sos zzr250

[MidnightMike]

I know this is getting repetitive but this will be the last one. (or so I hope)
I need the opinions of you guys about the kawasaki zzr250. (Hopefully reasonably soon) and do any of you know about getting a bike checked out before you buy it?:sherlock: Thanks ,Mike

[suckingair]

Do you have a specific bike in mind, or are you just curious about the model ?. As a model it's not too bad, wont give you any delusions about being a GP star that's for sure. Treat it well, regular oil/filter and chain lube, let the engine warm up in the cold properly (it's a 250...). The only problem that I had was a vacuum hose was to close to the engine so I would get a vacuum lock on 1 cylinder which would clear after 30 minutes.. Once that was sorted it was good to go. Just keep in mind that it's a learners bike so it might not have been loved quite as much as it should have been. You may get bored with it after 8 months or more and want some form of RR, but the ZZR wont bite you if you do some thing stupid..

[MidnightMike]

"Do you have a specific bike in mind,"

Yes I do a 1992 model.

[flash]

gees midnightmike let it go.....

[MidnightMike]

Your cant bid on something and let it go :doh:

Didnt you go and look at it too?

[flash]

did you have a look at it?

[MidnightMike]

Yeah, wasnt too bad. Some things missing, some cracks in the fairings etc.

[Damon]

My Cousin had one that i did my full on, I'm really not a big fan and neather was she, she took my cbr out for a ride and said it felt soo much lighter and handled alot better than the ZZR, it was also abit gutless, if i was looking for a 2fiddy i wouldn't get a ZZR

[MidnightMike]

I cant fit on a cbr anyway. I dont really care about it being that fast. Im used to my scooter so I probably wont mind.

[flash]

it had next to noooooooooo acceleration, i bit of a dissapointment there. yould have to repaint it becuae yould have to bog up all the holes and dents (thats what i would do if i got it)

[MidnightMike]

it had next to noooooooooo acceleration, i bit of a dissapointment there. yould have to repaint it becuae yould have to bog up all the holes and dents (thats what i would do if i got it)

As bad as a GN250?

Did you ride it?

[flash]

yeah i rode it (even took it out around near the blowcart track to find speed)
but compared to anything ive riden (mainly 2smokes) i just couldnt believe the lagging (but ever 4stroke ive tryied had this same problem).
if i didnt want something a bit faster ild be getting a rg150, you just cant beat acceration on a 2smoke and thats all you want around town (to get out of tight spots)

[MidnightMike]

Did you just bid?

[flash]

havnt bidded yet, whos the mate bidding for you?

[MidnightMike]

Ignore this message go to the next.

[MidnightMike]

No one. R u going to bid?

[flash]

"yamarin" is asking questions for you arnt he?
hopefully by tonight ill know if i like it or not

[MidnightMike]

"yamarin" is asking questions for you arnt he?
hopefully by tonight ill know if i like it or not

Yeah he is ,or was.

Closes on the 11th doesnt it?

[flash]

i woldnt be surpised if someone bought it in the next couple of days

[flash]

did you test ride it?

[MidnightMike]

Im gnna wait a bit b4 i bid.
Do you know if i could get it checked out somewhere like bayride b4 i brought it? :hitcher:

[flash]

he just got a new wof+rego yesterday so it should be ok

[MidnightMike]

Nah I didnt. Might go another time and do so.
Says you cant on the auction.

[flash]

we know the guy, so he let me (after we said we would buy it if i fell off) he might not let anyone else because he said tons are interested and im not the only one thats came to look. im guessing your the other guy that came over?

[MidnightMike]

we know the guy, so he let me (after we said we would buy it if i fell off) he might not let anyone else because he said tons are interested and im not the only one thats came to look. im guessing your the other guy that came over?

I went over this morning .. i was offered a ride i think

See their fireblade?

[flash]

yup, looks good. hes seling that too

[flash]

looks like where not the only guys looking then if you didnt go till this morning

[MidnightMike]

looks like where not the only guys looking then if you didnt go till this morning

I think their are 2 others :devil2: :devil2:

[MidnightMike]

So much for 30,000k's

[flash]

what do you mean?

[MidnightMike]

Its done like 36 000

[flash]

as long as it as been looked after, it shouldnt be a problem.
did you notice that it runs quite cold? (reivant to the temp guage).

also did he tell you how the dent in the tank came to be? (very funny)

[flash]

YO MIDNIGHTMIKE!!!!!!

theres a couple more bikes in tga now.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/structure/auction_detail.asp?id=44533091&key=137154

http://www.trademe.co.nz/structure/auction_detail.asp?id=44556743&key=137154

[MidnightMike]

They both look like crap.:puke:
Would that cold engine be a problem?

[flash]

no, ive just never seen it before. on the guage it dosnt even get never the middle, but they say thats normal

[MidnightMike]

no, ive just never seen it before. on the guage it dosnt even get never the middle, but they say thats normal

Maybe theres a prob with the dials

[flash]

dials seemed to work. still thinking of buying it?

[MidnightMike]

dials seemed to work. still thinking of buying it?

Yep, you? bla bla bla (not enough characters.)

[flash]

dont know yet. ive got some others to look at first

[MidnightMike]

Those other ones?:scooter:

[flash]

no.........

[MidnightMike]

Fair enough

[MidnightMike]

Gremlin should have an opinion about it.:yeah:

[Deviant Esq]

There is a PM function for 2 person conversations like this. :confused:

[MidnightMike]

How do you do that?

[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/showthread.php?t=12068

[MidnightMike]

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

[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:beer:

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! :violin:

[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? :whistle:

[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. :devil2:

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! :2thumbsup )

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!)