G'day guys just looking for first hand feedback on these to bikes.

Looking to buy soon and have narrowed it down to these two bikes, looking at 2004 onwards models.

The kind of information I'm after is things like are the parts easily obtainable and priced well, which has more after market parts readily available. Also things like the electrics etc or any little problems you've discovered. As well as is there a year model that sticks out from the rest? Also with the R1 how bad is the heat transfer from the pipes to the seats?
Anything else that you think I should know or just preference of the two makes and main reason why?

Also if there is any forums that I should have a look on?

Cheers guys

I've had 3 gsxr1000's and two R1's.
Pends on who you are, what kind of riding you plan on doing, how tall you are as to which bike / model best suits your needs. Of all the bikes ive owned - the K5 gsxr1000 was the best(stock) bike i've ever ridden - but the seating position left my knees killing me after 30 minutes - so i actually went back to the year before's model. I test rode the K7 gix1 and didn't like the power characteristics - more top end power than midrange. The R1's i owned were 99 and 01 models, but i've test ridden all but the latest crossplane model and have found the later model R1's to be pretty damn good, but just lackin a little midrange compared to the gix's. That being said - i prefer the way the yams handle to the zooks, but the engine of the zook has just continued to win me over...
At the end of the day - you cant go wrong with either - and you'l more than likely mod the bike into what suits you exactly...
Si.

the heat from the underseat pipes can get a little warm on the legs (doesn't really affect the seat) when stuck in traffic. Not a bad thing through winter, but a bit of a b itch in summer. An aftermarket system or y-pipe will help this, as the cat backs up the exhaust gasses, causing more heat.

As Si said, you really can't go wrong with either bike

I prefer my R1 to the K7 gixxer thou. I find the tiny zook seat extremely uncomfortable, and it kills the back of my legs after 5mins. Also, the start procedure on the zook gives me the s hits!

you don't notice the heat on the r1 untill you stop. and the only thing that has played up on mine (06R1) is the lights have not come on when started (only twice) but a good tap to the left side near the light worked to get it working

we've all hit the nail on the head. i agree with every said so far in regards to heat, handling and power with the 2 bikes, as well as rider preference.

i've never had any probs with my R1, there were a few things i had to get accustomed to like the clutch and fly-by-wire throttle after years of riding gsxr's. to be honest, i would be satisfied owning either.

R1's seem to be more expensive with aftermarket parts, but at the same time i found R1 parts to be more available.

most of the model specific forums are U.S. based
www.gixxer.com
www.gsxr.com
www.r1-forum.com

I'm interested to know what type of riding experience you have.

These bikes sound like they might be really fast ones.

they only go as fast as you want them to go. except for the ones with fly by wire who knows if the throttel can just open up by it self? i don't mind it in my safe car but i don't know about it on a bike.

Don't worry I'm only dicking around - my last bike was a 174rwhp ZX12R and my current one is a GSX1400 which is very different but a farkload of fun.

I do disagree a little with "they only go as fast as you tell them to".. I remember being a beginner and doing shit things like hitting the wrong gear, accidentally accelerating, etc... beginners really lack throttle control and an understanding of what to do & what not to do... so having a powerful/torquey/heavy/large capacity bike adds an extra level of difficulty... you'd have to be riding pretty hard to highside a 250 but I know a couple of people who have crashed big bikes when making the same mistake on a 250 wouldnt' have been a crash (eg. mate hit a small pothole on a roundabout, nothing major but it caused him to crack the throttle and being in first that was the end of that!)

i prefer 04 gsxr-1000 myself ive got one for sale if your interested

HAHA, nice plug.