Kawasaki ER-6

[zadok]

When I was buying a new helmet on Monday, I came across the new ER-6 in one of the bike shops. Looks mighty fine in the 'flesh', let me tell you.

[Wasp]

OOOooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh yyyyyyyyeeeeeeeeessssssssss.....

I MUST have this once i trade in the vtz, they just look sooooo much alike.

[zadok]

By the way, that was in Perth. Don't know if you have them in N.Z yet.

[texmo]

Is that like a smaller version of the zed thou? Mt eden have a few me finks

[Bob]

Is that like a smaller version of the zed thou? Mt eden have a few me finks

Funny you should ask that - according to Kawasaki's press stuff "Any resemblance to the Z1000 is purely intentional".

I can't see it myself.

Of course, the actual smaller version of the Zed Thou is the Z750/Z750S - essentially the same, but with smaller engine, less funky pipes and a bit more budget in nature.

The ER-6n (and fully faired f to be released in April I beleive) is a 650cc parallel twin. Been reading a road test in Bike magazine today and they're raving over it... in every respect except the looks!

Personally, I don't like the looks of the front of the naked bike (from front on it looks too much like a scooter to me), but the fully-faired f version - if I can save the pennies between now and April(ish), I'm fully intending to get at least a test ride and probably buy one.

[cowboyz]

they have one in AFC in palmy town. The have it sitting next to a 636 and a zx10 and to be honest I dont like it at all. Much prefer the zx.

[snuffles]

By the way, that was in Perth. Don't know if you have them in N.Z yet.

sawyers have one in WGTN

[WRT]

Have they done a Buell on the zorst?

[Krayy]

By the way, that was in Perth. Don't know if you have them in N.Z yet.

I did a test ride on the demo they have at Mt Eden Motorcycles a couple of weeks back. Heres the link to the review: http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...ad.php?t=21307

In short...very nice and good riding position, but I might wait for the Suzy GSR600 to hit the shores before I decide.

[ducatilover]

they have one in AFC in palmy town. The have it sitting next to a 636 and a zx10 and to be honest I dont like it at all. Much prefer the zx.

yep i saw that one. ewww fucken ugly. someone rode a new 636 when i was in there. holy fuck it sounded and looked the shizzle. why didnt you get a zx10?:spudwhat:

[erik]

I've seen the ones in Mt. Eden Motorcycles. I reckon they look better in the flesh than in pictures. They look really smalll though, but I didn't try sitting on one. If I had the cash, they'd be on my list of possible next bikes...

[Angry Puppy]

Yeah, looks pretty good. theres a couple on www.bikepoint.co.nz. Personally I'm thinking of a Yamaha FZ6N for my next bike. If you like the ER, Check out the Yamaha.

FB

[Bob]

FZ6N? It is getting real slagging off in the bike press here in the UK.

Comment is that the engine - in stock "R6" tune, combined with a heavy clutch, means that it just doesn't happen where it needs to. No power low down (which you need for town riding... where a naked bike should excel) and the clutch makes it damned hard work.

If you want some more commentary, the January 2006 issue of Bike has a four-bike, naked middleweight comparison test - as far as I know you can get Bike out there. Well worth reading if you're looking at this type of bike.

[pritch]

Personally I'm thinking of a Yamaha FZ6N for my next bike. If you like the ER, Check out the Yamaha.
FB

I took a look at the Yamaha prices and moved right along... (last time I looked an FZ6 cost more than a 900 Hornet ffs!) Road tests I've read of the FZ are most unencouraging. None of the testers at one mag even wanted to ride the bloody thing. It's got a very peaky engine which would be OK if it had a slick box, but it very definitely doesn't. Couple that with a heavy clutch and it's all just too much trouble.

This post wasn't intended to slag off Yamaha though.

In the November issue of T.W.O. there is a photo of the ER6f, similar to the ER6n but has full plastic sprots bike body work with touring bars. Looks interesting. Has a standout colour scheme, black with magenta forks, frame and swingarm. Sounds odd but looks OK. The silver version apparently has gold bits instead of magenta. "A lot of fun for not a whole lot of money."

[Angry Puppy]

This post wasn't intended to slag off Yamaha though.

'sall good, bro. forums would be boring if we didn't say what we thought.

Personnaly, If I was going Kawasaki, I'd go Z750. The ER-6 just looks too contrived.

FB