My first Kawasaki, what a bike it is too.

[kneescraper]

Hey all,

Ive gone and done it, crossed the line that no Suzuki owner should ever cross...I bought a Kawasaki.

Blame Justin, with him adding another 2 stoker to his yet already large collection of bikes, I felt I better get in on the act.

I came across the bike as I was tootling along on Suzi the Suzuki, there she sat...in all her silver and blue hottness....which a huge sign saying "OFFERS". Well after alittle hagling I got here home for a mere $500 including a Helmet. The man son had ridden it for one summer, low sidded it and given up on her, the engine runs awesome. Got that GPX/ZZR thump sound from the twin exhausts..shit its feels so strange ridding a bike so small. Any way it needs around $400 spent on her to have her in a good condition. A bloody good flush on the engine fluids is also needed....Im pretty sure these things go for ever any way.

Pics to come once Ive found my driver disk for the Digicam.

Any info I need to know about these puppies?

Im off to buy about 12........thousand cans of degreaser to get rid of the road scum that has made its home on the swing arm and rear shock.

[Grumpy]

Well done. Made the move myself a couple of years ago after 20 years of Suzuki ownership. You'll wonder why you didn't do it sooner.:yes:

[kneescraper]

Ive still got the RF400, I love that bike...Ive always wondered what it would feel like to be a Kawaski owner...liberating is the word.

[vifferman]

Any info I need to know about these puppies?

Y'know, it'd be easier for someone to answer that, if you'd actually said what bike model it was!

[Matt_TG]

Y'know, it'd be easier for someone to answer that, if you'd actually said what bike model it was!

LOL, I'm glad you pointed that out - I re-read the post several times before getting to your reply, thinking I missed something!

[Taz]

Here's my guess..... ZZR250

[Kendog]

My guess is '----'

That's what it says under 'Other bikes you own' :laugh:

[kneescraper]

Opps, with all the excitment I left that info out. 1990 ZZR250.

I dropped the oil and filter, oil was black as tar......yuk! Took the exhausts off and found one of them to have a decent wear mark through it...time for the welder to come out of retirement. The rear swing arm and shock needs one hell off a degrease. I also took the clutch cover off, timing chain looks good but will have a proper look once the tank is off.

Even with the oil being BLACK!!! the engine internals look clean and in good order. Chain and sproket with need to be replaced, I'll replace the both wheel bearings and fix up the front shocks as they are weeping. Can't wait to get into pulling her apart..should be a fun bike to fix up and ride when Suzi needs a few weeks off.

Ive downloaded the maunal but any extra info would be awesome.

Cheers!

[judecatmad]

We came across a Kawasaki yesterday - another 'side of the road with a sign' jobbie. With any luck we'll be picking it up tomorrow once it's got a warrant - very exciting! Not that I'm allowed anywhere near it having written off the ginny last time I was on a bike...oh, and hubby's paranoid about anything happening to bub. Keep telling him that there's so much padding around my belly that NOTHING could go wrong - but *sigh* it all falls on deaf ears!

Always had faith that we'd get us a blue Kawasaki at some point! :woohoo: Roll on January!!!

[kneescraper]

Ahhh I can understand how your man feels, when my wife was pregs I was very paranoid about her having an accident. There no way in hell she would have been aloud to ride a bike.

What kinda Kwaka did ya get Jude?

[Drew]

when my wife was pregs I was very paranoid about her having an accident. There no way in hell she would have been aloud to ride a bike.


What the hell?! It's just as dangerous to have a seatbelt on I was told at anti-natal classes.


More of the cotton wool school of paranting I guess, each to there own.

[kneescraper]

I know what ya mean and agree with ya Drew...just a first time paranoid dad. These days it would be totally different.....good point Drew!

[jaybee]

nothing like a bit of elbow grease and hard work, makes you appreciate your bike a lot more

[cowboyz]

Ive still got the RF400, I love that bike...Ive always wondered what it would feel like to be a Kawaski owner...liberating is the word.

I bet you feel smarter too............

[kneescraper]

I do, I do....strange that.

Any idea if theres a website where you cant enter the bikes Rego and it tells you if its still in the system or if its on hold etc?

[pete376403]

Opps, with all the excitment I left that info out. 1990 ZZR250.

I dropped the oil and filter, oil was black as tar......yuk! ...
Even with the oil being BLACK!!! the engine internals look clean and in good order.

Black oil shows the detergent component is doing it's job. It's supposed to come out black,it has picked up the carbon (from blow-by) and is holding it in suspension so it can be removed. If the oil came out clean after a longish period of use that would be bad.
something that was drummed into us apprentices at GG&H - the five functions of oil are to lubricate, seal, cool, prevent corrosion and CLEAN.

[kneescraper]

Ahhh good info there Pete, yeah I was just simply pointing out that I thought it had been a while since the last oil change. I thought a good running clean engine wouldnt or shouldnt have much carbon in it any ways..thats spose to go out the exhausts ?

Im no expert though...just a newbie learning.

[Bloody Mad Woman (BMW)]

Y'know, it'd be easier for someone to answer that, if you'd actually said what bike model it was!

My thoughts exactly!! lol So what did you get?

[kneescraper]

Didnt you real the whole thread BMW? ZZR250.

[zeocen]

That's strange, my next bike will be either an RF900/RF600.. you're my exact opposite! Although Kawasaki is my first and only passion, the RF's just have everything that I need at a good price.. nothing will get rid of the kawasaki roots though *makes note to hide kawasaki watch if he ever hops on a suzuki*
They are great sounding bikes for what they are though, the more I see 250's around the more I like mine just a little bit more, and having rode a ZZR250 I can say the same for them.

The only other bike I would be tempted in is a ZZR600/1100, but my eyes are firmly fixated on the RF right now!

[judecatmad]

I do, I do....strange that.

Any idea if theres a website where you cant enter the bikes Rego and it tells you if its still in the system or if its on hold etc?

LemonCheck from the AA is a good service - tells you about the warrant, rego, if it's registered stolen, if there's outstanding finance etc. Costs $20 for AA members and $25 for non AA members but it's well worth it IMHO


What kinda Kwaka did ya get Jude?

Well, we've not actually got it yet - the guy is getting a warrant for it today. With any luck it will be today. Dave's very excited! It's an EX4 - rather old but about 10 years younger than the bike he's currently riding!!

[The Pastor]

well done mate, its like the saying once you've had black, you'll never go back!


once you ride kawa you will never go back.

[kneescraper]

Ahahahaha, Im sure I will never go back. I would LOVVVVEEE a ZXR400 for a race bike..after seeing Rustys its ignited something in me. (que the doggie replys).

It was a pure impulse by, I have never ever thought of a ZZR as a bike to consider buying..but it was cheap and I thought why not.

Ive got it torn down to its birthday suit, looks in bloody good nic for a bike that no ones loved....Shes gona look *quote Justin* bling once Ive finished with her.

Im thinking customer exhausts......hrmmmmm

[LilSel]

You'll have great fun on her :D

[Kflasher]

Hey all,

Ive gone and done it, crossed the line that no Suzuki owner should ever cross...I bought a Kawasaki...

Welcome dude, hope to have you on our side forevea...

[Kflasher]

well done mate, its like the saying once you've had black, you'll never go back!...

Dude too much information...

[kneescraper]

I wouldnt mind a 636 come to think of it Kflasher. Ive never ridden/owned a Kwaka before so I was unaware of there build etc. Looking at the ZZR its not half bad.

Lilsel - Were ZZR buddies now!

[gijoe1313]

Dizzam! You picked up a bargain! Fix it up for a little coin, pop her on retardme and sell it to some Dorklander who got more money than brains :lol: Good to hear my brand of madness is scrubbing off onto others here!

Now you all know the real reason why I pootle to the back and beyond... to see if any other bikes are offered for peanuts in the wop-wops! :yes: Hmmm farm trail bike might be a goer yet as well!

Nah, good on ya - I felt now that I had the little ol'Hornet up and running with Daisy and Dandi stripped down, just needed to have another RZ to match the spare donk!

Got my eye out for a nice little bucket bike next :innocent: .... or a RD350 ... or a RD500 ... or ... and ... need to branch out into Suzuki/Kawasaki/Ducati/Buell/KTM/Moto Guzzi/Hyosung (insert any other bike manufacturer here)

Oh yes, one day I will have one of each engine type and manufacturer one way or another! Will just mean I will have to ride 1000km a day! :devil2:

[judecatmad]

Oh well, our Kwaka has sold to someone else - right from under us :(

Offered a deposit yesterday cos we really wanted it, the guy said wasn't necessary he was happy to hold it for us, said he'd sort a warrant out today and let us have it tonight. Then someone else who'd seen it after us on Saturday turned up this morning with cash and he sold it to him instead. Barsteward.

Gutted :crybaby:

The most annoying thing is, he didn't even let us know - we had to call him to find out that he'd let it go.

[kneescraper]

Dam, dont you hate people like that Jude...its happened to me before, I was not happy.

Your a hardcase young (hrmmm) man Justin, glad we have something in common. Cant wait to see more blinged up rides roll out of your workshop.

Tonight I took both front and rear brake calipers off, looks like I need a new rear disc as the current one messures in at 4mm and the min depth is meant to be 4.5mm. Rear disc pads are gone and only the metal was left, I put the wear of the rear disc down to this. Front disc is good and pads are ok-ish. Dropped the radiator, flushed it out.....alot of rusty water was flushed out. Also dropped the exhaust pipes off, I'll sand them back and paint them black.

Spark plugs look ok, air filter is screwed so I will replace that with that cut your own performance (yeah right) filter. Fuel filter is heading for the bin and I'll fit new fuel lines.

Its gona be a clean looking bike once Im finished....cant wait :)

[MotoGirl]

Bloody good score ya got there :2thumbsup Cajun and I's first bike was a ZZR 250 ('96 model) and it was absolutely bulletproof.

[kneescraper]

Good to hear Motogirl, are the 96 model simular to the 90 model? They all look the same but there are prob minor changes.

[Lucy]

Although Kawasaki is my first and only passion,

Hope your girlfriend doesn't read KB.....!:dodge:

[Bob]

Hey all,

I've gone and done it, crossed the line that no Suzuki owner should ever cross...I bought a Kawasaki.



(GIGANTIC RANT DELETED!)

This I HATE this kind of comment!

Why shouldn't someone who has owned a Suzuki buy a Kawasaki? Or vice versa? Or a Triumph? Or any other bike?

Looking back at 11 bikes owned or lived in my garage over the last decade:

Honda: 1
Kawasaki: 3
Suzuki: 4
Yamaha: 3

You buy a bike because it is the right bike for you - not because it has the right badge on the tank! Or at least you should.

Exception of course being Ducati or Harley-Davidson, which, lets be honest, you buy because you want one, not because you want a bike. Emotion is a big factor in the ownership of those brands.

And - of course - specialist machines, which does mean you go for certain brands as they are specialists in that arena.

But general bikes? Just get out there and find the right bike for you!

(I also hate "I ride a sportsbike, so I'm going to turn my nose up at cruisers; I ride a cruiser so I'm going to turn my nose up at sportsbikes; I ride a classic bike so I hate everyone riding modern bikes; I ride a new bike, so I hate anyone riding something old" etc. Key word here is BIKE... sigh)

[kneescraper]

Take it easy Bob, cricky...bad day or something, some body give this man some medication. I said it as a punt at both Suzuki riders and Kawasaki riders (I own both so some could say I was making fun at my self).

Dont read so much into things there Bob, it sucks that forums dont express humor when its meant to.

[Bob]

Sorry, but I see/hear too much bike-snobbery. And it gets my goat. Didn't realise you were poking fun - there are too many people out there who really mean this stuff!

This is an article I wrote on the subject some time ago. (http://www.bobpickett.co.uk/bkit/outofthebox.htm)

I never understand the whole "I ride this, so I will blank you as you ride that" mentality. Out on my ER-6f, people that will greet me will blank me if I am taking my wife's 535 Virago out for a spin. And vice-versa.

I really don't get it.

(Puts soapbox away, slinks back into the newsroom...)

[kneescraper]

All good Bob,

Ive owned a few different brands of bikes, they are all sexy in their own way. Its all about the love, love towards bikes that we all share...who cares what name it has on its tank, its a motorbike and thats all that matters.