By
PETER THOEMING
15 May 2006
ER-6n is the name, looking neat is the game. The appearance might be
strange at first, but then you realise that it suits the bike perfectly.
The bike looks odd, but in, I hasten to say, the nicest possible way.
This is Kawasaki’s first variation on
the ER-6 family, which is already becoming quite an extended one. It is
a combination of things we’ve seen before and things we’ve never
even thought of, all put together in an – there’s no other word for
it – appealing way. Take a look at one. You can’t really just leave
this bike standing there; you’ll feel the need to check over it and
become acquainted.
I’d love to know how Kawasaki’s
engineers at the Akashi design centre came to the final shape of the
ER-6n. With a muffler like a Buell (only more extreme), ‘shoulder
pads’ like a Katana (only more extreme) or a Benelli, a headlamp
fairing like a KTM Duke (only more… but you get the picture) it should
really be a terrible mishmash. The fact that it’s not suggests that
there was some very high quality design input at an early stage.
Note how thoroughly individual parts have
been designed. Even the fuel cap echoes the instrument pod’s shape. It
doesn’t all work; the rear blinkers just look strange, not stylish,
but they’re the exception. Just about everything else looks great,
even if it doesn’t necessarily make sense. Take those shoulder pads
– what do they do apart from continuing the line of the integrated
blinkers, and establishing a form for the woven-looking metal spar that
holds the footpegs?
Well, nothing. What else should they do?
And why is the frame painted bright red
like the triple clamps, on the silver bike I had?
Well, why not? Doesn’t it look great?
I suppose I’d better write a little
about the way the ER works, as well as the way it looks. The compact
vertical twin is enthusiastic if not especially outstanding. It has
plenty of midrange, and will allow even the laziest rider to keep up
with equivalent machinery without stirring the gearbox too much. The
engine seems to have a decent-sized flywheel, for once. There are pulses
rather than vibration through the handlebars, and pulses from the
exhaust as well.
The bike is quite small, too, which is
good news for short people everywhere. If you’re tall there’s a
higher seat. Both rider and pillion are comfortable, and the small
‘fairing’ offers a modicum of protection from the wind. Kawasaki has
clearly learnt how to get maximum protection from minimum plastic –
see Z 750 and Z 1000.
I’ve just realised that I forgot to
mention the very stylish angled, offset shock absorber, the clear but
unusual instruments and the wave brake discs. Funny how you – well, I
- keep coming back to the way the thing looks. Don’t underestimate the
importance of appearance. Imagine if Angelina Jolie had get her looks
from her dad and not her mother… she might still be a great actress,
but she wouldn’t be in every second magazine on the stands.
It’s also clean. With environmental
issues of ever greater concern, Kawasaki wanted the ER-6 series to be
the cleanest bikes in their class. The combination of efficient fuel
injection and a 3-way catalytic converter inside the muffler make for
very low emissions which pass the stringent Euro3 regulations one year
early. And it’s economical as well.
The ER-6n is fun to buy (look at the
price), fun to look at, fun to ride and fun to push a little harder than
its pretty face might suggest (the handling is good, partly because the
bike is so light). Braking and cornering are both good enough to add to
the fun of riding this machine.
And… have you noticed the dimples in
the engine cover?
AT A GLANCE
Model: Kawasaki ER-6n
Price: $9990 (plus on-road charges)
Warranty: Two years, unlimited distance
Power: 53 kW at 8500 rpm
Torque: 66 Nm at 7000 rpm
Engine: Liquid cooled parallel twin, 4 stroke, 8 valves, DOHC,
electronic fuel injection and digital ignition
Bore x stroke: 83 x 60 mm
Displacement: 649 cc
Compression ratio: 11.2:1
Transmission: 6 speed, wet multi disc clutch, final drive by sealed
chain
Suspension: Front, 41 mm telescopic fork, travel 120 mm. Rear, offset
laydown single shock, adjustable preload, travel 130 mm
Dimensions: Seat height 785 mm, dry weight 174 kg, fuel capacity 15.5
litres, wheelbase 1405 mm
Tyres: Front, 120/70 ZR17. Rear, 160/60 ZR17
Frame: Diamond, high tensile steel tubing
Brakes: Front, twin 320 mm semi-floating ‘petal’ discs with dual
piston twin calipers. Rear, single 220 mm ‘petal’ disc.
Top speed: 200 km/h
Acceleration:
0-100 km/h – 3.9 sec
60-100 km/h – 4.6 sec
Fuel consumption: Average on test 4.0 litres per 100 km, unleaded
Range: 387 km
Colour/s: Yellow, silver, black
