sensible or mad option?
Discussion
RizzoTheRat said:
d8mok said:
Will a old zx6r feel quick?
Yes, because it is. True it's not going to be as fast as a brand new 600 supersports but then you're not going to be able to use all the potential of a new bike anyway, and the older one will feel like lightening compared to whatever you did your test on and pretty much any car you're likely to have driven.Getting excited now about getting one. Gonna look on ebay when i get home (firewalled at work) and hopefully buy one at weekend.
te!RizzoTheRat said:
Exactly, your Evo is about 250bhp/tonne, an early 90's ZX6 will be producing over 100bhp which equates to around 350bhp/tonne with you sat on it. Trust me, it'll feel fast. 
Edited by RizzoTheRat on Thursday 21st August 17:51
I'm under no illusions about how fast bikes are, and was more concerned that a 600 would be too fast for my limited experience and skill (the UK market for 'sports' bikes appears to be focused purely on the extreme... no 'in-between' options since it's more or less either a 600 or litre sports bike once you've got above 125s). Fear not - they may be 350 bhp/tonne but that's with an engine that produces 120 bhp at a very high redline.
The 4 cylinder bikes don't produce 120 bhp at 2000 rpm, and the throttle isn't an on-off switch, so I'm finding it very easy to change gear at 8k rpm and be effectively riding a 60 bhp bike. Torque at low revs isn't enough to rip your arms off or get you completely out of control. Mine's a CBR600 rather than a ZX6 but I'd guess that the engine power is roughly equivalent and delivered in the same style.
Basically, once you've got out of 1st and 2nd gear, it shouldn't scare you at car-type revs... I've found that I can pull full throttle in 3rd and above from 2000 rpm and it's smooth and 'rapid' - but not mental fast, traction-troubling, or wheelie-pulling. In other words, perfect for an inexperienced rider.
Where it *is* manically fast is when you wind it up past 8k rpm... from there to the 13.5k redline it's frankly scary and more than is appropriate for my current skill level
That's the neat thing about the 4 cylinder 600s - with such a huge usable rev range (my high-mileage cheap CBR will pull smoothly without coughing from as low as 1800-2000 rpm all the way to 13k) you can choose exactly how much power you want. I suppose that's why there's no 'in-between' market of 300-400cc bikes any more, since the 600 will perform as a 50-60 bhp 'not so scary but still quick' bike if you want it to.
Of course, when you've got plenty of experience and skill, keeping the revs high will give the 100+ bhp, which in virtually any bike will be much quicker than virtually any car in a straight line due to power/weight ratio.
I don't think it matters which bike you get, as long as it is the one you want. I was on a new 08 Fireblade within an hour of passing my test!! In under a month, I have done over 2500 miles on her in all weathers and at night. I'm lovin it !
The important thing is to be mature enough to ride within your limits and grow your skills with experience. Just because you have a super fast bike doesn't mean you have to ride it like a looney.
I have been fast...very very fast on it but only when the conditions have been safe. It is so torquey that for most of the time you can travel at quite high speeds with modest revs. The power allows for very safe and enjoyable overtaking!!!
Most importantly, get loads of practice in and if possible some extra training.
The important thing is to be mature enough to ride within your limits and grow your skills with experience. Just because you have a super fast bike doesn't mean you have to ride it like a looney.
I have been fast...very very fast on it but only when the conditions have been safe. It is so torquey that for most of the time you can travel at quite high speeds with modest revs. The power allows for very safe and enjoyable overtaking!!!
Most importantly, get loads of practice in and if possible some extra training.
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