Experience of 600 sports bikes
Discussion
Hi
As a relative newbie to biking and this forum I wonder if anyone can offer some advise.
I am looking to change my current 600 Diversion (first bike) for something a bit sportier.
I am keen on the Honda CBR 600F but the only ones in my range (up to 2K) seem to be the pre alloy framed version (completelly wrapped in plastic). Does anyone have any experience of these and are there any major differences between those and the later CBR's (with the exposed frame). I have ridden a 2001 model and found it to my liking
Also I wonder if anyone who owns or has owned the alternatives (in particular the Thundercat or ZX6) could offer a view on the pros and cons of those models.
And finally......
Someone at work has offered me a Fazer 600 (2002) within budget, I have ridden it and it seemed fine but potentially a bit like a faster Divvy - any opinions?
Apologies for all the questions in my first post to this forum.
As a relative newbie to biking and this forum I wonder if anyone can offer some advise.
I am looking to change my current 600 Diversion (first bike) for something a bit sportier.
I am keen on the Honda CBR 600F but the only ones in my range (up to 2K) seem to be the pre alloy framed version (completelly wrapped in plastic). Does anyone have any experience of these and are there any major differences between those and the later CBR's (with the exposed frame). I have ridden a 2001 model and found it to my liking
Also I wonder if anyone who owns or has owned the alternatives (in particular the Thundercat or ZX6) could offer a view on the pros and cons of those models.
And finally......
Someone at work has offered me a Fazer 600 (2002) within budget, I have ridden it and it seemed fine but potentially a bit like a faster Divvy - any opinions?
Apologies for all the questions in my first post to this forum.
As a relative newb at the time I thought the thundercat was a truly great bike and the zx6r I bought to replace it was awful. The thundercat is easy to ride, confidence inspiring, fun and pretty quick without being too intimidating. The zx6r was lovely to look at, unreliable and I absolutely hated the front end.
However, your best bet is to ride them and buy which one you like best.
However, your best bet is to ride them and buy which one you like best.
I had a '98 zx6r (G1 model) for my first bike.
I thought it was great. Big, comfy, handled, economical and would do an indicated 160mph (on private track of course)
I did crash it though, but that was after 10,000 miles of high speed hooning and taking rediculous risks (Male in his early 20's, parents in france, no girlfriend to nag me etc etc)
I thought it was great. Big, comfy, handled, economical and would do an indicated 160mph (on private track of course)
I did crash it though, but that was after 10,000 miles of high speed hooning and taking rediculous risks (Male in his early 20's, parents in france, no girlfriend to nag me etc etc)
I think I can have an opinion on this one:
I've owned:
97 ZX6R-F3 from new
03 GSXR600-K3 from new
99 R6 (second hand)
03 CBR600F (second hand)
Out of all of them the CBR for me is the most comfortable overall. Similar riding position to the early first ZX6Rs as I owned but a good deal lighter in weight. The 99 R6 was relatively comfortable compared to the current ones but more extreme than the CBR and ZX6. Most extreme of all I owned was the GSXR600.. put lots of weight on the wrists but rode fantastically well.
Performance wise they are/were all very similar, prob the R6 had the best/strongest overall midrange punch due to being carb fed rather than injection.
I've owned:
97 ZX6R-F3 from new
03 GSXR600-K3 from new
99 R6 (second hand)
03 CBR600F (second hand)
Out of all of them the CBR for me is the most comfortable overall. Similar riding position to the early first ZX6Rs as I owned but a good deal lighter in weight. The 99 R6 was relatively comfortable compared to the current ones but more extreme than the CBR and ZX6. Most extreme of all I owned was the GSXR600.. put lots of weight on the wrists but rode fantastically well.
Performance wise they are/were all very similar, prob the R6 had the best/strongest overall midrange punch due to being carb fed rather than injection.
Edited by sjtscott on Monday 28th January 14:09
I have a ZX6 G2 from 1999 with 12k on it, which I think would fall into your budget. (not that it is for sale). Seems good enough to me and does everything that I want it to.
Every now and then I look/lust at a later 600 (GSXR, R6) as they look really cool, but I take people on the back quite often and the pillion seat on mine is a lot bigger than you get on later bikes.
As much as it pains me to say this, and I don't think Kawasaki marketed it this way in 1999, a pre-636 ZX6 may be a good compromise betweek something like a diversion and an early R6.
Guess the best idea is to at least sit each one in a dealers because there is no guarantee you will find them all comfortable. Especially this time of year I think £2000 is a pretty decent budget for any early(ish) 600.
Every now and then I look/lust at a later 600 (GSXR, R6) as they look really cool, but I take people on the back quite often and the pillion seat on mine is a lot bigger than you get on later bikes.
As much as it pains me to say this, and I don't think Kawasaki marketed it this way in 1999, a pre-636 ZX6 may be a good compromise betweek something like a diversion and an early R6.
Guess the best idea is to at least sit each one in a dealers because there is no guarantee you will find them all comfortable. Especially this time of year I think £2000 is a pretty decent budget for any early(ish) 600.
spinningman said:
Also I wonder if anyone who owns or has owned the alternatives (in particular the Thundercat or ZX6) could offer a view on the pros and cons of those models.
Not myself, but a mate who had similar requirements ended up with the Thundercat and was very happy.He didn't require something as focused as the usual suspects and found the 'cat was a lot more comfy too, and you can get a younger bike with less miles than the usual suspects too.
I found the 2001 ZX6R to be a great bike. It is one of my favourite 600s as it had a bit of midrange and it was large and comfy, yet still light and sporty. It had a decent pillion seat and a big fairing.
A friend of mine moved from Thundercat to ZX6R and he reckoned it was a big improvement - although he likes to go FAST! (His cat would indicate 165+)
Thundercats are big and comfy and, as said above, you get much more for you money than CBR600s - later bikes, less miles etc.
A friend of mine moved from Thundercat to ZX6R and he reckoned it was a big improvement - although he likes to go FAST! (His cat would indicate 165+)
Thundercats are big and comfy and, as said above, you get much more for you money than CBR600s - later bikes, less miles etc.
Carrera2 said:
I loved my old Thundercat - however, my next bike was an R6 which was so much quicker it's hard to believe that they were both 600s. The Thundercat was quick enough until I rode the R6 though.
Maybe due to the extra revs available?The early R6s had a particularly good midrange. They felt more like a 750. My R6 felt phenomenally faster than my Ducati. When I tested one it was a matter of time until I bought one.
black-k1 said:
Slightly ‘left field’ idea
If you don’t require something that is totally focused, then why not try out something like a Honda Firestorm. Similar performance to a comparable sports 600, quite comfortable for longer runs and reasonable ones are readily available for £2k
Lovely bikes but the 80-90 mile tank range is a PITAIf you don’t require something that is totally focused, then why not try out something like a Honda Firestorm. Similar performance to a comparable sports 600, quite comfortable for longer runs and reasonable ones are readily available for £2k
rsv gone! said:
Carrera2 said:
I loved my old Thundercat - however, my next bike was an R6 which was so much quicker it's hard to believe that they were both 600s. The Thundercat was quick enough until I rode the R6 though.
Maybe due to the extra revs available?The early R6s had a particularly good midrange. They felt more like a 750. My R6 felt phenomenally faster than my Ducati. When I tested one it was a matter of time until I bought one.
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