To buy or not to buy...GSXR 600 K8

[MikeyT]

Hi all

This is my first post here as I was hoping you knowledgable lot can give me some advice...

I currently own a 2012 Triumph Street Triple R 675 however there is a 2009 GSXR 600 K8 for sale at my local Lings that has really caught my eye.. the STR is a cracking bike that has power all through the rev range thanks to the 3 cylinder engine however the thought of being back on a sports bike and all the reviews are really encouraging me to sell up.

I could do with freeing up some cash from the STR but will keep ahold of it if I cant find a decent alternative. My plan would be to buy the GSXR now and then sell the STR in the new year when prices creep up before Summer.

Can any of you advise whether it would be worth the trade, how reliable are the GSXRs? What is the power delivery like? What are general running costs like? I dont track bikes so will be strictly for road use only.

I know it might seem bias to ask this on here but im also doing the same on the STR forum.

Look forward to chatting with you all!!!

 

[MikeyT]

34 views and no replies...anyone?

 

[Underdog]

I've had 3 GSXRs, I'm far from gentle when I ride and I've never had any problems. I've found them to be bulletproof engines. As for power delivery, the polite version is "aggresive". Take it for a test ride and judge it by grin factor. Thats the best way I've ever found of trying a bike.

 

[MikeyT]

Cheers for the reply Underdog... took the gsxr for a spin today...my verdict is...

Street Triple
+ Very torquey engine low down
+ Easier to ride at low speed
+ Amazing engine note and distinctive 3 cylinder 'whirl'
- runs out of puff top end
- more to tax
- more expensive to repair/replace parts

GSXR K8
+ Pulls like a rocket higher up the revs
+ More protective from head winds
+ Feels "safer" to ride than the STR i.e. will happily corner
+ As so many youngsters have them and write them off, getting parts will be easy and cheaper
- Uncomfortable at low speed
- Paint is about 1mm thick so scratches easily
- Gutless at low revs

All in all as much as the STR is a fantastic bike I feel there is something rather addictive about the GSXR and therefore will be moving forward with the sale... got a few added extras to sweeten the deal and will be ready in about a week

 

[Underdog]

Ah but what about the all important grin factor? And I agree with the paint thickness, but the other neg points, the bike is designed to ridden at speed(legal of course ) as it's not designed a a sports/tourer. Keep it higher in the rev range and smiles per miles will come quicker than the points on your licence.
Glad to see you're coming to the darkside but we don't have cookies

 

[MikeyT]

The bike will be primarily used for commuting to work so the ride position may be a bit uncomfortable to begin with but it'll probably get used more at weekends.

The STR certainly leaves a grin at low revs due to the torque but I couldnt get enough of A mode top end on the GSXR. Do you know the best place to buy an akrapovic exhaust for reasonable prices?

 

[Underdog]

I run a delkevic stubby on mine, but I was told when I swapped it over if I'd bought a later model there would of been issues with removing the cat. Mine is k6 so the cat and silencer are together, I don't know what the setup is on a k8. I'd look ebay or stick a post on here, you never know your luck. As for the riding position, you could look at rearsets or take a scenic route home. And there's always the ability to swap sprocket size if the lower rev range becomes an issue

 

[Underdog]

Best of both worlds!! A Delkevic with an Akrapovic sticker lol

GSXR 600 750 EXHAUST DELKEVIC RACE END CAN LINK PIPE BIKE BREAKING SPARE K9 L0 | eBay



(Not my listing)

 

[Underdog]

How the Del looks on mine

How it sounds

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqSF03-dMKk

 

[MikeyT]

Haha your video is good...certainly like triple digit speeds!!!

As far as im aware the Delk should be a clamp and bolt to fit plus the rearsets are adjustable so the dealership are altering them to fit my riding position.

I dont know alot about what to do to bikes to get certain areas of performance so talking sprockets to me is like speaking a foreign language.

Is that delk worth the money in your opinion?

 

[Underdog]

Definately worth spending 160 on a del over 550+ for the akroprovic!! Swapping sprocket sizes can reduce/increase acceleration and top end. You trade top end for acceleration or vice versa. You'll find the GSXR encourages that sort of behaviour

 

[MikeyT]

I'm now watching the exhaust and will try and get a good deal on it! Can I use existing fittings to fit the delk?

 

[Underdog]

I know my Del came with everything that was needed

 

[Egogonewild]

After riding both and owning many gsxr's to me it's suzuki all the way.

 

[MikeyT]

Well I've currently got both sat in the garage as I cant sell the street triple...just wrong time of year so I get to enjoy both until next season.

Been riding the GSXR for a few days now and although its nowhere near as comfortable as the street triple it is certainly twice, if not three times, as fun

 

[Underdog]

It's down to what you want from the bike. If you are looking to use it for distance then the comfort factor is gonna be an issue but if it is for fun and playing you won't go far wrong with the Gixer. Like you say it's the wrong time of year to be selling a bike so you've got the time to choose

 

[MikeyT]

It's down to what you want from the bike. If you are looking to use it for distance then the comfort factor is gonna be an issue but if it is for fun and playing you won't go far wrong with the Gixer. Like you say it's the wrong time of year to be selling a bike so you've got the time to choose

My work is only a 3-4 mile commute from home so it's neither here nor there it's mainly when sat in slow moving traffic that the positioning really has an effect. I am really enjoying the power delivery of the GSXR even though it isn't as torquey as the street triple.