GSX650F AND GSR600

[aussiebandit]

After riding the KLR650 from Wagga to Melbourne "The Eldest" has decided that's it's time to get a real road bike, not a dirt bike with 17" rims and road rubber. Among others he's interested in the GSX650F (I think the yanks call them a Katana) and the GSR600.

Any information would be appreciated. The bike will be his only form of transport (he doesn't have a car drivers licence) and commutes around melbourne and will be riding it long (ish) distances.  Given that he's not yet 19 I'm not keen on him getting anything much bigger than a 750, and surprisingly he agrees with me.

[Old_n_Slow]

Hmmm, tough one. For practicality and long(er) distance comfort, the 650 wins hands down. The fairing for distance and the low pipe for room for bags. For a whiz-bang effect from the peers, the 600 has the ultra aggressive street fighter look that will always garner applause. You'll have to rev it to really use it as intended though, from what I've read.

The 650 is basically a faired Bandit with fuel injection, which means super relibilty and low cost maintenance, a friendly mount with decent low and mid range power, excellent for travelling and sport touring.

[Red01]

+1 with Old_n_slow!

The GSX600F & GSX750F were called Katanas here in the States, as was the shortly imported GSX1100F, but the new GSX650F "Bandit with a full fairing" did not carry on with the name and just goes by GSX650F like the rest of the world.

[smooth operator]

  There was an article in "Sport Rider" where Andrew Trevitt was using a GSX650F for comuting back and forth. Although they have many top of the line sportbikes in the "Sport Rider garage" to choose from. He enjoyed comuting on the 650. It may not have the power or suspension as the latest ,greatest bike of whatever brand. But it was a pleasure and easy to ride bike, that has all you need for your street duties.

[LowRyter]

my brother has the new 650.  Very smooth and refined bike, nice brakes and suspension too.  Could rev a little faster considering the 12k+ redline.  Was new.  It might need to limber up.  This is a comparison to my 1998 B12 with several mods.

[aussiebandit]

So going by the responses the GSX650F and GSR600 can be summed up as follows:

650 - good all round every day bike
600 - hooligan bike for beginers