Hello guys!
Currently, I am riding a Kawasaki Ninja 650 that is limited to 35kW. That limit will be lifted in a few weeks due to my age (23 almost 24). I am thinking of upgrading to a ZX6R 2024 or a BMW S1000RR 2020-2024. I am not entirely unfamiliar with higher-powered motorcycles, although I haven’t ridden a supersport before. I have ridden a bit on an MT-09, a Street Triple, and a Triumph Rocket 3. just swapping bikes for a bit with friends.
I will be using the bike for daily commuting and, once or twice a year, a longer road trip. My main focus is more on having fun than being comfortable.
Which of these two would you recommend? Do you guys have any other suggestions? I like the S1000RR more than the ZX6R, but I’m not sure if the powerband of a supersport is so different that it would be unwise to choose the S1000RR over the ZX6R.
I would personally take the ZX6R. I’m actually surprised at how little weight difference there is between the two, but either one should be fast enough for any purpose, both will have very race oriented ergonomics that will make them terrible for long distance trips so if you’re already committed to that there’s nothing to be gained or lost there. The ZX6R has a noticeably shorter wheelbase and should be more nimble at low speeds, e.g. commuting.
But at a $5896 price difference between the two, you could use the change left over from buying the Kawasaki versus the Beemer to buy another entire bike. Or failing that, a lot of oil, tires, fuel, chains, jackets, and helmets.
That, and I do not relish the thought of having to wrench on a modern BMW anything. That’s just me.
You don’t need a liter. The ZX6R or any other 600cc sport bike will provide plenty of thrills. If you survive into your 30s and decide you’re responsible enough for 1000ccs have at it. Most people I know that bought a liter bike in their 20s are either dead or disabled.
Really depends on your temperament. My first bike was a DL1000 and I’m still alive 23 riding years later having never done anything worse than some mid speed lowsides. But I didn’t start riding until my late 20s. And with a true superbike maybe it would have turned out different. The DL1000 is a sport tourer and it was plenty fast enough for me without enough power to break the rear loose or throw me if I made small mistakes.
Not saying your advice is bad, it’s not, but everyone is different.
For me it isn’t the reason it is a liter bike. More i think it is a “nicer” bike and has some nicer features. IF BMW made say a S600RR or something with mostly the same stuff i probably would of gone with that.
So the deciding factor in my opinion becomes, how mature are you on a bike? Do you give in easily to the show off mentality, or are you hot tempered? If you can keep things on an even keel and not get out of control then either one would be fine. The problem I have with comments from the person above is that it makes it sound like you are safer on the 600cc bike, and believe me, you can kill yourself just as easily on either bike. My daughter wants to buy a bike, and she has been on the back of my bike(s) for thousand upon thousands of miles, so she knows how it feels and what to expect, but I had a very frank discussion with her that she cannot get on a bike and ride it like she currently drives. She gets a little road rage at times, and that really isn’t going to work on a motorcycle, assuming you want to be an old rider. I guess my whole point of this ted talk is that if and only if you feel like you are responsible enough (good word that Fecundpossum used) then get the one that you like and speaks to you. Just remember that you don’t have to run full throttle, there is a middle ground.
Very good points.
I was an aggressive driver as a teen. What changed it (surprisingly) was getting a bike. Suddenly the risks became way more apparent. And the performance of a bike made driving a car fast seem pointless. Even moderate acceleration on the bike was far more than being in a car.
Of course that was my experience. But getting a bike did settle down my driving tremendously. Since it’s literally my ass on the line, I became acutely aware of everything.
Part of that was taking a class, where they make the risks very apparent.
Same. Becoming a veteran rider turned me into a much safer, more conservative driver. You start to see all the risks everywhere and plan accordingly.
responsible enough
I like to believe i am responsible enough. But that is mostly easy to say from your own perspective. I think I am mostly a more relaxed and chill rider if shit happens i pick up my shoulders and go on with my day. not to say if the times right and and the possible is their i will open the throttle. totally not to show of but to have fun. Sure you always show of a little when your proud of what you got.
thanks both for the ted talk :). I think it is good to get multiple perspectives
I think all I was trying to get at on the subject of displacement, is when that ridiculous amount of power is available, the temptation to use it is strong. You can die on a Yamaha Zuma. But the 600s are plenty powerful, very fast, very nimble, but they do put at least some ceiling on the trouble your right hand can get into.
I totally get where you are coming from and hope I didn’t come across as a dick. Going back to the example of my daughter, I would be equally terrified of her getting any size displacement bike if she can’t get her temper in check, and I hope that switch from passenger to driver on a motorcycle would give her the focus to mentally chill out. To your point, kids get these large displacement bikes and then decide that they are not only invincible, but the baddest thing on the planet and end up learning the hard way that they are neither of those two, and large displacement bikes are like magnets to that personality. I completely agree with you too, if you can get the 600cc bike and be responsible, then eventually when you feel like it’s not a danger, move up to something larger. All good advice and replies here.
Nah i totally got where you were coming from, and yeah, all good advice. I think the winning advice is “go for the features you want regardless of displacement so long as you can exercise self control”
I don’t think a 1000 is any more a right hand risk than a 600.
I’ve had both, and the 600 will accelerate as much as a 1000, it just won’t have the top speed.
The 1000 is much more challenging to ride safely in my experience, not because of power, but because of its weight and (usually) a higher center of mass - so they typically take more effort to maneuver/maneuver well.
Though a lot depends on the type of bike, largely the rake angle which really influences the effort required to steer, and it also affects low speed stability.
For me, going to a 1000 was about long ride comfort and 2-up riding. Two up on a 600, even the more cruiser-like bikes, just isn’t as comfortable. There’s less room, pillion footpegs are more cramped, etc. But the price paid is the effort to ride it.
It really depends on the bike. If I were OP, I’d look for the features I want and not worry about engine size so much. If it happens that what I want comes with a 1000, so be it. Just take the time to learn to ride that bike well.
Decades ago I found the top speed of my small bike (I forget, maybe a 450?). It would’ve killed me just as fast as taking my 1000 to the same speed (which I simply don’t do).
For commuting and features I recommend a sport tourer. Much more comfortable still plenty of power and fun and lots of nice features. I went from wanting a GSXS-750 to a GSX-S1000 GT to eventually getting a Tracer 9 GT and I love the hell out of it plus since its not fully faired like a sport bike its more accessible to work on myself and replacing the few panels it does have is much cheaper if they do have to be replaced. The GT+ even has radar cruise control. Also comfy seat space for a passenger.
I reckon an s1000rr would be a rubbish commuter, servicing cleaning tyres etc, get the s1000, but get something a little less maintenance thristy for commuting.
