Kawasaki ER-6f announced

[RantyDave]

This is all well and good but will it be available here - like the ER6-n isn't? Is it likely we'll see the ABS options? Am I an unsufferable newbie for even *wanting* ABS?

Still, as a member of the "new bike after 250" market, this I like. BTW, what's the deal with paralell twins? They smoother than a V-twin? Presumably narrower than a 4?

Dave

[manuboy]

Aesthetics are a strange box of puppies - two similar-ish persons can stand looking at the same machine and have totally opposing opinions (except the K5 - you'd be a nut not to admit it's the Elle Macpherson of the bike world...mmmmm - LOL).

The new faired version of that beast looks pretty good. I just past a nekkid in the street and after a truly Herculean effort not throwing up on it (maybe i should have - it could only have improved the look) i moved off hurriedly.

Ecchhh... sorry to er6 owners but thats one fugly mofo - i wouldn't make my ex girlfriend ride that to the end of the driveway. For some reason it induces images of old school Skoda's or something... bring on the new!

[zadok]

Just got an ER5 loaner while my bike is geting repaired today. Feels very small and pathetic after the 1000GTR. Hopefully the new ER6 will be a bit more substantial. They certainly look very nice.

[FROSTY:Me]

THEY SCREAM -GOOD BIKE TO ME--mind you a performance pipes gonna be a bitch to fit

[James Deuce]

(except the K5 - you'd be a nut not to admit it's the Elle Macpherson of the bike world...mmmmm - LOL).

That's pushing it. Ugly Duckling springs to mind, with only it's sheer performance capability being the Swan. Odd pipe, mismatched seat unit, that looks like a wooden mallet from above, and a "droop snoot" that makes a Tupolex Tu144 in landing configuration look elegant.

I think you just insulted Elle buddy. Take it back.

The ER6f looks better than a K5. IMO of course. (Which translates as nobody else's opinion counts for squat.)

[Bob]

This is all well and good but will it be available here - like the ER6-n isn't? Is it likely we'll see the ABS options? Am I an unsufferable newbie for even *wanting* ABS?

Still, as a member of the "new bike after 250" market, this I like. BTW, what's the deal with paralell twins? They smoother than a V-twin? Presumably narrower than a 4?

Dave

In a US review I read somewhere, it seemed that the ER-6 range was going to debut in Europe. I reckon if it does well, it'll sell elsewhere.

ABS? If it makes you more comfortable, then why not. Personally I like having total control on my own and I reckon knowing you need to be in control and not just grab the lever as hard as possible helps keep your concentration in place.

Parallel twins? Well they're one of the oldest bike engine configurations. Look at old Brit stuff and the 650cc parallel twin dominates. Yes, they're narrower than a 4 (one of the reasons Kwak went for the configuration - that and also they've never made a vee-twin so didn't want a 'loss of identity). No, they're not smoother than a Vee - if anything they suffer much more from vibration. But from tests I've read on the ER-6n, the fuel injection is spot on with the new bike and Kwak have done their homework and got the engine feeling much more like a Vee... and that is no bad thing!

And finally... I don't think it is fair to compare the ER-6 with the ER-5. That bike is based around the old GPZ500S engine - one that is now something like 20 years old and hasn't changed in that time!

Personally I'd have liked to see the GPZ name revived, but I'm not head of marketing at Kawasaki...