RC End of Discussion! Seriously, as NukCrash mentioned, suspension work, and the gearing change will make it a completely different bike! Also, it is one of the easiest bikes to have fun on. As previously mentioned, in the twisties you're on the gas earlier, and due to engine compression, you're hardly using the brakes or downshifting. It is a torture rack, but your body will adjust after the first weekend. This harshness can be attributed to the ergonomics (high pegs, low clip-ons, wide tank), suspension and chassis stiffness (which is why it handles so well), and the hard flat seat (which feels like a slab of leather-wrapped granite). That said: Get the RC, and put some new rubber on it. Get used to the ride, and then change the gearing. Oh... If you get the '04 and decide that you don't like the look, rather than paint the original panels/tank... Get some rashed stuff on ebay and paint that. The Hayden scheme is pretty damned sweet, and if it's already mint, you'll want to keep it that way! In closing... There are lots of bikes out there that I want to own, but I don't have any of them because I'm not willing to get rid of my RC, and I have a few more priorities that I must handle before I begin to acquire multiple bikes. *So much for End of Discussion*