Open Forum - which bike?

KingKong · Crazy Courier Joined: 03 Sep 2011 Karma :

I know, I know - I contradict myself. I have come to understand my flaws and fallibilities a lot more lately. Budgetary restrictions have ruled out my purchase of a C1H 636 - my insurance is still sky high from the theft claim I made two years ago! And the selling price is over my budget. I am tired of waiting for more money to go and buy a bike ( I suck at saving), it has been too long and the sunny days are coming back. I don't want to wait any more.

Budget - £3000 including insurance cover, which is between £600 and £800.

I will use the bike on the road, and for general hooligan antics when safe to do so. Hard acceleration is more important to me than top speed. Torque. Mmm mmm mmm.

Be that as it may, I've shortlisted to the following three models, and am very interested in your opinions as to which is best suited for my needs/wants:

1) ZX7R - cheap enough to buy used, leaving me with some cash to pay the insurance.

Just not sure about it as it's heavy - 203kg - and I'm not 'Mr Big'. MCN reviews it as terrible build quality. Conversely, I love the front - headlights and air vents... Apparently isn't slow either.

2) 1997(ish) ZX6R - piss cheap to buy and insure.

MCN reviews it better build quality than the ZX7R, but implicitly trashes its performance.... against the SRAD Gixxer. However, they still have very quick 1/4mile stats...

3) CBR600FS (the prelude to the 'RR'). Cheap (not piss cheap) to buy, kind on insurance. It's a Honda, so is reputed to go for ever. Seems pretty quick, I test rode a standard CBR600F, not the 'FS', it was smooth and quick, though not as aggressive as the 636 - but I admit, nothing much will be like the 636 so I had better deal with it Mr. Green

N.B. I could have tried for the B1H 636 - but I simply cannot get over how I dislike its design. Even though it's cheaper to buy, I just don't like it. My bad, I know.

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Kwak 636 (2005)

Past - 2016 Ninja 300 (dark grey); K4 GSXR 600 (sexy yellow); 2002 CBR600FS; 2004 GSXR 1000; 2006 Kwak 636; 2005 Yamaha XVS 1100 Dragstar (facepalm); 2005 Kwak 636; 2011 Yamaha R125.

unluckyluke · Nova Slayer Joined: 01 Jul 2013 Karma :

Buy a ZX6r J1, for less than £1500 you'll get a nice bike that does everything well and doesn't look that dated. They handle well and aren't exactly slow and if you get a bad one there's plenty of spares/people breaking them.

clancy · World Chat Champion Joined: 11 Apr 2009 Karma :

K3 gsxr 750

/thread
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KLX 300r

lihp · World Chat Champion Joined: 22 Sep 2010 Karma :

A new cbf125 for that price with £400 left over for some gear Thumbs Up

Wafer_Thin_Ham · Super Spammer Joined: 18 Nov 2005 Karma :

919 Fireblade. Thumbs Up

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My Flickr

qarka · Spanner Monkey Joined: 10 Mar 2009 Karma :

ZX7R!

Yes, it's heavy. But as soon as you get going the weight vanishes, and it transforms into a sweet handling missile. Not that I can compare it to any of the other bikes in your list, or even any other sportsbike. But it's confidence inspiring, faster than you'll ever need to go on the road, and JUST SO FUCKING SEXY!

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8345/8226959789_f65f9bc15d_h.jpg

Drooling

Not to mention they are pretty damn cheap now for what is still an amazing bike.
E.G.

All IMO of course. But I don't plan on selling mine anytime soon.
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P. · Red Rocket Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Karma :

So 2200. That is a lot of money. That is easy 600 sports ~2003 and under.

m3-paul · Spanner Monkey Joined: 03 Feb 2009 Karma :

KingKong · Crazy Courier Joined: 03 Sep 2011 Karma :

KingKong · Crazy Courier Joined: 03 Sep 2011 Karma :

Rogerborg · nimbA Joined: 26 Oct 2010 Karma :

KingKong · Crazy Courier Joined: 03 Sep 2011 Karma :

clancy · World Chat Champion Joined: 11 Apr 2009 Karma :

My post is redundant ? Interesting

My suggestion Fits your budget and all of your needs and is an amazing bike
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KLX 300r

qarka · Spanner Monkey Joined: 10 Mar 2009 Karma :

KingKong · Crazy Courier Joined: 03 Sep 2011 Karma :

clancy · World Chat Champion Joined: 11 Apr 2009 Karma :

Fair enough

If your dead set on those 3 then I would purely base your decision on the best condition bike you can find for the money you want to spend

But, the zx7r is the coolest of the 3 Wink

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KLX 300r

stevo as b4 · World Chat Champion Joined: 17 Jul 2003 Karma :

I would really like to see this business of an SRAD 600 lapping 2-3seconds a lap quicker than a well set up but std ZX6R F-series TBH! I don't think there's any more engine in the Suzuki, and all the ZX6R's have been good handling bikes I would say!