Is the 600cc market dead/diminishing?

[99SH]

I've been toying the idea of picking up a new 600RR for the street to satisfy my street fix for a sport bike. I used to own a 05 600rr, loved it and probably going back to my roots. Looking around in general, there doesn't seem to be much interest/content out there. I'd be damned to find a good review/comparison on youtube like you would say an R1. The new bike market is pretty expensive at ~$10k for a 600cc where you can get a liter bike for a couple K more. There's minimal electronics, gadgetry and appeal in the 600 class. It's almost like the Honda Civic of sport bikes.

Is it me, or has the 600cc trend gone away to either liter bikes or the 250cc class?

 

[GAJ]

I've been toying the idea of picking up a new 600RR for the street to satisfy my street fix for a sport bike. I used to own a 05 600rr, loved it and probably going back to my roots. Looking around in general, there doesn't seem to be much interest/content out there. I'd be damned to find a good review/comparison on youtube like you would say an R1. The new bike market is pretty expensive at ~$10k for a 600cc where you can get a liter bike for a couple K more. There's minimal electronics, gadgetry and appeal in the 600 class. It's almost like the Honda Civic of sport bikes.

Is it me, or has the 600cc trend gone away to either liter bikes or the 250cc class?

I'd be interested to know how many Fz07's Yamaha is flinging out the door compared to R6's.

But no, the big boys will always make 600cc SS as long as the racing class remains.

Never for a second had any interest in a 600ss.

I'd get a gixxer 750 if I had to have a middleweight SS, but that's just me.

 

[russ69]

...Is it me, or has the 600cc trend gone away to either liter bikes or the 250cc class?

For the street a 1000cc bike just makes more sense plus most people have only one bike and they are willing to spend the extra money to get a 1000. Back in the day the 500cc class was the middle ground size, they morphed into 550s and then 600s. Maybe it's time to go back to the 500s?

 

[Map8]

There haven't been any new/seriously 600 supersports for a while. When new 600 supersports were coming out every two years, credit was easy for young buyers. That is the market for these bikes. Margins are (relatively) thin so the manufacturers have to sell a lot of them because 600s cost nearly as much to build as a 1000cc supersport but must sell for thousands less. No new buyers. No new bikes.

 

[Burning1]

The modern literbike killed the 600cc market.

In the past, it was a choice... The 600s were much smaller and liter than the literbikes, and often handled better. The literbikes were much larger and heavier.

But the literbike shrank. Suddenly, there wasn't much of a benefit to owning a 600. The literbikes were only a few pounds more, had the same physical dimensions, make 50% more horsepower, and were much better for street use.

As a result, sales and competition in the 600cc market fell. Current designs seem to be coasting along with minimal modification.

 

[rsrider]

Get a used '09+ Kawi ZX-6r. Best in class and probably the most capable and fun MC I've ever owned. I took an arrow in the knee, so my sprotbile days are over.

 

[louemc]

For the street a 1000cc bike just makes more sense plus most people have only one bike and they are willing to spend the extra money to get a 1000. Back in the day the 500cc class was the middle ground size, they morphed into 550s and then 600s. Maybe it's time to go back to the 500s?

When street word is used, ...
Totally agree... Both in close quarters, where instant torque is king...
And getting out of town, where Versatilety becomes king.


500's like BSA Gold Star? Even that, by today's standards is too narrow a power band.

 

[Inner Nerd]

It's not exactly dead, just not as profitable for manufacturers to make and sell. Like DogBoy said, the margins are small and the R6 has been virtually unchanged since 2006 still dominate the class.

I got old and realized what I've been missing with all these upright bikes that are just as fast, but way more comfortable (and as a side-effect, more enjoyable) to ride. Do yourself a solid and try a supernaked. I don't see myself buying another sportbike in the future after seeing how good the current crop of big naked bikes have gotten.

It's still fun to remind myself how much the ergos suck on my 848 once in a while though.

 

[russ69]

...500's like BSA Gold Star? Even that, by today's standards is too narrow a power band.

No, a super light 4 cylinder. Maybe around 80 HP. The middleweights need to be a big step different than a liter bike. Very light and decent handler. Some thing like a Ninja 300 but with an aluminum frame and a 4 cylinder. My FZR400 was really cool and it would have been the bee's knees as a 500cc.

 

[SFSV650]

The literbikes were only a few pounds more, had the same physical dimensions, make 50% more horsepower, and were much better for street use.

I've never ridden one, so this is a question rather not a challenge: in what ways are the 1000cc bikes better for the street?

 

[99SH]

I can see a 1000cc being "better" for street due to torque. Instant acceleration for passing and dodging your way out of trouble. Not having to tap dance to get in power band. Outside that, having a 1000cc is overkill and a waste of potential for street use - IMO

 

[sckego]

I've never ridden one, so this is a question rather not a challenge: in what ways are the 1000cc bikes better for the street?

More low end torque, less shifting, doesn't feel as desperate for revs as a 600. It's an easier, more relaxed ride. I've owned around a dozen bikes, and my least favorite of them all for the street was an R6, the only 600ss I've owned.

 

[NoTraffic]

Don't know what you mean by looking around in General. How about looking around on the road?

I have both a liter and a 600. I see plenty more 600s in the canyons and typical weekend hangouts than liter bikes. So - not sure what you mean by "looking around in General".


I would have to say there has been more media coverage with naked 1000's or standard 800cc - 1200cc bikes but that's only because that's the new entries from major manufacturers.

 

[ScarySpikes]

Don't know what you mean by looking around in General. How about looking around on the road?

I have both a liter and a 600. I see plenty more 600s in the canyons and typical weekend hangouts than liter bikes. So - not sure what you mean by "looking around in General".


I would have to say there has been more media coverage with naked 1000's or standard 800cc - 1200cc bikes but that's only because that's the new entries from major manufacturers.

I think he's talking about the new bike market. Most of the big companies haven't significantly redesigned their 600cc supersports in a long time.

 

[russ69]

I've never ridden one, so this is a question rather not a challenge: in what ways are the 1000cc bikes better for the street?

Mo usable power.

 

[99SH]

I think he's talking about the new bike market. Most of the big companies haven't significantly redesigned their 600cc supersports in a long time.

Right. The majority of 600cc riders I see on the streets are those guys with their vests/backprotectors on the outside of their street clothes. They got their SS bikes likely because that's all they could afford. Either beat-up, salvaged, stolen, etc.

I dont remember seeing (or as much) of the new model stuff. Not like in the ol' days anyways.

 

[Burning1]

I've never ridden one, so this is a question rather not a challenge: in what ways are the 1000cc bikes better for the street?

600cc bikes make good power, but they do so by spinning the engine to 15000 RPM. In order to be ridable, they need to have fairly short low gearing. As a result, on the freeway you're usually running 6000RPM. At 6000RPM, they make OK power, but you'll often find yourself clicking down a gear or two to make a pass.

Modern liter-bikes rev quite high (14000 is not uncommon.) But they also tend to have taller gearing, and make more power lower in the RPMs. A modern ZX10R might cruise at 4000RPM. You may still click down a gear to pass, but grunt will be a bit better at those RPMs as well.

The downside to running a literbike on the street is that you have to have some self-discipline. They don't stop any faster than a 600, but they can get you into trouble a lot faster. Tires and regular maintenance can get expensive if you regularly get on the gas. Wheelies are more common, and fairly easy to pull.

 

[mrmarklin]

The market for 600cc Sportbikes is fading for a lot of the reasons stated in this thread. Sales are down in this category.

 

[Ez4u2nV]

As much as I agree to most of the points here, I wouldn't trade my R6 for the world. I definitively see more 600's then I do liter bikes. I know you were talking about street and having used both an R1 and R6 I enjoy my R6 on track and off track way more then the R1. I think it comes down to personal preference more then anything. People will hype up what they want but in the end it's what you feel comfortable with.

 

[MC BumSlap]

IMO 600cc inline fours are great for the track

The Daytona 675 (or any triple in that range) and the Gixxer 750 are just about right for the street along with full liter bikes.

Plus, it's been a few years since you can get a 600cc super sport brand new for less than $10k.