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'03 Best of the Best Feedback
two words: matt mladin.
KPaulCook
Long Live the King
Say good bye Twins (RC-51 and 999) you have met your killing machine i.e. terminator. Great article, love the pics, though the outcome was predictable. Was nice to see a "little 600" in there as well. Can't wait to see the ZX10, R1, CRB1000RR go head to head with the king in 2004 AMA superbike. Too bad WSB won't let the killing happen on the track. See this for more details
Always travel light!
The_Aerodynamic_Head
Oh, the Suzuki is powerful allright. But it's ugly. It needs more chrome, and less plastic, and some torque below 7k. And the bolts should rust, at least the ones that don't fall off. Yup, it's a fine machine, that Gixxer. But it's no Harley. I mean, their anniversary isn't even half of what Harley's is. And now they've started that lovers' tryst with Kawasaki. I mean, at least when Harley was going out of business, they managed to get bought by someone cool, right? Who doesn't love bowling and bowling supplies? But Suzuki is leaning on Kawasaki Heavy Industries, a maker of container ships. How lame is that?
There's no doubt about it: the death of the inline four is right around the corner.
Headlight Fluid?! How dumb does he think I am? When I get back to base with that Elbow Grease, I'm gonna have a talk with the Sarge.
ShamanWS6
Baha... no torque under 7K? Dude, my 1K will light off the tires from 3500 if you aren't watching the throttle hand sometimes.
The Gixxer rocks. I can't get enough of mine.
2013 RSV4 Factory APRC SBK SE ABS
2009 GSX-R 600 (RACE #100)
2008 GSX-R 1000 (RACE #100)
2008 KX 450F
2007 Tuono 1000R
http://www.trackfanatics.ca/
What no VFR (Zook650, Concours etc. etc.)? Entertaining article as usual guys, thanks.
zx-6r_maniac
shame on kawasaki for not challenging the suzook with a decent zx-9 based mount (is it possible?). kawi should have gateway sponsor their zx-7rr's and paint them with the more appropriate holstein cow pattern... mladin could just mail it in this yr...its amazing how faster off the corners the gixxers are...it wouldve been fun to watch nicky racing mat this yr...instead hes getting his ass handed to him over there in the old world...great story MOrons...as always
Am i the only one not ever buying dunlop tires again after seeing what happen to mladin on saturday?
RidinDawgDoc
The Kawasaki had the lowest lap times in the hands of two of the three riders. Had the quickest single lap time of the three bikes. And the only reason it wasn't the quickest on average was because of one old farts lame accounting on it.
Yet, the Gixxer wins?? Sure, it is obviously the baddest bike out there right now, but why bother with a track test if you are going to ignore the results? Sounds like the winner was crowned before the test began.
Or in other words, age and treachery carried the day once again.
dardas
"humerus" or just plain funny?
Mr. Burns,
Is your spell check on the blink, or are you trying you hand at puns now? ;-)
I still insist that the folks who's first complaint when referring to the gixxer is (whiny voice) "but it's ugggggly" are just pissed they can't afford one, already bought something else or their wives won't let them have one… hehe
I tell you what, I challenge any performance motorcycle enthusiast to take one for a spin and not walk away with a big fat smile.
Props to Suzuki for raising the bar yet again, it's tricks like this that hopefully will make the other Jap manufacturers get off their asses and surprise us.
Your TZ750 reference is appropriate, only this thing actually turns corners without having to sell your soul (nothing personal Mr. Roberts).
(raises glass) Here's to Honda, Yam, and Kawi knocking it off the fence sometime soon
5150boy
It's funny that the "little" bike won again with the fasted lap. This is no fluke, since the R6 did it last year. See, on a tight track, ie, similar to THE STREET, all that power means nothing and is actually a handicap. It's also amazing that all the new 600's have as much staight-line speed as liter bikes of not that long ago. MY new 636 rocks. Man, these things are beating GSXR 750's in superstock trim. Liter-bike owners who do 99% of their sport riding on the streets (like we all do, really) have wasted their money. I saved big by getting the 636, and plan to use the xtra $$$$ to get a steering damper and a top-notch shock, which is FAR more important than HP. HA HA HA HA HA!!!!!
you and your green 'fro looking to stir up trouble again, troll?
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As usual one of those with Hardly a clue. Sucking up to a name brand just because....it's a Harley. Prob a AOL user too. Death of the inline four??? Again clueless!
Lean Into It!
Dude, wake the ***** up. The more power you have, the more skill it takes to reign it in, and most people aren't worthy of the gsx-r 1000. But go and take a look at AMA times between the 1000 pros and the 600 pros. Ouch!
I'd also like to point you to the Master Bike comparo recently done... GSX-R 1000 takes it all, and convincingly.
Speaking of the 636 beating a 750. Oooh-wee... you mean one highly modified bike managed to beat another highly modified bike with a different rider... once? And you figure that means that the 636 was faster? Give me a break man. Obviously you haven't been around racing very long...
Buzglyd
Apparently some of the local yokels aren't getting the humor of your post.
Just make sure you bold some of the type in random parts of your rant to make it appear more KPaul-esque.
I gotta go find my bowling shoes.
fizzchem
I think Hayden is second in the points standings after three consecutive victories and a fourth at Road Atlanta. The Kawi 636 is competitive with the Suzuki 750 in the AMA Superstock races.
The larger point may be (as you eloquently point out) that most people do not have the skills to ride the Gixxer to it's limit. For lots of riders out there, a 600SS may be a better choice, especially either on the road (where top speed may not be attained by law or prudence) or a track that especially tight like the Streets course.
I normally stay out of flame-fests, but your argument is so full of holes and completely self-contradicting that I'm biting at this one.
First you suggest we go look at AMA times between "1000pros" and "600pros" to prove the superiority of 1000's. A few lines later, you downplay the significance of a smaller "highly modified" bike beating a larger "highly modified" bike... So what was your point with respect to comparing the times of the 1000s and the 600s again? I mean, talk about an insignificant comparison.
Wait, there's more...
The above-referenced 1000 to 600 comparison you suggest is on the most highly modified (save formula extreme, but I'll get to that in a minute) bikes there are, namely the superbikes and the supersports. Whereas the four (at least?) times the 636 has beaten the 750's it's been in superstock, a class with very few modifications allowed, suggesting that with respect to the bikes you and I can acquire, the 636 has a really good shot at being the faster bike for you and I when it comes to riding in the streets and canyons because it's cornering speed, not straightaway speed that matters in those situations.
Lets see, what else...
Oh yeah. The Formula Extreme bikes. Big bikes with big displacement and pretty much unlimited modifications, except they're slower than the superbikes. Say what you want about factory support and blah blah blah, but the fact of the matter is that the formula extreme bikes make tons of power, can't put it to the ground, and handle like dump trucks compared to the (sometimes) smaller superbikes. More proof that size and HP aren't everything.
While I generally agree with your "the more power you have, the more skill it takes to reign it in" statement, I would like to point out the following: A mediocre rider on a liter bike (for example) might able to as to go fast as an excellent rider on a 600 (for example) for the simple fact that he can pu$$y-foot through the corners, whack open the throttle, and make up for his poor cornering prowess on the straights. Unfortunately, the mediocre rider thinks he's setting the world on fire and fails to realize just how poor his skills are because he's using the bikes power as a crutch. Obviously there's a level of rider skill where this distinction goes away, but I'd say most everyone that's at that level has been racing for a long time and fully understands their strengths and weaknesses.
My dream choice for the track? RS250, thank you. Nothing would give me more pleasure than to out-break and out-corner some squid on a bike with 4 times the displacement, only to have him scream past me on the straight, thinking he's the bomb while I chuckle to myself inside my helmet.
Any chump can go fast in a straight line on a big bike.
Abe_Froman
Getting his ass handed to him? 2 sevenths and one crash in his first three GP races means he's ahead of 2/3 of the rest of the field.
Any Chump Can......
Way too cool! But I have to revise your last statement.
Any chump can go fast in a straight line.
Singles and Twins Forever!
I have to disagree with all the liter-bike bashing.....
I think a liter bike is far better for the street. You don't need to wind it out and have it on the boil to go fast. I can tool through the corner in a safe, higher gear than any 600 allowing me to feel comfortable with getting on the gas early, yet still have enough torque to take the 600 on the exit. The torque of a liter bike also comes in handy in numerous places in street situations, i.e. passing, etc.
In any case, the liter bike is more enjoyable on the confines of the street where ringing corners with the engine in the powerband isn't a good idea.
OConnor Jun 18, 2003