ZX-6R too much bike for a beginner?

[Vtec95Civic]

First off, never rode any two-wheeled vehicle in my life. I'm taking the MSF course in the spring but am looking for a bike now since there's a foot of snow on the ground. Anyways.. I'm looking at the "lesser" 600's.. the YZF600R, the CBR600F3/4, and the Suzuki SV650S. Is the ZX-6R comparable to these? Or is it alot faster/race inspired? If so is there a "lesser" Kawi 600 I could be looking for?

[CreepingDeath94]

The ZX-6R is in the same class as the CBR 600RR's, GSXR's, etc. I believe the ZZR 600 I think it is, is more like the Katana/F4i/etc. group. Though it has more power than the Katana Im pretty sure. Anyone else who knows for sure help me out here...

[Rapid C]

dood, you sed you read the stickies!
I don't know that bike real real well, but i know where it lies on the curve. It belongs in the hands of someone with a good bit of experience and probly more talent than a lot of would-be's have.
motos like that one tend to be quite high-strung and have little tolerance for the small mistakes we all make when learning.

I'd recomend bikes 1-5 listed in the sticky, or perhaps an older standard if your style can accomodate one.
an old UJM with 70 or less hp can be plenty fast enough to satisfy and are generally much more fogiving rides for the newb. plus you can nab a nice one for less than 2K and not have trouble selling for break-even or profit.

you will learn alot more riding a bike you can be relaxed on as opposed to on you have to baby due to its immense potential.

[Vtec95Civic]

I did read the stickies and through the 1-5 list. The ones that appeal the most are the ones I listed, I just can't seem to find them (read, in my price range).

[speediva]

The ZX-6R will vary in category based on the year. The "new" 6r's have 636cc and have a "race" version (the ZX6rr). The older ones are more tame (along the lines of the CBR F3/4). However, out of the bikes you "selected", I would really only encourage you to get the CBR600F3 or the SV650.

[BP2K2Max]

Originally Posted by CreepingDeath94

The ZX-6R is in the same class as the CBR 600RR's, GSXR's, etc. I believe the ZZR 600 I think it is, is more like the Katana/F4i/etc. group. Though it has more power than the Katana Im pretty sure. Anyone else who knows for sure help me out here...

the current ZZr is the exact same bike as the ninja was before it went to 636 cc's. a 2005-6 ZZR is the same as a 2001 and earlier ninja ZX6R with new bodywork. it makes 110 hp and ~45 lbs of tq, it's really not much slower than the current zx6r's.

[CreepingDeath94]

Originally Posted by BP2K2Max

the current ZZr is the exact same bike as the ninja was before it went to 636 cc's. a 2005-6 ZZR is the same as a 2001 and earlier ninja ZX6R with new bodywork. it makes 110 hp and ~45 lbs of tq, it's really not much slower than the current zx6r's.

That's what I was wondering...don't know much about the newer years as I stopped researching anything newer than '04 when I was looking for a bike a while back. If it were me looking back, I think a level headed person who wants to keep their first bike longer than 4-6 months may be able to ride a 600 sportbike so long as they are patient in waiting for their skill level to improve. Otherwise you end up like me starting on a 500 twin head and quickly outgrowing it, moving on to a 600 Katana and already after a couple months start looking for more bike again...it all depends on the rider...

If you want a bike for long rides and comfort, you probably wouldn't be looking at sportbikes anyway as they are style statements unless you plan on racing them at the track, which I pray a beginner is not attempting here. So if you have the money to buy a bike now just to ride for a little while and are willing to take a cut and upgrade once you outgrow the beginner bike, then I'd say start on the smaller bikes. Otherwise, if you can be patient and ride smart, pick out a bike you will want to keep for a while so you don't lose your ass trying to sell it or get out from under a loan after wrecking it stunting it or something...

[King Of Crunk]

*reads stickies*


*reads thread heading*



*commits suicide*

[BP2K2Max]

Originally Posted by CreepingDeath94

That's what I was wondering...don't know much about the newer years as I stopped researching anything newer than '04 when I was looking for a bike a while back. If it were me looking back, I think a level headed person who wants to keep their first bike longer than 4-6 months may be able to ride a 600 sportbike so long as they are patient in waiting for their skill level to improve. Otherwise you end up like me starting on a 500 twin head and quickly outgrowing it, moving on to a 600 Katana and already after a couple months start looking for more bike again...it all depends on the rider...

If you want a bike for long rides and comfort, you probably wouldn't be looking at sportbikes anyway as they are style statements unless you plan on racing them at the track, which I pray a beginner is not attempting here. So if you have the money to buy a bike now just to ride for a little while and are willing to take a cut and upgrade once you outgrow the beginner bike, then I'd say start on the smaller bikes. Otherwise, if you can be patient and ride smart, pick out a bike you will want to keep for a while so you don't lose your ass trying to sell it or get out from under a loan after wrecking it stunting it or something...

i also believe it depends on the person, my first bike is my ZX6R, my buddy's first was a buell xb12R, and another friend's first bike is a newer R6. none of us have had any issues or accidents, yet. then, i have another friend who picked up a used CBR and thought he was the man on it. He has laid the bike down at least 4 times in his first season of riding and it was all doing stupid stuff that should have been common sense not to do, come to think of it he's the only one who didn't do the MSF course so maybe that had something to do with it. IMO he would have laid down a new bike and he would have laid down a used 500. the bike doesn't make as much of a difference as the mentality of the person does.

my main reason for picking up a brand new bike was that i like the comfort of knowing that i have a full warranty and i didn't buy a bike that was potentially not maintained properly or that has hidden problems i don't know about. in all honetsy, a level headed person should be able to start out a 600 as long as they don't think they'll be banging out wheelies and traveling at triple digit speeds with ease. you've gotta know your limitations.

[Vtec95Civic]

I've read through all the stickies and nowhere did I find the ZZR-600, which is exactly what I was looking for. A kawi 600cc that is more forgiving than the ZX-6R. Originally I thought it was the ZX-6R and that the ZX-6RR was the race bike.

[Ghetto-z]

the rr is the race bike, but its only 599 cc compared to the 636cc of the 6r, the purpose of the rr was so that they could produce and sell a 636 for the street but still compete in the 600 class with thier 6rr.