Kwak ZX-6R or Honda CBR600F

[jayguevara]

Hi guys, this is my first post here, so a big hello to all! And also my introduction to biking!

I passed my bike test last week (thank god its done before the new test comes in!) and am now looking for a bike to buy.

I've come down to 2 choices the ZX-6R and the CBR 600F. I am looking at buying 2002 or 2003 models as these tend to have cheaper insurance.

Which bike do you think is better for a) reliability b) availability of spare parts and c) maintenance.

The reason I am asking this is because I am moving to Kenya in 3-4 months time and will be taking my bike with me. I do know that there is no kwak dealership there and honda in kenya only deal with cars, so any maintenance would have to carried out by myself.

Also, the roads in Kenya are not the best, so do you think this would be a disadvantage for the kwak as it has stiffer suspension? Also a stiffer suspension + bad roads = more problems...amd I right in believing this?

The kwak is cheaper than the honda but I don't want to be penny wise and pound foolish, and have to fork out lots of money later.

I've managed to find an 03 ZX636 B1H which has done 1500 miles and looks pretty good, the price for that is £3000, do you think thats a good price?

Any help you guys have would be greatly appreciated! Cheers!

[G]

The B1H should really be compared to the CBR-RR. The ZX6 J and A models are pretty similar to the CBR-F.
It depends on your intended use, but I think I'd go for a cheaper softer bike (so older ZX6 or F model CBR). From those I'd choose the ZX6 because it's cheaper generally and a little bit sportier.
For other aspects, I'd say they are fairly similar, though more people tend to look after the Hondas, so it's easier to find one in good nick. However this also means that even the bad ones cost more.

[mad4it028]

hi
having owned both the cbr and currently a zx6r and also spent 2 years in kenya as a child dad army ect ide say both bikes are wrong for kenya and would personaly be looking more towards africa twin trumph tiger things like that
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always looking to buy bikes crashed ,unfinished projects,none runners pm me
currently riding kawasaki z1000 only bike ive ever loved

[G]

Yea, considering saying, were I choosing a bike I'd actually go for a TE610 (not far off the power of an Africa Twin with two thirds of the weight!). Were it me, I'd go for an enduro model if you could find one, then get some supermoto wheels if you like the road stuff.
I'd then proceed to only use the worst roads and the rest of the time go exploring .

[jayguevara]

Cheers for the advice guys.

Kenyan road have come a long way since I left Kenya in 1999. I was back there in december last year and the roads were in pretty good condition. The only thing was bumps here and there and a slightly uneven road surface, but overall they are pretty good.

I don't really like the shape and style of enduro or off road bikes. I think that the ZX-6R B1H or CBR 600RR would both be ok on kenyan roads as long as you don't go off-road (which I dont intend to).

Also, Kenyan law prohibits the importation of vehicles older than 7 yrs so I have to go for something newer than 2002.

What do you guys think of the price of the ZX6R, as mentioned above?
Cheers again guys.

[G]

I wouldn't pay that much for a B1H, but if it's in good nick - ie hasn't suffered from the age, despite the low miles, it's probably 'ok'.

And as I often go on about - see Nick Sanders and taking an R1 around the world. If you can handle the bumps with that riding position, it shouldn't be a problem.

[Itchy]

[G]

I keep forgetting to mention it's the 2006+ models my info relates to.
Think the older ones are ok as well, but a grey area for me.

[Bike_craze1]

Kawasaki I reckon.
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Yamaha R125 - Cagiva Mito 125 - Honda CBR 600
CBT passed: 22/07/08 Bike Theory passed: 28/03/09
Bike Test passed: 15/04/09

[james169]

I don't really like the shape and style of enduro or off road bikes. I think that the ZX-6R B1H or CBR 600RR would both be ok on kenyan roads as long as you don't go off-road (which I dont intend to).

[Rowey]

[rac3r]

You say you just passed your test so is it your first bike?
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Bikes : 2006 CBR125R - 2004 Monster 620ie - 2004 ZX-6R B1H - 2005 Monster S2R 800 - 2011 Street Triple - 2009 Streetfighter 1098 - 2014 ZX-6R 636

[jayguevara]

[Mr.Everready]

Have a look on Biketrader https://www.autotrader.co.uk/BIKES/selling/selling_a_bike.jsp Search for the bikes and see what price they are going for.

£3k for a 1500 mile B1H is a decent price assuming it is genuine.
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the undemocratically unelected mod of the Scottish section

[Acemastr]

just throwing this out there....

Does Kenya have UK equivalent RON petrol? if it's lower the bike is going to run like crap.
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2017 KTM 350 XC-F - 2014 Yamaha R6 - 2005 Yamaha YZ125
2016 Toyota Tacoma Limited

[Noxious89123]