Triumph, Honda or Kwacka?

[Slim]

Hullo 'ullo 'ullo ... whats happened 'ere then?

no bike bort yet or what ? ...

Not yet. I've been out of action with a lovely dose of Strep Throat for the last week, so I wasn't even up to taking my mans new (to him) 916 for a ride even though the weather was nice mid-week & I had ample opportunity.

Hopefully I'll be able to take the VTR & SVs for a blast in the next couple of weeks. *fingers crossed*

[moko]

OR................how about the new Z750?,nice and torquey,plenty of poke and riding position wont break your back.If you do get the optional screen put on,it`ll look better and be a lot more comfortable at speed.New Fazer`s nice too.

[deeknow]

Hopefully I'll be able to take the VTR & SVs for a blast in the next couple of weeks. *fingers crossed*

You've had loads of decent input from the other folks here Slim, but I thought I'd put my $0.02 in as I've just been thru the same sort of test program you have, plus I'm in Hamilton too. I've been riding a 600ss Ducati for awhile and was convinced I'd buy myself a bigger Duke, or another 1000cc twin (SV, TL, VTR etc) so off I went round the shops to try a few machines for size.

Note to others: please dont take offence to any negative comment I may make about your bike, this is a result of very limited testing time and the likely difference between our riding styles and character :-)

Before approaching the the shops I scrounged a ride on a friend's brother's VTR/Firestorm. Physicaly the bike looks loads bigger than my wee Duke of course, but it also felt bigger on board, and I didnt feel quite as connected to it. There was a ton-of-Torque, the ride was smooth, but it just didnt quite start my motor so to speak. At this stage I'm thinkin ... keep-trying-others

First shop ride was on a '02 model R6 that Road-n-Sport have on the floor. I wanted to get a taste of some inline-four action and really liked the styling of the R6's. Went out on a test-ride (escorted by one of their sales-staff who was bloody helpful). Fit-wise the thing felt great, and was very impressed by the handling and top-end rush of the machine, but felt the mid-range was a bit lacking, probably coz I'm used to the character of my twin. At this stage I'm thinking ... go-for-a-bigger-twin.

Next ride was back on a twin, an SV1000 at Road-N-Sport. I wanted to compare the SV to the VTR coz they're similar specs and both in the same price-bracket. In a nutshell I was bloody impressed with the SV, tons of tourque across a generous rev-range, comfy ergonomics, seemed to flick about quite freely despite looking kinda big, impressive brakes, sounded wicked (after-market slip-ons) and I really like the styling of the things (some folks apparently dont). At this stage I was basically ready to sign-up for a new SV-thou

I figured I should try another four just in case, so next test was the demo ZX6R (636) at HamiltonMC's. Found the fit to be similar to the R6, handling wise they were also alike but the ZX did seem a little flightier powering out of corners (could be suspension setup I guess). Top-end power didnt seem greatly different to the R6 but the mid-range was noticably more beefy. If I was choosing between the Yamaha and Kwaka it would probably be the Kawasaki (once again, coz of my familiarity with mid-range twin-torque.

From crawling over magazine and website reviews of the recent model 600's I figured the GSX, CBR and Daytona were gonna be pretty much similar experiences to the R6 and ZX6R so I decided not to test them yet. At this stage I was still dead-keen on an SV-thou

Heading back to twin-test-land I went out on a recent model (used) 750ss Duke, one of the 2-valve/air-cooled jobs. This is a similar configuration to my 600ss but styling is way different, and its fuel-injected. Was really impressed with the bike, felt nice and planted, roomy but felt nicely connected. Unfortunately it really wasnt an overly exciting step-up performance wise from my 600, and for the price I really couldnt justify it (twice what I paid for my 600ss)

Next ride was a '98 model 900ss Duke (yes they did build one in '98, limited edition, import only in NZ, super-light style single seater jobbie). It was for sale in a shop in Christchurch and I fell in love with these when I first saw one in an old catalogue a couple of years back so had to test it while I was down there. Basically the same geometry as my 600 only twin-disk brakes on the front, 50% more capacity, silver paint job, and a few carbon bits. It was a great ride, not original (crash?), and for the money they were asking I just couldnt commit to it.

While in ChCh I spotted a '97 model Kwaka ZX-7R and figured ... why not. Despite their dodgy paint-jobs :-) I'd read lots about the machines that I liked the sound of, and after a test-ride up and around the port-hills I discovered it pretty much had all the characteristics I was looking for. So I bought it !!!

Handling wise the thing is great, keeps a line wickedly (even if its a little lardy when it comes to changing line), has enough peak power to keep me interested for awhile, has a decent amount of torque (not as much as a big twin obviously) and the tourque curve is suprisingly flat (for a inline-four), the front end seems pretty sorted, brakes are great (stopping ~200kgs), it feels great when given a chance to get up and sing. In the first fortnight I've done about 1000 kms (mostly twisties) and I just love it !!!

So Slim, to sum up this long-post-from-hell, the killer thing for me with the ZX7R was that it had all the things I wanted from my next bike, and it was half (ok, two-thirds) the price of the machines I'd been looking at. I'd definately reccomend you take a used 750-four out before you lay down any money on a new 600. If you dont like green, try a GSXR750, hell even a 900 maybe. I reckon you'll be pleasently suprised, so will the accountant.

Good Luck.

[Slim]

So Slim, to sum up this long-post-from-hell ...

Not at all. It was a good read, concise and in a language I could understand. Thanks for the input.

[Blackbird]

In the December 2003 edition of Performance Bikes (Currently in the shops with the new Aprilia on the cover), there's a 600 comparison. It's interesting to note that because of their lack of weight, the performance is soooo... close to their bigger counterparts and the handling is superior. In other words, in real life situations on NZ roads, you'd hardly notice the difference apart from having to rev them a bit harder.

Your bigest choice is finding something that "feels" right!

Good luck

Geoff

[moko]

Bit confused actually as I`ve just noticed that you`ve got one of the best all-rounder 600`s already.Why not save loads of money and get yours over-hauled,maybe spend some money on the suspension or whatever can be improved.Seems to me that the bike you`re looking for is basically what you`ve already got.If your happy with yours but just want a new bike then surely it`s got to be the CBR600 again,if they dont import the standard model then the 636 Kwak is nearest in character.Or,if you want yet another choice thrown in the ZZR600 is a greatly under-rated machine and more CBR than ZXR.

[Slim]

Bit confused actually as I`ve just noticed that you`ve got one of the best all-rounder 600`s already ... Seems to me that the bike you`re looking for is basically what you`ve already got. If your happy with yours but just want a new bike then surely it`s got to be the CBR600 again, if they dont import the standard model then the 636 Kwak is nearest in character.

You're absolutely right, Moko.

I think I got carried away with the fact that new bikes are finally priced within my reach and I figured over 5 years with one bike was about enough.

But I finally made an executive decision about some money that's been sitting in my savings account for the last 8 months & I dumped it on one of my debts yesterday, and the debt that's left could conceivably be cleared in a year & I could get out of shift work!!!

Priorities seem to have changed ... for now.

[wari]

You're absolutely right, Moko.

I think I got carried away with the fact that new bikes are finally priced within my reach and I figured over 5 years with one bike was about enough.

But I finally made an executive decision about some money that's been sitting in my savings account for the last 8 months & I dumped it on one of my debts yesterday, and the debt that's left could conceivably be cleared in a year & I could get out of shift work!!!

Priorities seem to have changed ... for now.

ooooooooooooooooooooh .... .... I was getting excited and everything too.

[Slim]

ooooooooooooooooooooh .... .... I was getting excited and everything too.

Sorry to disappoint, but Ms Sensible finally got a word in edgeways.


I did get to take my man's 916 for a ride on Thursday though. Not that I'd buy one, but it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be - a wee bit less sporty ergonomics-wise than the CBR600RR actually. I can see how it would be veeeeery easy to lose ones licence on it though!

[wari]

Sorry to disappoint, but Ms Sensible finally got a word in edgeways.


I did get to take my man's 916 for a ride on Thursday though. Not that I'd buy one, but it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be - a wee bit less sporty ergonomics-wise than the CBR600RR actually. I can see how it would be veeeeery easy to lose ones licence on it though!

sensible shmensible ... did ya see this ...

TT600

[Slim]

sensible shmensible ... did ya see this ...

TT600

I took a TT600 for a ride & didn't like it very much. The FI was snatchy at low revs in round-town traffic, although it performed well on the open road. And the tank was the wrong shape or the pegs were in the wrong place cos my legs felt all wrong when riding.

The Daytona was a definite improvement in many ways.

[Zed]

I took a TT600 for a ride & didn't like it very much. The FI was snatchy at low revs in round-town traffic, although it performed well on the open road. And the tank was the wrong shape or the pegs were in the wrong place cos my legs felt all wrong when riding.

The Daytona was a definite improvement in many ways.

Hey, sounds like you've test ridden quite a few bikes now...how many bikes have you owned before your CBR600 Slim?

I know that first impressions sometimes can be inaccurate and that with bikes it can take some time before you realise that you actually enjoy a certain riding position or engine type!


Zed

[Slim]

Hey, sounds like you've test ridden quite a few bikes now...how many bikes have you owned before your CBR600 Slim?

The CBR is my 3rd bike (a GB250 until I got my full licence, then a GSX400R, then a three year break) and I've had it for just over 5 years now.

I've test ridden the TT600, new Daytona 600, CBR600RR & Kawasaki 636, plus recent rides on Ducati ST2 & 916.

[Zed]

The CBR is my 3rd bike (a GB250 until I got my full licence, then a GSX400R, then a three year break) and I've had it for just over 5 years now.

I've test ridden the TT600, new Daytona 600, CBR600RR & Kawasaki 636, plus recent rides on Ducati ST2 & 916.

Well I hope you find what you're looking/feeling for!

[moko]

You're absolutely right, Moko.

I think I got carried away with the fact that new bikes are finally priced within my reach and I figured over 5 years with one bike was about enough.
Priorities seem to have changed ... for now.

I know this is an old thread but I recently read an article in a Brit bike mag that`s relevent.Guy had a Suzi GSX600,a bike the press crucify but a steady seller for years and owners seem to like it anyway.Point being that like you he`d had his bike for a few years and partly on the strength of all those journos trashing his bike while worshipping at the alter of the CBR600 he used his life-savings and bought a brand-new CBR.Well he was honest enough to say that now he`s got the CBR he wonders why he chucked his money away,not that the CBR isnt a brilliant bike but he thought he`d buy the Honda and be blown away by how much better it was,and in his opinion he`d paid a lot more for not a lot more that was relavent to him or the use he wants from his bike plus he couldn`t get on with the riding position.I`d think that changeing from one CBR to another,albeit quite a lot different,would give even more of the same feeling so unless you`re actually unhappy with what you`ve got you`ve done the right thing holding onto your bike.Think I`ve mentioned doing a similar thing myself,chopped in a CB500,real wolf in sheep`s clothing , screw the nuts off it and it flies and handles really well,for a Yam XJ600N,on paper better,in reality I kicked myself for buying it for a few months then bit the bullet and got rid of it.I loved that little Honda and only changed because I had a bit of spare cash and thought it should be a step up,should`ve got some decent suspension and a tune-up for the CB instead.