Am I silly to consider it

[675 Gaz]

Cureently Have a 08 street triple which I enjoy riding, I use it for commuting most weather unless drastic ice.
I commute just under 30 miles each way, mainly motorway unless nice weather on way home when I'll go for a country road blast.

I enjoy the bike, it's fast enough for me and I believe I ride reasonably well with little to no chicken strips.
I want to do some track days, most people I ride with are on zx10r etc.

I'm now considering swapping in for a supersport, Don't think I want or need a litre bike.
Main contender is zx6r, and I'm hoping to test ride when go down to Bournemouth for my brother in law to test the h2.

Am I being foolish to consider a sports setup for commuting as well as fine, I'm late 20's and my back isn't made of glass if it helps.

[black-k1]

There are those who regularly commute on sports bikes. Hell, Nick Sanders went right around the world on an R1! Only you will know if it works for you and the only way to really find out is to try. Make sure you give the ZX6R are very thorough “commuting equivalent” (as opposed to a flat out run up the local bypass followed by a thrash down a country lane) test.

There are good reasons why sports bikes are underrepresented in the commuting world but some/all of those may not apply to you.

[Jazoli]

A ZX6R will feel flat as a fart after a Street Triple, go and try one and see

[Lee540]

Maybe worth a read?

https://www.motolegends.com/editorial-safe-commute

[Ho Lee Kau]

Lee540 said:

Maybe worth a read?

https://www.motolegends.com/editorial-safe-commute

Hey, that's a nice red CBR600F4i there!

That's what I ride daily to work, a 2002 F4i. 100bhp, 65nm, nominal figures.
Does not feel like a flat fart in the city traffic, you do not fly in city traffic unless you want to get into an accident.

What I like about a sportsbike in city traffic is its narrowness, I can squeeze between cars where nakeds with their wide handlebars get stuck.

My bike sits about 20mm higher front and back and I am tall, so I have pretty good forward visibility, also promoted by the F4i handlebars sitting above triple clamp. I always considered that bike to be almost semi-naked given such placement of handlebars.

BTW, having read the article above, I agree about scooter-"riders", bunch of crazies all of them.

I will also add that riding a liter sportbike in the city is, imho, an unnecessary risk, THESE machines are way too fast for busy city streets and can be downright dangerous in wet/cold/dark conditions, they are just too rapid too fast.

I stopped riding my 1L bikes in the city for that reason. 600cc supersport gives you a bit of time to concentrate on what happens around, given that the torque (=speed) does not pile up as quickly and as unnoticeably as on a 1000cc.

Edited by Ho Lee Kau on Wednesday 18th April 12:14

[Gavia]

You’ve never done a trackday and are considering doing a few, so you’re going to sell a bike that’s perfect for commuting which you do every day amd swap it for a sportsbike for the rare occasion that you get out on track.

Seriously, do the trackday on your Street Triple and we if you like them. If you do, then carry on. There is no need to have a sportsbike. Riding a 600 sportsbike on a commute will drive you mad, they need to be thrashed to work properly and have no go below 11000rpm. I’m excluidng the old CBR600Fs that others have mentioned as they’re old bikes.

[black-k1]

Ho Lee Kau said:

...

I will also add that riding a liter sportbike in the city is, imho, an unnecessary risk, THESE machines are way too fast for busy city streets and can be downright dangerous in wet/cold/dark conditions, they are just too rapid too fast.

I stopped riding my 1L bikes in the city for that reason. 600cc supersport gives you a bit of time to concentrate on what happens around, given that the torque (=speed) does not pile up as quickly and as unnoticeably as on a 1000cc.

Each to their own. I feel much safer commuting in town on my K1300S (with 140nm torque - a figure liter bikes would die for) than I do on anything smaller. It only goes as fast as I want it to but it'll go as fast as I want it to, when I want it to!

Edited by black-k1 on Wednesday 18th April 12:24

[Ho Lee Kau]

black-k1 said:

Ho Lee Kau said:

...

I will also add that riding a liter sportbike in the city is, imho, an unnecessary risk, THESE machines are way too fast for busy city streets and can be downright dangerous in wet/cold/dark conditions, they are just too rapid too fast.

I stopped riding my 1L bikes in the city for that reason. 600cc supersport gives you a bit of time to concentrate on what happens around, given that the torque (=speed) does not pile up as quickly and as unnoticeably as on a 1000cc.

Each to their own. I feel much safer commuting in town on my K1300S (with 140nm torque - a figure liter bikes would die for) than I do on anything smaller. It only goes as fast as I want it to bit it'll go as fast as I want it to, when I want it to!

Each to their own indeed.
K1300S is no superbike though, it's more comfortable, has higher handlebars and better visibility.

[Lee540]

I commuted into Central London on a ZX10R for a year until it was stolen from my garage at home.. I'd still have it now otherwise and a gen.2 Hayabusa before that.

I only pointed towards the link on Motolegends because you aren't used to a sports bike and it is something to consider for commuting.

[Jazoli]

Ho Lee Kau said:

I will also add that riding a liter sportbike in the city is, imho, an unnecessary risk, THESE machines are way too fast for busy city streets and can be downright dangerous in wet/cold/dark conditions, they are just too rapid too fast.

Maybe you should get rid of yours if you are not capable of handling it and it is too fast for your brain to cope with, most people seem to manage ok

[black-k1]

Ho Lee Kau said:

black-k1 said:

Ho Lee Kau said:

...

I will also add that riding a liter sportbike in the city is, imho, an unnecessary risk, THESE machines are way too fast for busy city streets and can be downright dangerous in wet/cold/dark conditions, they are just too rapid too fast.

I stopped riding my 1L bikes in the city for that reason. 600cc supersport gives you a bit of time to concentrate on what happens around, given that the torque (=speed) does not pile up as quickly and as unnoticeably as on a 1000cc.

Each to their own. I feel much safer commuting in town on my K1300S (with 140nm torque - a figure liter bikes would die for) than I do on anything smaller. It only goes as fast as I want it to bit it'll go as fast as I want it to, when I want it to!

Each to their own indeed.
K1300S is no superbike though, it's more comfortable, has higher handlebars and better visibility.

Very true, the K1300S is no superbike and the reason of more comfort is exactly why I use one. It was you however, who said:

...THESE machines are way too fast for busy city streets ...

... they are just too rapid too fast ...

... that the torque (=speed) ...

so I don't see why a comfortable seat and higher bars would make a difference.

[boyse7en]

Do a track day on your Triple before you get rid of it. I had an absolute blast caning a Street Trip around Portimao on my one (and only) excursion on track.

[moanthebairns]

When I can be arsed I commute on a blade or ninja or 675. It's 30 miles not a 3 day yak ride.

[Mr OCD]

Ho Lee Kau said:

I will also add that riding a liter sportbike in the city is, imho, an unnecessary risk, THESE machines are way too fast for busy city streets and can be downright dangerous in wet/cold/dark conditions, they are just too rapid too fast.

I stopped riding my 1L bikes in the city for that reason. 600cc supersport gives you a bit of time to concentrate on what happens around, given that the torque (=speed) does not pile up as quickly and as unnoticeably as on a 1000cc.

Edited by Ho Lee Kau on Wednesday 18th April 12:14

You do chat some bks.

[Mr_Tickle]

I used to commute a 70 mile round trip, 5 days a week on a CBR600rr and it was fine. About half motorway and the rest was into central london. I'd be more concerned about thinking how I'm going to get to work if I bin my commuting bike on the track (which I did do once!).

[anonymous-user]

I'd just track the street triple, unless you find out the bike is holding you back on track.

[curlie467]

Just do what you want, most people do that anyway, don't ask us spacktardx on here because you'll get every possible answer imaginable.

[seveb]

Go for it, get whatever you want, it's only money. But you'll be surprised how fast a speed triple will go on track. Despite the bravado, most road riders are quite mediocre on track, at least initially. It's a different environment.

I'd suggest, as as been suggested above, use your speed triple, get used to a few tracks, then see what you want. I'll put money on you wanting a dedicated track bike and keep the speed triple for the road and commuting. A track bike for track use and a road bike for commuting are set up completely differently, different bikes completely - yes you can share one for both applications but I doubt you'll want to after a few track days, if you get the bug.

One thing for sure, is that if you go and buy a spanking nice road ZX10r or even a newish ZX6r you wont want to be pushing it hard on track as every crash will cost you £1k,

[braddersm3]

Why not rent a zx6r for a track day see how you go?....keep the Street and do a track day on that to compare...

[Ho Lee Kau]

Jazoli said:

Ho Lee Kau said:

I will also add that riding a liter sportbike in the city is, imho, an unnecessary risk, THESE machines are way too fast for busy city streets and can be downright dangerous in wet/cold/dark conditions, they are just too rapid too fast.

Maybe you should get rid of yours if you are not capable of handling it and it is too fast for your brain to cope with, most people seem to manage ok

what is this macho bullst?