i have been thinking about selling my 51 and getting a 636. one i really love this bike. but i use it to just to go to work and im in fl. just looking 4 opinions and what you guys think my 51 is worth. i just put pazzo levers, new tires, red chain and sprockets, new upper, power commander and gpr dampner. check my pics and let me know your opinions bike has about 7000 miles on it. salvage titlebecause it was a theft recovery
The RC51 is one of the few Japanese bikes that has that intangible known as "character". Unless you absolutely have to have the Kawasaki and need the money from the Honda, I'd say keep it. You will miss it, but you already know that.
i have been thinking about selling my 51 and getting a 636. one i really love this bike. but i use it to just to go to work and im in fl. just looking 4 opinions and what you guys think my 51 is worth. i just put pazzo levers, new tires, red chain and sprockets, new upper, power commander and gpr dampner. check my pics and let me know your opinions bike has about 7000 miles on it. salvage titlebecause it was a theft recovery
The mind is A terrible thing to waste
Yeah, well You own it and this thing is the coolest steed out there
I had a '05 636 with some good mods and sold it for my 51. They are plenty fast and handle great, but they have no soul.Keep the 51 because after you put some miles on the 636 you will want it back.
Hey FloridaRX7,
I know I'm a newb to this board but I'm by no means a newb to sport bikes... take my advise with a grain of salt...
Just recently (last week) I picked up an 01 RC51..so far, I'm fairly pleased with my purchase, seems like a fun bike, little heavy and a slight learning curve switching to a twin..but all in all, I know I'll have a blast on this thing.
Over the past 13 years of my street riding I've had a dozen or so bikes..636, CBR 954, CBR 900, ZX-7, An old F2, even older Hurricane and a FZR400 as my first bike way back when...just to name a few..
But..my last bike, prior to this RC was a 636.
The 636 was awesome bike..stupid light (@ a claimed weight of 350 lbs or so, slightly under the R6) and handled unlike any prev. bike I've ever rode, very confident inspiring in the corners. Power was not too bad, with a redline starting around 15 500 rpm you could really wind it out..anything above 10k and it really started to pull. A much better bike in the corners than my new RC (or any of my prev. bikes for that matter)
The downside..it's still a 600 (or 636 cc) Little low on power. On our typical sunday morning twisty back road rides, I'd have no problem out performing my buddies in the turns on their liter bikes (r1's, GSXR's etc)but come the straights..I was left picking up the back, I really had to wind it out to keep up..
The other downside..little uncomfortable..for me anyways. I'm not an overly big guy..(5'-10" about 185 lbs..ok..maybe 190) the bike felt very small, on a long ride, the bike quickly became a little crampt. If your hanging off the sides through the twisties..no problem, long straight boring rides..not so much fun.
First thing I noticed about the RC was how much more comfortable it is..little more room in the cockpit and you don't feel like a monkey fu%$ing a football like I did on the 636.
So..not sure my advise was much help...ultimately the decision is yours..the type of riding you do, the length of your trips, location..etc
If you've got a friend with a 636, switch him up for an hour or so and see what you think..
Hope that helps a little??
Cheers.
i had a 03 zx6rr that I bought new. I loved the thing. I went pointlessly looking at an Aprillia dealership for no reason, and ended up test driving an RC. Next day the Kawi was traded in for the RC. Never missed the Kawi once in the year and a half that i've owned the RC. Period. I never thought twice about it. My opinion, don't get rid of it. You'll never stop thinking about it and regretting it.
__________________ HONDA RULES!!!!
'03 RC - Just the basics.
Xbox Live Gamertag: RadioC0NTR0LLED
Play me sometime. You'll win.
yeah you guys are right went riding with some other guys and everywhere i go and the guys i ride are always making coments about it. and i dont like riding what everyone else has. also this thing is a loud beast they guys said they cant hear their own bikes over mine. i scared one of the guys on a zx7 when i passed him. ( he said it was ungodly loud). anyways i think i'll start saving for a 675 as a second bike. dealership here offered me 6000 for the rc and said they'd take 8200 for the triumph
If you're on the fence, then keep it - although, that's not a bad price for a salvage bike. I had an 02 that I did all the work, all the mods and when I was done, I sold it... (see pic below)... and I have missed it ever since. I don't even have a bike anymore and I still frequent this board, how sad is that? - It'd been so long, I had to recreate my account. There's "1" RC51 in town (Ocala), and every time I see that bike it makes my heart drop. I've owned a ZX-7, a ZX-7RR, an R1 and the RC51. Well, after being back on this board, I went out and bought an unmolested 03 - it should be here in a week (being shipped 1500 miles). I can honestly tell you, none of those bikes have ever evoked that kind of emotion from me when I see them - the RR was close, but it was a pain in the ass... If you're local, maybe we could ride the forest, that'll let you know why you bought the RC over other bikes...
yeah id love too id probably need some directions btu i have the next week of so what the hell. also on a ride that long i might need an ass transplant
i had a 03 zx6rr that I bought new. I loved the thing. I went pointlessly looking at an Aprillia dealership for no reason, and ended up test driving an RC. Next day the Kawi was traded in for the RC. Never missed the Kawi once in the year and a half that i've owned the RC. Period. I never thought twice about it. My opinion, don't get rid of it. You'll never stop thinking about it and regretting it.
Well on the other hand, my hand
The 2005/06 ZX6R is faster, better handling and more comfortable then an RC51 will ever be.
And way cheaper to mod as well.
I have an RC51 in street trim weighs in at 435lbs fully fueled
with loads of goodies and suspension work.
My 2005 ZX6R with a full system and suspension work will completely demolish it in any competition except maybe top speed.
Though the 636 will get to its top speed faster @ 165MPH
For the street the RC51 is nicer in the same way any liter bike is versus a smaller capacity bike, TORQUE.
As RWHP a well equipped RC51 wont be doing that much more then a properly modded zx636. maybe 6-10RWHP MAX.
Personally as a do it all bike the 636 is a perfect bike.Comfort, handling & speed.
But the RC51 has character that we all love. A heart felt thing i suppose
If i had to choose, good bye RC51 as it is slow & not in the same league as any bike coming out after 2003, sorry.
don't know if i want to part with my 51
Take another ride...then repost
"03 RC"
Linear Mode
