Kawasaki GZ Balius

[Ragingrob]

Has anyone got an opinion on these bikes? Seem to be going for a pretty low price so was just seeing if anyone out there has ridden one or knows much about them?

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Tourers/auction-125691670.htm?key=48294

Thanks, Rob.

[Ragingrob]

Specs show 39.5hp, nice low seat height of 745mm... maybe this would be a good bike to replace my GN...

Been looking at ZZRs and they have a good review by most people, 40hp, slightly higher seat height.

So I'm guessing the Balius would go about as hard as the ZZR? Cruise on open road at 110 easily? Might have to go give it a ride on the shore straight after exams :2thumbsup

[FilthyLuka]

it would probably go a bit harder seeing as its a four. EG be higher revving and more tempremental. Why dont you just stick with the GN till you get a full then buy a 750 or some such beast?

[Ragingrob]

Cause I've sold my GN with $500 profit :):)!

And I do open road and motorway riding everyday, GN can't quite handle it as easily as I'd like. So yeah and this kinda bike would last till my full very easily!

[xwhatsit]

People who have ridden them around here say they're very good and comparable with the Yamaha Zeal. Never having ridden myself I don't know, but it looks like a slightly better bike than the ZZR.

Can ye take both for a test ride? I don't think either a ZZR or a Balius is going to fall apart in the near future.

[HTFU]

Cause I've sold my GN with $500 profit :):)!

Well done that man. Someone must of wanted a CHIPS style bike (that windscreen was the snizzel)

That Kawsaki looks ok for 4k.

Also remember the shop in Pukekohe is selling new GPX's for $5995 ride away and a few shops in Auckland were clearing the naked Hyosung for $5600 or something.

[Ragingrob]

Hmmm I wanna buy something between 2500 and 3500 haha. What would you say to this http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=123478389 ?

A thought from squiggles regards the Balius is the problems with lack of parts in NZ so yeah I'll back away I think...

[0arbreaka]

From what Ive been told, the balius has the same engine as the zxr250 but the engine has just been de-tuned a bit. So it wouldbe a good bike, and should be reasonably reliable as well.

[Ragingrob]

Hmmm I've found a good deal on a ZXR250 that I might take up as long as it checks out fine :)

[Pancakes]

The Ballius is one bike that i haven't seen heaps of around but the people that have had them seem to like then which is a plus. Get a naked Hyo' new for that price bro! Not as much power but nice torque spread for commuting. New biek V.s old one and sooooo many out there now parts etc aren't going to be an issue.

[Rockbuddy]

one of my bikes is a balius I use it to commute to work on a daily basis 60kms round trip, I have never had any trouble with it (touch wood), It cruises along at 120kms oops i mean 100kms without any trouble on the motorway. when i got it it had 12000 kms on the dial now its done 33000 and all ive done is replace the chain, and new rubber. so for a to work and back commuter great value for the money. oh and i even took it to blenheim and back from auckland last year

[Oakie]

Check out the input I got to this thread that I started a month back on exactly the same bike. http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=58322

I test rode three Baliuses (Balii?). They were OK although none was perfect and although de-tuned from the ZZR, I thought were still a little bit peaky for the gentle riding style of Mrs Oakie. I then rode a CB250 'Jade' (the predecessor to the Hornet) and it was a no-brainer. The little Honda was just better in all departments.

If you do test ride the Balius, give the rear brake a good workout. On two of the bikes I rode it was below average and on the third, barely slowed the bike.

Nice bike for the price though and you'd probably get a decent run out of it.