ZZR 600 vs GPZ 500 vs GSF 600

[DrSnoosnoo]

Hi all,

So I'm due to pass my Mod2 this week (fingers crossed). I've got £1500 MAX to buy a bike with and after window licking a hell of a lot recently I've seen these three bikes which tickle my fancy. The only thing is, how do I choose?

I'd like your personal opinions to try and help me decide. PLEASE.

Thanks BCFers

Sam
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I'm Sam; Northern, Ginger, Lover
Did have: '95 ZZR600 '83 CG125 '97 ZZR1100 '15 Hypermotard 821 SP Do Have: '10 ZX10R

[Kickstart]

Hi

We have had all 3.

ZZR is the fastest, by a substantial margin. Bit of a pig to work on. Fairly low seat. Finish is pretty good (certainly compared to the other 2). Front brakes are a pain.

GPZ500 has a lower seat height, worse build quality and is better on fuel. Feels lighter. Decent size fuel tank. Poor brakes..

600 Bandit is probably the heaviest. Reasonable size tank. Higher seat than the other 2. Quicker than the GPZ but slower than the ZZR. About the same build quality as the GPZ.

The ZZR is probably the least suitable for a first large bike. Easily damaged fairing (and easily damaged bits of frame sticking out), and while quick it isn't that flexible (especially if it has a 4>1 exhaust, rather than the quick rot standard 4>2).

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[DrSnoosnoo]

Thanks alot for your opinions. I'm like the metaphorical child in a shop selling sweets!

Sam
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I'm Sam; Northern, Ginger, Lover
Did have: '95 ZZR600 '83 CG125 '97 ZZR1100 '15 Hypermotard 821 SP Do Have: '10 ZX10R

[Stonefly]

ZZR every time! Its got a bomb-proof engine, Its alarmingly fast for its age and it has very forgiving handling if its your first big bike.
As Kickstart says, the front brakes can be shite, so neglect is NOT an option. They need a real good clean at least every 6 months. The finish a pretty good if you keep it clean. They can be a pain to work on due to the fairings needing to be removed for some jobs. Basic service work is pretty easy to do once you have done it a couple of times - plugs, oil, air and oil filters. Go for an E model rather than the earlier D models. The E models are much more refined. I use mine for long distance touring, commuting to work, and hooning round country lanes - it takes it all in its stride. Fuel economy is great when going gently, but spank it and you can watch the fuel gauge drop pretty quickly. A big plus is that ZZR's can be picked up quite cheaply for very decent examples!
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Current......Kawasaki ZZR1200 C2H and Kawasaki ZZR600 E7
Previous....Yamaha FS1E, Honda SS50, Suzuki AP50, BSA Bantam D14, Honda CD175, Honda CB250N, Kawasaki Z250A3, Yamaha RD250E, Kawasaki Z400, Kawasaki Z500, Kawasaki GPz550, Honda NTV600, Kawasaki GT750, Kawasaki Z1000R, Kawasaki GPX250

[weasley]

What, no YZF600R Thundercat...?! Take a look.
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Yamaha XJ600 | Yamaha YZF600R Thundercat | KTM 990 SMT | BMW F900XR TE

[Quornholio]

Loved my Bandit.

[wolfiegsy]

if it was me i wouldnt touch the zzr but feel free to look up second gear fault on google mine went twice in a year expensive job to replace if you dont know how You can get a gsxr 600 srad for that price
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He who lives on a small island has to pay extra postage and wait days for delivery

[Quornholio]

[wolfiegsy]

[Benson_JV]

[jjdugen]

GPZ 500's are a bit on the rough and ready side. Generally owned by first 'big' bikers so will come with all the woes that a newbie inflicts. They like to chew pistons at the higher mileages. An easy if fiddly job to replace but not something you would really be wanting to do. Fast for what they are, but really basic in every department. Ugly as sin, the ER models at least look OK but with the same caveats.
Bandit 600's...... Easy to service, so it might have actually been done. Pogo suspension, really poor finish (But that gives you the excuse to customise it any way you want). A good engine, but it is lacking in power. Very easy to ride as long as you can touch the ground, quite a high saddle. With crash bars fitted they are robust enough to learn your trade on and you will probably get your money back when moving on. These can be made to look very smart, or blinged to death, your choice.
ZZR600. As the above comments as regards servicing, a royal pain to do so might have been delayed or just not done. Easy enough to spot a nail, they should be reasonably quiet. By far the best 'bang for buck' of your bunch, VERY fast,, certainly compared to the others (including CBR's T'cats etc). The second gear 'problem' can rear its head, but google T'cat CBR second gear problems and.. guess what? They have 'em too. A test ride wil prove the point. At least the ZZR can be repaired relatively easiy.
Well apointed, comfortable, dated in looks but that fairing keeps you out of the wind blast and does a damn good job of keeping you warm and dry. Rear shocks are soft, and get softer with a bit of age, but easy to upgrade cheaply. They are appreciating in value too, so you might even make a proffit on one of these.
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The CBR900RR has been sold. Aprilia Falco worms its way into my heart.
Try Soi 23 on Amazon for a good read.... Self promotion? Moi?

[Sako]

my money would be on the ZZR. cracking bikes, and quick enough to keep up with modern bikes in the right hands.

[Rogerborg]

Full A, or A<=25kW?

[Snorty]

Never really found the brakes to be lacking on the GPZ 500.

The front brake is good at least, only single disc as well.
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Current: Yamaha FZ1 '07 | GSXR 750 SRAD

Past: CB125TDC | TZR125 | GPZ500 | CBR600F3 | ZX9-R | GSXR1000 K4

[temeluchus]

[wolfiegsy]

[DrSnoosnoo]

Thanks guys! The reason I've gone down to them weather I like the look of them and the insurance for each is much lower than for cbr f, t'cat etc.

I've read about he 2ND gear problem of zzrs too.

It's giving me a lot to think about! Im 6 ft 2 so I don't think I should have a problem being able to get onto any of them.

Was on an er-6n today at the DAS school, really like that bike! Couldn't afford one though
____________________
I'm Sam; Northern, Ginger, Lover
Did have: '95 ZZR600 '83 CG125 '97 ZZR1100 '15 Hypermotard 821 SP Do Have: '10 ZX10R

[Rogerborg]

[temeluchus]

[Usher4566]

Loved my zzr when I had it no faults .why not. Er500 or gs 500 or xj600 very cheap insurance very forgiven
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New cd200 benly owner

[stevo as b4]

I'd choose a Thundercat or a ZX6R G-series personally for your budget, but im not looking at the insurance quotes when i say that!

I'd have a well sorted ZZR6, but i've seen so many rotton, badly maintained poorly looked after ones that it kind of makes me want to keep away from them. Good VFM and does most things very well. Fast motor as well, and will excite so much more than a CBR600 of the same age. Having said that an older CBR600 is a great package, and i use to hate the blandness of Honda's, but a nice early 90's CBR6 in Bennetton colours would suit me well enough and be a nice bike! (that must mean im getting older/sensible maybe?)

The Bandit is cheap and basic and very budget, but the Build quality is better than some Kawasaki's or Yamaha's of the era, so it's far from a bad bike. I think they are a bit old hat these days and i wouln't get too excited over a Bandit personally. The great plus points they have is that being naked they are much easier to work on and service. They use more budget chassis componentry than a ZZR too, so service parts are cheaper, brakes easier to re-build etc etc.

The second great plus point is that the Bandit is all re-cycled and well used and proven technology and has a strong motor that rarely needs much doing or causes any grief.

If you want the opposite of that as a new biker, then buy a GSXR600 SRAD. I wouln't have one of those if it was given to me personally, i think they are the worst sports 600 you can own!

As for the GPZ500, i quite like them and yes they are dated looks wise, but still a cracking bike for what they are. The 60bhp engine really deliver's IMO and i had a mate who had one as a first big bike(he's only 5'7) but he loved it and was very quick on it too! Always kept up with me on my ZX6R and he said he saw 130mph out of it a few times, which i can believe!

Just glad he never had my ZX6 and me the GPZ, as i'd have never seen him on a ride out! He's away from bikes now with a young family, but he said the GPZ was his best bike and he wants another one when he gets the chance.

Out of contrast my ZX6R was a brilliant bike and i really loved every min of riding it, but i wouldn't go for another one now, not unless you said i had to have an SRAD600 otherwise!

[Gazza M]

i have a GPZ - it's a great bike, forgiving if you're being a cock but plenty of oomph up the rev range.

i'm 6' 2" as well, fits me OK and is fairly comfortable over distance.
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Past: '07 YBR125, '00 GPZ500S, '99 ZRX1100, '98 CBR600 track bike, '97 ZX9R
Present: '05 R6 track bike, 140 pit bike

[DrSnoosnoo]

All these comments are helping. Thanks everyone.

I looked at a zx6-r. Can easily afford one but the insurance is 1000 +.

Far far too expensive!
____________________
I'm Sam; Northern, Ginger, Lover
Did have: '95 ZZR600 '83 CG125 '97 ZZR1100 '15 Hypermotard 821 SP Do Have: '10 ZX10R

[Gazza M]

insurance for the gpz is £190 TPFT - i'm 20 and 1 years NCB...
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Past: '07 YBR125, '00 GPZ500S, '99 ZRX1100, '98 CBR600 track bike, '97 ZX9R
Present: '05 R6 track bike, 140 pit bike

[Kickstart]