Any ER6 owners in here?

[bhd]

I know it's a bit of a cheek asking in the SV forum, but as I can see loads of posters here have 'other' bikes and this has always been a great place for advice I thought I'd chance my hand.

(Not only the that, the ER6 owners' forum that I've found is diabolical!)

Hennyway, I've just replaced the SV with an ER6-N and wondered if there's anyone else here who's done the same - I'd be interested to know what you made of the different gearing etc.

[Littlepeahead]

Not owned one but it's the bike I use when I go on holiday in Thailand so I've done quite a few thousand miles on one on all sorts of road conditions and find it a poor relation to the SV. The gears feel clunky, the seat kills my backside, at any speed over 40mph I get battered to bits, the narrow bars are horrible. I know I now have a GS as well as an SV and on the roads I ride in Asia the GS would be perfect, the ER6 is OK and the SV would be a struggle. I guess you get the ABS, but that''s about the only refinement. Over here there is no way I'd swap an SV for an ER6.

[maviczap]

There's some Versus owners on here, Rictus & Lozzo, same engine different package.

Kenzie's wife has one I think

[Grant66]

Had one as a hire bike for 6 weeks whilst the Sv was being unbent.
To be honest I didn't get on with it. It just wasn't as fun to ride.
Out of corner, twist wrist...wait...it'll be fun soon...wait...weeeeeee...brake.

It did the commuting part ok, mirrors were a better height for filtering.

[squirrel_hunter]

I had a 2006 ER6F for a year or so. Good bike, slightly softer seat and position. Similar brakes and suspension. Engine not as powerful as the SV. They are a good bike and I had a great deal of fun on it. Very capable and similar to the SV.

I still own my SV, I sold the ER.

[Kenzie]

My wife has a 2011 ER 6F and its a great little bike. You can't be as lazy with the gears but the riding position I more upright and comfortable.

Sent from my KFTT

[steady2wheels]

One of my friends who I ride with on occasions Owned one of the first generations of the er6f, and although I am a big fan most things kawasaki I was very dissapointed with the er6, the finish was poor with a lot of corrosion for a bike that was relatively looked after, the engine felt weaker than the sv, the suspesion was bouncy on and off the throttle. I was overall dissapointed and left feeling better about the choice I had made in getting an sv instead

[bhd]

Blimey, 4 negatives to 1 positive, should I have expected that?

The main difference I'm finding at the moment is the gearing - still running it in, so keeping the revs < 6 thousand, but even so, compared to the SV (which I'm going to have to stop doing), it seems to be screaming. First gear only just gets you rolling, I'm in third before I know it, and joining the motorway I'm already in 6th and searching for 7th!

Will this change over time, or am I just going to have to get better earplugs and cover the rev counter?

[Kenzie]

They make their power in a different way to the SV. I always think it is screaming compared to the SV but you will get used to it. I actually ride the ER more than my SV at the mo.

[bhd]

So I just need to get used to wringing its neck (when it's run in)? How high are you revving it when you change 4th to 5th, 5th to 6th? (I don't ask much, do I?)

[bhd]

I remember reading some of your posts when I was looking for a successor to the SV, in my case it wasn't a choice of SV or ER6, rather ER6 or alternative (possibly the Yamaha MT07). All good info, thanks.

[Kenzie]

Don't really pay attention, but at least 7-8000rpm

[Sid Squid]

Here's some more ER6 positivity:

ER6 comparisons with the SV are an inevitability - they sit in the same spot in the market. The engine is a parallel twin rather than a V, so will feel somewhat different, but that doesn't mean one is better than the other. There really are minimal differences functionally, so personal preference will thus be more important.
I love the SV but there's no getting away from the fact that the ER6 is a newer, better bike than the SV650.
It's also no coincidence that ER6s are doing very well at the track. In the relevant classes the SV was the bike to have for some time - it's no longer the only choice.

[Red Herring]

I know the "build quality" of the SV isn't the best, but from what I have seen the ER6 is even worse. There are quite a few out there that look as if they have been through a fair few more winters than they could have.... It's good practice to hose a bike down after riding on winter roads anyhow, but if you don't want to, or can't, then expect some serious corrosion.

[Kenzie]

Only issue I can see witht the ER is the manky downpipes!

[bhd]

After twelve years of year-round riding, I think my curvy SV looked pretty good. The fork legs were pretty motheaten, and the engine black was tatty, but all in all, the frame and paintwork were in great nick. Washing and polishing was a doddle.

I'm told that the build and finish of the new ER6's is better than in previous years, but only time will tell. Certainly there is a ton of plastic, infills, and hard to get to nooks and crannies that are going to make it a nightmare to look after through the winter (though I understand that AFC50 is my friend).

Had a cracking ride on it today however, so I'll worry about that when the time comes!

[stuR]

I was always told the er6 was quite a training school bike...quite safe and boring. Not sure if thats a general opinion though..

[Kenzie]

Safe yes. Boring? Not really. I find it quite flickable, stable and easy to ride.

[Lozzo]

I'll tell you the real story of why you see manky looking ER6s... they get used more all year round because they are essentially easier to ride than SVs and the faired ones are a damn sight more comfortable on the wrists than an SV650S. Any trip of over 50 miles has to be broken down into stages on an SV to give your wrists a break, whereas on an ER you just keep going until you need to fill up again. Typical mileage of an SV of the same age is usually around half that of an ER6 - this comes from someone who ran a Kawasaki and Suzuki dealership for a couple of years.

I've owned two SVs, neither of which really floated my boat, then I bought a Versys, which is basically the same engine and frame as an ER6 but with a touch taller suspension and with slightly less power. I would never go back to owning an SV. I had my SVs for a total of 2 years, I've owned the Versys for 5 1/2 and would only replace it with another Versys if it got wrecked or nicked.