I remember back in 1989, in Brazil, when the news of a new leap in the motorbike world was to arrive in the country. It was J. Toledo, the official and unique Suzuki importer to South America. You see at that time the tax on imported bikes or cars was over 200% We had very little info on the new GSX-R bikes arriving, but enough to make us, 5 friends including myself, start to dribble over it. Ordered one…
The bikes arrived at my city's airport inside a wooden box. That first ride was something that I will never ever forget! The power, the suspension and the torque. My previous bike was a Honda 1100 hurricane, but the Suzi blew our minds.
Why am I telling you it on my Kawasaki ZX6R article? Well, it's not because the ZX is faster, or more powerful, or has more torque than my old Suzuki GSX-R 1100 1989, or my ex-recent Gixxer 1000 K2, but this little Kawa brought to me that first ride sensation I had on the old Gixxer. That feeling of surprise, lightness, torque, handling, it all came to my mind. It was lovely!
Don't get me wrong here, I will explain it. After that first Gixxer, I changed my bike every year and sometimes twice a year. Always looking to be surprised the same way as before, but I just didn't feel the same way. Back in 2003 I had in my garage a 1999 Fireblade I bought when was new and a Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K2, new as well. I was using the Blade on the road and the other on road and track. I had a couple of falls on the Gixxer at Cadwell and Brands and wasn't felling right. Sold the Blade, bought a Scooter to commute as it makes more sense and what about the big thousand?
On trackdays I always heard that you don't need a big bike but big balls to be fast… and man, I have seen some guys on those little bikes flying by me as if I was in a reversing gear. I'm not a fast guy by any means but I'm sure I'm far from slow as well. So after loads of research and talking here, chat there, I decided to go for a 600.
I bought this Ninja in august 2004, and before I took it out of the shop I fitted some mods I thought would help me to feel more at 'home' on it and get the buzz I was looking for. So when I got the bike from the shop it already had most of the mods bellow, some I added after:
-Brembo master cylinder
-Gilles rearsets in black anodised/carbon heels
-Akrapovic slip on exhaust in carbon fibre
-Rear seat cowl
-Kawasaki small number plate Holder
-Mini indicators front and rear
-Mini number plate holder
-Carbon fibre engine cover on both sides
-Carbon fibre road tax holder
-Carbon fibre tank shield
-Carbon fibre petrol cap cover
-Complete set of R&G crash bung frame/forks/swingarm
-Rocket bracket exhaust hanger
-K&N performance filter
-Dynojet Power Commander III USB + 2hrs on the dyno developing a personalised map
-Dynojet quick shifter for PC III USB
-CRG flip over/adjustable clutch lever
-Braking wave rear brake disc
-Renthal rear and front sprocket with -1/+1 -AFAM performance chain plus titanium nuts
-Sprint steering dumper in black anodised
-Goodridge braided hoses front and rear
-Datatool digital gear indicator
-Carbon Lorraine double H race brake pads front and rear
-ProBolt titanium chain adjuster plates and axel nut
-ProBolt titanium pre-load adjusters
-OPP carbon fibre frame protector
-Pyramid carbon fibre left and right side dash cover
-Seastar Superbikes customised fuel injection map (3Hrs on the dyno)
Why was surprised when riding this bike? Well I'm not sure what I was expecting from it, but certainly as soon as I sat on it I felt it much lighter than the Gixxer 1000, god it is so much lighter and smaller. You really feel it straight away, just when you get in it and wobble it between your legs. The riding position, thanks to the Gilles rearsets, makes you feel more 'radical', you feel like you are right there in front of the bike and the tarmac looks nearer too. I practically had to re-learn how to ride a bike, because its engine character is hugely different, 15,000 revs are a lot more than the previous bikes I have owned.
The power comes in after 7-8 thousand revs and you have to keep it high to make the most of it, but it is exactly what I loved in this bike. On track I just feel that I can put more throttle out of corners than before, I'm still learning how to corner faster and brake later, but I'm definitely not intimidated by its power and I am actually now developing a better feeling for the tyres when I open the throttle, because the absence of fear of a highside, not that this bike can't high-side you, but it's much more forgiving.
The Dynojet quick-shifter is fantastic, and now with this new set-up from Seastar, it's really smooth and precise. It is now set to work after 7,000 revs and the kill-interval set to 75 milliseconds. I can't see my life without one anymore. The little Kawa needs a lot of gear changing, and with the gearing I'm using (-1+1) means the rev limit gets there quicker. The quick-shifter allows me to change gear without upsetting the suspension and better without the need to move for the gear lever, all whilst keeping the throttle wide open.
The brakes are radially mounted on this bike, and are really good as standard but the Brembo master-cylinder I fitted makes it as sharp as it could get for some 'little' money spent. If you place your finger on the lever you will feel that there's a powerful tool that will stop your bike if you squeeze it. Great as I need it to get near those 'big bike guys' out there, lol.
One thing I definitely recommend to you all is the full set of R&G protectors; frame, forks and swingarm. Plus, the frame protector that I got from OPP racing in Canada. It worth the money you pay, trust me!
The Power Commander USB III is not just a nice toy that allows you to see your bike fuel map on the screen of your laptop, but a powerful tool that can improve your bike's performance and fuel consumption. It's just a matter of optimising your bike's fuel set-up with the air filter you use and the exhaust system. It's worth it!
To finalise my experience with the Kawasaki 2004 ZX6R, I will say to you that I'm not considering coming back to a thousand cc in any case other than to pose with the fastest bike around! I love this little bike and I still have so much to learn with it that my 'buzz' has come back like with the old times, but now with more maturity and experience to learn from it.
By the way I'm this excited with this bike on its original tyres; just ask me again before I fit it with some stickier rubber! I can't wait!
Related GalleriesCezar's ZX6R gallery
