Honda CBR600RR and Ninja ZX-6R make the imagination race - and more

By Susan Carpenter

Sept. 15, 2014 5:24 PM PT

Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

THE market for 600 cc sport bikes is screaming. Japan’s middleweight repli-racers aren’t just moving faster than ever before, they’re selling, and being redesigned, at record speeds.

In 2006, Suzuki and Yamaha wheeled out souped-up incarnations of the GSX-R600 and R6. This year, it’s Honda’s and Kawasaki’s turn to show off the IQs of their engineering staffs with radical overhauls of the CBR600RR and ZX-6R.

2007 Honda CBR600RR

Honda is listening to its research: Just 10% of its sport bike owners go to the track.

So although this faster inline-four incorporates a lot of the racing tech Honda debuted on its RC211V MotoGP bike, it’s also so comfortable that you can function after running racer lines, thanks to improved aerodynamics, a pillowy seat and slightly raised handlebars that won’t have you reaching for the wrist splints.

For 2007, the 20-year-old CBR is building on its resume as the world’s bestselling 600 cc sport bike. Now, it’s also the lightest and smallest. The new CBR600RR lost 12 1/2 pounds from its chassis and shrinky-dinked the liquid-cooled motor. Not so impressive if you’re Oprah, but it’s major for a bike with extra bells and whistles that make average riders look a lot more skilled than they are.

The ’07 model includes a smaller, lighter version of the electronic steering damper Honda debuted on the CBR1000. The ESD automatically adjusts to damp out sudden movements of the front fork and handlebars. Then there’s the idle air control valve, which smoothes jerky throttle movements with a trim valve that adjusts airflow to the intake when the throttle’s closed. The shorter wheelbase and longer swingarm make the bike nimbler than its predecessor, and the steepened steering head angle does its part to make the bike quicker steering. Reaction times sold separately.

The CBR600RR wasn’t as high-revving as its Kawasaki counterpart, but that didn’t stop me from having a few Howard Dean moments. It took only a few seconds to go from twisting the grip to 70 mph -- and to do it in first gear, though second is probably better. Because of its street orientation, the ’07 CBR600RR has been tuned for more midrange power, where regular, non-racing folk tend to ride. And at speeds so slow they barely registered on the dash, the CBR600RR handled so weightlessly that stunt riders may want to try a new trick: the balance beam.

2007 Kawasaki ZX-6R

The all-new ZX-6R is basically a street-legal race bike, with fresh-from-the-track technology that’s best utilized by riders who regularly scuff their knee pucks.

It was on the ZX-6R that a pickup truck in the carpool lane begged me to pop a wheelie. Going 80 mph in the fast lane in traffic, I declined, opting to use the rest of my second-gear revs as a getaway, though this completely redesigned Ninja is fully capable. It’s one torque-y beast.

Where Honda opted for Zen-like balance, Kawasaki has gone in a more racerly direction, busting out the nunchuks for the ZX-6R’s first all-new engine in 10 years. The ’07 model is a mean, green racing machine that aims to combine Supersport power with nimble GP handling. Evidence: The riding position is no pain no gain, and the tach redlines at 16,500 rpm, topping out at a cool 20 grand.

In the redesign of the engine, internal friction was reduced to increase throttle responsiveness in high-speed corners. The internals were also stiffened and shrunk, creating more rigidity but wrapping it in a smaller, more maneuverable package.

The power band is so broad, I never took it above second. I rarely even shifted, though more aggressive riders will appreciate the slipper clutch, which allows quicker downshifting without any wheel hop.

The clutch on the ZX-6R is sensitive. It disengages in an instant, so you might do what I did: Cut to the front of the line at a light, only to stall on takeoff.

On a bike that’s lightning-bug green, that’s embarrassing. But this bike is such a Speed Racer that I zipped away before seeing any smirks.

susan.carpenter@latimes.com

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX)

2007 Honda CBR600RR

Base price: $9,499

Powertrain: Liquid-cooled, DOHC, four-stroke, inline-four, four valves per cylinder, six speed

Displacement: 599 cc

Bore and stroke: 67 mm by 42.5 mm

Torque: Not available

Seat height: 32.3 inches

Dry weight: 345 pounds

2007 Kawasaki ZX-6R