The Kawasaki Ninja 600 is also known by some as the Kawasaki ZX-6 and it is an earlier version of the ZX-6R which came several years after the original 600 was released.
The Kawasaki Ninja 600 was first released in 1990 and had a long 18-year production run until it came off the new range in 2008. It is succeeded by the ZX-6R.
This article answers the question: “How Much Is A Kawasaki Ninja 600?”…
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How Much Is A Kawasaki Ninja 600?
The latest production models of the Kawasaki Ninja 600 were produced in 2008, making any and all pre-owned models that you might buy quite cheap. The newest version, the ZX-6R is priced at $9,999 brand new in 2021. For older models of the Ninja 600, you could expect to pay the following:
- 1992 Kawasaki Ninja 600R with 30,000 miles on the odometer – $2,800
- 1996 Kawasaki Ninja 600R with 9,990 miles on the odometer – $3,960
- 2003 Kawasaki Ninja 600R with 27,800 miles on the odometer – $3,530
- 2005 Kawasaki Ninja 600R with 9,896 miles on the odometer – $3,946
The above are from real online listings, which also show that despite the ZX-6 being quite an old bike from the 1990s and 2000s, there are still quite a number of low-mileage options out there.
At the same time, however, prices remain very competitive.
New Price
Unfortunately, as it is right now, there are no more ZX-6 (ZZR600) bikes in production.
They were dropped in 2008 and now the flagship of this category is the ZX-6R.
A brand-new Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R will set you back $9,999 for the 2021 year and then hover around there for used models depending on condition, mileage, and what features it comes with.
Used Price
Used prices for the Ninja 600 will vary greatly because the bikes are from such a range of different model years. Here’s a rough guide to each model year and a price you might expect to pay:
- 1990-2002 – $1500-2500
- 2003-2004 – $2500-3000
- 2005-2008 – $2800-3200
The exact price that you end up paying on the bike will of course depend greatly on the exact model that you choose.
Road Tax
The US does not have a uniform federal road tax, and rates vary greatly depending on numerous factors such as age, weight, type, and other factors about the vehicle.
Below is a summary of each state’s base registration fee and any other notes on the rules that exist when it comes to registering a new motorcycle on the road.
| State | Base Registration (USD) | Payable | Other Fees and Notes |
| Colorado | No statewide base | Annually | Ownership tax is calculated from 2.1 percent in 1st year down to 0.45 percent after 5th year and beyond |
| Iowa | No statewide base | Annually | Registration fee is equal to the percent of value as fixed by department plus $0.40 per 100lbs weight |
| Louisiana | No statewide base | Biennial | License plate cost is 0.1 percent of vehicle value per year with a minimum base of $10,000 |
| Michigan | No statewide base | Annual | Models from 1984 onward are charged on MSRP; pre-1984 based on weight |
| Arizona | $8 | Annually | +$1.50 air quality research fee + vehicle license tax |
| Minnesota | $10 | Annually | +1.25 percent of the base value of the vehicle; base value reduces 10 percent annually |
| New York | $26 | Biennially | Final rate based on weight |
| Nebraska | $15 | Annually | Some additional taxes apply based on MSRP |
| Mississippi | $15 | Annually | Additional tax from counties |
| Rhode Island | $30 | Biennially | |
| Arkansas | $17 | Annually | |
| Missouri | $18 | Annually | Based on horsepower; C-Class would fall under the $51 72hp+ category |
| Georgia | $20 | Annually | |
| South Carolina | $40 | Biennially | First-time registration +5 percent vehicles sales price |
| Kentucky | $21 | Annually | Additional fees if registering by mail or online |
| Oregon | $43 | Biennially | Additional county fees may apply |
| Alabama | $23 | Annually | Add $50 for passenger vehicles more than 8,000lbs |
| Tennessee | $23.75 | Annually | Some cities and counties charge additional fees |
| New Mexico | $27 | Annually | Final rate based on weight and model year |
| Kansas | $30 | Annually | Additional property taxes levied by counties |
| Massachusetts | $60 | Biennially | |
| Washington | $30 | Annually | Additional fees added based on vehicle type, weight, location, and more |
| New Hampshire | $31.20 | Annually | Heavier vehicles charged more |
| Nevada | $33 | Annually | Additional government service taxes apply |
| New Jersey | $33.50 | Annually | Price increases based on the age and weight of the vehicle |
| Ohio | $34.50 | Annually | Additional fees may apply if owners pay multi-year rates |
| Maine | $35 | Annually | Municipalities charge additional excise taxes |
| North Carolina | $36 | Annually | Additional county fees apply |
| Pennsylvania | $36 | Annually | $5 fee added in some counties |
| South Dakota | $36 | Annually | |
| Indiana | $36.36 | Annually | Includes infrastructure improvement fee; some additional fees also apply |
| Delaware | $40 | Annually | |
| Virginia | $40.75 | Annually | Additional local taxes apply |
| Utah | $43 | Annually | Additional fees may be applied according to vehicle type |
| Hawaii | $45 | Annually | Additional registration fees are levied by counties |
| California | $46 | Annually | +Transportation Improvement fee of $25-175, +California Highway Patrol fee $24 |
| North Dakota | $49 | Annually | Final rate based on weight and number of years previously registered |
| Alaska | $100 | Biennially | |
| Texas | $50.75 | Annually | Additional fees may apply |
| Idaho | $69 | Annually | This is the rate for new cars; older cars enjoy lower rates |
| D.C. | $72 | Annually | |
| Vermont | $76 | Annually | Can pay $140 for 2-year registration; different fees are applied to alternative fuels (not electric) |
| Connecticut | $80 | Annually | |
| Oklahoma | $85 | Annually | Applies to new cars; fees go down on older vehicles |
| Illinois | $101 | Annually | |
| Maryland | $135 | Annually | |
| Montana | $217 | Annually | Applies to new vehicles; lower rates on older vehicles |
| Florida | $225 | Annually | Additional fees apply |
Insurance
In the US, the average cost for motorcycle insurance for a 600cc bike is about $700.
Some states fall below that national average cost: North Dakota ($382), Iowa ($414), Wyoming ($439), Nebraska ($469), and South Dakota ($472).
The most expensive states to insure such a bike would be California ($1,360), Louisiana ($1,175), Michigan ($1,083), New York ($969), and Arizona $935.
Besides geographical location, your insurance rate would also be highly impacted by the crime rate in your area, your age, and your overnight storage solution.
If you live in a low-crime area, you’ve been riding for at least several years and you can keep the Ninja 600 in a secure or locked garage overnight, then all of these factors will help to bring the price down.
Maintenance
One piece of good news is that maintaining a Kawasaki Ninja 600 is quite cheap overall, despite the bike’s age.
The lucky thing is that the Kawasaki Ninja range, in general, is fairly simple to maintain with no kinds of special maintenance requirements that would require heavy expense.
Since most models will have at least 10,000 miles on them, you can expect an annual service to cost between $150-200, which is somewhat higher than when a bike is brand new but still not objectively so expensive.
New tires of good quality might cost $400 for two, on average, and would only need changing once every 3-5 years at the most and with frequent use.
Overall, therefore, you would definitely find that a Kawasaki Ninja 600 is a very affordable bike to maintain.
Loan Cost
Given the relatively small amount that you would pay for an older ZX-6, then the monthly loan cost would also likely be very low.
Taking a loan to purchase a $3,500 Ninja 600 from 2007 with a downpayment of $500 would result in a monthly rate of just $89 or so payable over 3 years.
The interest rate there is estimated at 4.68%
If you were looking at a brand-new ZX-6R then a $9,999 loan over the same time period with a $1,000 down payment would result in monthly payments of $268.
If your credit rating is strong, then you could always get a better deal on the interest.
Compared With Miles And Year, Price Goes Up Or Down?
The price of the Ninja 600 is tricky to predict exactly because it is an example of a discontinued model.
The prices can therefore fluctuate quite wildly as there is a perceived collectors’ value that one can factor into the price.
Generally speaking, the more miles that are on the bike, the lower the price will be.
Some have been kept deliberately low (under 20,000 miles) to attract a higher price.
If you are paying for a Ninja 600 with 30,000 miles or more on the odometer, then you can expect a somewhat lower asking price.
Though the bike should happily go up to 100,000 miles and more, maintenance and prior treatment are so important in determining that lifespan.
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