new bike! chronicles of a k7 suzuki gsx-r600

I have a new bike! I went and bought myself a K7 Suzuki GSX-R600 as a run-out model from a1 Motorcycles in Brighton. I originally wanted a Matte Black/Black colour; but truth be told, the Pearl Blue/Black colour on the GSX-R750 has always appealed to me. Unfortunately, Pearl Blue/Black isn't available on the GSX-R600. But to my surprise, a1 had a colour-swap version where they swapped-over the Pearl Blue/Black off a 750 onto a (originally Matte Black/Black) 600. There was also a Matte Black/Black 600 on the showroom floor, but they wouldn't let it go for the on-road price I wanted. I wasn't willing to pay 1 grand more just for colour.

I was initially in two minds about the colour. On the one hand, it's not an original colour for a 600. But it is genuine Suzuki fairings, and it makes this 600 somewhat unique. And frankly, the Pearl Blue/Black is an awesome colour. I was also in two minds about buying the bike. It is an expensive outlay for what it amounts to i.e. being a toy.

All of this came about because of my broken Honda CBR250RR. I was speaking to Chiev, and he was telling me that a1 Motorcycles in Brighton were doing deals on all run-out models. He also arranged for me to have a test ride on a friend's (Vince) friend's (Phu) GSX-R600. I was definitely delighted to have a go, but I also had a great sense of trepidation as I was jumping onto a bigger displacement bike that had a higher seat height than I'm comfortable with.

Now that I've had a few goes riding the bike, I'm much more comfortable with the bike given that I can't flat-foot on it. I'm on tippy-toes when I'm seated in the center of the seat. Riding the bike back from the shop was an interesting challenge, to say the least. Given that the bike has fresh rubber (and wax protective coating) and given that it was raining (!), I wasn't entirely keen about the ride home. But the bike and I made it back in one piece, thankfully! It's too early to say how much I really like the bike, since I'm still running it in, but hopefully there will be more good weather ahead and I can explore the bike a bit more.