Good point, completely forgot about the two bulletproof Kwakas. My very first bike was a ratty GPX and that did reasonably fine for a $1000 bike.

You might be referring to the ZX2R? They're said to have a bit of a power spike high in the rev range. My FZR was very smooth throughout the range, possibly due largely to the EXUP valve.

With CBR's you can find well used ones around for a good price, as long as you don't insist on a RRRRRRRRR and settle for a single R.