Comparison test: 34 hp super sports car

Comparison test: 34 hp super sports car

A comparison of sporty bikes for beginners

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Finally, the driver’s license! Ready to go! But the legislature has set a sound barrier of 34 hp in front of the freedom of power. If you want to go straight into the sports segment, you are right to ask: What can throttled super athletes actually do?

You never forget this moment in life: the examiner congratulates, finally pushes the plastic card over, the nervousness of the test drive gives way to boundless anticipation of a wonderful future for motorcycles. Finally the Fleppe is done – against the resistance of the parents, the doubts of the buddies and the bad image in the public. They all have no idea, there is nothing better than such an athlete. The country road, the tangle of curves, the dynamism and this unity of man and machine – wonderful!

But the legislature has pushed the 34-hp bolt in front of too much youthful exuberance in this country. For two years this reduction in performance should sharpen the senses and reason. How sensible this is, we leave an open question. How useful it is to learn to ride a motorcycle with a castrated super sports car, as well. If you want a racer, you should have it. But how well does a 34 hp athlete do? PS tested that and next to the "open" Kawasaki Ninja 250 R with 33 nominal hp, the super athletes Kawasaki ZX-6R, Suzuki GSX-R 600 and the Triumph, available ex works with a throttle kit D.aytona 675 assembled. The Honda CBR 600 RR, Ducati 848 and the Yamaha R6 are not available from the factory with 34 hp. Kits are available for these athletes (www.alphatechnik.de). Since the PS tester’s 34 PS time is a bit behind us, we brought the PS intern so that she can inspect the test field from her position as a Kawasaki ZX-6R driver of the carburetor era with a tiered driving license.

Our test candidates are performance-limited in very different ways. Triumph makes it very simple and inexpensive. The throttle valve opening is limited by means of a metal bracket (40.99 euros plus assembly around 45 minutes). As a result, the gas tap stops after almost a third of its original turn. Kawasaki does the same with the ZX-6R, which, in addition to the throttle valve stop, also adjusts the fuel pressure via a connector on the diagnostic connection (cost: 13.58 euros plus assembly around two hours). Because of the double throttle valves, the Suzuki can throttle its power via the electronics and gives the newcomer to the driver’s license the great feeling of turning the throttle fully. However, this has its price, since the control unit of the open GSX-R is exchanged for a specially programmed part (from around 600 euros). However, Suzuki has not included a certificate and also recommends a throttle kit from the aftermarket.

Kawaski Ninja 250R

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The smallest and cheapest hop in the field. Unfortunately you can tell that clearly.

Of course, the Ninja 250 R also offers the full turn of the throttle, which competes for the favor of young customers thanks to its low price. The 600 in the test cost more than twice as much. However, a new bike is then due after two years. Unless you’re happy with 33 hp.

In terms of handling, you could be that too. No other motorcycle can be thrown around in the field so easily. With a full tank of 172 kilograms, the mini ninja is a flyweight. Iris Schaber was also enthusiastic about this: "Man, that feels easy." The slightly higher handlebars and the resulting more upright sitting position are absolutely suitable for beginners. But the heart of an athlete is the drive, and that is where the small Kawa has a huge disadvantage: displacement. Its torque is correspondingly weak, and you have to turn the ninja quite a bit for full power. In addition, the in-line twin feels more like a scooter motor than that of a real athlete – and that’s what it sounds like. The fact that the ninja can keep up with the great athletes in terms of acceleration is thanks to the more appropriate translation. When pulling through, however, it is left behind by the 600s. From 50 to 150 km / h it takes eight seconds to get to the bigger sister.

Kawasaki ZX-6R

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Everything is right here. The Kawasaki ZX-6R clearly stands out from the competition.

The ZX-6R convinces the most with the 25 kW throttling variants. Your performance is well distributed over the rev range and also offers the best values ​​when pulling through. "It turns out much better from below than my carburettor Kawa, and of course the difference in weight from then to now can be felt very clearly", Iris makes her judgment about the 6s. The throttled version barred a whopping 2500 rpm from the usual speed limit. This fact and the performance graph clearly show that the throttling changes the character of the athlete significantly. Instead of speed-oriented peak performance, they achieve their maximum performance at medium speeds. After that there is not much left. Nevertheless, almost 200 km / h on the 34-hp Kawa is realistic. In terms of handling, it seems a little more sluggish than the other two 600s in the test, but it offers the most relaxed workplace for those entering the athlete segment. And this Kawa is a really big motorcycle!

Suzuki GSX-R 600

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The Suzuki GSX-R 600 brings driving fun, but the throttle concept is inconsistent and even without any real expertise.

"It feels like a real super athlete", Iris is impressed by the Suzuki and is impressed by some special features. Above all, the unlimited throttle suggests a lot of power, which the somewhat rough running four-cylinder with its snarling, snotty sound also supports. In addition, the power band increases aggressively from idle, which also looks adult. After 5000 rpm, however, the Suzi falls into a hole, from which she only comes out again briefly from 7500 rpm. Soon after that, the power is over. Ultimately, this inharmonious power development does not give it any outstanding torque values ​​and makes the smallest Gixxer appear comparatively poor, especially in everyday mode between 5000 and 8000 rpm.

As an entry-level bike, the Suzuki is still not the worst choice, because it also has a dresser seating position in which the pegs can also be adjusted, it has relatively comfortable dampers and the handling is the GSX-R 600 "easy-going".

Triumph Daytona 675 SE

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Above all, ergonomically, the Triumph Daytona 675 exudes pure racing charm, the triple only has to take a step back when it comes to drive.

The winner of all 600 tests is not quite the usual high flyer with the toggle on the throttle valve. The three-cylinder feels as strong as a bear and its torque is almost as good as an electric motor, which takes on work with maximum torque. The 675 has to bend when pulling through the Kawa ZX-6R. The throaty sound of the triplet and the quite harmonious power band don’t change that either. Nevertheless, the Triumph is something special, you can tell immediately: "Whoa is it high", Iris groans as she sits up. What experienced sports fans perceive as an almost perfect seating position, namely high above the motorcycle, close to the handlebars, is perceived by beginners as very exhausting and short people as problematic. This demands a certain degree of toughness from the beginner on the first trips and can certainly make him look a bit more clumsy than the other two 600s in city traffic.

When it comes to the performance of all 600s, it must be noted that they are consistently too long. The super athletes owe this to the power limitation that the series transmission does not take into account. The Ninja 250R is in

1st gear up to 61 km / h and in 2nd gear up to 88 km / h. Your big sister ZX-6R, on the other hand, in first gear up to 105 km / h. That is one of the reasons why the 600s seem so tough and why even the small ninja have to surrender from a standing start despite the increased displacement. However, if you are fixated on an athlete and know that after two years on a leash you will remain true to your racer, you should consider what is more important to you in the meantime: a harmonious engine, handling suitable for beginners or simply the price.

Conclusion: throttled super athlete or not? It’s not that easy to solve. Those who swear by sport have options. The ZX-6R offers the best package: a good motor with an inexpensive throttle and ergonomics that are convenient for beginners. Triumph also has a good engine, but the seating position takes some getting used to for beginners. Suzuki throttles expensive and inharmonious. The little Kawa is a good entry-level bike, but not a real athlete.


motorcycles

Honda CBR 600 RR, Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R, Suzuki GSX-R 600, Triumph Daytona 675, Yamaha YZF-R6

A comparison of the 600 super sports car

read more

PS rating

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Iris Schaber, 20 years old, PS intern.

Iris Schaber, 20 years old, HP trainee, comes from a motorcycle-loving family, drives a throttled Kawasaki ZX-6R built in 1999 and was there for PS as a throttle-tested tester.

1st place: Kawasaki ZX-6R

Iris for the Kawasaki ZX-6R: No comparison to my old ZX-6R: lighter, easier to turn and much more powerful in the start. That would be my first choice.

Category drive:
The throttled engine makes the most of the situation. Harmonious performance, appropriate top performance in the right place.
4 out of 5 stars

Category driving fun:
The Kawa conveniently positions the beginner in the motorcycle. Cushioning, handling and the feeling of sitting on a real motorcycle fit.
4 out of 5 stars

PS judgment:
The test winner is green. The overall package is right, which is due to the combination of engine characteristics and the general trappings.
8 out of 10 stars


2nd place: Triumph Daytona 675 SE

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Iris for the Triumph Daytona 675 SE: The three-cylinder sound is great and underlines the powerful acceleration. But the sitting position is really hard for me.

Category drive:
The triple is also a stunner in the throttle variant. The Kawa is a little better, but when the two years are up, the boss is Daytona.
3 out of 5 stars

Category driving fun:
The Daytona sprayed "Racing"- especially when it comes to ergonomics. This makes it much more difficult for beginners to use than with the other test models.
4 out of 5 stars

PS judgment:
The Triumph can take a second place if it has the patience of two years and in the meantime does not bondage its young rider too hard.
7 out of 10 stars


3rd place: Suzuki GSX-R 600

Iris on the Suzuki GSX-R 600: I sit on it and everything is cool. I like the handling best, the Suzuki feels very light.

Category drive:
The full turn does not bring full points, the performance is not optimal. The fact that the control unit does not have a certificate is annoying at 600 euros.
2 out of 5 stars

Category driving fun:
Ergonomically, the Suzuki is on a par with the Kawa, the handling is even better and the sound is excellent. The performance curve in everyday life tarnishes the driving pleasure.
4 out of 5 stars

PS judgment:
Suzuki doesn’t really stand behind the throttle concept of the 600 series, but even recommends a throttle valve stop from the dealer. But if it has to be, okay.
6 out of 10 stars


4th place: Kawasaki Ninja 250 R

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Iris for the Kawasaki Ninja 250 R: The little one doesn’t look that puny. You sit deep in it, it feels less like a real motorcycle.

Category drive:
In principle, such a super sports car works: speeds of astronomical heights bring top performance. But the twin has more of a scooter character.
2 out of 5 stars

Category driving fun:
The handling and ergonomics make it very easy for beginners. The tires make it seem wobbly on a lively ride.
3 out of 5 stars

PS judgment:
It is the little hopper for the first experiences, and very inexpensive. The latter can be seen in the ninja. It’s different on a big bike.
5 out of 10 stars


Technical data + performance diagram

Drawing: archive

Performance diagram of the 34 hp athletes.

The band of the Kawasaki ZX-6R is harmonious. Even if it lags a little behind the other two 600s in the lower speed range, it handles the highest peak performance and achieves the best torque values ​​from 50 to 150 km / h. The Daytona starts brutally, especially the torque is comparatively enormous. The little ninja looks like the complete opposite: She has to be squeezed out properly.

Kawasaki Ninja 250 R

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Kawasaki Ninja 250 R

Drive:
Two-cylinder in-line engine, four valves / cylinder, 24 kW (33 HP) at 11,000 rpm, 22 Nm at 8200 rpm, 249 cm3, bore / stroke 62.0 / 41.2 mm, compression ratio 11.6: 1, Ignition / injection system , 28 mm throttle valves, mechanically operated multi-disc oil bath clutch, six-speed gearbox, chain

Driving performance:
Acceleration 0-100 / 150/200 km / h 7.5 s / 23.1 s / -, pulling power 50-100 / 100-150 km / h 13.1 s / 16.4 s

Base price: 4795 euros (plus ancillary costs)


Kawasaki ZX-6R

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Kawasaki ZX-6R

Drive (open):
Four-cylinder in-line engine, four valves / cylinder, 94 kW (128 PS) at 14000 / min, 67 Nm at 11800 / min, 599 cm3, bore / stroke 67.0 / 42.5 mm, compression ratio 13.3: 1, ignition – / injection system, 38 mm throttle valves, mechanically operated multi-disc oil bath clutch, six-speed gearbox, G-Kat, chain

Driving performance (throttled):

Acceleration 0-100 / 150/200 km / h 8.0 s / 21.5 s / – s, pulling power 50-100 / 100-150 km / h 7.5 s / 14.0 s

Base price: 11,595 euros (plus ancillary costs)


Suzuki GSX-R 600

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Suzuki GSX-R 600

Drive (open):
Four-cylinder in-line engine, four valves / cylinder, 92 kW (125 PS) at 13500 rpm, 68 Nm at 11500 rpm, 599 cm3, bore / stroke 67.0 / 42.5 mm, compression ratio 12.8: 1, ignition – / injection system, 40 mm throttle valves, mechanically operated multi-disc oil bath clutch, six-speed gearbox, G-Kat, chain

Driving performance (throttled):

Acceleration 0-100 / 150/200 km / h 8.3 s / 25 s / – s, pulling speed 50-100 / 100-150 km / h 6.8 s / 16.4 s

Base price: 11,190 euros (plus ancillary costs)


Triumph Daytona 675 SE

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Triumph Daytona 675 SE

Drive (open):
Three-cylinder in-line engine, four valves / cylinder, 92 kW (125 PS) at 12600 / min, 72 Nm at 11750 / min, 675 cm3, bore / stroke 74.0 / 52.3 mm, compression ratio 12.65: 1, ignition – / injection system, 44 mm throttle valves, mechanically operated multi-disc oil bath clutch, six-speed gearbox, G-Kat, chain

Driving performance (throttled):

Acceleration 0-100 / 150/200 km / h 7.9 s / 23.7 s / – s, pulling power 50-100 / 100-150 km / h 6.7 s / 16.9 s

Base price: 11,440 euros (plus ancillary costs)


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