Buy back the whale ?

[sedge]

Right... my old ZXR750 post mortem... I have some choices...

Get insurance money (it's been written off) and buy back the left overs (good from the headers back, radiator bent, engine good) for an OK price.

Or take the money and run, it's less than I expected, less than I paid a year ago plus the bits I've fixed (new brake rotors $1k ! rebuilt shock etc etc) anyway, but not too much less than I expected to get on trademe.

I've been told I can have it street-fightered and unbent for around $1200, do I want a streetfighter ?, does anyone have one here ?, what makes them good to ride ?, do they still work well in the twisties ?

I could also talk to Celticno6 and maybe buy that ZXR750 with the blown engine and swap that in.

What do you all think ?, is it worth the hassle ?

Do I really want a 750 still ?

My original plan was to have a couple of bikes, one for commuting (ZZR) and one to play racer on. I was thinking of a 400 for the racer coz you really have to work hard to make them go quick and you really feel like you're riding. I like the 750, but it's just a little bit too quick when really pushing hard and the fear monkey slows me down (could be those crap Shinkos I put on it for commuting ).

Another thing is that I'm a fairly large guy (6'2 and weigh >100kg) so I'm not sure if a 400 will actually be enough. I've ridden a TZR250 and that was OK till 2nd gear when it seemed to stop making progress, same power as a 400 but a little lighter too.

Anyone been down the same road as me ?, what do you think ?, 400 ?, 750 ?, streetfighter ?, second bike is only for playing on in the weekends and make some clubmans if I ever get around to it.

Cheers all,

Sedge.

[jrandom]

Well, you didn't say what your actual budget was, so it's difficult to comment on the best choice.

But I'd just streetfighter the ZXR750. You'd never have the 'just pulled up beside identical bike at the lights' thing going on.

And, assuming that the 'streetfightering' is limited to throwing away the fairings and making associated cosmetic modifications, there's no reason why it should change the way the bike rides, is there? Apart from any aerodynamic differences, obviously. If you've already spent time and money on the bike's suspension it'd be a shame to throw it away.

Whatever else you do - throw away those Shinkos and get some proper tyres, man!

[Hitcher]

Choices, choices, choices. So many choices...

Take the money and run.

[jrandom]

Well, if there's enough money to pay for most of a nice new sickle, do like Hitcher says. Less hassle. Buy a second-hand SV650 or something.

I still think that streetfightered ZXRs are sexy, though.

[Jackrat]

Well, if there's enough money to pay for most of a nice new sickle, do like Hitcher says. Less hassle. Buy a second-hand SV650 or something.

I still think that streetfightered ZXRs are sexy, though.

Unless your a real motivated type,most of us arn't no matter what we like to think.Take the money.
Projects tend to drag on for ever if you don't have the bucks up front to do things.

[FROSTY:Me]

dude im sorry to say -buyibng celtics ZXR isnt an option now.Somm friggin Jaffa has bought it,
However said Jaffa has a Complete zxr750 with bent forks
maybee we can build 2 good bikes from the 3 stuffed ones
My top fairing is fine-left lower is fine pegs front and rear are fine -It just has bent forks and rear subframe

[riffer]

Looks like the streetfighter option or the money...

Forks are not cheap to replace, let me tell you.

[Yamahamaman]

Jaffa

A Jaffa is a small ball of milk chocolate surrounded by a shell of orange flavoured sugar. JAFA is an acronym for 'Just Another Fine Aucklander'

[riffer]

A Jaffa is a small ball of milk chocolate surrounded by a shell of orange flavoured sugar. JAFA is an acronym for 'Just Another Fine Aucklander'

*sigh* I just don't get it...

it was supposed to be jaffa originally "just another *&^wit from Auckland" wasn't it?

[MrMelon]

Well if you decided not to buy it back I'd probably be pretty keen for a bit of a streetfighter zxr750

[Bob]

Can I ask an innocent question from the other side of the 'pond'?

If it was written off, how does that affect you using it on the road? I ask as we have a couple of 'written off' categories; a) 'Constructive' - by which they mean it would cost too much (relative to value of bike) to repair it and b), which is unsafe for road use.

If it is b), then it has to be broken for parts or scrapped.

a) on the other hand, you can buy back and then repair yourself.

Is it the same with you guys?

I had a 'constructive write off' once - I didn't want it back (I was broke at the time and needed the money to pay for a new bike). But then a mate said he'd be interested as he wanted a track day bike - about 10 minutes later.

So I called up the insurer - and they'd already sold it on!

Insult to injury, they sold it with my disc lock!!!!!

[FROSTY:Me]

I've built/rebuilt a lot of bikes.
All insurance company write offs are classed as structural damage.
They class a smashed set of cosmetics that would cost too much to fix in the same way as a bent frame.
I have had this argument with LTSA where I was able to sourse a replacement frame for a bike with a bent one -or I could straighten the existing frame.
Ltsa view(ed) a frame replacement in the same way as replacing the whole body in a car -Ie it then becomes a different vehicle. They prefered I straightened the existing frame
It took a whole lot of explaining to car orientated people that a frame is just another ( be it vital) component of a bike and was a bolt in item.

[sedge]

You STILL after my bike eh MrMelon ?, it was a pretty cool old bike, are you serious ?, I can get the wreck for a good price if you want it, I need to know early next week.

Like Jackrat said, being motivated is the key, I just don't have the time to do it myself with work and a family.

If you have the cash (quoted $1200) the guys can streetfighter it over 6 weeks and you get a kick arse bike for a reasonable price.

You have to be sure though, coz I don't want you pestering me every day about things falling off it later... (I work with MrMelon)

Anyway, give me a call about it.

The Frame may not be bent, worst case the bike shop can get it tweaked back for $400, the front wheel is dinged/scratched but it's cosmetic, mudguard fine, brakes etc are fine...

The trees and forks are shot, all except the back end fairings are toast and the clocks, clipons etc are bent and cracked.

By streefighter they mean strip from the steering head forward and put on new fork legs a couple of bug eye lights, a mini speedo and some renthal bars.

The tank wasn't even scratched and the rear end got through fine, just smashed all the indicator orange plastics.

If someone wanted the engine for 1k I'd get the wreck, otherwise I'm going to flag it and the vultures can pick it apart.

I think I'll start again I just don't think it's worth the hassle for me. (man I'm such a slacker)