• There has been a recent cluster of spammers accessing BARFer accounts and posting spam. To safeguard your account, please consider changing your password. It would be even better to take the additional step of enabling 2 Factor Authentication (2FA) on your BARF account. Read more here.

Real World Impressions ’09 Kawasaki ZX6R?

Kestrel said:
Hell... Shitty Low AND mid range... They've always been notoriously peaky, and quite crappy for the street.
Click to expand...

I just picked up an 06 R6, and it's got all it's pep after 9k rpms.

The 03-05 R6 is muuuuuuuuch better.
 
louemc said:
I'm hoping that someone that rides the twisties in the Sierra passes, will get one and put street fighter handle bars on, and give it a real "real world" workout :)
Click to expand...
Not such a good idea. That would be like puting Flanders on your 10spd. and going for a "real world" workout. :|
I road won around teh block couple of times and dyno'd it too. New scalpel.
Ergos are good but it's thin, tiny, lightweight, firm and serious.:ride Feels much like a new ninj 250 but, you know it's a 4cyl. six! This oneandonly(so far) made as much on the dyno as the best evar CBR, has as much mid, and pulls out longer. :party I like it! Not a bad street bike, certainly a good trackbike. $10K! :wtf Pay to play. :troy
 
After riding a R6 for the last 4 years, and then a ZX6R for the last few months, there is no question which one is a beter bike. It's not all about the powerband, which can easily be altered with gearing....things like brakes and suspension really matter. Unfortunately the 6R has crappy brakes and suspension.

I got rid of my R6 a few months back, and am looking for a new R6 now. The R6 rocks.
 
Last edited:
lavigna said:
After riding a R6 for the last 4 years, and then a ZX6R for the last few months, there is no question which one is a beter bike. It's not all about the powerband, which can easily be altered with gearing....things like brakes and suspension really matter. Unfortunately the 6R has crappy brakes and suspension.
Click to expand...

Gearing does not alter the powerband....you cannot magically add more horsepower in the lower regions by doing a -1/+2 conversion. A short-stroke engine remains a short-stroke engine short of changing its architecture from an engineering standpoint. I agree that yes, suspension (and tires) are vital to the handling of any bike, and since Yamaha spec'd the R6 as a race bike first, of course its legs are top-drawer items. Kawi kind of got caught with their pants down, that's why they redesigned to ZX6R back in 2003. But they never really did catch on with the reacers. Naturally you are going to favor the R6 especially since you only rode the Kawasaki for a fraction of the time that you did the Yamaha.

Make no mistake, the R6 is superior and excels in its natural environment, the track. I see them everywhere on a typical trackday and was seriously considering getting one before I got a great deal on the 636. What I am trying to say here, is that I (and the majority of riders) prefer a bike that has at least some semblance of midrange for the street; tap-dancing on the shifter to get out of the way od brain-dead cagers gets old REAL fast. Doesn't stop the company from selling a crapload to street riders though. :) YMMV.

My :2cents
 
When you ask how a bike might be good or bad, how about mentioning what kind of riding you will do, your experience, why you don't like your current bike and what you expect to get out of the next one. That makes a huge difference to recommenders.

Your size matter too.:laughing Three to five hour rides on a bike for someone 6'2" will be really uncomfortable on a small 600.

A liter bike or V-Twin will keep up and be more fun to ride on the road than most 600cc race replicas. They will be just as fast on the road and just fine on the track.

I have an 05' 636 for the track. If you add a fork valve kit and rear shock and it is a great bike.

The Aprilia V-Twin has great usable power for the street without revving it up to and past 10k RPM and is in it's element at the speeds you typically see on the street.

Aside from all that the Honda and Kaw will be the best all around 600cc bikes and the Yamaha and Suzuki are more focused on the track RPM range. The Honda still may be the best on the track for you.

Which one looks the best and inspires you is probably the most important.
I think you should insist on a test ride of any bike before buying. Even if you sign the papers and have approved credit first with an opt out clause, there is a way to do it while the dealer can protect thier interests and limit risk.

Let us know what you choose!
 
NorCal Factory said:
When you ask how a bike might be good or bad, how about mentioning what kind of riding you will do, your experience, why you don't like your current bike and what you expect to get out of the next one. That makes a huge difference to recommenders.

Your size matter too.:laughing Three to five hour rides on a bike for someone 6'2" will be really uncomfortable on a small 600.

A liter bike or V-Twin will keep up and be more fun to ride on the road than most 600cc race replicas. They will be just as fast on the road and just fine on the track.

I have an 05' 636 for the track. If you add a fork valve kit and rear shock and it is a great bike.

The Aprilia V-Twin has great usable power for the street without revving it up to and past 10k RPM and is in it's element at the speeds you typically see on the street.

Aside from all that the Honda and Kaw will be the best all around 600cc bikes and the Yamaha and Suzuki are more focused on the track RPM range. The Honda still may be the best on the track for you.

Which one looks the best and inspires you is probably the most important.
I think you should insist on a test ride of any bike before buying. Even if you sign the papers and have approved credit first with an opt out clause, there is a way to do it while the dealer can protect thier interests and limit risk.

Let us know what you choose!
Click to expand...

Definitely good advise for all. I am looking specifically at the '09 ZX6R because it fit me best - and because I currently have a couple of Ducs, I'd like to get a modern 600cc inline-4 - haven't had a Japanese bike since my '93 900RR. After three Triumphs and three Aprilias (2 Milles and an RS250), I have an itchin' to thrash some Japanese rocket... in the canyons and on the track. :teeth
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top