So I'm in the market for a new bike and will likely pick up a street bike, hopefully something that's been ridden lightly. I'd like another R6, possibly in the 09' to 11' range but I've noticed the similar year Kawasaki ZX6R is typically $2k to $2.5k cheaper so what gives? Does the Kawi have reliability issues or something? I know the older ones had problematic transmissions but I think they fixed that issue. Anyone know of a valid reason as to why the Yamaha is so much more expensive? I ask because I'm definitely budget minded. Thanks.
I have had both,2012 ZX6R,2007 ZX6R,and 2010 R6,all good reliable bikes,and I bought these preowned except for the 2007 ZX6R which I bought new.Never had any issues as far as runability.I couldn't get used to the seating position on the R6 on the track.I previously had a 2007 Gixxer 750,which I loved.I went back to a 2008 Gixxer 600 which is my current trackbike as I do no street riding,and it handles better than the others I have owned.
Gotcha. Seems like the grids are packed with Yamahas both at the club level and MotoAmerica level so I suspected as much. I just wanted to make sure there wasn't an underlying issue with the Kawi that was causing people to steer clear of if.
The "valid" reason is that the R6 has proven itself to be the superior race offering of any of the 600s. This creates a mindset that tells people the R6 just has to be the "must have" for anything to do with the track.
Won't argue or care which is the better RACE bike. Could see that discussion on the WERA forum not here. For a track bike the Ninja rock's.
I'm of the notion that whatever bike any person decides to ride is the bike that "rocks" for them. The OP was wondering is there was a valid reason AGAINST the Kawasaki, which doesn't seem to exist. I'm no arguing or caring which is the better RACE bike either, that's why I used the "---" on the word valid. My reply to the OP was that the R6 has a perceived greater monetary value because people seem to think that just because one bike works best at the highest level of operations by the highest level of operators, that must translate throughout every rider who gets on one.
Again, can't argue that point. Perceived value is real value if the market continues to maintain that view. Just tried to say, for track days nothing wrong with the Ninja since there are no races to win. Racing is Wera. I'm not disagreeing or trying to argue which is better, don't care. My Ninja rock's.
I don't understand why you think I'm trying to argue anything here, or that I have difficulty understanding the difference between STT trackdays and WERA racing, or that I am in any way disparaging the choice of a Kawasaki for any purpose whatsoever.
One is a TIMED event as in racing with first, second and third places. The other, there are NO timers. No one win's, no ribbons, trophies. One is competitive with each other, the other for me is competitive with oneself. You keep saying, race and competitive at the highest offerings. When competing against oneself who wins on what I don't think is important. Having a bike that fits me, I can afford and runs is whats important. So if this doesn't work, I give up. Chow.
I bought a 11 gsxr 750(basically same package as 600) and thought, damn, this bike's turn in and exit sucks...After some basic geometry changes, new pirelli supercorsa tires, it sucks less. Never rode an r6 or cbr600 but heard they are both sweet out of the box.
I have an 07 gsxr 750 track bike and a 2012 zx6r for the street and I love my Ninja..I bought mine just as you want it lightly used. The bike only had 1100 miles on it and I bought it in sept 2015. Haven't had a problem with it at all, and after having it set up for my weight, lightly modded and tuned the bike is a blast to ride. In short get the ninja you won't be disappointed.
I have an 09 ZX6R that I have raced and have been doing track days on for almost 7 years. I have 28000ish miles on it, (a good percentage of those are track miles) no issues. I have ridden the others and they are great bikes, for me the Ninja is a better fit.
the 09-12 zx6r is a badass bike, esp once you get it set up properly, those & the R6 are easily the two most dominant 600's made (evident by WSS & the SSTK600 championships) with as cheap as they are going lately, its tempting me to get another 600
A few points here: - I have been continuously shopping for bikes for the past couple of years and honestly didn't see the 2/2.5k difference in price. It might just be a moment...market fluctuates; - I have a 2009 zx6r with almost 17k miles. Most of them track/race miles. It's a great bike, very well balanced geometry, good power (up there with the best ones), absolutely zero mechanical issues (after a few crashes also) - granted that I don't know your skills, at our level the bike doesn't really matter, the rider is 98% of your lap time - one thing you might also consider is the parts availability. There is a s**t load of r6 out there, you are gonna find replacement parts for everything and for cheap. After crashing my zx6r, I had some headaches trying to find stock and aftermarket used parts. Not a big deal, I found all I needed anyways. Let me know if you have any zx6r related question.