Kicking Things Off with Curiosity
Got curious last Tuesday when my buddy Mike asked over coffee, “Dude, how fast do those 600cc rockets really go?” Everyone throws numbers around online like candy, but concrete tests? Nada. I decided enough talking – let’s ride and see the truth myself.
Digging Out the Gear
First step? Raid my dusty garage stash. Grabbed:
- My trusty GPS speed tracker (battery was dead, needed charging overnight)
- An old GoPro stuck to the side fairing – shaky footage beats no footage
- A list of spots: Found this dead-straight, private stretch of road outside town that farmers use. Quiet, no speed traps.
Called up a mate who owns a ZX-6R. Begged a few hours. “Don’t crash it,” was his only condition. Fair enough.
Hitting the Tarmac
Next morning, chilly but clear. Parked the pickup truck as a makeshift “start line.” Mounted the GPS securely, flicked the GoPro on. Threw a leg over the Kawasaki. Familiar sting of cold seat leather.
Test One: Baby Steps
Rolled out gentle. Wind whistling past the helmet felt fast, peeking at the GPS: Only 85 mph. Felt slower than it looked. This thing wasn’t even trying.
Test Two: Pushing Harder
Felt the engine wake up around 10,000 rpm. Hunkered down, tucked elbows tight. Road blurred sideways. Glanced down quick – GPS blinked 142 mph. Wind tried ripping my shoulders off. Okay, this felt real.
Test Three: Pin It
Deep breath. Opened that throttle like I meant it. Front wheel got squirrely over a bump – puckered up. Engine screamed like a banshee. Held it flat out longer than felt comfortable. Eyes glued to the GPS. Needle crawled… crawled… 158 mph. Boom. Hit a nasty wobble, shut it down fast. Heart hammering against ribs.
Surprises & Scars
Big Shock: That mythical “160 mph” everyone claims? Pure fantasy on stock bikes. Road surface, wind, bike weight – they all choke that top speed. My 158 felt like hitting a brick wall.
Physical Stuff They Don’t Tell You:
- Tucking position hurts. Shoulders burnt after minutes.
- Wind blast feels like getting punched nonstop. Helmet jerked violently.
- Bumps at that speed? Terrifying. Death wobble ain’t a myth.
Checked the GoPro footage. Mostly sky-road-sky, some shaky screaming audio. Classic.
Bottom Line & Sore Body
So how fast does a 600cc bike go? Truth? On a good day, with tarmac and guts? 150-155 mph realistically. That “160+” club? Needs perfection nobody gets on public roads. Also, your body pays the tax. My neck felt like I’d wrestled a bear for two days straight.
Mike saw the footage later, shaking his head. “Looks brutal. Pass.” Mission accomplished. Raw speed ain’t everything – surviving it takes grit. Back still aches, proof you gotta earn those numbers.
