675 vs kawizzr600 vs kawi 636

[Xarmyboi187]

im inbetween what bikes i want
so far its

kawi zzr600 (for price and comfort)
kawi zx6r (for power and looks)
and the 675, becase i heard about the power vs weight, that the 675 was almost 15lbs lighter!!!

id like to have the bike for a good while, then if i get "board" of the power, i was thinking id like to get some more power out of it.

with the zzr is a carbed bike, so id just have a jet kit, but with the other bikes, i could always get a power commander, and map it for power, and if im taking a long trip, i could map it for better gas mileage....

then theres the kawi 636 vs the 675.....

the only bad thing ive heard about the 675, is like you guys are talkign about the aftermarket.....but also the magazines say you have to shift more then with other bikes, that the 675 is short in the gears...........


what do you guys think?

[T.J.]

I have the 675 it is short ratio gears, but you by no means have to shift more. Actually its the oppisite due to all the sweet torque. Aftermarket isnt really a big problem. companies are starting to make alot of stuff for the bike its just new to the market and no one expected it to do as good as it did. My biggest problem was just trying to get one. I waited like 11-12 weeks. I dont think the wait is at all as bad anymore.

[Xarmyboi187]

well thats good to hear.
but the biggest thing ofr me is that its $8,999!
the zzr600 is only $7,299!
makes me wonder if i could make the ZZR as quick as the 675 with that extra cash i save....

im trying to figure out if the bike is really worth that much extra cash, i think the 675 looks ALOT better, and i bet its going to sound GREAT with pipes.
but thats a pretty good jump in price, for a small jump in power.....
i havent seen any numbers yet for the 675, but i know its only a hair faster then a 636, and a 636 is only a tiny bit quicker then a zzr600

lol, see where im coming from?
for me, its mainly bang for my buck, and future performance.

[Lewd Ferrigno]

Originally Posted by Xarmyboi187

well thats good to hear.
but the biggest thing ofr me is that its $8,999!
the zzr600 is only $7,299!
makes me wonder if i could make the ZZR as quick as the 675 with that extra cash i save....

im trying to figure out if the bike is really worth that much extra cash, i think the 675 looks ALOT better, and i bet its going to sound GREAT with pipes.
but thats a pretty good jump in price, for a small jump in power.....
i havent seen any numbers yet for the 675, but i know its only a hair faster then a 636, and a 636 is only a tiny bit quicker then a zzr600

lol, see where im coming from?
for me, its mainly bang for my buck, and future performance.

There is a world of performance difference between the two bikes. The 675 handles, stops, accelerates better than the Kawi. It would take a ton of money to get even close.

Shock-795
Fork revalve- 400
Motor- 1K (pipe and jetting)
Brakes- 1K, at least

So, there's your initial cost gues-timate, but, if you are a newer rider, you won't be able to exploit any of this anyway.

[Xarmyboi187]

that is the problem, i am a new rider, i got a kawi500 to learn on, now, im over it, and i never reolized how slow it is compared to other bikes!
im getting left behind!
i ride great in the twisties (except for these stock tires are killin me)
but im looking to sell the thing, and get something else to learn on.

thats why im picking between these, i figure it will take me at LEAST 3yrs to grow "old" of the next bike, so im trying to be more careful then i did last time when i bought the kawi500 (i wish i wouild have bought it used)

so thats why im trying to compare them all.

ps isent the 675 going to cost more to get worked on?
i know the closest kawi dealer is like 2 miles, and the closest triumph is about 20

[kevinwilly]

ummm.... the triumph labor prices are about the same... and they're generally good about getting it done on time, plus most don't do normal maintenance and repairs on other bikes like most the japanese dealers.... so they only have a handful at a time to work on. (what i mean is that they normally only do triumphs, not just any bike off the street)

And like FB said- it's WAY ahead of the competition right now.

They can be hard to find... but i'd never know it. The dealer by me got five more in this week. I hear they're HELL to get other places, though.

And i listened to one with the triumph race pipe on it.... SWEET as hell! nothing sounds like a triple....

Oh yeah- they're selling the demo bike at the dealer for like 9,000 out the door. It's got 830 miles on it. Just FYI, you can get them a *little* bit cheaper.

But also- you can do all the service yourself. I'd never pay to have it done.

[Xarmyboi187]

i really want to learn to work on bikes, i can work my way around truck/car, but the only experence ive had with a bike is removing the tank and putting in a K&N, and then tighting the chain....but both of thouse jobs needed some help.

ill take a ride out to the triumph dealership, and talk to them, get a seat on one, IF they have one.
thinking about it, the bike is alot more, but its already WAY better then the ZZR, plus if i ever wanted more, i could draw more out of the bike then i ever could from the zzr600.
so right off, i wouldent have to spend any extra money for power,
i like that idea
and i LOVE that i would be diffent then all the bikes in town.
i havent seen a 675 yet at the local bike nights....

ill def check it out, get a sit down and talk to the dealers about it.

how much did yuo guys pay for the 675 OTD?

[Lewd Ferrigno]

Originally Posted by Xarmyboi187

that is the problem, i am a new rider, i got a kawi500 to learn on, now, im over it, and i never reolized how slow it is compared to other bikes!
im getting left behind!
i ride great in the twisties (except for these stock tires are killin me)
but im looking to sell the thing, and get something else to learn on.

thats why im picking between these, i figure it will take me at LEAST 3yrs to grow "old" of the next bike, so im trying to be more careful then i did last time when i bought the kawi500 (i wish i wouild have bought it used)

so thats why im trying to compare them all.

ps isent the 675 going to cost more to get worked on?
i know the closest kawi dealer is like 2 miles, and the closest triumph is about 20

First off, how long have you been riding?
If it's less than a 2 years, the Triumph is WAY too much. You will do nothing but put yourself in danger. My 675 was pulling liter bikes out of corners on the race track with me on it. I am 275lbs.

Secondly, tell your friends to slow the hell down. They have to understand that you are a newer rider. If they can't, then you should ride with a different group. We have a ton of riders on this board from your area that are good riders and would make better teachers.

Thirdly, twisties, in FL? I used to have to rip through the mall to find them, when I went to school in TPA.

[kevinwilly]

Originally Posted by Xarmyboi187

i really want to learn to work on bikes, i can work my way around truck/car, but the only experence ive had with a bike is removing the tank and putting in a K&N, and then tighting the chain....but both of thouse jobs needed some help.

ill take a ride out to the triumph dealership, and talk to them, get a seat on one, IF they have one.
thinking about it, the bike is alot more, but its already WAY better then the ZZR, plus if i ever wanted more, i could draw more out of the bike then i ever could from the zzr600.
so right off, i wouldent have to spend any extra money for power,
i like that idea
and i LOVE that i would be diffent then all the bikes in town.
i havent seen a 675 yet at the local bike nights....

ill def check it out, get a sit down and talk to the dealers about it.

how much did yuo guys pay for the 675 OTD?

I don't have one, but i spend a lot of time at the triumph dealer getting parts for my bike and talking to the hot chick that works there. (i've NEVER met another girl with her bike knowledge. it's AMAZING)

They have them listed at 9820 out the door. People that preordered them when they first came out paid 10200 OTD.

And the closest i can come to telling you what it's like to sit on: it's about the same height and reach to the bars as the 2006 R6. But it's much narrower and has a different rear set position. I'm 5'8" and found it to be AWESOME for comfort. They keep telling me to take one for a spin. (which MOST Triumph dealers will let you do with a valid endorsement. how SWEET is that?!? )

So yeah- i love them. But i'm MORE than a little biased.

Fargin's right about the new rider thing, though... i'd be careful about moving up too soon....

Oh- i've seen less than five triumphs (sportbikes) on the road EVER. they're really unique.

[Xarmyboi187]

ive been riding for 6months, and thats the biggest problem with steping up, i have to get use to twice the power i have now.

i only ride with one guy right now, hes on a kawi636, he smokes me but he doesnt go fasther then about 80, but by the time hes at 80, im prob at like 30-40mph....
in the "twisties" i tend to out do him, but i think hes just scared to get into it.

third, lol, theres only about 2roads that you can call "twisties" here in orlando, on of them is pretty dangerous, but the others pretty nice, other then that, its strait aways, and thats why i get left behind!

i plan on learning the bikes power, what ever bike i get, before i even ride with anyone else, so im not tempted to take the bikes power farther then what im use to.

what do you think

[kevinwilly]

Originally Posted by Xarmyboi187

ive been riding for 6months, and thats the biggest problem with steping up, i have to get use to twice the power i have now.

i only ride with one guy right now, hes on a kawi636, he smokes me but he doesnt go fasther then about 80, but by the time hes at 80, im prob at like 30-40mph....
in the "twisties" i tend to out do him, but i think hes just scared to get into it.

third, lol, theres only about 2roads that you can call "twisties" here in orlando, on of them is pretty dangerous, but the others pretty nice, other then that, its strait aways, and thats why i get left behind!

i plan on learning the bikes power, what ever bike i get, before i even ride with anyone else, so im not tempted to take the bikes power farther then what im use to.

what do you think

statistically, 6 months- 1 year is the period where new riders get a little complacent and start to get overconfident....

so take that as you will. take it easy for a while, and maybe you can get a good deal in the winter when sales are slow. It sounds like you're still a little green to be moving up...

but i've never met you.

[Xarmyboi187]

i fully agree, i dont want to overstep my bounds.
i was trained by the military, as a military police officer how to drive, and how to be extra alert, etc, etc, etc.
then i learnt the hard way, how easy it is to get hurt (blew out my knee in iraq)
PLUS i dont make much money right now, im tryin to apply to the local police department to solve that. and wrecking would rid me of a ton of cash!

but if the 675 is to crazy (ie in need of an experenced rider) then i might as well just grab up the ZZR600, and learn on that (and its nice to save some $$$)

[kevinwilly]

Originally Posted by Xarmyboi187

i fully agree, i dont want to overstep my bounds.
i was trained by the military, as a military police officer how to drive, and how to be extra alert, etc, etc, etc.
then i learnt the hard way, how easy it is to get hurt (blew out my knee in iraq)
PLUS i dont make much money right now, im tryin to apply to the local police department to solve that. and wrecking would rid me of a ton of cash!

but if the 675 is to crazy (ie in need of an experenced rider) then i might as well just grab up the ZZR600, and learn on that (and its nice to save some $$$)

The general rule i have is that if you NEED to ask if it's ok to get, you shouldn't get it.

The ZZR600 is a good bike.... but i'll never recommend buying it. There's other things with newer technology that you can get for the same price. I think the SV650 is a much better bang for the buck. Maybe not *as* fast in a straight line, but better around the corners.

Check out the FULLY faired version (most people have only seen the half-faired version) and then check out the performance numbers. It may be closer in speed to the ZZR than i recall. If you buy one a year or two old, you can get it for like 4-5k EASILY.

But get what you want. It's your bike.

[Lewd Ferrigno]

Originally Posted by Xarmyboi187

ive been riding for 6months, and thats the biggest problem with steping up, i have to get use to twice the power i have now.

i only ride with one guy right now, hes on a kawi636, he smokes me but he doesnt go fasther then about 80, but by the time hes at 80, im prob at like 30-40mph....
in the "twisties" i tend to out do him, but i think hes just scared to get into it.

third, lol, theres only about 2roads that you can call "twisties" here in orlando, on of them is pretty dangerous, but the others pretty nice, other then that, its strait aways, and thats why i get left behind!

i plan on learning the bikes power, what ever bike i get, before i even ride with anyone else, so im not tempted to take the bikes power farther then what im use to.

what do you think

Well, first off, the guy being scared to get into it, is common of a new rider over their head.

The idea is to learn how to operate the bike well enough that it doesn't intimidate and requires less attention to the simple operations and pay larger attention to your surroundings.

I personally wouldn't do it, if I were you. I have been riding about 20 years on the road and racing a decent portion of that. I can get a bigger bike and handle it well. The issue is not the power of the bike, it's the fun of it. Straight line acceleration is easy, anyone can twist a throttle. It's the turning you need to master.

My advice is to stay small for another year and practice the riding. All great riders have started small. Find a group that's not to absorbed in the acceleration and ride a decent pace. If you must get a bigger bike, an SV650 is a lot of fun and handles great. It'll be more peppy than the Ninja500 and less intimidating than the 675.

Honestly, the 675 is nowhere near a learner bike. As I stated before, the amount of torque available on the bottom end makes the bike accelerate as fast as a 750 through the midrange and in roll on tests. As a matter of fact, in Sport Rider, it was only slightly slower than the GSXR750 and faster than all of the 600s.

I started on an FZR400, jumped up to a GSXR750 in five months and went back down because I knew I had made a mistake. I went all the way down to a 250 and learned it the right way.

Good luck.

[Xarmyboi187]

thx for advice all!
i think what ill do is maybe just build up a lil cash, then watch the papers for an older zzr600, maybe an 05 or so
i hate buying used bikes, becase the way that ppl ride in this town.
but it will save me 2-3k!

thx all