'Ello, I'm new round here

[orangebud]

Hello all.
I've been lurking in the background for a while, window shopping for an R1.
Santa has let me down again, so after a good 5 years of dreaming i've decided to take matters into my own hands and buy my own. No-one is going to but it for me, no matter how many hints i drop.
I'm presently on a much loved, carefully fettled commuter SV650. She's suffered many miles of london commutes without complaining, but its time for something silly.
I'm thinking 4C8 or maybe an early 14B.
I'm booking some test rides for next week, any tips what to look for?
OB

[R1Clarky]

Welcome & well done for getting ur newbie post started - dont stop now tho m8 [SMILING FACE WITH SMILING EYES] get stuck in & good luck finding the right bike [WINKING FACE]

ride as much & often as ya can

[Chappo]

Welcome along mate,

Good luck in your search for the R1

It will be a great step up,

[Steve R1]

Welcome to the forum Jim and good luck with your search for the perfect R1. Hers my advice for what's it's worth....

The 4c8 and the 14b are cracking bikes. The 4c8 has a silky smooth throttle but lacks grunt at low revs, the 14b has the low down grunt but a twitchy throttle, both benefit significantly from either a flashtune or a power commander with custom map.

The 14 b is a big heavy bike and she needs to be mussled around she is very much like marmite, people either love or hate them, I'm on my third so I guess I love them , the soundtrack is to die for. If it's looks you are after then the 4c8 takes the biscuit, in the right colour it's stunning.

Both are great bikes, both have their plus points and their negative points and need a bit of modding to get right.

My advice would be to test tid a few different bikes so you can get the feel for both the 4c8 and the 14b ...some of the early 14b's were fantastic, others we dog rough, so it's better to try a few and find a good one. The 4c8 is a fantastic bike, easier to ride than the 14b but if you do jell with the 14b, and a few of us on here have, you will have an awsome bike and if you prefer the 4c8 you will also have an awsome bike, either way whichever you choose you can't go wrong.

Good luck and enjoy the search, oh and please take your time to pick the right one, oh and ask the guys on here if they know of the bikes you are looking at, oh and PJC and Damo666 are the guys to ask about modding a 4c8..... Jompy on the other hand..... Don't ask him, he butchers R1's

Welcome

Stephen

[samr1]

Hi Jim welcome ,get a test ride on each then make ur mind up


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[Bub]

Hi pal and welcome to the forum

[jompy]

Welcome in Jim
I think Steve R1 is about right

[petepassion]

Hi, welcome to the forum.
The 14b has great potential, but requires work...clutch mod, fuelling/flashtune and suspension. If you're short on cash, just jack the back up far as possible and fit some linear springs to the forks...they sound bloody awesome with cans on.

[PJC]

Welcome to posting chief... Honestly buy a well sorted 4c8, ffs dont get a standard 4c8 or 14b

14b is a lazy riders bike, not saying its a bad thing, the 4c8 needs ridden hard, rev rev rev, standard its a huge disappointment. Must haves Decat and either ECU tune or PC3/5. 14B has the worst standard suspension of any so called superbike and fuels and throttles very poorly.

Ask any questions we are here to help

[orangebud]

Well thanks for the advice and the friendly welcome gents. I'm beginning to suspect it's 4c8 time. There's a dealership on the other side of town that has 4 on its books, one of which has yoshi pipes, rearsets and other bits and bobs, even what looks like an HRC rear brake reservoir. Dunno about a decat pipe, but it seems unlikely that you would spend money on the rest without sorting the basics. Is there an obvious way of telling a decat pipe from a standard one, other than riding it?
And does a reflash need a dyno setup? I presume so, especially if it's matched to new cans?
I love bike shopping, i can't wait!

[samr1]

U will know if it's got a decat it'll look good if it hasn't it'll have some massive carbuncle under the exhaust cover


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[jompy]

the cat sits at the bottom rear of the engine below the swing arm where the swinger bolts to the frame & as sam says its an ugly chunk of metal

[Steve R1]

The cat on both the 4c8 and the 14b runs from under the engin and up the right hand side of the bike to the underseat pipes, it is covered by a plastic heat shield that does not do its job, if you want your leg melting, keep the cat, if not then get rid of it.

Oh and I agree with PJC the 4c8 needs more revving to get her going, the 14b can be used almost like a twist and go when you want

[LOCKE]

As said test ride first. When I got my 14B I liked it then hated it now love it. Loads of character but it's not perfect but I changed my riding style to suit.

[orangebud]

So, I'm scouting round dealers looking for my dream 4C8 but everyone seems reluctant to give me a test ride. Best ive found on the ones i like is to put a deposit down, wait for them to service and mot then test with the promise of my money back if I'm not happy. Others are simply saying 'no'. Does this chime with anyone else's experience?
Everything I've read suggests that 4C8s are mechanically sound, but I'm not overjoyed at the thought of shelling out on an unridden bike.

[samr1]

Has no one u know got one u could have a go on


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[Damo666]

Has no one u know got one u could have a go on


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He can have a go on mine Sam.......and its for sale

[samr1]

2 birds with one stone like ur thinking


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[orangebud]

Oh really? Wanna pm me some details? And whereabouts are you based?

[Gumpster1981]

So, I'm scouting round dealers looking for my dream 4C8 but everyone seems reluctant to give me a test ride. Best ive found on the ones i like is to put a deposit down, wait for them to service and mot then test with the promise of my money back if I'm not happy. Others are simply saying 'no'. Does this chime with anyone else's experience?
Everything I've read suggests that 4C8s are mechanically sound, but I'm not overjoyed at the thought of shelling out on an unridden bike.

That's a bit of a joke, I've never been refused a test ride, I've always shown my interest and said I'm interested pending a test ride and not a 5 min blast down the road and back either, I've always gone for a good hour [emoji3]. I can't see it being a winter thing, they should have bikes ready to sell regardless of time of year, I once bought one in late November, no Probs with test ride etc.


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[orangebud]

Exactly. Its a long while since i bought a bike but no one objected to test rides then. Anyway I'm too old and cowardly to rag it silly from cold and i'm serious about buying the right one. The one i have my eye on has 18000 miles on it, which shouldn't mean its knackered. My only real concern is that i just won't get on with it. A test doesn't seem like a lot to ask and i can't say i fancy a five grand punt on an unknown bike.
I'm off to have a look at it tomorrow. I'll see if i can talk some sense into the dealer.

[Gumpster1981]

Exactly. Its a long while since i bought a bike but no one objected to test rides then. Anyway I'm too old and cowardly to rag it silly from cold and i'm serious about buying the right one. The one i have my eye on has 18000 miles on it, which shouldn't mean its knackered. My only real concern is that i just won't get on with it. A test doesn't seem like a lot to ask and i can't say i fancy a five grand punt on an unknown bike.
I'm off to have a look at it tomorrow. I'll see if i can talk some sense into the dealer.

Well they either want your money or they don't mate, don't ask turn up with your lid and gear and tell them you want a test ride. They sound like private sellers saying no test ride without full asking price in hand!! You've got the power at the end of the day, I doubt sales are that great this close to Christmas. Good luck.


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[Moise]

I'm sure some dealers would be reluctant to let someone test ride a litre sportsbike in the middle of winter. But I expect that if you turn up with your gear and they see that you're serious, they will change their tune. Surely dealers would be keen to sell bikes at this time of year???

Oh, and welcome to the forum.

[jompy]

have you turned up on your bike & then asked for a test ride ?

[orangebud]

No, just spoken to them on the phone. I'm going down tomorrow on the sv so i'm hoping they will see sense, or at least potential cash. They are saying i can test with a deposit down, but I'd rather not have the pressure.