Turning to the darkside.

[A-jay]

I know we have had lots of very similar posts recently so I will try and be as specific as I can.

I am also going to be joining supersports 600 clan this year. I'm going looking to change in about three or four weeks time.

I had a RVF400R before the SV personally I prefer the high reving fours. I've got a budget of about £5500.

I'm looking at either a CBR600RR, ZX636R or an R6. I do have to use the bike to commute sometimes to work etc but never very far so comfort is not a priority. I'm also looking to do a couple of track days this year aswel for the first time. Build quality is important though as I may have to use it during the winter sometimes (hence why the GSXR6 isn't on the list.

Just wanted some opinions of people who have ridden these bikes for any sort of distance.

I will be test riding but because of my age will probably have to have someone with me, so I wont be able to 'test' it fully.

Any replies will be appreciated, Cheers

[jonboy]

The Honda and Kawasaki are a bit extreme by all accounts, so the R6 is probably the better all round bike - unless you're real 'ard ;).


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[Biker Biggles]

Are you looking to buy new?Have a look around for last years unsold stock being unloaded.Kwaks can often be had for £5,000ish if you try hard.

[mattSV]

Jonboy wrote:

The Honda and Kawasaki are a bit extreme by all accounts, so the R6 is probably the better all round bike - unless you're real 'ard

Or a fashion tart like Scoobs :wink:

[Jelster]

A-jay,

I ran a GSXR600 (K4) for 18 months or so and put about 19k miles on it. Like any bike it has it's faults, but if I were honest, if it wasn't for my back problem I'd still have it.

Very reliable, build quality was fine, and it was surprisingly comfortable (apart from when my back was playing up). The only other bikes I would consider, if you are doing longish journies and want something a little more practical (and keeping in the same sort of class) would be the last of the 838's before they went with the underseat can, and of course the CBR600F.

I suggest you also at least try a VFR800 Vtec. It's not as boring and "pipe & slippers" as people make it out, it needs input to get output....

Good luck.

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[mburnstead]

First up, 'hi' everyone... long time reader, first time poster!

I used to run an SV650S before also turning to the dark side. I bought a 2004 R6 in March last year and it's definitely a big step up from the SV. It's actually easier to ride for one thing, and a good deal more powerful. The alleged issue with lack of mid-range is to my mind a complete fallacy - it feels slightly down on power in the middle, but that's mostly because there is so much more at the top.

I've done some serious miles on it - in June last year I took it down through France and Spain and then got the ferry into Morocco and rode down to Casablanca and then Fez, before coming back up through Europe again. All in 10 days with no problems, so I guess you could say I found it comfortable!

It's certainly better built than the SV as well, unfortunately I don't have a garage so it has to live outside under a cover, but there's no corrosion at all on it apart from (literally) one or two alloy bolts which have gotten a bit furred up. And when I cleaned it last week, that was the first wash it'd had since July!

So all in all a great bike, comfortable, quick and if you buy a 2005 model, considerably more practical than either of your other two options since it's got a big 'boot' rather than an underseat exhaust. And it'll be cheaper too, since it's a relatively slow seller and it's just been replaced!

Mike

[A-jay]

Thanks for all the replies.

I don't want to buy new again, I would rather buy one with a few thou on it. Does anyone know which would depreciate the least in value? Or will they all be about the same?

Quite a few people have said to me that the CBR6RR and especially the ZX636R are 'harsh'. Do you think this would be much of a problem as the only commutes I have to do are short?

Jelster - What condition was your Gixxer in after that many miles? the build quality was the only thing really putting me off one.

The Honda has been my 1st choice (mainly due to looks) but i've heard that it have the worst midrange of the lot and that the R6 and ZXR would leave it behind in a straight line. Is the difference really that great?

Also how much quicker do they feel than the SV? I find i'm always running out of revs when i'm 'on it'.

[valleyboy]

Ive got a ZX-636, and use it to go back and forth to work, only a 2 mile commute, I dont find it a problem at all.. been out on the bike for 5+ hours today, the only pain Im in is due to the fact my toes are a lump of ice at the moment! :lol:

I can sit pretty close to the tank, and find Im sitting further upright than when I had the SV, though theres the option of putting yourself back in the seat, this is where the bike starts to 'feel right' when your going fast...

[mburnstead]

Thanks for all the replies.


The Honda has been my 1st choice (mainly due to looks) but i've heard that it have the worst midrange of the lot and that the R6 and ZXR would leave it behind in a straight line. Is the difference really that great?

Also how much quicker do they feel than the SV? I find i'm always running out of revs when i'm 'on it'.

You won't notice much difference. All of them are massively quicker than an SV in a straight line and unless you rode them back to back you'd never know. You just need to keep the revs that bit higher to start with, which you quickly get used to!

Get some test rides, as the riding positions varies a bit, and unless one really grabs you, get the Honda you wanted. If you get the one you always wanted you won't be thinking 'I wish I'd got...' all the time.

Mike

[valleyboy]

The 636' do have a bit more mid-range, its the reason they have that extra 36cc.. and you can notice it.. I test rode an older 600 Kwak before I test rode the 636, and you could tell there was a little more get up and go from mid-range.... instead of having to change down a gear to accelerate, you can be a tad lazy and it will pick up and go...

As for quickness, it depends where you want it, its still my opinion an SV would leave the 600's for dead at speeds up to 30 mph, after that though, the 600's take over.. on my Kwak, to the red line, 1st = 60mph, 2nd = 100 ish... and I dont try and red line after that.. Im too busy looking out for white cars with blue lights on.. :lol: where the SV650 runs out of puff is where the 600's clear their throats and bugger off...

[Jelster]

Jelster - What condition was your Gixxer in after that many miles? the build quality was the only thing really putting me off one.

The paintwork (except for the scrape on the fairing) was excellent. There was a nick in the powder coating on one wheel, and on the swing arm, both stone chips, but it did do a lot of miles in a short space of time.

It went to France 2 (or was it 3?) times, did a week touring, did a few long weekends and a lot of Sunday rides. Commuted 20 miles each way most days through London and along the M4, come rain or shine.

The only bolts that furred up were the ones on the crappy hugger fixings (not Suzuki). So I would say that there's not much up with the build quality. The bike now belongs to another user of the site, and it's still going strong.

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[KayDee]

Are you looking to buy new?Have a look around for last years unsold stock being unloaded.Kwaks can often be had for £5,000ish if you try hard.

Where can i get one for around this price? I've been looking around and so far £5699 is the cheapest I have seen (which is pretty good!).

[Razor]

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