Comments on: Next Kawasaki ZX-6R to be 636cc? (News) (Rumors)

By: Dave

Dave — Sat, 18 Aug 2012 01:12:51 +0000

Kawasaki promotes the ZX-14 for the same reason Chevy promotes the Corvette, to promote brand image. Neither makes meaningful money on those two models but their presence at the top of the market makes people feel a little better about buying their more accessible models.

Kawi and everyone else sell many more 600′s than bigger bikes so there’s no need to advertise them heavily, just make sure they’re competitive in the magazine tests. My guess is Kawi is seeing all the success the Triumph 675 and Duc 848 have had despite nearly no race presence until this year, though they may be missing the fact that those are superior bikes in every way and the extra cc’s aren’t the whole difference (esp. in the case of the 675). All 600′s would be better to ride if they’d stop chasing peak hp and give them broader torque curves (which the 675, 848 and 750 have).

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By: Norm G.

Norm G. — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 16:09:17 +0000

re: “that’s overly simplistic”

but not inaccurate, as evidenced by the zx14 banner ad (being shown to my ip address anyway) at the top of this very website…!!!

re: “Too bad it looks like a cartoon.”

cartoons, video games, angry birds, transformers, temple run… where you been, that’s all the rage with millenials.

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By: starmag

starmag — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 20:25:49 +0000

“Who cares” is a reference to sales numbers of supersport 600′s since 2008.

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By: Hefner

Hefner — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 18:57:36 +0000

Wat?

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By: Hefner

Hefner — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 18:41:37 +0000

Yeah, it sells… But it is a completely neutered engine up top, and will get smoked by any 600 from the past 10 years. I think the point of this bike is something a little more than the current 600′s, but not quite so much as the 1000′s. The Z750 is not a bad bike, it’s just not playing the same game.

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By: Hefner

Hefner — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 18:38:52 +0000

The simple fact that you mention a Triumph Bonneville means this bike isn’t meant for you. Well… That and the fact that you opened your comment with “Who Cares”.

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By: Hefner

Hefner — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 18:18:55 +0000

I’ll tell you why: Daytona, 2003 superstock.

I can’t find any video of it, but Kawasaki has proven they can do the business with a 636.

Well… That and they can simply do a 2mm overbore on their 599cc engine and get 636 without having to develop a new bike.

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By: Hefner

Hefner — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 18:12:03 +0000

I would argue that anyone who considers a ZX-14 is not looking for the same category bike as someone looking at a 600/750. Yes, someone looking at a 1000 may go for a ZX-14 instead, because the straight-line crowd pays attention to the 1000′s. They’re fast. They don’t care that they handle well. The twisty crowd pays attention to the 1000′s because they handle AND they’re fast, so you may get someone who steps up from a 600/750 to a 1000. But not from a 600/750 to a ZX-14.

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By: blackcayman

blackcayman — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 17:05:19 +0000

True that the GSX R750 is iconic… Right on Right on – It’s more fun than a 600 and lighter and more nimble than the 1000, a great choice for a middle weight rider who doesn’t want to race 600s and likes a little more Zip (who doesn’t). The other Jap brands could play in this space – let’s hope the economy and the industry get back to glory days and then maybe we’ll see.
Cheers

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By: blackcayman

blackcayman — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 16:51:10 +0000

that’s overly simplistic to imply that their advertising dollars are not going to be directed to a middle class sport bike and so a 750 wouldn’t sell – No one is doing TV advertising on Middleweights. They are tooting their horn on the big 14 because they finally bested the Mighty Hayabusa and have the new 800 lb gorilla. Cheers to them. Too bad it looks like a cartoon.

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