Difference b/n Kawi ninja models?

Message

mandyedwards · #1 Post by **mandyedwards** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 6:02 am

I'm looking at buying a 94 Kawi ZX6 Ninja. When I went to look up the blue book (kellys) value it lists two bikes and they have $800 diff in value. Can anyone tell me the difference between the two bikes? When I went on bikez.com there was only one version there. Thanks!

1994 Kawasaki ZX600-C7 Ninja R - $2165.00
1994 Kawasaki ZX600-E2 NinjaZX-6 - $2990.00

The bike that i'm looking at has ZX6 on the rear of the bike, and Ninja writen on the bottom fairing. I'm assuming its the latter bike, but how can I be sure?

Thanks!

jmillheiser · #2 Post by **jmillheiser** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 6:36 am

the ZX-6E is the newer style of the 2, hence the more expensive.

the one your looking it is probably the ZX-6E if it has ZX-6 on the fender.

the older style one was called the ninja 600R at the time.

the ninja 600C looks like a big ninja 250. the ZX-6E looks much more rounded like a newer style sportbike.

both have around 100hp

kabob983 · #3 Post by **kabob983** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 7:05 am

Yeah, back in the day Kawasaki made two 600cc "Ninja's" at the same time, one their cutting edge bike and one their more friendly bike. Sorta like Suzuki making the GSX-R600 and the Katana 600.

mandyedwards · #4 Post by **mandyedwards** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 8:13 am

ok thanks guys, i appreciate it. this one had zx6 on the fender. i'm also looking at a 01 ninja 500r that has the same blue book value as the 1994 zx6. what's your opinions between the two?

2001 ninja 500r @ 10,000kms asking price is $3800 cdn
1994 ninja zx6 @ 35000kms asking price is $3500 cdn.

both have the same blue book value. i'm thinking the 01 is newer, less km's and since its only my second bike might be a safer bet. The 94 zx6 might be a better bike though cause it has 4cly? hmmm...what do you guys think?

thanks!

kabob983 · #5 Post by **kabob983** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 9:33 am

More cylinders does not mean better bike. It means different handling bike, but not better. Troy Bayliss is absolutely dominating the WSBK with a 2 cylinder Ducati...while Ben Spies and Mat Mladin are dominating on 4 cylinder Suzuki's. Different bikes, different properties, but at the end of the day both get the job done.

There is one thing to think about, how much power are you looking for. The Ninja EX500 has about half the power of the ZX-6, and is much more docile. If this is your 2nd bike and you are truly comfortable and feel ready, I'd suggest the ZX-6, although honestly either will be great. I ride an EX500 myself.

How long did you ride your first bike?

mandyedwards · #6 Post by **mandyedwards** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 9:49 am

thanks.

I currently have a suzuki gz250 and have had it since march. I am concerned i would outgrow the 500r fast as I want my next bike to be good for a few years (or longer). I am leaning towards the zr6 however, my main concern is its age and mileage and with me not knowign much mechanically about bikes I dont want a fixerupper. The ad says that the front tire, sprockets, battery, chain were recently changed. what else should I be concerned about?
thanks!

kabob983 · #7 Post by **kabob983** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 10:06 am

Check and see when the last engine rebuild was (with 35,000 km's, there should have been at least one!) see when the valves were adjusted, when the brake pads/fluid were changed, when the calipers were adjusted...uhh...when the oil was changed...

There's probably a thing or two I'm forgetting...dunno what.

And with that much experience I would HIGLY recommend the EX500. It's not slow by any means, and you won't outgrow it anytime soon. While it has 1/2 the horsepower it'll still be plenty fast. Just my suggestion though.

mandyedwards · #8 Post by **mandyedwards** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 10:14 am

thanks.
the 500 r has 10,000kms on it. anything this bike should have had replaced/fixed at that mileage?

kabob983 · #9 Post by **kabob983** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 10:46 am

Ugh, I wish I was more knowledgeable about what needs to be replaced when...what does 10,000 km translate to in miles? My EX500 has just over 6,000 miles on it, and we just cleaned the carbs (which, by the way, if either of those bikes have been sitting still for a lil' while or it's been a while, have the carbs cleaned. I had problems with this when I first bought mine!)

mandyedwards · #10 Post by **mandyedwards** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 10:49 am

to go from km's to miles, divide by 1.6 so it's about 6000 miles. this is what i hate about buying used, it's scary when you dont knwo what to look for. unfortunatly we can't afford new right now. how much did the carbs cost you to have cleaned? hmm..i need some type of manual that shows the maintance intervals.