XX vs CBR 1000RR

desantim

Hello everyone. Let me first say I am thoroughly happy with my XX and she is in the shop getting a much needed service at 22k miles. But I had a question for those who might be able to answer.

I've been looking at the RR's for a little while now, specifically the 1000 and have been reading the reviews. Everyone seems extremely pleased with the 08' model saying it is one of the best liter bikes they had ever ridden, both professional riders and enthusiasts alike.

My question is, if I ever did have inclination to step up to a new bike, and chose the RR, what in someone educated opinion would I be giving up or gaining?

Your input is very welcome,
Thank you!

DragonXX

These two bikes are so far apart that giving an appraisal on their differences would be unreasonable and would mean diddly squat to anyone wanting one or the other. On the other hand if you wanted to have both ........ One for track and twisties and one for fast, sedate and comforable touring.
What the heck ! ............ have both

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desantim

I have never ridden the RR or a liter bike as such before, I was just asking. Thanks

lois

The RR is very light compaired to the bird. The riding position is very cramped for anyone over 5'11". The bird is way more comfortable to ride, and not as " twichy "

The XX feels more planted and dependable on the street. You don't have to rev the piss out of an XX to get results.

A properly set up bird with slight suspension mods will be MORE than adequate for the average person giving er hard on the street.

Many of us have an XX as well as a "hard core" sport machine. My weapon of choice is a litre class Gixxer. But I have said it before, and I will say it again now, if I could only have one bike it would be the CBR1100XX....why? because the bird is a good solid " all round bike "


Lois

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sv61

I agree with most of what you are saying. And again, this is just my opinion!

Better Street bike? To me, it's the XX, by a lot. I'll tell you why, IMO.

I have NOT ridden the 08 RR, only models older than that. The 07 being the latest. The 08 offers still less wieght, with a better midrange and slightly better top end over the 07. Among other improvements.

You do NOT have to rev the piss out of the 07 RR, to make beans. It is not as peaky as the 954, and earlier 1000RRs. It DOES have a hit at about 10K, that can be a little additive!

The RR IS more twitchy, and not only on the steering inputs. Similar (to me) to the other liter sport bikes (GSX-R, ZX-10, etc), the throttle inputs almost feel amplified. Like you can not keep a constant speed. Call it reduced flywheel or what, but the bike is either accelerating, or slowing down. Something you get used to, but it is just another thing to keep dibs on, while riding. The riding position is more compact on the 1000RR. The wind protection is not as good.

It flat gets around corners better.

Just when you think nothing could mow through tires like your XX, go get a 1000RR.

Finally, if you EVER haul anybody behind you, the RR is nowhere NEAR the bike the XX is.

turbo50jeff

I purchased a 2007 cbr600rr last year for this very reason. I loved the XX for two up riding and torque but we all know it requires alot of work and money to get that thing to handle.
The 600rr is awesome!!!! The suspension is spot on right from Honda. It's absolutely amazing! Very very light and very flickable. I didn't want another 1000cc bike I feel that the newer liter bikes have too much power. Unusable power, why do I want to pull a wheelie at 100+mph? I want to put the power down with the front wheel on the ground and get to the next corner.
Take a look at the lap times between a 600 and a 1000cc machine they are within 2-3 seconds of one another.
The 600rr is so stable it's scarry! I go into a corner thinking I'm going too fast then come out of it thinking I could have gone faster!
Not even with the best suspension will the xx ever come close to the 600rr. That bike is sooooooooooooooo much fun! It really belongs on a racetrack though, you can't even begin to scratch the surface of what it can do on the street.
I will say this though FORGET that the 600rr has a pillion seat! forget it, remove the passenger pegs and put a seat cowl on it. It will never haul a passenger for more than 5 min.
From what I hear the new 1000 is just like the new 600 just more $$$ and too much power. No need for it. Consider this the 600rr goes 10.6@133mph in the quarter and the xx goes 10.2-10.3@135-136mph in the quarter? It's almost as fast as the XX and it handles soooooooooo much better.
I actually prefer to use my 600 as a commuter cause it's so much lighter and more nimble around town and the xx on the weekends for a ride with my girl.
Just my 2 cents.

turbo50jeff

If I only had to have one bike, it would be the XX though! It's an all around excellent machine.!

jsfrv6

[quote=turbo50jeff;60941]I I didn't want another 1000cc bike I feel that the newer liter bikes have too much power.
Consider this the 600rr goes 10.6@133mph in the quarter quote]


Aint no such thing as Too Much Power....THats like having too much money...Not happening...

10.6 on a stock 600rr. Maybe with a 100lb professional rider.... on a perfect day.... down hill....

Besides the the liter bike has much more torque so you don't have to wind it's guts out to have some fun...1000RR = instant wheelie

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SilverBrd

[quote=jsfrv6;60965] The 600's are pretty gutless in my opinion. These do not run in the 10's in the quarter mile either. Mid 11's mostly. Don't even dare come up to a Bird unless you are on a serious twisty route. The Bird will smoke you in comfort and to the other end every time.
I would have to say the horsepower of the liter class is pushing the limit though. I have noticed most of these guys that ride them are trying everything possible to keep the front end down.

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Strek

I havent been on an 08 1000RR but would love to take one for a spin. I'm thinking that like most of the true race rockets that I wouldn't be real comfy on it after an hour or so. If I lived near a track I would consider one. They sure look like fun to ride. I also think that it is the sharpest looking bike out there in that market segment. I'd be one that would be hard pressed to replace the exhaust on that thing because I just like the way it looks on the bike. Of course I haven't changed the exhaust on my bird for the same reason. I just think the stock cans look great on the bird.

DragonXX

[quote=jsfrv6;60965].... with a hurricane tail wind !

Seriously though, these figures seem a bit optimistic for stock 600's

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turbo50jeff

Take a look at the magazines! I've seen as fast as 10.5 and as slow as 11.0 between 129-134mph.
I ran a personal best on my xx of 10.59@135mph. The et is off by about 2-3 tenths but the mph is right on with the magazines. If I can't break into the tens with my 600 i'd be surprised.
compared to the xx the 600 doesn't have as much torque, but it has more low and midrange power than any other 600. You don't buy a 600 for torque you buy it to go carve corners like nobodys business. Which it does like it's it's job!!!
Don't get me wrong I love power and speed, but the 1000cc machines are out of control! And they are way too much money

CanadianBird

Why not split the diff with a 750?

sv61

I think that ALL the newer motorcycles are a little ridiculously priced, 600s and 1000s included.

I would be surprised if you ran a sub 11.00 on your 600, unless you have LOTS of experience with drag racing, AND you weigh next to nothing. I have seen high 10s for the 600 this year. I have always used the rule of thumb, that if I get within HALF a second of the mags, I am happy. I am also a full figured gal (figure of speak guys, I'm a fella), and I DON'T drag race motorcycles all that often.

As for the 1000s having TOO much power, I have to call BS. The motorcycle only has as much power as the operator chooses to feed it.

How to gauge too much power? That is the question. It is a very slippery slope. If you think we have too much power on Motorcyles, as a Motorcyclist, what is to say that a certain Senator (Danforth in this case) decides he wants to Legislate limits on Motorycles? It has happened before.

turbo50jeff

I DO have alot of drag racing experience. I raced for ten years. I ran a personal best of 10.03@137mph in a turbocharged v8 mustang. I know how to get the bike off the line quickly. It's not that hard. I'm also 145 lbs. Which helps. I think all the guys on the bikes in the magazines are really light too. Remember in a car 100lbs less = 10 horsepower on a bike 7lbs=1 hp. I'm about 75-100lbs lighter than the average American male. Which equals 10-14hp more which equals about 3-7mph faster in the quarter and about 4-7 tenths quicker as well.
When I say too much power I mean you have to be very very careful with the application of the throttle otherwise it's just gonna result in useless sometimes unexpected wheelies. The 600rr is perfectly balanced the right combo of power, braking and handling. The 1000rr is too much power for the chassis. Can't use all of it effectively. Why do you think the Hayabusa is as fast or faster than the liter bikes which have as much or MORE power and weigh less? The chassis (long wheelbase) can apply all the engine has to offer. You got to work to get the front end up on that bike. I choose the busa instead of the xx cause it has power closer to what a modern liter bike puts out.
There is really NO need for anything faster than a XX on PUBLIC roads. NO NEED really. That's why I don't agree with the newer liter bikes. What in the hell are you gonna do with a 9.7@151mph the fastest of the liter bikes zx10, on a public road?
Why do they say the Lotus elise is one of the best cars in the world? Because it has the perfect balance of chassis, engine, suspension and braking, just like the 600rr.
If you have never ridden one the newer 07-08, please do. You will have a hard time wipping the big grin off your face!

sv61

It sounds, to me, that much of your info above, circulates around drag racing exclusively. The new line of 1000s achilles heel, is the 1/4 mile. They are NOT made for the 1/4 mile. The fact that they can run in the 9's, is a testament to the power of these amazing machines.

These bikes (the liter class hyperbikes) are made for the road course. On the road course, the chassis starts to make perfect sense. It is here, that bikes like our beloved XX, and the Hayabusa begin to feel like the big boned blind date that they are. They are NOT in their element. Just like a liter class motorcycle is NOT in it's element at the drag strip.

Be careful about what is termed too much power. If you ask Joe Average, he really won't see the point in a motocycle that is capable of 175 mph, and a 10.0 quarter mile available for the street. The answer is simple. The bike will do whatever the rider tells it to do. You may live somewhere where you can NEVER use all of the power of your bike. You may live somewhere, where you can occasionally go to a local drag strip, or road race course. It's great to have a choice, and NOT have the choice legislated by politicians!

That's all I am getting at.

jsfrv6

Well said!

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