How does it feel to go to an SS from a Sport? | GTAMotorcycle.com

How does it feel to go to an SS from a Sport?

shakalaka

shakalaka

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I've been riding a 2013 CBR500RA for a while now and was looking to move up to a 600. Just demoed the 2014 ZX-6R and the seating position felt so unnatural and uncomfortable that I couldn't even get into enjoying the ride. You're so leaned over that it almost feels like you're going to fall over the handle bars. And it feels nowhere near as nimble at slow speeds, but maybe that's to do with steering damper? Cause I tried slaloming in my lane and it was impossible to do.

Am I overreacting here? Is this something that you get used to? Cause I can't imagine riding in that position for more than an hour. The power was definitely impressive though :)
 
shakalaka said:
I've been riding a 2013 CBR500RA for a while now and was looking to move up to a 600. Just demoed the 2014 ZX-6R and the seating position felt so unnatural and uncomfortable that I couldn't even get into enjoying the ride. You're so leaned over that it almost feels like you're going to fall over the handle bars. And it feels nowhere near as nimble at slow speeds, but maybe that's to do with steering damper? Cause I tried slaloming in my lane and it was impossible to do.

Am I overreacting here? Is this something that you get used to? Cause I can't imagine riding in that position for more than an hour. The power was definitely impressive though :)
Click to expand...

SS bikes are meant to be raced. You think the ZX6 was bad, try an R6 lol. You want more comfortable, get a GSXR750. 600 is same size, just smaller engine.... Once you get used to the 750 flash the ecu for more power. You'll never need a Liter bike this way or need to upgrade. CBR 500 from my experience riding it sacked horribly. Rather rode a CBR 250 over it. You'll get used to riding a 600 or 750 in no time. It's horrid for long hauls, bad in the city, perfect for track. Try out the Yamaha FZ-09. Upright seating position, 800 and something CC triple and it has a crazy amount of torque.
 
kahuna has the 2013 zx6r on sale for $8400.... even not needing another bike its tempting.
 
I would say from the bikes I've ridden that newer r6's, triumphs daytona 675 and ninjas are the most aggressive position and wouldn't be comfortable for long periods of time. I'm 5'10" and I can't touch flat foot on the r6 because the assignment is way up high. Personally I find the gsxr and the cbr not bad. I can ride my gsxr all day and I'm good. You more sit "in it" than on it if that makes sense.

Regardless of what you choose it will be an adjustment. Supersports aren't meant to be comfortable. They're meant to be quick and nimble. The power is way more impressive once you learn to corner on one. Maybe go to a dealer and even try sitting on a cbr or gsxr and see if it feels any better.
 
shakalaka said:
I've been riding a 2013 CBR500RA for a while now and was looking to move up to a 600. Just demoed the 2014 ZX-6R and the seating position felt so unnatural and uncomfortable that I couldn't even get into enjoying the ride. You're so leaned over that it almost feels like you're going to fall over the handle bars. And it feels nowhere near as nimble at slow speeds, but maybe that's to do with steering damper? Cause I tried slaloming in my lane and it was impossible to do.

Am I overreacting here? Is this something that you get used to? Cause I can't imagine riding in that position for more than an hour. The power was definitely impressive though :)
Click to expand...

I went from a 650r to a ZX-6R two years ago and I know how you feel. My first minute on it made me feel like my head was over the front tire, the riding position was so aggressive in comparison to my sport-tourer.

After about half an hour, I felt totally at home though. The acceleration is obviously nice but I rarely took advantage of it over the power my 650r had. The big visceral change is in responsiveness: the engine and brakes reacted much quicker but the STEERING became telepathic. I never realized how slow the response on my sport-tourer was until I got really comfortable on my supersport. Unless I was getting a pure commuter bike, I'd have trouble going back down from an SS now.

And at 5'9", I'm only just able to comfortably ride for long distances on the ZX6R. Anything seated higher would be tiring (was practically on my tippy-toes when parking a Triumph Daytona 675).

Initially, it is much more tiring on the wrists and back but I just adapted to using my core more to keep me stable and was fine after a few days or weeks. The insurance and gas hit going up about 50% always take some getting used to... and SSes are theft targets, at least if they're new, so I hope you thought that out (my 2011 was nabbed in Sept, alarm notwithstanding).
 
Matthew.Tremayne said:
SS bikes are meant to be raced. You think the ZX6 was bad, try an R6 lol. You want more comfortable, get a GSXR750. 600 is same size, just smaller engine.... Once you get used to the 750 flash the ecu for more power. You'll never need a Liter bike this way or need to upgrade. CBR 500 from my experience riding it sacked horribly. Rather rode a CBR 250 over it. You'll get used to riding a 600 or 750 in no time. It's horrid for long hauls, bad in the city, perfect for track. Try out the Yamaha FZ-09. Upright seating position, 800 and something CC triple and it has a crazy amount of torque.
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LIEEEEEEEEEEES! lol
 
If the an SS bike feels that "unnatural" to you, have you considered a larger non-ss bike? If you like the riding position/comfort of your CB500 but want more power, there are several options in a 600cc I4 design. Suzuki GSX650F (looks pretty sporty too with the full fairing), Honda CBF600/1000, Yamaha FZ8/Fazer8, Kawasaki Ninja 650 (parallel twin) etc. All of these will offer a great deal more power and handling while still being a LOT more comfortable for real world riding.
 
Doesn't your penis grow bigger when you get a SS ?
Seriously, I'm not sure why a SS is attractive to people.. there are decent non SS that can deliver some power and a good ride.. Ninja 1000, FZ1, Z1000, speed triple...
 
It does. It also makes your hair turn grey in a jiffy.
 
Matthew.Tremayne said:
SS bikes are meant to be raced. You think the ZX6 was bad, try an R6 lol. You want more comfortable, get a GSXR750. 600 is same size, just smaller engine.... Once you get used to the 750 flash the ecu for more power. You'll never need a Liter bike this way or need to upgrade. CBR 500 from my experience riding it sacked horribly. Rather rode a CBR 250 over it. You'll get used to riding a 600 or 750 in no time. It's horrid for long hauls, bad in the city, perfect for track. Try out the Yamaha FZ-09. Upright seating position, 800 and something CC triple and it has a crazy amount of torque.
Click to expand...

GSXR750 is like a beefy 600 not a liter bike or even close.
 
Morrissey said:
If the an SS bike feels that "unnatural" to you, have you considered a larger non-ss bike? If you like the riding position/comfort of your CB500 but want more power, there are several options in a 600cc I4 design. Suzuki GSX650F (looks pretty sporty too with the full fairing), Honda CBF600/1000, Yamaha FZ8/Fazer8, Kawasaki Ninja 650 (parallel twin) etc. All of these will offer a great deal more power and handling while still being a LOT more comfortable for real world riding.
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This is why I am waiting on the new CBR650F....87hp and no fetal position. As much as I liked the CBR600RR I test rode, I like to ride for hours on end which would be hard on that bike, plus given she doesn't 'sing' until you are way past the legal limit it would be too easy to get into 'trouble' at some point down the line.
 
kiwi said:
Doesn't your penis grow bigger when you get a SS ?
Seriously, I'm not sure why a SS is attractive to people.. there are decent non SS that can deliver some power and a good ride.. Ninja 1000, FZ1, Z1000, speed triple...
Click to expand...

For some people, life begins at the corners.

Some people like it for aesthetic reasons. Same as some people who buy Porsches & don't floor it
 
I spent 20 yrs on a supersport before I went racing.
I wouldn't bother again.
There are so many standard style bikes with supersport quality suspension and brakes, that I can't be excited about the fairings and horrible seating position.
If I wers shopping, the Yamaha FZ's that just came out would get my dime.
And there are many naked bikes that turn as well or better than a supersport bike. The short clipons of a supersport limit the leverage you can have, in the name of aerodynamics. Tight roads where speeds are less than 80 mph favour the nice wide bars of an upright naked bike. Back to back, I am much quicker thru a road like Deals Gap on my KTM than I ever was on my GSXR1000
 
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shakalaka said:
I've been riding a 2013 CBR500RA for a while now and was looking to move up to a 600. Just demoed the 2014 ZX-6R and the seating position felt so unnatural and uncomfortable that I couldn't even get into enjoying the ride. You're so leaned over that it almost feels like you're going to fall over the handle bars. And it feels nowhere near as nimble at slow speeds, but maybe that's to do with steering damper? Cause I tried slaloming in my lane and it was impossible to do.

Am I overreacting here? Is this something that you get used to? Cause I can't imagine riding in that position for more than an hour. The power was definitely impressive though :)
Click to expand...

If I could do it all over again I would've gone from my GS500F to one of the liter naked bikes. Just as much power as my GSX-R750 but a much more upright position and clearance isn't an issue (every try turning fast on a cruiser? I think my penis turned into a vagina when I tried).

If you're dead set on getting an SS as an upgrade, start doing some backsquats or whatever to strengthen your quads. The proper riding position on an SS involves a tense lower back and tense legs to keep your body in an angled position. The upper part of your body, including your arms, should be relaxed and your grip should be loose (firm if you're going spiritedly through corners...not death grip though!) on the handle bars; there should be no weight on your wrists.

As others have said, the GSXR is the most comfy SS bike.
 
shakalaka said:
I've been riding a 2013 CBR500RA for a while now and was looking to move up to a 600. Just demoed the 2014 ZX-6R and the seating position felt so unnatural and uncomfortable that I couldn't even get into enjoying the ride. You're so leaned over that it almost feels like you're going to fall over the handle bars. And it feels nowhere near as nimble at slow speeds, but maybe that's to do with steering damper? Cause I tried slaloming in my lane and it was impossible to do.

Am I overreacting here? Is this something that you get used to? Cause I can't imagine riding in that position for more than an hour. The power was definitely impressive though :)
Click to expand...

I owned a CBR500R for just over a month last year. I moved to a gsxr 600 quite quickly because I craved sportier performance and ergonomics. I actually really loved the aggressive position when I sat on it the first time. I still do. Found out quickly, though that it was much more tiresome than the comfy CBR500, but I accepted it because I love the nature of true sportbike riding.

I'd venture to guess that you haven't taken your bike to the limit yet, and that's not a bad thing. Work on getting comfortable learning the art of cornering on that thing. You should be able to lean your CBR500R quite far and hang off enough that moving to a SS will feel natural (From firsthand experience I know that the footpegs grind on 500Rs due to low clearance, but that only forces you to work on body positioning). If you haven't come to grips with that then you aren't ready to move up.

I will agree though, that at slow speeds a SS will not feel as nimble as what you have. But with enough practice you can do just fine.
 
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