Newbie frist sport bike questions

I've owned 3 harley's and 7 different dirt bikes. Currently have an 01 Road King and an 03 Honda CRF450. I'm an intermidate dirt bike rider and have 30 to 40 thousand miles on the street. Dirt bike areas are closing around me left and right and I want to have a little more fun on the street than I can do with the Harley.

I'm a big guy, 245 lbs and 6'3". I'm looking at the Yamaha R1 and the Honda 1000RR. I know there both faster than I need but the 600 seem way to small for me.

Here are my questions:
1)Which of these bike do you prefer and why?
2)For my size what can I do to "fit" these bikes better?
3)Are after market pipes avaible for both and what do they cost on average?
4)The honda is brand new, when do the 05's come out for the R1?

Thanks,
Buck

GSXR 750

Welcome Buck,
I can't really answer any of you questions, But this thread might be fun to watch :showtime

PS, You should check out an Aprilia, It'll go well with your other twins.

hey, i'm pretty new myself but i'll try my best :D

1) I think most of the responses will boil down to personal preference, since both bikes have amazing performance. Decisions like that usually boil down to brand loyalty, looks, and what feels best to the buyer.
2) I don't think you'll have any problem fitting the bikes - guys your size ride 600's with no problems. Someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think a 600 has significantly different ergos from a modern 1000. If you're looking for more comfort, a naked bike like a Yamaha FZ1 or Suzuki SV1000 might be a better choice.
3) Lots of aftermarket stuff should be available for both - just look around. If you just want a louder exhuast you can get a slip-on muffler. A full system will give you a performance increase but you'll need to remap the fuel injection.
4) The R1 was new for 04.

Have you looked at a Kaw zrx1200 or a Yammie fz1? they might give you the performance you're looking for without going to a full racer tuck riding position.
Otherwise I believe the consensous is the R1 and Gixxer 1K are the roomiest of the race rep. sportbikes. have you sat on these bikes? It seems the questions you have about 'fitting' on the bike could be answered by going and sitting on some. :shrug

The R1 is also brand new for 04' btw. A new Gix is coming out for 05' from what I've heard.

Good Luck.
mb.

dannyfromnb, what the hell are you talking about? an r1 or a 1000 too big for this guy? he is CLEARLY an experienced rider and seemingly a little older than 18...

go with the more knowledgeable advice posted by some of the other users. i'm not saying a 600 isn't quick enough to tote a big guy around on, but you will be ready for a switch way too quickly. just be aware that ANY of the new hyperbikes will be quick to bite, so a responsible, diligent wrist is necessary.

i can't give advice on comfort of the new bikes as mine is a decade old, but you should go have a seat on a few of the new sportbikes/sport-touring/naked models to see what feels the best. have the salesperson hold the bike upright so you can get both feet on the pegs. alot of people first complain of wrist/forearm stress, but my knees actually hurt long before that. these are things that can be adjusted over time with adjustable rearsets and clip-on risers. most new or current bikes have aftermarket products such as these readily available.

after you know how they feel, re-evaluate what you really want the bike for. is an r1/cbr1000r gonna be good for riding around the block? no. will they be good for a spirited backroads ride? yes. get the picture? buy what you like that will accomplish want you want it to do while also satisfying your other requirements such as tunability/design/look/etc.

good luck!

if he rides a CRF450, he knows about bikes with a lot of power and throttle control

Why not start with a Sport Touring type bike. Might be easier to get adjusted to, rather than just jumping into a full race rep. Easier on the bod, that is.

I'm thinking VFR800, Sprint ST, etc. FJR and ST1300 are probably more touring orientated and heavier. :shrug

If I were you, I'd be looking at the FZ1 or a Busa. But since you asked about 2 bikes, of the 2 I'd say honda, cause it's fatter and sports a torquier bottom end, like you're used to.

Danny from NB is full of shit. Disregard all of that nonsense.

Obviously, you're an experienced rider. . .let's not insult your intelligence. Considering the bikes you've been on, you might want to expand your options for big sportbikes. The Aprilia was mentioned, and I'd kick around bikes like the SuperHawk, maybe a used TLR. The power delivery will be familiar from the twin.

Also, you might look into some of the big-bore bikes that people consider almost sport-tourers, like the Blackbird, maybe a 'Busa.

Hell, why not scoot over to your HD dealer and take a ride on a Buell XB12? I've never been on one, but they look cool.