Advice on first track bike pls

Discussion in 'Trackdays' started by Tonic, Jul 12, 2017.

  1. Tonic

    Tonic Active Member

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    Guys, I'm considering buying my first track bike and considering a 2003 Kawasaki 636.
    My thoughts are, buy something cheap as chips that's been used as a road bike, ride it to the track and hopefully ride it home.
    GSXR's and CBR600rr's are out of my budget, sooo hence the reason I'm considering the kwaka...... I've never ridden one and more than anything I just want to learn how to ride a bit better and take it once a month for a thrash, any thoughts?
     
  2. tuktuk

    tuktuk Elite Member

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    Wish id kept mine to use as a track bike but needed the additional funds to buy the blade.

    Rear end was pretty solid, ended up on the tank twice! Very capable bike though.
     
  3. sinewave

    sinewave God Like

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    Tiz the road to financial ruin getting in to Track Day's! :rolleyes:







    ..................best thing I ever did! :D
     
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  4. Muffking

    Muffking God Like

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    Nowt wrong with the 636. I jumped from an older ZX6R to a 2006 Blade and they felt the same to ride apart from the obvious power difference.
    Just bear in mind that you're gonna have to tax and insure it if riding to the track, but you can eventually throw a track fairing at it and just run it with a daytime MOT.
     
  5. Tonic

    Tonic Active Member

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    Thank you guys. Ideally, I'd like a trailor, but the garage already has a VFR and a GSXR750 in it, so another bike plus a trailer is going to take up a bit too much room.
    @Muffking is the older ZX6r much slower/heavier than the 636??
     
  6. Muffking

    Muffking God Like

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    Mine was a carb'd 1999 ZX6R. I think the 636 is fuel injected, coupled with a slightly higher cc I'd say the older ZX6R is a little down on power. It didn't seem very heavy though.
     
  7. Tonic

    Tonic Active Member

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    Thanks for the feedback guys, looks like the Kwaka, is a reasonable choice then.
     
  8. roboticus

    roboticus Active Member

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    I'd go for a b1h(03) or b2h(04) Kawasaki better brakes. lighter. More power. Shame I just sold one with loads of trick bits on it.the older ones there's not as much aftermarket kit for sale. Reliable as well. If u can get the zx6rr which is a 600cc comes with a slipper clutch. But u can buy one for the 636 vary rare they come up 2nd hand tho. Think there 1200new for a sigma one. But the 600cc are slightly more expensive.
     
  9. fisher

    fisher Active Member

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    Ive had 4 different zx6rs as track bikes, a B1h that was fully sorted , ohilns etc, to bog standard C1H they are brilliant on track, very nimble with great engines, you wont be disappointed buying either model, the older A models are tired in comparison to the newer versions
     
  10. Tonic

    Tonic Active Member

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    Thanks for the responses guys. The budget on this is really tight (as I already have two other bikes), so I think the C1H will be too expensive, I really don't want to spend more than £2000 or £1500 would be better. So guess the 636 is the only option.
     
  11. zxrob

    zxrob Active Member

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    I've had many kwaks

    Th b1h is a great little track bike, plenty quick enough

    The noise from the airbox is intoxicating:)

    Rob
     
  12. Tonic

    Tonic Active Member

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    Cheers @zxrob , I'll keep an eye out for one then, am I correct in tyinking the b1h is 2001-2003 model?
     
  13. roboticus

    roboticus Active Member

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    No 03 04 is the b1h the 04 is actually the b2h but they same bike. Also look out for a zx6rr standard slipper clutch same year 03 04
     
  14. zxrob

    zxrob Active Member

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    96/97.......ZX6RF....600
    98/99.......ZX6RG 600
    99/00 ZX6RJ 600
    01/02.......ZX6RA1P...636
    03............ZX6RB1H...636
    04............ZX6RB2H...636

    Rob
     
  15. Tonic

    Tonic Active Member

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    IMG_1228.JPG Cheers guys, completely new to Kawasaki, so appreciate any assistance. This has just come up for sale J2 model (whatever that is), but only being the £1500
     
    #15 Tonic, Jul 22, 2017
    Last edited: Jul 22, 2017
  16. Tonic

    Tonic Active Member

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    Hi guys, struggling to get a cheap B1H, so started looking at A1p's. Has anyone any experience and thoughts on the A1p v B1H? Thanks lads.
     
  17. fisher

    fisher Active Member

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    The B model is more track focussed, I have owned a J model, and they are good bikes, but not as sharp as a B or a C for that matter

    saying that I'd quite happily buy an J model and see how is goes, bikes of that year don't tend to loose any more money, so you could run that for a year of two, then trade up if you get the Bug
     

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