In my opinion there's an easy way to select between bikes. You need to ask yourself some questions (internally)
1) Did you frequently rev the piss out of your old GXSR? (either for the sound or for the power) (Yes/No)
2) Do you ride agressively in the hills (Yes/No)
3) Did you routinely exceed 80 mph on your old GSXR? (Yes / No)
4) Did you ever make a suspension adjustment on your old GSXR? (Yes / No)
5) Would you be upset (to the point of not owning a bike because of it) with a higher maintenance bill every 2 years (Yes/No)
6) Are you over 155 lbs? (Yes/No)
If all of the above are NO. Then a monster is a better selection. Monsters are generally springed for 150lbs so If you're slightly less or close to that range your suspension wouldn't need much adjustment from stock settings.
I've owned two monsters and they are amazingly fun bikes,very easy to ride and extremely light and flickable. Though they are down on top end power compared to other bikes of similar displacement, I've found that their linear power delivery above 3k RPM allows me to more effectively use the power I have. I can ride a monster to 70%-80% its potential on the street (and not crash). With a GSXR it would probably be 40-50%.
The question is whether you care if you have that additional power on tap.
The monster has more power and potential for the street than you will ever need. Anyone who tells you otherwise is either just kidding themselves, needs to improve as a rider, or needs to start going to the track before they die.
Personally I use that lack of availability of top end power as a check against my own stupid self (I know deep down I'd end up doing something I shouldn't be).
1) Did you frequently rev the piss out of your old GXSR? (either for the sound or for the power) (Yes/No)
2) Do you ride agressively in the hills (Yes/No)
3) Did you routinely exceed 80 mph on your old GSXR? (Yes / No)
4) Did you ever make a suspension adjustment on your old GSXR? (Yes / No)
5) Would you be upset (to the point of not owning a bike because of it) with a higher maintenance bill every 2 years (Yes/No)
6) Are you over 155 lbs? (Yes/No)
If all of the above are NO. Then a monster is a better selection. Monsters are generally springed for 150lbs so If you're slightly less or close to that range your suspension wouldn't need much adjustment from stock settings.
I've owned two monsters and they are amazingly fun bikes,very easy to ride and extremely light and flickable. Though they are down on top end power compared to other bikes of similar displacement, I've found that their linear power delivery above 3k RPM allows me to more effectively use the power I have. I can ride a monster to 70%-80% its potential on the street (and not crash). With a GSXR it would probably be 40-50%.
The question is whether you care if you have that additional power on tap.
The monster has more power and potential for the street than you will ever need. Anyone who tells you otherwise is either just kidding themselves, needs to improve as a rider, or needs to start going to the track before they die.
Personally I use that lack of availability of top end power as a check against my own stupid self (I know deep down I'd end up doing something I shouldn't be).
You may be the only one who understood that part of my message. I really had to ask myself, do I use a sportbike to its fullest potential when I don't even go to the track? Or did I just like the look of them? And really, am I ready to step up from having a bike that looks like everyone else's on the road? I think I may learn to like the motor/suspension differences. Ergonomics has never been a big issue for me, at 5'5", I'm rarely uncomfortable on crotchrockets. Bored on a bike? Nah never. I could ride a pocket bike around the block and be happy. I may not get the looks and compliments on a naked bike as I did on a rocket, but the more I stare at Monsters, the more I find them attractive.
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