My New 7R, first impressions

**Lazy7** · 25th February 2006, 21:19

okay - so this is basically a rant about how much i love my bike. so stop reading now if you cant bare this kind of thing!

So i went for my first decent ride on it today. down to see some mates from Auckland to Tauranga.... and back again.

After coming from the 400, i was imediately in love with the pull it has in top during over taking. its quite effortless. nice amount of useable power from around 4500rpm for 80-120 overtaking. I really like the way you dont *have* to play with the gears to get it moving. (obviously if you've ridden big bikes before - this is probably not new to you!)

If however you do decide to kick it down a few - it absolutely sings. from 4500 right through to 11000 it just keeps on coming. stronger and stronger. That is also kinda fun :-) although very easy to get into big numbers quite quickly if you keep on nicking more gears in the upper limits of the range

so - its quite heavy for a sportsbike, but going through the gorge, i loved the way it changes direction so beautifully, just flick it from side to side, dip into the corner and power out. It actually felt as nimble as my old 400. which was a pleasant surprise. It just gave me a great sense of confidence that i could put it where i wanted to... and if i didn't get it quite right, making changes mid corner didn't upset it at all.

there were a couple of downsides... and i can pretty much sum them up with one word... OUCH!!! my bum feels like i have been locked up with "Bubba" the large *friendly* cellmate for 3 months of intense you know what in the you know where. Its obviously more a track designed bike that a tourer, and it feels like teh suspension is setup quite agressively, (you feel everything) annnd, not beeing on a bike for a few years, i'm probably just not use to it... but saying its a firm ride is one hell of an understatement.

the other downside was fuel consumption. 15litres got me 287kms... before i had to stop and reach for the reserve. i was a bit surprised by that because the majority of riding was motorway speeds in top. no stop start stuff, and only a couple of big pulls to get past cars... so thats maybe something i need to look at at its next tune???

all in all i am in love with it. I think i will be very happy with it for the next few years. its got more than enough to keep me on my toes as i learn to ride it properly. and with a few mods, there is more horses there to unlock as i do become more capable.

one final note. to the lone "black rider" who accompained me all the way back from waihi to the bombays. thanks. it was nice to have the company! i would have come all the way back into auckland with you, but my bum just couldn't take any more so i pulled into the rest stop at puke and got myself a cold drink!

cheers guys - loving this biking thing!

**Madmax** · 25th February 2006, 21:29

I have alwas found the ZX7Rs to have a real good
front end probably ride faster on one than
my ZX10R!. they dont bite back as hard
my old one in the shed has a back hoop
that bears this out (its fucked)

**skidMark** · 25th February 2006, 21:29

good to see your enjoying the biking mate....now what you need to do is as soon as you can get that shock adjusted by a bike shop/mechanic with the right tools.....

because with it being that hard it's not just a discomfort issue it's safety as well if you have it too hard it's is going to severly affect your corneringability when facing bumps through corners etc....

would get it adjusted asap personally

**Lazy7** · 25th February 2006, 21:40

yeap. there is a big list of things i want to get sorted on the bike, even if its fine, i would like the peace of mind! i'm too much of a noobie to spot a problem with it at the moment.

oh - and one final note. why does it smell SOO BAD on teh way to tauranga! its like all the farmers must go out and shit on the motorway! haha

**Gremlin** · 25th February 2006, 22:06

I think I am really going to enjoy having somebody in a similar situation to me... So you know, I've had my 7 for about 6 weeks, after stepping from a zzr250.

Originally Posted by Lazy7

...nice amount of useable power from around 4500rpm for 80-120 overtaking. I really like the way you dont *have* to play with the gears to get it moving.

I used to enjoy this... trust me, you are just getting used to the power. Once you begin to get used to it, the power is not enough, and you begin to enjoy overtaking at more like 7k odd. And presumably you go higher and higher as you get more and more used to it.

Originally Posted by Lazy7

If however you do decide to kick it down a few - it absolutely sings. from 4500 right through to 11000 it just keeps on coming. stronger and stronger.

Yes, its awesome, basically a testament to kwaka engineers, but also just the simple cc's. Massive buzz when, for a split second you wonder where the power is, then the world is blurring past.

Originally Posted by Lazy7

the other downside was fuel consumption. 15litres got me 287kms... before i had to stop and reach for the reserve.

You are doing fantastically, by my calcs, it gives you around 5.22L/100km, very good economy. My best figures are about 5.8, worst is about 6.8. At worst, 15L has returned about 220km, so maybe I need to get mine checked.

I think at the moment you are still adjusting to the bike (as I am), but as you ride it more, you'll become more used to it, riding it harder, demanding more, and beginning to realise the odd limit of the bike.

Many would insult the bike being heavy, but research it on the net. Experienced riders rated the handling as being one of the best ever, with timeless looks. At least we aren't sheep aye? :spudbooge

**Smokin** · 25th February 2006, 22:28

Originally Posted by Lazy7

the other downside was fuel consumption. 15litres got me 287kms... before i had to stop and reach for the reserve.

Damn bud, I'd be over the moon if i could get that sort of mileage. Good to see you'r enjoying your new toy.

**Toast** · 25th February 2006, 22:41

Nice bike Lazy7. I can't believe that sat around on trademe for so long. That was one of my back-up plans if I didn't get the bike I was after.

Fuel consumption figures sound great. That's about as good as I used to get from my 6R, which is known as a very economical bike.

**Korea** · 26th February 2006, 04:03

Congrats on the 7.
Did you see the ZX-7R project in the January 'Performance Bikes' magazine?
(A buddy was back in NZ recently and bought me back a copy ~ it's exciting to read some hardcore bike pr0n without having to use the Korean/English dictionary for every second word...)

Oh yeah, the 7 from PB mag:
"We're going to turn this ZX7R into the sharp, modern performance motorcycle it deserves to be, probably spending a tad more than most would in the process, but that's because we're covering all bases."

Sounds promising...
Take it easy.

**saul** · 26th February 2006, 07:13

Nice one L7:spudwave:

looks like a great bike

Ride it, sort the suspension do the services and ride it some more

**Brian d marge** · 26th February 2006, 07:58

Oh ,,,a 7 r ,,,,I was thinking AJS ,,,never mind ,,Ill crawl back into me hole

Carry on Chaps dont mind me

Stephen

**unhingedlizard** · 26th February 2006, 10:22

Originally Posted by Lazy7

the other downside was fuel consumption. 15litres got me 287kms... before i had to stop and reach for the reserve. i was a bit surprised by that because the majority of riding was motorway speeds in top. no stop start stuff, and only a couple of big pulls to get past cars... so thats maybe something i need to look at at its next tune???

Wouldnt complain, my TDR 250 (a two fiddy FFS!) takes 15 litres and will only do 150km to bone dry (near 200 if you shortshift - not good).

Have run out of fuel several times now, its a pain....

**Lazy7** · 26th February 2006, 11:38

Originally Posted by unhingedlizard

Wouldnt complain, my TDR 250 (a two fiddy FFS!) takes 15 litres and will only do 150km to bone dry (near 200 if you shortshift - not good).

Have run out of fuel several times now, its a pain....

well then, that must just prove how much i was nanna'ing it on the way there and back!