Kawasaki Ninja 600R (85-97)

a.k.a GPZ600R or ZX600A (85-89)

a.k.a. GPX600R or ZX600C (88-90, 93-94)

(updated September 99)

	Rim	Stock Size
Front	2.50 x 16	110/80V16
Rear	3.00 x 16	130/90V16

Manufacturers' Recommendations

Manufacturer	Front	size	Rear	size
Avon	(no data)
Bridgestone	BT17	110/90V16	BT17	130/90V16
Dunlop	(no data)
Metzeler	ME-33 Laser CompK	120/80VB16	ME-1 CompK	140/80VB16
Michelin	Macadam 50	120/80V16	Macadam 50	130/90V16
Pirelli	MT 09	110/90V16	MT 08	130/90V16

Martyn's Opinion

General Comments

What on earth are you supposed to put on the front of this bike? There is nothing available in the right size. This leaves a choice between running a higher profile, or trying to squeeze a 120 onto a 2.5" rim. A 120 doesn't fit on a 2.5" rim. Well, you can squeeze it on there, but at high lean angles you're going to get some severely distracting handling characteristics, like tucking the front end suddenly and without warning. Personally, I like to ride a sportbike (particularly a nice compact package like this one) like a sportbike, which means that I lean it, therefore you won't find me recommending a 120/80 for the front.

The Safe Bet

There are no safe bets. A safe bet would have a 110/80-16 front.

General Purpose, A Tight Budget, Touring

	Brand	Model	Size	MAW
Front	Bridgestone	BT45 Sports Mileage	110/90V-16	$62
Rear	Bridgestone	BT45 Sports Mileage	130/90V-16	$79

Given the limited selection, there's a very limited range of prices too. Still, with the Bridgestone BT45's now available in a reasonably size, they're the obvious choice for most purposes. They have good traction in wet and dry, and work very well indeed. When you also consider the price, they're unbeatable. The only drawback is the tendency of the front to uneven wear and cupping, but even so they're a good selection.

Sport-Touring

	Brand	Model	Size	MAW
Front	Avon	Super Venom AM20	110/90V-16	$102
Rear	Bridgestone	BT45 Sports Mileage	130/90V-16	$79

While the Bridgestone BT45's have plenty of stick, for more sporting tendencies I'd go with a combination. The Avon Super Venom AM20 front is a superb sport tyre, and putting it on the front will give that bit of extra traction while improving straightline stability and without having to worry about uneven wear, or the rapid wear of a full-sport rear. It doesn't hurt that the BT45 rear is very reasonably priced, too. The Super Venom and BT45 work very well together, and make a good sport-touring combination.

Sport-Riding

	Brand	Model	Size	MAW
Front	Avon	Super Venom AM20	110/90V-16	$102
Rear	Avon	Super Venom AM18	130/90V-16	$117

The Avon Super Venoms work very well on older sportbikes, and the Ninja 600R is no exception. The wear will be more rapid than the harder compounds, but for sport riding this is the way to go. Not only do they provide excellent traction, wet or dry, but the profile (particular of the AM20 front) gives good straightline stability while preserving flickability in the corners.

Martyn's Choice

	Brand	Model	Size	MAW
Front	Avon	Super Venom AM20	110/90V-16	$102
Rear	Avon	Super Venom AM18	130/90V-16	$117

No question here, I'd put the Avons on this bike. Hey, it's a sportbike, right?

The Full List

(from MAW and manufacturer web pages)

Well-sized matched pairs

Actually, there aren't any well-sized tyres available for the front of this bike. This table lists the matched pairs with an exact rear and a tall or wide front.

Brand	Front	size	MAW	match	Rear	size	MAW
Avon	Super Venom AM18	120/80V-16	$95	wide	Super Venom AM18	130/90V-16	$117
	Super Venom AM20	110/90V-16 120/80V-16	$102 $98	tall wide	Super Venom AM18	130/90V-16	$117
Bridgestone	BT17 Sports Mileage	110/90V-16 120/80V-16	$94	tall wide	BT17 Sports Mileage	130/90V-16	$109
	BT35 Sports Mileage	110/90H-16		tall	BT35 Sports Mileage	130/90H-16
	BT45 Sports Mileage	110/90V-16 120/80V-16	$62 $68	tall wide	BT45 Sports Mileage	130/90H-16 130/90V-16	$88 $79
Continental	Sport 2000	110/90V-16		tall	Sport 2000	130/90V-16	$84
Dunlop	K591 Sport Touring	120/80V-16		wide	K591 Sport Touring	130/90V-16	$79
IRC	Durotour RS-310	120/80H-16	$49	wide	Durotour RS-310	130/90H-16	$61
Metzeler	ME-33 Laser	110/90V-16 120/80V-16	$86 $88	tall wide	ME-55A Metronic	130/90V-16	$110
	ME-33 Laser	110/90V-16 120/80V-16	$86 $88	tall wide	ME-88 Marathon	130/90HB16	$98
	ME-33 Laser	110/90V-16 120/80V-16	$86 $88	tall wide	ME-99A Perfect	130/90V-16	$98
Michelin	Macadam 50	110/90V-16 120/80V-16	$96 $103	tall wide	Macadam 50	130/90V-16	$121
Pirelli	Match MT09	110/90V-16 120/80VB16	$90 $96	tall wide	Match MT08	130/90V-16	$119

Listing by Manufacturer

Avon

Front	size	MAW	match	Rear	size	MAW	match
				ST23	140/80ZR16	$143	wide
				Elan HL30	130/90HB16	$159	exact
				Elan II HL30	130/90HB16	$102	exact
				Gangster	MT90H-16	$136	exact
				Roadranger HL26	140/90H-16	$133	wide
				Roadrunner AM21	130/90H-16	$116	exact
Super Venom AM18	120/80V-16	$95	wide	Super Venom AM18	130/90V-16	$117	exact
Super Venom AM20	110/90V-16	$102	tall
Super Venom AM20	120/80V-16	$98	wide

Bridgestone

Front	size	MAW	match	Rear	size	MAW	match
BT17 Sports Mileage	110/90V-16		tall	BT17 Sports Mileage	130/90V-16	$109	exact
BT17 Sports Mileage	120/80V-16	$94	wide
BT35 Sports Mileage	110/90H-16		tall	BT35 Sports Mileage	130/90H-16		exact
BT45 Sports Mileage	110/90V-16	$62	tall	BT45 Sports Mileage	130/90H-16	$111	exact
BT45 Sports Mileage	120/80V-16	$68	wide	BT45 Sports Mileage	130/90V-16	$79	exact
				SE11	130/90H-16	$92	exact

Continental

Front	size	MAW	match	Rear	size	MAW	match
				Blitz TKH-24	130/90H-16	$54	exact
				Milestone CM2	130/90H-16	$89	exact
Sport 2000	110/90V-16		tall	Sport 2000	130/90V-16	$84	exact
				Tour TK-17	130/90H-16	$84	exact
				Twin K112	MT90H-16	$121	exact

Dunlop

Front	size	MAW	match	Rear	size	MAW	match
				Cruisemax	140/90--16	$111	wide
				D401 Sport Touring	130/90HB16	$76	exact
				D402 Touring Elite	MT90HB16	$96	exact
				K491 Elite II Touring	MT90HB16	$78	exact
K591 Sport Touring	120/80V-16		wide	K591 Sport Touring	130/90V-16	$79	exact
				K627	130/90H-16	$72	exact

Firestone

Front	size	MAW	match	Rear	size	MAW	match
				VT-01R	130/90H-16		exact

IRC

Front	size	MAW	match	Rear	size	MAW	match
Durotour RS-310	120/80H-16	$49	wide	Durotour RS-310	130/90H-16	$61	exact
				Durotour RS-410	130/90H-16	$83	exact
				Road Winner RW-010	130/90HX16		exact
				Wildflare WF-920	130/90H-16	$79	exact

Kenda

Front	size	MAW	match	Rear	size	MAW	match
				K657 Sport Challenger	130/90H-16	$55	exact

Metzeler

Front	size	MAW	match	Rear	size	MAW	match
ME-33 Laser	110/90V-16	$86	tall	ME-55A Metronic	130/90V-16	$110	exact
ME-33 Laser	120/80V-16	$88	wide
ME-33 Laser	120/80VB16		wide
				ME-77	130/90H-16	$87	exact
				ME-77	130/90S-16		exact
				ME-88 Marathon	130/90HB16	$98	exact
				ME-880 Marathon	130/90HB16	$113	exact
				ME-99A Perfect	130/90H-16		exact
				ME-99A Perfect	130/90V-16	$98	exact
ME-Z2	120/80ZR16	$88	wide
				ML2 Plus	140/90HB16	$126	wide

Michelin

Front	size	MAW	match	Rear	size	MAW	match
				Commander	130/90H-16	$121	exact
				Commander	MT90-B16	$121	exact
				Hi-Tour 79	130/90H-16	$138	exact
Macadam 50	110/90V-16	$96	tall	Macadam 50	130/90V-16	$121	exact
Macadam 50	120/80V-16	$103	wide
				Tarmac (old)	130/90H-16	$95	exact

Pirelli

Front	size	MAW	match	Rear	size	MAW	match
Match MT09	110/90V-16	$90	tall	Match MT08	130/90V-16	$119	exact
Match MT09	120/80VB16	$96	wide
				Route 66 MT66	130/90H-16	$94	exact

Key:

Exact	Precisely matches original spec
*Excellent*	*Precisely matches a recommended alternate*
Good	An exact or alternate in a different sizing system
Short	Exact or excellent width, lower profile. Consider these both ends to lower the bike
Soft	Similar diameter by using a taller profile and narrower width; used on the rear only
Tall	Taller profile, stock width; similar in effect to "soft", but for the front only
Wide	Same profile, wider tyre. This MAY NOT FIT your rim. BE CAREFUL!!!