2006 zx-6R OR 2005 zx-10R????

My first time posting thought i would try to ask a reasonable intelligent question???  I can get a 2006 zx-6R for $11,500 or a 2005 zx-10R for maybe a little less then $11000 which should i *** I have been riding a EX 500 Ninja for this past summer and am ready for more bike.  There is not a massive power between these 2 bikes so what do u guys think????  

Hmmm... I think there's a pretty massive power difference, especially if you're coming off an EX500.

AT  

I voted for the 6R.  That is a great step up from your EX500.  

Where did you hear that there isn't a massive power difference between the 6R and 10R?  Who ever told you that is lying.  Big time.  Get a magazine or 2....  There is close to 50 hp difference.  For a car, 50 hp is no big deal.  But for a 435 lb bike, 50 hp is huge.  And there is about a 50 hp difference between your EX500 and a 6R.  And all 3 weigh with in 10 lbs of each other....  Get the 6R, or Triumphs new 675...  

It is your money, but I'd ride the 6R for a Summer or two before stepping up to a liter bike.  You should also check on insurance.  That might be a deal breaker.  Also check out the 675.  That should be a great middle weight sport bike.  I am really looking forward to seeing comparrisons with it included.  They may have built something that can hang with the best of Japan.


Chris  

Hey if you consider the horsepower jump from an ex500 (55-60) to a 636 (120ish), an ZX-10R (165) is not that much further a leap and it does cost less.  I mean what difference does it make wether i double or triple my current power if i go for the 1000 i dont have to buy a new bike ever again.  And that would be nice.  

Actually, it is a very large leap.  It's like saying that you have a 100hp car right now, a 6R would be like 200hp, and the 10R would be 300hp.  

The 10R is a WHOLE lot of bike to handle.  Tons of power (it'll do 3rd gear power wheelies all day long), kinda twitchy with the throttle response, and it's not exactly the most stable bike out there.  Read: you better have a lot of experience if you even think about going past half throttle on that thing.  If you want to step up to a liter bike RIGHT NOW, I'd probably go 1000RR.  

The other question is, what do you want to use the bike for?  The 6R already traps around 130 in the quarter which is as fast as the fastest production cars made which is to say, it's damn fast.  If you care about handling at all, stick to the 6R.

Well, that's my opinion!  

i voted for the 6R b'coz i think you're not ready for the 10R yet, obviously you're still very young for saying there isn't a lot of power difference between a 6R & a 10R & it has been answered already. the 6R & 10R doesn't suffer fools very lightly any stupid mistake on both bikes can cost you your life.

a bigger bike doesn't make you a bigger (or better) man it's the skills that make you a better man regardless of what size bike you got. compared to the EX500 the 6R is a beast but the 10R is a monster even in the hands of a professional.  

tiger if you go from the EX500 to the ZX10R without a stop in between like with the 636 it is going to be about like a single engine cessna pilot upgrading staight to a boeing 747 without anything in between which would be down right scary you have gone from crawling to walking but you are not reaty to run yet and that 636 is going to be plenty of bike for you but that liter bike could kill you  

Everyone else has summed up the difference quite well. The 10 is A LOT of bike to handle! I've been riding street for 15 years, I've onwed every level of sportbike. From a 125 2 stroke to a liter bike...my current (and happiest) choice is my '04 ZX-6R.

BTW, the first thing you need to do is find a new dealer. $11,500 for a ZX-6R is insane. Even at full retail you should be able to get that bike OTD for under 10k. That guy is ROBBING you. He just wants to move that ZX10 before the '06's come out by making it look cheaper than the 6R. Lose that dealer, he's trying to get you killed and/or rob you. Hell, he might as well pull a gun on you in an alley. That price is outrageous.  

Oh, BTW, that ex500 is a great bike. Do some track days before you move up. That bike is a lot of fun on the track.  

When I bought my ZX6R in 05 (brand new) it only cost me $8,900.  Who quoted you that price of 11K?  This in my first and only bike, and it has plenty of power to keep me happy.  I ride with guys who have R1's, Busa's, and Gixxer 1K's all the time.  Off course they kill me in a straight line but we rarely ride hard in the straights. But it sure feels good when they're eating my dust in the curves.  If I were to go up it would be to the 750.  A 1000 in my opinion is a waste of money and power on the public roads anyway.  

Bill is right that guy is trying to BEND YOU OVER on the ZX-6r. I got mine OTD for 8750. You need to find a different dealer. i vote for the 6R get it change the sprockets (-1+2) get an exhaust and airfilter along with PC and custom map and keep up with the litre bikes no prob (and leave them in the dust in the twisties)  

Your power numbers are a little off.  Assuming stock:  an EX500 makes 50 at the wheel, a 6R makes 105-110 at the wheel, and most of the people at www.ZX-10R.net claim about 155 +/- 2 hp at the wheel.  Those are all peak numbers.  Not stock, but I have 161.  It is a handfull when I go for a 'spirited' ride.  

Why don't you think that tripple the horsepower over your bike isn't that big of a leap?  What kind of car do you have?  Tripple it's hp and think about how much of a hand full it could be.  Hopefully your car has more than 100hp, 300 hp isn't scary enough.    Think of your 500 as a 150hp Miata, the 6R is like a 400hp Corvette, and the 10R is like a 600hp supercharged Corvette...  I don't know...  I don't like trying to equate cars to bikes, but you don't seem to grasp the huge steps you want to take.

600s are fast, but 1000s require a bit more control and attention.  Get lazy, and it'll wheelie on you in the lower gears.  Get a little too happy on the throtle, and it'll spin the rear tire when cornering.  All of this and more can happen below 8k rpm.  Red line is 13k.  105 mph 1st gear....  I am not saying that the 10R is un-rideable or any other liter bike for that matter, but you really need to have the basic skills down and self control.  You need to be more cautious when trying to unleash 155 hp and 80 ft lbs of torque.

Both prices are high.  With the new '06 10R coming, you should be able to get it for $10k or less out the door.  The 6R hasn't changed mechanically, so I'd think $9500 or so out the door, maybe less.  It is your money.  Get the one you want.  6R or 10R, whatever you get be carefull.

Any of your friends ride?  See if they'll let you take their 600/750/1000 for a spin....  I just think that the 1000 is too big of a change.

And there is no guarantee that you won't want to change bikes if you get the 1000.  


Chris  

i think something i should have mentioned is that im in canada and with the exchange rate 11,500 is the msrp on the 636.  And i was thinking of going for the 6R anyway cause it looks so stinkin awesome in the titanium and tribal flames.  Thanks for the advice everyone,  

America Lite, eh?    Just kidding.

Canadian dollars make more sense for those prices.

I understand that it is tempting to just get the 10 because of the price, but I think you made a good choice in getting the 6R.  And I think you'll really be happy with that bike.  Congratulations.  


Chris  

you have made a wise decision good for you, if you love cornering you'll never outgrow a 6R, now go out & buy some decent gear for yourself and ride that thing.