So, after selling my 2009 Repsol blade at the start of 2014, I had a few months on a 2009 Triumph Daytona 675, before buying this: I've spent a couple of quid on it, and despite never really being into Suzukis, I have grown to love it.
Yep, it's running a set of BST's. It feels quite similar in feel to my old 04 1000RR, which I preferred on the road to my 09, it seemed to suit my riding a bit more. Standard, I'd say the 08 onwards blade is subjectively a better bike, but there is not a lot in it. Modded, I prefer the GSXR. This one is 176 at the wheel, and feels a tad stronger than the blade did.
Loving the Gixer 1000 exuptoy, guess that's a L0 onwards model. I've only got a budget of circa £4500, so hoping to get a low mileage 08 model or if I leave it another month, I may get an 09. Looks like from the scenery, your from Scotland or somewhere?
Believe it or not mate that's the same as @Voleracing above. It's a 24k miles 2005 K5 (his was was a K6 judging by the fairing colours) sold mine for £4250 at the start of this year. Amazing tool really, other than upgrading the brakes and suspension, it's probably the best value litre out there although I'd go so far as to say the RR8 Blade is as good with better brakes and suspension and almost as much midrange torque. I'm from Wales BTW. The scenery is just as nice but maybe a little easier to understand the locals. Although that's debatable!
After owning and riding a few Gixers, if you're in the market for a 1000, try and bag a K9 as the K7/8 is reputed to be the worse without decatting and putting a proper exhaust and map into it! Also the headlight on the K9/L0 is prettier. When they facelifted the K7/8 it had a bad press after the K5/6. In isolation it's a good bike but until the K9/L0 it was slated that they'd made a backwards move, mainly because of strangled emmissions etc forced by the eurocrats! Also, who want's dual exhausts on a sportsbike!!! You need to shift the weight not add it! If you can stretch the budget the K9 is the one to have. I'd go for a slightly higher mileage one than a low mileage K8 as they are generally unbreakable anyway! They've never made a bad engine and they'll do 60-80k easily.
@f1nn bike above is without a doubt a tool but it has all the right bits! Try an L4 in any of the stealers and see how good they are, and thats essentially an K9/L0 with Brembos and big piston forks! The L1 even had the Brembos and the forks so nothing has changed since 2011!!!
Yes mine was the last of the iconic K6 (2006). Belly pan painted by Dream Machine ( red motul) . I ride in Wales mostly and still cant pronounce the place names , its the double LL thing
Had a K4 too Mega engine low down grunt 3000rpm up !! Lighter than they look too real easy to manage.
Had an Lo for a while ( dumped the twin cans for a beautiful Yoshi number) before i bought my first Fireblade (2010 model) and not looked at Suzuki since . .
I'm only looking at gixers as my budget won't allow me to buy what I really want (an RRA HRC or an RR9 Repsol). I think the k9's will put the budget upto RR9 territory..... And I really don't want to spend more than £4500ish. Hadn't done much research on the gixers, so thanks for the advice regarding the bad press on the k8's, I had no idea!!! It made me a bit nervous now! Might have to wait a month or two and see if a can pick up a Blade.....
