z1000/zx6 comparison (long)

A comparison between my zx6 and the z1000, remembering that the suspension in the 6 isn’t standard, which makes it a completely different bike

I did roughly 600km on the zed on Sunday, but wasn’t impressed with it. It was really bouncy and seemed to wobble a bit, and at one stage the wind felt like it was trying to push me off the back of the bike, since then one of the wonderful workshop boys checked the tyre pressures and they were way too high.



I took the zed out again today, over Tambo (bloody roadworks)
Then I took the 6 for a spin

The zed pro’s:

tips into corners so easily and lightly it’s incredible. It loves corners, it encourages you to lean it, a little more, a little more, and has an awesome amount of torque pulling out of them.
The power, definitely faster than the six, with loads more torque (everytime i accelerate he whispers that he would really like to do a wheelie)
Love the way it looks
Comfortable seating position

Anti’s:

Wind buffering, about 115 the wind is pushing you around a fair bit, certain speeds seem to have different amounts of buffer
It’s doesn’t feel as stable as the six does in the corners and at speeds above 100
Bit higher and heavier makes it harder to push around
the seat is hard

When I jumped on the 6, my first thought was that someone was playing a joke and had lowered the bars on me! Obviously not but I’d forgotten how low they were. Started it up, thought wtf? I’d forgotten to take the exhaust bung out, so I removed that, much better, I seriously felt like I was on a pocket bike, it’s so little, and so uncomfortable!
There’s a country road close to me, that has a bit of everything, so I took the bike there for a spin. Revving the bike, my thoughts are what an angry little bike, he’s so raw and unrefined compared to the zed. But for a 600 he certainly has some stick, find myself revving him a lot harder than I used to, and grinning from ear to ear He sticks to the road like he’s on rails, I forgot how uncomfortable it was with the noises the bike was making, and how he handled, I was thinking I love this bike, he’s bloody awesome The suspension seems to be still stiff compared to the zed, but he handles the bumps a lot better than the zed does.

Pros:
Rides like he’s on rails, bumps no problem
A helluva lot of go for a little bike
The noise (motor, ram air and exhaust)
I love the way he looks too
I can touch the ground easier

Antis:
Riding position (I can’t believe I rode this bike all the way to vic)

Last edited by ttc on Thu Apr 06, 2006 8:20 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Once you put the same work into the suspension on the big Z that went into the 6, then do another comparison........back to back......see how they feel then.

When I tested the Z a couple of years ago ( and got the dubious distinction of being the very first Z1000 booked in Queanbeyhole.. ), it also seemed very small and 'petite' to ride. Great brakes, I wasn't too impressed with the seat , but overall it was great fun.

Nice report mate ..

Once you put the same work into the suspension on the big Z that went into the 6, then do another comparison........back to back......see how they feel then.

When I tested the Z a couple of years ago ( and got the dubious distinction of being the very first Z1000 booked in Queanbeyhole.. ), it also seemed very small and 'petite' to ride. Great brakes, I wasn't too impressed with the seat , but overall it was great fun.

and they love to wheelie...........

Nice report mate ..

yep good read, its funny how you get used to things and then when you sample something different what seemed normal, doesnt when you get back on.

Funny thing, it's only been a week since i rode the six, but it just felt so strange..

But it made me appreciate it so much more I seriously couldn't bear to sell it .. my very own pocketbike lol


but I do love the zed, for totally different reasons

i don't have the money to upgrade the zed's suspension Gos, otherwise I would for sure..

Funny thing, it's only been a week since i rode the six, but it just felt so strange..

2 days for me, and wow i "still* love my 9 (z thou is just a bored out 9 )

... its funny how you get used to things and then when you sample something different what seemed normal, doesnt when you get back on.

How true is that - mate, you wanna try swapping back and forth from an 05 ZX12 to a 1980 Z1000 now THAT is a culture *shock*

having said that, I still love punting the old Z around, and its still quick enough to hang onto Team Crim .......almost

Tan - its early days mate, once you sell the 6, you will have a few bob to put into your new scooter.......every time you look at the 6 now, you should be seeing - an 4-1 Akrapovic full TI system , an Ohlins rear shock, a RaceTech front end, a PCIIIr, etc etc.

Just think of the effective bling you can throw at it !!

sell the six?

can't i sell a kidney or something????

Now that you have had someone let a bit of air out of the tyres try going on a group ride and getting someone that knows whats going on to adjust the suspension for you, sounds like it needs a bit more rebound.

Just ask someone you trust.

yeah...you get used to the buffeting, I dont even notice it now, in fact I kinda like it.

and....cant you just swap the rear supension unit straight from the 6 into the Z, since youv'e worked the 6's. I though they were the same - bolt in jobby me thinks.

z thou is just a bored out 9

Bored out and detuned even if it has extra cubes

id love to compare a 9 to a zed thou, seeing as they are so closely related and all

Who are you having a dig at Bob??

There's sweet f/a that can be adjusted suspension wise I've already had that checked out

I'll do a zx9 comparison.. anyone want to lend me one

There's sweet f/a that can be adjusted suspension wise I've already had that checked out

i thought the forks and rear shock were the same, just one had adjustment and the other didnt.

i'm pretty sure you'd be able to swap the forks (then you get the radial brakes as well) and rear shock outta the 6. in fact that would be an interesting experiment

Well I'm guessing Tanya will behaving and extra arse surgically attached sometime soon and will keep them both

the zed only has rebound? adjustment on one fork, and no compression adjustment

I can't remember exactly what he said about the back, but basically it comes down to the zed's suspension is budget orientated, can't do much with it. i might jump on the bike today during lunch and go see the suspension guru and ask him if they can be swapped over..

Now that would be cool

they will swap over.
the Z has rear rebound adjustment. read ya book, its set up for a 70KG asian dude. to ride on their city streets..

http://www.riderforums.com
check here, there pages and pages of zx6 and Z swapsies... including the swing arm!! bling bling...