Kawasaki ER-6f

I've had my Kawasaki ER-6f for a few months now and find it great. It's never let me down once in terms of starting, mechanical problems, etc. The fuel injection's nifty (my last bike had a choke - not great fun on those cold mornings!). The bike seems to be a great all-rounder for someone who wants a sporty bike but one which nevertheless has reasonable fuel economy and is solid enough to carry stuff on also (two-up riding or luggage) - hence its frequent description as 'sports touring'. Probably not sporty enough for those whose goal is to scream down the street at 12,000rpm but good handling and rider-friendly design make it a nice option for beginners and experienced riders alike.

Nimble enough around town because it's a parallel twin (fairly slim) and has a fairly good turning angle. Brakes are quite good - not quite as tight (I've heard) as the 4-piston calipers on many 600/650-class sports bikes - but they'll stop you when you need to.

Bad points include fairly crappy standard mirrors. Lack of centre stand is a pain for oiling/changing chain. Not much space under seat. No fuel gauge (just a warning light when you're about 3/4 empty). Other than these points, I can't complain much. The design's interesting; fewer sharp angles than many other sports bikes.

Decent performance, solid design, sporty look with a rider-friendly feel.

The ER6-F is light, slim, nimble in traffic, very economical (65 mpg without trying) and mine has been totally reliable so far. It has great handling, as much performance as I need or want and it's comfortable for as long as the fuel lasts. It does have a few less good points. The standard mirrors are dangerous - mirror extenders are essential - and lack of a centre stand is a pain when it comes to things like chain adjustment. By far my most serious complaint is the build quality. The bike is clearly built down to a price. I ride in all weathers but even so it is showing far, far more corrosion than anyone should expect to see on a bike that isn't yet two years old.