So I had a ride on a ZX6R...

[Shifty]

Okay so the boss is toying with ideas for the next bike to add to her "been there, flogged that" list. So, being pretty friendly with the guys at out local Kawasaki dealer we had a look about and were offered free run of a couple of bikes.

We took out the Ducati 750SS and an 03 ZX6R (636).

The Ducati tipped in like a dream but felt like it wanted to run a little wide on corner exit. Front brakes were spectacular. Rear brake I wouldn't know as the lever is about 2mm from the engine case and I could hardly get my foot on it. These things are gutless. Anyone who has owned a bike bigger than 250cc previously need not apply. Very comfy thing to ride - a great bike for someone who isn't hard of a dollar, who wants something a little more exclusive or who wants a bike that is essentially foolproof and downright hard to make a mistake on.

The Six. A good bit of fun that, though having from from my modified VTR1000 I have an interesting perspective. Up top, she went like a cut cat - as long as you didn't run out of road before you got to 13,000rpm that is! Down low, it was a dog.. I reckon the Ducati would have torn it a new one to 100km/h. Handling was great, tipped in brilliantly and wanted to stay there, and while it had a comfortable seat & nice peg layout the bars aren't really set up for the regular street rider.

For the weekend basher, this is the bike for you. If you need to putt around town it's so lifeless down low that you can easily doddle around at the speed limit... a real license saver. When the weekend comes, the engine has a good amount of urge up top and is smooth from go to whoa, and it's a very well behaved package (what the hell were you doing Hemi?) all round. The one I rode had a steering damper but unless you do something silly the front stays very planted and doesn't get unnecessarily twitchy (maybe I'm just used to the VTR bucking and complaining).

My big twin really spoils you with gobs of torque and a wide enough powerband to be fangable, so I would fiund the 636 hard to live with as an around-town bike but certainly a mountainside and trackday weapon that will happily baby you around all day every day if you need it to.

[Nanna10r]

The early Barra, yeah shifty, if your under 8 grand there isn't anybody home, But i'm sure any one that owns one doesnt spend much time under 8grand anyway. As for a tracktoy a coupla rear suspension mods & lookie out.
As for the fukati boring as bat shit & the HP to match.
Try the new 05 636 mate they rev even harder & have a much better feel.
Cheers Brett

[Barrabob]

Yeh i said all those things about the one i bought shifty but where did you test ride it?

Was it down the expressway to suncorp stadium and turn around and down to hamilton or did you get to ride it over a few potholes and bumps as well.

when i went for a test ride they kept it on billiard table surface and real world you would learn about surface imperfections you never knew exisited on your favourite rides dont call them the barra for nothing.

But yeh there fun and you have to keep roadspeed above the dead spot when your track riding it too or get a power commander.

Wouldnt mind trying a 05 suposed to be a real good thing.

[Yankee]

yeah- the '00 model was the best, then they put that dead burble spot in the low/mid for the 636 donks due to too many ppl killing themselves on the awesome power of the '00 599......
in the '05 they went back to the 599 motor but told everyone it was a tuned up 636..... figured the world was really ready for the original 600 kwak.....
atleast that's what a guy i was talking to yesterday told me......

[Smitty]

..snip..

The Six. A good bit of fun that, though having from from my modified VTR1000 I have an interesting perspective. Up top, she went like a cut cat - as long as you didn't run out of road before you got to 13,000rpm that is! Down low, it was a dog.. I reckon the Ducati would have torn it a new one to 100km/h. Handling was great, tipped in brilliantly and wanted to stay there, and while it had a comfortable seat & nice peg layout the bars aren't really set up for the regular street rider.

For the weekend basher, this is the bike for you. If you need to putt around town it's so lifeless down low that you can easily doddle around at the speed limit... a real license saver. When the weekend comes, the engine has a good amount of urge up top and is smooth from go to whoa, and it's a very well behaved package (what the hell were you doing Hemi?) all round. The one I rode had a steering damper but unless you do something silly the front stays very planted and doesn't get unnecessarily twitchy (maybe I'm just used to the VTR bucking and complaining).
.

interesting Shifty...

I test rode an '03 6R on Saturday morning
and I pretty much agree on all your comments 'cept the
one re the engine!

The one I rode went like a scalded cat from about 5000
...really woke up and pulled the front wheel up at 7000
on its way to about 13000 (as you say)
The one I rode has a Megacycle can (the noise was luvverly)
but I don't think it would add that much in the go department
mind you the black one I rode was in very good nick, not many k's

now compared to your litre jobbie..the 6R won't have the
get up and go..but I reckon (apart from the seating position)
I could live with it in the city
(I did not like the rider pozzie on this 6R...
very racerish and too much weight on the wrists for me)



cheers

Smitty

[Plaz]

Well I had the 03 & 05 636's.

With the 03 i tend to agree to a point, the fun is 5K and above on the tacho, and a steering damper is for those who are soft!! Ride position and suspension are killers though (only bike I ever rode with harder suspension was the 91 ZXR750).

Now the 05 is a different kettle of fish, I pretty much start have fun from when I put my helmet on. There is a good spread of power right from the get go (sure its not a thou but even they don't get too far in front ** with some execptions**). All the ergonomics are way better, better gear box, better motor, better suspension....hell better bike. Before I upgraded to the 05 I did my home work and road a lot of differnt bikes, 600 and above. In the 600 class there is no question....best on the market.

FWIW Shifty try and get a leg over an 05....I think you might be pleasantly surprised, and if the Ducrappi was faster than the 03 up to 8k then I would be looking at a different 636....something wrong there.

[James]

I had an 03 ZX636 and when I added the Megacycle can it went worse in the mid range and was much crisper with the standard can.

[Barrabob]

The can did make a diference to mine it partially removed the deadspot but i think it would pull a lightweight rider heaps quicker from lower revs whereas if you have a bit of weight about you and i am probably 100kgs with gear you have to wait for the revs to build a bit.

Front end was too soft for me standard i had to go harder springs the stock ones sagged to 38mm with full preload, might have been soft springs i dont know as most other people dont have a problem.

Should take it for a chasis alignment one day and see what the experts have to say about that too, mine might be a bit out of scew because everyone else recons there a good thing.