Has anyone here ran their F3 up against a new 600cc sportbike? I'm curious to know how much quicker the new 600 bikes are over a F3 which has typical mods like pipe and jetting. I know the F3 is a little heavier and has a little less horsepower, torque seems to be around the same. I'm debating is it worth going from an F3 to a new 600cc. Some people consider the new 600's a big upgrade from an F3. For example, I heard the Kawasaki 636 would be a decent jump up. Thanks for any input..

 

Are you referring to just straight line or all around. Such as Handling, Top Speed, Races from 50mph+ rolls.

I would think that even with same power that a newer 600 might do better at higher speeds (100mph+)because they are lighter and built more aerodynamic.

Me. I always have a spot in my heart for Sleepers. My favorite vehicles are V8 S10s becuase a 400hp truck can beat just about any car on the road including Vipers, Vettes, Stangs, Porches, etc.

Nothing to me would be sweeter than if someone bored and stroked the F2/F3 and put a new forged bottom end in it. Do some port and polishing to the head with new valves, springs, and possiby a sneaky pete 25shot of Nitrous. Imagine the look on your opponents face when you hang or possibly beathim onhis new "Gixxer"1000.

 

A few years ago (like 10) I was having coffee at a bike stop & got talking with a guy that had an F2, that looked like new. He had bought the bike from an ad in the papers, turned out to be an ex racing bike, the only thing that gave it away was these tangs welded on the swingarm for the bike stands. Wot he got for his money? a motor that had been ported & mapped, blueprinted etc etc, they never used the original fairing, so no scratches, never used the speedo or headlight either. the motor had been pulled apart & reconned before he got it (this included a race tuned motor, head & swingarm bearings & fully worked & valved forks) & a **** load of spares, including a full set of headers & original pipe & the original wheels!. He said he loved blowing the newer 600's into the weeds & toasting them in the twisties, the bike sounded great to. the cost $2000 ($1000 US)

 

I ride with 2 buddies...1 on an 06 Ninja 650 and one on an 04 F4I. It isn't even fair going up against the ninja but we are talking two totally different bikes. He can't come close to keeping up but is still a fun ride. The F4i I can hang with but he can still definitely pull away. I usually get better launches but he still pulls away.

Oh yeah I am on a bone stock 98 f3. None of us are really great riders but my buddy with the F4 is better than me and that may help to explain some of the difference in the bikes. I am sure if I jumped on his F4 and he on my F3 he would still beat me...it has far more to do with the rider than with the ride...

Dennis

 

Definetily true about riders making a difference. One buddy of mine who has an 02 F4i can ride the living crap out of it. Probably one of the best street riders I've seen out there. I've seen him put down RRs and even a couple of Litres in apx 1/8 mile areas. The Litres mainly because the person couldn't ride it. Now if you open them up past the 1/8th area I think that is where the newer ones start to shine.

 

I owned an RR a little while ago,and used to "hot seat" between that and my F2.Here goes...

Older bike "Pros":

1. The F2/3 is more forgiving in the corners.
2. F2/3 is way cheaper to insure.
3. Most F2/3 parts are cheaper.
4. F2/3 is easier on tires.
5. F2/3 hop-up parts are MUCH harder to find (took me the longest time to find the shock for my racebike).
6. F2/3s crash better (haven't tested that one,hopefully never will, tap-tap).
7. F2/3s are more fun to embarrass guys on newer bikes,on the highway or the twisties.

 

ive raced my friends 02 powercommander tuned gixxer 650 from 0 to 130, i had to let up off the gas or i would have passed him.
Both of us were suprised mine was faster...lol

 

On the street,it's speed (the bike) is more dependent on the rider,not the machine.Same with a piano ,guitar,drum kit,dirtbike etcetc.On the street,it ain't the bike.

 

just think about the fact that in 1998 the worlds best riders were riding this thing. If it was good enough for the best riders in the world then, its good enough for me now.

 

I've owned 5 bikes in the last 4 years and three of them have been F3s. I started out on a 95 F3 pur/blk (i think the best paint scheme on a honda) with a slip-on and -1 front sprocket. this bike was really clean and it hung with my buddy's stock F4 in the twisties, but the F4 was faster in the straights. then I went into a v-twin stage and got a VTR1000 SuperHawk. this thin was the canyon MONSTER. it was narrow and heavy, but tons of torque. I always smoked my buddys fixed up 2000 R6 and chased down GSXR1000s with this thing. next I gota2002 R1, what can I say, its a R1, but 1 wheelie ticket, and 2 speeding tickets later, sold it. then the last twobikes have been F3sa 1997 F3 and a 1996 F3. I sold the 97 because of school, and I am currently building the 96 into a streetfighter. with my experience with bikes and wasting money, i'd have to tellyou that a 600 is a 600. Newer bikes are a little faster and handle a little betterwith all the crazy modern bike technology, but F3s couldcome real close to it with some mods like aftermarket rear shock, race tech springs/valves, steering damper,motor work, sprockets, jet kit,etc. my project right now is a 96 F3, but i'm pretty much gonna tear everything down, and build it back up to how I want it.one of my buddys has a 2006 R6 and that thing isSWEEET. try to rideyour friends bikes and compare.I always thought if your gonna upgrade, go bigger 750, or 1000 (929s are cool). besides, there's nothing like passing anew bikeon your oldF3. bike payments suck too