The K5 was the Apex of Sportbike Evolution. No Motorcycle came close at that time. The World Class German Engineers at BMW knew it. They bought a K5, disassembled it completely, and back engineered every millimeter of the Engine and every washer and grommet... and Built the BMW S1000R using the K5 Blueprint. True Story.
Still got my yellow and black K5. Had it over 17 years now and still love it to bits. I never intended to keep it that long, as I used to change bikes every few years. But no other bike has tempted me to "upgrade" since. It is fast, handles nicely, reliable, and yes - it is even comfortable and efficient on long rides. What a machine - and way too good for a rider like me 😅
True, I had a k5 but it got stolen so got an L2 and they're practically the same. Think the k5 had more mid range torque where as the L2 has more on top end which suits me more but handling is the same. The newer models like 2022 make a lot more hp though
My k5 is tucked up in the garage, it’s waiting for summer, every morning it asks “is it summer yet?” I say not yet but it’s coming!😀 it’s like my staffy, it wants to go!!!!!🤣
I've been a professional moto tech for over 10 years. Ridden almost every motorcycle you could think of. The K51000 is one that stands out above all for being brutally raw. Plain buck nasty. Plus the blue scheme, goodness gracious. Thanks for posting!
I am 62 and have six bikes including 2021 Aprilia Tuono Factory, 2020 KTM Superduke R and my cheapest and yet my favourite is a low mileage K6 - it’s so easy to ride fast and it’s pure magic! Also had a 2018 BMW S1000RR and still preferred the K6.
Great to wake up on a rainy San Diego day and see a flawless example of my bike. Owned it for 13 years. Awesome bike. Thank you for the rewind to the good old days! Can't believe these bikes are still listing around here for 7000.00 to 9000.00 grand! Got mine for 4600. Crazy
These “blast from the past” series videos are very interesting, man, thanks for doing them. Much more interesting for the poors than the new stuff that’s often prohibitively expensive.
@erix last nope, nothing . All valve clearance checks were perfect to. Sold it for a k9 then the l6. Now on a mt10sp but thinking of going back to a new gsxr.
Had a K5 that I raced, ex BSB Superstocker. Raced it in the National Endurance Championship for three years and won the title in 2010. Ironically brought the bike to Australia when we emigrated in 2011 and my last ride on it before I sold it was at Eastern Creek. Loved that bike
Have you rode a 2004 2005 zx10r? I own one of those. I like it. And yeah its wild. Yeah it headshakes and lift the nose a lot. Where as I have understood it, its easier to go fast on a K5 gsxr. Its more refined. Its more of a "precise missile". Where mine is a crazy angry bull? :-)
@@sund5 I have both They are both great Gsxr more sorted overall Zx10r is more wild indeed... Why it's dubbed the "widowmaker" Love both will never sell
It’s absolutely perfect. I bought one with 10k miles on it, now it’s over 40k, still stock apart from the brakes, and serviced meticulously. I might buy another bike one day but I will never sell my K5. @Neevesy whenever you wanna visit Holland, come say hi
Got the 2022 GSX-S1000 and absolutely love the engine, especially with the full Yoshimura R-11 exhaust I've got on it! The K5 DNA lives on in a more street-friendly form. 😁
Brilliant! In my 37 years of riding / owning 35 bikes. The one bike I regret selling. The K5, mine was black with red piping! Awesome, covers it nicely!
That’s exactly what I’ve got! Love it! Now covered just over 17k miles and the guy who owned it from new lives 10 mins from me, I used to see this exact bike at local meets when I was a kid on the back of my dads Fireblade. I really want a mega low mileage example to store away as I think the K5’s are good news.
I have the K6 same color.. Just restored after a 2 year hibernation.. missed it so much and absolutely love it! One of my videos covers when i bought and test drove.
2004-2005 saw the introduction and ascent of many iconic models that are still around today - the R1200 GS, the K (1200) the ZX 10 R, CB1000rr, the MT series and the GSX-R line, just to name a few. The OEMs were expanding their model lineups and sales were up, even for Harley Davidson. Radar, automatic transmissions, the proliferation of fuel injection. Print and digital media were widely available. This sure must have been a great era to be a moto journalist/test rider. Keep up the good work while you can Neevesy.
Gorgeous bike. I had a K6 1000 in the same colours and absolutely loved that thing. Traded it in for a brand new L2 and even now think it was a step backwards
I bought the the ‘04 ZX10R brand new after adoring my ZXR750L2. I didn’t much like the look of the K5 as released 12 months later. I also couldn’t completely use the power I already had with the Kawasaki day to day! In recent years I have in addition also acquired a GSXR 1000K2 which I so love. ..Seems the original machine, white faced clocks, proper oil cooler and just a no nonsense performance bike. 4 cylinder 1000cc machines are where it’s at for me, love them for as long as I can! Best wishes
Brilliant bike such a sweet ride and looks so so good. A era that we probably won’t see again. So sad how time rips by and we don’t get to enjoy the moments a bit more
Bought my 1st k5 in 2007 LOVED IT unfortunately had to sell it a few years later but I snapped up the chance to get my k6 a few years later and still to this day nothing excites me more than pulling it out the garage for a blast!!!! I’ve drove and raced most of the modern super bikes but honestly nothing come close for raw ride and adrenaline than my k6 absolute weapon 👌🏻
I remember the first time I rode one of these. Mind bendingly quick.. but easy to ride. What a machine. I have a K5 GSXR750 as a track bike and it's brilliant too.
A few years ago I was selling bikes and had a customer absolutely gush over a very clean low milage K6 we had. He bought it and I had never seen a happier guy. Wish I had done so myself before he got to it, but I wasn’t interested at the time. These days I would love to have a K5/6 but I’m more likely to get a GSX-S1000, the new one, which I’ve had my eye on since the original in 2016. It’s everything that made the K5/6 great but in a modern package that’s more practical, especially if you opt for the GT. Yes of course the real GSX-R is another experience, but I’m not sure I want a raw superbike over some higher bars, a bidirectional quick shifter, and ABS/TC with a warranty. Why not both, right?
Great vid, had my K6 since new, lots of upgrade's as you mention, full system and power commander really wakes these up, (as if you really need any more?) I am 66 now and luckily I am still bendy!.
I have owned 7 GSXR s starting with a 750 slabby in 1986 . I purchased my 06 GSXR1000 Phantom new in 06 . It is the only one that I would not sell . I have had the suspension gone thru ,put on a clear Zero Gravity windscreen and some solid mount footpegs . I purchased a new 2015 Ducati 1299 Panigale S thinking I would like a V-twin with big power . I found that the Ducati is hard work to ride compared to my trusty K-6 . The Ducati sits while the Suzuki K-6 is the one that always puts a big grin on my face . Good choice of topic Neevesy . Thanks .
Absolutely fantastic trip down memory lane Neevsey! I presently own a 2010 non abs HRC Fireblade which is an amazing road and track bike, it too was a bit of a game changer when it was launched and went on to have truly phenomenal sporting credentials with the likes of John McGuinness and help Hutchy scoop his 5 TT wins plus held TT lap records with various riders . I would love to see a trip down memory lane with the 08+ Blade and the changes it had from previous models. Thanks again for all your brilliant content. Kind regards Trev.
These articles are why I test rode and bought my K5 after two new R1’s Loved it for 10 years on road and track and then (because of vanity) sold it for a Panigale 1299. It highsided me at Rockingham where I broke both arms, my hand, my collarbone dislocated my leg and smashed my acetabulum through the back of my pelvis. It then parked itself against the pit wall, the only damage, the clutch lever and a scratch the size of a 5 pence piece on the tail unit. Made me Love it even more ❤️❤️❤️ Changed the brakes, suspension by 100%, Pirelli SC2 tyres, 520 chain, 2 teeth larger on the back and the sweetest sounding titanium Leo Vinci exhaust
@@RUNDMC1 I was actually on track 7 months later. My friends had to lift out of my wheelchair and onto my bike every session, but I was determined to get back on a bike asap. Worked really hard on my recovery, hydrotherapy, physiotherapy, yoga and weight training, cycling etc. I now ache when it’s damp, stretch every morning and rattle like a Harley with all the supplement pills I take to keep me young 😂
@@ianmajor8227 wheelchair to bike - you’re brave! (Mind you, I tried to get back on with a broken pelvis…) Hope the lasting effects aren’t impacting on your quality of life too much :)
The pinnacle of performance, price and fun for the average person.... Wonderful times, wonderful bike 👍😎 We were selling the last 1000k6s for £7k (to make way for the not so good k7s) - that's virtually free by today's standards 😮
Loved this and the way you presented it. You are so right about this living with the modern bikes. Just watched the Revzilla vid with "dave" the K5 v a Mordern Dukati. Recommended viewing
Great video, I have a K6 track bike, and until recently I had a K5 road bike, which unfortunately was stolen. Best bike I've ever ridden and a load of fun. Raw, light and surprisingly comfortable.
I've got a 600 K1 which is my pride and joy, gets a rebuild every couple of seasons & has lots of work on it, not much is left besides the engine and frame. It's definitely a bitsa bike & most would turn their nose up at it, but I love it on a weekend. I picked up a standard Gen 1 RSV Mille about a year ago, with the idea that if I liked it I'd chop it in for a Factory Gen 1 or 2. It's definitely fun and got lots of character & I won't sell it. But I'm pushing 40 and it's failed to convince me I want another big twin. I still ride in all seasons and I'm back in the market for another bike, I've been thinking about joining the current decade and getting a decent example of a previous gen S1000R or something with some more bells & whistles. But a K5 GSXR 750/1000 keeps calling to me. I reckon I've got about 5-7 years and a couple proper sport bikes left in me. There's so many great & affordable options from 2000-2010.
@@neevesybikes Thanks Mate, yes back on the road in April to Oschersleben and then directly to Redbull Ring, hopefully see you soon take care and keep up the great work...😎👍
I have a yellow one too. Mine was £9,098 on 29th April 2005 . I got it 3 years ago secondhand now its 34k miles... Hopefully you just made it worth more - but I can't see myself selling it anytime soon. It's much faster than my '97 Blackbird. Quickest thing Ive ever ridden except for a GSX1100E drag bike(big bore etc1300cc) we had in the 1980s. Sooo much low down torque its is effortless on longer journeys and "interesting" to ride in the rain so i have to splay my palm over the bar end to micro turn the throttle. When i first got it I was a little clumsy with it and spinning up coming out of bends and went to change up but i was already in 6th! It out accelerates everything on the road really and thats quite a rush. Things start to happen very quickly if yr not careful and a few times I found myself carrying too much speed and breaking harder than I wanted even though I had that with the Blackbird. It pulls so well I rarely take it to the red line as on the road 8,000rpm through the gears is enough to become some sort of statistic. I only weigh 70kgs which helps the ballistic feeling - some riders weigh 40kilos more! I dont dare service it myself and take it to Newcombe Brothers in Chelmsford for regular (safety) check ups. I find it really comfy and not 'wristy' really but you have to have legs that can bend up well ! I'm 5'8'' . The narrow bars make it feel top heavy pushing it around and very dodgy doing u turns despite my experience - though I am cautious and haven't dropped a bike since 2002 when I had a bad back. I don't ride as fast as I did years ago though, when I was a London Despatch Rider in the 80s and 90s! - Im a youthful-ish 65 now but the bike motivates me to keep exercising , cycling, etc which I hate--- sigh. lol. Maybe its the same with all sports bikes - but if you buy one you have to make a definite decision not to kill yourself...or worse!
why I was listening to a worship song and, then this video plays next video on my fava.... it's motorcycle therapy at its best to listen to the tone, topic, and Nee comments are just loveleeey ❤😅 thanks buddy! I'm praying for a Zuki now ! hahaha
You're always welcome to have another ride on my K6 Neevesy, she's even better than 2015 with Brembo M4s and Dymag CA5 carbon wheels now. I'll never sell her 🥰
I have a K6GSXR and waited a long time for the right one with 8500 miles I kept all the standard bits of it,,but modified it with ohlins and ktec forks ,, brake upgrade love it ☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️ from northern Ireland
I have a blue and white 2005 Gixxer 1K. Commute to work on it. Have about 95K miles. Bought it new to replace my totalled '02 R1 club racer back in the day. Full Yoshi exhaust, tune, -1/+2 or 3 gearing (can't remember) and the thing hauled a$$. Was a monster compared to my R1. Back to factory gearing and living out her years as a commuter. Love, love, love my Gixxer.
I bought mine back in 2012 and still got it. Not even got 18000 miles on the clock. Never been rode during the winter months, strictly summer use only. Only changed the exhaust and I still love it. On the log book it says its a k5. But like I said it's a 2012 model.
Sweet spot era. Before excessive regulations. And completely analogue! No power modes or rider aides..not even ABS. Yet so powerful! 🤘Nothing saved you if you crossed that thin line between exhileration and catastrophe. Scary fun!!! A little over a year ago when looking for a new bike, I bought a mint 2015 CBR1000RR with less than 200 miles from the original owner. Could've bought something more modern and brand new. Money wasn't the issue. But there's such a special feeling when riding a bike where it's all completely on you. It's all about manipulating the cable throttle with finesse, relying on your body and senses to guage how hard to push and where the limit is... Can't wait to see you ride the K6 again and hear your thoughts. 👍
Tell Ben that a 3mm under the stock shock is shim is a good handling upgrade. Sending the stock ECU out for a reflash to fix the ignition timing and remove the limiters was the best $75 I’ve ever spend on a bike. The Corbin seat is a worthy upgrade and still easy to move around on. I fitted a Bazzaz traction control unit to my k5, they are out of business now even though you can still get them-really nice units but if I were to do it today I would totally go with a power commander and Gripone unit-this is Diego Gubellini’s (Yamaha MotoGP’ screw chief) company in Italy. Since getting my K5, I have also bought an R1M and an EBR1190RS Carbon edition, which were hand built street legal AMA race bikes. My immediate reaction when pulling away from the dealer on the R1M was that I had made a huge mistake… 8 years later, the R1M is on the chopping block and I’m shopping for a Speed Triple to replace it….. the GSXR is a better sportbike for me even if I can go faster on more open roads with the Yamaha. You just have to ride at significant risk on the road to get better than a K5 can give. I know that people reading this who haven’t ridden either will scoff at that, but I can ride both fast enough to flex the frames and destroy tires in under a thousand miles of street riding. There are no small mistakes on bikes that do over 100mph in first and you have to use a lot more of the R1M for it to work as intended. I just don’t need to ride that fast.
Never owned a K5/6, but would very much like too. I have had a K1 750, and I currently have an even older GSXR, a ‘98 SRAD (cos I’m old) 😄 Your brother has bought a minter there 👏🏼
Had 2, was lucky to get a stealth brand new in 05. Awesome midrange, such a good bike for the road. A revisit would be awesome if Ben hands over the keys!. Check out Revzilla's K5 vs Panigale.
@@sund5 I have rode the 04 ZX10R, actually back to back with the K5. 10r felt more compact, much less in the midrange. 10R gearbox felt notchy and did not engage well on downshift, had to flick the clutch lever to get the box to engage going down multiple gears, this was also same with 06 07 models. Im actually quite surprised at the MCN timings for roll ons with the 10r against the K5, feels very different when riding the bikes. I have an RSV4 at the moment but looking at BMW GS, getting old.
K5👏👏👏👏🔥 miss mine. I also miss the days of going to Barnes and noble getting my new MCN, Superbike and fastbikes magazines. I still have some of the posters😅
I bought my k6 with 10000 miles like 3 months ago .I thought it was cool .now that I did research .about it it was a lucky buy .raw power. Also it is my first 1000cc experience
Thanks as always Neevsey. One of my takeaways is that if it wasn't for the GSXR that generation of R1 would've been the cult classic. Are there other good bikes over the years that you think have had to live in the shadows of great bikes?
still have my K1 1000, she is a beauty, gone through many colour changes, but love what I have done to her now in Rizla red. only 16,000 miles on my bike, never selling her
Nostalgic.... I had the K3 & 4 after the 1300 Busa. They were just so much better because of the power to weight ratio. These 1000's are still very current - also in looks!
I absolutely agree with you . Even though I have the K-6 1000 I would love to find a low milage unmolested K3 or K4 . I would snap one of those up in a heartbeat .They are fantastic uncomplicated old school superbikes that really do the business .
Still got my K6 paid £6,250 for it new, done 12,000 miles now all on the Isle of Man, fed up with 750s getting through the twisties faster put on carbon wheels, turns, brakes accelerates better. Thats the only mod other than cheap £4.80 R1 throttle tube....get that throttle open faster....what a machine.
I bought the 2007 gsxr1000 back in 2008 as a left over new..that bike really taught me all i know. I put 40,000 miles on it first 5 yrs of ownership. Then it was stolen. Back in 2014 i got a 2005 gsxr1000 with 9k miles and only put a few 100 miles on it before i trade it for a sports car. Then in 2015 found another 2006 gsxr1000 cheap but then traded that for another cheap sports car. Now that my love for sports bikes are renewed since picking up a 2017 zx14 this summer. I think i want to find another k5, k6, or K7 because i remember how much fun they are to beat up on and wheelie the crap out of them. Definitely missing my gsxrs
Thanks for the vlog. These Suzuki sports bikes are the best looking or any bikes, ever, IMO. They're not extravagant or flashy like Ducatis. They're just ultimately functional and stunning. I'd rather own one of those than any of the current supersports for riding on the road. The new ones just blur the point of buying bikes for road use and would be better if they just did track use and road use versions.
Nice one Neevesy, I've owned 2 K5 Thou's over the years, my first one in 2011 after a Honda SP1 was just awesome, got the suspension set-up professionally, nice sticky set of Pirelli Rosso Corsa's, it toured it scratched, and was the most comfortable full on sports bike, I've ridden in 25+ years and at the IOM in 2012, I saw 172mph across the mountain without even trying, and it wanted more.. without question the most awesome bike I've owed ever, and I had a few, inc 5x FireBlades, including a new 2004 CBR1000, the GSXR is head and shoulders better bike, more rider focused bike imho, but although an amazing bike, not completely unflawed as the frame had a recall for bracing and the clutch needed a mod to work properly,, but still an awesome, awesome bike...the 2nd one I had had been messed with a bit too much, and when I lived abroad it got nicked, but it never quite lived up the the feel of the first one oddly... Interesting, you mention the spongy brakes, though, I never really felt the original radial master cylinder was lacking, but the 2nd the previous owner had fitted a Brembo RCS, which to me felt like a bit of over kill, as I never noticed a flaw in the original on my previous K5... anyhoo... an awesome machine that I suspect, we will never see the likes of again... sadly, as Suzuki have canned the GSX-R1000 and 750 from their line up, which to me is just killing the golden goose. I'd have another K5/6 in a heart beat, if I had somewhere to keep it now.
Hi, I really enjoying your videos! K5 was an absolute beast when it comes back in time ( I had FireBlade929 on that times). My question to you I am about to by my next bike and I really want naked one and here is the dilemma Tuono V4 or Streetfighter (does it wort almost 5 thousand Euro more)? I am looking for next video (actually what about VTR SP2, I still regret that sold my beauty back in days)!
Nice vid....Grail bike of mine...been lost in the wilderness of Adv bikes for 10yrs sold my sports bikes..got the itch again for a sports bike before I'm too oid or we're completely legislated off the road now is the time....been scouring internet in the last week or so to get one, got one in black being delivered this week. Your feature in Bike magazine April 2022 prompted another purchase last October a 99 Daytona 955 given they are rock bottom prices at the 'mo. Got to stop the middle age nostalgia purchases!
Loved my k6 wished I still had it, currently run a ,08 zx10R ,would be interesting to ride them back to back maybe I'll have to have a look at the classifieds........
There is something very special about the K5 I love mine.
The K5 was the Apex of Sportbike Evolution. No Motorcycle came close at that time. The World Class German Engineers at BMW knew it.
They bought a K5, disassembled it completely, and back engineered every millimeter of the Engine and every washer and grommet... and Built the BMW S1000R using the K5 Blueprint. True Story.
Still got my yellow and black K5. Had it over 17 years now and still love it to bits. I never intended to keep it that long, as I used to change bikes every few years. But no other bike has tempted me to "upgrade" since. It is fast, handles nicely, reliable, and yes - it is even comfortable and efficient on long rides. What a machine - and way too good for a rider like me 😅
True, I had a k5 but it got stolen so got an L2 and they're practically the same. Think the k5 had more mid range torque where as the L2 has more on top end which suits me more but handling is the same. The newer models like 2022 make a lot more hp though
My k5 is tucked up in the garage, it’s waiting for summer, every morning it asks “is it summer yet?” I say not yet but it’s coming!😀 it’s like my staffy, it wants to go!!!!!🤣
I've been a professional moto tech for over 10 years. Ridden almost every motorcycle you could think of.
The K51000 is one that stands out above all for being brutally raw. Plain buck nasty. Plus the blue scheme, goodness gracious. Thanks for posting!
I am 62 and have six bikes including 2021 Aprilia Tuono Factory, 2020 KTM Superduke R and my cheapest and yet my favourite is a low mileage K6 - it’s so easy to ride fast and it’s pure magic! Also had a 2018 BMW S1000RR and still preferred the K6.
So, whenever you say “those were the days”, this is what you mean?
i think the k5 was the perfect bike and quite possibly the most beautiful superbike ever made.
Great to wake up on a rainy San Diego day and see a flawless example of my bike. Owned it for 13 years. Awesome bike. Thank you for the rewind to the good old days! Can't believe these bikes are still listing around here for 7000.00 to 9000.00 grand! Got mine for 4600. Crazy
These “blast from the past” series videos are very interesting, man, thanks for doing them. Much more interesting for the poors than the new stuff that’s often prohibitively expensive.
Love my K6. Got it for such a steal, I’ll never sell it.
I'm never selling mine, possibly the best road engine ever masses of midrange when you need it always
Still to this day it's also one of the prettiest sports bikes ever made.
The proportions are basically perfect.
K5 and 954 fireblade. 2 absolute icons
Had a k6 put near 150,000km on it and never missed a beat. Immense motorcycle!
Any real motor repairs at this km?
@erix last nope, nothing . All valve clearance checks were perfect to. Sold it for a k9 then the l6. Now on a mt10sp but thinking of going back to a new gsxr.
One of if not the strongest engine they made it's a absolute animal with no electronics
Had a K5 that I raced, ex BSB Superstocker. Raced it in the National Endurance Championship for three years and won the title in 2010. Ironically brought the bike to Australia when we emigrated in 2011 and my last ride on it before I sold it was at Eastern Creek. Loved that bike
Hi neevesy. Another great vid. I’ve got a gsxr 1000 k5, I’m 63 and still loving it. Keep up the great vids ❤
Have you rode a 2004 2005 zx10r?
I own one of those. I like it. And yeah its wild. Yeah it headshakes and lift the nose a lot.
Where as I have understood it, its easier to go fast on a K5 gsxr. Its more refined. Its more of a "precise missile". Where mine is a crazy angry bull? :-)
@@sund5 I have both
They are both great
Gsxr more sorted overall
Zx10r is more wild indeed...
Why it's dubbed the "widowmaker"
Love both will never sell
It’s absolutely perfect. I bought one with 10k miles on it, now it’s over 40k, still stock apart from the brakes, and serviced meticulously. I might buy another bike one day but I will never sell my K5. @Neevesy whenever you wanna visit Holland, come say hi
Got the 2022 GSX-S1000 and absolutely love the engine, especially with the full Yoshimura R-11 exhaust I've got on it! The K5 DNA lives on in a more street-friendly form. 😁
Brilliant! In my 37 years of riding / owning 35 bikes. The one bike I regret selling. The K5, mine was black with red piping! Awesome, covers it nicely!
That’s exactly what I’ve got! Love it! Now covered just over 17k miles and the guy who owned it from new lives 10 mins from me, I used to see this exact bike at local meets when I was a kid on the back of my dads Fireblade. I really want a mega low mileage example to store away as I think the K5’s are good news.
I have the K6 same color.. Just restored after a 2 year hibernation.. missed it so much and absolutely love it! One of my videos covers when i bought and test drove.
That engine is so good Suzuki still uses it now with slight tweeks here and there.
Yep. Got one in my 2020 Katana. And it was a key reason for buying it. Still hauls ass.
2004-2005 saw the introduction and ascent of many iconic models that are still around today - the R1200 GS, the K (1200) the ZX 10 R, CB1000rr, the MT series and the GSX-R line, just to name a few. The OEMs were expanding their model lineups and sales were up, even for Harley Davidson. Radar, automatic transmissions, the proliferation of fuel injection. Print and digital media were widely available. This sure must have been a great era to be a moto journalist/test rider. Keep up the good work while you can Neevesy.
Love the K5 25th anniversary gsxr 750 in the background
I bought one a year ago and I will never sell it
Gorgeous bike. I had a K6 1000 in the same colours and absolutely loved that thing. Traded it in for a brand new L2 and even now think it was a step backwards
Great video. I loved that bike so much, I had two. An incredible bike, with a masterpiece of an èngine. Please do a video of a ride on one
I bought the the ‘04 ZX10R brand new after adoring my ZXR750L2.
I didn’t much like the look of the K5 as released 12 months later.
I also couldn’t completely use the power I already had with the Kawasaki day to day!
In recent years I have in addition also acquired a GSXR 1000K2 which I so love.
..Seems the original machine, white faced clocks, proper oil cooler and just a no nonsense performance bike.
4 cylinder 1000cc machines are where it’s at for me, love them for as long as I can!
Best wishes
Brilliant bike such a sweet ride and looks so so good.
A era that we probably won’t see again. So sad how time rips by and we don’t get to enjoy the moments a bit more
Bought my 1st k5 in 2007 LOVED IT unfortunately had to sell it a few years later but I snapped up the chance to get my k6 a few years later and still to this day nothing excites me more than pulling it out the garage for a blast!!!! I’ve drove and raced most of the modern super bikes but honestly nothing come close for raw ride and adrenaline than my k6 absolute weapon 👌🏻
I remember the first time I rode one of these. Mind bendingly quick.. but easy to ride. What a machine.
I have a K5 GSXR750 as a track bike and it's brilliant too.
A few years ago I was selling bikes and had a customer absolutely gush over a very clean low milage K6 we had. He bought it and I had never seen a happier guy. Wish I had done so myself before he got to it, but I wasn’t interested at the time. These days I would love to have a K5/6 but I’m more likely to get a GSX-S1000, the new one, which I’ve had my eye on since the original in 2016. It’s everything that made the K5/6 great but in a modern package that’s more practical, especially if you opt for the GT. Yes of course the real GSX-R is another experience, but I’m not sure I want a raw superbike over some higher bars, a bidirectional quick shifter, and ABS/TC with a warranty. Why not both, right?
Outstanding I have a 2013 GSXR 750 with 1700 miles. I love the fact that you are a diehard Suzuki fan.
Great vid, had my K6 since new, lots of upgrade's as you mention, full system and power commander really wakes these up, (as if you really need any more?) I am 66 now and luckily I am still bendy!.
I loved my K6's, best bikes I've ever ridden.
I have owned 7 GSXR s starting with a 750 slabby in 1986 . I purchased my 06 GSXR1000 Phantom new in 06 . It is the only one that I would not sell . I have had the suspension gone thru ,put on a clear Zero Gravity windscreen and some solid mount footpegs . I purchased a new 2015 Ducati 1299 Panigale S thinking I would like a V-twin with big power . I found that the Ducati is hard work to ride compared to my trusty K-6 . The Ducati sits while the Suzuki K-6 is the one that always puts a big grin on my face . Good choice of topic Neevesy . Thanks .
Yeah still have mine bought from new, awesome in every respect imo I,m 70 this year and I still change character as soon as I ride it.
Absolutely fantastic trip down memory lane Neevsey! I presently own a 2010 non abs HRC Fireblade which is an amazing road and track bike, it too was a bit of a game changer when it was launched and went on to have truly phenomenal sporting credentials with the likes of John McGuinness and help Hutchy scoop his 5 TT wins plus held TT lap records with various riders . I would love to see a trip down memory lane with the 08+ Blade and the changes it had from previous models. Thanks again for all your brilliant content.
Kind regards Trev.
These articles are why I test rode and bought my K5 after two new R1’s Loved it for 10 years on road and track and then (because of vanity) sold it for a Panigale 1299. It highsided me at Rockingham where I broke both arms, my hand, my collarbone dislocated my leg and smashed my acetabulum through the back of my pelvis. It then parked itself against the pit wall, the only damage, the clutch lever and a scratch the size of a 5 pence piece on the tail unit. Made me Love it even more ❤️❤️❤️
Changed the brakes, suspension by 100%, Pirelli SC2 tyres, 520 chain, 2 teeth larger on the back and the sweetest sounding titanium Leo Vinci exhaust
Was it the K5 or Panigale that highsided you into bits? 😱
@@RUNDMC1 the K5 🤦♂️
@@ianmajor8227 that’s a MASSIVE off! Have you managed to recover without too much lasting damage?
@@RUNDMC1 I was actually on track 7 months later. My friends had to lift out of my wheelchair and onto my bike every session, but I was determined to get back on a bike asap. Worked really hard on my recovery, hydrotherapy, physiotherapy, yoga and weight training, cycling etc. I now ache when it’s damp, stretch every morning and rattle like a Harley with all the supplement pills I take to keep me young 😂
@@ianmajor8227 wheelchair to bike - you’re brave! (Mind you, I tried to get back on with a broken pelvis…) Hope the lasting effects aren’t impacting on your quality of life too much :)
Awesome video! I love watching these. Best!
The pinnacle of performance, price and fun for the average person.... Wonderful times, wonderful bike 👍😎 We were selling the last 1000k6s for £7k (to make way for the not so good k7s) - that's virtually free by today's standards 😮
7k in 06 does not equal 7k in 2023...
Thank you for this video!!
Legendary motorcycle indeed.
Great video, thanks Neevesy. It'd be great to see you ride it on the track and compare it to modern bikes. I bet you'd still be fast on it.
Watch Ari Henning and Zack Courts Buttonwillow test. K5 vs. Some ducati thing. 😂
Absolutely a gem. And, with tasteful upgrades. Congratulations on the purchase!!
Always enjoy your review, thank you!
I was 26 is 2005 and bought my first ever brand new bike, but was swayed with the zx10r! Awesome bike.
I have a 2005 zx10r today. What you think about those? :-)
Great video, going to go down in history as one of the all time great motorcycles !
still have my k5 .17 years in my ownership. it was only bike when i first took it for a test ride it blew my mind
K5 memories? Hell Neevesy, I’ve still got mine from new!
Loved this and the way you presented it. You are so right about this living with the modern bikes. Just watched the Revzilla vid with "dave" the K5 v a Mordern Dukati. Recommended viewing
Great video, I have a K6 track bike, and until recently I had a K5 road bike, which unfortunately was stolen. Best bike I've ever ridden and a load of fun.
Raw, light and surprisingly comfortable.
I've got a 600 K1 which is my pride and joy, gets a rebuild every couple of seasons & has lots of work on it, not much is left besides the engine and frame.
It's definitely a bitsa bike & most would turn their nose up at it, but I love it on a weekend.
I picked up a standard Gen 1 RSV Mille about a year ago, with the idea that if I liked it I'd chop it in for a Factory Gen 1 or 2. It's definitely fun and got lots of character & I won't sell it. But I'm pushing 40 and it's failed to convince me I want another big twin. I still ride in all seasons and I'm back in the market for another bike, I've been thinking about joining the current decade and getting a decent example of a previous gen S1000R or something with some more bells & whistles. But a K5 GSXR 750/1000 keeps calling to me.
I reckon I've got about 5-7 years and a couple proper sport bikes left in me. There's so many great & affordable options from 2000-2010.
Great video nevs
Iv still got the 2001 r1 had it for 16 years now. And still love the rawness off of bikes in that 00s
Such an iconic machine
You could never bore anyone mate ! Best out there 🫡
Great video Michael, loving this feature a lot!
Cheers mate. Hope you’re well travelling around with those GT cars?!
@@neevesybikes Thanks Mate, yes back on the road in April to Oschersleben and then directly to Redbull Ring, hopefully see you soon take care and keep up the great work...😎👍
Great content on this video retrospective. This bike stands alone as one of the best sportbikes ever produced.
Really enjoy these chats. And the K5.
I owned a K5 20th Anniversary GSX-R750 like the one in that line-up... amazing collection, by the way! 😍
a black and yellow K5 is my all time favourite bike. I remember this issue of MCN, have been a Suzuki fan boy ever since.
I have a yellow one too.
Mine was £9,098 on 29th April 2005 . I got it 3 years ago secondhand now its 34k miles... Hopefully you just made it worth more - but I can't see myself selling it anytime soon.
It's much faster than my '97 Blackbird. Quickest thing Ive ever ridden except for a GSX1100E drag bike(big bore etc1300cc) we had in the 1980s. Sooo much low down torque its is effortless on longer journeys and "interesting" to ride in the rain so i have to splay my palm over the bar end to micro turn the throttle. When i first got it I was a little clumsy with it and spinning up coming out of bends and went to change up but i was already in 6th! It out accelerates everything on the road really and thats quite a rush. Things start to happen very quickly if yr not careful and a few times I found myself carrying too much speed and breaking harder than I wanted even though I had that with the Blackbird. It pulls so well I rarely take it to the red line as on the road 8,000rpm through the gears is enough to become some sort of statistic.
I only weigh 70kgs which helps the ballistic feeling - some riders weigh 40kilos more! I dont dare service it myself and take it to Newcombe Brothers in Chelmsford for regular (safety) check ups.
I find it really comfy and not 'wristy' really but you have to have legs that can bend up well ! I'm 5'8'' . The narrow bars make it feel top heavy pushing it around and very dodgy doing u turns despite my experience - though I am cautious and haven't dropped a bike since 2002 when I had a bad back.
I don't ride as fast as I did years ago though, when I was a London Despatch Rider in the 80s and 90s! - Im a youthful-ish 65 now but the bike motivates me to keep exercising , cycling, etc which I hate--- sigh. lol.
Maybe its the same with all sports bikes - but if you buy one you have to make a definite decision not to kill yourself...or worse!
why I was listening to a worship song and, then this video plays next video on my fava.... it's motorcycle therapy at its best to listen to the tone, topic, and Nee comments are just loveleeey ❤😅 thanks buddy! I'm praying for a Zuki now ! hahaha
Enjoyed that, thank you for posting.
I had the 06 R1, great bike, that for me took Yamaha until 2015 to better with subsequent versions of it.
Brilliant! This was a bit of a poster bike when I was doing my DAS. Never had the chance to ride one, but they sound mega.
Nice collection. Seems like your brother loves gixxers! The middle bike is amazing..
You're always welcome to have another ride on my K6 Neevesy, she's even better than 2015 with Brembo M4s and Dymag CA5 carbon wheels now. I'll never sell her 🥰
I have a K6GSXR and waited a long time for the right one with 8500 miles I kept all the standard bits of it,,but modified it with ohlins and ktec forks ,, brake upgrade love it ☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️ from northern Ireland
A great era for Suzuki that’s for sure, I have a K5 750 amongst other GSXRs but would love a K5 1000
I have a blue and white 2005 Gixxer 1K. Commute to work on it. Have about 95K miles. Bought it new to replace my totalled '02 R1 club racer back in the day. Full Yoshi exhaust, tune, -1/+2 or 3 gearing (can't remember) and the thing hauled a$$. Was a monster compared to my R1. Back to factory gearing and living out her years as a commuter. Love, love, love my Gixxer.
Has it been reliable? Any valve adjustments or opening the engine? Does it still feel fresh?
More videos like this please!
I bought my 3rd Gsxr K6, brilliant bike, Nitron R3 shock, RCS 19 corta corsa, Brembo GP4 rs calipers, HPK discs. Great fun to ride and bulletproof.
I dream of a day when I can pick up a mint condition, low mileage K5 750 for decent money, in that specific Suzuki color combo. Love your videos!
I’m so lucky; I have a beautiful K5 and a K3. Both are spectacular bikes!
Still relevant, awesome road bike.
I bought mine back in 2012 and still got it. Not even got 18000 miles on the clock. Never been rode during the winter months, strictly summer use only. Only changed the exhaust and I still love it. On the log book it says its a k5. But like I said it's a 2012 model.
Sweet spot era. Before excessive regulations. And completely analogue! No power modes or rider aides..not even ABS. Yet so powerful! 🤘Nothing saved you if you crossed that thin line between exhileration and catastrophe. Scary fun!!! A little over a year ago when looking for a new bike, I bought a mint 2015 CBR1000RR with less than 200 miles from the original owner. Could've bought something more modern and brand new. Money wasn't the issue. But there's such a special feeling when riding a bike where it's all completely on you. It's all about manipulating the cable throttle with finesse, relying on your body and senses to guage how hard to push and where the limit is... Can't wait to see you ride the K6 again and hear your thoughts. 👍
Great comment ❤
Tell Ben that a 3mm under the stock shock is shim is a good handling upgrade.
Sending the stock ECU out for a reflash to fix the ignition timing and remove the limiters was the best $75 I’ve ever spend on a bike.
The Corbin seat is a worthy upgrade and still easy to move around on.
I fitted a Bazzaz traction control unit to my k5, they are out of business now even though you can still get them-really nice units but if I were to do it today I would totally go with a power commander and Gripone unit-this is Diego Gubellini’s (Yamaha MotoGP’ screw chief) company in Italy.
Since getting my K5, I have also bought an R1M and an EBR1190RS Carbon edition, which were hand built street legal AMA race bikes. My immediate reaction when pulling away from the dealer on the R1M was that I had made a huge mistake… 8 years later, the R1M is on the chopping block and I’m shopping for a Speed Triple to replace it….. the GSXR is a better sportbike for me even if I can go faster on more open roads with the Yamaha. You just have to ride at significant risk on the road to get better than a K5 can give. I know that people reading this who haven’t ridden either will scoff at that, but I can ride both fast enough to flex the frames and destroy tires in under a thousand miles of street riding. There are no small mistakes on bikes that do over 100mph in first and you have to use a lot more of the R1M for it to work as intended. I just don’t need to ride that fast.
Ive got a 600 k5, had it from new,been in storage for 10 years,might get it running one day,nothing wrong with it,in mint condition 👍
Never owned a K5/6, but would very much like too. I have had a K1 750, and I currently have an even older GSXR, a ‘98 SRAD (cos I’m old) 😄 Your brother has bought a minter there 👏🏼
Had 2, was lucky to get a stealth brand new in 05. Awesome midrange, such a good bike for the road. A revisit would be awesome if Ben hands over the keys!. Check out Revzilla's K5 vs Panigale.
What you ride today?
You ever rode a 2004 2005 zx10r? What you think about those? :-)
@@sund5 I have rode the 04 ZX10R, actually back to back with the K5. 10r felt more compact, much less in the midrange. 10R gearbox felt notchy and did not engage well on downshift, had to flick the clutch lever to get the box to engage going down multiple gears, this was also same with 06 07 models. Im actually quite surprised at the MCN timings for roll ons with the 10r against the K5, feels very different when riding the bikes. I have an RSV4 at the moment but looking at BMW GS, getting old.
K5👏👏👏👏🔥 miss mine. I also miss the days of going to Barnes and noble getting my new MCN, Superbike and fastbikes magazines. I still have some of the posters😅
That universal floating hand in an infinity pattern that perfectly articulates the feeling of a balanced ride...
I bought my k6 with 10000 miles like 3 months ago .I thought it was cool .now that I did research .about it it was a lucky buy .raw power. Also it is my first 1000cc experience
K1 to K6 were awsome machines, loads of low down torque made them tons of fun to play with.
Thanks as always Neevsey. One of my takeaways is that if it wasn't for the GSXR that generation of R1 would've been the cult classic. Are there other good bikes over the years that you think have had to live in the shadows of great bikes?
I do hope Ben does let you have a go on that lovely looking K5!
I sold my K5 last year. It was a regrettable sale. I had it since 2008. It was brilliant. I have the new gsx-S 1000 gt now. It’s slowly growing on me.
still have my K1 1000, she is a beauty, gone through many colour changes, but love what I have done to her now in Rizla red. only 16,000 miles on my bike, never selling her
One of the best bikes ever made
I will never sell my K5.
Did you sell it?
I love the fact that my 2022 GSXS-1000GT has a modern version of that engine.
Nostalgic.... I had the K3 & 4 after the 1300 Busa. They were just so much better because of the power to weight ratio. These 1000's are still very current - also in looks!
I absolutely agree with you . Even though I have the K-6 1000 I would love to find a low milage unmolested K3 or K4 . I would snap one of those up in a heartbeat .They are fantastic uncomplicated old school superbikes that really do the business .
Still got my K6 paid £6,250 for it new, done 12,000 miles now all on the Isle of Man, fed up with 750s getting through the twisties faster put on carbon wheels, turns, brakes accelerates better. Thats the only mod other than cheap £4.80 R1 throttle tube....get that throttle open faster....what a machine.
I bought the 2007 gsxr1000 back in 2008 as a left over new..that bike really taught me all i know. I put 40,000 miles on it first 5 yrs of ownership. Then it was stolen. Back in 2014 i got a 2005 gsxr1000 with 9k miles and only put a few 100 miles on it before i trade it for a sports car. Then in 2015 found another 2006 gsxr1000 cheap but then traded that for another cheap sports car. Now that my love for sports bikes are renewed since picking up a 2017 zx14 this summer. I think i want to find another k5, k6, or K7 because i remember how much fun they are to beat up on and wheelie the crap out of them. Definitely missing my gsxrs
Thanks for the vlog. These Suzuki sports bikes are the best looking or any bikes, ever, IMO. They're not extravagant or flashy like Ducatis. They're just ultimately functional and stunning. I'd rather own one of those than any of the current supersports for riding on the road. The new ones just blur the point of buying bikes for road use and would be better if they just did track use and road use versions.
Nice one Neevesy, I've owned 2 K5 Thou's over the years, my first one in 2011 after a Honda SP1 was just awesome, got the suspension set-up professionally, nice sticky set of Pirelli Rosso Corsa's, it toured it scratched, and was the most comfortable full on sports bike, I've ridden in 25+ years and at the IOM in 2012, I saw 172mph across the mountain without even trying, and it wanted more.. without question the most awesome bike I've owed ever, and I had a few, inc 5x FireBlades, including a new 2004 CBR1000, the GSXR is head and shoulders better bike, more rider focused bike imho, but although an amazing bike, not completely unflawed as the frame had a recall for bracing and the clutch needed a mod to work properly,, but still an awesome, awesome bike...the 2nd one I had had been messed with a bit too much, and when I lived abroad it got nicked, but it never quite lived up the the feel of the first one oddly...
Interesting, you mention the spongy brakes, though, I never really felt the original radial master cylinder was lacking, but the 2nd the previous owner had fitted a Brembo RCS, which to me felt like a bit of over kill, as I never noticed a flaw in the original on my previous K5... anyhoo... an awesome machine that I suspect, we will never see the likes of again... sadly, as Suzuki have canned the GSX-R1000 and 750 from their line up, which to me is just killing the golden goose. I'd have another K5/6 in a heart beat, if I had somewhere to keep it now.
Do these flaws apply to the 600 k5 too?
Hi, I really enjoying your videos! K5 was an absolute beast when it comes back in time ( I had FireBlade929 on that times). My question to you I am about to by my next bike and I really want naked one and here is the dilemma Tuono V4 or Streetfighter (does it wort almost 5 thousand Euro more)?
I am looking for next video (actually what about VTR SP2, I still regret that sold my beauty back in days)!
Great episode, what is the bike outside in retro decal behind the k6 ?
Nice vid....Grail bike of mine...been lost in the wilderness of Adv bikes for 10yrs sold my sports bikes..got the itch again for a sports bike before I'm too oid or we're completely legislated off the road now is the time....been scouring internet in the last week or so to get one, got one in black being delivered this week. Your feature in Bike magazine April 2022 prompted another purchase last October a 99 Daytona 955 given they are rock bottom prices at the 'mo. Got to stop the middle age nostalgia purchases!
Loved my k6 wished I still had it, currently run a ,08 zx10R ,would be interesting to ride them back to back maybe I'll have to have a look at the classifieds........