Bike mods now on flickr:

2009ZX6R-Accessories - a set on Flickr

Ride safe, later.

Bartman

Congrats man on the bike.

17K readline is definitely a screamer.

Nice mods. dude, did u take the mirrors off?

Yup, for mounting the HIDs. I don't like the way I mounted the ballasts with industrial strength velcro. One side is fine, other side is not so good. I have to think of other mounting solutions.

Bartman

Hey Bartman,

I'm also planning to buy ZX 6R as I would be moving to saudi in couple of months. Can you share your ownership experience about it. Like maintainance, build quality and any issues with this bike. And which one would be the best 600 according to you.

Congrats!!! njoy ur ride

Hello Prashant,

It is nice that you are thinking of a ZX6R. I unfortunately totaled the ZX6R. You can read a description of my crash here. My opinions (restricted to supersports, since your question was related to the ZX6R):
1. If you get a ZX6R, replace the stock ohlins steering dampener. Read my crash report as to why. Besides that, there is nothing wrong with the bike. HOWEVER, with respect to maintenance, oil change is a bi$%& because the oil filter is right above the engine. So, when you remove it, you will have oil all over the engine that you need to clean up.
2. I would recommend going for a CBR600RR BUT remap the power delivery. The stock CBR is way too smooth for a supersport - you could be going 120 mph (approx. 193 km/h) and the only thing you will feel is the wind (not a good idea if you don't get feedback from the bike at that speed). With respect to oil change, you have to remove the fairing but it is better than trying to clean oil off the engine casing.

With respect to other supersports, I have been on the GSXR but I didn't like it because it was too heavy for me. I have been on the "outlier" bike - the Triumph Daytona 675 but it rides a little high for me (I am 5 foot 6 inches = 167.6 cms). The Ducatis (>= 700 ccs), MV Agustas and the 1000ccs were too much bike for me. I have been on a Bimota for a few kilometers but the thought of crashing took me off the bike. I don't know anything about hyperbikes like the hyabusa.

I used to live in Saudi Arabia. Summers are hot (that is an understatement) and winter nights are pretty cold. Roads are straight. You are better off getting a Hayabusa or some other hyper bike if you like speed. Then again, I don't know anything about hyper bikes BUT I can tell you that riding a supersport on a straight road for speed is BORING.

Supersports are best enjoyed on twisted roads. For twisted roads in Saudi Arabia, you most likely always have to be on a track. Unless, in the 20 years I haven't been there, people decided to put twisty roads in the desert.

One final item (that should hopefully be quite obvious) is: if you don't have any riding experience (i.e..on a track or technical bike training), do not get a supersport as your first bike. Get a smaller cc. bike (ninja 250 is the best, IMO), ride it around, understand motorcycles and then migrate to supersport.

Good luck, ride safe. Later.

Bartman

Sorry to hear that. Good that you came out clean.

Hi Bartman,

Good see you that you're safe but feels really sorry for your crash.

Thank you so much for your valueable inputs.

I've been riding since last 7 years, done around 100K kms but on 150 & 250cc machines. I'm 5' 7" and my requirement is middleweight supersport bike which are light and agile. When searched on net I couldn't find anything but kawasaki showrooms in saudi. But will keep searching when I go there.


Keep riding and ride safe. Hope to see you back on bike.