Hello guys!
Currently, I am riding a Kawasaki Ninja 650 that is limited to 35kW. That limit will be lifted in a few weeks due to my age (23 almost 24). I am thinking of upgrading to a ZX6R 2024 or a BMW S1000RR 2020-2024. I am not entirely unfamiliar with higher-powered motorcycles, although I haven’t ridden a supersport before. I have ridden a bit on an MT-09, a Street Triple, and a Triumph Rocket 3. just swapping bikes for a bit with friends.
I will be using the bike for daily commuting and, once or twice a year, a longer road trip. My main focus is more on having fun than being comfortable.
Which of these two would you recommend? Do you guys have any other suggestions? I like the S1000RR more than the ZX6R, but I’m not sure if the powerband of a supersport is so different that it would be unwise to choose the S1000RR over the ZX6R.
For me it isn't the reason it is a liter bike. More i think it is a "nicer" bike and has some nicer features. IF BMW made say a S600RR or something with mostly the same stuff i probably would of gone with that.
So the deciding factor in my opinion becomes, how mature are you on a bike? Do you give in easily to the show off mentality, or are you hot tempered? If you can keep things on an even keel and not get out of control then either one would be fine. The problem I have with comments from the person above is that it makes it sound like you are safer on the 600cc bike, and believe me, you can kill yourself just as easily on either bike. My daughter wants to buy a bike, and she has been on the back of my bike(s) for thousand upon thousands of miles, so she knows how it feels and what to expect, but I had a very frank discussion with her that she cannot get on a bike and ride it like she currently drives. She gets a little road rage at times, and that really isn't going to work on a motorcycle, assuming you want to be an old rider. I guess my whole point of this ted talk is that if and only if you feel like you are responsible enough (good word that Fecundpossum used) then get the one that you like and speaks to you. Just remember that you don't have to run full throttle, there is a middle ground.
I think all I was trying to get at on the subject of displacement, is when that ridiculous amount of power is available, the temptation to use it is strong. You can die on a Yamaha Zuma. But the 600s are plenty powerful, very fast, very nimble, but they do put at least some ceiling on the trouble your right hand can get into.
I don't think a 1000 is any more a right hand risk than a 600.
I've had both, and the 600 will accelerate as much as a 1000, it just won't have the top speed.
The 1000 is much more challenging to ride safely in my experience, not because of power, but because of its weight and (usually) a higher center of mass - so they typically take more effort to maneuver/maneuver well.
Though a lot depends on the type of bike, largely the rake angle which really influences the effort required to steer, and it also affects low speed stability.
For me, going to a 1000 was about long ride comfort and 2-up riding. Two up on a 600, even the more cruiser-like bikes, just isn't as comfortable. There's less room, pillion footpegs are more cramped, etc. But the price paid is the effort to ride it.
It really depends on the bike. If I were OP, I'd look for the features I want and not worry about engine size so much. If it happens that what I want comes with a 1000, so be it. Just take the time to learn to ride that bike well.
Decades ago I found the top speed of my small bike (I forget, maybe a 450?). It would've killed me just as fast as taking my 1000 to the same speed (which I simply don't do).