Kawasaki ER-6

[pritch]

Have they done a Buell on the zorst?

They have.

[fishb8nz]

The Kawasaki website lists both the faired and naked bikes as the same -$10,995. I like the look of this bike, small light and agile. Would suit the commuter/tourer role well. They have an optional extra windshield and I thought that would be a good choice but when I saw that the faired version cost the same as the naked, it seemed daft to pay extra for a windscreen when you can have the whole damn fairing for no extra cost.
Am I missing something?

[Hitcher]

And the ER-6n fits Mrs H. Kawasaki will sell thousands of them.

[zadok]

And the ER-6n fits Mrs H. Kawasaki will sell thousands of them.

Yeah, I think they could be on a winner.

[fishb8nz]

I like the look of the Kawasaki 650-E6, as my next bike but don't know if I'll be able to do a week of easy riding on 1 tank - 15.5 L for 300-330 km. I hate having to do supplementary fuel stops.
The V-Strom looks another suitable candidate, with its bigger tank.

[myvice]

Its on the upgrade list for next year, but I can get a speed 4 for the same kind of $$$
Looked long and hard at the Z750 but I think its a bit pricey for what you get.
Arggh! I know I need a new one but I don’t know what to get!
Maybe a Buell city X? Fuck it! Might just get a tank and cut though traffic in a whole new way!

[Bob]

I like the look of the Kawasaki 650-E6, as my next bike but don't know if I'll be able to do a week of easy riding on 1 tank - 15.5 L for 300-330 km. I hate having to do supplementary fuel stops.
The V-Strom looks another suitable candidate, with its bigger tank.

I don't have the figures to hand, but that little fuel tank is balanced by the bike being frugal with fuel use. In a comparative test between the ER-6n, FZ6, Ducati Monster ... and 600 Hornet, the Kwak recorded something like 42 miles to the gallon (which equates to... erm... ). Result was that it recorded about the same "total tank" range as the Hornet (which packs about another 4 litres into a tankful) - leaving both the FZ6 and Monster refuelling quite a way before.

[zadok]

I don't have the figures to hand, but that little fuel tank is balanced by the bike being frugal with fuel use. In a comparative test between the ER-6n, FZ6, Ducati Monster ... and 600 Hornet, the Kwak recorded something like 42 miles to the gallon (which equates to... erm... ). Result was that it recorded about the same "total tank" range as the Hornet (which packs about another 4 litres into a tankful) - leaving both the FZ6 and Monster refuelling quite a way before.

My 1000GTR gets 50mpg

[James Deuce]

Result was that it recorded about the same "total tank" range as the Hornet (which packs about another 4 litres into a tankful) -

Hornet = 160kms. If you are very gentle. I ran out of gas on a 120km loop when I took a Hornet for a test ride. It was full to the brim when I left because I filled up before I went because it had the normal bike shop level of gas in it - just enough to get to the gas station (j/k).

[TONO]

I like the look of the Kawasaki 650-E6, as my next bike but don't know if I'll be able to do a week of easy riding on 1 tank - 15.5 L for 300-330 km. I hate having to do supplementary fuel stops.
The V-Strom looks another suitable candidate, with its bigger tank.

Now your talking!!!!

[fishb8nz]

I don't have the figures to hand, but that little fuel tank is balanced by the bike being frugal with fuel use. In a comparative test between the ER-6n, FZ6, Ducati Monster ... and 600 Hornet, the Kwak recorded something like 42 miles to the gallon (which equates to... erm... ). Result was that it recorded about the same "total tank" range as the Hornet (which packs about another 4 litres into a tankful) - leaving both the FZ6 and Monster refuelling quite a way before.

Hi Bob
Was that a UK or US test?
42 mpg Imperial = 42/2.83=14.84 km/litre=15.5 x 14.8=230 km per tank
If US gallons then 230x1.2=276 km/litre.
This is still short of a weeks riding, mind you, I ride like a nana at 85-95 kph, while travelling to work.
Wee Stormer - What's your fuel consumption?

[Bob]

It was a UK test - so imperial measurements apply.

I will try to remember to look up the actual distances tonight - the test was run on the "Bike 440" route - 440 miles of A and B roads, plus motorways etc. The route takes in just about everything (tarmac based) you're likely to have to handle. So they've got mpg figures for each type.

[Zapf]

Hornet = 160kms. If you are very gentle. I ran out of gas on a 120km loop when I took a Hornet for a test ride. It was full to the brim when I left because I filled up before I went because it had the normal bike shop level of gas in it - just enough to get to the gas station (j/k).

with my Hornet 900 does 270km before reserve. Riding nicely.... 250km if using it for fun.

[James Deuce]

with my Hornet 900 does 270km before reserve. Riding nicely.... 250km if using it for fun.

We're talking about a Hornet 600. Totally different kettle of fish. Neat engine, spoiled by a hinge in the middle chassis and the fuel economy of that Y2K turbine powered thing.

[Bob]

Right, got the actual figures from the test in front of me.

Er-6n did an average of 43.9 miles per gallon (imperial) - and a tankful of fuel is 15.5 litres. Compare this to 600 Hornet, which does 40mpg and 17 litres - so about the same distance to refuel time, but the ER-6 needs 1.5 litres less to do so. In the UK, this means you are saving about £1.35 a time - £70 over the course of a year, assuming one refill a week.

These two stuff the others on the test - S2R Monster returns an thirsty 37.5 mpg... and has a tiny 14 litre tank! Get used to filling this one up on a very regular basis! And the FZ6? It has a large 19.4 litre tank... but it needs it, acting like it is permanently parched at just 36.1mpg.

But back to the ER-6... that £70 will go towards replacing the OE tyres (Dunlop D221s), which all of the test riders slagged off as giving very poor grip. If it tips in like the testers reckon, then something nice and grippy would seem to be the way to go.