2024 Kawasaki ZX-6R Track Review

Roadracing World's Sam Fleming shares his experience and thoughts riding the 2024 Kawasaki ZX-6R at the Ridge.
@RoadracingWorld2012 @KawasakiUSA @KawasakiMotorsEU @MrVanson123 @AraiHelmetAmericas @AlpinestarsVideos
Music by: Bensound.com/royalty-free-music
License code: MQDLVWSSJFFK9TED
Music I use: Bensound.com
License code: CXIY0YIZWJCURV42

[@Scott-sb1xi]

I miss the days of when packs of sportbikes filled the twisty roads of Ohio. Now its full of wobbly Harleys at 20mph below the speed limit.😊

[@JOEBOWERY]

1999 is proving to be a legit party year by todays standards

[@paulforrest2549]

Thanks very much Sam for your detailed review. Good to hear your voice after reading years of your articles. Especially appreciate the perspective of touring the Kawasaki Akashi plant. I still have the RRW issue of the Akashi complex on the front cover, and your tour comments inside. Any other pics/comments to share of the plant and your tour?

[@armyofdarknessmotorcyclesb2883]

Hey! We're glad you liked it! Back in the archives we've got factory photos from inside Ducati, Aprilia, and Kawasaki. The challenge is finding time to sort them out into something presentable!

[@Kr1zToV]

great audio

[@terryraynor8919]

Awesome review you know your stuff really impressed!

[@armyofdarknessmotorcyclesb2883]

Hey! Thanks for taking the time to write!

[@borisk4444]

By the way, my favorite track to ride, the ridge, love it love it love it. And love my zx6r 636

[@Fehr270]

In your opinion are the stock suspension components good enough to be club level raced with the available adjustments? Thanks

[@armyofdarknessmotorcyclesb2883]

If you graphed lap time diminishment vs money spent you would see a strong inflection point where you need to spend more and more money to get a smaller and smaller decrease on lap time. Race prep for a NOVICE club racer would be bodywork, exhaust, ECU flash, steel brake lines, HH brake pads, sticky tires, steering damper, non-folding pegs and replaceable clipons and a lot of race wire. Basically something like that. Then see what kind of times you are turning versus the front guys. If your weight is outside of, say, 150 to 190 pounds you probably need to think about springs no matter what. And, of course, if you change the springs you might need different valving. But, for an average weight rider... If you are within 1 second of the front guys, cartridge the forks and replace the shock. If you are not within 1 second, spend the money on more tires, more track time or coaching. If you are an expert then you'll probably change out the suspension as a matter of course because, well, because.

[@Fehr270]

@@armyofdarknessmotorcyclesb2883 thanks, always ridden on aftermarket suspension because most of us just go ahead and change it but I’ve started to wonder how much difference it really made especially with the latest bikes.

[@OilyNinja]

I think your audio is dirty 🤔 great script! I love my 2019 that’s very similar, sometimes I watch videos just to hear ppl praise my bike lol. (I do the same with my m340i.) what can I say I’ve got good taste. 👅

[@brutacka]

Awesome review! Thank you 🙏

[@armyofdarknessmotorcyclesb2883]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@inkanthem]

What do you think about the ZX4RR?

[@armyofdarknessmotorcyclesb2883]

We haven't ridden one yet. It is a great concept and there used to be lots of 400cc I4 bikes. A lot of modern bikes are getting kinda chonky due to emission regulations and production cost realities. So, it looks a little heavy for what it is, but then, a lot of bikes these days are kinda heavy. Unless its for a racing class its hard to see the value proposition of the 400 over the 636.

[@almasiandrei2742]

Too bad that this model has a short 12000 km valve service interval.

[@douglaswkittle74]

This review is so good! So much detail. Quick question. I'm looking to do 50/50 track days/street(on nice days). Does abs get in the way on track? Would you go abs or non abs?

[@armyofdarknessmotorcyclesb2883]

Hi! Thanks for taking the time to write. ABS on motorcycles was originally pushed because riders weren't using enough front brake to avoid collisions. The theory was that ABS would give less experienced riders more confidence to brake harder. So, Advanced Intermediates/ Experts riders who use a lot of front brake on the street would get the non-ABS to save money and weight and reduce the chance of the extra plumbing introducing complexity as they are confident in using a lot of front brake already without the ABS safetynet. Less experienced riders who rely on ABS to prevent locking the rear wheel might want to stay with ABS BUT, it would probably be better to get some time on a little dirt bike to practice threshold braking (front and rear) so you learn how to find, and then handle, front and rear lock ups. At the end of the day, either of the versions are going to be fine for track days with non-ABS getting the nod for straight up racing.

[@douglaswkittle74]

Thanks for the really detailed explanation. Now I just have to figure out whether to go from my ninja 400 to the zx4rr or zx6r. I'm leaning towards 6r because it has a low power mode on I can leave it in on track until I'm ready.

[@armyofdarknessmotorcyclesb2883]

If you have some motorcycle track experience and have halfway decent throttle control, the ZX6R isn't crazy powerful and won't be too much of a handful. It also handles very lightly.

[@douglaswkittle74]

Well that settles it. Zx6r it is!

[@douglaswkittle74]

To add one question if you don't mind. I don't use the back brake ever on track and actually wish I could have rear abs off all the time. Very confident in that, as well as very confident on my front brake and trail braking. Just wondering if having abs would be worth it given I am not racing(but would like to make it to advanced group at some point) and having that safety net would prevent me from locking the front wheel and taking a chance at crashing (Maybe if the track is wet or something like that).

[@the400guy77]

Love this type of video 🤙🔥

[@armyofdarknessmotorcyclesb2883]

Glad you enjoyed!

[@anthonycavalliotis8736]

Why didn't Kawasaki fit a steering Dampner????????

[@armyofdarknessmotorcyclesb2883]

Our guess is that for most street riding its not necessary and it keeps the price point lower to not include one.

[@pitchforkpeasant6219]

The death wobbles are from uneven layers of asphalt like mini curbs. Curbs like on the side of the road. Learned about them decades ago the hard way. Learned how to navigate them too😊

[@RickyJr46]

The Army of Darkness, plying the darkness!

[@armyofdarknessmotorcyclesb2883]

One factor that lead to the name genesis "Army Of Darkness" was that our first race was a 24-hour endurance race at Nelson's Ledges in 1993. The Yamaha FZR600 we were campaigning tried to go into two gears at once and cracked the cases. It was a good introduction to endurance racing!

[@pitchforkpeasant6219]

@@armyofdarknessmotorcyclesb2883damn. Youre in wash state too? Seeing a lot of videos from here. Is this track at Shelton?