These sorts of toys are just dick extensions aren't they?
I had an R1 dick extension before it was stolen. Arrrghh.
I can see your point of view, Kennas. A lot of poeple simple buy a litre bike or a harley just for the "wow" factor. I've owned bikes since I was six years old and can't image life without one long term.
I don't think I'll ever own a litre inline 4 sport bike again; they are just too heavy and I am always quicker on a smaller unit.
I recently sold an SV650s and still regret it. For all it's suspension faults, it was nearly the complete package of midweight bikes. I could lap consistant flat 1:30 wsith street tyres at Qld Raceways with higher corner speeds than R1, GSX-R and Busas only to be thrashed in outright speed on the straights and then need to weave my way back through the pack on the corners in B grade.
I currently have a GSX-R 600 K8 due only to the fact the deal I was given on trade in was too good to pass up. I would have got the 750 otherwise.
After changing gearing to 3:1 (three teeth up on the rear and one down on the drive shaft) it is a potent weapon for the roads up in the FNQ.
I get 3000km out of a rear tyre and nearly 5000km from a front and they are always worn on the edges to a point that the heat cycles have eroded any real grip on lean.
It's hardly a dick extension when you carve up your roads (with a safety buffer in mind) in the early hours of daylight with satisfaction you hit your apexes right, the bike was doing it's thing and the suspension was dialed in to almost pinpoint accuracy.
The 08 GSXR has an excellent rear shock in most aspects but the rebound is still poor at full load. Luckily they are easily rebuilt and the rebound stack can be modified simply to sort it.
The GSXR is still buzzy and I'll probaly look for a second series 999 ducati SP as I think they will one day be a real collectors item due to their excellent handing, and thumping motor but ugly looks and poor inital sales due to looks.
A great bike for touring is the Susuki VStrom. An uglier bike you'll not find, but it can carve up the KM, is comfy and in the right hands can embarrass ther dick swinging R1, GSXR riders.
The R1's are no road bike. They are peaky, wrist numbing and downright useless in the power spread department. Put them on the track however.....
My RG 500 was more of a road bike than R1 and that was nothing short of a beast on the road.
I'll post some pics when I get home.
Cheers,