So I've been riding my new (used) GSXR-750 for about a week now, and I have some thoughts about it.
For those who missed it, it is an 03 with 23 000km on it, and in very nice shape. I seriously doubt it has ever been out in the rain. It is spotlessly clean under the fairings and fenders. Has minor damage on one side where it fell over at some point, but very minor.
Last Wed. I was out riding all day and stopped at BP's for something to eat about 10 pm. When I came out, there was a group of people (mostly women) standing around it talking. They thought it was new. They asked if they could take pictures of it. I just laughed and said go ahead. But it does almost make me feel bad about what I want to do to it..... tear all the plastic off it and 'Fight it, but I'll get over that in a hurry.
I do know that I don't think clip-on's are as cool as I did when I was 25. They are not horrible, I spent 11 hours on it that day just boppin' around the city and it was fine, but it would be so much better with MX bars on it.
I need to get a Timing Re-tard Eliminator (dam censor-bot won't let me say re-tard, it turns it into 'mentally challenged') for it badly. The low-end throttle response it too jerky, it sounds burbly rich at slow speed, and I am not a fan of restricting torque even if it is 'for my own good' as Suzuki seems to think. But other than that, I like the motor. And I like the noise it makes. It has a stock exhaust (the whole bike is box-stock) but it has a very nice barking snarl to it. I was at a bike shop just looking at stuff and when I came out there was a young kid with an 06 GSXR-1000 parked next to me. When he stated his bike up, it sounded like a stock Honda Civic next to mine. He noticed it too.
He said, "Well, mine's bigger than your's."
And I said, "Yeah, but my dick is bigger than your's, and I can use both better than you can."
Then we both rode out of the parking lot, him with both feet stuck out and dragging on the ground all the way out into traffic.... Kids.....
This Suzuki weighs 200 lbs less than my FJ. I spent the first couple of days over riding corners. A corner I would have to get on top of and muscle the FJ into would have me pulling the GSXR back out and up if I put that kinda effort into it. But that's the kind of adaptation I like, it is so much less work to toss around than the Yamaha.
And I was surprised at how much better it rides than the old sled too. You feel every frost heave, tar snake, smoke butt, and expansion joint on that FJ. Lil Suzy don't even feel that stuff. Sure, the FJ has 60 000+ km on oil-rod forks and a sacked out shock, but it was built for comfort. The GSXR is sposed to be hard edged and aggressive, but it rides so much better it is hard to believe.
I am loving the fuel injection (when I was shopping, the main criteria I had was No Carbs), I miss having a fuel gauge rather than a low fuel light. I love the 6 speed, I love the ability to lift the front wheel at will without the planning and effort the FJ took. And the headlights are amazing after the candle they hang on the front of that Yamaha.
Overall, I am very pleased with the bike. Once I get the bars up where they should be, drop some more poundage by taking off the bodywork and clean-up the fueling in the first 4 gears, it will be an awesome streetbike. But it is still a dam fun bike as it sits.
