er-6n

[phoenix]

anyone happen to now anything about kawasaki's er-6n bike? I am thinking about that for my next bike next year and trying to get my research done. thx here is a pic of one
http://www.postimage.org/aV1Jywm0.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=aV1Jywm0)

[patrick_777]

It's basically a naked 650R. A good bike if you're comfortable with sportbikes. They're a little torquey on the bottom end, but have a very linear throttle and power curve. That doesn't mean it won't come out from under you though, it's still a fast bike and, if treated like a 250, will still go out of its way to kill you.

The Ninjas are a little top-heavy compared to most other sportbikes, and it's an extreme difference from the GZ.

[phoenix]

well thats a good way to change ones mind on a bike.
any recomdations for a novice really only real bike i have had is my gz. got 2500 miles on it. thats about all my experaince.
anyway i'm looking for a bit biger bike so i can do more than just go around town and the such with out pushing my bike to hard.

[patrick_777]

I bought an 08 Ninja 250R. It's really powerful enough to ride anywhere on (at 100mph if you want). The bike is very forgiving too. I had about 2500 on my GZ when I got the Ninja, and I had no trouble adjusting to it. Even the 500R is a fine upward step from the GZ.

That is if you're looking at a sportbike. Otherwise, if you're set on the cruiser riding position, then look into a 600cc cruiser like the V-Star 600 or even a Vulcan 500. They're both 65+ capable and will have very similar handling characteristics of the GZ.

I'd really suggest riding the GZ for at least a season if you have no other experience. They don't teach the MSF on it for nothing.

[patrick_777]

For some reason, I thought you had just bought your GZ. Forgive me. You should go sit on a LOT of bikes if you're seriously looking to upgrade, including the big liter-bikes and the giant cruisers. Then you can feel the weight and balance of them. Just don't get too anxious and let yourself get talked into something. Make sure you go in and let them know that you're seriously just there to sit...not to buy - then they'll pretty much leave you alone.

[primal]

Although YMMV, I think the Ninja 650 would be a perfectly acceptable second bike, even with your current experience. A lot of people actually recommend them to beginners, as they are still waaaay more forgiving than a 600cc supersport. Once you've gotten most of your newb mistakes out of the way on the GZ, then it really does become a matter of your maturity level in regards to riding a powerful bike (whereas perfect newbs can still be extremely mature, but make a little mistake that will kill them on a supersport).

Really, any upgrade to a larger bike will be a fairly extreme change from the GZ. I've got a bike that puts out around 55 HP now, but I was also looking at a bike that puts out ~70 HP (Yamaha Fazer 700) and would still feel comfortable riding it after my 3000 miles on the GZ. In some ways I wish I'd grabbed that Fazer up, as it was a really freakin' comfortable bike, but I know that I'm gonna have a blast when I get my KZ550 running anyway.

[alanmcorcoran]

Phoenix,

Think about what you want to do with your next bike:

1) Handle the canyons and twisties faster (Sport Bike)
2) Still want to cruise, but want to be able to go uphill and 75 comfortably (more powerful cruiser - check out Suzuki M50)
3) Want to tour (something with a fairing, bags and a trunk - gold wing)

Other things to look at:
1) Cruising distance (tank size x mpg.)
2) Insurance
3) Ignition type (FI or carb)
4) Drive type (chain, belt, drive)
5) Maintenance costs (4 cylinders? spoked wheels? carb? chain? plugs? One guy I know said the bigger the bike the less maintenance - it's not exactly true, but partially.)
6) Air cooled or not.
7) V twin or not.
8) Available service and accessories.
9) Dashboard stuff (tach, clock, gas gauge, auto blinker, fuel light, etc.)
10) If it's big, does it have a reverse?
11) Two up riding, or not.
12) Fuel economy (or lack therof)

You will get a lot of warnings on weight and power but, take it from a fellow newb: yes, a heavier bike is more of a challenge, but, unless you are weak and out of shape, you will adapt to it quickly. I LOVE the feel of my Strat (800+ pounds) on the highway and feel much safer than riding WTFO on the GZ. On the other hand, the GZ is fun to drive to work and back. I was going to get the Suzi M50 until I saw the '07 "New" Strats for less $$.

Just about anything you get is going to have more power than the GZ. You can eliminate a lot of bikes if you have a particular usage or spec in mind. Two things I wish I had paid more attention to is "How far can you go on one tank?" and "How much more will I have to pay in insurance?"

[phoenix]

thx for all the good info. by the time i go to buy one i will have prolly around 8-10k on my gz. going to hide the hell out of her this seasion. secend on what kind of bike i'm looking for. i'm looking for another naked bike like the gz. I like the more stright up riding. so that puts me in a bind there is not a lot of them out there. there is the gz for the cruiser kind of look and thats about it as far as i know. and all the semisport bikes are a huge jump in power to a gz. so i'm kind of a rock and a hard place.

[alanmcorcoran]

When it comes to bikes, there is no rock and there is no hard place. There's a myriad of bikes to choose from: way, way, more than is really called for. I recommend you ride some - do you have a rental place or maybe a bike club where some people might be dumb enough to let you try theirs? Talk to other bikers, ask them why they bought that particular bike. Ask them what they like about it. Ask them what they don't like. Ask them what they want to make sure they get on their next bike.

One great thing about the GZ... almost any new bike you get on will give you a near instantaneous "holy shit" - eating grin when you hit the throttle. As mentioned before, try to think about where you plan to take your riding. If you are just going to commute and save gas - keep the GZ and buy an American Bagger magazine and look at the pictures. If you want to do more, the best bike (from a dollars and features perspective) for you will be determined by the type of riding you intend to pursue. For example, the Strat *can* be used as a commuter bike, but the GZ is a much better choice for that.

[Water Warrior 2]

You might look to Suzuki if you haven't already. There is the Vstrom and the Gladius. Both have modern engines that are proven technology. Good versatile machines.

[phoenix]

You might look to Suzuki if you haven't already. There is the Vstrom and the Gladius. Both have modern engines that are proven technology. Good versatile machines. i have looked at all makers and read and watched a few reviews and most have put the er-6n on top. have a friend with a vstrom and its a bit to tall for me.
and as me getting another bike for riding around in town. Thats not going to happen i plan on keeping my gz for going back and forth work and the such. and what i ment by the rock and the hard place statment was that i dont want a rocket and i dont want a tank cruiser. and maybe i'm wrong but i'm not finding much in the middle of that.

[alanmcorcoran]

Look again. There's lots of bikes between rockets and tank cruisers. Take a look at Dupo's Shadow, f'rinstance. Or Lynda's M50.

[Easy Rider]

anyway i'm looking for a bit biger bike so i can do more than just go around town and the such with out pushing my bike to hard.

Unless you insist on riding on the Interstates (which isn't riding but "travelling"), then there is no reason your GZ can't STILL be your bike of choice.......unless there is something about that it that you really don't like.

It will exceed the speed limit on any 2-lane road I have ever seen; what more do you need ?

Maybe you should be looking more for a 600-800 cruiser or standard......like a Suzuki S40, S50 or M50........if you really HAVE to have something bigger. :roll:

[Water Warrior 2]

anyway i'm looking for a bit biger bike so i can do more than just go around town and the such with out pushing my bike to hard.

Unless you insist on riding on the Interstates (which isn't riding but "travelling"), then there is no reason your GZ can't STILL be your bike of choice.......unless there is something about that it that you really don't like.

It will exceed the speed limit on any 2-lane road I have ever seen; what more do you need ?

Maybe you should be looking more for a 600-800 cruiser or standard......like a Suzuki S40, S50 or M50........if you really HAVE to have something bigger. :roll:

Of those 3 bikes the "M" is the best bang for the buck. The S40/S50 bikes are carbs and more sportster in appearance. The "M" and "S"50 even have a shaft instead of a chain. Much cleaner overall and less maintenance.

[phoenix]

Easy Rider wrote:
phoenix wrote:
anyway i'm looking for a bit biger bike so i can do more than just go around town and the such with out pushing my bike to hard.


Unless you insist on riding on the Interstates (which isn't riding but "travelling"), then there is no reason your GZ can't STILL be your bike of choice.......unless there is something about that it that you really don't like.

It will exceed the speed limit on any 2-lane road I have ever seen; what more do you need ?

Maybe you should be looking more for a 600-800 cruiser or standard......like a Suzuki S40, S50 or M50........if you really HAVE to have something bigger. dont think i did the quoteing thing right sorry


Of those 3 bikes the "M" is the best bang for the buck. The S40/S50 bikes are carbs and more sportster in appearance. The "M" and "S"50 even have a shaft instead of a chain. Much cleaner overall and less maintenance. well thats what i'm looking for a 650ish bike thats not to sporty and not to much like a tank. have taken my friends aero out for a spin and it was way to big size wise for me. I also went and looked at the suzuki m50. looks like a ok bike but its a bit more than i want to spend and i'm sure it is a bit slugish or more than i would like on corning and such.

[Easy Rider]

Of those 3 bikes the "M" is the best bang for the buck.

That depends, in part, on what kind of "bang" you favor the most. :biggrin:

[KiwiGZ]

I am also looking to upgrade to a bigger bike, I have had my GZ for around 2.5 years and done over 11,000m on it and it has been great. But now I have finally got my full license (I have delayed getting it as was quite happy on the 250) and I want a bigger bike for commuting and doing some longer rides on. Also, having been to a track day with some friends, where I just watched the fun, I decided it is time for a change. I am probably going to go with the new Suzuki SFV650 Gladius, it has had pretty good reviews, especially for a first 'big' bike. I will be heading down to the shop for a test ride in the next week or two.

[Water Warrior 2]

Also take a peek at a Suzuki GS 500. A little long in the tooth but still a solid bike. A vertical twin, air cooled(?) and carbs. Almost a sport bike but a better seating position. Probably won't break the back compared to a true sporty bike and costs less. Still has about 50 HP so it could be entertaining for quite some time.

[alantf]

While I was out walking this morning, an er-6n was coming towards me. What a truly beautiful sound! Very much a throaty purr, rather than a growl. I wouldn't have relised what it was, if I hadn't have read this post, but I noticed the er-6n on the tank. A nice looking bike - but what a beautiful sound. :2tup:

[dannylightning]

if that is the kind of bike you want that is the kind of bike you should get, just drive around like grandma on the bike until you get comfortable with it, and when you are ready to push the bike harder when you start to get comfy on it only push a pinch at a time and roll that throttle slow and i do mean slow.

that is my opinion on jumping to a sport bike, just take it easy and be careful, very careful and respect the bikes power. i once rode soem kind of sports bike. and i did fine. only rode it around the block a few times slowly, remember its only gonna go as fast as you make it go.

[Dupo]

have taken my friends aero out for a spin and it was way to big size wise for me.

You being still new to riding and all i cannot stress this next sentence enough:

Every bike you ride will seem like a monster to you after only being on the little GZ. Take that into HEAVY consideration. That feeling of "OMG THIS IS A TANK" goes away after a few rides or a week or two.

That aero only weighs in at about 450-500lbs. And thats a MIDSIZE cruiser. If thats too large feeling, stay with the GZ.

[burkbuilds]

When I bought my Vulcan 500 this year the salesman speculated that they were possibly going to take the motor from the 650 and develop it into a cruiser style bike to replace the 500 since this is the last year they are making the 500. So if you like the cruiser style and want something in the 650cc range you might have that option in the near future if they do what he thinks they will.

[dannylightning]

Did you ever get a bike???