Just got a 2009 ER-6N. And another one gone, and another one gone...

[Reddoak]

Didn't bite the dust, got traded in for a new (old stock) 2009 ER-6N. Loved the little red bike, but it got to be a bit overwhelmed when I put my 10 year old on the back to ride around... so... larger bike.



I find myself comparing to the 250 a lot so far.

Handling: Just as good, so far. The 250 was more capable a bike than I was a rider. The Er is about the same.

Feel: A little more comfortable once rolling. I'm not tall (5'7") and I could flat foot both feet on the 250. Not so on the Er. Close... but not quite. The position with feet up and rolling feels better on the Er. But only by a small amount.

Seat: Yeah... they both aren't great.

Power: Who knows? I'm still breaking in the Er, so I'm taking it way easy. That said... It feels way more powerful keeping it under 4k than the 250 felt at 10k. There's just more, no surprise there, duh!

Looks: Um. The 250 looks nicer. I like the Er, but it's weird looking. The 2008+ 250R looks all business. It's a little dog dressed up as big one.

2 up riding: Hands down to the Er. No contest. Feels more capable right from the start.

Value: Well.... To be honest... the Er takes it. Only because I paid full MSRP for it (oops!) and paid $4,600 for a leftover Er. It was a hell of a deal. At MSRP, the 250 probably takes it.

Anyways, having had my 250 for 2 years and 11 months, I can honestly say it's a true classic in it's own right. Kawi really did right on this one, and it's one of the all time best bikes ever, small or large.

[Yasko]

Hot looking bike...

[backinthesaddleagain]

Awesome, great deal too.

[grandelatte]

Nice bike. Congratulations!

[bob706]

Congrats

[trex]

i want one of these...wish they would bring the other colors over to the states...

[gogoKawi]

Congrats. Looks like it will be a fun bike.

[pathfinder]

That is best looking pic of an ER-6n I have seen. Good choice!

[CC Cowboy]

Clean your garage.

Did you realize that bike isn't green?

[Reddoak]

Originally Posted by CC Cowboy

Clean your garage.

Did you realize that bike isn't green?

My garage is clean. All the clutter liked the new bike so much it crowded around to see the new guy. There were no green 2009 Ers...

[Reddoak]

So after 3 years of having a 250 with a 2 Bros from day one... Even the wife thinks the new ride is too quiet.

2 Bros. is out. I liked it, but it was a bit... much.
Thinking Leo Vince or Vance and Hines. Any opinions?

[Yasko]

How's that bike on the highway??? How are the brakes??? What kinda of mpgs do you think you will get??? How's the open air without a windscreen???

I like that bike, but hard to find 2nd hand, and I was not sure about the no windscreen for highway ridding... Great under the radar bike...

[Reddoak]

Originally Posted by Yasko

How's that bike on the highway???

Terrific! It sits at about 5-6K rpms on the highway. Much nicer than the frenetic engine speeds of the 250. Acceleration, if you need it, is brisk. No downshifts needed. The bike is well planted and feels plenty stable. See below as far as wind goes...

Originally Posted by Yasko

How are the brakes???

Could be better. The stopping power is fine, but the feel is meh. Hard to define, but the 250 felt better, although the Er is fine. The one thing that is better for braking is the front forks. The 250 always felt like I was compressing them right to the bottoms, the Er is a bit stiffer.

Originally Posted by Yasko

What kinda of mpgs do you think you will get???

Low to mid 40s. I was getting 55 on the 250.

Originally Posted by Yasko

How's the open air without a windscreen???

In Florida, I like wind blast! On the highway, however, it's a different experience. If I did a lot of highway miles, I'd invest in a wind deflector (there are a few) because it's fairly strong at highways speeds. I find myself leaning forward to compensate, not uncomfortable, but it's there. On the 250, I found myself leaning forward to tuck and make it easier on the bike...

Originally Posted by Yasko

I like that bike, but hard to find 2nd hand, and I was not sure about the no windscreen for highway ridding... Great under the radar bike...

I liked the 250, I like the Er just as much.

[Yasko]

Thank you very much...

[DR1300R]

Looks like a mini B King... Ugly..

Very good review though..

[Reddoak]

Originally Posted by DR1300R

Looks like a mini B King... Ugly..

Very good review though..

Kawi says it has "sharp masculine styling" not a weird looking snout. So... I'm on a dude? What? I'll stick with weird. I drive an weird looking car, too, so what the hell?!

It is a bit insect like, sort of... I like it, but the 650R is the nicer looking bike of the two. The only real gripe I have is the turn signal/radiator cowlings on the sides.

I rode around my 250 w/out fairings for a few days (working on stuff) and it looked pretty homely without its clothes on, too!

[Yasko]

I love the look...

It's also cool that not everyone has one...

[Reddoak]

It is kind of interesting, the comments are different now:

Before: It's a Ninja 250.
Comment: Oh. Should have got a literbike.

Now: It's an ER-6N
Comment: A what? Should have got a literbike.

[c-dog]

-

[Yasko]

Originally Posted by Reddoak

It is kind of interesting, the comments are different now:

Before: It's a Ninja 250.
Comment: Oh. Should have got a literbike.

Now: It's an ER-6N
Comment: A what? Should have got a literbike.

Yes it's can get to be a pain... I get "You look like a state road worker in that safety vest..."
I respond with "Can you see me???, Then shut the Hell up..."

[Xoulrath]

Nice bike. There are some great deals to be had on the ER-6n at some of the dealerships here in Georgia. I have seen them as low as $4,999. I imagine you could probably get on for close to $5,500 OTD. Great looking bike, it is weird yes, but weird is good. I have a friend who wanted to buy one but he has a baby on the way and is in the middle of finishing school.

[Reddoak]

My boring ride to work... Compare it to Kkims epic video... This is how the other half lives!

Link to original page on YouTube.

[Davis937]

Congratulations on the new bike ... I envy you. Yeah, like some of the other posters I've been an admirer of the ER6N ... Call me quirky ... but ... I think the bike is really nice looking (granted, different from the ninja 250) but beautiful in a ... hmmm ... quirky sort of way. At least people will do a double take of your bike. How do you like the "upright" riding position ... almost like a cruiser, I imagine. I'm very interested in your impressions of the bike and how it handles ... I don't know anyone who owns an ER ... I really like that there are not too many on the road. It's nice to be special, no? Ride safe ...

p.s. I'm also a short rider (only 5'4") ... I understand the 2010 or 2011 ER has a reduced seat height of 29 inches ... that helps.

[dtyndall]

Congrats on the new purchase, man. Sounds like you got a great deal. I personally prefer the 650R but for the steal-of-a-price I would've jumped on it too. What's next for ya?

[Reddoak]

Originally Posted by Davis937

Congratulations on the new bike ... I envy you. Yeah, like some of the other posters I've been an admirer of the ER6N ... Call me quirky ... but ... I think the bike is really nice looking (granted, different from the ninja 250) but beautiful in a ... hmmm ... quirky sort of way. At least people will do a double take of your bike. How do you like the "upright" riding position ... almost like a cruiser, I imagine. I'm very interested in your impressions of the bike and how it handles ... I don't know anyone who owns an ER ... I really like that there are not too many on the road. It's nice to be special, no? Ride safe ...

p.s. I'm also a short rider (only 5'4") ... I understand the 2010 or 2011 ER has a reduced seat height of 29 inches ... that helps.

Handling.... Hmmm.... Well, I know it feels like I could take a corner faster on the 250 at this point. The Er handles bumps better, the 250 seems a bit jumpy on rough roads. Odds are, I would enter at a higher speed on the 250, but exit it faster on the Er. The 250 felt a bit tighter, if you know what I mean. The Er is noticable heavier, but carries its additional bulk low enough that I was comfortable very quickly in a parking lot or driveway, so there's no problem there. The 250, being lighter, was quicker to flip from a left to right leaning position (or the other way) than the Er is.

As far as seat height, the 2009 I have is a little higher than the 250 was. At 5'7" I can just flat foot it with boots on. The bike is narrow. At 5'4" I suspect you would be one footing it at lights. The lower 2010+ might help. There are lowering links out there if not.

The position is a bit more upright than the 250, by not by loads. My wrists definitely like it better!

Originally Posted by dtyndall

Congrats on the new purchase, man. Sounds like you got a great deal. I personally prefer the 650R but for the steal-of-a-price I would've jumped on it too. What's next for ya?

If anyone asked what my next bike would be for the last three years, I would have probably said the 650R, as well. Seems like the logical next larger bike from the 250R. I've liked the ER-6N since they came out, however. And at the price? It was a no-brainer...

Next? Nothing for a while. This may sound stupid... but I may save up and buy a pre-gen 250 just to screw around with. They are stupid fun... In some ways I preferred the little Ninja. It was nice to open the throttle full bore, all the time.

[dtyndall]

Originally Posted by Reddoak

Next? Nothing for a while. This may sound stupid... but I may save up and buy a pre-gen 250 just to screw around with. They are stupid fun... In some ways I preferred the little Ninja. It was nice to open the throttle full bore, all the time.

All while getting roughly 50-60 mpg, right? lol. By the way, I just signed up on Fuelly, add me on there. My username is dtyndall!

[Reddoak]

Originally Posted by dtyndall

All while getting roughly 50-60 mpg, right? lol. By the way, I just signed up on Fuelly, add me on there. My username is dtyndall!

Done! I got about 53 on my 2008 as an average...

[dtyndall]

Originally Posted by Reddoak

Done! I got about 53 on my 2008 as an average...

That's not too bad. Come to think of it I would only get ~170 miles out of a topped off tank. Probably from trying too make up for the lack of speed by winding the hell out of it, lol.

Anyway man, take care and congrats again on the purchase. I'll see you around on here and keep track of the new bike on fuelly.

[caps]

LOOK AT THAT SWEET MAZDA3!


Lol, but seriously I was up at the Ducati dealership by you today (my buddy works their) and he was offering me some stupid low prices on a Duc, but as soon as I sat on one I knew instantly that it wasn't the bike for me. I want something that I could hop on and run up to the Wednesday night meet, or go to Daytona for the weekend with the wife. A Duc just isn't that bike... at all!

I'm leaning towards a CBR lately.

[Xoulrath]

Originally Posted by caps

I want something that I could hop on and run up to the Wednesday night meet, or go to Daytona for the weekend with the wife. A Duc just isn't that bike... at all!

I'm leaning towards a CBR lately.

What Duc are you looking at? I have heard nothing but rave reviews about the Multistrada 1200. Sure, it only does mild off-road duty, but that shouldn't be a problem given what you are looking for. Cost is the factor for most people I would imagine.

[caps]

I was going to get the only Black 1198 SP for sale in the country. The only other one was purchased a few days ago by the owner of Patron.

They did have a flat black 848 EVO that was gorgeous, but im a Subaru man and could never own anything referred to as an EVO

[Reddoak]

At my signal, unleash hell...

[Reddoak]

NOW!

[Reddoak]

Left my house at 5:30 this morning. Stopped by my office, then headed south. 225 miles and 4 1/2 hours later I was in Miami.


Longest ride yet on the Er...

[Live2ride]

Originally Posted by Reddoak

Left my house at 5:30 this morning. Stopped by my office, then headed south. 225 miles and 4 1/2 hours later I was in Miami.


Longest ride yet on the Er...

Nice! I bet that was one hell of a fun time.

[GeorgiaHooligan]

Sweet, except for the front . Its ugly as hell.

[Reddoak]

Originally Posted by Live2ride

Nice! I bet that was one hell of a fun time.

Well... I could lie about it...

Mostly it was long. Here's the deal: Last Sunday I had a work delivery in Biscayne Key, all the way on the south end of Miami. On the way out, my E150 van started shuddering violently and clunking. The bad kind of clunk... The tow truck kind of clunk...

Anyways, I got it towed to a repair shop (with me sitting in the van, on the flatbed, whee!), and rented a mini-van from the airport to get my gear and the guy I had with me back to Orlando. I called the repair shop the next morning to let them know what was going on, then mailed them the keys.

They called back, the front wheel bearings were toast, 170,000 miles on the van, so... I had them repair them. Problem is, I'm super busy at work, and couldn't find time to get down and get my van back.

So this morning, I dragged my ass out of bed at 5:00, drove to my office and picked up paperwork, the rode south to Miami. It was cool and foggy, and I pretty much froze until I broke out my rain gear and put it on over my jacket. The bike is pretty comfortable, all things considered, but by the time I got down there, I was ready to be off of it!

Three of the mechanics came out to give me hand loading the bike in the van. All three were riders (NICE!) and one even owned a Z1000 (very NICE!) so I had help from people that actually didn't want to bash up up my bike.

So, bike in truck, I drove back to Orlando. I went as early as I did, because my family had plans to visit my parents for Easter dinner (both work tomorrow) at 3pm. So... Early, and long, day for me. I haven't got back to my office to drop off the van yet, so it (with my bike in it) are spending the night in my driveway. I'll drop off the white whale tomorrow sometime... And get another nice Sunday ride in, heh heh!

Honestly, if I had had more time, I would have taken back roads (US441 mostly) the whole way, at a slower pace. I would have enjoyed that a bit more than bombing down the highway at 75-85 MPH, but hey! Any excuse ...er... reason to ride is good enough for me!

One nice thing though, I'll fill out an expense report, and be reimbursed the current mileage rate (I think it's around $0.50 per mile or so) for using my own vehicle... So it was a free ride!

[Reddoak]

Originally Posted by GeorgiaHooligan

Sweet, except for the front . Its ugly as hell.

Shaddup.


Yeah, they are a bit weird looking... I've only seen one other on the road since I've gotten mine. So they never really caught on. Ride one sometime, the front looks fine from behind the handlebars!

[Live2ride]

Originally Posted by GeorgiaHooligan

Sweet, except for the front . Its ugly as hell.

I love the look of the er6n, I'm just not a big fan of the dash.

[Xoulrath]

Originally Posted by Reddoak

the front looks fine from behind the handlebars!

And that's the only thing that matters!