Quote:
Originally Posted by peter f
Well a Blade/R1/Gixxer/ZX10 = ~14.5K (euro), a HP2S = 23.5K (EURO), a RC8 = 17.5K (euro). Don't tell to anyone but the Blade (and the rest) makes circles around RC8 that makes circles around HP2S...People who claim that Blade is bland...well maybe they are Valentino's cousins.
IMHO : surviving in the SuperSport Market segment appears unthinkable to me (unless name's SuzaHondaKawaYam and/or Ducati).
I hear you > what about KTM? ...
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I agree the Japanese own the supersport market but Triumph have done an admirable job of beating the Japanese with the 675 and Aprilia and Ducati have brought out products that are great alternatives to the Japanese.
Blade and other I4s, yes they are the best but who can really use all of it? I've noticed a trend in motorcycle magazine test reports that favour using ex-club racers and in some cases ex-GP, WSB/WSS riders to test the latest crop of superbikes. That seems to be the benchmark. BIKE magazines 2008 I4 Superbike test tagline reads something like 'are you good enough, we aren't.'
Given the ever increasing policing of the roads, crap roads to ride on, the track is the only place to explore these bikes. Most track day riders seem to benefit more from a 600 class bike than a 1000 anyway. So there is room for alternatives despite lower bhp/t and less ideal engine platforms for max power.
RC8. I love it. Great looking bike and for me, as a twin fan, a great alternative to the Japanese. Componentry is top notch but the Japanese stuff is far from pedestrian even if it does not have the bling bling name of Ohlins or WP.
If buying tomorrow I can safely say it would be the ZX10R on looks alone; it looks like the GP bike. Unfortunately it makes stupid bhp and the Ninja tag will see my insurance double over my HP2, despite my perfectly clean record and 38 y.o.a. body. It's utterly useless on the track I ride on since it's really a 600 track.
But that won't stop me from buying a used 2008/9 ZX10R, or HP2 Sport or R12S, if the BMW superbike proves too expensive.