ZX6R....
ZX6R, well there is a lot to say for Kawasaki bikes, the company may not be as big as Honda and Yamaha, but with the resources available to it, it makes miracles. Also most people, suffer from short memories, might be due to watching too much TV and following too much that is said in magazines, but Kawi R&D has never come short for me.
For me the 6R is the right size and type of bike but if I wanted another I would be looking at he 7R/9R/12R
The 6R I believe has the perfect balance, able to be a world champion yet also allow me to ride for 1k after work and then going back to work the next day. The clutch is super slick, never felt anything like it, the bike is smooth all the way, great low and mid range with the highest torque in the 600 class, the high end also allows me to go 285 real quick.....6 pot front brakes are beautiful, most powerful brakes in the 600 class, and basically Kawasaki reliability, go to any dealer/mechanic and you will hear of the "never say die Kawasaki" engine, if you watch a lot of racing, let me know when a Kawi blows, something I can't say of Honda's RC51 and F4, Suz. GSXR and Yami Rs all of which I have seen suffering from engine or clutch problems in races, I have yet to see a Kawi suffer the same way, but now that I have said this, I bet there most likely will be something wron on the March 10th race, damn !
Well here is what other people think of the 6R (from
www.motorcyclenews.com):
The perfect 600?
KAWASAKI has developed an almost perfect road bike in the ZX-6R. Sharp and massively fast, the ZX-6 does everything you need – well.
As a bike to be used in the real world, it’s hard to beat. It has taken what the CBR started to a newer, fresher place. Though it has all the comforts associated with everyday motorcycling, the factory has managed to keep the weight down to 171kg(367lbs). That means you can cruise to the South of France in comfort, ditch the luggage at the hotel and then enjoy caning it around some hairpins.
Put simply it’s the perfect 600 for the road and suits any kind of riding. It might be outscratched on the track by the likes of the R6 and the new GSX-R600, but as an all-round bike for all conditions, it is extremely hard to beat. The power is linear and smooth in every gear, with no hint of vibration. You find yourself ignoring the rev counter as you get carried away sampling the full 109bhp on tap. First, second and even third gear wheelies are commonplace as you hit the redline, and it pulls unbelievably hard for a bike of this capacity.
By 14,000rpm the power has tailed off but nail another gear and revel in the hair-raising roar from the air-induction. Keep it howling and a genuine 160-plus mph is possible from this incredible motor. Enough to frighten most 750s in a straight-line showdown and it would take a brave man to bet against a well-ridden Ninja on the backlanes.
The chassis set-up is pretty much spot-on straight from the crate, and it, together with the Dunlop D207 tyres, copes superbly with anything the road has to throw at it.
Six-pot calipers grace the front of the Ninja – a bit extreme on a six hundred, yes, but they have to be to match the performance. And they work beautifully Living with the ZX-6R is a pleasure; the riding position feels natural and manages to be sporty without compromising long distance comfort too much. The dash is nicely laid out; two easy to read clocks with digital trips; one of the few in the 600 class not to sport a digitised cockpit.
You buy 600s for good reason; they are way cheaper than full-on superbikes in every major aspect, they are also more rewarding to ride fast and the margin for error is greater, encouraging rather than punishing the rider.The only drawback is that you might have to spend twice as much on kneesliders.
Power
109bhp @ 12,500rpm
Torque
48ftIb @ 10,000rpm
Weight, power-to-weight ratio
171kg (376lb), 0.64bhp/kg
Acceleration (Standing 1/4-mile time, terminal speed)
11.2s, 116mph
Top speed
168mph
Geometry (Rake, trail, wheelbase)
23.5º, 9.5cm, 140cm
Fuel consumption (Average mpg, tank capacity, range)
37.5mpg, 18 litres, 150 miles