cjbottaro
Well-Known Member
Just bought a 2008 GSX-R 750 to keep my Fizzie warm at night. I don't have a camera, so here's a stock photo...
... but really I'm here to rant.
So I fell in love with my friend's 2008 GSX-R 600. I was amazed at how easy it was to start from 1st gear, how the steering was almost telepathic, and I couldn't believe how easy low speed maneuvers were for a supersport (I was pretty apprehensive about this).
As I rode it more and more, I got used to the aggressive posture and actually kind of like it for certain things (like turning and hard acceleration, still like the FZ for mellow riding).
What really made me decide to get one is that my gf just finished the MSF class (perfect scores btw) and I wanted to get her a starter bike. The 2008+ GSX-R bikes come with this switch that puts them in one of three modes A (full power), B (limited power) and C (neutered). I tried mode C on my friend's 600 and it was like riding a 250-500cc bike... perfect (well, I didn't make it two blocks before turning it off, but perfect for my gf)! Oh, it has a fantastic slipper clutch too.
So I find a 2008 GSX-R 750 in my city (shrug, I like higher torque/power) and go check it out.
First off, the bike had supposedly been garaged for it's whole life, but during the duration the selling process, the owner for whatever reason stored it in his grandmother's backyard. It was dirty. It made my heart hurt. I even got a towel and started wiping bird shit off it.
Second, the owner swore it was in perfect mechanical condition, but wouldn't let me take it around the block (my fault for not bringing cash). The bike has 3700 miles and original tires... I told him I'd need to buy new tires and he told me I was crazy.
So anyway, I work the price down a little and buy it. I started to ride it home and things were going ok until the first 90 degree turn where I almost f-ing wiped out. I wrote it off as being a super windy day and just getting hit by a blast of wind.
On the way home, I decided the bike just feels off and I take it to work to compare with my friend's 600. It was a night and day difference... something was seriously messed up.
After work, we take it back to my place... and find out that it has 20 psi in the front tire and like 27 the in rear tire. Wtf.
So after fixing that, it's still not handling like his 600. We determine it's the tires because the front tire is just horribly worn (it's like almost square).
We go buy tires. Then I spend the rest of the night changing oil, cleaning and lubing the chain (which had obviously been neglected) and tearing her apart so I could clean her proper.
It took till midnight to finish all that... and yeah it looks good now, the engine sounds a lot smoother, the clutch is a little smoother, the handling isn't dangerous anymore (but still not fixed, still need to mount the tires)... but... it just doesn't feel like my bike... it feels like some guy's gaudy toy that wasn't taken care of. The FZ, despite being second hand, feels like *my* bike.
I love my FZ... I want to love the Gixxer like that, but I feel like a bad buying experience left a bad taste in my mouth.
When I bought the FZ, I would go look at it in the garage... sit it on, fiddle with the controls and get all butterflies and what not. When I look at the Gixxer, I think... ugh, who would get an opaque black windscreen like that??
My friend says I should look at it like I rescued an abused child, and after a lot of care and nurturing, I'll eventually love it like my own...
... but really I'm here to rant.
So I fell in love with my friend's 2008 GSX-R 600. I was amazed at how easy it was to start from 1st gear, how the steering was almost telepathic, and I couldn't believe how easy low speed maneuvers were for a supersport (I was pretty apprehensive about this).
As I rode it more and more, I got used to the aggressive posture and actually kind of like it for certain things (like turning and hard acceleration, still like the FZ for mellow riding).
What really made me decide to get one is that my gf just finished the MSF class (perfect scores btw) and I wanted to get her a starter bike. The 2008+ GSX-R bikes come with this switch that puts them in one of three modes A (full power), B (limited power) and C (neutered). I tried mode C on my friend's 600 and it was like riding a 250-500cc bike... perfect (well, I didn't make it two blocks before turning it off, but perfect for my gf)! Oh, it has a fantastic slipper clutch too.
So I find a 2008 GSX-R 750 in my city (shrug, I like higher torque/power) and go check it out.
First off, the bike had supposedly been garaged for it's whole life, but during the duration the selling process, the owner for whatever reason stored it in his grandmother's backyard. It was dirty. It made my heart hurt. I even got a towel and started wiping bird shit off it.
Second, the owner swore it was in perfect mechanical condition, but wouldn't let me take it around the block (my fault for not bringing cash). The bike has 3700 miles and original tires... I told him I'd need to buy new tires and he told me I was crazy.
So anyway, I work the price down a little and buy it. I started to ride it home and things were going ok until the first 90 degree turn where I almost f-ing wiped out. I wrote it off as being a super windy day and just getting hit by a blast of wind.
On the way home, I decided the bike just feels off and I take it to work to compare with my friend's 600. It was a night and day difference... something was seriously messed up.
After work, we take it back to my place... and find out that it has 20 psi in the front tire and like 27 the in rear tire. Wtf.
So after fixing that, it's still not handling like his 600. We determine it's the tires because the front tire is just horribly worn (it's like almost square).
We go buy tires. Then I spend the rest of the night changing oil, cleaning and lubing the chain (which had obviously been neglected) and tearing her apart so I could clean her proper.
It took till midnight to finish all that... and yeah it looks good now, the engine sounds a lot smoother, the clutch is a little smoother, the handling isn't dangerous anymore (but still not fixed, still need to mount the tires)... but... it just doesn't feel like my bike... it feels like some guy's gaudy toy that wasn't taken care of. The FZ, despite being second hand, feels like *my* bike.
I love my FZ... I want to love the Gixxer like that, but I feel like a bad buying experience left a bad taste in my mouth.
When I bought the FZ, I would go look at it in the garage... sit it on, fiddle with the controls and get all butterflies and what not. When I look at the Gixxer, I think... ugh, who would get an opaque black windscreen like that??
My friend says I should look at it like I rescued an abused child, and after a lot of care and nurturing, I'll eventually love it like my own...