CBR600RR and other 600 maintenance

[Martin Blair]

I’m looking at moving back home for the nest year of college, my grades weren't to good this last semester and I know I will be a lot more productive at home. I currently own a 00 Silverado with gas prices; the v8 is very un-economical to commute 80 miles round trip each day to and from KU. This summer I want to by a bike. I was just wondering how maintenance intensive the 600cc sport bikes are, 80 miles a day the 5-6 months I can ride it to and from campus is almost 10,000 miles a year, what could I expect to repair/replace besides routine oil changes, and other maintenance items, i.e. sprockets, chain, tires. And what kind of gas miles you guys get, I have heard mostly around 35-40.

[Regular_Joe]

Generally 5k is about average for a set of tires.

Maintenance on the chain dictates its life. Anywhere from 10k to 30k if your really lucky.

I can get about 50mpg on my SV650. Can't remember what it was on the F4i. Speed is a huge factor. Its an exponential relationship. The faster you go, you use a boatload more gas. Keep that bike at 60mph on the highway and you;ll likely use 1/3 less gas.

[derekhonda]

Yep:
5k on tires ($300 x2 times a year for you)
chain will last you a year or two $100
Oil change every 2500 miles ($30 *4)

800 bones total, probably 800 for insurance, and the cost of the bike.

1600 a year save you that much in gas?

[mephyst]

What these guys said... and don't forget that you can't really ride your bike, or it is very unsafe in crappy weather conditions... and you live in Kansas... they don't really have the best weather in the world do they? I only ride my bike to school if it's really nice out. You also have to worry about them getting stolen.

[Martin Blair]

Yes, I have a lot more to consider then just the price of the gas and the price of the bike. Honestly I will probably end up with a small car. I’m keeping the truck, and plan on using it during winter months. I don't mind the rain, with some experience I would ride in it, although my dad has made a few comments that it is not so cool to be hit by large drops of water going 70.

[underpowered]

like others have said, on a sport bike 5k is good out of a set of tires, and they ain't cheap.


i plan on getting a street bike as well, and i would save 1600 a year in gas.


i fill up atleast once a week, 350 miles roughly. right now it cost $80+ to fill up my truck. that is Atleast $320 a month in gas alone. even if i only ride the bike 6 months a year, i will be savng money. i filled up my dads bike the other day. $8 for a full tank, and it will go atleast 200 mile a tank. so it would only take $16 dollars vs. $80 for the truck to go roughly the same distance. gas bills add up quick.

[Regular_Joe]

I wouldn't factor in the total cost of the bike, just the depreciated value. If you buy it for 6k and its still worth 4k when your done, then it really only cost you 2k ... not 6k.

[derekhonda]

Very true, but you also have to have (or borrow) the 6g to begin with. should be factored in somehow.

[Martin Blair]

Yeah after reading some reviews and all your opinions, I have ruled out the 600RR or GSX-R600, not to mention the shocking insurance difference. I want something with more power the SV650 or 599. I've narrowed it down to the 919 or SV1000S. I like the look of the 919, and I have seen some SV1000s without the fairing, and the 650 front lamp, I think those look awesome.

I'm going to try to pay cash for it by the end of the summer, or might have to borrow only 2000 or less, maybe just from the parents and pay them back to avoid financing.

[derekhonda]

That probably is a bad idea. You are only like 18 or 19, you DON"T need to start out on a bigger bike, and insurance should be about 125-150% more on a liter bike compared to a 600, especially for your age.

[400exstud]

Originally posted by derekhonda
That probably is a bad idea. You are only like 18 or 19, you DON"T need to start out on a bigger bike, and insurance should be about 125-150% more on a liter bike compared to a 600, especially for your age.

I would say that the insurance would be significantly less on the larger (not racing) bikes. I just picked up a free 1982 GS450T (a real terror!) for free. The guy was cleaning out his garage and just gave it to me. So now I am shopping for insurance. A few companies said that they would have to insure me under both the GS and my dads '03 Harley Davidson Heritage Softtail Classic! To my surprise they only quoted me about $400 for full comp/collision and $1,000,000 liability on the Harley. Before I got the GS I asked for a quote on a GSXR-600 and nobody would insure me:D .

I'll try to get some pics of the GS. The guy said that it didn't start and that the headlight didn't work when we picked it up. Throw the battery charger on it, change the plugs and the head light bulb and now it runs like a champ. Next project it new tires which will be a pretty hard blow to my wallet considering the bike is worth $300-500.

[derekhonda]

thats so weird, ive heard that from more than one people. with the three insurance places i called around here, its all engine size. A 600 sport bike is tons less than an 1100 cruiser. weird, must be an indiana thing.

[400exstud]

The agent told me that they look at stats with how many accidents each bike has and what their intended purposes are. This would easily show that the 600 racer would be more expensive than the girthy 1450cc (that makes little over 60 hp).