Any ER6 owners in here?

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

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

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.

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?)