600cc supersports first impressions

[Black Bandit]

Test ride a 400. Find somewhere that has a mint one (more than willing to help)

Thanks for the offer mate but I've tried a few a couple of months back (same model in fact). Yes they are a hoot to ride but I'm looking for something more.

Course if you needed it looking after for a while ...
And don't worry, you'd still whip me round any old road.

[2_SL0]

Make sure you do. There are some bargain 06 model 600s and 636s around.
I took the 07 ZX6R for a reasonable blat and gladly handed the keys back. As a road bike it is no match for the 636. Track use may be a different story.

It sounds like you want a bike for road use. In which case probably the GSXR or CBR are the best choices ...or the 06 636. AMCNews magazine review from the 07 Masterbike track test included a sidebar on their pick for road use - they picked the GSXR
Happy hunting and remember what inlinefour said - buy what does it for you.

Hmmm, I beg to differ, the 636 was a fine machine great road bike, great power delivery. But the new ZX6R is a excellent twisty road machine. Power is more usable, front more planted, a generally more stable bike, road or track.
Personally for me it has a more usable power band and a better suspension setup.

[NinjaBoy]

Hmmm, I beg to differ, the 636 was a fine machine great road bike, great power delivery. But the new ZX6R is a excellent twisty road machine. Power is more usable, front more planted, a generally more stable bike, road or track.
Personally for me it has a more usable power band and a better suspension setup.

Hmmmm...while the New ZX6R is good on the road it is most at home on the track. Standard suspension is stiffer and more adjustable, but the seat is plank and the bars are lower. I was able to hop on the bike on the first trackday and get the same or better laptime than on the 636. However I do miss the extra torque and power from the extra 36cc of the 636.

In comparison the 636 has softer standard suspension settings, slightly higher bars and softer seat. The extra torque makes 2-up a breeze without the need for changing down in corners. The Pillion seat while still small is the widest I've seen on a sportsbike and OK for short 1 hour stints.
After 5000km over 7 days in the South Island this year, I was amazed at the lack of stiff back or neck. Also handles snow, sleet, hail and rain/wind really well http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...ht=jandal+tour

[Kinje]

Great write up.

I rode quite a few V-twin 1000's, then decided I didn't really want one, then rode a CBR600RR and fell in love. Rode a few other 600's then came back to the one I bought.

Yep, short service interval- I've had mine two months and its booked in for another service already

Enjoy the test riding

[Roj]

The SS range are not the ones that bleed you. Beware the older 4 valve per cyclinder Ducatis (851, 888, 748, 916, 996) - that's where the rumours originate...unfortunately that's where the power lives too - good ol' desmodue engines are pretty tough and haven't changed much since 1981.

My brother in law has a 888 strada, really nice bike but it has been expensive to maintain, he told me a story a while back, riding the long straight just before arriving at my place not long after he first got it, got to the corner at the end and thought the suspension was a bit wrong cause it was hard work getting round the corner, then he realised the 160 on the clock was MPH, not KPH

[The Stranger:Me]

Is a gear indicator or fuel guage beneficial?

Even on bikes with a fuel guage I always set the trip meter and use this to work out my fill stops.

Never had a bike with a gear indicator, how does it help?
Don't ya just select the gear for the revs (or torque) and the work you are doing anyway?

I only raise it because personally I wouldn't even let these factors enter in to my decision to buy or not.

[Albino]

Guage - handy on bikes with electronic trip / clock / odo's. You can ride around displaying the time and still have an idea of when to fill up.

Gear Indicator - First is first, if you can't tell that you're in first gear then u have a problem. Otherwise change when you need to. Only really useful when cruising to prevent the clutch-in, foot down, no change scenario when you're not quite sure...

Neither are reasons not to buy a good bike though imho.

[Sparky Bills]

Buy a Honda !!!!!
My 07 Blade is for sale too

[limbimtimwim]

Gear Indicator - First is first, if you can't tell that you're in first gear then u have a problem. Otherwise change when you need to. Only really useful when cruising to prevent the clutch-in, foot down, no change scenario when you're not quite sure..

The funny thing is, when you get off a bike (Ie, a Suzuki) with one and onto a bike that does not you miss the gear indicator!

[R6_kid:Me]

Test ride a 400. Find somewhere that has a mint one (more than willing to help)

Mine is sat in the garage if you want to take it for a run, they are awesomely great fun. I used to prefer my vfr to the zx10... and thats saying something. Plus i too came off a bandit 250 onto a 400 and it was a good step.

But you can't ride, so a ZX10R is going to be too much for you anyway... you proved that yourself


Like Devil said, have a try of something torquey. I've ridden a VTR1000, GSXR1000k3, 99 R6, WR450 motard and used to ride a GF250 (old school bandit)... i too got on the R6 for my first test ride, did a 200kmh wheelie out of control off a bridge and decided i had to have it. I personally didn't like the GSXR600k1 i rode, but that wasn't really a good day for me to be riding anyway.

The VTR was real cruisy compared to my R6, the R6 compelled me to 'go fast' when i could, chopping through the gears as i went. The VTR could do the same but was a lot more relaxed about it, didnt have to change gears, just pickup and go. The GSXR1000k3 scared me at 200kmh, but the R6 didnt at 265... the WR450 puts the same grin on my face as the first time i got my knee down, every time i ride it. And that doesn't have to be at illegal speeds either!

The modern 600's are essentially race bikes with road gear. They are crazy in some respects, and demand a lot of respect. Don't get stuck at the 'ohh wow, power!' stage, have a look around first and find out what pushes your buttons the best - for me its the WR450 by a long shot, but it's not mine!

[Black Bandit]

Is a gear indicator or fuel guage beneficial?
I only raise it because personally I wouldn't even let these factors enter in to my decision to buy or not.

Not saying it's an issue or a factor that will sway my decision, just noted the differences between these 600s.

At the Honda dealer they just turned the key to find out how much fuel was in the tank but at the Suzuki and Kwaka dealer they had to turn the bike off, remove the key, open the fuel cap, sway the bike to slosh the fuel around and finally they were in a position to establish whether there was enough. The Kwaka didn't so I had to wait longer while it was taken to the petrol station.

The thing is, I noticed some of the extra bling on these bikes that my current bike does not have. Even my Bandit has a fuel gauge, so it was some what interesting that the "upgrades" don't. Never had a gear indicator before so it was rather novel to peer down and see exactly which gear I was in (no sorry I can't count past 1 .. 2 .. 3 .. 4 ....... what comes next?)

With so little between the bikes in this class it's the little details you notice to draw a divide between the manufacturers and contribute to your overall impression.

[Leong]

OH MY GOD

How do you keep your licence on one of these?

Don't do what I did........ http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...35&postcount=1

2007 Honda CBR600 RR
Wow, this bike is really eager to get to business! The throttle from closed to fully open felt something like only 60 degrees, lightning fast response. It felt like a very well sorted bike but I found the clutch to be very clunky around slow suburban traffic - probably will bed-in over time and will be much better at higher speeds. I didn't ever get the bike much out of 2nd or 3rd gear. Sounds authoritive though and did get quite a few head turns.

Lasting impression - boy what a clunky clutch, my foot hurts.

Didn't notice the clunky gearbox/clutch myself - I had a much longer test ride http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...495#post993495 and the CBR is a great all rounder. That extra tank range and better fuel economy is a bonus. I would definitely consider it if buying now... (and if I could get over the looks)

2007 Suzuki GSX-R600
Loved the sound of the ram-air induction and stumpy exhaust. Who nicked the fuel gauge? Good clear gear indicator.

Lasting impression - whether idling at the traffic lights, blipping the throttle or wailing like a banshee along the motorway I loved the sound.

The ram air induction sounds even better with a DNA air filter, and stumpy exhaust and black cat can be improved too.....

You really need to take these bikes out for longer than you've appeared to. They're all good bikes, but with slightly different focus, so it's a case of which suite you best/ what's important to you. Of course you should go see the guys at Botany Honda so you can take the CBR out to Clevedon etc!!!

On the GSXR you do kind of have a fuel gauge. The fuel warning light blinks when you have some fuel left. The light comes on solid when you are running really low. I have done about 40km with the light blinking on my 750 riding very very gently. Of course you always have the trip meter as well.

Yep, 3 litres left when fuel light starts blinking, one left when it stays on. So I travelled 40km between fuel light blinking and staying on, so in theory should have another 20km at the same pace. Filled up after 10km (280km total) and it took 15.5l, ie may have had another 1 litre left instead of the 0.5 litre I was expecting. The GSXR also has a "distance travelled on reserve" display which can be useful!

[Leong]

Is a gear indicator or fuel guage beneficial?
Never had a bike with a gear indicator, how does it help?
Don't ya just select the gear for the revs (or torque) and the work you are doing anyway?

Don't use it on the road much, but very handy at the track to make sure you've changed down to the right gear. You don't realise you're in the wrong gear until you put the power on again, and usually that will be too late. For instance, if you're in traffic, you sometimes don't get into fifth on the back straight at Taupo, so if you go thru your usual routine of changing down two gears at the end of the straight, then one in the S coming onto the front straight, you end up in 1st instead of 2nd and may get passed by your mate when you have that extra gear change on the front straight. So for this reason alone.... a gear position indicator is essential!!

With so little between the bikes in this class it's the little details you notice to draw a divide between the manufacturers and contribute to your overall impression.

Agreed

[boomer]

i don't know whether its because its a new toy or not but out in the sticks and in town i use the gear indicator all the time, could be because of all the torque in any gear.. you twist it pulls.. you look down and it says 5th... umm.. that aint right for 50k an hour !

i'm lovin it

[Sanx]

I think the differences between the current crop of 600s can be summed up pretty easily.