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Thinking about adding a liter sport bike to the stable next year. So I thought I would see what the thoughts are relative to the current crop. I am considering bikes such as CBR1000RR, R1, Super Duke, S1000RR, etc. in the under $20K range. I would like to hear your thoughts on ergonomics, even though I know they are all relatively uncomfortable, reliability, handling, dealer support, value (the total package including suspension, quick shifter, etc.), and stuff like that.
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I can't give any advice on which bike to get, just wanted to say I like your signature.
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Is this primarily for the track or for the street? If the former, assuming you're an expert rider and can tell the difference, I'd expect the R1 or S1000RR to have a performance advantage out of the box and the most headroom for performance modifications. If the latter, from what I've read, I think the CBR1000RR would be the best choice. I've not ridden the KTM.
But clearly, if you're able to demo all four, you'll be in a much better place than relying on the opinions of others. If you're not an expert rider, I'd suggest choosing the bike that fits you best, has the best local dealer support, and offers the best compromise for the type of riding you expect.
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Solid advice. Primarily for the street. It’s virtually impossible to demo all four around here. Sitting on one or a short demo ride won’t provide the feedback of what it’s like to live with one longer term though.
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I'd be tempted to have a look at the Kawasaki Ninja ZX too.
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superbikes belong on the track. otherwise you are just mutilating tires and/or risking death.
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the only input i can give you here is that the super duke is kind of out of place in this lineup. it's not at all a supersport and will ride and run very differently than the other options.
that said, if you're purchasing this bike for street riding, that might actually make it the best option of all the ones you listed, simply because it's *not* a supersport. it will be have much better at low RPMs, in traffic, and deliver more stable acceleration, whereas all the other bikes you listed are for raw speed and are essentially built for track conditions.
The Duke will be more practical, basically.
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Check out the Super Duke and Aprilia Tuono. Real world ergos...
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Suzuki GSX-S1000F. About $10k. Fairly upright with longer stroke GSX-R engine.
