Kawasaki ZX-6R (2005-2006)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZL5XSPn2dU&feature=channel_page

Done nearly 5000 miles this summer and enjoyed every one of them. An awesome all round tool and I mean all round. Been to Wales, Lakes, Dales, Peak District, North Yorks Moors etc and it never misses a beat. Have no probs doing 300 miles a day on a/b roads if needed thanks to a smooth ride and comfortable seat. Easily does 180 miles a tank too, so a tank does me on most days out & its does 50ish mpg. Initially it was getting low-mid 40's mpg with under 3k miles on, but the engine gets stronger and more fuel efficient over time it seems. Had 58mpg on a run once where I didn't overtake much due to following my mate in his by all accounts fast car. Enjoyed my first bike, an SV650s that i kept for only a year due to outgrowing it, but this is a keeper & a future classic so they say. Going by that imperious engine and the various noises throughout the rev range alone, I can see why. I could have just said theres 15500 reasons I love this bike because thats how many revs there are, but that wouldn't do justice to the other things that are attached around the engine and the Ram Air fed air box!

Brilliant little Bike. I have no trouble keeping up with all my mates & they all ride newer litre bikes. You just have to keep the engine spinning. I do get lower fuel economy than the bigger bikes though, Only about 30 miles to the gallon. Only grips are 1: the standard suspension settings which are just wrong for any type of riding. What were Kawasaki thinking! when set up properly it transforms the bike into a brilliant handleing road bike better than R6 etc & 2: The Fi light comes on when the bike is left for any length of time, due to the exhaust valve motor not cycleing properly. A good thrash & then turning it off & then on again sorts it, but it is a pain.

Only just picked up an 06 bike with 20k on the motor but its as sweet as a nut, what a motor! Loads of mid-range for a 600, would eat R6 or CBR in the midrange and I would be suprised if any other 600's were quicker up the top end too. I believe its till the most powerful 4 cylinder sports 600 around (OK having an extra 36 cc is cheating but it works). Handling is much improved after fitting a new pair of Avon Vipers, it didn't ride well on worn Bridgestones. Suspension is firm on stock settings even with my 13 stone on it but its still effective for soaking up the worst on crap roads without being sloppy in the corners. Feels very roomy compared to the newer bikes which suits me, seat is good for at least a couple of hours in the saddle. My advice is buy one if you can find one, there's not many around. You won't be dissapointed.

mines the c1h 05 in titanium which looks great in the flesh. fitted the essential bits, puig double bubble screen, rear hugger (mudguard to protect suspension), r&g crash protectors. forget extra bhp etc, this feels like a 750-1000! theres an incredible low-mid range for a 600 from 3-9k which gets stronger all the way through. forget the all 600's are gutless/peaky stuff here, you can leave this in top if you want, it pulls at 30! at 9-10k it gets pretty science fiction tho! you have to hold on tight and make sure the ever lighter front end stays planted! power delivery is turbine smooth and the sound is like a supercharged ariel atom in the mid range before the race roar of the power band. its an incredible engine that dominates the experience and you even get 40-50mpg. the suspension feels and looks expensive and with a pretty comfy seat makes for a nice sports touring ride over longer distances. the handling is sporty and sharp, tho its pretty big for a 600 so maybe isnt quite as flickable as some. its unlikely many will get near its limits on a road or even a track tho. overall this has to be one of the best 600's ever, throw value into the equation and it has to be a no brainer! its probably overkill for many or very near for much less for 750-1000 buyers. +'s everything -'s poor visibility from mirrors so you need to move around a bit, poss licence probs, horn corroding quite quickly, tho everywhere else seems well finished. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYNkZt3P2ZU&feature=channel_page

I baught a 06 last year i wanted another blade but money was a bit tight.But wow! its great reminds me of my old 92 blade its that good .My only gripe is that its the titainum colour (more metallic hearing aid beige) but a respray will sort that out .Anybody downsizing from a 1 liter need not be worried about a flat non midrange bike 600 its fab .

Do you know that this is the bike to own full stop - i know we can go a little faster on the bigger more expensive to run and own, tyre munching bikes but in the real world do you need more than a 600ish cc bike..! I think you should know that at 190mph with 500rpm left ,still pulling and creaping up i guessed to about 196/7 on the clock at the limiter on the over run wow amazing, from a standard bike ok down hill and 3miles to wind it up, wind behind, but it goes striaght to 180 on the flat,with no help. Maybe the clocks are inacurate but i know my zx12 did 220 on the clock it was derestricted as 186 was max before, and its blood fast over 170mph no matter what you are on cause its pulling your arms off and your head off, where at that speed, everything that is moving is stationary, and you count the flyovers by in quick succession..ummm vanishing point is important very important. BUT this bike tracks like its on rails at high speed and you can keep your line and your speed just keep throwing it at the tarmac and it goes round the corners. i did not give it 5stars for ride as i set it for track days and the good few roads out there so the rest of the time the ride is harsh but worth the rewards when you find a good piece of road to let rip on.I might add there is a time and place for over enthusiasum.! and thats not in rush hour-although there is a buzz from riding down the middle of cars the bike is very narrow and i have not had any bikes follow me through yet..detracting from the zx6r well at just over half the price of the out going new model 2009 you would have a lot of change for all your gear ,insurance , paint job and accessories list etc.. with a bike that is still producing power the same or better than any current bikes,and definatly a beater of top speed,and you won't need to run it in either..remember only on paper is a bike quick its down to the rider to make it that quick.so dont be surprised if a pizza hut delivery boy leaves you in his wake if you are a new rider in town lol..nothing to be ashamed of it happens lol ohh the virtues of twist and go but they cant get through the gaps like me on my zx6 amazing if it wasn't for traffic lights i would be a winner haha. My recomendation is to buy one, to give you an idea! when i had my zx12, a real nice bike by the way, i still preffered the zx6 to ride most of the time...it puts a grin factor of 10 on your face and you dont feel like your on old metal like some bikes make you feel over time -think this will be a classic one day for many reasons.

At first amazing machine. My 1st big bike only 3 weeks after I passed. Extremely quick the 1st few days to get used to the injection I had the feeling my vision was bluring after 10krpm :))))) . Anyhow great! the handling is super, it allows alot of mistakes which to be honest on other bikes would have been devistating, going through holes on a corner is not funny (even worse with a pillion), but it sticks like glue. although they say it hits 168mph I did manage abroad to max that to 184mph (292kmh) it can do more (reason: bad quality fuel). Due to its power this machine MUST MUST have DAMPER installed it has personally saved my life a dozen of times especially on front wheel lock (glass smooth tarmack) or going through massive fallen rocks from mountain area, or even the stupid dips in road from buses when accelerating. When I purchased the bike it was on 7500miles now is on 15000miles, I ride it all year round and only slight cosmetic problems from weather and jet washes. The pain on the tail has started peeling off here and there leaving black patches but hey! it is plastic with paint no paint can stand vibration long enough and still stay in place. It accellerates like crazy not many can keep up. The bike is so steady and smooth ride that I am already using the full base of the rear tyre and scraping my boots on corners, and I have still not felt any sway of the back tyre on corners (BUY GOOD TYRES IT IS WORTH IT!) this could be counted strongly on the slipper clutch, one bad thing about the size of the front wheel is that it is 120/65 which means not easy to find the tyre you want with that 65profile size you can not get michelin pilot power 2ct that size which is a shame but 120/70 handles pesently too even thow they do not recommend it. It has only given me one problem and that goes with all 2005 (do not know about the 2006) model, wheeling it can throw engine oil if you wheelie for a long distace on high revs , in america they do a so called 'clean air' modification to bypass that airbox filling with oil (causing ceasure to the engine when oil gets in the FI),so what the mod does is direct the oil to the exhaust so it doesn't stall the bike (it is cheap to do it yourself, i beleive is not too nice for the engine and you do need to carry a bottle of engine oil with you hehe) , but if you are like me and not being anctious about wheelies etc then you have no worries. As a young rider the insurance is too high if you are from the EU it is better registering and insuring the bike abroad with a green card it is hell alot more cheaper, bad point is 'it is only legal in the country for 6months then you have to register in DVLA (again)' . Anyhow this is the best 636 ever made. It was not only the best on the track but look in america half the pro-stunt riders ride with 636 '05-'06 models. I hope Kawasaki manufacture a new one in the upcomming years. And if it has to be kawasaki get this GREEN MEAN MACHINE!

I must start by saying this is the first 'big bike' i have ever owned. Stops, accelerates, corner's and rides brilliantly. my previous experience was with a GS 500, and a Faser 600 - this bike blows them out the water. the throttle is progressive and has a ton of midrange which makes it easier to ride than other 600's ive ridden. Definately first class in my opinion

paid £4000 for a 55 plate green one with 4800 miles on it with warrenty its my first big bike and boy do i love it put 1000 miles on it in a week only the british summer has stopped me doing more. hit 8000rpm and your flying first day i had it nailed it looked down at the speedo i was doing a 140mph shit myself taking it steady now building my confidence and the more i ride the better i get. good points great engine great handling great looks bad points wrist and a bit of back ache on long trips but i am 6'2 but its well worth it.