R6 vs R1: What's the difference in cornering?

[Abyss]

I rode an R6 and an R1 for my job not that long ago and I really like the riding position, unfortunately if I only have 1 bike it's not exactly the most versatile (gixxer totally wins in that category).

Naturally the R1 is psycho powerful and shizz but it's a much better streetbike considering it actually has a midrange. However I didn't get to do much more than highway and around town riding so I have no idea how they would both handle. Obviously I would expect a literbike to handle worse cos it's got a longer wheelbase and it weighs a bit more, not to mention the added torque and power would mean you have to be more precise with the throttle.

Really I just wanna know from people with more experience, is it actually THAT MUCH harder to corner on a literbike, or is it kind of negligible with a good rider triangle, suspension setup and tires?

 

[Corb]

I've owned both n 01' R6 and 01' R1
I know, vintage by today's standards.
For fast riding I enjoyed the R6 better. Its more work, but it gives you better satisfaction if you get it right.
The torque of the liter bike means less gear shifting but requires better throttle control.
As an everyday bike, commuter and fun bike I think the liter bike is better.
As a track toy I enjoyed the R6 better. Later braking, more corner speed, more flick-able.

 

[afm199]

I rode an R6 and an R1 for my job not that long ago and I really like the riding position, unfortunately if I only have 1 bike it's not exactly the most versatile (gixxer totally wins in that category).

Naturally the R1 is psycho powerful and shizz but it's a much better streetbike considering it actually has a midrange. However I didn't get to do much more than highway and around town riding so I have no idea how they would both handle. Obviously I would expect a literbike to handle worse cos it's got a longer wheelbase and it weighs a bit more, not to mention the added torque and power would mean you have to be more precise with the throttle.

Really I just wanna know from people with more experience, is it actually THAT MUCH harder to corner on a literbike, or is it kind of negligible with a good rider triangle, suspension setup and tires?

I've never felt the cornering was the issue as much as the necessity of dealing with the power. Too easy to make mistakes and go too fast.

 

[GAJ]

Was watching some Irish Road Racing yesterday and clearly Michael Dunlop had more fun riding the Supertwin, (Kawi 650), than either the 600 or 1000.

The grin on his face from winning that rather pedestrian to him race was wider than I've seen him with the IOM on his literbike.

I'm not sure if that is even on topic but I was surprised to see him even running in that category.

I have heard IOM competitors who run both liter and 600's exclaim how much more fun the 600's were to race.

Easier to ride and yet lap times faster than mid pack liter bike riders.

 

[Abyss]

Was watching some Irish Road Racing yesterday and clearly Michael Dunlop had more fun riding the Supertwin, (Kawi 650), than either the 600 or 1000.

The grin on his face from winning that rather pedestrian to him race was wider than I've seen him with the IOM on his literbike.

I'm not sure if that is even on topic but I was surprised to see him even running in that category.

I have heard IOM competitors who run both liter and 600's exclaim how much more fun the 600's were to race.

Easier to ride and yet lap times faster than mid pack liter bike riders.

See I have always had the impression that middleweights are better canyon carvers but I dunno if I agree with that. The other thing I'm wondering is if I'd have just as much fun running 9 on a literbike as I would on a middleweight (I kinda have realized I hate fast street riding though)

 

[Corb]

Yea, I've hear IoM racers say they race 600's for the fun and 1000's for the money.

 

[GAJ]

See I have always had the impression that middleweights are better canyon carvers but I dunno if I agree with that. The other thing I'm wondering is if I'd have just as much fun running 9 on a literbike as I would on a middleweight (I kinda have realized I hate fast street riding though)

As AFM199 says, when I used to ride my literbike, (sold after I bought a DRZSM which is way more fun in the twisties for me), the instant on acceleration would have you braking very heavily as you came up on a corner at a much faster speed than on a smaller bike and then you have a compressed fork while trying to steer over often bumpy pavement. Even great suspension, (and that bike had it), is compromised with a heavily compressed fork.

After many years of ownership I found that tiring unless I rode in such a fashion that I didn't use all that power...which is kind of the point of owning that kind of bike in the first place.

For me smaller bikes are just more fun in the twisties...and that's why I ride.

And, truth be told, on the street playing in the twisties the point A to point B speed differential is minimal at best.

 

[Abyss]

I agree smaller bikes are more fun and if I somehow ended up selling my gixxer I'd buy an RC390 in a heartbeat.

It all struck me yesterday when I realized I had more fun doing fast transitions and getting the rear out on Page Mill than I did riding skyline or 9. Honestly riding fast on the street is just fucking boring.

 

[GAJ]

I agree smaller bikes are more fun and if I somehow ended up selling my gixxer I'd buy an RC390 in a heartbeat.

It all struck me yesterday when I realized I had more fun doing fast transitions and getting the rear out on Page Mill than I did riding skyline or 9. Honestly riding fast on the street is just fucking boring.

Yeah, if I had to replace my DRZSM tomorrow it would be the 390 Duke.

 

[Corb]

If you are ok with a thumper as an only bike, I'd argue a Husky 610SM or a DRZ400SM would be even more fun and make more sense in the Santa Cruz mountains.
My DRZ on Page Mill was effin hilarious

 

[Abyss]

If you are ok with a thumper as an only bike, I'd argue a Husky 610SM or a DRZ400SM would be even more fun and make more sense in the Santa Cruz mountains.
My DRZ on Page Mill was effin hilarious

All my friends are getting supermotos tho. I don't wanna be a trend follower

I like sport bikes, I just am wondering how some people feel about riding a liter bike on the street because I've never done it and riding 600s and 750s on most roads in the santa cruz mountains is like a snoozefest unless you're doing 3x the speed limit.

 

[Maddevill]

I can't speak for others but even though I ride what others have called a "fat pig", ( ZX14), I have tons of fun riding the twisties. I can just leave it in one gear and concentrate on lines and the fun factor. Street pace is the limiting thing, not handling.

 

[Corb]

All my friends are getting supermotos tho. I don't wanna be a trend follower

I like sport bikes, I just am wondering how some people feel about riding a liter bike on the street because I've never done it and riding 600s and 750s on most roads in the santa cruz mountains is like a snoozefest unless you're doing 3x the speed limit.

The fastest, best rider I know on the bumpiest, tightest roads in the SC mountains rides a 03' GSX-R 1000 [with Lindermann forks! Very important detail. He cherishes those forks only second to his child]
That said, while I liked my R1, out of all the bikes I rode fast on those roads, liter sportbikes where my least favorite.
Supermotos my most favorite.

The weigh, the riding position, the big power all take a lot more out of you on those kind of roads. Its fun in its way, but at the end of the ride, you feel beat up and depleted.
A SM is exactly the opposite. Like dancing with a 90lbs professional that makes you feel better than you really are

 

[GAJ]

The fastest, best rider I know on the bumpiest, tightest roads in the SC mountains rides a 03' GSX-R 1000 [with Lindermann forks! Very important detail. He cherishes those forks only second to his child.

Yes, my TLS had Lindemann suspension with an Ohlins rear.

Great suspension.

But it sat once I got the SM.

 

[nebulous]

BOTH.

Rode 600s for 2 decades before getting a literbike. Would not live w/o both now, life is too short.

 

[Corb]

Yes, my TLS had Lindemann suspension with an Ohlins rear.

Great suspension.

But it sat once I got the SM.

He also has a Husky 610SM that he's very fast on, but still prefers the K3/1K.
He just likes big torque and power.
For the average guy I think the 610 is a no brainier if you have the Santa Cruz mountains in your backyard.

 

[Spec-ECU]

Strictly speaking from track experience:

I don't know if it's harder to corner a literbike from a middleweight per se, just different. I spent a lot of time a few years ago track riding on an R6, then moved on to my R1. It took me a long time to unlearn how I cornered on the R6 now that I'm on my R1. In fact, I'm still unlearning a few things.

The notable difference is the cornering style; high corner speed on the R6 vs. point-and-shoot on the R1.

 

[Shaggy]

17 posts and no one suggested a ZX10 with Scott's damper?

 

[Abyss]

Strictly speaking from track experience:

I don't know if it's harder to corner a literbike from a middleweight per se, just different. I spent a lot of time a few years ago track riding on an R6, then moved on to my R1. It took me a long time to unlearn how I cornered on the R6 now that I'm on my R1. In fact, I'm still unlearning a few things.

The notable difference is the cornering style; high corner speed on the R6 vs. point-and-shoot on the R1.

So you're saying in order to corner on an R1 you have to ride like a noob?

 

[stangmx13]

id be shocked if an R1 with aftermarket race-worthy suspension didnt corner significantly better than a R6 with adjusted stock suspension.

just get the new R1. everyone says it feels tiny like a 600.