Ninja alert!!!!! Kawasaki ZX-7R
 

Sorry I havent been about much the last couple of weeks but I have been busy on other sites. Ebay and cycletrader.com mostly.

What does this mean and what relevance does the ZX7R thread title have to my absence?

Well, I was seeking a sportbike. After initially planning to buy a 2004 hardly used 600/750 I realised I would be spending upwards of $7k which I can't justify for a weekend toy. Thus, I set myself a budget of $5k which ruled out anything new. Of course, used sportbikes generally get modded (usually not to my tastes) or have the shit hammered out of them. Anything decent was few and far between. Had a look at a couple of 'streetbikes' like the Z1000 but one thing I wanted was wind protection, tried a Bandit 1200 which I nearly bought. However, I wanted a sportbike, so the hunt continued.

I started looking for mint stock examples of sportbikes, older guys' sunday toys kind of thing.

Found a 1998 GSXR750 on ebay with 4900 miles, reserve was at $4300. Sounded perfect and located 90 miles away so I could go see it before I bid. Arranged a viewing and was about to go, when he calls me. Someone locally offered him $4700 and he took it off ebay! Rats!

Looked in Cycle trader - there had been a mint ZX7R on sale the week before for $6000. Over my budget and way over priced for a 2000 model even with the low miles on it.

He'd dropped the price 10% so I called him. Went to see it, and said that it was still too expensive for my budget, but I had cash. The guy was getting desperate to sell and when I put $4500 on the table in front of him he cracked. Ended up writing a check for a couple hundred more and got the bike delivered as part of the deal.

So....

I now own a 2000 ZX-7R. Black and Silver. She's got 7500 miles on her and not a scratch.

You will have to trust me on this as she is in the shop for a full service right now (valve adjustments are beyond my ability on anything but the DR650!) so no custom pics yet...although I will provide some later this week!

Is it quick? 125hp at the crank so, yeah, you betcha! Now minacious's bike will piss rings round it, but with 0.6hp for each kg of weight, it ain't slow!

http://img363.imageshack.us/img363/3...36114336wo.jpg


By the way - I have noticed in the 1282 new posts I got when I logged in that a lot has been going on here in my absence!

Nice - not that Green Meanies have ever been my favourite... but it is a sports UJM so all is forgiven... ;)

Had you got one of then Eyetye red Ducks we may have come to blows. ;)

I did look at a 748 actually, but it didn't 'feel' right to me.

I rode a 900SS once - like driving a tractor.

I have had 5 Kawasakis - always managed to avoid (s)lime green so far :mrgreen:

ah man that thing looks great. I know you will enjoy it! just remember one thing... even a Ninja, is afraid of a hurricane.

Nice!! Can't wait to see some shots of it. Even though it looks heavy, it is quite nimble in the tight stuff. You will enjoy it.

Sweet bike, looks cherry!!
Besides tire wear and cosmetic damage how can one tell if a bike has had "the shit hammered out of it?"

I also must know what are your impressions of the Z1000...

@ brembo - I shall do my best to be safe - just have to assume every car didnt see you and that there is oil on every bend. There is a racetrack near me (Cresson, TX) so I hope to ride to extremes on the track and not the public roads.

@ Min - Yep there will be custom shots and closeups tomorrow night or maybe Wednesday. I'll probably put a post in the 'what do you drive' section once I have the custom pics! It's not the lightest 750 you are quite right, but they say it has a very stable frontend which was a huge positive point for me.

@ z28 - yeah it's mint apart from my scratching the gas tank at the base putting it back on after cleaning the airfilter. I am a bit pissed about that but it's a small scratch easy to repair.

Sometimes it's difficult to tell if a bike has really had the crap hammered out of it to be honest, you have to use a bit of instinct. Low miles and immaculate bodywork (with original paint and stickers of course) are usually good indicators the bike has been well-taken care of - ask yourself, are the consumables in good condition (oil filters brakepads tires etc). You can check things like wheel bearings, cush drives, headstock bearings, big end bearings quite easily without even riding the bike! If any of this lot is loose then assume the worst and walk.

Sometimes the guy selling the bike is the only owner the bike has had and you get to check him/his garage/ his home out - if it is all nice and tidy and well cared for then the chances are the bike will have been cared for and he has maintenance records to prove this, or at the very least receipts for oil/filters/plugs etc if he's done his own work maintaining. If you buy (preowned) from a dealership you are buying a bit blind in this respect - sure you get some kind of warranty but then you pay 15-20% more than you would privately.

The z1000 I found to be great fun, I really enjoyed riding it but the styling just doesnt quite do it for me. Also, it's unfaired as you know. If they made a half faired version like the Aprilia Falco I'd have been well up for one of those.

Congratulations!!! Nice ride.
What about Muzzy exhaust system :twisted:

Its fast enough as it is! :lol:

It is not only about speed, but also THE BEAUTIFUL SOUND :!:

exactly, beautiful 130db sound... I think D&D could accomplish that

I won a two brothers carbon racing can on ebay last night

Heres a piccy of it:

http://img324.imageshack.us/img324/4...full4xj.th.jpg

As for the custom shots of my bike, I shall provide those at the weekend - they needed to order a Camchain Tensioner so it is stuck in the shop til Friday or Saturday :x

Sweet bike.....

This is one good ninja to keep. :D

two brothers always get good reviews, youll love it.

I like the new avatar corpse grinder