If the yzf600 felt too big and bulky to you, then so will the gixxer. I personally would go with the R6. I feel the R6 handles quicker then the gixxer. I had a gixxer 600, and up at the track it just wasnt as easy to ride as my Yamaha. Initial turn in was okay, but that last little bit was kind of a chore. I messed with the suspension alot, but could never get rid of that feeling. Another thing to consider is that the gixxer is fuel injected where as the '01 R6 is still carburated. The R6 didnt go to FI until '03. Another good thing about the gixxers is that most of the parts from the 1000 and 750 are interchangable with the 600. So parts are usually really easy to find for gixxers. This leads me to another con: The GSXR's are the most stolen bikes in the U.S., because they are really, really easy to hot wire and steal.
I hope this helps you.
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Do you really have to start a thread every time you go on a ride and see a guy with no helmet on?
Does it affect you that much that some random guy 1500 miles away went and paid his own money for a 1000?
Do we really have to fight over who uses the back brake or not?
Do you have to argue over stupid pointless shit on the Internet?