Picked up a 2006 636 zx6r this weekend as a track bike. I want to see what a 600 is like on a track and whether it helps me to progress faster. At Bedford the 1000 feels fine but at less familiar track it feels like it's running away from me a bit. Anyway, we'll see what happens, it wasn't a big investment or risk. First day out will be next Monday at Bedford. So far I've changed the oil and brake fluid, fixed the race seat bodywork properly as it was loose and checked the cooling system over. Feels ok but slight nervous that the first time I'll ride it will be on track but I can run it up the access roads at Bedford before heading out on track. They come standard with a slipper clutch so we'll how that compares with the Yoyodyne on the 1000. My guess is that it won't need it as much anyway. It's fitted with rearsets that look pretty good (not cheap chinese ebay stuff), a steering damper and a healtech quick shifter. I've ordered some TWM levers for it as the ones on the 1000 are excellent and also a replacement for the gear toe peg that vibrated off somewhere between Almera and the UK according to the previous owner. I actually bought another of these this weekend on Friday but took it back as it had a major oil leak hidden under the fairing. Anyway...
It’s funny I was thinking during the TT supersport race a few mins ago I could do with an R6 or a ZX636 for the track… could save me spending too much money modifying this blade.
Looks mint that. It's the straights really where the Blade has the legs. The main difference will be the number of times you change gear.
Just to keep this up to date... it failed the noise test at Bedford producing 104db with the baffle in and 105db with the baffle out so the previous owner's estimates were wildly optimistic. Have just ordered a standard silencer as the rest of the system looks standard so hopefully better luck next time.
Standard silencer arrived the next day so fitted it last night. Looks a lot better imo and sounds way quieter. Couldn't rev it up much last night but as a comparison at 4 feet at 3000rpm but noise meter was showing 101db for the old one and 90db for the new one with the valve disconnected and wide open so I think it should be ok for the track noise test. Will find out in a few weeks.
I'm sure the standard can would be ok. For anyone else - I'm wondering if an option would be to take the bike to a 'loud' trackday first, and get the tester to give you a sound level reading so that you know whether it would pass a 'quiet' day test. The reason I mention it, is that there's one track a bit more local to me in the Cotswolds somewhere (I forgot it's name) that has really strict noise levels. On their website they even have a list of stock bikes that will probably fail the test , the CBR1000RR is on that list!
The problem is that you'd never get an absolute reading that you can be confident in. The CBR has measured anywhere between 92db and 100db depending on where I am.
How does it work, if you turn up and fail the noise test is it game over and you lose the money you've paid in it's entirety?
they usually give you a chance to quiet it down some how, but they wont let you out on track unless you pass the noise test, but some places like donny have drive by noise monitering
When the kawasaki failed they said that if I felt I could do anything about it they would retest it at any point in the day. I couldn't see how I could make it work so I parked it and had taken the honda as a backup so used that. If I hadn't had the honda I'd be on my way home without a refund.
The bike passed today with 97db at Cadwell. the problems I’ve had (first time riding this bike anywhere) are the quick shifter was causing a big misfire so turned it off, it really doesn’t need one. The battery is dead and won’t hold a charge but is happy to be jump started. The good bits are that this bike is an absolute belter of a track bike and despite really being intimidated by this place last time I was here I’m having a brilliant time. The bike is light, not too intimidating and so much fun.
Smaller engine mostly, maybe partly because it’sa little lighter. The suspension on the Honda is much better as it has ktech stuff in it and has been setup.
The 636 seems a very popular track bike and I often struggle to keep up with them through the bends. I have been considering downsizing myself as the 1000cc is great down the straights but I seem to be fighting it all the time.
That’s why I got this, I just wanted something easier to give me a chance to be more consistent with the progress of my riding. The only downside with it I found yesterday was that as I got to grips with it and started to catch and overtake people is that you no longer have the power to do it by blasting by and have to get better at braking later.
