what is the lightest 600 i could get for ?2000-?3000 ?

[colin1]

and how much does it weigh ?
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colin1 is officially faster than god

[Mr.Everready]

I don't think there will be a great deal in it. Why do you want the lightest ?
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[colin1]

i want the lightest cos i am used to a rs125 which is very light
i know the rs250 is light but i wanna know about the lightest 600's

i know a new r1 is about 166kg but without looking at all the different year and all different models, i dont know which 600 which is now £2000-£3000 is the lightest
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colin1 is officially faster than god

[G]

The r6 is probably the lightest in that price range.

However I really wouldn't worry, weight doesn't mean everything.

My TRX probably weighs about 30-40kg more than my r6, but doesn't feel heavier when sitting on the bike because it's a bit lower.

My KLR650 was a bit lighter than the r6, but felt a load heavier because it was really high up.

You do get used to the weight pretty quickly and they're all pretty similar, so I wouldn't worry.

[craigs23]

No offence - how much do you weigh? The 600s have been so close (on specs and paper) that loosing a couple of pounds (even if you don't need to) would probably make more of a difference to the power-to-weight ratio.

Weight is sometimes an advantage - gives stability when cornering/on windy days/etc.

My porky 400 has an overweight problem in relation to the latest crop of sportsbikes (180odd kgs dry), doesn't seem to be that much of a disadvantage in the twisties.

[colin1]

I could definately lose a few pounds, but im not thinking about low weight for good power to weight ratio. Im more thinking about manouevering it around without the engine or leaning it. With making it lean quick, my weight wd be an advantage as if i was lighetr it wd be harder to get it to change lean angle quickly.

My rs125 is very light so its easy to flick about in corners and move about with the engine off but its a bit skittish on motorways. If i wanted a motorway tourer ( which i might ) then i know a heavy bike wd be good. I might get a big engine scooter which although heavy, will carry the weight quite low.

I know i will find it easier to have a lighter bike even if its more powerful.
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[JonB]

I really do think you should go to a bike dealership and actually sit on a bike as you have brought up a broad range of different bikes in the past week, each with their own character etc.
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Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it?s worth.

[Villers]

I went from an RS125 to a CBR600 on a W plate. I think dry weight is about 130-140KG.

True, moving the bigger bike around is a pain in the arse. You have to be tactical, but thats true for all weighty bikes. For example you will only ever park against a kerb facing downhill once before you decide to never do it again.

I know what you say about flicking the RS over, its a pure joy, trouble is its not a challenge (or at least it wasnt for me) to throw it to the limit everywhere, you often find its too easy. My bigger bike will never handle like the little aprillia but its far more satisfying to ride fast.

Im about 11 stone and I have been knocked over left right and centre, I can pick the bike up on my own, support its balancing weight with one hand whilst checking the oil level and throw it about like a nutter. I also have to push it up a steep driveway backwards sometimes without too much fuss.

The sports 600 market is so competetive that you are only looking at a couple of KG's between manufacturers, mine has a centre stand (unlike the rest) and still manages a reputable PTW ratio. Its not that big a problem. If its the handling your after then noone here can help you as you need to find whats comfortable for you, Ive ridden a ZX6R and felt its weight was all up high and it had to be forced to lean over, whereas others have thought the opposite.

start thinking about what you would like to have and ride, rather than what you are restricted to because of the weight!
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RS125 > CBR6 > SV650S > ZX636R > GSX1300RZ Hayabusa > 06 RSVR Mille > SV1000S > Street Triple 765 RS

[colin1]

yeah i went to a dealership today and sat on several
the comfiest for me was an r1 by a long way (which surprised me), 2nd comfiest was a honda rebel

im only gonna know for real when i start test riding. thats gonna be fun in itself but until then i'll mbe posting random questions about scooters, cruisers and sportsbikes

ive only realised how good my rs125 is after becoming a bit disappointed with the er5 i use on lessons. Im now thinking a parallel twin 500 might not be right for me. At first i quite liked it. So that shows that even if i have an hour test ride I'm not gonna get the true measure of a bike as it has taken me several hours to find that Im not as keen on the er5 as i thought i was.

the rs125 is about 114kg dry weight and the cbr600 is about 170kg dry weight

i think the rs250 is about 141kg
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[Bendy]

Weight is an irrelevance, in my opinion.

In my experience, bikes are 'flickable' because they're physically small more than because they're light.

Take the sports 400 argument. An ageing sports 4 will weigh more than my newish 6, but it's smaller, you're sat nearer the ground, it's thinner, it feels more 'flickable'.

Strength should not be a factor in flickability - counter steering, good suspension and riding technique should be. My lard-ass cbr handles loads better after I tweaked the suspension... still weighs the thick end of 200kg when fuelled up.

Power to weight... sod that. They all make ridiculous bhp per ton and I defy you to notice the difference between one sports 600 and another on the roads.

As for moving it around with the engine off... unless you have to wheel it half a mile from your garage to the road every day, I wouldn't worry about that. They're heavy. You get used to it. You'll cope.


Buy the bike you like and quit number-crunching.

[G]

While initially a bike may feel heavy, you do get used to it.

Also flickability isn't everything, and you seen learn to make use of other good characteristics.
Also, using countersteering any decent (ie non cruiser) bike can be turned pretty damn quickly anyway. You can increase turn in speed by lowering the front of the bike or raising the rear.

[kaillum]

as has been said.. all of the sports 600's weigh about the same...

in that price range you'll be looking at '99/2000 models of the main sports 600s.. they'll all weigh the thick end of 200kg's wet.. but that weight will only be noticable when your pushing it around.. Your gonna have the same problem pushing a 185kg 05 CBR RR as you will a 200kg 99 CBR6 FX. The difference may seem like 15kg on paper.. but once sat on your drive it will be the same weight!

Dont worry about the weight of the bike when your pushing it around.. You will get used to it! Its all about tecnique.. which you'll pick up when you've got the bike you want..

Looking at the stats on paper is one thing.. Real life is totally different!

[craigs23]

Colinwall, seems a regular occurance that you're asking about different types of bikes all the time, how they react in certain situations, how they work for different people, what they're like to ride, etc.

I can recite bike reviews, random specifications, other people's opinions on said bikes 'til the sun goes down. But the best way to find out whether a bike is right for me is by going and having a look/ride on one. Only way to be certain and get a personal experience on what I think of a bike. (Plus it's always fun riding a different bike, especially those not owned by me).

Why not blag a few test rides from dealers/mates, go and have a look at some examples, try the saddle out for comfort, etc.

[colin1]

once i have past my test i plan to test ride 20 bikes b4 i buy one
i am compiling a short list of ones to test ride

in drawing up my list I am asking questions about scooters, sports bikes, cruisers etc

im not gonna test ride every bike on the market, but a few from each class so i have to make some decisions on what to try out based on spec sheets or what looks pretty

i suppose i could get a few test rides from private sellers who dont check i have a license, but id prefer to wait until i have passed

if i have tasted the delights of big bikes and then dont pass, it wont be so good
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[G]

While I do always encourage people to get testrides, sometimes you really begin to like stuff about a bike after using it for weeks or even months; or find you don't like stuff you initially thought you liked.

[colin1]

yes, i warmed to the er5 i use on bike lessons quite quickly, but after a few more hours, i dont like it as much. if anything it makes me appreciate my rs125 more

my main plan is to have two bikes, one for fun on country roads (such as rs125 or rs250) and one for low rev acceleration around town such as er5 or big scooter

but i might find that a sports 600 can do everything i want

ive got plenty of time as i dont plan to get anything until december when i get my 1 year no claims bonus

but then if i fall in love with something that doesnt fit the plan, the plan goes out the window

it was a bit spooky how comfy an r1 was for me compared with lots of other bikes in a bike showroom the other day

it seems that bikes that are designed to have a more comfy riding position are designed for ppl bigger than me so im more comfortable on bike other people find cramped

i have to admit to copying G a bit as i have been looking at a trx on ebay but i dont have the cash to have a race bike on top of the other two
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[G]

I got my trx as a 'get around bike' - the position is comfortable enough for me and it's got a suitably 'commutery' engine - a bit more top end than the smaller twins, but not massively so.

I'm generally a proponent of multiple bikes - then if anything does go wrong, you've still got a backup.

However, saying that, a sports 600 will pretty much do it all.
My ownly gripe with them is I go far too fast on them .

[colin1]

yeah im a bit conscious of the license situation too as 2 years is a long time to survive on 6 points.

killas situation has reminded me of this

i'm never very far above the speed limit on my rs125, but it wd be a bit of a hassle if i had to stick to it all the time.

some bikes wd tempt me to speed more which is why the big twin trx with low rev torque appeals and insurance for me wd be about the same as a gpz500

one funny thing from the bike shop is that i found the riding position on a sl1000 falco more extreme than the r1 as it was a longer stretch to the bars for me
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[Piccie]

Looked at the SV650S yet? Dont know if you would but i like mine. Weight was an issue for me, being a girl, but its fine for me.
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[Vespa]

.

[G]

Very similar to the SV, may have a slightly lower seat height.

Not really got any more go than a ER5 though I suspect.

I believe the cheapest ones are cheaper than that new though - I think they actually compare to the SV which can be got for under £4k new.

I don't believe either bike is that fast turning as standard however.

[MC19]

Well i ride my own cbr 250 everywhere and i have had a couple of rides on a kawasaki zx7r and the fact is 250cc or 750cc it's easy to speed on a motorbike no matter what the bike or power. It's all about self control and how much you can restrain your self.

[AcIdBuRnZ]

Weight doesn't really matter once the bike gets aove 10mph anyways

My ZZR and my old ER-5 weighed roughly the same, but the ZZR feels lighter (once moving) because of the sportier position and steaper rake.

Remember it is the rake (angle of the forks) that make a bike steer quickly - steep rake will give quick handling, compared to naked bikes or cruiser types.

--
Mark
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Past: Honda NSR125R >> Kawasaki ER-5a2 >> Kawasaki ZZR-600e1 >> Suzuki GSXR-750Y >> Honda VTR 1000 Firestorm
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