Thinking of upgrading to a 600...

[kennetht]

So, I found a really good deal for a GSXR 600 in my local area. Bike looks flawless and ready to go.

I am having a hard time deciding whether or not I actually want to upgrade. I love my 250, but I want a bit more power. After all the work I have put into it, I am sure I can sell my 250 for much more than I paid, so I could use that money towards the 600.

What you guys think?

[tooblekain]

Originally Posted by kennetht

So, I found a really good deal for a GSXR 600 in my local area. Bike looks flawless and ready to go.

I am having a hard time deciding whether or not I actually want to upgrade. I love my 250, but I want a bit more power. After all the work I have put into it, I am sure I can sell my 250 for much more than I paid, so I could use that money towards the 600.

What you guys think?

How much is the Gixxer? What year? Miles? Condition?

[alex.s]

what is a "really good deal" on a gsxr 600

[subxero]

Originally Posted by kennetht

So, I found a really good deal for a GSXR 600 in my local area. Bike looks flawless and ready to go.

I am having a hard time deciding whether or not I actually want to upgrade. I love my 250, but I want a bit more power. After all the work I have put into it, I am sure I can sell my 250 for much more than I paid, so I could use that money towards the 600.

What you guys think?

if by "a bit" you mean 80 ponies then you are barking up the right tree

There are lots of bikes out there if you want "a bit" more power

But yeah, details on bike may help in forming an opinion

[eddiekay]

A very popular bike , a really good deal, in the middle of the summer . Look closely.

[Whiskey]

^ this, you may have been very lucky, but chances are you're able to get one a good bit cheaper in winter.

How long have you been on bikes?
How hard do you ride your 250?

[alex.s]

chances are basically 0 for getting a good deal on a bike during summer. if its a good deal, and summer, it's probably about to blow its engine or is stolen

[ForceofWill]

Originally Posted by subxero

if by "a bit" you mean 80 ponies then you are barking up the right tree

There are lots of bikes out there if you want "a bit" more power

But yeah, details on bike may help in forming an opinion

Hah, I like that too.

Need that 600SS for them commutes? What do you do with your motorcycles? There are plenty of awesome bikes out there that may meet your needs better.

[kennetht]

Its a 2007. Just over 10,000 miles. Flawless condition. Very well maintained. Guy is asking $4,500. I am sure I can talk him down a little bit. New tires, under 200 miles on them.

[kennetht]

Originally Posted by Whiskey

^ this, you may have been very lucky, but chances are you're able to get one a good bit cheaper in winter.

How long have you been on bikes?
How hard do you ride your 250?

Been riding consistently for a year now on my 250. But have ridden many times before that. Just never owned my own bike till a year ago.

Wouldnt say I ride my 250 that hard. Mostly moderate and local use.

[Hero Danny]

Originally Posted by kennetht

Been riding consistently for a year now on my 250. But have ridden any times before that. Just never owned my own bike till a year ago.

Wouldnt say I ride my 250 that hard. Mostly moderate and local use.

I mean, if you want a bigger bike, then go get one. This is a 250/300 forum, of course everyone here is going to be playing devils advocate when it comes to "upgrading" to a bigger bike..

You ride moderate and local. Doesn't sound like you need more power. Why not go for a 300? I heard the 300 is 50% more powerful than the 250. Which seems like a bit more power

[subxero]

Originally Posted by Hero Danny

I mean, if you want a bigger bike, then go get one. This is a 250/300 forum, of course everyone here is going to be playing devils advocate when it comes to "upgrading" to a bigger bike..

You ride moderate and local. Doesn't sound like you need more power. Why not go for a 300? I heard the 300 is 50% more powerful than the 250. Which seems like a bit more power

[Hero Danny]

----> 26.4 hp (250) - 35.41 hp (300)

That's about a 34% increase... so you're right not 50%, but still a bit more power.

[CC Cowboy]

Originally Posted by kennetht

Its a 2007. Just over 10,000 miles. Flawless condition. Very well maintained. Guy is asking $4,500. I am sure I can talk him down a little bit. New tires, under 200 miles on them.

Sounds great. I bet it's mint and the guy (or girl) just wants to give someone a good deal. Go for it.

[Sirref]

Originally Posted by Hero Danny

I mean, if you want a bigger bike, then go get one. This is a 250/300 forum, of course everyone here is going to be playing devils advocate when it comes to "upgrading" to a bigger bike..

You ride moderate and local. Doesn't sound like you need more power. Why not go for a 300? I heard the 300 is 50% more powerful than the 250. Which seems like a bit more power

If you want more top end power on a 250, you'll want more on a 300

Midrange is a different story, the 300 has way more midrange power than the 250

and it's ~35% as stated above

[Hero Danny]

Originally Posted by Sirref

If you want more top end power on a 250, you'll want more on a 300

Midrange is a different story, the 300 has way more midrange power than the 250

and it's ~35% as stated above

Originally Posted by Hero Danny

----> 26.4 hp (250) - 35.41 hp (300)

That's about a 34% increase... so you're right not 50%, but still a bit more power.

As stated by ME!

[Sirref]

Originally Posted by Hero Danny

As stated by ME!

hahaha yea, I like to round to the nearest 5

It does feel like more power but really it isn't enough extra power for you to not adjust to the difference completely on your first ride

[Hero Danny]

Originally Posted by Sirref

hahaha yea, I like to round to the nearest 5

It does feel like more power but really it isn't enough extra power for you to not adjust to the difference completely on your first ride

From various reviews from different people, the 300 is a very hefty upgrade from the 250. I'd love to own one some day.. Amazing bike all around.

[KawiKid860]

Good deals do show up... pretty rare in the summer, but they do show up on not stolen/thrashed bikes. 4.5k on an 07 600 isn't such an amazing deal that you should be concerned. A 600 has a bit more power than the 250 if you keep it under 7k, past that it has a lot more. If you're comfortable, go for it. Just respect the heck out of it, they can and will bite if you don't.

[Sirref]

Originally Posted by Hero Danny

From various reviews from different people, the 300 is a very hefty upgrade from the 250. I'd love to own one some day.. Amazing bike all around.

Oh don't get me wrong the 300 is an amazing bike all around as a package, it just doesn't have crazy top end power and is much like a 250 that hit the gym.

The list of upgrades from the 250 (particularly the pregen) is massive and it all adds up to a great motorcycle for the streets. If it's what you want then by all means go for it but it has a few downsides to it as well.

The brakes are awful, they're the same as the newgen 250 brakes and they don't stop me like I want to be stopped. I take my brakes very seriously and consider them to be one of the 3 most important mechanisms on a motorcycle behind the rider and tires/suspension.
The suspension isn't fully adjustable, case in point I prefer quality parts over cheap ones, as with the brakes I also intend to remedy this in the future.
rearsets too low/bars too high stock, easy fix and is more personal preference than anything else. Like this one all of my other gripes with the bike are minor and easily fixable/exist on a lot of other bikes. Exhaust note is meh (will get full exhaust someday) windscreen isn't big enough (double bubble) I don't like fenders (fender eliminator w/integrated rear turn signal) etc, etc, etc

It's a great bike but there is one thing that it will never have that I want out of a motorcycle personally, raw screaming power. For that I'll need to get a 600, and one day I will but the 300 is such a good bike that I don't want to give it up even to get a 600 sooner


since I did downsides I may as well do advantages, there are a good amount of things that the 300 does well.

It has really good headlights, I can see more with the headlights than I could with my old golf (my truck now can see farther but it's also higher up)
Fuel injection is such a great invention, I love having efi.
The throttle is so smooth, very easy to work with
The tank/seat is perfect for me to hang off as my sweet spot on the bike is right when I come into contact with the passenger seat, a perfect fit.
Being able to easily flat foot the bike is a nice thing when you ride it daily, can back into spots and all that w/o any issues.
Tires, brake pads, etc are all cheap(er than a 600ss)
It's hard to get into serious legal trouble on a 300, possible but you would really have to be pinning it and even then you're more likely to get a hefty fine than jail time
It's beautiful, even with the battle scars that mine has it's still stunning to look at
And the list goes on and on.

[psych0hans]

Look into getting a 650... Almost 2-3 times the power of a 250.

[choneofakind]

FZ-07! middle weight twin, crossplane crank for a cool sound and torque, low price of purchase. relatively light, relatively low seat height.

The reviews all make it sound like a solid performing all-rounder. Should be adequate enough for an 'upgrade' in the power department without power in ways you can't put it to the pavement.

Did I mention it sounds cool with that 270 degree crank, like a mini Buell? I'm kinda hooked on the sound.

Link to original page on YouTube.

Link to original page on YouTube.

[Whiskey]

SV650 with fairings, more grunt, tons of power low down, pretty quick & not a bad looking machine.
Street triple same as above, sounds unreal with arrow cans and has a respectable top end speed (more than you can realistically use on the road, I've never fully topped mine out, 130+mph on a quiet 60mph back road is doable, much beyond that is pushing my visual skills & processing speed rather than the bike's limits, trying a speed test on the motorway is just asking for trouble)
650s, supermotos, nakeds are probably better suited to your 'not pushing too hard' style, the 600SS class would be out of it's comfort zone.

[LittleRedNinjette]

Originally Posted by Sirref

Oh don't get me wrong the 300 is an amazing bike all around as a package, it just doesn't have crazy top end power and is much like a 250 that hit the gym.

The list of upgrades from the 250 (particularly the pregen) is massive and it all adds up to a great motorcycle for the streets. If it's what you want then by all means go for it but it has a few downsides to it as well.

The brakes are awful, they're the same as the newgen 250 brakes and they don't stop me like I want to be stopped. I take my brakes very seriously and consider them to be one of the 3 most important mechanisms on a motorcycle behind the rider and tires/suspension.
The suspension isn't fully adjustable, case in point I prefer quality parts over cheap ones, as with the brakes I also intend to remedy this in the future.
rearsets too low/bars too high stock, easy fix and is more personal preference than anything else. Like this one all of my other gripes with the bike are minor and easily fixable/exist on a lot of other bikes. Exhaust note is meh (will get full exhaust someday) windscreen isn't big enough (double bubble) I don't like fenders (fender eliminator w/integrated rear turn signal) etc, etc, etc

It's a great bike but there is one thing that it will never have that I want out of a motorcycle personally, raw screaming power. For that I'll need to get a 600, and one day I will but the 300 is such a good bike that I don't want to give it up even to get a 600 sooner


since I did downsides I may as well do advantages, there are a good amount of things that the 300 does well.

It has really good headlights, I can see more with the headlights than I could with my old golf (my truck now can see farther but it's also higher up)
Fuel injection is such a great invention, I love having efi.
The throttle is so smooth, very easy to work with
The tank/seat is perfect for me to hang off as my sweet spot on the bike is right when I come into contact with the passenger seat, a perfect fit.
Being able to easily flat foot the bike is a nice thing when you ride it daily, can back into spots and all that w/o any issues.
Tires, brake pads, etc are all cheap(er than a 600ss)
It's hard to get into serious legal trouble on a 300, possible but you would really have to be pinning it and even then you're more likely to get a hefty fine than jail time
It's beautiful, even with the battle scars that mine has it's still stunning to look at
And the list goes on and on.

^^ This. I went from a newgen to the 300.

Not sure i would say the brakes are awful, for me anyway. That being said i am upgrading them, SS lines and maybe pads soon...

[choneofakind]

Originally Posted by LittleRedNinjette

That being said i am upgrading them, SS lines and maybe pads soon...

If you don't have a vacuum pump, definitely get a large syringe from a tack/vet supply store and use it to pull a vacuum on the brake fluid and get the microbubbles out. It will kinda look like carbonated soda. Then bleed away. It helps with getting that perfect bleed and a nice firm brake lever.

My results with this method were much better than just using the fluid straight from the bottle.

[LittleRedNinjette]

Thanks for the tip Chris! I'll look for one of them when I get the lines and pads.

Hoping on a group buy popping up again...

[adouglas]

Originally Posted by kennetht

Been riding consistently for a year now on my 250. But have ridden any times before that. Just never owned my own bike till a year ago.

Wouldnt say I ride my 250 that hard. Mostly moderate and local use.

Ah, the supersport itch... having scratched it myself, I can say that it sure is fun to ride my new bike.

But.

There's a whole lot of potential left in your 250. If you're only riding moderately, you're not using the power you've got. So why is more power necessary?

The answer is, it's not... but it's fun to have.

If you feel you're getting all you can out of your 250 and you're not satisfied with it, then sure... time for an upgrade, no question. But if not, then what you're doing is buying a bike that costs a lot more to run, maintain and insure, and is a lot less comfortable riding around locally, for the sole purpose of getting a bigger grin when you twist the throttle.

Ain't nothing wrong with that.

There is, of course, the experience/maturity thing to think about. The power and speed of a supersport is extremely tempting and it can get you into several different kinds of trouble VERY easily. Will you instantly crash? Heck no. Is it hard to ride? Nope. Will it punish you for lack of skill and judgment? Definitely. A supersport can kill you faster than you can react, if you make a bad mistake. So can your 250, but the margin for error is a whole lot bigger.

I absolutely love my GSXR. But if I had room in my marriage for two bikes, it's not what I would ride locally. I'd get another 250 or a 300. It's a much better bike for everyday use. It's less costly in every way, better at low-speed maneuvering, better in heavy traffic and less of a worry if something happens to it.

[Sirref]

Originally Posted by LittleRedNinjette

^^ This. I went from a newgen to the 300.

Not sure i would say the brakes are awful, for me anyway. That being said i am upgrading them, SS lines and maybe pads soon...

They're not really bad brakes, they just aren't the kind of braking performance that I want, SS lines will make the lever feel firmer (assuming you bleed the lines properly, chone already covered that) which is good but the actual stopping distances won't change much. I'm not sure how much of a difference swapping pads will make though since I swapped my pads as I swapped my tires last time so the comparison isn't quite perfect due to changing multiple variables.

[InvisiBill]

I'll chime in with a different "mine is best" opinion too...

Even the Ninja 500 has twice the horsepower of the 250, and a lot more torque.





I can get up to any legal speed limit in the state in third gear. I usually do so, then just click up through to sixth for cruising. A GSXR 600 has about twice the horsepower of my 500, for some perspective. You're basically saying that your Pinto is a bit underpowered, so you're looking at Ferraris - there's a whole lot of room in between those two options, and most of them are probably more practical than a Ferrari.

I've heard people here say that the 500 doesn't feel quite as nimble as the 250, but a lot of 500 owners who upgrade still end up missing their agile little bike. A number of 500 owners have been happy with 650s, but some here have said they feel much bigger. Around here, 500s are about the same price as 250s, or even a bit cheaper (though the styling is also a bit older, sort of a mix between PreGen and NewGen). If you truly like the 250 and just want a bit more power, I think the 500 is a nice, cheap option to fill that gap. (I'm actually surprised the 500 isn't more popular with beginners and small-bike people.)

A quick look on CL here shows bikes similar to the one you're looking at for $4500-$5500. If it's really as nice as they say, it could be a good deal, but it doesn't sound like it's a super-duper-unheard-of-amazing deal. Do whatever you feel is best, but you'll be less likely to regret your decision if you think it out logically rather than letting emotions run wild.

[Sirref]

Originally Posted by InvisiBill

(I'm actually surprised the 500 isn't more popular with beginners and small-bike people.)

People tend to be vain. They want bikes that look smexy, the ninja 500 isn't completely ugly but it doesn't look like a "supersportbike" the way that a newgen 250/300 does which leads people to pass over them. Image is a large part in bike choice for a lot of people, which makes sense since you want a bike that you like to look at as well as ride right

[ninjamunky85]

If Kawasaki would have came out with an updated version of the ninja 500 then I would have been all over it. Obviously the 500 was abandoned, I guess because it was replaced by the 650. Since I don't care for the looks of either the 500 or the 650 I upgraded to a 300.

[jaesun]

Check your insurance rate. My quotes for a CBR600RR and Ninja 1000 were 4-6 times higher than my premium for the Ninja 250 with the same coverage. It only doubled with the Monster 796.

[tooblekain]

Honeslty, if it's for commuting, a sportbike is the worst way to go. The ergos will sap you and the extra power will probably get you in trouble before eyou know it. Not to mention the insurance rates for a sport bike.

If it were me, I would look into the following bikes based on your needs

Honda NC700X--great fuel economy, decent power, lots of storage. Handles well on the track too

Honda CB500X
Yamaha FZ07
Yamaha FZ09
Triumph Street 675
Triumph Tiger 800
Triumpb Bonneville
Triumph Scrambler
Suzuki SV650 (naked version)
Suzuki Gladius


Basically, get a more upright bike in the middleweight range. Unless you REALLY REALLY want a sportbike, then go for it. I just warn again that eventually your emotional purchase will not suit your needs you stated.

[kennetht]

Originally Posted by adouglas

Ah, the supersport itch... having scratched it myself, I can say that it sure is fun to ride my new bike.

But.

There's a whole lot of potential left in your 250. If you're only riding moderately, you're not using the power you've got. So why is more power necessary?

The answer is, it's not... but it's fun to have.

If you feel you're getting all you can out of your 250 and you're not satisfied with it, then sure... time for an upgrade, no question. But if not, then what you're doing is buying a bike that costs a lot more to run, maintain and insure, and is a lot less comfortable riding around locally, for the sole purpose of getting a bigger grin when you twist the throttle.

Ain't nothing wrong with that.

There is, of course, the experience/maturity thing to think about. The power and speed of a supersport is extremely tempting and it can get you into several different kinds of trouble VERY easily. Will you instantly crash? Heck no. Is it hard to ride? Nope. Will it punish you for lack of skill and judgment? Definitely. A supersport can kill you faster than you can react, if you make a bad mistake. So can your 250, but the margin for error is a whole lot bigger.

I absolutely love my GSXR. But if I had room in my marriage for two bikes, it's not what I would ride locally. I'd get another 250 or a 300. It's a much better bike for everyday use. It's less costly in every way, better at low-speed maneuvering, better in heavy traffic and less of a worry if something happens to it.

I think you just summed it up pretty darn well. That is exactly how I feel right now. I agree with everything you just stated.

Only difference between you and I, is that I will likely keep my 250 as well, at least until the spring time, then it will be time to sell. From here on out, bike prices will just continue to drop, since people want to get rid of them for the winter. However, come next spring, everyone will get that itch, and want to ride/buy. So, with that in mind, I think I will wait until spring to sell my 250, that way I can get a higher price point. I will still post it for sale on craiglist now, but will refuse to sell until I find a buyer willing to meet me at my price point. I did that for shits and giggles a few weeks ago. Posted it up on craigslist for $3000. I got so many emails of people interested, so I doubt I will have a hard time selling it come spring time.

Another option is say I dont like the gsxr after a few months of purchasing? I could always sell that as well, and then just keep my 250... So many options. I dont think it would be hard to sell either of the bikes if I really wanted...

[kennetht]

So, I did it.

$4,500 later (which I believe is a steal), I now own this beauty.... 2007 Suzuki GSX-R600



Brand new tires, all maintenance recently done, bike is in immaculate condition. Not a scratch on her.

Just over 10,000 miles for a 2007, not bad at all. Rode her down to the shore this weekend, man she is fast. So much power. After seeing all the power in a 600, I have no idea why anyone would want a 750 or 1000. Its just useless power, unless you are a track rider.

In the end, I am extremely happy with my purchase. With that paint scheme, I could not resist.

[Sirref]

Originally Posted by kennetht

Just over 10,000 miles for a 2007, not bad at all. Rode her down to the shore this weekend, man she is fast. So much power. After seeing all the power in a 600, I have no idea why anyone would want a 750 or 1000. Its just useless power, unless you are a track rider.

congrats on the purchase!

as for why someone would want a 750/1000 it's really for the torque.
600's tend to not make their power until higher in the rev range (this is why I like the idea of an I3 675 which makes more low end torque/midrange torque)

Not everyone likes the idea of needing to rev to get power. Personally I like 600s best since they are mostly focused on handling rather than power and the r6 that I recently rode felt just like my 300 except with the 3 things that I want most from my 300. Better brakes, more power, and better suspension.

[nadroj]

Meh, 600s are fun and all but there is a reason I ride a 250 on the street. I race a zx6r and have ridden 600s on the street. And honestly I don't have as much fun on the 600s on the street as I do with the 250, only thing I really miss is the raw power for the highways but that would get me in too much trouble anyways (or killed).

[N-m]

Originally Posted by kennetht

So, I did it.

$4,500 later (which I believe is a steal), I now own this beauty.... 2007 Suzuki GSX-R600



Brand new tires, all maintenance recently done, bike is in immaculate condition. Not a scratch on her.

Just over 10,000 miles for a 2007, not bad at all. Rode her down to the shore this weekend, man she is fast. So much power. After seeing all the power in a 600, I have no idea why anyone would want a 750 or 1000. Its just useless power, unless you are a track rider.

In the end, I am extremely happy with my purchase. With that paint scheme, I could not resist.

That is a sweet bike. How much for the 250?

[alex.s]

my favorite quote from starwars: a new hope
"I'll be careful"

[kennetht]

Originally Posted by N-m

That is a sweet bike. How much for the 250?

I have it listed on Craigslist for $3000, but there is definitely some negotiating room.

To see the ad, take a look at the listing URL below:

http://cnj.craigslist.org/mcy/4607524450.html