caulkie

I've owned XJR's since 2002 and love em, very tolerant to normal everyday riding and you can go touring on them too. I find that a tank will do 130 miles before you go on reserve and then you can get 30ish miles on the reserve. Neil, a group of XJR owners are meeting up at Scoffers this Sunday (6th May 07) at Scoffers on the A road between Northampton and Wellingborough (northbound) Its a memorial run for an XJR owner and good friend who died of Cancer complications last year. Kick off is 1030 so get there early. I'll be the biggest bloke there, literally

Hi Fox If you like the look then you'll love the feel. Very versatile bike, and I do like the 02 model, rides better. Will be a more pleasant change then a Dragstar. Both me and the wife have them and we are part of the XJR Owners Group ( I wouldn't reccomend looking at the XJR Owners Club at the mo, too much politics) If you want help then check out www.xjrog.com. You will be welcomed. Stay safe and enjoy it on Saturday, even if it rains. Caulkie

Yeah alright Phil, but I'll bring my camera and kevlar vest if its ok with you mate

Hi mate Speaking as someone who has experience of all three bikes you're looking at buying, I'd say STOP! With no experience you are likely to do yourself and others serious harm. Because the guys in your gym have one liter machines, does not mean that you have to go out and buy the same, its costly (financially and egotistically) Like everyone has said before, go and try out a couple of bikes at your local dealers, sit on them, rev them, get a general feel for them. I used to work at a Yamaha/Suzuki dealership selling bikes. My boss wanted me to sell sell sell, which meant even if the person had little experience but wanted a busa, then sell them a busa. My concience got the better of me and I couldn't sell a high powered bike to a "newbie" so we parted company. I own a yamaha, I love the bike, I love the marque, but if you think Suzuki is for you then go for it. As you have no experience, an R1 will feel no different to you than a GSXR-1000, although both bikes sit different. Bottom line - Get a decent 600, go for a ride on a couple, buy the one that feels the best. Go out with your gym pals, but stick to your limits and then half it, build up slowly. Chances are, your gym pals could be wheelie/stoppie merchants, don't let them influence your riding.

My only off involved me showing off to a work colleague who I knew was a biker but didn't have one at the time so had to make do with his car. we were racing but I knew I could lean over and get to the roundabout first after the bend. I completed that task but forgot that when I arrived at the roundabout, I was doing maybe 20mph more than I should of. Changed down two gears accidentally, dropped the clutch and that was pancaked on the road with the bike lying nearby and the worried look of my colleague trying to avoid me and the bike. i crawled breathless to the rondabout and managed to get comfy on my back, then the pain started, later on I found that breaking four ribs on the same side was not good. three weeks off (sunny September and PS2!!!) whilst I was mending, the bike was being mended. My colleague told me, when I got back to work, that he was impressed with my attack on the roundabout when he saw my rear tyre smoking, he said that when he saw my front smoking that he knew I was in trouble and then I went over. £1600 of damage repaired, most of September off, and ego well and truley put in place, I've now learnt my lesson

Hi Name's Martin, been an XJR1300 owner since September 2002, totally love the bike, on my 2nd one and done over 50,000 miles between both bikes. The XJR has rubbed on to my wife as she started off two years ago on an old 1200 and received her first brand new 1300 as an early birthday present last March. I've just completed the maddest day o my life, before Christmas, two friends and me went from the Ace cafe in London to the Arc De Triomphe, Paris, and back to the Ace in 15 hours. I'm the tall one built like a small village.......... Post a better pic of the bike soon, when I got one uploaded, but here is a pic of my "other" Yamaha.........