Ninja 1000 vs ZX6r

I dont think anyone can tell you which of these to like. They both have such obvious differences. For me, I dont like 600cc in traffic. No motorcycle should be an adventure (in a bad way) leaving a stop light. I feel the 600's are. Not that there is no power. The power is there, but you need to rev the bike to get it.

Look at a dyno chart. At 4000 rpm, the 600 offers up 25 hp. The Ninja closer to 50...really more like 60 if you let Ivan remap the ecu. Which do you think is more fun, and easier to ride in traffic? Maybe even safer, but who can answer that?

I think the 2013 zx6 is better, but why buy new when there are so many used bikes around in the class?

I believe in the correct bike for the riding conditions. I dont like my Ninja 1000 on the supercross track. I dotn like 600's in town.

Given the bigger displacement of the Ninja 1000 and the price difference between the tow bikes as well, I think that I would go with the Ninja 1000.

What is making you consider the ZX6R?

the difference is sport vs supersport. the ZX6 will blow N1K off the road, ZX10 is a different story. It depends on what your intentions are. The Ninja 1000 will be a hands down more comfortable bike, something more than capable of laying down a couple hundred miles comfortably in a day, where as the ZX6 you're looking at very hunched over ergos. Cool for shooting around town but your wrists will hate you.

^ good way to put it.
it will help a lot of people to sit on both to really get a feel for it with their height and weight and to know what will work best for them

I wouldn't say the 600s have no power.. They have pretty decent power in my opinion

1000ccs aren't all that much better in traffic. Especially 4 cylinders.

Get a twin if you want to have fun in traffic.

But you are comparing a super sport to a sport

Go sit on both. Maybe get a test ride if possible.

600's are good, they're not too powerful, still practical for every day riding and even good for newbs once they're careful enough

If it wasnt for the awful ergos I'd say go for the ZX6R, the power delivery is awesome.

Yea very different ergonomics

Sit on both and compare.

Very different bikes after looks. Like most have said, the 1000 will give you more power and comfort while only weighing a little more. Now if track days are a big part of your life I'd steer towards the 600 but if not the better day to day bike would be the 1000.

Agreed. For day to day the 1000 would be better

As a track bike or carving the backroad everyday the 600 would be better.

I agree with most, comparing these two bikes is like comparing a sport sedan and a 2 seat roadster. One bike is sporty but a lot more practical and comfortable. The other is just pure aggressive sport you can ride to the edge.
If your intent is doing a lot of track days and riding with aggressive riders in isolated country roads the 600 is the bike.
If you are looking for more realistic riding somewhat within the speed limits and some traffic, the N1K makes more sense.
I test rode the R1, and after 20 miles, I was tired not just at the wrists but my neck holding my head up. Needless to say I'm older and not in shape to ride this bike for sustained amounts of time. I will, however, ride my Ninja for 400 to 500 miles a day still.

So... I just traded a 2013 ZX6R in for a 2014 Ninja 1000. These bikes are extremely different. For everyday commuting use, the ZX6R is an absolute back-breaker - especially with a backpack on. If you have a long commute, you'll start to feel the hurt everywhere. It's an amazing machine, and loves the twisties. The 600-class power and heavy engine braking help greatly to reduce entry speeds, encouraging throttle through the turns. By contrast, the Ninja 1000 is noticeably heavier, and has almost zero engine braking (at least from 7k RPM and lower). I could go on forever, but the experiences are as different as night and day.

"almost zero engine braking"

You have got to be kidding me! I'm not sure we have the same bike.
My 2014 is obnoxious with regards to engine braking.
Engines make for very expensive brakes and it's too easy to unsettle the chassis for my tastes. I'm going to do an ECU flash to smooth out the on/off throttle efi issues and to REDUCE engine braking.

To each his own...

troydba said:

"almost zero engine braking"

You have got to be kidding me! I'm not sure we have the same bike.
My 2014 is obnoxious with regards to engine braking.
Engines make for very expensive brakes and it's too easy to unsettle the chassis for my tastes. I'm going to do an ECU flash to smooth out the on/off throttle efi issues and to REDUCE engine braking.

To each his own...

Click to expand...

Haha for what it's worth, I did say "By contrast" (to the 636), so no - I'm not kidding at all. If you think this engine braking is bad, you'd be completely blown away by a supersport.

No Doubt...especially a poorly tuned one that still has EPA stuff in place.

This engine braking is so interesting. My stock 2012 ninja had a lot.

Ivan reflashed it and reduced it 50-75%.

THEN, he updated his flash, and its down another 50-75%.

I dont quite know what to think. If its tunable, its not just the nature of the bike, is it?

I wish you guys could try an original yamaha yzf400f. It would send you over the bars if you shut the throttle off. ANYTIME, anywhere.

I have both.

If I had to give up one of them I would keep the Ninja 1000. It's a better all around street bike by far.

The Ninja 1000 is more comfortable, has more power where you need it and capable of taking you far from home for days at a time while still being a pretty capable bike for attacking the twisties. It is however a bit of a compromise.

The ZX6R is a focused super sport bike and is much better for attacking corners and has enough power to keep you grinning! Good for an afternoon of strafing backroads. It is almost 100 pounds lighter than the Ninja 1000.

It really all depends on how you plan to ride and what you want from a bike.