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ZX-6R impressions / questions

  1. #1
    no can kneedown feralchimp's Avatar
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    Cool ZX-6R impressions / questions

    Buyer profile:
    - old enough to know better
    - somewhat unfit back / hips / knees but obvs that's all relative
    - loves upright seating
    - puts bar risers on everything
    - proven slow-as-hell on track on prior middleweight supersports

    Market considerations:
    - used bike prices still f'ing insane
    - Street Triples, RS660's, and new Monsters out of stock (and all euro)

    I went with non-ABS, black and teal. Zero miles!

    1. Motor break-in guidance is basically impossible to adhere to, but I tried.
    Guidance is <4k rpm for the first 200 miles; <6k for the next 200 miles.
    6th gear indicates roughly 10mph per 1k rpm, so it's a project.
    First oil/filter change was done at 430 miles.

    2. Averaged 46mpg over the first few tanks of gas (see above).

    3. I enabled the factory quickshifter (up only) at 400 miles.
    Works well as an in-traffic convenience feature for resting the left hand, and probably fine at my trackday pace. No data to back this up, but feels calibrated "for the street" and anyone fast on track would probably want more aggressive (or easily tunable) cutoff timing.

    4. Absolutely love the big-ass analog tach, the non-TFT dash, the switchgear, and the gearbox.
    Fuel gauge works. Gear position indicator works. Temperature readout is one press away, and stays selected across power cycles. Turn signals and horn are right where the thumb goes looking for them. The "positive neutral finder" works tits, and gets a ton of use at stoplights.
    This is mostly typical Japan vs. Europe stuff, but the aggregate quality of life contrast is pretty stark. Ducati should just stop making switchgear.

    5. I'm generally not a "loud pipes save lives" guy, but SO MANY drivers have blundered into my lane in one week riding this bike at low RPM. So many!

    Questions:

    Preferred source for "two inch longer brake lines" in the event I opt for some Woodcraft clip-ons with a built-in rise?
    Preferred source for a second wheelset?
    Tankbag / tailbag recommendations for a supersport?

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    -Jared
    ZX-4RR, Hyperstrada 821, ZX-6R (FS!), 701 E/SM (FS!)

  2. #2
    Lifer backinthesaddle's Avatar
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    Re: ZX-6R impressions / questions

    Sorry, no answers for your questions. But I love my 2013 and hope you enjoy your bike as much. Like that black / teal look you got. Main difference is your bike's generation gets the fuel gauge, better headlights, -1 on the front sprocket (though i recently went -1 +2), and the QS. Years later I am still on the oem pipe with the valve kept open (really does nothing for sound enhancement at low rpm I will say). When its time for a new bike I might upgrade to the newer generation for those worthwhile improvements.

    1 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    2013 ZX6R-636

  3. #3
    no can kneedown feralchimp's Avatar
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    Re: ZX-6R impressions / questions

    Thanks for the note about the stock gearing change; I definitely won't go down another tooth in the front. 2013 is a great-looking model year. Is it also in the range when they were putting Ohlins steering dampers on at the factory?

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    -Jared
    ZX-4RR, Hyperstrada 821, ZX-6R (FS!), 701 E/SM (FS!)

  4. #4
    Lifer backinthesaddle's Avatar
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    Re: ZX-6R impressions / questions

    Quote Originally Posted by feralchimp View Post
    Thanks for the note about the stock gearing change; I definitely won't go down another tooth in the front. 2013 is a great-looking model year. Is it also in the range when they were putting Ohlins steering dampers on at the factory?
    No damper after 2012. I think those Ohlins came with a very light oil (liability reasons maybe) so the hot set up was to replace the oil with a higher visc and maybe different valving.

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    2013 ZX6R-636

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