nice though having a bike that I can take my kid/wife around without worrying about locking up the front.

My sportbike / track ride is a CBR929RR with some work. Much faster than I am, often I’m just trying to stay on it rather than applying anything that I learned.

Goodluck not killing yourself. Starting with a bike like that is just asking for trouble.


Please take a riding class.

And if you can go to the track and take the classrom instruction too.

I've been riding longer than many of you are old.

It's defensive driving.

Keep your eyes Open and alway be aware.

Learn the bike. Drive slow for the first six months.

If you do that and pass then chance of an accident are little.

Learn how to be one with the bike.

Reflexes will then become automatic and you will save your life a few times and avoid several hundred to thousands accidents.

Do not drink and ride.

I've met too many want a bees in my life, few are dead and many injured.

Not every one has the skills.

If your smart you will learn and live properous.

Avoid the city like the plague. Too many intersections.

:mdrmed:

Funny Razz, till very recently I used to live in downtown Seattle and i think the best way to get around the city is on two powered wheels, and I think people are more concientious there because they are so concerned about their own vehicle they are actually paying attention.

Very interesting about the BMW. I know next to nothing about those bikes so its interesting to hear how they work. Numbers, i think I know what you mean.....I can feel it myself I just was trying to figure out the physics. Obviously those guys in the video where using rear brake!!!

As for rev matching I often don't bother. If I am not pushing it I will rev match between full brake and lean in so I don't have the 2 finger problem.....or if I am I pushing it or its getting hairy (and in my traditional way I want no rear brake) I pull the clutch as I muscle it into a lean w/ front trail braking, coast in neutral till the apex, shift as necessary (often not on a torquey V-twin) and smoothly engage w/ power as I exit. Pro'ly not as fast but it works.

CBR 929 is a sick bike. Your statement is more proof of my original statement that you can't realize the full potential of even a 600 on the street.....if you (who sounds like you know how to race) can't even fully open up your 929 on a track.......

Score one more for Honda!! (but I'd take an MV Agust F4 if FORCED on me :) )

Nice bike.

I have only ever done shannonville in a race car, but was planning to take a bike school there next spring. It's a good track to learn on in a car, it would proabably be even better on a bike. Nice to know it comes recommended.

Twin Ring Motegi freakin' rocks! I only wish I had actually been racing instead of having to follow a pace car :boring: After the MotoGP race i went to, they let the spectators take their bikes on the track for a lap with the pace car. The surface was so smooth and so sticky... the sweepers and straights were awesome. God I need to ride again (bike's been dead for more than 2 years)...

Ebisu Circut in Fukushima Prefecture was ok... I might have enjoyed it more if I hadn't been raining earlier that day (and the whole trip up from Tokyo).

At the end of the day I will always be a car enthusiast first... but damn... there is nothing like riding a bike through the twisties. :rock:

CBR600RR... sweet bike! I thought the CBR600F4i was the shit... and then Honda came out with the RR...

Although I'm much more of a V-Twin guy. I love the torque. One day I might pickup a SV1000S.

Power and bikes... skill is a big one. A good friend who used to race 125cc 2-strokes in California has a CBR400RR street bike and a GSXR750 (I think) race bike. He's damn fast. on his 400... I can never keep up with him. He regularly takes R1, Fireblades, etc. (some of the riders do race too) in the mountains... of course he'll get killed in the straights though.

Enough with the ancedotes though... speaking from my experience with commuting in Tokyo rush hour traffic and having my share of spills (thank God no injuries though)... it's like others have said... you are invisible to cars. Ride for your life... always on the defensive. And I suggest you stay away from riding in traffic until you've got both more seat time in and some kind of riding lessons... be it a saftey course or track school. Ultimately experience is the biggest teacher with bikes... I learned this the hard way.

forget the SV1000, get a Superhawk 996 like me!! And put high mounts on it! Then, like yours truly, you will have the baddest sounding street machine on the planet. Sadly they stopped making it this year but you can get late model used at a very good price b/c it's undervalued. Of course if you really want to step up to the V-twin plate and out-race ducati's, there's always teh RC51. :)

Is the RC51 still in production in the US? That is actually what I really want. Of course a Duc 999S would be nice too... or even a 749S.

The "Superchicken"? I dunno... it's at least a Honda, but it's styling and suspension are dated. Even with high mounts... it's styling is "O - K" at best for me. Not to mention that the engine isn't even fuel injected (at least the rC51 is...).

the high mounts add power and drop weight but more than anything I love mine because they transform the note from that raspy tin common in V-twin sports to a deep, menacing burble that makes panties drop and baby jesus cry. But all the other V-twins will should do that too w/ a good system. I just mentioned my bike because it has a more "streetable" composure and posture than the ducati or RC51, aka, you can actually ride it for a couple hours. The styling is, of course, subjective. What I remember about the SV1000 is that it has somewhat similar partial fairings to the "Superchicken" and as I'm biased I prefer mine. I've heard you also get a better power curve and better ease of handling in the Honda. You are right to bitch about carbueration, it an issue if you travel over 3000' (1000m).

Of course if you are up to the challenge then of course the RC51 is the way to go.....there is no substitute that is less than $13k US in the V-Twin world. ...And therein lies the rub of the ducati, price. Yes they still sell the RC51 in the US new. Wouldn't they in Japan of all places?

Don't discount the superhawk, always a really well rated bike. I think it was overlooked since Honda had two similar sized but more potent bikes selling at the same time. I'm sure it's a better streetbike than the RC51, lighter too.

The only negative I ever heard was a poor fuel range, right flomulgator? I think I remember hearing that it had the biggest carbs. of any production bike, maybe the reason for the poor fuel consumption. But I also heard that the carburetion was flawless.

But the RC51 is a legend, world superbike champ and all. Met Ducati at their class and killed 'em.

Styling is just a matter of taste... so don't take it personally. "Superchicken" is what one girl's boyfriend that had one on SVRider.com used to call his bike.

I like the SV styling, but after two used Suzuki and both having engine issues... I am thinking that Honda or Yamaha is the only way to go.

The RC51 has pretty much never been sold in Japan... but has been available as a reverse import. Most liter and over bikes are like that and even 600's are available too. The JDM model's have power restictors... I am not positive, but I think they stopped carrying the RC51 in Japan... have to check on that.

For long rides... the RC51's position and seat will kill. But that bike with high mounts is pure sex.

That displacement issue in Japan would really peeve me off!

By the way, if you get an RC, get a 2002 and after. They started using the works frame and swingarm and other parts. A way better bike as I remember.

When the new style SV came out...mags did compros with the VTR1000, Aprilia Falco, Duc SS1000. Comments about the styling, handling and lack of FI were some of the biggest complaints.

An Aprilia RSV 1000 would be a sweet bike to also have... if you want something besides Duc.

You are right about the fuel range, that has been the rags single biggest complaint. I get about 100 mi range, obviously more if I am just going down the highway. I think I read somewhere too that it has monster carbs....I haven't ventured into the world of motorcycle repair yet (but who needs to on a Honda?) Forgot about the Aprillia which is stupid b/c my friend's husband rides a Falco, she rides the SV 650. That is a good bike too, and has distinctly different styling that is more in line w/ the duc.

Japan is so goddamn strange sometimes. You make the fastest bikes in the world but can't even use them? How did that ever come about? If you were serious about getting a hold of one there are a ton of post 2002's used for sale over here on the west coast of the US at major port cities w/ low mileage because they don't make the best daily rider (and owners cherish them). You could probably buy one on EBay and have it shipped and imported and not break retail new ($12k) price. Just a thought ;) Slap on those high mounts and you'd sure make an impression when cruising Shibuya!

One of Ducati's top 3 markets is Japan. They have all kinds of sponsored special events and stuff at MotoGP races, etc. The prices make me cry, but so does sitting on a 999R.

I don't know about the SV650, but the SV400 has great gas mileage. When I was commuting in heavy traffic, it was about 22-30km one way and I filled up about once a week.

The Falco is a good bike... I just don't care much for the styling. Now if you walk about the RSV 1000 / Mille... oh yeah... I'd be all over one of those. Definitely another good Duc alternative.

The bike licensing system is just annoying, but not such a huge deal (scooter, small bike, mid-class, large/open class). Either by makers' agreement or law (I dunno which)... they limit the output of each class of bikes... 400cc, 600cc, 1000cc, etc. Actually I think that everything bigger likea 'Busa are all reverse imports... and most people tend to buy reverse imports too. The shops that sell JDM models often advertise that they can mod the engine when you buy it to put out the same power as the reverse imports (you saw this a lot with the CBR600RR and 1000RR).

RC51's have been hard to find and I am pretty sure that Honda JDM isn't offering them anymore. But if they are still available abroad, then there are definitely going to be reverse imports. I've heard that they are rough... both riding position and power... for daily riding, but are monsters on the track.

I am not entirely sure what the reasons are for things here sometimes. They have a different way of thinking that isn't always logical (by the western definition of logic). The highways rock... rarely ever are they police patrols... usually only in areas that have lots of accidents/racing... otherwise there are just speed camera towers... which are useless on bikes since they only take a picture of your front plate and face (no plate and a helmet). So bikes riding up the Tohoku Expressway to popular bike places like Irohazaka / Tochigi just open up full throttle. Sucked being on a 400cc then... the guys on the GSXR750, Duc 748 and VTR1000 were just flying. Told me that they hit about 225km/h. Another guy I rode with sometimes had a ZX-12 and got pulled over (well he was nice and pulled over) on the Daisan Keihin doing 221km/h. He had his license revoked or suspended for several months (difference is in having to retake tests) and had to go to court... his fine was $1,200. I got busted on my way home for work once... 81km/h in a 50km/h zone... fine... $500.

Thanks Japan8 for that insight, very interesting.

About RC51 being monsters on the track...having ridden one I found that they steer very slowly and feel very heavy, not flickable, for a track bike. Their good traits are great stability once leaned over, and an ability to put the power down - a combination of a long swingarm, low torque and very even power pulses of the V-twin. They'll power straight out of turns while I'll be fighting wheelies or wheelspin on my Fireblade.

What they really are is a great foundation for a full on superbike once you get the engine fully kitted (otherwise its kinda soft) and top shelf Ohlins suspension components on it. If you don't plan on doing lots of $$ mods, I think there are far better sportbikes out there.

When the new style SV came out...mags did compros with the VTR1000, Aprilia Falco, Duc SS1000. Comments about the styling, handling and lack of FI were some of the biggest complaints.

An Aprilia RSV 1000 would be a sweet bike to also have... if you want something besides Duc.


when you make back to orlando i think you might enjoy a drive on my v strom.

beers :beer:

I used to ride and race a Suzuki SV650 (thats me in my avatar!). Anyways, congrats on the bike. I really miss mine and I am thinking about buying a bike soon, but I travel so much, I barely drive my car (<400 miles a month) nevermind being able to ride a bike. Anyways, the best you can do is take the MSF course and then when you get comfortable, start doing track days and taking some track riding instruction. You will learn to really ride your bike the way it was meant to be ridden in an environment that is WAY safer than public roads. I became a track junkie and gave up street riding all together. Safe safe and ride smart.