snog, marry, avoid?

As it's spring and the days are getting longer, every right thinking
young man starts looking on ebay and in autotrader at motorbikes.

Whilst looking around, one bike that caught my eye was this GPZ1100E,

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=160326400268

and I realised that the arrival and departure of this Kwak had rather
passed me by. The ones that sold seem to be in excellent condition and
go for relatively sensible money.

So, is it a cheap and viable alternative to the ZZR11/Blackbird/busa
regulars, or is there a really good reason why it passed me (and pretty
much everyone else) by?

 

uk.rec.sheds is over there ->

 

One of those bikes that never hit the spot. A ZZR with a more
sit-up-and-beg riding position and a touring fairing. People who wanted
a sports-tourer bought the ZZR or a 'Bird and people who wanted a
full-on tourer bought one of those.

Makes a blinding used buy,because they are way cheaper than the
equivalent age/mileage ZZR or 'Bird, and the engine, being a slightly
detuned ZZR lump, isn't going to break.

Incidentally, did anyone else read this bit in the auction:

"Most of the miles have been done by me in Scotland & France when I have
taken the bike with me on a bike trailer to my holiday destinations and
then used whilst there."

and think: "What a silly bastard"?

 

I suppose it would make some sort of sense if you were in a motorhome.

 

No, just the opposite. If you're going to spend a couple of weeks
several hundred miles away in a single base, it makes a lot more sense
than trying to cram 2 weeks worth of gear onto a bike, especially if
there's 2 of you. The long motorway blat there & back is also far more
comfortable in a car, & less likely to result in divorce.

--
Krusty

'03 Tiger 955i
'02 MV Senna (for sale) '96 Tiger (for sale)
'79 Fantic Hiro 250 (for sale) '81 Corvette (for sale)

 

That reminds me, YGM (from a few days ago)

 

So she drives the car and you ride shotgun on the bike. Did that with
the Doctor once - it was actually quite useful because there were some
horrendous bottlenecks on the way down, and I was able to scout ahead,
as it were, and redirect her down some back roads.

Plus, if you're taking a bike on holiday to ride around when you're
there, it might as well be something small like a dirt bike, and not a
bloody great tourer which is specifically designed to do the journey
down there in the first place.

 

I haven't, but that might be due to me forgetting to reestablish my sig
what says relace .co.uk with .com to reply...

 

That's better

 

Ah. I should have added that the car was full - The Doctor, a friend,
our two kids and her kid. So a second vehicle was needed anyway.

 

Should have added - if you're taking a bike on a trailer, your tolls
will be more, your ferry crossing will be more, and it'll knock hell out
of your fuel consumption, plus really limit your driving speed, so you
might as well just ride the thing

 

Bah. See other posting.

 

(The Older Gentleman) wrote in

You are making the assumption that the chap has a partner that can drive.

He might be a single parent with teenage kids that like to do their own
thing for some of the time when on holiday. His partner might be disabled.
He might take aged parents.

Whilst taking a DR350 might make more sense in some circumstances they do
not lend themselves to a 200-300 mile daily ride in the Alps.

You're the silly bastard for making a judgement about this chap based on so
little information.

 

<Irritated>

Do **** off, ta.

 

Colin Irvine wrote:

Wotcha.

Oops - let's try sending this one to the group.

I've took my bike on the trailer before now. The bike in question was far
too slow for long motorway work, and besides, I can cram more stuff on the
trailer. In my defence, the trailer was being towed by my trike, so I still
enjoyed the journey.


^..^ Lone Wolf
http://www.moonshiners.org.uk/

 

Don't worry, I think it's pointless owning a big lardy touring bike if
you're going to trailer it everywhere.

I doubt if I've strengthened your arguement by agreeing with you
though..

 

Isn't the FJ12 in a similar era ?

"Don't forget the FJ12"

Paul.

 

No, not really. More like a decade before.

 

Depends... I am considering the possibility of not buying a large
sport-tourer after my current bike. Rentals all over the world are on some
100 EUR/day, so considering an upfront cost of minimum 10.000EUR, 400EUR in
taxes and insurance and 500EUR in wheels/maintenance per year, over a period
of 15 years... that allows for a fortnight rental every year...

 

No.

hth