sos zzr250

[flash]

wana chat then?

[flash]

ill be beack on at 9:30. the models cant wait

[MidnightMike]

Yeah ok, usually if im on KB then im chatting.

[MidnightMike]

Does anyone know if you can get custom exhausts fo the zzr250?

[erik]

My opinion on them isn't too great. My brother has one, so I've used it a bit.

The engine response is sluggish, it feels to me like its got a huge flywheel and takes ages to spin up (well, that's coming from an inline 4 which revs really easy... so it's relative).
The steering isn't very flickable. I guess it has more steering head rake or trail or whatever it is that makes the bike want to go in a straight line. It makes it slightly more stable in a straight line, but harder to corner. One thing of note is that when you try to use the front brake in a corner, on the zzr it tries to stand up and go wide a lot more than the zeal (and I assume other bikes like cbr's and zxr's etc). I know most people frown on braking while cornering, but almost inevitably it does happen, particularly for people learning to ride if they happen to go a bit fast into a corner.

That said, the zzr isn't all bad. My brother's one is fairly economical waaay more so than my zeal. It's a reasonably comfortable bike too. Probably better for commuting than a zxr as you have a slightly more upright seating position. The brakes on the zzr's I've tried have been good (better than my zeal's brakes, but I haven't tried a newer zeal for comparison).

I know my brother and several other people have had problems with going wide in corners. My brother and Speeddemon both came off on the same corner on scenic drive riding zzr's. Two people have died on kb from going wide on corners into the path of 4x4's, both riding zzr's. Of course it's hard to say whether these people would have gone wide on other bikes too, or if the zzr's handling contributed to the crashes.
Personally, I am very wary of zzr's, particularly of recommending them to newbies. They make good commuters, but for open road riding or having a bit of fun in the twisties, I think they can be dangerous in inexperienced hands.

My brother had a bit of a rant about zzr's and a bunch of other stuff a while ago, it's a bit random with a lot of different responses and opinions, but there are a lot of issues raised in the thread that may be of benefit/interest.
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...ad.php?t=12068

[MidnightMike]

Thanks Erick I new eventually someone would have something usefull
Bling Awarded.

[Gremlin]

Very good erik. Having only had the zzr, I can't compare to other bikes.

The bike did run wide when using the front brake, but I assumed it to be like all bikes, couple of crashes and some testing helped me to figure it out, and replace the automatic response to grab the front brake.

The practice paid off in the Hunua Ranges, when a corner disappeared on me, and I forced the bike lower, and went through OK. The bike is not lickity split, for sure, but I definitely pushed mine to safe limits, probably beyond that too. The bike was bottoming out (fairing scraping the ground) quite regularly, and also had the rubber peeling off on the back tyre after one section on a ride.

Suspension wasn't stiff enough (it had been stiffened already), I felt the brakes weren't strong enough for my weight, but I'm glad I had the bike. I was able to experience the bike moving around a lot, at relatively slow speeds, and learn how to cope with and respond accordingly.

[raster]

I have a ZZR 400 now, did have a Suzuki GSX400, when starting on the GSX I ran wide several times by being scared of laying it down too far, my ZZR is a lot heavier than other bikes and seams to lay down quickly on corners which gave me the hebidigebies whan it first happened and found I was attempting to keep the bike more upright which made me run wide, just took me some time to get used to this before I got used to it's quick laydown techneque

Mine has scarring on both sides too????

Maybe a little more top heavy than other bikes?, felt exactly like a Hyosung 250 in the corners.

Have ridden a CBR1000RR and a Duc 900SS, VTR600 CBR250 and didn't have this problem.
I then looked at the back tire side by side with the other bikes, my ZZR tire 3 flat surfaces, (having trouble explaining this) as the bike leans it seems to lift onto the side flat surface, when back upright goes back onto the straight line flat surface. The other bikes had a nice round from sidewall to sidewall
These bike are used for alot of straight line riding(commuting), could there be a link to tire wear and the way they handle?
I'm going to get someone to have a look at it.

my 2 cents worth!

[Ixion]

Yep, lotsa communtering has "flattened off" the tyre. It's still OK to use, just will feel a bit "lurchy" as you describe.

[stephenm01]

I am a 6ft 4" 105kg learner - I just needed a 250 with a decent sized frame and enough poke to move me around the city. ZZR250 is that bike. I have a 1996 model - in V.Good condition I haven't had problems with vacuum hoses or starting, and in one year of ownership it's been exemplary. I vote FOR 'em.

[MidnightMike]

I am a 6ft 4" 105kg learner - I just needed a 250 with a decent sized frame and enough poke to move me around the city. ZZR250 is that bike. I have a 1996 model - in V.Good condition I haven't had problems with vacuum hoses or starting, and in one year of ownership it's been exemplary. I vote FOR 'em.

Wanna sell it?

[MoFunthanmost]

Heya MidnightMike, I've had my '99 ZZR250 (my first bike) since march, and love it! it loves corners! especially the Rimutakes and the hills up brooklyn where I live, get pegs down often, which to begin with is scary, but addictivly fun.

Good on the gas, depending how you ride, i've managed to do 300km on a tank (incl reserve) and had her up to 170kph, but it seems to like cruising at 110-120kph. it has a good torquey engine and good accereration if you keep it up around 8000rpm, you'll not do too shabily out dragged my mate on his cbr600 the other day (although he's only just got it so maybe he was playing nice - but it felt good! )

it's nice and sedate when kept around 4000-5000rpm for around town.
It's my primary means of transportation, and i've found very comfortable, on longer trips as well as a quick blats around.

I'll be heading overseas shortly and having to sell her soon. going to miss her heaps! would recommend a ZZR250 to anyone as a first bike. has enough balls when you know how to use it, and you wont kill yourself on it until you do IMO.

good luck.

Matt

[MoFunthanmost]

when you try to use the front brake in a corner]

isnt that kinda dangerous? was taught never to front brake when cornering...

[crash harry]

I had a ZZR250 as my first bike. They're no ball of fire, but they're hell fun to ride and nice and big and roomy for a 250.

Heaps more wick than a GN, but nowhere near as good as a CBR/ZXR/FZR. Handling is fairly average - not bad, but once again not as good as the RR bikes. Nice & stable though. Good learner bike, but you'll be well ready for something with a bit more wick by the time you get your Full that's for sure!

They seem to be pretty bulletproof too. Don't like being hit by cars much whilst on the move though (now how do I know that...?)

(PS don't kid yourself that you can't fit on a CBR250... I'm 5'11" and 120kg of pure rippling lard and I rode one for a year... Where there's a will there's a way!)