2008 Suzuki GSX-R 600 vs. 750 vs. 1000

[°°Pat°°]

J'ai pensé que sa pourrais en intéressé une couple. Puisque le sujet revient toujours sans arrêt et que tout le monde explique leur opinion sur le sujet à chaque fois et que le débat ou guerre commence... Pourquoi pas mettre un article fait par une revue... Peut-être que sa pourrait être bon le mettre en sticky aussi.


Triplets: Suzuki GSX-R600 vs. GSX-R750 vs. GSX-R1000

We've all been there - sitting on the side of our favorite canyon road or in the pits at a local trackday, bench racing with our buddies like we won the Mugello Grand Prix, and the seemingly ongoing debate arises: What size Inline-Four Supersport machine is the best? Is it a nimble-handling 600, Mr. Versatile 750, or an arm-wrenching 1000cc monster? Undoubtedly, everyone has their own opinion...

"My 600cc rules the tight and twisty stuff, no one can keep up with me in the corners," says one friend.

"This 750 does it all - I've got power and handling, best of both worlds," another argues back.

"This is America and bigger is better, it's all about that 1000cc power, baby!" chimes in a third.

If I had a nickel for every time I've heard this... Well, I might not be rich, but I'd at least have enough to buy lunch for a few weeks.

And if you own a sportbike, and ride it where it should be ridden (twisties or the track), you know exactly what I'm talking about. But which really is the best? And does it matter one's skill set or is there one size machine that rules the roost no matter the rider's experience? Strangely enough, as far as we know, no one has ever done a Supersport track/street shootout judged only on motorcycle size and rider skill. Enter Motorcycle-USA.com.

Because this is more about bike/engine size and rider skill than who makes the best performing bike for each displacement, it made sense to stick with one manufacturer for all three machines. And since only Suzuki still makes all three displacement Supersport machines, the choice was easy. Not to mention, if you were to add the sales of all three GSX-Rs, Suzuki easily becomes the top-selling Supersport motorcycle producer in the world, thus more likely than not, one of your buddies in the aforementioned argument was on a Gixxer.

To cover a wide variety of skill levels, Associate Editor Adam Waheed and I took care of the intermediate and pro-level duties, respectively, while we had relatively new trackday patron and Nip/Tuck TV star John Hensley handle the more beginner duties - he's not a complete newbie, but his amount of track experience is limited.

Equally as broad as our range of rider skill was the environment in which we tested our pack of Gixxers. For track use we spend an entire day each at both the uber-fast Willow Springs Raceway and the tight and twisty Streets of Willow, plus hundreds of miles carving SoCal canyon roads and equally as many splitting lanes through SoCal freeway traffic.

We topped things off with a pull on our dyno to see what kind of rear-wheel horsepower these rockets are putting to the ground, plus a roll across our scales to see who needs to go on Jenny Craig. All three machines were shod with the same glue-like sticky Dunlop D209GP DOT-legal race rubber for the two days of racetrack abuse, while the OE street rubber was left in place the road portion of our riding.

It's all here, people: Three bikes, two tracks (two crashes), hundreds of street miles - but there can only be one winner.


Suzuki GSX-R600

New, err... redesigned for '08, the middleweight GSX-R600 surprised more than a few of us earlier this year when it nearly won our 600cc Shootout. We had a taste of the little Gixxer earlier in the winter at the world wide press introduction and came away only mildly impressed - much we later found out was due to the use of OE street rubber on the racetrack.

When we strapped some sticky buns on the Suzuki things massively changed, from lackluster to showstopper. This year's 600 is easy to ride, has a good deal more low-mid range power than the previous model and inspires heaps of confidence for all levels of riders - something the small Suzuki has always been known for.

For this shootout it was more of the same. All three of us were instantly at home on the 600, finding it the perfect "warm-up" bike, practically fighting to ride it first each morning at the track. Plain and simple, it's just easy to ride. It also became the so-called benchmark bike quite quickly, as it was the easiest on which to gauge one's progress as a rider throughout the weekend. As we all would come off from riding one of the other two machines we were always eager to hop back on the 600 and see how our lap times had improved - it was like the test mule so to speak.

And while it is very forgiving and easy to ride, when it comes to outright lap times, the 600 demands more than the other two, requiring the rider to be more precise with line choice and have the confidence to get on the throttle as early as possible to achieve those best laps. In this way it acted as the school bike, teaching the rider more than its bigger brothers.

Hensley:

"This is the motorcycle that I know best out of the shootout, as I own one myself. It's my choice for the racetrack, and I've become really comfortable with the bike. I feel it's the best for learning bike management - figuring out things like power delivery and corner speed.

"Handling wise the 600 is best - of the three bikes we tested, the 600 seemed the most agile. The brakes are excellent - best of the bunch as well. My lack of drive out of some corners, and my entering some corners one gear high, would be my biggest complaints. But that's more the rider than the bike (laughs). Though it is a struggle on the street - it just doesn't have the power to be a great street bike.

"If it were a track-only test I would pick this bike it as my favorite - thus the reason I have one sitting in my garage as my track-only bike, and I love it. But it just falls too short on the street to really do it all."

Waheed:

"Bar none, if you want to become a better trackday rider then this bike is it. This is the machine that has the ability to teach you the fundamentals of high performance track riding. On the 600 you can't afford to miss your apex, brake early or go slow through the corners - the engine simply lacks the power of the 1000 or even the 750 to make up for sloppy riding technique. Even though its lighter and handles more responsively than the 1000, at times it can almost seem like it takes more work to ride the 600 as you need to make sure every aspect of your riding is up to snuff - or it will cost you seconds off your lap time.

"Where the 600 loses, though, is on the street. When compared to the 750 and 1000 it's just not there for me - those are tough acts to follow. You need low-mid range wheelie-pulling power to put a smile on my face, and we all know who is going to win in that department. "

Atlas:

"600s have, and always will, hold a special place in my heart. It's where I started riding, the bikes on which I have had the most success racing, and corner speed has always been my forte. Each year the bikes get better and better, and Suzuki was the shocker of 2008. Personally, for a track-only bike, the GSX-R600 and the Yamaha R6 ruled the roost in my book. And it's for this reason that it brings a tear to my eye to put the 600 at the back of the pack in this group. It's amazing, but it's just not a GSX-R750 or GSX-R1000 - that's tough company to keep.

"Great track-only bike, just not up to the task on the street - and considering how good its elder siblings are at the track, it quickly falls to the back of the pack for me."


Suzuki GSX-R750

Suzuki's GSX-R750 seems to fall through the cracks more and more each year, somehow turning into an outcast these days. How? We have no idea. It truly perplexes us to think Suzuki is the last and only producer of a three-quarter Inline Four sportbike. For this reason, so much energy and press is focused on the 600 and 100, as that's what everyone makes. But throw a leg over the middle Suzuki and we guarantee you will not soon forget the numbers 7-5-0.

Each couple years, when Suzuki releases an updated version, it's one of the bikes we most look forward to riding, and usually an office favorite for a long-termer. This is because it really does it all - at least for some. You will always have those gluttons for punishment, the ones who believe having too much power is like having too much money, who do everything in excess, who are never satisfied. But for the rest of us rational-minded folks, the 750 is hard to beat.

It was quickly a favorite on the street and track. The only complaint may be that it's actually good at everything, but not really great at anything, though for most, having a complete package it what it's all about. It's not quite as nimble as the 600 (though really close), and it doesn't have that insane rip-your-arms-off pull of the 1000, but when it comes to doing it all...

Hensley:

"The bike is just awesome. The engine has the perfect balance of torque, power, and acceleration - you really can't fault it, as far as I'm concerned. As for handling, yeah, it's a little heavier than the 600, but not enough to really impede your ability to turn in with confidence. Mid-corner stability is one area where the 750 really shined for me as well.

"But I would say my favorite attribute would be the engine, coupled with the agility of the motorcycle, while still being almost the most stable of the group. Combine that with how good of an all-around street bike it is, and I think my only complaint is that I don't have on sitting in my garage!"

Waheed:

"I used to think that the 750 was the ideal balance between a 600 and 1000. When I had the chance to ride it at the intro I was in love with it, but since then, just like I always do, I have changed my mind. I feel that over the years it's become more closely aligned with the 600. Power output hasn't changed enough in the last few years, which makes riding it feel more like you're riding a 600 with a better bottom end. For most people that is probably a good thing, but I need big power, especially on the street."

Atlas:

"Jack of all trades - that's what the 750 is. When Waheed says it's a 600 with more bottom end, he's right on the mark - that's exactly what it is. You can see by looking at the dyno charts, the biggest jump in power is when you go up from the 750 to the 1000, whereas the 750 isn't hugely different from the 600. But keep your eye on that torque chart and the low end power, and you see where the 750 shines.

"The 600 is a tad sharper handling on the track, but only just a tad, though the 750 is noticeably more stable. And at the ultra-fast Willow Spring, when the winds picked up in the afternoon, having that added weight and stability was nice. For me, it really is almost the perfect track day bike. On the street it might not be as good as the 1000, but it does have just enough power to make riding enjoyable."


Suzuki GSX-R1000

What can we say about the Suzuki GSX-R1000 that hasn't already been said? Since the day it hit the market in 2001, it has dominated magazine shootouts and racing like no other machine before it. It hasn't lost an AMA Superbike race in several years, and has the last six championships under its belt at the hands of Mat Mladin and Ben Spies. Plus add to that the last few AMA Superstock championships, a couple World Superstock championships, a few dozen World and British Superbike wins, etc. When it comes to racing, it's not wise to bet against the Giggy-1K.

The reason for this success? A strong base platform to start from. And that's exactly what the GSX-R1K is - very strong! This strength was brutally thrown in all three of our faces at 180 mph the first time we threw a leg over the monster. Insanely fast Willow Springs Raceway was day one of the test and the winds were howling, making for a wheelie-filled first day of madness. Nonetheless, no one seemed to mind.

Hensley:

"It does what you ask, when you ask - just make sure you got your balls in check when you ask it! The power is very eye-opening. Before this test I had never ridden a 1000 on the track, and only one time on the street - and, honestly, it scared the crap out of me. For this reason, I was a bit apprehensive before I rode it, but I actually quite liked it - it wasn't as intimidating as I thought it was going to be. That's not to say it's not insanely fast though.

"You can actually be lazy about where you are in the rpm coming out of the corners. Just stand the bike up and twist the throttle, and regardless of if you are in the right gear, it gets up and it hauls ass. And the added weight, in the wind at Willow Springs, was actually really comforting. At the same time, while the huge power was one of my favorite attributes, it was also one of my least favorite. It's a double-edged sword - cool because for how gnarly it is, but also just plain gnarly. On the street, though, it was great. Not as good as the 750 for me, but right up there with it."

Waheed:

"The 1000 has my name all over it: It's got so much power than no matter what rpm or gear you're in, within a second or two you can be causing trouble - the acceleration is that instantaneous. All that power does come at a price. The 1000 definitely requires more muscle to get it to change direction, it's just a physically much larger machine than the other two. And the brakes don't feel quite as sharp as the 600 or 750 due to the higher velocities you attain with the ripping engine.

"At the same time, riding the bike is a total sensory experience like no other, and if you can come close to getting it right, it's really rewarding. It's tough, especially with all that power at a track as fast as Willow Springs, but when it's good, it's really good. And while the 750 may be close on the track, there's nothing even close to it on the street!"

Atlas:

"Hopping on the 1K for the first time the first day at Willow Springs was an eye-opener. I hadn't been on a literbike in months, and to get on it there, with the wind howling, was like getting hit by a bus. It wheelies out of Turn 9 onto the front straightaway at 120 mph in third gear, which isn't for the faint of heart; though once my brain got around the speed, I started to have quite a bit of fun. It's a great bike - quick, stable, good handling - it really doesn't do anything wrong.

"At Streets of Willow the 1000 was a bit more of a handful than the 600 and 750, as the tight and twisty layout really rewards the lighter weight of its younger siblings. It was still within a second of the others in terms of lap times, but those times were much harder to achieve.

"Overall, it's a good track bike, one I wouldn't mind having in my garage, but I would also have to have a 600 or 750 sitting beside it. On the other hand, for the street, the other two don't hold a candle to the 1K - it's wheelie-tastic!"


And The Winner Is...

We've come to the conclusion that there is more than one conclusion. The 600 just edged out the 750 as track favorite, while the 1000 barely nipped the 750 to be street favorite. But in the overall rankings, by virtue of a two "For My Money" picks (see below), as well as taking a close second in both the individual Track and Street ranking, the 750 takes top honors. If you are in the market for one Supersport to do it all, no matter your skill level, you should seriously consider punching the 750 ticket -it'll take you anywhere you want to go. It may be a dying breed among their competition, but Suzuki has stayed true to the 750, and we hope they will continue to for a long time coming.

For My Money...

Hensley:

"For me, I'm going to have to go with the GSX-R750, although just barely over the 600. It's just the best of both worlds - power and pull, plus a nimble, lightweight, agile feel. The 600 rules the track, which is why I own one and will not be selling it anytime soon, but factor in the street and consider the premise of owning only one motorcycle (something I don't think I ever could do) and no doubt the 750 is the way to go. It's just a damn good all-around motorcycle. Period."

Waheed:

"1000, 1000, 1000. I'm a man of excess - if I like something I like a lot of it. I must say that if this shootout had been a couple months ago I would probably have gone with the 750. It's a great machine, and really does it all. But as of recently I have been on a big power kick, and this GSX-R1000 is so much fun to ride, both on the track and the street. Probably too much bike for some, especially beginners, which not too long ago was me, but now that I am comfortable with it on the track, I love it. It's sensory overload - and I'm all about it!"

Atlas:

"The 750 is almost identical to the 600, just with low-mid range power boosted, which is why I am such a big fan. Like I said before, I hold a special place for 600s. But living with a 600 on the street is like having a root canal with no novocain. And for me, that huge rush of 1000cc power, while fun, isn't needed - if I'm only going to have one bike things like overall balance become much more important. Ideally, I would have one of each, as they all have their plusses, but when it comes to doing it all, and doing it well, you just can't bet against the 750."



Le source, Motorcycle USA, 2008 Suzuki GSX-R Comparison - MotorcycleUSA.com

Galerie photo, 2008 Suzuki GSX-R Shootout - Photo Gallery MotorcycleUSA.com

[°°Pat°°]

[blingbling]

Moi tout ce que j'ai à dire...

No replacement for displacement !

[siax]

merci pour l'info

[racerdude413]

Le probleme c'est que ca peux etre interpreter de plusieurs facon, moi je vois ce que je veux voir , et les squids voient ce qu'ils veulent, par contre moi je sais comment il ride "Atlas" et c'est certain que lui il torche des superbike de 200hp alors un 600 stock c'est poussif...tout est relatif... De plus que leur "newbie" a deja de l'experience de track , rien avoir avec un gars qui cherche sa premiere moto...

par contre voici ce que je retiens

At Streets of Willow the 1000 was a bit more of a handful than the 600 and 750, as the tight and twisty layout really rewards the lighter weight of its younger siblings. It was still within a second of the others in terms of lap times, but those times were much harder to achieve.

[maxpat82]

j'ai retenu ce que je voulais.....Pense pas avoir besoin de le dire....lol

Mais j'aimerais savoir ce que les 2 "pro" 1000 ont retenu? Siax et Pat?

mais meme a ca ca change rien:

Si tu est un type "All you can eat" côté performance: ca va te prendre un 1000.
Pour ceux qui aime la technique et s'amélioré: 600 all the way

[siax]

Envoyé par maxpat82

j'ai retenu ce que je voulais.....Pense pas avoir besoin de le dire....lol

Mais j'aimerais savoir ce que les 2 "pro" 1000 ont retenu? Siax et Pat?

j'ai retenu que si un jour jveux faire de la track, m'a m'acheter un 600. et que pour un rider expérimenté (je parle pas de moi), c'est justifiable d'avoir un 1000 si tu fais que de la rue avec sans mériter l'appellation de poser. différente machine pour différente utilisation...

mais bon, j'ai p-e pas tout compris

[°°Pat°°]

Envoyé par maxpat82

j'ai retenu ce que je voulais.....Pense pas avoir besoin de le dire....lol

Mais j'aimerais savoir ce que les 2 "pro" 1000 ont retenu? Siax et Pat?

mais meme a ca ca change rien:

Si tu est un type "All you can eat" côté performance: ca va te prendre un 1000.
Pour ceux qui aime la technique et s'amélioré: 600 all the way

Ben tu vois même avec tout se que le monde avait dit ici sur les forums, sa me prenait la version anglaise pour vraiment comprendre la différence.

Je comprenais pas vraiment comment le 600 nous apportait à nous améliorer comparé les motos plus puissante. La je le comprend vraiment.

Reste que pour ce que je fais le 1000 est bien correct, mais si je réussi à vendre ma moto, je crois que c'est un GSX-R750 qui va être dans mon entré. Le meilleur des deux mondes.

[siax]

Envoyé par °°Pat°°

Ben tu vois même avec tout se que le monde avait dit ici sur les forums, sa me prenait la version anglaise pour vraiment comprendre la différence.

Je comprenais pas vraiment comment le 600 nous apportait à nous améliorer comparé les motos plus puissante. La je le comprend vraiment.

Reste que pour ce que je fais le 1000 est bien correct, mais si je réussi à vendre ma moto, je crois que c'est un GSX-R750 qui va être dans mon entré. Le meilleur des deux mondes.

a force de lire, j'avais trouver un post ou deux qui expliquait bien la différence entre un 600 et un 1000 sur la track et pourquoi le 600 était mieux dans ce cas... je crois que c'était hellcrow qui l'avais expliqué dans la même optique que l'article.

[le ptit monstre]

moi ce que je retiens.....c'est que le 750 est parfait!!!!