How fast is my bike by todays standards?

[Bubbs]

It's a 97 Ninja.

Correct me if i'm wrong but i'm under the impression (or id like to think) that the Ninja was in the same category as the R6/GSXR's etc. of the same year.

But how much of a difference is there with new bikes these days?

For me the bike hits the redline pretty quick and screams like a superbike when I am hooning it.

Just curious really - would I notice a huge difference if I jumped on a 2014 ZX6R?
____________________
Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.

[MarJay]

Yes you'd notice the difference. Mainly in how tight a new bike is having new bearings, hoses, fluid etc. However, you'll also notice the size difference and perhaps a small power difference. I expect you'll notice quicker handling and there is bound to be a difference in stability.
____________________
British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[1cyl]

Why not get a test ride OP, and tell us what you think.

A new sword is usually going to be sharper than an old one...

...Unless its a newish CBR250, or the like.
____________________
Chase my Witch up, Catch my Snitch up.
The SMC | The Pit | Stable

[Bubbs]

[fatjames]

Slightly off topic. When you get a test ride, can you have it for a couple of days? I think I remember adverts about something like that with cars.

[garth]

Yes you'd notice quite a large difference.

A F3 ZX6R is quite a way behind a gen 1 R6, let alone a 2014 equivalent with far better suspension, radial brakes, 20kgs less, 20bhp more etc.

[andys675]

you don't need a 2014 zx6r to experience a big jump

the 2006 636cc model was fooking quick, quickest of the 636's, after this they went back down to 600cc and it took years to get them as fast as the 636
____________________
Some people feel the rain, others just get wet.

[Captain Caveman]

Jumped from two bikes from 1997 to a 2010 GSX-R not just the power but a world of difference in terms of handling and ride-ability.
____________________
Mazda Bongo 2.5 V6 = MPG 22 0-60 Fast for a camper van...
Impreza - somewhere between the two.....
R1 = MPG-who cares 0-100 Slightly faster......

[fozzym]

FYI only the chavs and yanks refer to them as ninja's.

[G]

As above, the F model you'd be talking Thundercat not R6.
The R6 was a step ahead of the G/J/A in sportyness, however I felt my J was very close to the R6 in most situations - certainly on the road, but the riding position was a bit more relaxed.
Kawsaki and Honda caught up to the compact Yamaha with the B1H and RR models respectively.
So yes, I'd consider it a couple of generations off - may well be more akin so a higher spec 'street' bike about now.

The newer supersports bikes should get to the redline similarly quickly in more gears, while the F will be slowing down a bit.
I find they've also improved the 'feel' as far as making it easy to ride for most bikes - so they absorb bumps etc better and make it *feel* like you're going 15mph slower, say, with everything just working a bit better.

[Bubbs]

[Conzar]

[Aff]

[Conzar]

Honda Davidson
____________________
Current ride: ZX6R 636 ------- Previous:KTM EXC 450 Supermoto --- ZX6R B1H --Hornet 600--CBR 600--SV650
11:05:35 Rob Fzs: i just wanna own an rd350 valve before they send us to war with durkadurkastan

[RhynoCZ]

[Conzar]

[stevo as b4]

The newer bikes just look bigger and fatter and less aesthetically pleasing to my grumpy eyes!

The ZX6R F in factory fresh condition, or at least a well sorted and fettled one with the consumables and chassis bearings in good order should still feel like a pretty good ride IMO!

I also like 1990's Carb fed fuelling, and I don't know how good modern ECU controlled EFI bikes are, but late 90's and early 2000's stuff was often considered snatchy, abrupt and a bit on/off or hesitant around small throttle openings.

I would expect modern EFI to be shit hot and very very well executed, although even if it wasn't it would be there for emissions reasons. The current emissions regs cannot do bikes any favours though in terms of drivability, but I'd also expect that the days of taking off a catalytic converter to add mass's of bhp to be over too!

[fozzym]

[MarJay]

You ride a Japanese male assassin?

ZX6R sounds better.
____________________
British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[johnsmith222]

[andys675]

the naming thing was an american marketing tool

the original bulbous zx10 from 1990 had "tomcat" decals in the US

and the gpx600 and gpx750 were the "warbird"
____________________
Some people feel the rain, others just get wet.

[RhynoCZ]

[fozzym]

In biking circles you only really need state zx6 or zx10 ect, folks know exactly what you mean.

I've often caught out the big mouth in the pub talking about his "blade" as if he knows everything about everything......asked what I ride....zx6......silence.......glazed look....yerrr yeah well nice mate.....walks off!!

[G]

Ah, but for zx10 especially, some may think you're talking about the *old* zx10, which is a massively different proposition to a 2014 one.

And while there's less difference between the F ZX6 and whatever the 2014 one is, still pretty different.

[RhynoCZ]

ZX10, the beast from the 80's, if only I could get one in decent condition.
____________________
'87 Honda XBR 500, '96 Kawasaki ZX7R P1, '90 Honda CB-1, '88 Kawasaki GPz550, MZ 150 ETZ
'95 Mercedes-Benz w202 C200 CGI, '98 Mercedes-Benz w210 E200 Kompressor