[rebobd]

the 1200 R is my first bike, will never sell it, but i've concluded it's not a track bike, so i'm retiring it to a life of touring and canyons; went ahead and got a gentlemen's streetfighter, a 2012 honda CB1000R for track days and day trips to the mountains. so now i'm a 2 bike guy now, but i will always have a soft spot for my 1200R, it's the bike that started it all for me.

 

[Hoshiko]

Wow Rebobd, I'm impressed, I have ridden motorcycles for 20+ years, took the R to the track and loved it. I think there is still at least half of the bike I can use on the track.
I guess some people just have the racing bug on them, I will love to get a track only bike, but I don't really have real space to park that bike, nor a car to bring that bike with me to the track.
I rode a Honda CBR 900 RR, pretty similar to yours, way more uncomfortable tho, and that could be my choice for track bike, along with a Gixxer, or on a perfect world, a mighty HP4.

 

[rebobd]

well, that's one reason i got the CB1000R, it's got a good riding position so i can use it for street and track, but has enough power and handling that it is comfortable at the track too. after 5 track days with my beloved 1200R, it was obvious if i was going to continue going to the track i needed a bike that was more comfortable there. i'm not racer fast but fast enough that i had taken the R to it's limit on the track and wanted a bit more. as much as i had hoped the R would be able to keep pace with higher performance bikes, the reality is the R is built for a different purpose, and it does that very, very well. i'll continue to tour the R but track the CB, and use both for canyon/mountain riding depending on how i'm feeling that day

 

[Clem]

A 2 bike guy

Good Choice there rebobd.:goodjob: Street/Track combination for you. Did you get the ABS and/or Traction Control options? Akra pipe & Bizzaz, or similar ECU, helped the CBR-RR. Thanks for the pics, guys. Also, are you going to leave the Staintune exhaust on the Roadster?

 

[Ghostcloak]

after 5 track days with my beloved 1200R, it was obvious if i was going to continue going to the track i needed a bike that was more comfortable there. i'm not racer fast but fast enough that i had taken the R to it's limit on the track and wanted a bit more. as much as i had hoped the R would be able to keep pace with higher performance bikes, the reality is the R is built for a different purpose, and it does that very, very well.

I couldn't agree more. I too encountered this phenomenon. I'm looking into an SV650, SV1000, CBR's, GSX-R's. Well, just about anything for the right price... lol.

 

[rebobd]

hey clem, they don't sell the CB1000R with ABS in the states, so i'm just going to have to learn to use the brakes better . seriously, i would have gotten ABS if they had offered it but i was not going to let that stop me from getting my first choice for a second bike. Staintune exhaust stays on the 1200R, and i'm sure that bike will get lots of use especially next spring/summer when i go touring, for while the CB is awesome, the R is so comfortable and rider friendly for long trips, especially with an after market seat from corbin. but man it rides different than the CB! i'll do some exhaust on the CB eventually but for now i just put on ohlins shocks, a steering damper, and a slipper clutch, so performance wise i'm more than happy!

 

[rebobd]

another photo of the CB at the track

very happy, but will always love the R

 

[rebobd]

go for it ghost, just don't sell your R or you'll be booted off this forum, lol

 

[Ghostcloak]

Haha. I add to the stable, never replace

 

[Classic11]

I have to ask why you got a bike for the track that isn't totally track. If you add an R to the end you get an even more competent bike that would truly give you something to grow into. I'll be looking into a Daytona 675R for me but why another naked street bike>??

 

[rebobd]

fair question classic 11. first off, i'm about 6'3" and 46 years old, so just did not feel like being in a crouched position all the time like a pretzel. i also live in California which has endless amounts of twisty roads 1/2 hour from my house and wanted to be able to take my second bike out on those roads too. so while my CB will spend lots of time at the track, i did not want a "dedicated" track bike. Finally, with the upgrades i did to the CB (ohlins, damper, slipper clutch), the bike handles extremely well; more than able to keep pace with more traditional track bikes. i'm not looking to race or break any records, but i'd say i'm moderately fast (think middle of the pack on an A group at the track) so this felt like the best of both worlds. it's comfortable enough to spend a day on at the track or street, has amazing handling and torque, plenty of HP (and room for more with exhaust upgrade etc), the engine of a '07 cbr, etc. believe me i thought of getting a daytona or cbr600 or 1000, but in the end this was the perfect balance of performance and old man ergonomics . it was really fun at the track, never felt like i did not have enough bike to keep pace.

 

[Classic11]

fair question classic 11. first off, i'm about 6'3" and 46 years old, so just did not feel like being in a crouched position all the time like a pretzel. i also live in California which has endless amounts of twisty roads 1/2 hour from my house and wanted to be able to take my second bike out on those roads too. so while my CB will spend lots of time at the track, i did not want a "dedicated" track bike. Finally, with the upgrades i did to the CB (ohlins, damper, slipper clutch), the bike handles extremely well; more than able to keep pace with more traditional track bikes. i'm not looking to race or break any records, but i'd say i'm moderately fast (think middle of the pack on an A group at the track) so this felt like the best of both worlds. it's comfortable enough to spend a day on at the track or street, has amazing handling and torque, plenty of HP (and room for more with exhaust upgrade etc), the engine of a '07 cbr, etc. believe me i thought of getting a daytona or cbr600 or 1000, but in the end this was the perfect balance of performance and old man ergonomics . it was really fun at the track, never felt like i did not have enough bike to keep pace.

Ok, wasn't trying to bust your balls, just curious to the thought process. They definitely get good reviews and I do like the looks. I'm a bit on my own journey of possibly replacing my r12r with a track bike. I can't financially do two bikes and haven't really put many miles on the bimmer this season. Getting out and doing the miles I want just don't fit in my life anymore and there is a nice road course less than an hour away that has bike days. thanks for the response though, def food for thought.