I would say the total opposite is true. The 954 was designed to me more street friendly, Honda was moving back torward thinking of road riding than track riding. The 1000 has a more aggressive stance with the bars lowered for track riding. If you find sitting up a little straighter more comfortable then the 954 is better designed stock. You can always raise the bars on the 1000 if that´s what you want. The one plus to the 1000 is the auto-dampener. I´d say go sit on each one and see how it feels and then keep in mind that both are going to kill your %!¤when slabbing it, but that´s not why you want either bike.