Hey gang,

I've been riding my 01 Gixxer 600 for nearly 5 years now, and have started thinking about upgrading.
As appealing as the masses of power available from an inline 4 sounds (thinking of new R1), I'm still considering a 1000 v-twin (thinking new RSVR).
Have many of you ridden both types? (not necessarily the same models, just engine types) And what are the main differences, not just in performance, but um... behaviour? (for want of a better word)

Thanks in advance,

D

I had an 01 600 prior to getting my TL. I love both bikes and they are sooooo different. With the TL it's a much heavier bike, but that's not something you notice riding on the street until you start braking. When I hop on my friends 954 it's like night and day on the braking. On the racetrack is a different story though. It gets very tiring flinging the big TL around the track from corner to corner.

Now as far as the motor. Ugh....love love love my TL motor. Ooodles of torque from wherever you want. I've ripped through twisties on the backroad only to realize I forgot to shift down out of 6th because of that tractor pull. It's not explosive like the little 6 is but just massive torque on the low, mid and high. Me and my buddy with the 954 do rollons and you can see the power difference. Immediately I pull ahead as his bike just doesn't have it down low, but once in his powerband he rips ahead. My bike is still pulling just as hard as before but it's not explosive like the I-4.

I wouldn't say it's an upgrade, just a totally different ride altogether. My ideal garage would house a TL for street riding and a Gix6 for the track. Seems they both excel in those areas quite well.

If your interested in the TL then check out www.tlplanet.com (http://www.tlplanet.com)

Good analogy.

I have felt that the new twins lack that motor hit the 4s give. The power is so smooth that it doesn't feel like it is really there.

Now the 97 TL-S motor had this hit and is still probably the best twin motor out there. I have ridden 600cc inline 4, 1000cc inline 4, 4 different 1000cc twins.

You will feel the vibration more on the twin as the cylinders fire, where as the 4 is just a constant buzz. The twins seem to bother my wrists more then 4s.

Now the last RSV I rode was back in 02 I think, and it was ok on the power, just nothing to really write home about. (I could get WOT in first from down low and the front wouldn't lift). Now not saying that if you hit from about 4k rpm it wont stand up erect.

But the brakes on the RSV will make up for some of the weight. They have the best brakes I have ever ridden. Great feel, Great initial power and continuous power.

But the RSV still suffers from "Where's Neutral" problems. It is a cat and mouse game to find N.

Twins I have ridden. 97 TL-S (owned), 2000 TL-S, 1998 VTR superhawk, 1999 TL-R. The TLR feels racey to me. Feels like the front is right under the rider. Wasn't to crazy about the riding position of the TLR.

I have felt that the new twins lack that motor hit the 4s give. The power is so smooth that it doesn't feel like it is really there.

Great point. From the first time I took my TL for a spin I never felt that the throttle controlled the bike, it was rather a scenery control. I never felt like the bike was going faster, but the scenery sure was moving past me at a good rate of speed.

Odd on the wrists. I had some hard times with my wrists on my little gixxer but haven't had any problems with the big Tiwn.

Yeah I have some strange hands. As different things and different positions affect me different then everyone else.

I know my Dad's 2000 TL-S with Full pipe and Power Commander isn't as fun to ride as my 97 TL-S was. That motor had a Personality.

sold my 01' Tiller for an 02' R1.....truth be told, i miss the tiller. hp/tq numbers arent all that matters, The tillers got soul.

The tillers got soul.
SO FREAKIN TRUE!!!!!!!!
I miss my Tiller also... But would rather have both bikes in my garage. It would be a no contest decision to keep my '05 1k over a TLR.:cheers

I rode my buddies 06 CBR1000RR a couple times, and you can't use the powerband between 9000-11000rpm's on the street, its way to violent. I spun the back tire @ 60mph getting on the freeway. I'll stick with the smooth TLR powerband. Its all about the twisties for me, TLR will hold its own with any bike out there.