DJ, no prob. I guess I read your post wrong <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle> . I thought you were trying to say they were a waste of time for a 600 bike, but specifically for the 6R.
As for the 03 kawi 600's (& 636) I dunno. But they do have a more extreme front-end balance. And if there are poeple out there that are adding them for a purely cosmetic reason than yeah, that is pretty frickin' dumb.
But in all honesty, and maybe I didn't make that clear, I want mine for street use. Not downtown puttering around, but for backroad twisties etc. You guys in central Canada probably have better roads than us poor sods on the East coast. We've got potholes that pop up from the frost etc that could steal tourists away from the grand canyon.
And at the same time, it may be nice on the track too, but that's sort of just a bonus to me...not really why I bought it. My bike only got squirrly on public roads (after the track tire abuse).
To answer your question about the gixxer...I was just trying to point out that they were not overkill for a 600cc bike. Manufacturers don't like to go to unnecessary expense. Anyone who's got the rear-end raised, or gone with a bigger rear sproket (or done the front) of their 2002 or earlier 6R could have the geometry or wheelbase close to that of the stock gixxer. 2003 kawi's are probably already there.
One thing about the dampers on the track, with my damper (and/or the setting I have it on), I don't know it's there unless I hit/do something nasty. So if I removed mine, it would still feel just as stable...until I needed it.
I think a lot of the OEM dampers also do not have a damping selection. It's preset to a particular level and you live with it. Usually it's a hard setting. With mine on high, it's VERY noticable. I couldn't just have it on high and let a stranger ride my boke, they'd crash the first time the tried to turn if they weren't prepeared for it...it's that hard. Turn-in takes a considerable amount of effort.
But the plus side is rock solid stability. A tactial nuke couldn't move that sucker. But I don't set it that high. In fact, the setting I use I honestly don't even feel it (until I need it). For that reason I love them.
Anyway, what I was getting at, is maybe the OEM race-kit kawi damper is of the one setting type that has a high damping rate, thus robbing turn-in. A good quality damper can be set as the pilot sees fit. But touche! A good place to do research on dampers is a CBR 954 website. Now there's a bike that NEEDS one (not talking from personal experience).
(I'm not including myself in that group 
