Hmm...an ER 6F?

[Dave70]

I'm currently (finally) preparing to do my test, UK stylee this time.

Now my preferred type of bikes have always been sports bikes. More down to looks than anything else really and apart from my now deceased R125, the only other bike I've ever ridden was a CB 500 which, didn't seem to have much, if any, more torque than the R125 and I felt a bit disappointed by it to be honest.

Anyway, I was planning on purchasing a new GXSR 600 in the coming weeks but, today I had a ride on an ER 6n and quite frankly, it went like shit off a shovel, compared to anything else I've ridden. It was certainly a case of at the slightest twist of the throttle when setting off.

Spent a couple of hours on it riding various roads ( 20, 30, 40 mph up to NSL) and found it very easy to ride/handle and very comfortable.

I really quite liked it tbh and was wondering if anyone here has had much experience with them and if they think it'd be a wise choice for me, given what I'll be using it for? Not interested in the "Oh noes, don't buy a new bike" opinion, as I'm aware of the pros and cons of this and will be buying new.

So, I'll be using this bike as a commuter all year round and it'll be kept outside (under a cover). Is the build quality good enough on these bikes to last without turning into a rust bucket before too long, as I'll be keeping it for a few years to come and will be using ACF 50 throughout winter.

I also want to have some fun on it on my days off. Am l likely to get bored of the 70bhp in six months time?

I also intend to do a bit of touring, both UK and abroad. How suitable is it for this?

Ps. I'll be going for the faired version btw.

Any helpful input appreciated.
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There ain't no devil, there's just god when he's drunk.

2012: R125 killed by white van. 2016 R125 killed by 30,000 miles of redline. Current: 2016 Kawasaki ER6f.

[stinkwheel]

There are far worse bikes you could have for your first bike.

A capable all-rounder with certain features more commonly found on race-derived bikes than sports commuters. If you're bored with it, you're riding it wrong.

On that note. Assuming it was a CB500 and not a CB500R, there was either something wrong with it, it was restricted or you weren't revving it hard enough. It ought to feel like a suicide machine if all you've ridden before is a 125. I find the power delivery a tad flat but I'm comparing it to a bike with nearly double the horsepower.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[RhynoCZ]

Well, Stevo says an ER6 motor is effectively a ZX12R engine over bored and sawn in half, so I'd go with the 1/2 ZX12R, if that's what suits you now. You are not getting married here, you may sell the ER6 whenever you please and buy something else.
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'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

[stevo as b4]

Well it ain't a vectra 1.6 that's for sure!

I still don't get how your one shot at trying to get a usable daily car was based on DTM race fantasies and that you'd feel some bond to them with a worn out 190E either but hey!

I drive an old Rover 220 coupe, and it's a million miles away from feeling like a rover turbo challenge cup car, despite being the same shape and sharing some parts, but I never had highly unrealistic expectations I guess!

[Pigeon]

I would have bought one but they were out my price range.

Parallel twin, but a 270 crank. So ease of maintenance, but sounds a bit a little like a v-twin.

50-60mpg is doable.

Great commuter, easy to tour on. Loads of luggage options.

Early ones suffer cracked headers + frame mounts (I think). But other than that, reliable. Been around for what, 8/9 years now.
Older ones were a bit vibey I think.

Bit of poke for UK roads.

Not the best build, but ACF-50 and you'll be fine.

They race them at the IoM TT, so they can't be that shabby.


Will you get bored of 70bhp in 6 months. Probably. It largely depends on your personality I guess. I reckon any bike has it's strengths and it's whether you appreciate them or not. They all have something to offer.

My 65bhp SV is not a brilliant bike. It's pretty slow. But actually I really enjoy riding it on it's limit (or more accurately my limit) most of the time. It feels great, only let down by terrible suspension and another 20bhp would be nice


You mentioned GSX-R600. Then talked about touring. If you are 5ft 5" then it could work. If you're anywhere near 6ft then you might find you'd rather cut your limbs off than travel another 100 miles.


Buy an all-rounder, just accept it won't excel at anything. Buy a tourer and wallow on the b-roads in fear of the next bend. Buy a supersport bike and revel in it's excitement and track day awesomeness and be glad it will only do 100 miles between fill-ups

[garth]

I'm 6'2 and have done 700 miles on a gsxr600 in one day, two up.

I think its a case of jumping onto something that has much more power than you are used to and immediately loving it.

That aside, it's not a bad choice for a first bike.
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You ain't a has been if you never was

[Jmh600]

My first bike was an er6-f, and it was fantastic!

Comfy for my 6ft3 frame, plenty fast enough and once chucked a can on it, made a great noise! Never had an issue with it, despite it being an old one......

It got replaced by a new cbr500r, and whilst the cbr looked better, it just didn't have the guts the er6 did.

My recommendation is it buy one a few years older, because you will drop it....... Get some cheap crash bobbins and use it to gain experience

Joe
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Jmhmotorcycles

[DrSnoosnoo]

I learned on an ER6f, I'm sure it was the f.

I went from an ER5, which I'd previously thought was a rocket from the gn125 I did the CBT on.

The ER6 felt much smoother than an ER5 and felt EVEN FASTER. I really enjoyed spending two days on it.

I don't think you'd get bored of the 70 hp because you wouldn't be using it all the time. I sometimes think I'm bored of my ZZR but on the next commute I use more than 1/2 throttle and remember that it's definitely fast enough, this morning for example, I was a supple leopard doing everybody on the A roads. Hello Tangent.

I've seen a good few of them out on the road and as with anything, if you're leaving it outside, if you look after it, it'll be fine IMO. Just do understand it won't be a 150 mph bike. And, bluntly, it'll be faster and more comfortable than the R125
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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

[grr666]

[Rogerborg]

[Silver_Fox]

I'm due the France/Belgium bike tour on here on a no torque, rev-happy CBR600F and tbh I'm dreading it
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CBR600 F3 FV
CG125

[Rogerborg]

Might as well just take a pushbike.
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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[marlc0]

I've had my 10 plate ER6f a few years now, still not bored of it. It's my first bike from passing my test.

Build quality is okayish. A few bolts have rusted on mine, but I don't take great care of it, and it lives in the garage.

My feet don't go on the pegs like how kawasaki designed, so my boots have rubbed the paint off the frame.

One thing that will break is the exhaust. It's happened on mine, and a few other ER6's i know of, and is a common fault with kawasaki's the world over. The weld where the pipes go into the back box will go. when it does, akrapovik make a good set of pipes, and i've got an arrow can fitted to it, take the baffle out for extra fun =)

And, I think the reg/rec has just gone, but i don't know how common a fault that is.

Other than that, it's been an A+ bike for me, handles going twos up with ease, and the gf has no problem falling asleep on the back, so it must be pillion friendly. And if you do chuck it down the road, there are loads of spares available.
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2010 Kawasaki ER6-f - Given to the Mrs.
2016 Triumph Tiger 800

[techathy]

[Dave70]

Some very helpful replies. Thanks guys

The ER 6f is currently top of my list partly because I really enjoyed the few hours I'd spent riding it. I found it really comfortable and once I'd got used to the torque it really put a big grin on my face. It handled very well in the twisties too.

Of course there could very well be other bikes I'd like just as much, if not more but, being new to big bikes, coupled with the fact that I need transport ASAP, I'm not going to be able to test ride very many. ( I don't think dealers are too fond of giving test rides to new licence holders).

My questions on build quality and the possibility of getting bored with 70bhp seem to have been answered, so thanks again for all your helpful input.
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There ain't no devil, there's just god when he's drunk.

2012: R125 killed by white van. 2016 R125 killed by 30,000 miles of redline. Current: 2016 Kawasaki ER6f.

[Pigeon]

[RichardCraniu...]

Been riding mine for around a year. It's fun on twisty roads, has ample umph on the motorway. I think they sound a bit pants but that's my fault for leaving the stock can on.

I've had no issues with mine at all in the 7000 miles it's done. It's been an absolutely brilliant first bike

Alas, I am slowly getting bored with it, but only because the people I ride with have double the horsepower, so anything that isn't full of twisties I'm left standing.

Buy mine
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ZX6R 636

[Dave70]

[stinkwheel]

[Ed Case]

I've got a '07 ER6F, bought it when it was 20 months old off a bloke who buys bikes for the top price, gets fed up with them and then takes what he can get for them, cost me £2500 with 4000 miles on it looking showroom fresh. In a REAL world it's as fast and as useful as anyone needs except for town-square bull-shitters with an ego problem. Mine sails past 100 easily and will cruise at anything up to that, and with the o/e exhaust on it nobody takes a scrap of notice, you can 'get away with murder' on them.If of course you want a "Oh he's got one of those eh ? bikes buy any super-dooper litre-plus bike you fancy but just look out for the scruffy twat with an old 350 LC/YPVS Yamaha two-stroke who knows how to ride, he'll have you for breakfast. It's not the bike.....it's the rider.

[dydey90]

The only gripe I had with mine was that if you're doing any distance, it will get uncomfortable very quickly.
I'd say range is medium, 150 miles if you're gentle, less than 100 if not. I worked out that it was returning just over 60mpg when going at a steady 70mph down the motorway and I'm not exactly a light passenger.
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This post is probably not serious and shouldn't be taken literally.
Past: CBR125,ER6f NINJA 650, ZZR600 Current: VFR750

[Dave70]

[grr666]

When is your test Dave?
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Currently enjoying products from Ford, Mazda and Yamaha
Ste wrote: Avatars are fine, it's signatures that need turning off.

[Dave70]

[techathy]