Bikers gone soft?

[Skeptisk]

I read this article about the reissued ZX6R

https://www.motorcyclenews.com/bike-reviews/kawasa...

Touched a nerve as my first bike was a green and white ZX6R back in the 90s.

It was a puzzling read as I only have really positive memories of mine. I don’t recall it being that much of a pain to ride, it seemed to handle the crap roads just fine, it handled my first track days, circling roundabouts early on a Sunday morning trying to get my knee down and lots of (with hindsight) slightly over enthusiastic riding. I rode it to work sometimes (to general disapproval) and went away overnight a few times.

Just rose tinted glasses?

[25th QV]

I wonder if the buyers of these latest sports bikes are actually 80's / 90's first time rounders having another crack at it whilst we're still pumping oil out of the ground, but with a body and mentality 30 years older and more experienced.

I think for a 20 something, these bikes are no problem whatsoever, however for a 50 something, the acute knee angle, bent forward stance, weight on the wrists and general 'full attack 24/7' nature of them is a bit much.

I'm effectively one of those and recently got myself back on a CBR, but 3 months later and I'm looking to bail for something more upright and relaxed.

[Caddyshack]

I passed my test in 2023, first bike was RS660 but I found the twin engine very boring although it was quite fast. I now have a 2012 GSXR screamer and absolutely love it, it’s what a bike engine should be all about.

The Kawasaki always struck me as a much more upright riding position.

[Scarletpimpofnel]

Skeptisk said:

I read this article about the reissued ZX6R

https://www.motorcyclenews.com/bike-reviews/kawasa...

Touched a nerve as my first bike was a green and white ZX6R back in the 90s. ....

ZX6R as your first bike is insane! Surprised you are still here! I started on a 100>125>400>1,200cc and had many spills along the way.

Absolutely beautiful bike that ZX6R.... at my age though, if I got another I'd like the CBX 6 cylinder Honda just because I've wanted one since I was 14!

[Caddyshack]

Scarletpimpofnel said:

Skeptisk said:

I read this article about the reissued ZX6R

https://www.motorcyclenews.com/bike-reviews/kawasa...

Touched a nerve as my first bike was a green and white ZX6R back in the 90s. ....

ZX6R as your first bike is insane! Surprised you are still here! I started on a 100>125>400>1,200cc and had many spills along the way.

Absolutely beautiful bike that ZX6R.... at my age though, if I got another I'd like the CBX 6 cylinder Honda just because I've wanted one since I was 14!

Modern electronics and modern tyres provide a better safety net and the build up of traffic may actually mean that some keep the speeds down.

[trickywoo]

Brand new equivalent back to back your 90s 6 is probably better than the new one.

The new one will be chasing lap time and some curb side bling.

I p/xed a gsxr 750 for a ‘super duper’ street triple 765rs which felt weak and broken in the engine department to me, gutless.

Edited by trickywoo on Friday 22 December 18:45

[trickywoo]

Scarletpimpofnel said:

ZX6R as your first bike is insane! Surprised you are still here! I started on a 100>125>400>1,200cc and had many spills along the way.

Not sure if I need a parrot but my first bike was a v2 1000 Tuono. Felt a bit tame after a while.

[25th QV]

Repost.

Edited by 25th QV on Friday 22 December 18:23

[Biker's Nemesis]

25th QV said:

I wonder if the buyers of these latest sports bikes are actually 80's / 90's first time rounders having another crack at it whilst we're still pumping oil out of the ground, but with a body and mentality 30 years older and more experienced.

I think for a 20 something, these bikes are no problem whatsoever, however for a 50 something, the acute knee angle, bent forward stance, weight on the wrists and general 'full attack 24/7' nature of them is a bit much.

I'm effectively one of those and recently got myself back on a CBR, but 3 months later and I'm looking to bail for something more upright and relaxed.

I've ridden a 636 and the ZX6R on road and track when they were new models, they were perfectly fine back then but due to being older now (Late 50's) any type of sports bike is uncomfortable for me so its upright bikes from now on.

Nothing wrong with the 636's at all.

[the cueball]

My first bike was a zx6-r as well.

Started my love of the Green Meanies… and went from 6R to the 636 version, then the 12R and now H2 sx.

I bought it after the salesman said ‘that one will kill you’…. Sold!!!

After a few months I took it on a trip to Italy with just a backpack and my notes to turn right somewhere in Germany.

Great times… now I need 2 cases, heated grips and sat nav… never mind such things as a fuel gauge and other sissy things… sucks being old!

Sorry, what was the question again??

[AceRockatansky]

I couldn't wait to buy a sports bike after passing my test. I grew up on 2 strokes so bought a mito 125 to learn on, then an RGV250. Jesus Christ, I could barely stand up after an hour.

Moved onto a street triple and now a duke GT. I'm a pretty fit and lean 47yo with a clean bill of health, but sports bikes hurt!

[cliffords]

I am a bit older but had a K1300 s for a while . Every Bit of the riding position and the seat hurt me so much I just couldn't ride it for more than 20 mins .

I went on and got a Multistrada and it was instantly comfortable, I could ride it all day and often did .

[moanthebairns]

I've a 98 zx6r, by current sportsbikes standards it feels like riding a zzr600. My 675 with 1500 quids worth of suspension is only just barrable on the road.

I'd pick my 675 for a smooth road at a fast pace over the ninja anyday. But by Christ I'd rather take the mountain bike around town. It's merely the fact sportsbikes now are so track focused, whilst the roads are pish and busy.

[Ian Geary]

I have a cbr900rr 919, and commute on it

Seems pretty comfy to me- the only downside is my hand gets squashed against the fairing on full lock, and the seat feels hard after an hour or so.

It's slightly more comfy than my previous street triple, given the suspension is better and it has wind protection.

Brakes are a bit wooden though, which helps me keep things sensible, oh and the lights are crap on an unlit motorway.

[Biker's Nemesis]

A cold and wet Cadwell 2007.

I have some from 2004 on the first generation but they are photo's in my Loft.

[Triaguar]

25th QV said:

I wonder if the buyers of these latest sports bikes are actually 80's / 90's first time rounders having another crack at it whilst we're still pumping oil out of the ground, but with a body and mentality 30 years older and more experienced.

I think for a 20 something, these bikes are no problem whatsoever, however for a 50 something, the acute knee angle, bent forward stance, weight on the wrists and general 'full attack 24/7' nature of them is a bit much.

I'm effectively one of those and recently got myself back on a CBR, but 3 months later and I'm looking to bail for something more upright and relaxed.

I've just waved my 66th birthday goodbye. I ride a S1000rr its as comfortable as an old arm chair. And handles and goes like a spaceship. Given comparative models for different decades I think we are in the 'sweet spot' at the moment or certainly in the last decade have been.

[rodericb]

Skeptisk said:

I read this article about the reissued ZX6R

https://www.motorcyclenews.com/bike-reviews/kawasa...

Touched a nerve as my first bike was a green and white ZX6R back in the 90s.

It was a puzzling read as I only have really positive memories of mine. I don’t recall it being that much of a pain to ride, it seemed to handle the crap roads just fine, it handled my first track days, circling roundabouts early on a Sunday morning trying to get my knee down and lots of (with hindsight) slightly over enthusiastic riding. I rode it to work sometimes (to general disapproval) and went away overnight a few times.

Just rose tinted glasses?

It's a bit of an odd article. I don't know what the writer expected of the bike as, on paper, it looks like a very decent proposition. On par with what the GSXR750 was to the GSXR600, but the ZX6R to the ZX4R. Way better than the current middleweight dross like the R7, CBR650, Daytona 660..... 115 horses at the back wheel is pretty decent too.

[Steve_H80]

Mid 90's 600 sports bikes were still primarily all rounder road bikes with a real world 80 or 90 bhp.
We scratched on them, toured on them and raced them and found the comfortable enough to do all that because we were younger and the bikes more accommodating.
Then the track day thing took off and the 600's kind of lost the plot.
Perhaps we always were soft?

[Caddyshack]

When you look at modern emission regulations I believe the higher a bike can rev the more you have to trim the air fuel etc at the top so a lot of bikes will only give 25% throttle even though you have the throttle wide open. I have seen a few remaps where the bike is unlocked and will go another 1000 rpm and make an extra 20hp+ (not a 600).

My 2012 gixxer 6 is close to 125hp at the flywheel at 14,000 rpm. I wonder if the new bikes would have the fireworks at the top if uncorked?

[25th QV]

Steve_H80 said:

Mid 90's 600 sports bikes were still primarily all rounder road bikes with a real world 80 or 90 bhp.
We scratched on them, toured on them and raced them and found the comfortable enough to do all that because we were younger and the bikes more accommodating.
Then the track day thing took off and the 600's kind of lost the plot.
Perhaps we always were soft?

Slightly off topic but this thread has me making comparisons to our camping trips in the 80s and 90s - 5 of us in a hatchback for a long weekend with everything we needed (boot full of beer and a Monster Munch selection bag). Fast forward to today and 4 of us apparently need an Australian road train of infrastructure and equipment to still be uncomfortable and not get any sleep.

Comfort and relaxation just feels much further up the priority list these days. Sure, it's great to go all 'Crazy Frog' for 10 mins, but then that's enough - the rest of the ride I just want to sit back and enjoy the broader occasion.

Yes, I've definitely gone soft. Soft and content.