ZX-2R -> ZX-12R, something of a step-up

**Grasshopperus** · 3rd June 2010, 16:56

So I ride a ZX2R, also known as a ZXR250. It's my first bike and I ride it everyday, I really like it.

Last night a friend let me ride his ZX-12R around a parking lot, it's the first time I've ever ridden a bike with more than 250cc... HOLY SHIT

I didn't get out of 2nd gear and didn't go over 50km/h but the 3mm of throttle travel I applied brought me up to speed far faster than my bike ever could.

The freakin' speedo goes up to 340km/h, even going 100km/h would look like you're not even starting to move.

How do you psychos with big bikes manage to keep them at road-legal speeds?

Still, I've had a shit-eating grin on my face all day today.

**blackdog** · 3rd June 2010, 17:01

we psychos have enormous amounts of self control...

ahh who am i trying to kid

**NZsarge** · 3rd June 2010, 17:02

You'd be surprised how easy you become accustomed to their ability to gather pace....

Then it comes back and bites you on the arse when you least expect it....

**Mudfart** · 3rd June 2010, 17:31

i can't wait. but im considering a thruxton so it wont be too fast really. im going through another faze of old skool iz kool, again!!!
bah, next week it'll be fast is bestest, again, and i'll be drooling over the 750's, again, again!!.

**Squiggles** · 3rd June 2010, 18:51

Most cant...

**AllanB** · 3rd June 2010, 19:06

Simple really - you only use first gear as they will do the legal limit in 1st.

**gale_wolf** · 3rd June 2010, 20:50

Originally Posted by NZsarge

You'd be surprised how easy you become accustomed to their ability to gather pace.....
Then it comes back and bites you on the arse when you least expect it....

QFT.

Also... once you get past the "holy crap this is fun, i'll wind it right open every chance i get" stage, it becomes experience and self-control, and the memory of demerits and dollars spent in speeding tickets.

**Urano** · 4th June 2010, 09:42

Originally Posted by Squiggles

Most cant...

quote.

beside that, that's the reason why i don't actually understand bike over 750-800, and consider 650 the best solution.
in the 70s a 500 was a "technical" bike, and to have fun a 150-350 was way sufficient.
today if you have less than 130 cv well, "it's a bit lazy on the low...." and "yeah, but you'll get bored soon"...
WTF, 130 cv on a bike that often doesn't go over 200 kg!!!
and the germans got everybody think that with less than 1200 cc you cannot go touring... the 800cc? it's an "entry level" or "light" or "for women" (supporting the ego of all the men that need to have it bigger...)...
be serious men!

and you know what? you always meet all those guys with shiny ducati 1198/zx10r/r1/fireblades inside shiny dainese (not certified) suits with shiny arai helmets crawling on the mountain passes, burned away by young guys with 250s with tape on the fairing but a frame well prepared and a good suspensions kit...

**Urano** · 4th June 2010, 09:42

double post.

**Qkchk:Me** · 4th June 2010, 09:53

The threat of losing ones licence is usually enough................ specially when you have 12 characters at the bottom of said licence.

**Madness** · 4th June 2010, 09:55

You might be surprised at how well behaved a ZX12 can be if instructed to do so by the right hand. I owned a 750 once that would not sit comfortably at legal speeds, constantly creeping over the limit. A ZX12 will sit at 100km/h all day if you tell it to with little need to constantly check you haven't gone over the critical death-ensuing 103.9Km/h mark.

**FJRider** · 4th June 2010, 10:09

Originally Posted by Grasshopperus

The freakin' speedo goes up to 340km/h, even going 100km/h would look like you're not even starting to move.

I once owned a 100 cc Kawasaki that had a speedo that went up to 160 km/hr ... sadly I never got to explore those realms of speed on it .... I guess it was a bit buggered when I got it ...

My current bike's speedo only goes up to 270 km/hr ... but it is an old bike ...

**javawocky** · 4th June 2010, 10:36

Originally Posted by Grasshopperus

So I ride a ZX2R, also known as a ZXR250. It's my first bike and I ride it everyday, I really like it.

Last night a friend let me ride his ZX-12R around a parking lot, it's the first time I've ever ridden a bike with more than 250cc... HOLY SHIT

I didn't get out of 2nd gear and didn't go over 50km/h but the 3mm of throttle travel I applied brought me up to speed far faster than my bike ever could.

The freakin' speedo goes up to 340km/h, even going 100km/h would look like you're not even starting to move.

How do you psychos with big bikes manage to keep them at road-legal speeds?

Still, I've had a shit-eating grin on my face all day today.

This is how it starts, mate invites to to ride big bike, your little 250 feels crap, and all you can think of when riding it is how blown away you were by the effortless torque of the big bike. Soon you are browsing through the trademe - then its buy now and you have a torque monster in your garage.

Don't EVER take it on a track day, cause you will be completely ruined. Riding on the road becomes very padestrian, you don't want to speed because whats the point when you have done well over 200 clicks on the track? So you plod along at 103.9 while dreaming of the next track day.

But yeah, as soon as you can, get the biggest bike you can - if you have self control. Cause, if you treat them with respect at all times, you will be greatly rewarded.

**Muppet** · 4th June 2010, 11:07

I'm really happy with my 12'. The torque is incredible. However I find that I rode my CBR600 harder than this bike. When you ride a bike with this much power you tend to slow up quite a bit. The reason I think is that you know virtually nothing can beat it in a straight line so you have the "I've nothing to prove" attitude. I'm not a fast rider and am always the tail end charlie on a fang. I realised this when I went from a CBR600 to an R1, I didn't get any quicker in the twisties, in fact the bike bloody well made me nervous because I knew what it was capable of- head shakes and highsides!

I read a quote from a bike mag re: the ZX12r recently-"Go ballistic or schmooze the torque" I prefer Schmoozing!! The ZX12R, Hayabusa, Blackbird and ZZR1400 are all very fast bikes but are much heavier and longer than a sports bike so tend to be easier to ride IMHO. I've put higher bars and lower pegs on mine, plus heated grips and a double bubble screen. It's now a really good sports tourer, apart from the tank range.

**R-Soul** · 4th June 2010, 13:18

Originally Posted by javawocky

This is how it starts, mate invites to to ride big bike, your little 250 feels crap, and all you can think of when riding it is how blown away you were by the effortless torque of the big bike. Soon you are browsing through the trademe - then its buy now and you have a torque monster in your garage.

Don't EVER take it on a track day, cause you will be completely ruined. Riding on the road becomes very padestrian, you don't want to speed because whats the point when you have done well over 200 clicks on the track? So you plod along at 103.9 while dreaming of the next track day.

But yeah, as soon as you can, get the biggest bike you can - if you have self control. Cause, if you treat them with respect at all times, you will be greatly rewarded.

You CNUTS!! You all knew about this (the track day stuff) all along and never told me? Bastards...

You might as well havce sold me P...