Have a 09 Ninja 250. Thinking of upgrading to Yamaha FZ6R. Thoughts ?

[RedNinja09]

Hey all,

Althought I have always said, I will NEVER get rid of my 1st bike, my 2009 red Ninja. The need for speed is creeping into my soul. I want to go faster, I want to be able to keep up with traffic better and ride on the highway without fear of blowing off the road and jamming the throttle to keep up with the flow of traffic. Any thoughts ? Anyone have this bike ? What do you think ? I know I can sell my Ninja in about 3 seconds, for a down payment that isn't an issue.

Appreciated fellow Ninja riders.

Red

[setasai]

Hop on one and see how you like it. Nothing we can say will be as definitive as your own personal experience.

[kawboyCAFE]

the FZ6R is a real good bike. but it gets about 20 mpg less than your 250. at $4 a gallon and rising, its your call.

[RedNinja09]

Man, that is a LOT less MPG. That is something I didnt even think about. I dont know I am on the fence. I guess I need to do a little test drive....

[warlord]

It's like a 4 cylinder 650r and I honestly think it looks better, minus the mirrors. As for the fuel economy, it is a bit worse but so is just about anything compared to the ninjette. It's a good upgrade choice.

[Havok]

Look at the older fz6 bikes not the 6r. The 6r gets around 70 hp and the fz6 gets around 97. On my 07 fz6 I get around 50mpg my ninjette gets between 45 and 55 depending on how I am riding it.

[Too40gawlf]

Originally Posted by RedNinja09

Hey all,

Althought I have always said, I will NEVER get rid of my 1st bike, my 2009 red Ninja. The need for speed is creeping into my soul. I want to go faster, I want to be able to keep up with traffic better and ride on the highway without fear of blowing off the road and jamming the throttle to keep up with the flow of traffic. Any thoughts ? Anyone have this bike ? What do you think ? I know I can sell my Ninja in about 3 seconds, for a down payment that isn't an issue.

Appreciated fellow Ninja riders.

Red

Remember, the 6R is also at least a 100lbs heavier than your 250. Ive never ridden a 6R, but sat on one and it feels good. But that extra weight is going to make a difference in your day to day riding.

Honestly, you dont start to appreciate your 250 until you ride a bigger bike for a bit. There are many things about the 250 that you will miss when you get rid of it. I guess if you can only have one bike, get the one that works best for you - but the 250 has a lot more potential than you are giving credit for.

[sombo]

After demo riding a 2011 FZ6R at Daytona I have to say I was seriously impressed by it. The weight factor isn't quite as noticeable as you might think (and I have a pregen which is even lighter then your newgen ). It's supposed to get in the mid-40's for mpg, but I have read reviews of people easily getting into the 50's with it. It is very comfortable to ride, smooth in both the suspension and engine vibration. The power delivery was good at low rpm's then grows quickly after about 7k rpm. The seat height isn't much different but the shape and cushion of the seat is better (especially compared to the newgen).

The bike was designed as a do-it-all style of mid-range bike and it does it quite well. I was reading Beginner Motorcycle Reviews and one of the writers who has been a major fan of the SV650 for several years (always compares anything else he rides to that as it is his favorite) was won over by the FZ6R as his new favorite overall motorcycle above it's competition. So Yamaha must be doing something right with it. I plan on getting one in the future as well for more distant cruising. I plan to keep my pregen however and use it more as a local daily rider like I do now.

[GeorgiaHooligan]

Id go with the r6

[rockNroll]

CBR 600rr

[zilaniz]

R6 and fz6r is like comparing apples to oranges....both nice bikes though

Originally Posted by GeorgiaHooligan

Id go with the r6

[setasai]

What is considered a crappy bike? I always here recommendations about different bikes and from what I understand it's all about preference. What are some bikes to definitely stay away from?

[rockNroll]

Originally Posted by setasai

What is considered a crappy bike? I always here recommendations about different bikes and from what I understand it's all about preference. What are some bikes to definitely stay away from?

Green ones.

[kkim]

Originally Posted by rockNroll

Green ones.

[Xoulrath]

I saw that one coming, lol.

[Cuongism]

Honda rebels

[setasai]

Originally Posted by rockNroll

Green ones.

Oh ouch. That's cold!

[alex.s]

well i just picked up a 93 fzr600 a few weeks ago. it is more stable then the ninja on the highway with the massive wheels and tires. getting up to speed is less of an issue, but really the ninja 250 gets up to speed more than fast enough. going slow on the fzr takes much more attention both on the power control and on the steering.. that thing seems much harder to balance (i'm talking like <1mph). when you're already going fast, going faster for a quick pass or to get in the next lane or whatever is much easier obviously. having all that power can sometimes be a slight burdon... obviously i'm just not used to it yet but having to actively try to keep from putting down too much power to prevent wheelies or having your rear get squigly out is new to me and a little intimidating

that being said the newer fz6rs are more street bike than the fizzer and don't have as much twitchy throttle it seems... iirc like 15-20 hp less, but smoother and more torque for easier use on the street.

but anyway, buy what makes you fancy in the pants. almost any bike made by a reputable manufacturer is going to be a kick in the fun spot to ride. if you get bored with one, find one you aren't bored with. but honestly its not the bike you ride, its how you ride the bike. the ninja is an amazing bike and you can really have a ton of fun with it. maybe not the best bike for speeding on the highway though.

[coondog]

the class of 1998 was the year (is the year) when yamaha, kawasaki and aprilia blew the lid off of half litre performance, looks, blah blah. would love a 98 yama or kawa.

[blink]

Originally Posted by Havok

Look at the older fz6 bikes not the 6r. The 6r gets around 70 hp and the fz6 gets around 97. On my 07 fz6 I get around 50mpg my ninjette gets between 45 and 55 depending on how I am riding it.

ZX-6R is aloooot of bike. Unlike the 650R

[Live2ride]

I rode to a local dealer for fun today and saw the new fz6r, cbr600rr, r6, cbr250, and some others. I sat on all the models I listed and found that the fz6r is 1,000,000 times more comfortable than any of the rest. Me being a larger guy, 6'2", the bike was a perfect fit for a commuter / leisurely ride. It has a very upright riding position. The r6 had a great seat height for me (very high), enough for me to flat foot it and it felt comfortable until you bend down to grab the handle bars which seem to sit lower than the seat; putting a lot of weight on your wrists. The r6 looks bad a$$ (see below) but if I were to buy it my first mod would be handlebar risers. The cbr600rr was honestly a perfect fit for me, exactly what I look for in a bike; it has a medium seat height, the handlebars are low enough but not too low like the r6 (a great medium between our ninjettes handlebar height and the r6's), the windscreen was placed in a great position for me to tuck in behind it and the dash looks awesome. If I could get the feel of the 600rr in the r6 body I would be in love, but that might happen from simply installing the handlebar risers.

[MrBrownTX]

I expect an FZ6 or an SV650 will be my next bike. Something with some more guts but not something I have to lay down and strecth out across to ride.

[rc_cola]

Another one I'd consider is a Ducati Monster 696. I think it would be a great commuter bike, looks aggressive but still has a comfortable stance...

[coondog]

if you go used monster, go monster s2r, won't regret it. check 'em out.

[Toly]

I also wanted to move up from Ninja to an FZ6R... I was ready to dump my underpowered beast, and had a whole thread about it couple of months back. But I was able to go smart and talk my buddy into getting an FZ6R for himself... so I have now both bikes sitting in my garage

I rode the Yamaha yesterday. Being on public streets, I did not take it over 50 mph, so take what I say with that in mind. FZ6R is a nice, docile bike... nothing dramatic will be happening under 6K rpm or so. Powerful, but very manageable. Good looking. The only problem, it's not as much fun as Ninja. Honest. It's heavier and not as flickable in turns. The power comes easy, you don't have to work for it, and, frankly, it's less rewarding. Just twist the throttle, in any gear, and go. No flogging, no shifting, no clutch dumping. Like driving a car with an automatic. Perhaps the fun starts on the right side of the tach, above 50mph. I haven't taken it there, so I don't know. But, after a couple of miles on the street, I was looking forward to going back to Ninja. I am so glad I have not "traded up".

Figure out a way to ride one, and see for yourself.

[Nemesis]

All the cool riders are on a 600/650/1000cc bikes.

With that in mind, you should get one.

[shanesalty]

Originally Posted by Toly

I also wanted to move up from Ninja to an FZ6R... I was ready to dump my underpowered beast, and had a whole thread about it couple of months back. But I was able to go smart and talk my buddy into getting an FZ6R for himself... so I have now both bikes sitting in my garage

I rode the Yamaha yesterday. Being on public streets, I did not take it over 50 mph, so take what I say with that in mind. FZ6R is a nice, docile bike... nothing dramatic will be happening under 6K rpm or so. Powerful, but very manageable. Good looking. The only problem, it's not as much fun as Ninja. Honest. It's heavier and not as flickable in turns. The power comes easy, you don't have to work for it, and, frankly, it's less rewarding. Just twist the throttle, in any gear, and go. No flogging, no shifting, no clutch dumping. Like driving a car with an automatic. Perhaps the fun starts on the right side of the tach, above 50mph. I haven't taken it there, so I don't know. But, after a couple of miles on the street, I was looking forward to going back to Ninja. I am so glad I have not "traded up".

Figure out a way to ride one, and see for yourself.

Everytime I read reviews on the R6 they always bring up the fact that there is no low or mid range on the bike. Basically stating it is great on the track but no so much for street riding. Do you agree with that? I love the style and feel of the R6 but I will probably never do any track days so I want something for the streets.

[Toly]

Originally Posted by shanesalty

Everytime I read reviews on the R6 they always bring up the fact that there is no low or mid range on the bike. Basically stating it is great on the track but no so much for street riding. Do you agree with that? I love the style and feel of the R6 but I will probably never do any track days so I want something for the streets.

My comment was about FZ6R, not R6. I can't say about R6 (yet ). The FZ6R is easy to ride on the street, and feels more like sport touring bike rather than pure sports bike.

[shanesalty]

I feel like a dummy. lol

[Toly]

Lol... I hope the review on R6 will be quite different

[alex.s]

the low-end power on the fz6r is the reason it's a street bike. they stole some top end power to shove it down low. they used to have their fancy "exup" system which was a butterfly valve in the exhaust which basically choked it out when you were in the low rev range, which gave you great low-end grunt without sacrificing the top end much. but since the fzr split into the yzfs (r6) and the fzs (fz6r) they ditched the exup on the fz for cost and rejetted it for lower grunt... i believe they only use exup on the r1 now... maybe r6 too.

[coondog]

Originally Posted by RedNinja09

Hey all,

Althought I have always said, I will NEVER get rid of my 1st bike, my 2009 red Ninja. The need for speed is creeping into my soul. I want to go faster, I want to be able to keep up with traffic better and ride on the highway without fear of blowing off the road and jamming the throttle to keep up with the flow of traffic. Any thoughts ? Anyone have this bike ? What do you think ? I know I can sell my Ninja in about 3 seconds, for a down payment that isn't an issue.

Appreciated fellow Ninja riders.

Red

The Fazer has been a top worldwide performer for years and the bike was just re-done for 2010 @ $7k msrp. Great step up bike from the ninja, even tuned the same, ie; low and mid-range torque over top end (still does 120 like that).

[coondog]

Originally Posted by warlord

It's like a 4 cylinder 650r and I honestly think it looks better, minus the mirrors. As for the fuel economy, it is a bit worse but so is just about anything compared to the ninjette. It's a good upgrade choice.

Brainiac scores relentlessly.

[coondog]

Originally Posted by Nemesis

All the cool riders are on a 600/650/1000cc bikes.

With that in mind, you should get one.

Logic, why didn't any one of you others think of that. You better stick around dude, muey importante!

[Havok]

The fz6 has a stronger engine then the 6r. the 6r has plastic though. I love my fz6 mild easy going plenty of roll on power perfect for the street. take that baby up to 7k and its an entirely different bike

[TrueFaith]

I noticed my dealer still had an FZ6 from the last year of production on the floor the other day, so some dealers still have them. Not sure why Yamaha dumped the 600cc FZ for an 800cc model, but I've always thought the FZ6 was a great bike to move up to from the Ninja250. Much less twitchy and more comfortable than the R6.
I think I'd prefer the FZ6 to the FZ6R. I've always liked the naked look of the FZ6 and wasn't completely thrilled with the plastic they added to the FZ6R, nor the lower seat height. Both are good looking machines though. I still remember the first time I saw a Fazer on the street and wondering what planet it landed from. I miss that radical Yamaha styling that started in the 80s.

[Toly]

I was able to spend some quality time with the FZ6R today, and explore other facets of the beast. The bike pulls effortlessly, never straining, in any gear, at any rpm. The engine and power delivery are silky smooth, yet there is a noticeable inrush of power at 7K rpm all the way to the redline. It feels a bit disconcerting at first, but not overwhelming. You can get used to it quite quickly, and get addicted to it. But, if one were to truly ride it in anger (or make newbie mistakes), that would bring accelerations and speeds that would be outright scary to inexperienced riders.

So, while the left half of tachometer is quite civilized, getting into the higher rpm range brings a silly grin to the face. Whereas Ninja accelerates nicely between 9K and 13K, but runs out of steam before long, going fast on an FZ6R is no sweat... If you like wringing it out, the Ninja will be done accelerating before you're satisfied, while wringing out the Yamaha will overwhelm the unexperienced rider. You can use the power judiciously, and still have fun. However, the bike is noticeably heavier and not as nimble as Ninja. And if you really want to eventually wring it out, there are better sportbikes, like CBR or R6 with far better handling.

The bike is awesome as commuter - speeds of 50, 60 or 75 on the highway are non-events, the bike feels much more stable than Ninja, and is happy to roll, with plenty of power on tap.

In sum, FZ6R is a great highway bike and all-round bike. But unlike Ninja, it's not a hooligan bike. If you like hooning at sane speeds, stick with the Ninja. If you want a true all-out, high-performance bike, consider a CBR or equivalent. And if you want comfy commute with sufficient power and sportbike looks, get the FZ6R.

[backinthesaddleagain]

Ample supply of FZ6 up here. Also FZ6R.
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[backinthesaddleagain]

Just not sure about the cloud looking things on that R6, but the candy red color is sweet, but better than the R1 with those cloud/skull face things.

[clintalmighty]

Originally Posted by backinthesaddleagain

Just not sure about the cloud looking things on that R6, but the candy red color is sweet, but better than the R1 with those cloud/skull face things.

The R6 has skulls on it too, but other than that the color is amazing, looks 10x better in person. I checked one out at the local dealer the other day