What do you ride and what do you like/dislike about it?

**shrub** · 10th February 2010, 14:22

Strikes me that there are a brazillian different bikes on this place and I'm curious what people own and what they think of them.

I own a 2004 Triumph Thunderbird Sport, I've had it a year and ridden 12,000 ks on it. I have Harris pipes and it sounds like a Spitfire on steroids, it handles way better than I ride and it has enough power to make me happy and not enough to make me silly. I love it's looks and I am into naked upright bikes these days (slow me down and give my wrists/back a break). The triple is turbine smooth and pulls smoothly from 40 kmh in top gear if I want to, but if you flick her down a gear or 2 it gets up and goes just fine.

I have bobbed the rear fender, fitted a replica Lucas tail light, small indicators and bar end mirrors as well as modded the airbox, installed Daytona cams, rejetted the carbs and fitted a K&N. It currently puts out 85 horse at the back wheel (83 at the crank standard).

And photos are good. I like looking at pictures of bikes.

I am going to give it a bit of loving over winter and powder coat black most of the chrome and aluminium, plus probably get the rims blacked out and fit a flyscreen as well as repainting it black with a red pearl and red pinstriping and detail. I'll also fit braided steel brake lines as the existing brakes are a bit mushy and if I get really carried away I'll strip it to the frame and get that powder coated red. But that probably won't happen.

**blackdog** · 10th February 2010, 14:35

Originally Posted by shrub

Strikes me that there are a brazillian different bikes on this place and I'm curious what people own and what they think of them.

I have bobbed the rear fender, fitted a replica Lucas tail light, small indicators and bar end mirrors as well as modded the airbox, installed Daytona cams, rejetted the carbs and fitted a K&N. It currently puts out 85 horse at the back wheel (83 at the crank standard).

pics please (kinda compulsory on a thread like this)

heres the durdy ol' bandit, tho not riding at mo' due to friggn' plaster cast up to left shoulder

(pics courtesy wellington tagorama)

**shrub** · 10th February 2010, 14:46

Originally Posted by theblackstig

pics please (kinda compulsory on a thread like this)

heres the durdy ol' bandit, tho not riding at mo' due to friggn' plaster cast up to left shoulder

(pics courtesy wellington tagorama)

I like Bandits, they're a bloody cool machine. And yes, pics was a good idea.

**blackdog** · 10th February 2010, 14:51

very nice
have a soft spot 4 da trumpys too

this was the old trophy4 that i had b4 the bandito

**shrub** · 10th February 2010, 14:55

They're a good old beast - very under rated.

**blackdog** · 10th February 2010, 15:00

Originally Posted by shrub

They're a good old beast - very under rated.

yea grunty as, but then it had to b since it weighed as much as the titanic

**avgas** · 10th February 2010, 15:07

Nothing - I disklike the fact it doesn't start, forks need seals and its 200km away and I haven't got a weekend to fix it.
But I get an FZR400 this weekend (hopefully) YAY! back to my 400 sportbike days again......good times.

**Toaster** · 10th February 2010, 15:07

Many KB members have pics etc of their bikes in their profile albums.

My bike:
Likes - smooth, relatively comfortable, great for cruising and keeping up with low flying aircraft.

Dislikes - lack of a full trip computer.

More info and pics here: BUSA 1

**avgas** · 10th February 2010, 15:09

Originally Posted by theblackstig

very nice
have a soft spot 4 da trumpys too

this was the old trophy4 that i had b4 the bandito

Bloody hell - with a hot bike like that I would have to reconsider buying a new one.....what happened to her

**blackdog** · 10th February 2010, 15:21

Originally Posted by avgas

Bloody hell - with a hot bike like that I would have to reconsider buying a new one.....what happened to her

about to tick over 90 k's, and getting a bit long in the tooth

needed tyres, chain, sprockets, fork seals, pads n' discs etc was getting to the point i could spend as much as it was worth

made sense to sell and invest in a newer, lower k, lower maintenance, less expensive upkeep, better performing (just) jap

don't mean i don't still miss the old gal, everything on it was carbon fibre 'cept the tank and boy she sounded the biz when you buttoned off over the 'takas

**shrub** · 10th February 2010, 15:24

There comes a time when even a fine machine needs to be retired, and a Bandit is a good alternative.

**The Pastor** · 10th February 2010, 15:24

Frumpy trumpies are lamer than indy.

I love my 250 cos its custom.

I love overtaking way faster bikes with it.

I dislike the fuel range!

**KiwiPhoenix** · 10th February 2010, 15:25

I have a '94 Kawasaki EL250 Eliminator, which I have been riding for 4 months, put 4300km on the clock so far.

Good things:

she handles pretty well, feels secure on the road
Easy to tinker with/maintain
Easily cruises at 100km/ph
She now has a pack rack!

Bad things:

Lack of aftermarket products
Having the only one in Chch (well it seems that way!!)
The mirrors
Small petrol tank
The manual I have is in German

As for anything else, haven't been riding enough to know much, but will come back in a few months and update this!!!

Pic not that great, check out my profile page for a better photo!

**onearmedbandit** · 10th February 2010, 15:28

Pic 1 is of my baby before I lobbed it away on the track. Pics 2 and 3 are of it after lobbing it away.

What do I like? Power, torque, effortless everything, handling, styling, noise, smile it brings to my face everytime I ride it, the fact that I have personailsed it, that if you don't treat it with respect it will bite.

What don't I like? It can't make everyday a sunny beautiful day, it doesn't have a 'cloaking' feature for when there are police around, it needs petrol to run which requires me stopping my ride (what's with that!!) and filling it back up.

Everything else doesn't matter.

**centaurus** · 10th February 2010, 15:32

1999 ZX6R (pic in my profile).

I've never been a kwaka man, but my last three bikes have happened to be kwakas due to practicality reasons (best bang for the buck). As far as the ninja line goes, the only generation I like the looks of, is the G generation ('98-99) and its zx9 equivalent (for the above years, it has the same design).

Like: smooth power, VERY agile in the corners but it doesn't get twitchy (no headshakes or tankslappers even when front wheel comes off the ground), good looking, comfortable riding position for touring but sporty enough for twisties, sounds really loud (stock exhaust but baffle removed

), it's an understated bike and not many around.
Dislike: it's gaining kms on odometer too fast (

) and it doesn't have the power and torque of a litre bike.