Extra power = Safer bike.

[Badjelly]

Yeah, why is that? 26hp is enough for me, really. But why is it that you get so tired on long rides compared to riding a larger bike? I'm not talking about riding position or anything. It's almost like your body is subconsciously pedaling or something, somehow tensing up in an effort to make the thing go up a hill or against a headwind.

I think it just requires more concentration, which is tiring. Mind you, I wouldn't know as I have never ridden a large bike (> 250) on a long ride.

[Rosie]

But why is it that you get so tired on long rides compared to riding a larger bike? I'm not talking about riding position or anything. It's almost like your body is subconsciously pedaling or something, somehow tensing up in an effort to make the thing go up a hill or against a headwind.

Yep, willing your bike to go up hills and against the slightest puff of wind is hard work.

On flat empty sections of SH1 a small bike can be nice. Change into 6th, wind the throttle right open, and sit back and relax. It's like having cruise control

[Deviant Esq]

Yeah, why is that? 26hp is enough for me, really. But why is it that you get so tired on long rides compared to riding a larger bike?

Having just upgraded from my 250, with similar power to yours (and similar thumpiness too ), I've noticed this too. Longer rides are far more effortless on the ZX-6R than on my NZ250, much more relaxed, you seem to get there in a much shorter time - which is odd when I'm still cruising at the same speed as what the NZ would do. I guess the main difference for me is that since the bike weighs nearly twice what the NZ does, it moves around far less on the road due to wind and trucks going the other way, so keeping it on track is far easier. Also, when I catch up to something I can pretty much overtake it right away, whereas the NZ needed heaps of room, concentration, planning, nervousness, and a big runup to get past anything in that situation.

Does more power get you out of trouble or into trouble? Personally, I'm on the fence. Having the ZX-6R to ride every day and knowing how ludicrusly easy it is to ride... I mean, the NZ was easy to ride too but the ZX-6R seems to handle just as well... but way more effortless because of having power... I couldn't go back to a 250. In the same way, I'm glad I didn't buy a 400 - I'm glad I test rode one first and thought "nah. Feels like a 250 with a touch more power..." Sure, people here say that 600s are too gutless, and don't have enough torque and having ridden V-twin thous I know what they mean, but the 600 feels perfect for me at this point.