08 r6

[Dunc]

Hi

I havent ridden for about 2 years and the previous bikes I have owned were a 250 KTM EXC enduro and a 1998 R1 (Shouldnt have sold it) which was an easier bike to ride in my opinion.

The R6 is a great bike but makes me feel like a complete novice which has caused me to question choice. The riding position is aggressive and the seat height is a bit too high for me. I also suffer from back pain sometimes and after a days riding im now on the sofa in pain even after necking 2 neurofen. I will battle on though as im sure my core strength will improve over time and pain will subside.

I will take it to dynotime to get the suspension set up for me and maybe I would benefit from some helibars to make it more comfortable but its too early to tell.

I have 2 track days at Barbs on 29th Sept and 1st October so I will try to get more seat time to familiarize myself with it.. Obviously the R6 is more at home on the track so with time I think it be a lot of fun once I get a feel for the bike and my skills improve.

I have ordered some motul RBF 660 brake fluid, speed bleeders, motul 300v oil, k&n oil filter. I also need some new fast road/track pads, I was thinking perfomance friction?

Anyways if any other R6 owners out there has any advice for me that would be good.

[Kristy]

Hopefully you'll get used to it - there is no better or faster way to acquaint yourself with a bike than to take it to the track. Not that I have had a lot of seat time on them, but the 06+ R6's just didn't work for me (the model before that though were great). Riding it normally was fine but as soon as I got off the seat my upper body refused to play - I felt awkward, tense and remember finding myself heading for the kerb at one point. You say you're short - they aren't necessarily taller than any other bike, just their wide seat takes a good inch or so out of your legs... I had the 06 R1 and was was worlds apart compared to an R6.

[Water pig]

R6 your taking your life in your hands, just stay the fuck away from Newcastle st, unless you're very lucky

[SomeBloke]

I race the 08 R6 and have an older one for the road. Body position is crucial to being comfortable on the bike. Speak to the coaches on your ridedays and ask for their feedback throughout the sessions to improve on it. Things like appropriate angles on your hands, position of the knees on the tanks, rear set position (may need to go aftermarket to get the adjustment) and generally gripping with your legs not your arms etc.

At the end of the day, they are a supersport race bred bike, not a cruiser, they won't be as comfy as them or something more uprigth (ie the Yamaha MT series).

[Dunc]

Would you elaborate on that more pls Water pig


Cheers

[Dunc]

Hopefully you'll get used to it - there is no better or faster way to acquaint yourself with a bike than to take it to the track. Not that I have had a lot of seat time on them, but the 06+ R6's just didn't work for me (the model before that though were great). Riding it normally was fine but as soon as I got off the seat my upper body refused to play - I felt awkward, tense and remember finding myself heading for the kerb at one point. You say you're short - they aren't necessarily taller than any other bike, just their wide seat takes a good inch or so out of your legs... I had the 06 R1 and was was worlds apart compared to an R6.

Ye my 98 R1 was more comfortable too, I think due to it having a 800mm seat height. The 08 R6 has a 845mm seat height and as you said its wide.
The GSXR 600/750 is 810mm so I might go and sit on one of them. I actually wanted a GSXR 750 but the R6 came up cheap and I have always wanted a 06+ R6.

- - - Updated - - -

I race the 08 R6 and have an older one for the road. Body position is crucial to being comfortable on the bike. Speak to the coaches on your ridedays and ask for their feedback throughout the sessions to improve on it. Things like appropriate angles on your hands, position of the knees on the tanks, rear set position (may need to go aftermarket to get the adjustment) and generally gripping with your legs not your arms etc.

At the end of the day, they are a supersport race bred bike, not a cruiser, they won't be as comfy as them or something more uprigth (ie the Yamaha MT series).

Cheers for the advice. It helped gripping more with legs.
Id like a Tuono factory if money was no object, now that would be a good road/track bike!

[Loud]

If you're after comfort from a supersports the CBR600RRRRR sits a lot lower than the R6 and is a bit more upright too. That's where I'd be looking, especially given your comment about the helibars... please don't do that.

[Kristy]

If the issue with the R6 is ergos then the CBR6 and Gixxer6 is pedestrian by comparison - I say that in a good way as the ergos of both just work for me - what I feel comfortable on is what I ride because it makes me a better rider. I've had an 07 CBR6 and have an L1 gixxer6; the gixxer6 is my bike of choice. If you are looking to race, avoid the 750 - you'll be racing with thous, not 6's.

[Water pig]

Would you elaborate on that more pls Water pig


Cheers

Just a reference to another post from a while back, nothing to worry about

[Dunc]

Well my back was cracking and creaking all night and it was very hard to put my socks and boots on but I still went for a ride this morning.
Im just gonna suck it up and stop being a pussy. Im sure my body will adapt.

I really clamped the tank with my legs and focused on my core strength which helps.

Cheers for all the advice

[Kristy]

The first time I took my CBR6 to the track I was really bracing with my arms to stop my body weight sliding forwards because my knees were actually on the frame, not exploiting the tank grooves so my arms were the only thing that stopped me sliding forwards. Once I got rearsets and adjusted them for optimum tank exploitation all was fine. Bracing with arms is the equivalent of riding white-knuckled and makes it harder to turn the bike.

There are cosmetic mods and there are mods that actually make the bike easier/better to ride. My standard, first-up mods are rearsets, levers and braided lines.

[Loud]

Toughing it out for a while is an option but don't put money in to it until you're sure it's for you - which riding some other bikes will help you determine.

[xrsism]

You only get one back Dunc. Take care of it.

I say that with experience and meeting a lot of other people with serious back problems.

What can be a little bit of pain here n there can turn into months/yrs of hell. Dont think I have to tough it or people will think youre a sissy. Put yourself first not other peoples opinions. Recover while you can and give that bike away. A little financial loss now is nothing compared to what may come if it gets bad. Trust me no one ever thinks it will happen to them but it does.

Better bikes out there 4 sure.

[Kristy]

Can you isolate the body aches and pains to the bike? My back was killing me - i'd started riding again and started swimming. It made sense it was the introduction of those 2 things - doing too much without easing my body into it. I stopped both for 3 months and was immensely frustrated/confused that it didn't get better. It actually wasn't either of those two despite the link being seemingly obvious.

[Davidf]

Fit a "Lorenzo" tank.....?

[Kristy]

Fit a "Lorenzo" tank.....?

I hope OP has got a spare $25 million Euro

[filbert]

if you find yourself not liking your bike then it's time to move onto the next one.

i've done this around 45 times

i've also kept bikes i didn't like for far too long and wasted far too much money trying to live with them or make them something i could live with.

[Para045]

Would you elaborate on that more pls Water pig

Cheers

Just a reference to another post from a while back, nothing to worry about

Near Miss - Newcastle Street - R6 - Sunday Evening

[Stephan]

The big question is, do you like the bike enough to spend a bit of money on it? When we raced the R6, we had to flatten out the bike quite extensively, due to the aggressive stance. We found that the turn in on the bike was quite quick and we could not get enough traction out of the rear tyre...

I would go and test ride some other bikes and see if they fit better. There is no poin, in my opinion, to ride a bike that gives you aches and pain over a prolonged period of time...

[Dunc]

Anyway my back feels better today. I think I just need to adjust to the bike and build the supporting muscles up again.

I will keep the bike for at least 6 months and if it is still bothering me I will buy a different bike. Maybe even a supernaked.

Cheers for the advice.