Sanx
29th June 2008, 15:53
Hot on the heels of AMCN's Superbike Test (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=76418) comes the same publication's Supersports shout-out.
Track test
Carried out at Eastern Creek Raceway on control tyres (Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa SPs). Each manufacturer sent along their top Aussie Supersports teams to help dial the bikes in for each test. Each team got one hour's prep time with changes limited to suspension settings and gearing. Rankings taken by rider's best lap times, averaged out.
Results:
Yamaha YZF-R6
Suzuki GSX-R600 K8
Triumph Daytona 675
Honda CBR600RR
Kawasaki ZX-6R
Fastest lap: 1:38.44 by Judd Greedy on the Honda CBR600RR
Road test
The results of a rider survey covering engine, transmission, chassis, cornering, brakes, ergonomics, etc. count for 80% of the score. Dyno-testing for power and torque and dry weight count for 20% of the score.
Results:
Triumph Daytona 675
Suzuki GSX-R600 K8
Kawasaki ZX-6R
Honda CBR600RR
Yamaha YZF-6R
Unlike the Superbike test, the road portion of the test was carried out in appalling weather which gave the testers the chance to comment on the weather protection offered by each bike.
Overall testers' points of note on each bike on the road testing:
Triumph Dayton 675
Great engine with more real-world usable power than the others. Blitzed the competition in 100km/h top gear roll-on tests.
Firm-yet-compliant suspension
Powerful-yet-progressive brakes
OK riding position, but not as good as the Honda
OK protection from the elements, but not as good as the Suzuki
OK luggage attachment points, but they tended to pull forward into the rider's back
Unsuitable OEM rubber for everyday use (Pirelli Supercorsas)
Suzuki GSX-R600 K8
Great engine. Pick of the bunch as measured by the test team's seat-of-the-pants dynometre. One or two extra teeth on the rear sprocket would have seen it match the Triumph in the roll-on tests.
Lots of room for taller riders, unlike the Yamaha
Instant but progressive throttle response
Exhaust note muted, but some induction noise remains
Usual Suzuki gearbox, i.e. hot knife through butter
Good OEM tyres for normal use (Bridgestone BT-016s)
Very sudden front brakes. Testers remarked on the ill-advised nature of trail braking on damp roads
Kawasaki ZX-6R
Best looking tacho of the bunch, if you could actually read it
Very low screen meant next to no weather protection and instruments not visible unless crouched down over the tank.
Beat the Honda and Yamaha in the roll-on test, but lost out to the Suzuki and Triumph
Feels light and numble but still planted. Was the Japper that felt most like the Triumph.
Famed Kawasaki induction roar has gone, but had a healthy exhaust note.
OEM tyres (Bridgestone BT-015s) worked OK.
Honda CBR600RR
Does nothing badly, is well finished and the most comfortable. No glaring faults.
But not very exciting.
Whisper-quiet to the redline with little exhaust or induction noise.
Best OEM tyres of the bunch (Pirelli Diablo Corsa IIIs)
Was the most sought-after bike for the return part of the ride. Least likely bike to require you to visit a chirpractor the next day.
"It's the Dani Pedrosa of the 600s - soul-less, bland and without any personality"
Yamaha YZF-6R
"Is that a red and white g-string you're wearing? No, it's a Yamaha R6 and would you mind helping to extract it from between my arse cheeks?"
Light, small and precise with racer-like responses.
Taller riders might feel like they're steering with their knees
Saddle surprisingly comfortable, relatively speaking
Screen offered little weather protection but the wide front fairing helped keep hands dry.
Rev-happy motor came last in the roll-on tests, but was a hoot on dry, fast and flowing roads.
Great induction and exhaust note. Beat even the Triumph.
"Think of the R6 as the hot blonde you want to have a torrid affair with, but a life of commitment might proce somewhat taxing"
Bike stats
All weights measured ready to ride with 10L of fuel. Fuel consumption measured during the road portion of the testing, all running on identical fuel.
Honda CBR600RR
Power: 86kW @ 14,000rpm
Torque: 65Nm @ 11,000rpm
Weight: 184kg
Fuel capacity 18L
Fuel consumption: 7L/100km
Kawasaki ZX-6R
Power: 86kW @ 14,000rpm
Torque: 63Nm @ 12,000rpm
Weight: 197kg
Fuel capacity 17L
Fuel consumption: 8.2L/100km
Suzuki GSX-R600 K8
Power: 86kW @ 13,500rpm
Torque: 65Nm @ 11,500rpm
Weight: 195kg
Fuel capacity 17L
Fuel consumption: 7L/100km
Triumph Daytona 675
Power: 88kW @ 12,200rpm
Torque: 71Nm @ 11,000rpm
Weight: 184kg
Fuel capacity 17L
Fuel consumption: 8.1L/100km
Yamaha YZF-R6
Power: 86kW @ 14,500rpm
Torque: 60Nm @ 11,000rpm
Weight: 190kg
Fuel capacity 17L
Fuel consumption: 8.2L/100km
All in all, a much less clear-cut result than the Superbike test with no one bike standing out.
Track test
Carried out at Eastern Creek Raceway on control tyres (Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa SPs). Each manufacturer sent along their top Aussie Supersports teams to help dial the bikes in for each test. Each team got one hour's prep time with changes limited to suspension settings and gearing. Rankings taken by rider's best lap times, averaged out.
Results:
Yamaha YZF-R6
Suzuki GSX-R600 K8
Triumph Daytona 675
Honda CBR600RR
Kawasaki ZX-6R
Fastest lap: 1:38.44 by Judd Greedy on the Honda CBR600RR
Road test
The results of a rider survey covering engine, transmission, chassis, cornering, brakes, ergonomics, etc. count for 80% of the score. Dyno-testing for power and torque and dry weight count for 20% of the score.
Results:
Triumph Daytona 675
Suzuki GSX-R600 K8
Kawasaki ZX-6R
Honda CBR600RR
Yamaha YZF-6R
Unlike the Superbike test, the road portion of the test was carried out in appalling weather which gave the testers the chance to comment on the weather protection offered by each bike.
Overall testers' points of note on each bike on the road testing:
Triumph Dayton 675
Great engine with more real-world usable power than the others. Blitzed the competition in 100km/h top gear roll-on tests.
Firm-yet-compliant suspension
Powerful-yet-progressive brakes
OK riding position, but not as good as the Honda
OK protection from the elements, but not as good as the Suzuki
OK luggage attachment points, but they tended to pull forward into the rider's back
Unsuitable OEM rubber for everyday use (Pirelli Supercorsas)
Suzuki GSX-R600 K8
Great engine. Pick of the bunch as measured by the test team's seat-of-the-pants dynometre. One or two extra teeth on the rear sprocket would have seen it match the Triumph in the roll-on tests.
Lots of room for taller riders, unlike the Yamaha
Instant but progressive throttle response
Exhaust note muted, but some induction noise remains
Usual Suzuki gearbox, i.e. hot knife through butter
Good OEM tyres for normal use (Bridgestone BT-016s)
Very sudden front brakes. Testers remarked on the ill-advised nature of trail braking on damp roads
Kawasaki ZX-6R
Best looking tacho of the bunch, if you could actually read it
Very low screen meant next to no weather protection and instruments not visible unless crouched down over the tank.
Beat the Honda and Yamaha in the roll-on test, but lost out to the Suzuki and Triumph
Feels light and numble but still planted. Was the Japper that felt most like the Triumph.
Famed Kawasaki induction roar has gone, but had a healthy exhaust note.
OEM tyres (Bridgestone BT-015s) worked OK.
Honda CBR600RR
Does nothing badly, is well finished and the most comfortable. No glaring faults.
But not very exciting.
Whisper-quiet to the redline with little exhaust or induction noise.
Best OEM tyres of the bunch (Pirelli Diablo Corsa IIIs)
Was the most sought-after bike for the return part of the ride. Least likely bike to require you to visit a chirpractor the next day.
"It's the Dani Pedrosa of the 600s - soul-less, bland and without any personality"
Yamaha YZF-6R
"Is that a red and white g-string you're wearing? No, it's a Yamaha R6 and would you mind helping to extract it from between my arse cheeks?"
Light, small and precise with racer-like responses.
Taller riders might feel like they're steering with their knees
Saddle surprisingly comfortable, relatively speaking
Screen offered little weather protection but the wide front fairing helped keep hands dry.
Rev-happy motor came last in the roll-on tests, but was a hoot on dry, fast and flowing roads.
Great induction and exhaust note. Beat even the Triumph.
"Think of the R6 as the hot blonde you want to have a torrid affair with, but a life of commitment might proce somewhat taxing"
Bike stats
All weights measured ready to ride with 10L of fuel. Fuel consumption measured during the road portion of the testing, all running on identical fuel.
Honda CBR600RR
Power: 86kW @ 14,000rpm
Torque: 65Nm @ 11,000rpm
Weight: 184kg
Fuel capacity 18L
Fuel consumption: 7L/100km
Kawasaki ZX-6R
Power: 86kW @ 14,000rpm
Torque: 63Nm @ 12,000rpm
Weight: 197kg
Fuel capacity 17L
Fuel consumption: 8.2L/100km
Suzuki GSX-R600 K8
Power: 86kW @ 13,500rpm
Torque: 65Nm @ 11,500rpm
Weight: 195kg
Fuel capacity 17L
Fuel consumption: 7L/100km
Triumph Daytona 675
Power: 88kW @ 12,200rpm
Torque: 71Nm @ 11,000rpm
Weight: 184kg
Fuel capacity 17L
Fuel consumption: 8.1L/100km
Yamaha YZF-R6
Power: 86kW @ 14,500rpm
Torque: 60Nm @ 11,000rpm
Weight: 190kg
Fuel capacity 17L
Fuel consumption: 8.2L/100km
All in all, a much less clear-cut result than the Superbike test with no one bike standing out.