Decisions, decisions, decisions.........

Seeker 77 · Post by **Seeker 77** » Wed Dec 13, 2006 6:27 pm

Okay i mentioned it in another thread, much as i love the SP, i have had a carrot (or rather a bunch of carrots dangled in front of me. Living in Germany has opened certain tax free doors to me. The SP is great but has done 20000 miles and i don't really have enough experience of bikes in general to know how long they last so some help from your good selves would be appreciated. I also don't know about parallel imports and that will become clear in a sec. There are 3 options:

1. Stick with the SP1 'cos it's a Honda and as long as i keep lookng after the servicing it will go on forever.

2. Get a GSXR 1000 K6 in black, brand new, 0 miles (parallel import) for Â£5600 tax free

. But no warranty except with the dealer here in Germany and bizzarely DK motorcycles in the UK.

3. Get a pukka GSXR 1000 K6 in blue/white with a Yoshi can thrown in for Â£7300 tax free but imported from the UK (would you believe) and arriving 5th Jan.

Please try and keep your comments to practical advice as i know that you are looking at me and thinking traitor! But as i said in the other thread, i like speed and great handling and the ultimate in all those areas is the gixxer thou'.

What do you think?

Jaglifter · Post by **Jaglifter** » Wed Dec 13, 2006 6:50 pm

Mellis,

Thats one hell of a problem you have there

Good as the SP is I suspect its neither as quick or as practical as the GSXR1000. Really depends how much you're emotionally attached to the V twin thing. Also I suppose, if you're in Germany, you have the chance to own and ride the GX to its full potential - something you wan't do for long in the UK..........

20,000 miles wouldn't worry me if its been looked after well.

Sorry, haven't a clue about parallel imports and all that.

Wroey · Post by **Wroey** » Wed Dec 13, 2006 6:57 pm

Mellis,

I think the choice of bike is all down to you really mate, nobody can make that decision for you. The SP1/2 is an awesome bit of kit, but then again so is the K6.
Atleast if you do buy a K6, youâ€™ll be able to fully unleash its potential on the autobahns out there.

The majority of DK Motorcycles stock is imports, hence the reason why they can sell most of their bikes a bit cheaper than most.

If your living in Germany, then I see no harm in going for a parallel import just as long as what you say about the warranty is correct.

If I was to buy a K6, id be going for the limited edition â€œPhantomâ€ model, which will also come with the Yoshi stubby exhaust. UK dealers are selling them for around Â£7,999 at the mo, so id be interested to see what theyâ€™re going for out there.
Only reason I have that one is that itâ€™ll hold it price a bit more, and mainly because I like the colour scheme !

At that price for a K6 though, can you really afford not to ?

Post by **sirch345** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 7:33 pm

Wroey wrote:Mellis,

I think the choice of bike is all down to you really mate, nobody can make that decision for you.

I would agree with that sentence

I personally prefer the V/twin against the 4 cylinder. You can't argue at the price you've been quoted for K6 import. The only issue I would need to look into would be spares for an import, how available are they

Also what about if you want to bring the bike back to the UK, will you have to pay a tax on it

Chris.

Kitch · Post by **Kitch** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 7:38 pm

can you buy the GSXR for Â£5300, e-bay it, buy a newish SP2, pocket the change and save it for a VTR1200? (or use it to start a Ducati 1098S fund)

alan · Post by **alan** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 8:53 pm

Kitch wrote:can you buy the GSXR for Â£5300, e-bay it, buy a newish SP2, pocket the change and save it for a VTR1200? (or use it to start a Ducati 1098S fund)

I've started my Duke 1098 fund i've gone on the game

Seeker 77 · Post by **Seeker 77** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 9:12 pm

Careful, i can see where this is going to end up......

Thanks for your thoughts guys. I have done some more investigating and to be honest i think i may well go for the parallel jobber. The only thing that worries me is that a few have gone awry with the titanium valves and on an un-warranted engine that could prove expensive

I don't think it is going to happen straight away but a 1098 is waaaaaayyyyyyyy out of my league and there is no way an SP-2 could tempt me away from the Gixxer. Still wondering if the SP-1 will do another 10000 and i could keep it and get a GSXR1000 K5 towards the end of next year. Hmmm......??

Wroey · Post by **Wroey** » Sat Dec 16, 2006 1:22 am

Iâ€™m possibly the first and only person in the world to say this, but I donâ€™t like the looks of the new Ducati 1098 â€¦. Just doesnâ€™t float my boat !

I much prefer the 999 and 749 styling and infact, was very close to doing a deal on a brand spanking 999S a few weeks ago, but came to my senses and have been to confession every week ever since.

Although the weather is shite at the mo, itâ€™s probably worth having a ride on a K6 just to see how you get on with it. Most main dealerships are pretty quiet at the moment, theyâ€™ll be more than happy to let you have a few hours playing just so they have somebody to talk to after !

Just out on interest Mellis, why not another twin â€¦. You seem keen to change to an inline four, why doesnâ€™t an SP2 tempt you ?

LotusSevenMan · Post by **LotusSevenMan** » Sat Dec 16, 2006 10:06 am

Difficult choice. I just BOUGHT my Storm with 20,000 miles so not a worry to moi! Trouble is, if you have those wander-lust feelings to a Gixxer then the bike you have as in the SP1 will always now seem second best I'm afraid. Bit like chasing women!!!!!

See here though...............................

http://www.ducati.com/en/bikes/my2007/M ... SBK1098-07

This bit though would worry me.
"The 1098 has the soul of a race bike, pure and simple. The riding position encourages the rider to mould to the sleek lines of the tank and seat"
That just sounds uncomfortable to me at 6' 2" tall!!!!!
Not a town bike then ha ha

Post by **sirch345** » Sat Dec 16, 2006 3:02 pm

LotusSevenMan wrote:Difficult choice. I just BOUGHT my Storm with 20,000 miles so not a worry to moi! Trouble is, if you have those wander-lust feelings to a Gixxer then the bike you have as in the SP1 will always now seem second best I'm afraid. Bit like chasing women!!!!!

LOL

Pete.L · Post by **Pete.L** » Tue Dec 19, 2006 7:58 am

Mellis wrote

Still wondering if the SP-1 will do another 10000 and i could keep it and get a GSXR1000 K5 towards the end of next year. Hmmm......??

Don't worry about that old old bean. I remember reading in the SP blurb that HRC had developed it to last 80,000 before a major overhaul is require. SO take your time and choose what suits best

Pete.l

Seeker 77 · Post by **Seeker 77** » Mon Jan 01, 2007 3:09 am

Hello mate, am bolloxed as i have been out all night on the razz! Am going to stick with the SP, despite the snow and ice i gave her a run today and absolutely loved it, can't believe i ever doubted the old girl. The gixxer would kill me, i know i have a thou but she's really a 750 and the 4 cylinder thou is just too much for my experience. I rode a blade the other day that told me two things...

1. Don't ever buy a blade cos they are too "safe", there are those who will know what i mean.

2. Don't ever sell your SP, cos' the day you lose that thump, thump, thump noise is the day that your soul has given up and gone south for winter!

All sounds very melodramatic but i a m drunk and that is how i feel. Am now keeping a curious eye out for a replacement gearbox with low miles and a similar engine so that when the current ones die i can keep the faith with all you other twin wizards!

While i ma drunk i will say this, you are all stars and not one part of me thinks that i could leave the twin neighbourhood. I joined another forum a while back and it's awful, all testosterone and rubbish. Unless you've got 3000 posts then you're a nobody and no-one answers your questions or listens to your opinions, screw 'em!!!!

Wroey, i'm gonna post this on the site mate as i feel that it warrants that level, but i am touched by your interst, as i hope you are touched by my dedication to the faith!!!

Still sounds, hic, very melodramatic but hey, you guys deserve it.........

Mark

Post by **sirch345** » Tue Jan 02, 2007 8:54 pm

Well done Mellis, let's face it a V/twin can give you something a four cylinder never will, but of course that's all down to personal choice I know

Chris.

Bondy · Post by **Bondy** » Tue Jan 02, 2007 9:14 pm

If your on a two year posting just keep options open you got plenty of time.
I toy'd with the idea of a new bike for a couple of months but decided although i'd be saving a fortune compared to UK prices, i'm still better off just enjoying myself on the storm without worryin about every stone chip im gonna get.
Also one of the army lads here is friendly with a fella at Taz motorcycles and can get a much better deal than Â£7300 (around Â£6800 i think) so if you are still lookin next year let me know and i'll collar the lad and see what the score is.

Seeker 77 · Post by **Seeker 77** » Tue Jan 02, 2007 9:33 pm

Cheers for that mate, if i get another tour in while i am here then i may look into a second bike, but i think the SP will stay with me till it goes 'pop'