[imwayne002]

Hey everyone, I have been reading some posts on here and decided I would sign up and ask a question of my own. Planning on getting a bike pretty soon and wanted to know your opinions. I can ride good on a dirt bike and wanted to get a sportbike. I know I want a Ninja, and was wondering if the 500R is a good learning bike, or if I should just get the ZX-6R. I dont plan on buying a new bike anytime soon and was wondering if i would be wanting more power than the 498cc from the 500R. I was told by guys from work that its best to take off the fairings when I start riding incase I do drop the bike, the bodywork doesnt get all scratched up. Just wanted to know your input. With the 500R I would have enough cash left over for a few upgrades, but not a lot. Thanks.

 

[Green Knight]

I don't mean to offend anyone here but I would say the 600 just because I hate the looks of 500s. They need some better cosmetics REALLY bad. Since you've been on a bike before, if you take it slow there shouldn't be much problems. My oppinion is purely on looks though. A pimped out 500 can just about do anything a 600 can. A lot of people recommend the 500 and lower to learn on but I'm a fan of "just because the power is there doesn't mean you HAVE to use it." I don't ride my 900 like i'm racing everywhere. But I do like the power when I want it or need it.

 

[imwayne002]

wow! that was almost instantaneous! Well, I can see what you mean by cosmetics, I do like the look of the 600 a little more, but still love the look of the 500R. Thanks again and keep the replys coming!

 

[Green Knight]

Hehe, I had just logged on, late night today at work....

 

[Narcisse91]

What model year 600s are you looking at? If you want something recent years, I would go with the 500. I would buy a used one, save the extra money, ride it for a season or two, and then if you want the ZX-6R, either for performance or looks, buy it then. Bikes don't lose value as quickly as cars, and if you lay it down, you'll be glad you made that decision.

I went through the same thought process a couple seasons ago, bought a '98 EX500, and now I'm selling it to buy something else (for both cosmetic and performance reasons ).

 

[Aikata]

Depends on what you want from your purchase. The 500 is recommended more for a first bike than the 600... but there are thousands of opinions on the why's and hows.
I would say buy what you want to after doing some research on both bikes. Including sitting on them both. You should notice a radical difference in seating position from the dirt bike to the 600, but not so much with the 500.

 

[TrashMonkey]

DELETED

 

[ZX-2R]

Choice

I think htat it's a matter of what feels good under you. With the new ZX-6R's coming out you should get a great deal on either a used 500 or even a 600. Ther are differences between the 03, 04 and 05 ZX-6R bikes...reading up on them will help. I personally like the 250R, but a 500R would be cool as well. Insurance on either of them is nominal compared to the increase to the 6. What ever your choice is, it should be on the one that fits you the best. You can ALWAYS upgrade or downgrade, get a new one If you like the used one in the same model...

 

[imwayne002]

Yeah, I just looked at insurance quotes, and for the ZX-600R it was like another 4,600 bucks a year. The 500 was like $1500. I am gonna go with the 500 for that reason. I do have a job, but i cant fork out an extra 5 grand a year for insurance. Maybe when i get a better job, then Ill upgrade to a new 6R. But for now, a 500 is lookin better than anything

 

[ZX-2R]

USED

IF you buy used and pay cash, your insurance could be really cheap...if you carried only the state requirements, saving you that much more money a month...just eh cable/chain and locks in the backpack are tough to carry around...BTW you can usually put regular locks through the disk brake rotors, or at least through the rear sprocket and chain, a cable just keeps it from being lifted and tossed onto a trailer...

 

[Ban]

check around on insurance. With state farm you have to have your car with them too but the difference for me on my 500 vs a honda cbr 600rr was $0. I have my bike alone on progressive and if i move it to state farm i'll save almost $200 a year just switching. Plus they were right there with the others on some of the cars i've been looking at.

 

[ZX-2R]

State Farm

I have a Vintage 1970 bike and my insurance here near Kansas City is $46.00 a YEAR!

 

[r409z]

You can get just liability insurance on any bike financed by kawa under 10 G's....but if i was getting a 6r I think I would want full coverage. I personally pay just under $300 a year for minimum on a 500.

 

[ZX-2R]

FULL INSURANCE

IF I had a new bike dern tootin' I'd have FULL COVERAGE! IF'n I had a couple year old 500R, I wouldn't have to because ther aren't many vehicles taken out here in my neck of the countryside...on a farm. Gettin caught in someones barn or sneakin' round the property will get a Sherriff on you in a heartbeat...sometimes a slightly pointed shell of birdshot will burn ya. No, it's pretty safe out here... most of the problems is with hunters...but they already have guns, so it's kinda fair play to lob birdshot all over the place...gotta' love living on a farm to appreciate maybe...

 

[Green Knight]

Dang, I dont' know where you guys get insurance but look for something else or stop getting speeding tickets, hehe. That ZX-9R you see as my avatar only costs me $750 a year for FULL coverage with $500 deductable. That is 899cc compared to 599cc. I did look at insurance before I bought mine but I didn't let it play as much of a desision as the bike I really wanted.

 

[KTKwong]

Dang, I dont' know where you guys get insurance but look for something else or stop getting speeding tickets, hehe. That ZX-9R you see as my avatar only costs me $750 a year for FULL coverage with $500 deductable. That is 899cc compared to 599cc. I did look at insurance before I bought mine but I didn't let it play as much of a desision as the bike I really wanted.

thats real cheap for a 9r. Maybe its just the age. and i think its also how many vehicles you have under your insurance company that made yours so cheap no?

 

[Green Knight]

Dang, I dont' know where you guys get insurance but look for something else or stop getting speeding tickets, hehe. That ZX-9R you see as my avatar only costs me $750 a year for FULL coverage with $500 deductable. That is 899cc compared to 599cc. I did look at insurance before I bought mine but I didn't let it play as much of a desision as the bike I really wanted.

thats real cheap for a 9r. Maybe its just the age. and i think its also how many vehicles you have under your insurance company that made yours so cheap no?

I'm 20, and single. You don't get much worse than that. I have my S10, my ZX-7 and my ZX-9R on state farm. No tickets on my record at all.

 

[1Adam12]

Dang, I dont' know where you guys get insurance but look for something else or stop getting speeding tickets, hehe. That ZX-9R you see as my avatar only costs me $750 a year for FULL coverage with $500 deductable. That is 899cc compared to 599cc. I did look at insurance before I bought mine but I didn't let it play as much of a desision as the bike I really wanted.

thats real cheap for a 9r. Maybe its just the age. and i think its also how many vehicles you have under your insurance company that made yours so cheap no?

They dont live in the theft capital of the US!

 

[falcon]

ZX-6R or EX500 choice made simple...

The EX500 does 0-60 in 3.5secs and tops out at just under 130mph.

Do you really need to go faster than that? If so, get the ZX-6R.

 

[Green Knight]

ZX-6R or EX500 choice made simple...

The EX500 does 0-60 in 3.5secs and tops out at just under 130mph.

Do you really need to go faster than that? If so, get the ZX-6R.

Yes, I do .