Advise on upgrading from 6R too 10R

[Jabs08ZX6R]

Hey guys, Just purchased an 08 ZX6R in Kawi Green which I absolutely love to death, but after having zero low end power and getting beat by a couple cars in drag races...I want more speed. Keep in mind these were 500+hp cars so It was no cake walk.

This is my 1st bike and I have almost 4000km's on it in about 2 months time and thats my only riding experience. I learnt very fast on a bike and i am very confident in my riding abilities besudes the fact I cant hold a catwalk yet (haha), well...I dont have the balls to try it lets say cause I almost dumped it once.

I want to trade in my 6 to the dealer possibly next spring and upgrade to a 08 (Maybe 09?) ZX10R in Wildfire Orange or Green, I am aware that the new ZX-10's are absolute monsters as it is the fastest liter bike ever produced from the factory I am told. I dont want a ZX14 or Busa cause I think there too big and ugly

I am concered about my safety cause I know the liter bikes cant keep the front end down basically and I am un able to Wheelie on a steady pace. Is this a legit solution for me? or should I just do exhaust, POwer Commander and the Jumper mod on the 6?....Still wont be even close to the 10.

Thanks for reading, ride safe!

[JBearSVT]

I've been riding about as long as you have, and have run about the same mileage- two months/4K. I did it on a ZX10. I did already know how to operate a motorcycle from riding a dirtbike nearly twenty years ago, but for the most part this has been my starter bike. I've had no trouble keeping the nose down. Honestly, it really isn't that fast below 5,000 rpm, so it isn't difficult to control at all. Over 5k the timing retard kicks off and the beast comes out- but that's a choice and it's up to you to keep it in check. I don't see any reason why you couldn't handle it with the experience you have as long as you show some discretion.

[clarkmanning]

donot do this on your new 10:

take it up to 45 mph in 1st gear and hold it.
now back off a little and PIN THE THROTTLE FAST.

if you do this on a ten, you will be on your head in no time.

[ghost057]

6r should be more than enough for now... get the exhaust , pc, and get some good tires and should be keeping up with them easily. i started on a 99 zx7r then i moved up to a 04 zx10.... there's a big difference in power.... but i would ride the shit out of the six and put some more miles under your belt... whether its a 6 or 10 your never going to truly use all of its power....

[JBearSVT]

Originally Posted by clarkmanning

donot do this on your new 10:

take it up to 45 mph in 1st gear and hold it.
now back off a little and PIN THE THROTTLE FAST.

if you do this on a ten, you will be on your head in no time.

LOL! Indeed. In the event that you were responding to me, I was responding to this:

I am concered about my safety cause I know the liter bikes cant keep the front end down

and my point was, yes, they certainly can... it's about the rider not the bike. That being said, I'm sure the liter bikes are less forgiving than the 6's are

[636newbie]

I'm surprised people are actually entertaining this.

First, true a 10 has more power than a 6, but if you don't know how to ride, it's not gonna make any difference.

It's all about experience on the track. Know when to shift, know how to get more power off the line.

Plus, there are so many things you can do to your 6 that will make it faster. Change your sprockets so that you get more power out of your lower gears. Get it dyno'd so that it's for the strip and not for street, throw some after market parts that make the bike lighter.

In fact, what mods HAVE you done to your bike? If you haven't at least went and got a full on aftermarket exaust (no slip on), then you probably shouldn't bother getting a zx10.

Overall, I honestly don't see too many cars beating a zx6 on the drag if it's setup properly. Oh, and don't kill yourself by getting a bike that you may not be able to handle.

Just my .02 though.

Edit: Just wanted to throw in a video of a ZX6R vs a R1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5anJa...eature=related
Just proves that it's not about the bike and all about the rider

[Jabs08ZX6R]

Originally Posted by 636newbie

I'm surprised people are actually entertaining this.

First, true a 10 has more power than a 6, but if you don't know how to ride, it's not gonna make any difference.

It's all about experience on the track. Know when to shift, know how to get more power off the line.

Plus, there are so many things you can do to your 6 that will make it faster. Change your sprockets so that you get more power out of your lower gears. Get it dyno'd so that it's for the strip and not for street, throw some after market parts that make the bike lighter.

In fact, what mods HAVE you done to your bike? If you haven't at least went and got a full on aftermarket exaust (no slip on), then you probably shouldn't bother getting a zx10.

Overall, I honestly don't see too many cars beating a zx6 on the drag if it's setup properly. Oh, and don't kill yourself by getting a bike that you may not be able to handle.

Just my .02 though.

Edit: Just wanted to throw in a video of a ZX6R vs a R1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5anJa...eature=related
Just proves that it's not about the bike and all about the rider

Agree and Disagree here.

The wont make a difference part I dont think is true,Ive ran my buddies Gixxer 750 in a drag and he walked on me, remember this is just drag racing not at the track. TRACK wise absolutely the rider is the difference, Ive seen 600's walk on liter bikes on the twisties. These are roll races BTW and not from a dig.

My ZX6 is all stock, I considered modding it with Akrapovic, PC, Sprockets etc but seems like the 10 is still a wiser choice than dumping 5K into a 600

I just wanna go fast, the 6 Feels good and all but I want faster and more torque.

Thanks for the Info guys, Im still un-sure and thats why I am asking you guys

Forgot to add Im a solid 190 pounds on this 6, if that makes a diff or not.

[SamW]

How fast do you want to go? not sure about the 08 Zx6R but the previous 636s can do over 165 miles an hour. In the end you're going to do whatever the hell you want to do regardless of what anyone on the internet says-- but you might regret spending a lot more money when you realize it's just not that big of a difference, maybe spending another 5 grand to beat one random guy with a car that can only run 1/4s isn't quite worth it. Rarely will you go faster then a zx6r would have been able to take you on your 10. In fact if acceleration is the problem why don't you change your sprocket? Just a few teeth can take almost a second off a 1/4 mile time, although it will down your top speed.

Good luck with insurance, a literbike can be up to twice as much unless you don't get full coverage, and if you don't get full coverage you're going to feel silly when you've just dumped your bike giving it just a minuscule fraction more of throttle on a corner than it could take.

Anyway I know I sound like I'm hating, I don't mean to be a dick-- just trying to help you save some money and skin =P

good luck whatever you do, either choice Kawi is a good start.

[JBearSVT]

190 can make a difference. I weigh 155, and I can feel a huge difference on my ZX10 just pulling a case of beer in my backpack, never mind carrying a passenger. I really wouldn't want to ever be any heavier than I am, if I ever start gaining weight I'm stepping up to a bigger bike.
It's really all about you though. I say hit the used lot at your local dealer and ride a ZX10, it may be an eye opening experience one way or the other. A new ZX10 is only around $1000 more than a new ZX6, and you'd spend twice that just on parts trying to get more grunt from yours.

On the other hand, you already have it, and they aren't going to give you what you paid on a trade in. For what you'd have to spend to get into a new ZX10, you could maybe turn what you have into one sweet-ass bullet... the difference in what they give you for yours and what the ZX10 will cost could be more then you'd need.

[freighttrain]

so jabs.... you want to go faster in a straight line?... that's what it sounds like anyway... do you entertain the idea of enjoying twisties as well?

personally.. i'd say.. keep the six... the reason you were smoked was lack of experience... if you went out on some twisties for a bit... you'd realize how much of your bike you're not using....

if you think a ten will solve your problems... well go ahead and get it.. if it's what you want... whatever... i think you'd get smoked on the ten as well... you'd then get frustrated because on a ten you shouldn't have.... but you did...

the next time out.. you'd try too hard and probably flip it.. then you'd have a wrecked ten... and no bike at all... you're a newbie... give it a bit... the bike you have is plenty fast... it is you that is not...

[636newbie]

sounds like the lot agrees with everything i've said... glad there are still some smart ones out there....

rubber down!

[Jabs08ZX6R]

I appretiate the positive criticism but its not that hard to go fast in a straight line if you bang the gears, this was from about 10,000rpm in 1st gear roll races, I can bang gears pretty solidly and I dont think its that much possible to go faster for me unless I upgrade to a machine That traps 30+mph faster in the 1/4 mile and sprintsfrom 80-120mph almost 2 seconds faster as rolling acceleration as Ive read in Magazines. Seems logical to me plus the weight factor as well.

btw I would LOVE to learn the twisties, but around here its all about drag

Thanks again guys, still havnt decided :(

[JBearSVT]

Indeed. And I reiterate- test ride a used ten. Any decisions you make before you do are premature.

[Jabs08ZX6R]

Thanks again guys

I did the jumper mod yesterday and new windscreen and cleaned the 6 up all nice and Im lovin it and probly am going to keep it for next year too.

Unless the 09's are flat out jaw dropping next year than Im stickin with the 6R