I've been ridng sports bikes for twenty years. Every year we're told that they're lighter than the previous. Shouldn't they weigh around 50 kilos now?

I have owned about 35 bikes, on last count, and it doesnt matter what you ride, as long as you enjoy it. I currently own two Suzukis, both 750's and both great bikes. A gsxr and a gsxfr. Each is good at what it does. I used to race and enjoyed the excitement, and now that same feeling is still available. Enjoy the ride, it doesn't last forever.

Interesting that 9 years ago (now in 2020) we thought 1000+ superbikes were a thing of the past. I think because of EURO 4/5 emission regulations it has gone the other way. It has killed the middleweight sportbike class. The GSXR 750 is no longer sold in the UK, the Ducati 848 is now the 959 which is basically a litre bike and we are now in the era of 200 BHP superbikes with between 1000cc and 1299cc wrapped in a lot of electronics management to keep even the novice rider safe on what would have been a death trap 15 years ago

Since when has it been about need??. you buy a big bike because you want it. If you only got what you needed most of us would be on mopeds.

I’ve ridden sport bikes since they were invented. Hurricanes, Ninjas, R1/R6, Gsxrs, Blackbirds - I’ve owned them all. Commute, tour, and track. I’m currently on a S1000rr and a ZX14r. The nice thing about being a bit older is that all my hard work has paid off and I can actually afford to ride the latest and greatest. Yes, the one thousands are still relevant, especially for those like me who have evolved with these machines since the 80s.

This is the first review that I have ever seen that touted insurance being a reason not to purchase a Super Bike. I bought an FZ1 instead of an R1 for the sole reason that insurance was 4 times higher.

I am 45 I still ride Sport bikes,I ride a 2012 Yamaha R1,I have had 600's,750's.All I can say is effortless power.Nothing wrong with 600's they have plenty of power but it's nice having a bike where you don't have to work it very hard.Too put this in another way,a 600 is like Linsey Lohan,she can get in a lot of trouble and demands attention.But a 1000 is like a Goth girl on Pcp,strength,edgy,and can be totally unpredictable if pushed past the limit.

At my local dealership they have a brand new 2014 gsxr750 which is identical to the 15 except for the production year for $12500 Australian. That's only about £6500. It's in black and red which I like but I know it's not the most popular colour. Still I can't think of a better value price / performance ratio from a new bike anywhere. Still don't buy that a bike like the 750 doesn't have enough torque for the road though, you'd have to be taking hairpins in 4th or 5th gear to even stay on the bike if you're truly at full throttle. I know it's slightly easier to go everywhere on a 1k and ride everywhere in 6th like it's an automatic but most 600s are way more than enough to ride easy or hard on the road. I can't imagine anyone ever needing a 1000 for the road and only a tiny tiny fraction of the riding population are going to come near using the capabilities of a modern 1000 on the track. That's not to say people shouldn't own them, it's fun to own something so crazy even if you're not going to wring every last inch of performance out of it. Plenty of people will have fun thrashing an R1 or ferrari 458 without doing 300kph or pulling multiple lateral g and so they should. That's a long way from saying it's better suited for the road though and a very very long way from saying you NEED a 1000 for the road. If you're riding a 600 on the road and genuinely feel you need more then your not riding it right.

I'll admit, I went back from my 750 to a 1000 last year and I regret it. The 750 was more alive and more fun to ride, whereas the 1000 is just fear of using full throttle. I have two 180whp+ track bikes btw.

More to the point are 100cc sports bikes irrelevant?

I have to say, I agree! I started out on a 250 Honda Hornet, my second bike is a Triumph Street Triple and I've been riding my Blade now for the past 9 months and I love all my bikes. I have to be honest, the Blade is a more forgiving bike than the Hornet and the Street, provided you have control of your wrist and your ego. The smooth power curve of the Blade, the light weight and firm preload all make for a great ride for short sprints and long weekends!

True. I raced bikes for 9 years, raced all sorts mostly 1000cc... I never really had highsides until I raced 600's, they draw you in to opening the throttle more as they don't have much power low down, and when the rear wheel looses grip is spins up a LOT catching up on the open throttle. 1000cc is much easier power to control as you have more power you aren't forced to open the throttle wide to get the thing going.

Best video MCN has done yet. Top filming, good quality, good info, decent conclusion and well presented.

Neeves, when you say on the road it needs to be geared down.. Fine on the track, I learnt to let the bike rev on the streets for its engine brake. So I think I might be riding around town like you say.. As if I was on a rack track, because I'm always letting the bike rev.. Safety measure, but I'm not knee down though.

You are so very right J. Frost. I'm tired of people, who probably don't have any skill as a rider, saying that you are a "squid" if you start on anything else other than a 250cc please. If I would have started out on a 250cc I would have traded it in the next day. I started on a 750 and same as you, no ticks wrecks or any of the other no sense. Some people are just better natural drivers. They judge the distances better. They control the bike better and they know their limits

I have a Yamaha Thundercat, have you ever road one and if so what do you think of them, I've decided to sell mine because the roads here in the Philippines are full of holes and not really good for bikes, plus the fact that I'm 72 years old. Back in the UK I don't think they'd give me a license any more

more reviews like this please! Good job MCN!

The reviews of the 848 and GSXR are spot on. Realistically you don't need more than one of these on the road. 1000cc 4 cylinder bikes are OTT for road riding. You don't even need to get out of 1st on the motorway. Last 1000cc machine I rode was a RSV4 Factory APRC. Stupidly fast and the traction control kept kicking in when coming out of the corners.

Yep - I've never had a problem keeping up or beating anything to 100 or so on my F4i.

I have owned a 750 and 1000. Neither were superbikes but more sports touring. I have never been on a track. For street riding, the 1000 is by far much more usable power. The 750 had to rev higher and by that stage your looking at the speed limit in the first or second gear where as the 1000 wouldn't need the rpms so much.

😂 Since this video was made they can't give 600cc and 750cc Supersport bikes away everyone just buys Litre bikes.

Great video thx for taking your time for fans like myself watching these awesome video just not sure what direction am going is either 08-10 cbr1000rr or gsxr750 ..👍🏼💯👍🏼💯

I have ridden quite a few bikes a short list as example a 2011 Gsxr 600, 2002 Gsxr 750, TL1000S(Suzuki VTwin Supersport), and my current bike being an R1 you can actually feel quite a difference between say the R1 and the Gsxr 600, and that is in many different aspects.

you are absoletly right about it firend, people buying them to show off and get killed, or you need them for racing on track days. 600's are best for everyday use, enough power, good top speed, good to blow some one away from start line! I like your comment its very pointed and true, keep safe friend.

I still think on normal roads there's not much point in having a 1000 cc, but it all comes down to personal preferance. I don't think anyone should tell anyone else that there is a right and wrong answer when there clearly isn't. Thumbs up on the improved sound quality !!!

I love these comparisons and love Michael Neeves, he is my favorite tester/teacher. Life at lean is very good too, but it is more 5rack focused.

As you say, "because he is going too fast"... it's not the problem in the bike. 1000's are only a few pounds heavier, so his problem definitely does not come from the weight of the bike. Also, 1000s usually allow for wider tires, if you're not afraid to test that grip... i understand what you mean by decreasing radius turns, 1000's engine brakes a lot more ferociously than the smaller 600, so you really have to control the throttle through those...which, i admit, is no easy task ;)

Well done to you MCN, you've really upped your game when it comes to your vids. Great watch.

I like to know the difference 600cc sport bike vs 1000cc Naked bike, performance on track. The sport bike insurance would cost 3 times as much as the naked (in my country)

love it when neeves does the testing! He's not biased and he knows his moto!

yeah...true that! Couldn't agree more. U don't need to "work your ass off" on a 100NM+ as much as you have to with 50NM or so.....I remember finding it annoying to have to get up in the high revs with a 600cc just to get any power at all...now with around 116NM or so on my current bike I ride with much more ease.

I started with a 1000cc sportbike. 2 years later, tried a 600cc GSXR. I still don't understand why 600's are being sold. People think a 1000cc is some sort of a crazy machine, but it's not. I see how it would be scary to go from a 600 to 1000 simply because you get used to half the power, and that shortage of power allows for more mistakes...initially... but if you start with a 1000 and learn how to properly control that power, 600 or even a 750 start to feel very....toy-ish... 1000cc FTW!

The fact that the V-twin bike outperformed the Inline four on real road conditions was no surprise to me. I own an SV650 and while on track conditions my bike will get left behind a 600cc supersport, on most any real road that doesn't look like some mythical riding heaven from off an advert from a motorcycle magazine, my SV650 will keep up with or outperform the supersport 80% of the time, and that's entirely due to the way V-twins naturally make their power.

I am 33 yo, riding for almost 15 year since teenage, got no injured wif my several lovely bike. Own big cc is not issues as long as u deserve to ride on it and feel its satisfaction. Man should have their hobby when 40'.

I think the Ducati looks superb in that matt black finish, a real head turner for sure!

MCN are making really awesome videos now! :) Props boys.

1k's and up are still relevant for racing on the freeway doing rolls and serious holeshot/digs- street wise

Well, we know where Pirelli DOESN'T spend profits - that track surface is abysmal! Kudos to you for not just telling Pirelli to F off!

Hmm.. i do use my SC59 for city riding only, and CB500X for long distance touring, so yeah we need litrebike

i totally understand what you mean =] once a 1000 hits the powerband, it turns terrifying no matter how long a person rides those things. when i ride through twisty roads I usually don't try to fly through them, mostly try to enjoy the torque of the bike and no have to constantly shift gears to keep it lively. and you have to admit, 1000s do a much better job at that. and again, i started and learned to ride on a 1000, so that may be why i like the bigger displacement bikes more.

perfect production in this video... you guys keep the future videos like this please !!

i would always pick the ducati voz its just stunning beauty!

For the street the 1000s can go faster on the longer straights. The lighter middleweights can hold a higher corner exit speed. Most tracks don't have long enough straights to accommodate the obscene liter bike power.

Unnecessary, Gsx-R 750 is just right!

M. Maximus is right. Been on Portland raceway on a 929 and rc51. That track is a liter bike track. U really can't have enough power there....

Great video! I hope to see more addressing issues like this. Thanks guys.

Great video! I liked the question you brought up about if 1000cc bikes are still needed or not.

Very good video there! Great review of all the bikes and good conclusion too

funny thing, i did a test ride on a 750 gsxr 2013 or 14 and felt totally out of place, to much revs, a strange steering damper and it didn't feel comfy at all - later i got a k9 1000 and a l2 to try and boy were those great or what - would have bought the l2 on the spot but the dealer wouldn't trade in my r1 at a good price ;-(

he does these videos so well

As many of you have, I have owned a 600, 750, and most recently a 10' R1. They were all stupid fast, fun as hell, and rode great. Only a few really good track riders good find a difference and from the mods they put on it, it changes the bike anyhow...point to this video...I do love having the power of the 1000 under me, even if we don't have the autobahn in Ohio!

A damn nice video guys. That Ducati is stunning.

All i need is a... Kawasaki h2

Crazy how things change, with the 600 class being phased out of euro 5.

I live in the UK and at the age of 19 I was able to find insurance for my 600cc Suzuki Bandit for

whats great about the fireblade is that on the road you just put in fifth gear and cruise around with just enough torque...

Actually not really. I own a R6 2010. The powerband is somewhere between 7k-12k. After that I still got 6k more to go. For daily commuting, riding to work and actually just for street use, I don't see why someone would get a 1000cc bike. If you don't plan on going to the race track regular, and just use the bike for the above stated reasons, like me, then there's no plausible reason to get a 1000cc. For 30-40% less money I have the same fun on the streets with my R6 as you'd have on your R1. IMO

On the racetrack a 600 will do very well...maybe better than 1000 cc. since it is easier to ride, more forgiving. But outside, in the real world, a 1000 cc is always a better option since it has more grunt, usable low revs and it is more stable at high speeds. The drawback of the 1000 cc is that maintenance, taxes, insurance etc. cost more. Personally, I am happy with my 600 cc...

A lot of people say that to me but I have no desire to go 150 mph especially when there are few places to do it illegally. Not to mention taking a chance of being seen by cops or hitting someone

Was that Fireblade stock? It kinda looked like it was set up for drag racing with the extended rear swingarm.

@echoid I wondered the same thing! The K7's look amazing! And since idk 2010-2011 when ever they changed the look I lost complete interest in Suzuki(which was always my #1 bike choice) now to get new age proformance I rather go Ducati even though its expensive or A Zx10r.suzki screwed up

does midrange bikes ( f3 800,panigale 899 ,gixxer 750 ) better than supersports ?.

I think there are some valid points made by both camps, to start or not to start out on an open class sport bike. I do believe however that starting on an open class sport bike will increase your chances of having an off, its not a sure bet. Everybody is well served if they respect the abilities of whatever they ride. I started on a Kawasaki ZX 7R and went to a Honda 929 with no offs.

I don't think an 848 would be as fun in the Diavel as my 1200 Testestruttah. Chop off 100 lbs and change up the general design, and the 848 wouldn't be a bad idea. No motorcycle NEEDS more power than the 675, 750, or 848 are producing, but it sure is hella fun on the back roads and track.

@ThaBR33D You're not wrong about the insurance. Even my Aprilia RSV 1000 is twice the cost of my previous Fireblade and GSXR 1000. Hasn't stopped me lusting after the Ducati 999s in the shop down the road. Suddenly saving for a house feels less important. :-)

My RC51 is nice but Id be happy if they had a 750 model available

Not having any offs isn't a valid indicator of riding ability. Valentino has been off and I'm sure he's a much better rider than all of us.

You certainly have a point there. At first, I admit, the power was absolutely terrifying (i weigh 135lbs). Got used to the bike fairly well in about a year. As for the A.D.D. people (lol), I've found that the safest way to ride is alone. As soon as the other guys see that you've got a 1000, they start proving something instead of enjoying the ride... dangerous business

Well.... I certainly need MY 1000cc bike. : )

wish you guys would have also tested the r1. maybe next time

I thoroughly enjoy your videos. I especially enjoy them without the need for ridiculous background music!

This is one reason I'm such a big fan of the twins and triples. You don't have to rev the shit out of them which can be taxing during a boring commute through traffic.

SuperBikes are one of the most desired bikes.Look at the WSBK, at the Tourist Trophy races.Do you imagine if they haven't been manufactured ?

Yeah this is the problem when people who haven't experienced these bikes add their input. They just look at the top speed & that's a pretty irrelevant stat. A GSXR 750 for example will have an official top speed only a tad less than a litre bike (Blade is like 175 mph official & Gixxer 750 is about 170 I believe). The important stat they fail to take into account is torque. A litre bike will out pull a 600 in almost any gear. Once you've got comfortable on the litre u won't wanna go back down

no actually most people that ride a litre bike (including myself) feel 600's to feel sluggish on torque in comparison... obviously its natural but hey happy riding no matter what it is

i would love an 848 .had gsxr 1000 last sportsbike then got a bonneville to chill on love it!! it does top speed what my gsxr did in first [105 approx] just want a last sportsbike to take on track and to look at in living room ah ah .. i reckon that would be the bike for elbow down ..looks ace too ..would it seem too slow after a gsxr 1000 k6? never had a duke before .

ive seen 600s reach into the 180s and ive seen liters reach a bit over 200

Honest review. I like your work. Not to mention your job... :D

@AnklebiterTypeR u mean just out of the corners u got the jump on them during road conditions, or coming out of the hole.

Do we need them? No. Do we want them? Yes. it's the same as saying we don't need High end cars. People want them, but there's no need for them. My ultimate goal is to get a Ninja ZX-6R. But that's not because I need to go that fast

I can flick my '08 CBR1000RR through a corner just as smooth as a 600 or 750. Modern liter bikes are coming down in weight and, more importantly, centralizing that mass. There's barely any differnece in weight between a 600 and 1000 now.

Good video, thinking of getting the 848 Evo... stealth of course

u guys should do a review or what ever on the new ducati monster diesel when it comes out i wounder how it will perform with a 1100cc diesel engine in a superbike

It was obvious you were going to choose the Fireblade because you already got the leathers to match

Do not start/buy a 125 or 250. I rode a Kawasaki KX-80 for one week and went out and bought my 2006 ZX6R, rode, and adapted to the bike just fine. If you buy a 125 or 250 you're gonna bite yourself in the ass because honestly...its not a lot of power and thats money you could have used to buy a 600. For a 600 you're getting all around good power, nothing too extreme and the power is there. Do yourself a favor, if you're going to get into sportbikes....start at a 600...it's the happy medium.

I am in Oregon and I got a 04 Honda shadow. We got insurance under dads name and its like $17 a year.

how can insurance be a problem if you have money to buy a new bike?

@saucypup76 Most inline 4 cylinder litre bikes will do around 90-100mph in 1st gear. Less on a V-twin. Prior to getting my first litre, I had always thought that they were overkill. Then you go to make an overtake and suddenly realise what all the fuss is about. A litre can make you a lazy rider. It can also help you to focus more on the road, because you will reach your limits well before the bike does.

i think everyone has different views aswell as talents personally myself i have been riding sports bikes for 20 years that includes racing them on tracks i like 1000cc bikes i own 6 at the moment and to me it feels no different to slinging my leg over a moped, i use every bit of power available to me in all gears

Bikes are most certainly NOT "just toys." For some they are, for hardcore enthusiasts, they are not. I own a car, but the majority of my time 95%+ is spent on my bike. The mentality that motorcycles are "just toys" is part of what's wrong with motorcycling today. It really grinds my gears and we serious riders are getting marginalized as a result of it. You get no respect from other citizens or the government when by both just think you're screwing around on a "toy."

Over £10,000 for a Suzuki GSX-R750! What happened to the days when the thousands cost less than £10,000?!

@zero937 Why? It's a test track, not a race track. Pirelli need to test their tyres in real world conditions, without the speed restrictions of using the public roads.

zx10r conquers akk perfectly well rounded bike for street or track, i wouldnt have any other bike

Hey everyone. I have a question regarding the purchase of a sports bike. I have been riding mainly nakeds up to know and currently am riding a Honda X11 (1100cc with 135hp and 116NM). Now...from experience...this thing is mad heavy, and I was considering switching to a sports. However...I don't know if I should go to 1000 or just stick with a 600. I have a fear that a 600cc would be....well...for me...too slow...especially from riding the X-11...any suggestions?

what do you mean by they take advantage? and yes, it means a lot where you live, i used to live in kind of bad area with high theft percentage, so they will quote me higher than someone who lives in good area. occupation? but why? so you get lower insurance if you working for...some rich company? WTF?! i say lower milage too but i dont think it will be big difference. what i ride? im looking at this moment, i passed my test so i was lookin for hornet or FZ6n, i used to ride RS125 :) fast bike :)

Good review, helps put things into perspective for some (like me), cheers

@ferrarithedude Its not that bad im 18 and i live in NZ and i bought a bike when i was 17. and i know that our Currency rate is very differant but it shouldnt stop you from geting a nice bike. Buy second hand if need be, and lessons are not esential unless you have no experience in my opinion. But i have found lots of great advice on this channel.

I personally prefer the torque of the 1000's smaller bikes are great but must be driven in such high revs to get any sort of pull

@aluisious because then the suzuki is gonna fly and the ducati isnt inline 4 ?

Deffo when you can get just as much fun out of an old GSXR 600 SRAD muhah - I know I went up against one a couple of times. I have a vid on my channel GSXR600 vs GSXR1000. Only a short blast but it shows the similar acceleration! At least under those conditions.