Current Generation 600 Forks

[SweetOnion]

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Hello everyone,

I am in the next month or two going to be upgrading from my Sv to a new-ish 600, most likely 09-11 Japanese 600.

What I am wondering is do all the current 600's have a Big Piston Fork? I know that that ZX6R has the Showa Big Piston Fork.

First part of the question: Do the R6, CBR and Gixxer have a similar fork, but Showa owns the term "BPF/Big Piston Fork" so the others can't use it?

Secondly does the Kawi actually have a better fork than the competitors, performance wise? Are they harder to service than a regular fork? I also know that the fork has top out springs. Will this affect long term cost of ownership?

I am going to be riding track days on the bike. Thanks for answers.

 

[Jlin]

i don't know whether or not the big piston forks perform better, but i've heard that they're very difficult to service

 

[murf]

Hello everyone,

I am in the next month or two going to be upgrading from my Sv to a new-ish 600, most likely 09-11 Japanese 600.

What I am wondering is do all the current 600's have a Big Piston Fork? I know that that ZX6R has the Showa Big Piston Fork.

First part of the question: Do the R6, CBR and Gixxer have a similar fork, but Showa owns the term "BPF/Big Piston Fork" so the others can't use it?

Secondly does the Kawi actually have a better fork than the competitors, performance wise? Are they harder to service than a regular fork? I also know that the fork has top out springs. Will this affect long term cost of ownership?

I am going to be riding track days on the bike. Thanks for answers.

Since last year the Suzuki also has those forks.
I doubt the performance difference would matter.......lots of serious track riders revalve anyway. Some regular forks have top out springs....doesn't matter. The BPFs have fewer parts in them as well.....would think simpler to service.

 

[mmmnaked]

I believe the GSXR600 got BPF last year ('11)

The R6 and CBR600 don't have em. And yeah, it's a Showa thing.

Conceptually it's a better system, no question. In practice? Who knows. If you're comparing a stock ZX6 BPF fork to a tuned and properly set-up more conventional fork on another bike? Clear answer.

And whether you're a good enough rider to actually be able to recognize and benefit from any minuscule difference in performance these forks may provide? That's up to you to decide. I wouldn't base my bike purchase around it though.

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