FS: Kawasaki ZX9R E1

Don't laugh... but I've decided already this isn't the bike for me.
(1)

Anyway, details as follows:

2000 X reg Kawasaki ZX9R E1

Metallic blue

MOT and tax til July 2009

Bridgestone BT014s - about a thousand miles covered on these, so as
you can imagine they're still pretty much as new.

New brake pads both ends at the same time, so these are all good as
well.

23k from new.

Spyball alarm / immobiliser with two pads.

Rides lovely bar it blatantly could do with the carbs being balanced,
and so it can be a bit lumpy on the over-run at lower speeds, but on
throttle it's silky smooth and had the nicest gear change / clutch
I've used on a bike in ages.

I paid £1850 for it this week, which was pretty good as it is... I'll
accept £1750 for a quick sale (no offers), so I can start to look for
what I now know is the bike for me - an R6.

Alternatively, I'd be very interested in doing a deal on this or my
VFR with cash on top of eitehr for a reasonable R6.

Located in Kent, pics available on request - email addy in the headers
is unmunged.

(1) I'm trying to compete with Nige on this score.

 

It's me, not the bike that's the issue - I'm too bloody picky in
certain respects, but I suppose I now know what I want and where to
find it.

One thing I've been looking for of late is that adrenalin rush I used
to get with the first CBR600s I had.

I spent yesterday have a good thrap round the backroads round here on
the 9R, and it's bloody quick - I'm 16.5 stone, and it was lifting the
front end over ridges in the road etc under full throttle, but it just
doesn't get my adrenalin going?

I had a good go on my mates R6 and he had trouble getting it back off
me - it's the way it lags then just keeps on revving and revving and
revving and... revving, progressively building more and more power
along the way whilst screaming its tits off, that *really* does it for
me - the adrenalin was really flowing when I got on one of my
favourite bits of road.

As I said in my post on the R6, I want to try an R1 as well now, but
it really did feel like I've found what I've been looking for in that
R6 yesterday.

It had a full Akrapovic system as well, and can now see why people
rate those so much.

So in a nutshell, the 9R is a very competent bike... it just doesn't
float my boat like that R6 did.

Indeed, if I were inclined to want something that does it all, as in
scratching / touring / commuting, the 9R would be an excellent
choice... but I'm not so sure given the extra running costs and the
fact I've got full luggage etc for the VFR, whether I'd have it over
that - I deliberately took both out yesterday, and sick puppy that I
am, I found wrestling the VFR round some twisties more fun - it's more
of a challenge, I suppose, but neither matched up to the R6 in the
smile factor stakes.

The guy with the R6 tried both as well, and said he'd like the 9R
riding position with the VFR lump - bear in mind I'm running a race
can on the VFR before writing him off as a freak. ;-)

The primary thing I want from a bike is something to go hooning around
the local back roads on of a weekend, and all other considerations
come second really.

Indeed... but I've now realised I should have blagged a go on the R6
before I looked at the 9R - had I done this, I wouldn't have bought
the 9R.

If anyone wants to come down and try the 9R (or the VFR, although I
may well hang on to this once the 9R has gone, as it would make a good
'sensible' bike foil to the loony hooning of an R6), then feel free -
so long as I have the full asking price in my hand and you prove
you're insured, you can fill your boots with a decent testride.

One last point - what else is of the same sort of persuasion as the R6
in terms of nutty power delivery / decent handling? I might look at
some alternatives, so long as they give me the same sort of riding
experience.

 

You're a stinky northerner, ergo I'll never be as bad as you.

HTH

 

Ok, I might look into one of these, although an R6 seems to have
exactly hit the spot - something which rarely happens with me, fussy
fucker that I am.

Budget wise, I'm looking at spending up to £2.5k really if I keep the
VFR as well... if I sell that, I'd be happy to sink £3k in - don't
really want to spend more than that on what is essentially a toy for
me, IYSWIM.

I've just worked it out, you know... why I'm so keen on the surge of
power thing?

TZR125s... it's all their fault.

It's the flat spot followed by immediate change to 'scalded cat' power
delivery those had when you did the pikey 'lock the power valve open'
derestriction, that I love and gets my adrenalin going, and it's
something that the earlier CBR600s I had used to tend to do if, of all
things, you had an aftermarket pipe on the bike which then had
blatantly hadn't been jetted to suit.

R6 is the first 600 I've ridden as well, that comes *right* up in
first without you deliberately cracking the throttle off and then
immediately back on on the edge of the power band.

Aye... I think I'm going to spend next weekend being a pain in the
butt at various local dealers.

 

Nothing wrong with shandy... you should try it sometime.

You may find it washes down deep fried Mars bars a treat...

 

Not Venus, apparently.

 

'You all look the same to me' ;-)

Wherever the Mars Confectionary factory is these days, I should think.

It used to be in Slough... if it's no longer there, that's no bad
thing.

 

It's a shame your budget won't stretch to an MV 750 Senna/SPR/SR.
They'd give you exactly what you're looking for, & then some.

--
Krusty
www.MuddyStuff.co.uk
Off-Road Classifieds

'02 MV Senna '03 Tiger 955i '96 Tiger '79 Fantic Hiro 250

 

I can't find any on eBay - take it they're a bit thin on the ground /
sought after, then?

 

Very, very thin on the ground. Most of them are tucked away in glass
cases. You'd have to triple your top budget then add a bit more on top
to get one though.

--
Krusty
www.MuddyStuff.co.uk
Off-Road Classifieds

'02 MV Senna '03 Tiger 955i '96 Tiger '79 Fantic Hiro 250

 

<looks at sig>

Was that said with just a tiny hint of a smug swagger? ;-)

 

Christ no, it's just a bike to me. A fucking superb bike, but still
just a bike. If you want what's probably the best handling production
bike ever made with the addition of a somewhat 2-stroke-esque power
delivery, you won't get anything better.

--
Krusty
www.MuddyStuff.co.uk
Off-Road Classifieds

'02 MV Senna '03 Tiger 955i '96 Tiger '79 Fantic Hiro 250

 

Sounds like both bikes in my sig.