Speculation about the 2007 ZX6R and CBR600RR

[mmamster]

I found the following article on a french website:

http://www.motards-online.com/motorcycle-tests-reviews/news_332_2007-Honda-CBR600RR-and-Kawasaki-ZX6R.html

The english is the product of some kind of translator on the site and is a little rough.

2007 Honda CBR600RR and Kawasaki ZX6R

Written: 14/06/2006

It never comes as a bomb-shell when one of the 600 supersport machines gets updates and improvements to make them more capable on the roadracing track. However both Yamaha R6 and Suzuki GSX-R 600 got some serious and radical changes in 2006.

The CBR600 and the ZX6R wasn't here... Not that we would ever think that Honda would go as radical as the R6 with Fly by wire and a complete redesign.

But now that both Kawasaki, Suzuki and Yamaha feature a slipper clutch as standard this is the first thing Honda will change on the 07 600RR.

Honda CBR600RR 2007

The current RR only weighs 163kg dry so Honda only have to shave off a couple of kilos by using new wheels, redesigned underseat exhaust and higher quality suspension to bring it to the standards set by the GSX-R and R6. Honda can either increase the rev-ceiling radically like the R6 or go the safe Honda route similar to the latest Fireblade. The benefits by not looking for an extreme redline on the roadbike is that Honda can adjust the midrange to be meatier than the rivalling R6 and be able to keep up with the K6 GSX-R600 and 2007 Kawasaki ZX-6R. None of the Japanese manufacturers will take too much notice of the 675 Triple yet as it is unlikely Triumph will stay competitive other than on the roads for the next few years. Technology and racing heritage is king in this class where Yamaha is leading the technology race whilst Honda leads the exotic HRC component trickery that allows them race win after race win. The 1395mm wheelbase could become even shorter in 2007 if Honda decides to use its electronic steering damper. The damper would allow for a more aggressive rake for super quick steering. The tall gearing will probably stay as it also helps with sound tests as well as preventing wheelies at the start line and in first gear corners on the racetrack. And finally more power as particularly Yamaha and Kawasaki are now claiming astronomical (that’s probably what they are too) figures including ice-cold ram-air feed. We would not be very surprised if the new claimed figure is between 5-10 more bhp.

Kawasaki ZX6R 2007

Kawasaki on the other hand will almost certainly have a brand new 599cc engine with space shuttle technology. Kawasaki is more likely to have a go at the whole Fly By Wire throttle thing and other exotic solutions to benefit both the race teams and the techno freaks, that now is the potential buyers of the new breed of 600s, than Honda.

Things went wrong in the styling department for the 2006 ZX-10R and Kawasaki will not make the same mistake with the even more important ZX-6R. It is still believed that the new ZX-6R will get some similarities with the 10, but not many. A new exhaust system is on the table for the smallest ZX as it only conforms to Euro 2. We expect MotoGP style exhaust on the new Ninja and whilst both Suzuki and Yamaha has opted for a completely new solution we are unsure about whether Kawasaki will find this solution beneficial too. Kawasaki needs a brand new engine to take the firm firmly into the Euro 3 with room to compete and improve on horsepower and other important sales points in this class in the next three years. Currently Kawasaki is staying afloat with a 636cc engine and it is believed that this engine has reached the end of the development and that a new one will replace it. And that could just be the 599 now that Kawasaki has launched the ER6F that should allow Kawasaki to attack in full on sports mode again. To explain, Kawasaki needs the ZX-6R to win supersport races and it can’t continue developing the 636 separately. With a brand new engine it is doubtful that Kawasaki will launch both a new Euro 3 ZX-6RR and ZX-636R. The 636 was a nice trick, but we believe that Kawasaki wants you to buy the ER6F and N if you want strong midrange and torque whilst the ZX-6R goes back to being a technological showpiece and potential race winning machine. We can’t wait to see the new 600s even though they have a mountain to climb to be quite as ground braking as the latest offerings from Yamaha and Suzuki.

By Tor Sagen/CG by Luc1

Mark

[Stereo]

Interesting....

I'm not sure about this whole fly by wire revolution..... Unless you can plug your bike into your PC and control the programming it seems kind of crap.... You have to buy an aftermarket computer to make even the smallest change.... And considering EVERYONE does something to their bike in the end the most popular bike will be the one that people can most easily make changes to. At least with carborated bikes you could adjust cables and wires etc.... Sure it makes more sense to do it all computerised.... but still.

[Neka79]

Interesting....

I'm not sure about this whole fly by wire revolution..... Unless you can plug your bike into your PC and control the programming it seems kind of crap.... You have to buy an aftermarket computer to make even the smallest change.... And considering EVERYONE does something to their bike in the end the most popular bike will be the one that people can most easily make changes to. At least with carborated bikes you could adjust cables and wires etc.... Sure it makes more sense to do it all computerised.... but still.

kinda valid point mate, but look at how many PC111 get sold...
also, do u want the latest & greatest bike on the road to have carbs??

nah..stuff that...

[Stereo]

also, do u want the latest & greatest bike on the road to have carbs??

nah..stuff that...

Im not saying drop fuel injection.... But at the moment the bikes are a mix of computers and analogue signals....

Ok look at it this way.... The throttle would stop being a cable, it would be a turning digital knob... Kinda like the one on your stereo.... Now, those stereo knobs get a dirty contact and whammo, you suddenly have the volume at 20 gazillion decibels...

Now imagine that same scenario but instead of a volume knob it is a throttle on a 2008 zx10 with 180 horsepower......

[I-K]

I found the following article on a french website:

http://www.motards-online.com/motorcycle-tests-reviews/news_332_2007-Honda-CBR600RR-and-Kawasaki-ZX6R.html

...The 636 was a nice trick, but we believe that Kawasaki wants you to buy the ER6F and N if you want strong midrange and torque whilst the ZX-6R goes back to being a technological showpiece and potential race winning machine...

By Tor Sagen/CG by Luc1

Mark

Right. On the basis of the above-quoted statements, I am adding the name "Tor Sagen" to my list of motorcycle journalists who have absolutely no fucking idea about anything.

[mmamster]

I found the following article on a french website:

http://www.motards-online.com/motorcycle-tests-reviews/news_332_2007-Honda-CBR600RR-and-Kawasaki-ZX6R.html

...The 636 was a nice trick, but we believe that Kawasaki wants you to buy the ER6F and N if you want strong midrange and torque whilst the ZX-6R goes back to being a technological showpiece and potential race winning machine...

By Tor Sagen/CG by Luc1

Mark

Right. On the basis of the above-quoted statements, I am adding the name "Tor Sagen" to my list of motorcycle journalists who have absolutely no fucking idea about anything.

I saw another article to the effect that Kawa would go back to 599cc but also bring out a 750 version to compete with the gsxR750 and occupy the 'cheater' space the 636 would vacate.

[Neka79]

also, do u want the latest & greatest bike on the road to have carbs??

nah..stuff that...

Im not saying drop fuel injection.... But at the moment the bikes are a mix of computers and analogue signals....

Ok look at it this way.... The throttle would stop being a cable, it would be a turning digital knob... Kinda like the one on your stereo.... Now, those stereo knobs get a dirty contact and whammo, you suddenly have the volume at 20 gazillion decibels...

Now imagine that same scenario but instead of a volume knob it is a throttle on a 2008 zx10 with 180 horsepower......

oh no..the idea of fly by wire scares me (my stereo does exactly what u say)...but i like the idea of EFI..

I found the following article on a french website:

http://www.motards-online.com/motorcycle-tests-reviews/news_332_2007-Honda-CBR600RR-and-Kawasaki-ZX6R.html

...The 636 was a nice trick, but we believe that Kawasaki wants you to buy the ER6F and N if you want strong midrange and torque whilst the ZX-6R goes back to being a technological showpiece and potential race winning machine...

By Tor Sagen/CG by Luc1

Mark

i dont think this would happen.Maybe drop the 636 back to a 599 so they dont need to make 2 bikes, and can concerntrate on just one bike....BUT bring back the 750?? ..i highly doubt it..why would they?? only suzuki has one, and no real benefits over the 600..

[mmamster]

I found the following article on a french website:

http://www.motards-online.com/motorcycle-tests-reviews/news_332_2007-Honda-CBR600RR-and-Kawasaki-ZX6R.html

...The 636 was a nice trick, but we believe that Kawasaki wants you to buy the ER6F and N if you want strong midrange and torque whilst the ZX-6R goes back to being a technological showpiece and potential race winning machine...

By Tor Sagen/CG by Luc1

Mark

i dont think this would happen.Maybe drop the 636 back to a 599 so they dont need to make 2 bikes, and can concerntrate on just one bike....BUT bring back the 750?? ..i highly doubt it..why would they?? only suzuki has one, and no real benefits over the 600..

Well Ducati does a 749 as well I think. Suzuki use the same chassis/electronics etc for the 600 and the 750 according to the analysis I read. They make money out of it by capturing sales from other 600s by having the option of a higher torque/power machine which isn't as powerful as a litre bike. All the reviews of the 600/750 when launched said the 750 was the better bike, and when you see the sales figures for the combined bikes they are way ahead of the other japanese 600 bikes.

[Duane]

ducati are 2 cyl's completely different story, a 600 2 cyl would be gutless.

[mmamster]

ducati are 2 cyl's completely different story, a 600 2 cyl would be gutless.

True but the point is there is a market segment for 750s.

[Duane]

ducati are 2 cyl's completely different story, a 600 2 cyl would be gutless.

True but the point is there is a market segment for 750s.

If it's a two cyclinder, because a 2 cyl is considered at 750cc to be the equiv as a 600 inline.

[Neka79]

ducati are 2 cyl's completely different story, a 600 2 cyl would be gutless.

True but the point is there is a market segment for 750s.

If it's a two cyclinder, because a 2 cyl is considered at 750cc to be the equiv as a 600 inline.

correct!!
2 points for Duane.

it would make no business sense (hey..they MAY do it afterall??) to make a 750...why??

1.u cant race it unless its a twin..kwaka dont build twins, so why develop a whole new motor now?? especially when the 600's are proven and doin so well.

2.they dumped the zx7r when 750 werent raceable...and no one else (cept zuke) make one, so y bother??

3. they went for a 636 to capture more market share, but now they are finding it hard, the R & D has to be done on 2 diff motors..so why dump the 636, then have to spend $$ on a 750cc motor??

as i say...they may decide to do it...but i dont see ne point....better off making the 599 a competetive bike....

[mmamster]

Probably right neka but it would be a good option to have in my view. I have read so many good things about the GSXR750 that a kwaka 750 sports bike would be great to try out.

The other thing I wonder is whether an 800 production class will spring from the new MOTOGP bikes for 07 - seeing as ducati have launched one based on their 990 bike.

[GlennB]

That photo of the 07 zx6r is the real deal.Sore it on the front of the Motor cycle mag.Some people are saying its a photo shop done pic.

[Duane]

Don't believe everything you see on a magazine mate