3 week review of my 600RR

the goat · 07-09-2004, 4:52 PM

Prior to buying my 600RR I was a Ducati 996 owner for about 5 years and an sv650 racer for about 2. So why switch? Honestly I was worried about the reliability of my 996 after the 12k service turned up 4 bad rockers (which were replaced under goodwill warranty). I also got into veterinary school and needed something that wasn't going to break the bank to keep on the road. I just had a bad feeling that the 996 was going to do something bad in the near future, that and it needed a new clutch and clutch basket for around $800 or so. Anyway I was really torn between the R6 and the 600RR (in blue of course). In the end it came down to the fact that every squid and their mother has an R6 up here, that and the fact that I really liked the blue RR. So even though it was $500 more and 20lb heavier I bought it. I can honestly say that I wasn't expecting anything but disappointment going from my 996 down to the 600. I know they have similar peak hp, but I really enjoyed the nice linear delivery of the 996 and the torque.

Pulling out of the parking lot I knew right away I was going to have to change my riding style in a major way. I was too used to just staying in 3rd through the turns and rolling on the big twin's throttle coming out and having instant power. So I've been learning to dance. Tap dance that is, on the shift lever. Keeping it up above 9k is pretty much necessary to get any kind of drive out of the corners. Coming off the Duc it felt like I was really abusing the thing to run it that hard but that's where it likes to be. It really hits pretty hard at about 10k almost up to redline at 15k, you keep it there and you can really fly. It's actually been sort of fun trying to keep it up on the boil.

I'm very impressed with the handling of the RR as well. Here is another area I was expecting to be disappointed in. All I can say is that the brakes are better than the 996, it's lighter than the 996 so it turns in faster, and it is pretty much one of the most confidence inspiring bikes I've ever ridden. It doesn't feel quite as stable as the 996 in the corners but the fact that it's easier to get turned and it's got better brakes outweigh that little bit of front end feel in my opinion. Maybe at the track or at an outlandish road pace the extra feel may be important, but for my purposes 600 is simpily outstanding.

Magazine testers complained about the seat and riding position of the RR. Well obviously they haven't had much seat time on a 996. Sure it's no touring bike and it does get somewhat uncomfortable after a couple of hours but it's nowhere near the level of pain the 996 induces after even 15 minutes on the highway. Wind protection is about on par with the 996, maybe a little better. The mirrors are functional, unlike the Duc, so that's nice.

It has a pretty good exhaust note stock and a really great intake growl but unfortunately it's nowhere near as sweet as the Duc. In order to improve said noise I bought a ti M4 slip-on with ti midpipe. The stock unit is all one piece but the M4 comes as two pieces. It took me about 10 minutes to install the thing once I had the bodywork and the stock pipe off. Fit was absolutely flawless, everything fit perfectly. I'm going to have to figure out something to improve the stock fender/turnsignal "thing" as it makes the rear end of the bike look bad compared to the rest. The sound is a good deep tone at idle and a loud but not too loud note on the throttle. My seat of the pants dyno couldn't tell the difference between stock and the slip on, however I'd been racing my sv all weekend before I put on the pipe so getting on the 600 it felt like a damn rocket to begin with. Maybe a power commander would give me some more juice. Heck the bike is plenty fast for me as is. I've run about 200 miles with the pipe on and haven't noticed any funny stuff like backfiring or missing or weird throttle response. Overall, after 800 miles I can't say enough good things about this bike. I wasn't expecting anything special, maybe even disappointment, but sometimes it's nice to be wrong!

freq · 07-09-2004, 5:02 PM

Does your keyboard have an "Enter" key?

Does the bike tend to run rich with the pipe and no PC3?

the goat · 07-09-2004, 5:10 PM

Yeah I got an enter key. Don't like my formatting? Fine I'll edit it just for you

Like I said I haven't noticed any funny stuff with the pipe on. Wouldn't it tend to run lean with the pipe on and no PC3?

tigerblade · 07-09-2004, 5:12 PM

It will definitely take some adjustment to ride an inline-4 again. Can't wait to see the bike!

Freq, I'd think the bike would possibly run a little lean with the pipe rather than rich?

07-10-2004, 7:44 PM

Nice write up! Glad to know you were wrong about being diapointed

.

Can't say enough about the CBR600RR

.

SPEED.

nomad · 07-27-2004, 12:13 PM

I've been considerring going back to a 600. I really don't think I could give up the power though. Maybe in a couple years....

07-27-2004, 2:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nomad

I've been considerring going back to a 600. I really don't think I could give up the power though. Maybe in a couple years....

You may be surprised by the HP of the 600RR if you haven't ridden one yet...with a full Arata pipe, and PCIIIr though

.

ccwilli3 · 07-27-2004, 3:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SPEED

You may be surprised by the HP of the 600RR if you haven't ridden one yet...with a full Arata pipe, and PCIIIr though

.

Exactly. I am still stock on the exhaust end and I have had liter bikes that couldn't get away from me. Not the new crop of liters (10R, R1, etc) but still, liters with 20-30 HP on me. Yeah, a lot of it is rider, but still...

nomad · 07-27-2004, 3:42 PM

It's not so much "getting away". Hell, litre bikes couldn't get away from my F4 until we were over 200kph. Then again, my F4 had weight savings on it...

I'm only 115lbs.

My comment is more for street power... when I'm riding two up or just highway riding, I don't want to be at 10,000rpm just to get out and pass. I'd prefer the lower end torque I'm sure... I just want to know if the 748 is enough lower end torque or if I'd have to go to a 1000 twin to be happy.

ND4SPD · 07-27-2004, 3:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ccwilli3

Exactly. I am still stock on the exhaust end and I have had liter bikes that couldn't get away from me. Not the new crop of liters (10R, R1, etc) but still, liters with 20-30 HP on me. Yeah, a lot of it is rider, but still...

If I got a good drive off the last corner at Grattan I could draft and eventually pass the 'blades down the straight

nomad · 07-27-2004, 3:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ND4SPD

If I got a good drive off the last corner at Grattan I could draft and eventually pass the 'blades down the straight

Isn't that because you were running downhill off the grass?

The Sook · 07-27-2004, 8:41 PM

Hahahaha Funny Nomad.
The bike will run RICH with the pipe and no PC. Probably not up top, but definately at low throttle and cruising. You'll notice the end of the pipe start to get a black lining around it and that will get thicker and thicker. Maping it will give you a little more power but it will also make the power quicker and give you more drive from lower rpm.

figment · 07-27-2004, 8:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the goat

Yeah I got an enter key. Don't like my formatting? Fine I'll edit it just for you

Like I said I haven't noticed any funny stuff with the pipe on. Wouldn't it tend to run lean with the pipe on and no PC3?

very nice writeup and formatting goat. Congrats on getting to know the bike. They look like a lot of fun!

freq,

07-27-2004, 9:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ccwilli3

Exactly. I am still stock on the exhaust end and I have had liter bikes that couldn't get away from me. Not the new crop of liters (10R, R1, etc) but still, liters with 20-30 HP on me. Yeah, a lot of it is rider, but still...

Old Goat was barely pulling me with his light A$$ on his raced out 750 Gix

.

jfboy · 08-22-2004, 2:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nomad

I've been considerring going back to a 600. I really don't think I could give up the power though. Maybe in a couple years....

My cousin had an '01 929rr and traded it for an 03 600rr he loves it, He said he liked the peaky 600rr and the only thing he had to give up was his localy famous 60mph apehanger the he cant do on the 600rr.

ND4SPD · 08-22-2004, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nomad

Isn't that because you were running downhill off the grass?

Somehow I missed this little gem....

SuperDave · 08-23-2004, 7:29 AM

Great review goat. Got any pics of the blue beast?

I've never seen one in person, the 3 dealerships around me do not have any. As a matter of fact, no 636s, no ZX10Rs, a couple 1000RRs. But they are filled with R1s, and GSX-R 600/1000s.

Glad your pleased with the new bike, keep the reviews coming!

Freq, is it okay to put the (s) after the models to show plural, designating more than one?

oldfogey · 08-23-2004, 8:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SuperDave

Great review goat. Got any pics of the blue beast?

Thanks for the comparison and write-up, it helps me in my thought process of selection. Anyone here compare a gxr750 to CBR600RR for lower rev range torque?

ND4SPD · 08-23-2004, 8:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldfogey

Thanks for the comparison and write-up, it helps me in my thought process of selection. Anyone here compare a gxr750 to CBR600RR for lower rev range torque?

The 750 will have more low end TQ because of the bigger displacement.