Please advise!!!

I am getting ready to make the move from my EX250 to a 600... I will only buy new. I am trying to choose from the GSX-R600, CBR600RR, Hyosung GT650R, ZX-6R and of course the Triumph 675. I really have my heart set on the Triumph but am open to pros and cons of all the above bikes. Of course price is a factor which makes the Honda an issue and the Hyosung appealing... I am only a 5'7" gal and want to be able to ride it home so seat height is important too. I have 3 years of riding experience... So now I need you guys to give me some advise. Bring on the good and the bad! Let me know what you think I should get and why...

Thanks much!

ps... I'm a bit of a gear head so you can get a bit technical if you need to... lol  

i think sport rider will have their middleweight comparision in the next issue(july) which should be out soon i would probable want to give that a read first since they focus on all aspects of the bikes not just overall performance. but of course they won't cover the Triumph or the Hyosung. But without knowing what your looking for in a bike i'm not sure your going to get any relavent advise if one bike was perfect for everyone then there would probably be only one. For instance the fact that the  08'GSXR has a lower seat height which may be more comfortable to you and also has i think three diferent power modes which may interest you or not, or maybe knowing that the CBR is probably the lightest of the bunch might be relevent to you. Only you can determine which qualities are most important to you.

Unfortantly i'm not to familier with the Triumph or the Hyosung maybe some of the other members are and can give you some details about them, but i would look into things like parts and service availablity and accessories you may want to add as well.

Enjoy your new toy whichever it may be and ride safe!
Let us know what ya get.  

Tell me what you know about the 3 different power modes... I am not familiar with anything like that...  

according to june issue of cycle world the new GSX-R600 and 750 is equipped with the Suzuki Drive Mode Selector which is a bar mounted rocker switch that allows three power-delivery modes that can be changed on the fly. the system works by controlling the rate at which the secondary throttle valves open to soften trottle response and controll power output, not sure if your aware but modern sportbikes and cars and trucks as well are using a "drive by wire" system in which there is no mechanical like to the throttle body's that controll the airflow into the engine instead when you apply the throttle you are simply changing the resistance on a sensor that the ecu reads as input and provides an output to a small electric motor that opens the throttle plates they also use this to help reduce engine braking by closing the throttle plates slower even if you slam the throttle shut.  

wanted to add that the article states "While C mode hobbles the mighty middleweight to a sorry state that may make for a tight race against an old ford pinto, B mode proves beneficial in sketchy conditions."  

Wow that is good info and helps a ton thanks! I'm heading to the dealer to talk to them about that tonight! My main concern really is pulling the front end up accidently and going down.... I'm not sure how legit of a concern that is because I have only ever ridden my old 250. I have a little anxiety I won't lie!!! But I figure my fear is what is keeping me alive... lol  

glad that helps, pulling the front isn't really a concern on a 600 i don't think you'll do it accidently, but glad to hear your being safe!!  

I went from a 250 to a GSXR 600.  I have to tell you that it's a very forgiving bike.  It's real easy to correct mistakes without causing another, and it's not really that heavy if you drop it.  If you're as short as me, you may want to think about the CBR.  I had to shave the seat foam and I'm installing lowering links (I'm 5'-4").

My advice - check them all out.  You'll just know which one is right for you.  

Thanks you guys are amazing! So I have a little update... I went shopping last night and I have eliminated the Hyosung and the CBR. I haven't been to the Triumph Dealership yet but plan to make it out tonight or tomorrow...
I fit a little better on the gxr and have more foot on the ground but on both I still have the whole ball of my foot plus some. With the right shoes, I will be flat foot on the gxr. I started even considering the 750 because I can cut the power til I adjust. Of course the riding position is a lot different on the bigger bikes too... I like the color selection of the ninjas better for sure. (I am a girl after all lol!) and I am feeling a little loyalty issue. I have an amazing hookup at the Saki dealer but none at the Suzuki dealer unless there is anyone on here in Utah that has a good Suzuki hook up... the price difference isn't enough to affect my decision except that I won't be paying full retail for the Ninja no matter what! The boys at Plaza Cycle love me!  

Any additional thoughts/comments?

Thanks again guys!  

I have a 675 and love it. I sold my 02' 750 to get the 675. You are 5'7" and the seat height on the 675 is pretty high so you might not be able to plant a foot down unless you lower it. IMO, I think you would be best with the CBR or the Suki. That white scheme on the suk is really nice. Dont worry about bringin the front wheel up on a 600, its all about throttle control and as long as ya dont yank on the throttle you will be fine.  

Good to know thanks! The cbr is out because I really don't want to pay the extra money just for the name... I sat on a Triumph about a year and a half ago and I remember being able to touch really well actually... I think a lot of it is how wide the seat is. The suki and saki seat heights are both 32.3 and the tona is 32.5 but I can touch better on the suki for sure because the seat is more narrow... I'm also not one to keep a bike for more than a few years... What should hols its value of the 3? Also, would a Triumph be more expensive to maintain because it is British?  

Your primary mistake is that you assume with the Honda you're paying for "just the name."  With some Honda bikes that may be the case, but not with the current generation 600.  It is worth every penny that they're asking.

To give you an idea of where I'm coming from, I'm 5'8" 150 lb. and have owned three Hondas and a Suzuki.  I currently ride an '05 1000RR on the street and used to race an '03 600RR.  That bike had full race exhaust, Scott's damper, fully valved/sprung fork and Penske triple shock.  Not to mention with all of the stock parts off the bike and in the bin it was quite light.

Here's the thing, though: With all of my street bikes and even my race bike (which I had setup to my weight) I never bothered to mess with the suspension clickers.  I figured I'm not good enough to notice a change in handling anyway.  I mean, I was pretty much "give me the bike and I'll ride it."  As for both bikes, I thought they handled just fine.

That is until I bought an '07 600RR for my girlfriend.  TWO MINUTES on the seat of that thing had me seeing things a whole new way.  I think my problem with diagnosing suspension setup was that I'd never felt what it SHOULD be like.  That 600 was a dream.  Perfect in every way.  I never took it to the track, but I bet I could have beaten the lap time of my race bike by over a second with the mirrors still on--bone stock.  Seriously, it's just that good.  It's so light that it's easy for even small people to handle (I don't care how short you are, it's light enough and well balanced enough to hold up) and flicks side to side better than any bike I've ridden, yet without any instability.  The electronic damper works WAY better than the one on my 1000RR, which helps a lot.  The motor is an absolute gem for a 600.  Especially in the real world where you won't be at peak revs all the time.  The seat's actually not bad and the reach to the bars is about perfect.  Mostly, though, was just that telepathic handling.  It was amazing.

Anyway, I ended up selling it because it scared the crap out of her (bit too much for a first bike), but I always look back and think that I probably got rid of the wrong bike.  I liked it a lot more than the 1000.

Just my take: I'd pay even two grand more for a new 600RR over a GSXR600.

Hope all that rambling helps.  

Everyone has a make that they are partial to... I respect that... But let's all keep in mind with all this advice that I really anm still a beginner and the only mod I will be making is stripping the stock decals... I am a *** on bikes still. It's not a performance issue at all. I want to live so that my new life insurance policy won't make it to my mother's pocket before it's time.