New bike: ZX6R or CBR600F

[Chalky.]

Hi

Been looking at getting a new bike after I sold my cbr125 a while ago!

I've pretty much narrowed it down to a zx6r, roughly 1997 model, and a cbr600f. Looking to spend as little as possible but want a decent bike... roughly 1000 to 1500 to spend? Which would you get?

Any other suggestions welcome! Cheers

[arry]

At that price bracket you'll get a better condition CBR than you will ZX6R and, ultimately, I'd have a stab at the Honda being more reliable overall and with the benefit of the better condition it'll be in from the start.

What bike is for you is I guess a lot down to you personally - so I'd ride both and see what you think. I think my CBR's great, it does everything brilliantly, it's fast and capable but yet predictable, comfortable, economical, reliable - plus it's a damn sight cheaper to insure than the ZX6R would be (for me anyway - nearly 200% more for the ZX6R).

I've not ridden a ZX6R, but I did sit on one in a S/H dealers when I was thinking of upgrading from my GPZ. I felt it was a little too hunched over and cramped, and I'm not the biggest bloke in the world. That said, it might have just been in comparison to the GPZ and not necessarily any worse than the CBR but I glossed over that when I bought it.

[Chalky.]

That's great thanks. It's the reliability that sways me towards the Honda, but prefer the look of the ZX!

The insurance is on £50 more for the ZX.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201026361988081/sort/priceasc/usedbikes/engine-size-bikes/490cc_to_675cc/model/zx/make/kawasaki/page/1/postcode/cw27ez/radius/1501?logcode=p

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201026362326143/sort/priceasc/usedbikes/engine-size-bikes/490cc_to_675cc/model/zx/make/kawasaki/radius/1501/page/2/postcode/cw27ez?logcode=p

They're a couple of the ZXs I was looking at, seem to be cheaper than I thought!

Any thoughts? Thanks

[UnknownStuntm...]

Interesting the point about the insurance, mine is more expensive than the same years' R6, ZX6R and GSXR. Think it might be down to the cost of replacement parts if you don't do a proper job in it when binning it. (2004 CBR600F)

[arry]

[Ghost]

if you've got a grand to 1500 quid to spend, you should be looking at 98/99 ZX6Rs, my 1999 G2 set me back £1200, it's clean and tidy and had done 19k.

You will get a CBR600F for that money, however as with all Hondas they tend to go for more second hand so you'll probably be looking at a few years older than the equivelant Kawasaki.

[Stevie GooGs]

I would recommend the CBR 600F, my first bike up from a 125 was the CBR 600FY and tbh it was great, fun in the power band and also was a pretty forgiving bike, very comfy over long miles and not bad 2up.
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Current: 2019 Yamaha T7 -> 2015 KTM Superduke R | 2000 Yamaha R1 Past -> 2009 KTM 990 SM -> 2005 kawasaki ZX10r -> 2000 Honda CBR 600 FY -> 2002 Honda XLV 125 Varadero
Bike Pics! -> My Photography Website

[Chalky.]

Cheers for all the advice guys!

Found this, reckon it's a billy bargain if it's all straight...

https://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260629253614&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_519wt_879

Thoughts?

Thanks.

[Stevie GooGs]

Jesus what hard text to read on that advert, i would ask to see a pic of the downpipes, i rode mine through winter and they went to cheese full of holes and cost me a fair bit, check the chain and sprocket and the discs, ask for photos of the fork seals. Cant actually see much from the photos he has on ebay.
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Current: 2019 Yamaha T7 -> 2015 KTM Superduke R | 2000 Yamaha R1 Past -> 2009 KTM 990 SM -> 2005 kawasaki ZX10r -> 2000 Honda CBR 600 FY -> 2002 Honda XLV 125 Varadero
Bike Pics! -> My Photography Website

[Teflon-Mike]

Stepping up from a 125, and worrying about the budget, PERSONALLY I'd be having a good hard think.
Running costs on 600's are high.
Tyres, brakes, chains, etc etc etc. all costs LOADS compared to a 125, and it'll need them a LOT more often.
On a budget, you can get a lot more motorcycling for your money, looking at other bikes.
Not just smaller ones, bigger ones too. Just avoiding the more sporty models.
Something like a TDM850, will probably come in at the lower end of your budget. Bigger motor, with softer power delivery, it can actually be easier to manage, and being a twin, a tad cheaper on servicing & consumeables.
500 Twins are more ecconomical still, though less exiting.
'On the Cheap' though, an ER500 with decent tyres, and chain and suspension, burning less fuel, costing less to tax and insure WILL give you more miles of smiles, than a CBR6, or similar that's sat laid up, becouse you cant afford the tyres to get it through a test, or worse, you cant let it loose, becouse the back tyres squared and you cant afford to replace it until next pay-day, and it wobbles about or squrims beneath you when ever you crack the taps......
If you CAN afford the costs on a sports 600 fair enough, but beware they ARE high, and there are other bikes out there that CAN offer you more motorcycling for your money.
CBR's & ZX6's are the 'trendy' choice ans so command a premium. Cheap ones are often sold cheap by people that have learned the costs the hard way... and there are plenty of them in the 900-1200 price bracket!
Save some cash on your purchase price on one to be sure you can replace the tyres, chain and sprockets, brake pads AND fluid, and do a full service on the rest of the bike, including the fork oil, suspension links and swing arm bushes. Most bikes in that bracket wont have the best consumeables left on them, people dont spend that kind of money on a bike they are going to flog. More intricate stuff, fork oil, brake fluid, suspension links, arer all items that are completely over-looked or stretched out WELL beyond service intervals, to the 'if it ent broke - dont touch' extreme.
BUT sort that kind of thing, you'll have a bike thats a LOT more rewarding to ride, and not so likely to give you som many 'moments' or leave you wishing, when you go for MOT.
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Current Bikes:'Honda VF1000F' ;'CB750F2N' ;'CB125TD ( 6 3 of em!)'; 'Montesa Cota 248'. Learner FAQ's:= 'U want to Ride a Motorbike! Where Do U start?'

[Chalky.]

[Chalky.]