What??? Uh. Here is the ZX6R camp in action. The R6 may be a bit more razor sharp but get a Kawi set up good and it's a bad ass machine. I'm looking to find out soon. http://www.sttforum.com/index.php?threads/go-fast-take-chances-roebling-wera-race-report.17162/
I love the fact that my 675 doesn't require the revs to make power like the R6. Coming from liter bikes it fits my style better. As for cost the track parts are slightly higher but bigger issue I have is finding them trackside if needed. It seems like 20% of the bikes in the paddock are R6s and everyone has spares for them!
When I said parts are a concern, I meant parts like new gaskets, or a water pump, or a set of valves, or new ECU. Stuff like that, not aftermarket.
I see. When referring to track bikes, I mainly refer to parts that are used during the build process, and parts that typically have to be replaced after a crash.
Spares can be a problem with Italian machines, so careful planning is required. If something is prone to damage in a minor low side then I buy a spare to pack in my trailer to have it on hand. I've actually developed with my friend Eric Wood the new MV rearsets for Woodcraft in part because no made a well designed track/race quality set for the F3 series and in order to use common parts with my other Woodcraft equipped bikes. Common spares for levers, handlebars, clip-ons, footrests are important to make crash recovery as easy as possible.
I currently ride an older 2nd gen R6 and I love the comfy riding position. I've only sat on the triumph, never ridden it, and I'll tell you right now that for me personally I'm almost positive the my back would be killing me after only a few laps due to the long reach to the bars. I'm not a short guy either. My next bike will be a 13' Kawi 636. I'm a lazy rider when it comes to shifting so I need a bike with plenty of mid range. As comfy, planted and confidence inspiring as my R6 is, I really have to rev the snot out of it and work hard to keep it high up in the power band despite the fact that I have proper gearing for each of the tracks that I visit. I'll probably look around and buy one that is already race prepped.
Any of them are a good choice. But the better choice is 09+. If I had the money I would upgrade to the 2013+. But my 09 gives me stirrings all the time.
I'm about to blow your reasoning right out the window. On June 23rd, I picked up a 2014 675R for $8999! Ohlins, Brembo, etc.
I've ridden dlockharts 675R. It is by far as good a handling bike as any R6 or anything I've ridden. Soooooo easy to ride at pace. I love the torque you get from the triple. It makes it easy to get off the corners. On the R6, you fall under 10k RPM's and you wait. You have to wring it's neck and keep the rev's up. If I had to pick one, I'd be hard pressed to pass on Triumph. It's a sweet machine and the sound is awesome.
675R is on my "list" of bikes to own.. love the sound and they look like lot's of fun to ride! Hard to beat an R6 today though, but still a cool bike!