600 sports bikes

[dern]

quote:I think the thundercat is probily a good first bike but dont think i would class it as a sports bike due to the seat configerion.

I think you read too many magazines.

Mark

[dennisthemenace]

Ive always classed the thundercat as a sports tourer due to the one large set whereas the zx6r , r6 etc have seperate rider and pillion seats , my first bike was a ZZR600 0-60 3 sec's 160mph top end not a lot slower than the 6R, bloody easy to ride just cos the bikes got the performance doesnt mean you have got to use it stright away i bult up my confidence on the zzr before i started gunning it

[dennisthemenace]

quote:

quote:I think the thundercat is probily a good first bike but dont think i would class it as a sports bike due to the seat configerion.

I think you read too many magazines.

Mark

You could be right afterall he is off work for 12 months with a broken leg !

[hertsbiker]

First bike? try an SV650. Top bike, and plenty fast enough without being a total missile.

I like my 636, ask Denny how much quicker than a standard ZX6 it is !! (that ain't showing off, it's a bigger engine). I tried the 599 version, AND the 636. 636 is definately more friendly at lower revs.

636 will sustain 150mph with passenger, no problem at all, so maybe not a novice bike at all......

C

[TERRY GSXR]

read alot of mags are they not always right then any way i cant read that much or i would not have bought a TL im not saying the thunderpussy is not a good bike but why would yam push the r6 as a sports bike and the thunderpussy as a all rounder but they are a very good price i wonder why

[dennisthemenace]

quote:
I like my 636, ask Denny how much quicker than a standard ZX6 it is !! (that ain't showing off, it's a bigger engine).

Bloody slow i had to keep waiting for him , drinks more fuel and coasts more to tax

[dennisthemenace]

Ok ok the 636 is quicker in the low down midrange it has a lot more torque over the 599cc bike

The 636 is an awsome bike put dynojet, filter and can (road legal) on and you could go a huntin 750,s and possibly 1000cc machines

The zx6r is hopeless on a track compared to the r6 ,gsxr but is a far better "realworld" bike

[dern]

quote:Ok ok the 636 is quicker in the low down midrange it has a lot more torque over the 599cc bike

The 636 is an awsome bike put dynojet, filter and can (road legal) on and you could go a huntin 750,s and possibly 1000cc machines

[cough]B*llocks[/cough]



Mark

>> Edited by dern on Wednesday 9th October 10:48

[TERRY GSXR]

yep try an sv650 as hertsbiker said getting cheap now due to the new 2003 model cant wait to have a go on the sv 1000 great engine hope the frame can handle it. Can buy some nice add ons too

[dern]

quote:yep try an sv650 as hertsbiker said getting cheap now due to the new 2003 model cant wait to have a go on the sv 1000 great engine hope the frame can handle it. Can buy some nice add ons too

Do you reckon the frame/suspension will still be the same low budget affair though? I think I'd rather have a tl1000 and spend the money I'd save on rear suspension.

Mark

[dennisthemenace]

the single best mod you can do to a TL and improve it is change the rear shock for a more conventional item

[moleamol]

Thanks for your help chappies. I'm gonna go for the 599cc ZX-6R I think. I will probably look for a silver and black one if I can. There is a kawa green one in a shop near me with an alarm etc that is mint. May think about that one.

I'm not stupid so I think I will be able to handle the bike. Just because it can go fast doesn't mean you have to. If I was being silly I'd have bought the minxy 996 with goodies I seen , but I'm not, that is why I'm going for the 6R.

As I'm only starting I also need leathers and a helmet and boots and gloves. What do you guys recommend here? How much do I need to spend?

[dern]

quote:the single best mod you can do to a TL and improve it is change the rear shock for a more conventional item

So I've heard. I've always thought it's an awesome looking machine and you can pick them up for 3k now. Maybe one would make a good winter hack

Mark

[dern]

quote:As I'm only starting I also need leathers and a helmet and boots and gloves. What do you guys recommend here? How much do I need to spend?

The only thing I've got that I'd recommend would be my sidi vertabrae boots but they'd be no good if you're riding in winter as they aren't waterproof.

Mark

[TERRY GSXR]

hey we agree on somthing sidi are great had mine a couple of years true not water proof but will cope with a shower

[hertsbiker]

quote:cough]B*llocks[/cough]

Why, you tried the 636 then? what it might lack in power compared to a 750, it makes up for by being able to use ALL of the power ALL of the time. By far a better bike on a wet road than the GSXR series..

Anyway, I challenge anyone to outdistance me on a twisty road !

[dern]

quote:Why, you tried the 636 then? what it might lack in power compared to a 750, it makes up for by being able to use ALL of the power ALL of the time.

I don't understand what you mean by that. I had a 6r before I bought the fireblade and you certainly can't use all the power all of the time or anywhere near it. You still have to control the throttle just as much on the 6r as you do on the blade. The times you can open the throttle fully on the 6r when you aren't at full throttle on the blade are probably on the exits of corners (assuming you are making time). That suggests to me that the 6r is certainly easier to ride but is no way quicker as it's at that point that the litre bike has power in hand but the 600 is flat out. I found this with the 600 in that it was easy to ride initially but very frustrating after a while.

The fireblade weighs about the same as a 600, it handles way better than my 6r (600s are built to a budget compared to the litre bikes - and I mean sports bikes) and it has sh*tloads more power than the 6r. Unless you're a novice and assuming we are trying to get somewhere quicker then there's no way on earth a well ridden 636 can get any where near a well ridden fireblade, r1, gxr1000.

quote:By far a better bike on a wet road than the GSXR series..

Again I don't understand what you mean by this. How can it be a better wet weather bike? Surely wet weather riding is down to riding skill, smoothness with the throttle etc as well as the tyres. Admitedly the throttle response on my blade is a little choppy from a closed throttle but you can still ride it in the rain with no problems at all.

quote:Anyway, I challenge anyone to outdistance me on a twisty road !

All that would prove is that you're a faster rider than me which I don't doubt. Go and have a go on a blade or one of the others, I think you'll like it.

Regards,

Mark

[dern]

quote:hey we agree on somthing sidi are great had mine a couple of years true not water proof but will cope with a shower

I don't know if you've tried rubbing nikwax into them, still doesn't make them water proof but it holds that shower at bay for a bit longer and stops the bloody things squeeking for a bit.

Mark

[hertsbiker]

I did have a go on a Blade & R1. NO faster point to point than my Thunderace, and the 636 is as quick as that.

Wasn't saying I was faster than you, just a general challenge to all & sundry - I like to meet faster riders so I can learn from them.

Anyway, the 636 lets me use all the revs all of the time. As it has less torque at low revs than a *big* bike, it won't spin the wheel on a wet road in the same way as a biggie.

You can open it up when cranked over with far less fear of losing it, and the 0-60 times are just as fast as a big bike, as you aren't so worried about flipping it.

Mid range is way down, but I tend to keep a screamer-engine running at about 9000 or more, so I get peak torque, and a very rapid transition to peak power.

Yep, the R1 is fast, but I haven't seen one ridden particulary fast yet.

The top speed card is different, as the R1 is faster by about 10mph, and gets there quicker -- however I found that the harsh braking required as a result of going faster gave *slower* point-to-point times.

There is slow, and there is slow. Don't be confused by the horsepower figures - in the end, the will to win is more relevant than a number on a spec sheet.

Personally I do not see the benefit of a faster machine than what I have now. With an R1, everyone bowed down to me, and quit the race. I considered they quit because the power differential, NOT lack of skill on their part, hence I prefer to be the underdog and use my skill to thrash a lesser machine past a more powerful one !!!!

Carl

[dern]

I pretty much agree with everything you say except for your original assertion that a 600 will be as quick flat out from point to point as a litre bike... anyway, not that it really matters.

I originally had a zx6r which I used for mucking around, visiting mates and commuting. After a while I found it too much like hard work as it, as you say, required a lot of revs. I bought a GPZ1100 to do the commute on and the longer trips and it was so much easier than the zx6r because of the torque, comfort and wind protection. The *big* downside was that when I got where I was going it was way to big to chuck around the twisties with mates. So I sold the 2 and got the blade as a compromise. I have to say it's perfect for what I want. I did 7000 miles commuting on it over the summer through all weathers and it's a great bike. I guess your 636 must be easier to live with than the old 600.

I was very disappointed with my zx6r although that was probably down to getting a duff one. I'm much more emotionally attached to kawasakis than honda so it was a bit of a let down. I'd still like a zx7r one day as a weekend bike as they are one of the most gorgeous bikes around imo.

Glad you like your bike though

Regards,

Mark