99 zxr6 Vs 05 ZZR6

GlennB · Post by **GlennB** » Tue Dec 13, 2005 6:31 pm

HI all just looking around at what bike to buy next and Ive narrowed it down too 2, 99 zx6 and 05 zzr6. I was planning 2 buy my mates bike zx with only 29k on the clock for 7k. But I thoght I would sus out the newer zzr bike and found that they were relatively cheap for the zzr6. you can get a new 05 zzr for around 10k at the moment.
Yes at the moment I cant make up my mind if I will go sport or sport tourer. I do tavel a bit on the bike to work etc so would like a little comfort and all so like to fang around the mountains.
Question is would the 05 zzr6 keep up or(near) a 99 zx6 oround the mountains. And can anybody give me a link to a site with performance figures and specs of these 2 bikes.
Cheers
Glenn

Stereo · Post by **Stereo** » Tue Dec 13, 2005 7:24 pm

Comes down to what you want to do.... a zzr is a sports tourer... a zx6R is a sports bike...

If you want to go fast in the twisties.... you gotta go the zx6r.....

Ratmick · Post by **Ratmick** » Tue Dec 13, 2005 7:36 pm

The attached pic is from from the US Kawasaki site, but still should be valid (if there are any references to a California-spec machine, ignore it).

The other is just a link to the AUS Kawasaki site:

http://www.kawasaki.com.au/au/all_produ ... 0/main.htm

jewjew · Post by **jewjew** » Tue Dec 13, 2005 7:39 pm

Thats poor advice stereo, the zzr600 is a great bike. I love mine...

It is also fast in the twisties and straights (i might not have done 210 k's last week on a few occasions).......if you think you might want to track race don't go for a ZZR, but if you want a comfortable bike that handles like a sport bike think long and hard about the ZZR600, plus you get two years warranty and a bike you get to break in yourself. I have just cloked 5500 k's on mine since August and still get a kick when ram-air kicks in, in third gear.

Again, just test ride them and go with whats best for you.

GlennB · Post by **GlennB** » Tue Dec 13, 2005 7:51 pm

cheers, Im still yet 2 ride both but just from what I have heard ZZR has a more up right seating posision. I may find the zx6r not to bad but then got factor in older bike no warranty and a few other things as well as the zzr being 30kg heavier.
Anybody know why the zzr is 5k cheaper? I noticed that it only has the 599c engine in it but there must be other things??

I-K · Post by **I-K** » Tue Dec 13, 2005 8:41 pm

GlennB wrote: Anybody know why the zzr is 5k cheaper?

Because it's been in production, completely unchanged, since 1993. Kwaka have made back their R&D costs on it back in spades.

Also, at $7,000, that '99 ZX6 is a bit on the steepish side. I'd be happy to get that sort of money for my 2001 model. If it was priced more realistically, closer to six grand, the diff between it and the ZZ-R would be bigger.

Faken good bike, the ZZ-R, but it plays a different game to the ZX6.

Ratmick · Post by **Ratmick** » Tue Dec 13, 2005 8:42 pm

GlennB wrote:Anybody know why the zzr is 5k cheaper? I noticed that it only has the 599c engine in it but there must be other things??

1. Early-90s design and technology. Perfectly adequate, but not cutting-edge.
2. 30-odd kg heavier. It's fat and heavy, but most bikes were in the early-90s.
3. Marketed as a sports-tourer. In it's day it was a weapon...but it's day was in the mid-90s.
4. Hardly any bling and the pose factor among the uneducated is virtually nil.

Having said all that, most of the top-end stuff would come down to differences in riders' skill, and not the equipment. It's still got the goods in the right hands (not mine) to show the RR bikes of today a thing or two...except when the skill level of the RR rider is equal to that of the person on the ZZR. Then they'll out-corner and out-accelerate the ZZR due to the anorexic weight and superior handling of today's 600s.

The riding position isn't as relaxed as you think, in it's day it was the equivalent of what the ZX-6R is now. The riding position now is a lot more extreme than it used to be

Ratmick · Post by **Ratmick** » Tue Dec 13, 2005 8:47 pm

I-K wrote:Because it's been in production, completely unchanged, since 1993.

What, the yearly colour changes mean nothing

Hahahahaha...hmm.

There have been a few changes, the main ones being between the D series and the E series, but apart from the fact my bike is reddish purple, and the mufflers look slightly different, it's the same bike as a silver 2005.

Late Edit> There was water-heating of the carbies post 1999/2000. Basically it's a small tube that hangs off the water pump housing that carries hot water up to the carbs/inlet manifold. This pre-heats the carbs in winter so they don't freeze...

Stereo · Post by **Stereo** » Tue Dec 13, 2005 9:12 pm

jewjew wrote:Thats poor advice stereo, the zzr600 is a great bike. I love mine...

It is also fast in the twisties and straights (i might not have done 210 k's last week on a few occasions).......if you think you might want to track race don't go for a ZZR, but if you want a comfortable bike that handles like a sport bike think long and hard about the ZZR600, plus you get two years warranty and a bike you get to break in yourself. I have just cloked 5500 k's on mine since August and still get a kick when ram-air kicks in, in third gear.

Again, just test ride them and go with whats best for you.

I'm not saying the ZZR is a bad bike... Im just saying that the riding position and general demeanor of the bike is not set up for the twisties... but the zx6r is...

Barrabob · Post by **Barrabob** » Tue Dec 13, 2005 9:58 pm

They seem to keep up with the trafic ok the zzr600, I have been on a few rides with them and at about 190kph they seem to slow down a bit but if the speed limit to 40 kph over is your thing and a more comfortable riding position is acceptable to you go the zzr.

There a bit less adjustable in the suspension department and not a full on race bike but seem quite ok to get around on.

cowprint · Post by **cowprint** » Tue Dec 13, 2005 11:16 pm

zzr good bike
zx6r great bike, i "borrowed"one off a mates friend for a weekend and havnet looked back even thou it was a 97 model it was fun, go test ride both and go with the grin factor, taking into account how many points are on your licence and how many youd like to have left.....
zx6r is a good way to get a photo of your bike issued by the roads and traffic authority, but theres a small fee for this service

smek · Post by **smek** » Tue Dec 13, 2005 11:26 pm

love my 99 zx6. have ridden the 05 version and it shows off just how good the 99 is considering it's 6 years old. The 98 (G1) model was bike of the year and is the same as the 99(G2).
compared to the newer sports bikes the G & J zx6's are armchairs, have never ridden a zzr 600 but I can't see how it can be that much comfier.

and so you have something to compare to, I paid 6500 for mine with 24000k's

The J model zx6 (which is very similar to the G) has replaced the zzr 600 in the states, so that shows that it definately competes with sports tourers

But really you're gonna have to ride em both and see what you're more comfortable on. After you do that I reckon it'll be pretty obvious to you which one you prefer.

Nanna10r · Post by **Nanna10r** » Wed Dec 14, 2005 12:39 am

Glenn what ride are you getting off to ride the new scoot ?.
IMHO The 99 zx6r is a better bike but that doesnt mean you will be a better rider on it. The zedzed is exremely & capable bike & will eat up commutes & long rides like nothing else in its class. Also, dont forget to figure insurance into the equation.
hth
cheers Brett

jewjew · Post by **jewjew** » Wed Dec 14, 2005 7:43 am

Sorry Stereo,
Just a bit defensive about the ZZR, i think it's the best value for money on road ATM, i am a little heavier than most and quite strong though, which is why i don't have any trouble though s's

Glenn, lately i have been finding myself doing 90k's around 35 rated corners on my ZZR and can still get more out of it. Also it think the ZZR is five grand cheaper because it soesn't have USD forks and EFI and therefore has to be quite a bit cheaper than the current 600's or it would be priced out of the market completely.

Beryl, i think you get good power up to about 210, then you have to wait to get your speed, which is why i said go for the zx6 if you want to race track.

Pontikat, great question. I came from a gpx250 to the 600 and found the transition quite good (though a little scary at first). I think a 636 would be a little too quick off the mark for me to start with, though i think i would like it now, i like to keep the front wheel down and pull as much power off the lights as i can.

Glenn, test test test test and test some more

BTW, (i am going to get slammed for this) if you like an upright seat position and want EFI, Hooonda has a new CBR600F out this year, nice bike also (but crap coulours and only about 2K cheaper than the standard CBR600r)

z900/zx9 · Post by **z900/zx9** » Wed Dec 14, 2005 1:02 pm

Hey just to confuse the issue im sure you could get a good zx9 for 10,000. But if your lookin for a 600 i would be thinking zzr as you said warranty,new bike and if your upgrading from a 250 im sure that either will have plenty of power for you. I would tell you more about the zzr but mizzzzr will only let me turn it around for her and wont let me loose on hers