ZK-Awesome
14th June 2008, 20:52
I've got a scooter that I use to get to school when I wake up late (it's about 2ks each way, or 15-20 min walk). It's good for that but I also go out to the aero club etc which includes faster stretches of road on the weekends. If I got a new bike I'd also like to be able to use it to get to blenheim (from nelson) when football team requires, or to Golden bay/abel tasman when boredom requires. I find the scooter boring now, even though it goes 65k on the flat at full throttle. I've got counter-steering sorted now as well.
I've been spending time on trademe but there doesnt seem to be much good locally on there.
But I did find a 1987 kawasaki ninja for sale, in my price range. Quite a bit of $ has been spent on the engine to make it good. The owner said that all that's wrong with it is a minor fuel leak. For this reason, it wasnt started for me. Externally it's painted bright green, though the paint hadn't been cut &polished yet. The fairings are okay, some are a bit rough, but I wouldnt be too embarrased by their condition. Exhaust pipe had a few dings. They want $1500 for it, the low price due to the rough condition of fairings and fuel leak. I had a sit on it and the seat was nice & low. I found it lighter than the Hyosung GT250 that I tried on earlier.
QUESTIONS
1. I don't like the green. (it's green like this http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Sports/auction-119089846.htm)
I would ride it green initially, but I would like to get it changed once I could afford it, black or red probably. How much would it cost to get someone to paint & polish it? Can it be done DIY?
2. Fairings, It's got em. but since it would be my first bike, I dont want to drop it and break em. I also like the naked look better. Can I take them (or some of them) off without adverse affects to safety, wof etc?
3. Trip distance. I would likely ride it to school and back once or twice a week, the whole 2 kms each way. This doesn't seem like it would be good for the engine, these short trips. I would let the engine warm up for a minute or so before I took off, then take it slow - it's not like I can go hard to school anyway. I fly aeroplanes so I know that warming up engines is necessary. With thats aid I would also take it for longer trips around the faster local roads. Would these short trips be bad for the engine, when mixed in with the occasional longer ride? Maybe I'm better off sticking to the scooter? I can't afford both at the moment, will be selling scooter to get bike.
4. Is the Ninja too powerful? It's supposed to be 30-something hp, is that too much for a learner? My scooter is something like 3hp (derestricted), and I feel it's lack of power up hills. I do want more power. I intend to take it easy for the first couple of weeks that I have it to get used to riding a bike(with gears an all)
Cheers for doing so much reading if you've got to here!
I've been spending time on trademe but there doesnt seem to be much good locally on there.
But I did find a 1987 kawasaki ninja for sale, in my price range. Quite a bit of $ has been spent on the engine to make it good. The owner said that all that's wrong with it is a minor fuel leak. For this reason, it wasnt started for me. Externally it's painted bright green, though the paint hadn't been cut &polished yet. The fairings are okay, some are a bit rough, but I wouldnt be too embarrased by their condition. Exhaust pipe had a few dings. They want $1500 for it, the low price due to the rough condition of fairings and fuel leak. I had a sit on it and the seat was nice & low. I found it lighter than the Hyosung GT250 that I tried on earlier.
QUESTIONS
1. I don't like the green. (it's green like this http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Sports/auction-119089846.htm)
I would ride it green initially, but I would like to get it changed once I could afford it, black or red probably. How much would it cost to get someone to paint & polish it? Can it be done DIY?
2. Fairings, It's got em. but since it would be my first bike, I dont want to drop it and break em. I also like the naked look better. Can I take them (or some of them) off without adverse affects to safety, wof etc?
3. Trip distance. I would likely ride it to school and back once or twice a week, the whole 2 kms each way. This doesn't seem like it would be good for the engine, these short trips. I would let the engine warm up for a minute or so before I took off, then take it slow - it's not like I can go hard to school anyway. I fly aeroplanes so I know that warming up engines is necessary. With thats aid I would also take it for longer trips around the faster local roads. Would these short trips be bad for the engine, when mixed in with the occasional longer ride? Maybe I'm better off sticking to the scooter? I can't afford both at the moment, will be selling scooter to get bike.
4. Is the Ninja too powerful? It's supposed to be 30-something hp, is that too much for a learner? My scooter is something like 3hp (derestricted), and I feel it's lack of power up hills. I do want more power. I intend to take it easy for the first couple of weeks that I have it to get used to riding a bike(with gears an all)
Cheers for doing so much reading if you've got to here!