Three Naked Bikes
Jan 30th, 2009 by Leo
I’ve been wondering about the Kawasaki naked Er6… Is it just me or are there very few of these on the streets here? I see plenty of Monsters (although not a lot of 696’s) and plenty of SVs, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen an Er6 in the wild. If you haven’t either, the Er6 is the snazzy cousin to the Ninja 650…
No surprises with the video review, the SV is a much older model, so there’s no reason the Kawasaki can’t do all that and add a little something to it. But what was interesting was he thought the 696 wasn’t as “easy to ride.” My guess is that the lower bars on the Monster made it a little more work… but also the lighter weight might have made it a little twitchier on the slick streets. Heavier bikes feel more “stable…” Manufacturers are putting all their energy into making bikes lighter, but most people tend to prefer a little bit of weight.
I personally like the lighter bikes (they go around corners faster), so this makes me give the Monster another look. An 80hp bike that’s only 30 lbs heavier than a Ninja 250? Hmm, very interesting.
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You’ve not seen any ER-6N (N=Naked) in the wild because 2009 is the first model year in the US. The ER-6F (F=Faired), better known as the 650R or Ninja 650, has been in the US since 2006. I see at least one (mine) every day.
I’ve an SV650N so I may be a bit biased, but I’d like to see a test that matches price points. Test a Monster 696 vs an SV650 and/or Er-6n Kawi with upgraded suspension, tires, brakes, end can, etc. I wonder which bike would perform the best vs which one feels the best or stirs the soul. I really love ducati’s but they’re just a little too much for me to justify spending on a bike. I could probably end up with a better bike (and possibly less expensive overall) upgrading the SV.