Who rides an R6?

[R6_kid:Me]

Just been trying to decide which bike im going to upgrade to and a tidy R6 has caught my attention.

Other than being a nice looking bike thats about all i know about it, but i have heard that the front end is 'light'.

Is this in terms of the steering is light, the front of the bike doesnt have much weight in it, or the rear is putting out enough power to lift the front a lil bit (not off the road) under normaly riding...

Any feedback from R6 riders on this would be greatly appreciated. Also is there any quick fix or do you need to spend a fair bit of dosh to make it nice.

Im not being put off by this, as i have heard the 636 is similar and i've only heard good things about them.

Cheers
Gareth

[White trash]

"Light in the front" refers to the sensation you get from riding hard without a steering damper fitted. Easily fixed if you ride quick, not neccesary if you're cruising.

02-03 models had an apetite for coils for some fucked up reason.

[bugjuice]

I'd get out there and spend a few hours on all the 600s if you can, then you'll get to feel more of the positioning on the bike.. Power in a nutshell between most of the 600s is fairly similar, it's just the position after that.
As for 'light in the front', my bike is bad for it if you give it enough stick. I think most would be, but you get used to it. Don't have a damper yet (it's on the shopping list), so just learnt to ride thru the slaps.. fukin good fun tho

go ride 6 hundies.. the more, the merrier

[WINJA]

R6 SOUNDS LIKE ARSE SEX SO GET IT

[James Deuce]

I've got an R6. I "fucken love it" to quote WT.

Light Front End? Not if it's set up right. What year R6 are you looking at?

There are heaps of setup guides and I think you've been bitten by the "media bug" there. WT and Motoracer are the only guys on here quilified to make judgements about the fine distinctions of steering characteristics on the limit. the other 99% of the time you'll have no drama at all.

[R6_kid:Me]

was told about the "light" front end by a shop assistant, and also upon questioning someone at the track day that rides one.

Its the 99 model, done 14k and its all pretty much stock standard. Probably end up having the bike for a few years if i get it so just wanted to make sure im not buying a lemon bike.

Im 98kg if that helps at all... im sure the setup stuff will fix any problems i did have.

With a bit of luck i might be checking it out on Sunday afternoon after the Coro ride.

[2_SL0]

Tend to agree with Jim2, I had similar thoughts as you do, but unless I really push it the bike feels fine. The front gets lights only when Im pushing really hard. So far its never been anything Ive worried about. I think dialing in the suspension etc helps a great deal. Im still undecided as to whether a steering damper is even required on a 636 05.

[James Deuce]

IT isn't a lemon. The '99s are huge fun, utterly mental, unlike their slightly more refined '02 and on younger brothers.

98 kg. Set the suspension to factory settings, whack the rear preload on 5 (out of 7) and add a step of preload to the front (less lines showing - 4 would be about right). That will give you an idea of what the bike is like on the ride.

Do me a favour though. Don't listen to the shop guys, or if you do, always take it with a grain of salt. They have an agenda that may not be in your favour. I mean that in a nice way though, all you shop people. Ride bikes, then make up your mind. Someone else's opinion is meaningless until you have something to compare it with. Your arse is more important than someone else's mouth when it comes to ride impressions.

[R6_kid:Me]

correct me if im wrong, but are you saying that the light sensation is caused by being high in the power when in the corners?

[bugjuice]

'light' is gassing it hard, the front then starts to skip the ground under acceleration. great fun. it can be a bit nerve racking at first, but you'll soon get used to it. Setting the suspension up right can solve most of it, and adapt your riding skills to suit. Most of the time, you'll start to know when it's about to happen, or more likely to happen. So you can either enjoy the buzz or avoid the situation. Most 600s will get the front wheel up in a straight line under power, so getting the front light mid-corner isn't all that hard

[James Deuce]

correct me if im wrong, but are you saying that the light sensation is caused by being high in the power when in the corners?

It gets real light when you wheely, but no that isn't the reason. The magazine guys crap on about a "flighty" front end. They generally mean a front end that needs less force to produce a given steering response, and one that is prone to shaking it's head a little on the exit of bumpy corners, or over humps in the road. I've owned an RG400. THAT sucker had a light front end. The R6 is a slow steering oil tanker by comparison.

Remember that the shop and magazine guys are trying to split hairs between bikes that for all intents and purposes are incredibly similar in performance. The "flighty" front end of the R6 has been blown out of proportion, as has the effect of a 120/70 vs 120/60 front tyre profile.

[R6_kid:Me]

cheers for the quick replies. My mate doesnt stop creaming himself when i mention R1/R6... I like the way it looks but might change the end can once i've paid the bike off.

After seeing how things go on Sunday i'll get back to you on what i think and whether or not my old man will help me out. It's uni holidays soon so if i work my ass off i can take a really fat chunk out of any loan i get.

Will have $3000 to put down, and im looking at around $3-4000 savings over the four and a half months off.

[SixPackBack]

cheers for the quick replies. My mate doesnt stop creaming himself when i mention R1/R6... I like the way it looks but might change the end can once i've paid the bike off.

After seeing how things go on Sunday i'll get back to you on what i think and whether or not my old man will help me out. It's uni holidays soon so if i work my ass off i can take a really fat chunk out of any loan i get.

Will have $3000 to put down, and im looking at around $3-4000 savings over the four and a half months off.

The front end is not going to be light with you on it!

[White trash]

And shop guys also want to be seen as "experts" by reciting every piece of rubbish ever published on a bike in the hope of looking like pros.

Believe me, I know.

[2_SL0]

And shop guys also want to be seen as "experts" by reciting every piece of rubbish ever published on a bike in the hope of looking like pros.

Believe me, I know.

LOLOLOL.