[wyattearp]

So my buddy finally joined the two wheeled world with an ER-6N and I got to bring it back home for him since he wasn't cool with riding our wonderful highway full of construction back home.

After 10,000 miles on my FZ6, I've got to say, I think I'll be sticking with the FZ6 over the ER-6N when I get to needing a new one

Things I noticed that turned me of:
1. Riding position feels too much like you're not sitting close to the center of gravity on the bike. Maybe it's because I'm a taller guy, but it just seemed that the entire time I was sitting on it, I couldn't find a spot that just felt like I wasn't either too far forwards or too far back.

2. Brakes felt just ... different. I though the calipers would be pretty similar (4pucks vs 4pucks), but it just seemed that after working them a lot over the 30+ miles home, they just weren't getting any more responsive. Maybe my memory is getting bad, but I wanted to say the first time I smashed the breaks on the FZ6 on my way back from the dealer, I felt like the back end wasn't quite on the ground any more. I guess it would kept you from dumping over the front of the bike, but I think I like the stoppie capability.

3. Engine just doesn't compare, but I didn't expect it to be, it's brand new and we decided not to be "too" vicious on it.

Over all, I think it's a good bike, solid enough of a ride ... but I'm happy with my FZ :cheers

 

[GST-97]

My friend has an ER-6N. I have taken it out for a couple small rides, and couldn't wait to get off of it. Lack of power, lack of braking, awkward handling. But he loves it and that's all that matters.

 

[DogMaI]

The bigest difference in power is on the top end... and because the delivery is so smooth without the sudden hit our inline fours have, you don't notice how hard you are accellerating off the bottom and midrange compared to our bikes. I have friends with both the ER6N and SV650 and both bikes are pretty compareable acceleration wise up to the 80 MPH range. After that the FZ's top end just rolls away but for the average street rider looking for a good bike both are more than adequate.

I think people really need to compare real world acceleration vs. top end alot more when discussing bikes. I personally like my license and the price of my insurance without any tickets. In the case of these three bikes with average riders aboard up to around 80 (wich is plenty fast on public roads) the differance is maybe a bike length after that by all means the FZ is way faster but in the day to day slog all three with a good rider would smoke a newbie squid on a GSXR 600 to 60 and probably still be ahead by 75.... it is not like the differance between these bikes and the FZ in the real world is like the differance between the FZ and a Ninja 500 or GS 500 or Shadow 750 wich is how you guys make it sound sometimes.

That being said I have seen ER6N's brand new at 5,300 and 5,400 where I live I have yet to see a new FZ for under 6,999. If you don't have the extra 1,500 to spend and aren't worried about having a bike with 15 or 20 less MPH on the top end it is a great commuter bike... it is not like this thing is 250 single with an 85 MPH top speed

 

[Davec719]

Wyattearp,

When I tested the 650 Ninja (the faired ER-6N) back in 06 before I got the FZ6, it seemed really cramped (for my legs) and very narrow compared to the FZ6.

Did you notice this on the ER-6N?

Dave

 

[wyattearp]

Wyattearp,

When I tested the 650 Ninja (the faired ER-6N) back in 06 before I got the FZ6, it seemed really cramped (for my legs) and very narrow compared to the FZ6.

Did you notice this on the ER-6N?

Dave

Yea, it seemed pretty cramped to me, but I'm like 6'2", so I feel cramped on a lot of bikes I didn't hit my knees on anything, but it still felt really short and narrow as you said. My biggest issue was feeling like I could never find the center of gravity in the saddle, felt too much like I was hanging over the front tire or something.

As to the engine capabilities, as DogMaI, there's not really a fair comparison there, and I didn't expect there to be. Primarily because it was a new bike and also because it wasn't mine so I was being nice to it. It did have very consistent power application when I was riding it back, but it still felt a little doggy to me ... but like I said, new bike, not mine, I didn't kill it cause I didn't want my friend to kill me

 

[breesej]

powerband on the Ninja 650 is higher quality, less quantity than the FZ6. Ridden both bikes, and the 650 is a much much much better bike for a new rider than the FZ6. predictable power low to midrange power is soft enough to be friendly, but strong enough to get you into and out of trouble easily. Lower seat for the feeling of control in low speed circumstances, narrow frame profile, high, wide(ish) bars.... all GOOD things. The brakes are a bit weak, but the FZ6 2 pot slider calipers on the older models are horrible considering how capable the motor is and how heavy the bike is. Breaking-in the pads and/or changing the pad compound can tailor the feel that the rider is looking for.

It's also a very capable platform as many teams are doing well with them in the twin cylinder racing class with air-cooled Ducati's and SV650's.

I would recommend this bike over the FZ to anyone starting out, but I will keep the FZ since it has so many awesome features.

 

[FIZZER6]

I was just thinking about how satisfied I am with my FZ6 on my 250 mile ride home from PA yesterday. If I had to do it all over again in the same price range I'd still pick the FZ6.