Have you looked into changing the gearing on your current bike? Changing the sprockets can sacrifice top end speed for more get up and go. Dropping a tooth in the front sprocket may satiate your acceleration needs for a few years.

_________________
Practicing the dark and forgotten art of using turn signals since '98.

That's true, I completely forgot how long you'd been riding. Honestly that 650 with one down in the front or two up on the rear oughta make sure you get some "Whee" factor going again.
And as far as it being a commuter bike, I'd basically never recommend a supersport for just that. If you're looking for a faster commuter bike I'd say look into something like a GSX650F or a Yamaha FZ6. Something along those lines
Wrider

_________________
Have owned - 2001 Suzuki Volusia
Current bike - 2005 Kawasaki Z750S
MMI Graduation date January 9th, 2009. Factory Certifications in Suzuki and Yamaha

hehe my bike can barely hold 70mph going up a hill with my wife and I on it. I would rather get a bigger bike that change sprockets .

_________________
96' Honda Shadow Deluxe VLX
Dream bike: Ducati Multistrada 1100S

I just can't get over the looks of the new CBR1000RR. The one before that was IMO the best looking liter bike out there, now it's hands down the ugliest.

_________________
2008 Ducati Hypermotard 1100
2006 Kawasaki KLX250S
2004 Honda CBR600RR
2002 BMW R1150R
1996 Ducati 900SS

Actually you got it the other way around. One of the reasons you get a liter bike is so you don't have to be in second gear. That's what you do with a 600. The roll on power of a literbike, even in top gear is sooo incredible on, you most likely always have it in a higher gear.

_________________
2008 Ducati Hypermotard 1100
2006 Kawasaki KLX250S
2004 Honda CBR600RR
2002 BMW R1150R
1996 Ducati 900SS

sprocket change is a HUGE improvment for the 650R's, at least according to a bunch of guys on the 650r forums when i bothered visiting it. Getting some new/better brake pads and stainless brake lines will make it a bit more "sporty".

_________________

Even when you're doing 15 mph (at best) in stop and go traffic? Or do you have a secret to starting from a stop in 6th?

_________________
"Good girls go to heaven. Bad ones go to hell. And girls on fast bikes go anywhere they want."

2009 Triumph Sprint ST - daily commuter
2006 Triumph Daytona 675 - track bike
1999 Suzuki SV650 - track training bike

Oh Ok maybe we are talking about two different things?

In slow traffic, the size of the bike is irrelevant as one would be in 1st or 2nd anyway, regardless of whether it has 20 HP or 200HP.

The 2nd gear analogy is usually used for 600cc sportbikes. In the backroad twisties, usually one keeps 600 sportbikes in 2nd gear or tapdance on the shifter constantly; whereas in a literbike, the low end thrust is so amazing that one can basically be lazy and keep it in 4th gear.

_________________
2008 Ducati Hypermotard 1100
2006 Kawasaki KLX250S
2004 Honda CBR600RR
2002 BMW R1150R
1996 Ducati 900SS

If you only have been riding for that short of a period, I would stay with the 650 Ninja. However if you have the urge to upgrade, I would stick with your original plan of going with a 600.

In the hands of a responsible rider, the CBR600RR could be a fairly safe beginner bike while a CBR1000RR cannot.

The CBR600RR is really two bikes in one. At the lower RPMs it is a very docile, mild manner bike. When it gets in the upper RPMs it is a monster. In another words as long as you are smooth with the clutch, you are not going to be doing accidental wheelies. Under most normal condition, it will not power wheelie in 2nd gear. The 1000RR will easily power wheelie in 2nd and 3rd and possibly in 4th.
On my 600RR, once moving, whacking the gas in 1st gear in lower rpms will not loft the front. Over 7000rpm, it becomes a different story. A quick flick will lift the front.

My Hypermotoard which probably has similar torque numbers as a CBR1000RR but 2/3 the horsepower will easily power wheelie in 2nd gear even in the mid rpms. In first gear, at any rpms, a quick flick will easily lift the front. Although my 600RR is ultimately faster than my Hypermotard 1100, I could reluctantly recommend the 600RR to a beginner whereas I would not in a million years do the same with the Hyper. I really cannot imagine this kind of torque combined with the moster HP of a 1000RR in the hands of a beginner.

_________________
2008 Ducati Hypermotard 1100
2006 Kawasaki KLX250S
2004 Honda CBR600RR
2002 BMW R1150R
1996 Ducati 900SS

Hubby rolling on the Duc, 1st gear was req for stop and go traffic. I think some of that was gearing is tall so first was real rough and chattery in low speeds. I would imagine the the CBR has a nice first gear ratio, at least better than what the Duc has.

I agree with the general feel (ignoring rider experience and based solely on bike), a 1000 would be excessive. The 600 or 750 would suit just fine.