Kawasaki Z750S (ZR750K1 apparently)

[Hitcher]

You've been riding. Bastard. I, on the other hand, have been to fracture clinic and got the first of my damage photos from ANZA...

[James Deuce]

Ahh yes.

Sorry Brett, I truly am. I am pleased that you are still inspired to ride. It is a difficult habit to break.

I rode over "the hill" tonight.

I've been a dork, insisting to myself that sportsbikes are the ONLY type of bike for me. This bike is way more fun the the R6 was. Don't get me wrong, the R6 is a mother of a bike, and you guys riding round on 1000s have my instant respect. They demand SO much commitment from the rider than a measly 600, and the R6 made all my senses tingle when I was on my game and healthy. You guys on these sportsbikes should quietly salute the racers who have died testing the technoilogy you take for granted, every time you ride.

We all change though. I have to remember that I have a family to support. People who actually like me being around, unlike you sorry bunch of virtual critters, who prefer me to celebrate the biggest penis substitute I can afford.

Every motorcycle is fun, and after 3 years of screwing about with past legends, personal demons largely of my own making, and ego issues that don't mean a hill of beans to anyone but myself, I can say confidently, that I have a bike that seems to have been designed for me.

The Z750S does everything that the R6 did, taking into account the way I ride. I'm largely legal, I don't care if I'm first or last, and it's still good enough to challenge my abilities.

In the next five years I'm going to buy an off-road oriented bike and tour NZ via backroads, before they all go. It doesn't matter what you ride, especially here on KB. Just so long as you do.

[sedge]

I rode "over the hill" tonight.

The Z7u50S does everything that the R6 did, taking into account the way I ride. I'm largely legal, I don't care if I'm first or last, and it's still good enough to challenge my abilities.

Ahahahaha.... It's all slippers, peaked cap and a pipe now eh Jim

Sedge.

[James Deuce]

Yes indeed Mr Sedge. Have to wear the Nolan helmet with the front flipped up when I'm smoking the pipe though. The Arai just fills up with pungent blue smoke.

Ridden the Z750 in high winds, hail, pouring rain, over gravel roads, and around a jacknifing truck.

Once I've done the suspension I need to save up and get:

1. A taller screen
2. A rear hugger. The rear mudguard doesn't do a thing.
3. A fender extender for the front mudguard.

It has a peculiar tyre fitment too. Bridgestone BT019 front, and BT012 rear. I'm not complaining mind. Bloody brilliant tyres wet or dry, and no dramas on gravel. In fact the less "stiff" nature of the chassis made it much easier to ride in gravel, no bouncing off comparatively small bumps, or the tyre "falling off" bigger rocks like on the R6.

Still can't get over how my textile jacket is now waterproof thanks to the more upright riding position.

[stevedee]

Its life Jim but not as they know it!

spd

[merv]

Good one Jim. Sounds like you are taking on the kind of riding I've always liked too, the back country windy roads. Over the holiday break my Bro' came down here (minus his own bikes) so my lovely wife Mrs merv let him ride her DR650SE.

We did a few rides, Paekak Hill, trip to Castlepoint, but then on 1 Jan we thought it would be nice to stay kind of local but have a good ride. I mentioned on another thread we rode out to Waikanae, did Akatarawa Road, had a pie for lunch at Te Marua store, then did Whitemans Valley, then Wainuiomata Hill and Coast Road, icecream for afternoon tea at Rimutaka Forest Park (are all the stores run by Asians now? Great service!), then a quick break down at the sea end of the road and then back home.

Being a dirt biker I've always liked the tight roads - many of my road bike friends hate them - and the VFR is good to ride no matter how tight the road is (so I don't need a new road bike) and bikes like the DR650SE are also good on those sorts of roads though without 100hp.

So yeah you can have a lot of fun, even close to home without going too fast.

Here's some pics. The pie stop and down by the sea.

[James Deuce]

3000kms.

Including a 1200km round trip to Tauranga and back through the Hawkes Bay to Wellington. I've done 80% of the mileage I'd done on the R6 in 8 months, in one month.

Got it right for a change, though I wouldn't have bought it if I hadn't bought inlinefour's CB400. I'm as happy with the Z as I was with the TRX.

[Devil]

3000kms.

Heh, i'm nearly up to four months with the triumph and Its nearly time for the 10,000km service. I really should keep off it :P

[MacD]

Have you tried carrying a pillion yet? The Z750S appears to be better set up for a pillion than the Z1000.

[Devil]

I'd be interested to see what that is like. I briefly considered the Z750S, but the pillion area didnt look to be too friendly (leg room and seat material - plywood??)

[James Deuce]

No pillion yet, largely because no one likes me.

[Devil]

No pillion yet, largely because no one likes me.

What? You're in the Hutt, there'll be plenty of willing slu^hu^hu^pillion's out there.

[James Deuce]

Ahh Devil, were it only that easy!

4000kms. Blimey, is it just me, or do these Kawasaki thingies get better over time, or is it me getting more used to the old girl?

I'm rediscovering stuff I'd forgotten, like limb independence, precision, fast steering, low speed precision, loading up suspension and tyres differently, staying relaxed while the bike moves around under me, body firmly fixed to a trajectory, but the bike squirming, bouncing, and shuddering.

All because of one simple thing. I'm comfortable. I've done a 1200km tour on the Zed now and it was no chore, every kilometre was memorable for being uncomfortable only in the normal motorcycling way; sore bum, aching right knee (Cartilage looks like swiss cheese. Schoolboy Hockey is brutal), and the indignity of having to constrain my willing steed to speeds that are somewhat less than a legend in the making.

I'm allowed to ride with Moto Guzzi owners, because the Z750 hails more from the MG Le Mans end of the spectrum than the hallowed halls of GSXR-dom. It's certainly more engaging than I expected a commuter to be, leaving cages at the lights in a cloud of orange pixie dust, eating up twisty roads and calling me a wuss all the way, and delivering me to work everyday early with a smile on my dial. I know the smile will get wiped off over the morning, but the ride home is sure to post it back on that rubbery thing some people call my face.

All because of a cheap hack, crafted from the Kawasaki parts bin, by some genius engineer with a knack for turning random bits into real bike.

Oh yeah, the suspension seems to be working now, and really is quite a good compromise. Which in reality means it will be saggy and bouncy by 7000kms. It would only take another $1000 to make a good bike a great one. How about a Z750RS or GT Mr Kawasaki?

[cowpoos]

I've done a 1200km tour on Zed now and it was no chore, every kilometre was memorable for being uncomfortable only in the normal way; sore bum, aching right knee (Cartilage looks like swiss cheese. Schoolboy Hockey is brutal), and the indignity of having to constrain my willing steed to speeds that are somewhat less than a legend in the making.

getting old huh....how did Zed find it....

[Bob]

I've not ridden one, but as I've sat on a couple I would say to anyone that is thinking of buying a Z750 to make sure you get to sit on one and make sure you are comfortable.

I was interested in buying one, until I sat on it. The tank is sculpted to allow your legs to tuck into it. Sadly, in my case all it does is jut into my thighs. I tried moving about in the saddle, but the same result each time.

So as I say, make sure you sit on one and ensure you/it fit each other!

I've also perched on an ER-6f and we fit each other like a glove, so it isn't just a case of "All Kawasaki tanks will either suit you or cause pain".