2000 Kawasaki ZX6R-J1

A few months into the new millennium and the time had come to replace my tired ‘Bandit 600′ with a more exciting and involving machine. After much research and several test rides on the 600cc regulars as well as several other larger bikes I short-listed the wonderfully capable Triumph Daytona and the striking new fox-eyed ZX6R-J1. Not the most obvious of duels but at 6’ 5” tall, my height was the defining factor. I finally opted for the Kawasaki because it best suited my height and my intention was to eventually rebuild the bike as a track only machine, something the ZX6 would lend itself to well.

Upon collection I couldn’t get over just how sleek and handsome the bike looked in it’s black and silver livery. After making several quick adjustments to the levers and pedals I headed for the hills. With the truly massive fairing breaking the back of the wind-blast, a sofa-like seat and well judged peg height I was hugely impressed with the first class levels of comfort even after two hours in the saddle. However, a taller double bubble screen and height adjustable handlebars would be useful additions.

Sticking to the running-in schedule required restraint – being passed by black cabs and transit vans was a humbling experience but strict rev limits for the first 1000 miles equated to a top speed of 55mph at best! Several weeks later and with nearly 2000 road miles on the clock, the engine felt strong, not too peaky and with surprising torque for its size. It was time to strip the bike down and rebuild it as a track bike.

On the hunt for additional cheap horsepower I found fitting an ART race can and using super unleaded petrol proved effective and a subsequent dyno-run showed a marked improvement with nearly 105bhp at the back wheel! With all this ‘go’ you’d expect plenty of ‘stop’. The proven six pot Tokico front brakes didn’t disappoint – they felt strong and progressive although I did notice some fade and sponginess after pushing hard for 20 minutes on a dry tight track. Not unsurprisingly a set of HH race pads and braided hoses soon cured this. Marry this with some sticky Dunlop 207RR’s and you’ve got a serious stopping machine.

On standard suspension settings the forks dived and pattered excessively under heavy braking and the rear wallowed through some medium pace corners – after seeking advice I increased compression and damping at both ends and jacked up the ride height. As a result the bike felt sharper, planted and more stable, especially under heavy braking.

A minor electrical fault aside, my ZX6 has performed faultlessly over the past two years and taken over twenty trackdays in its stride. It’s a bike that inspires confidence and rewards good technique in a relatively unintimidating package.