Deviant Esq finally upgrades!

**Deviant Esq** · 25th March 2008, 21:24

Well well... I've taken my time about it and moaned quite a bit in the process (

), but the time has finally come and I've bought myself my first big bike!

Before I get started in hyping, though, I must take time to thank Jim2 for his efforts in checking the bike over on my behalf. It isn't perfect by any stretch and needs a little TLC (dirty as hell if nothing else!), but it was his thorough look over the bike that paved the way for me to get it checked out further by a shop and, good report received, buy it! Much obliged Jim2. I'm not the only one you've helped out with "paying it forward", but I'm very appreciative none-the-less and will repay my debt to you, count on it

Also, thanks must go to phoenixgtr for helping me out and getting it down to Christchurch. He doesn't see it as a favour (yus!

), but it sure has helped me out, so cheers man.

Anyway, it's a 1999 Kawasaki ZX-6R, a UK import, done about 54,000km (the speedo's in miles and says 33xxx)... and it isn't green!! Doesn't appear to have been down the road as the fairings look very original, with all the original fairing padding intact. Paint's not too bad until you get up close and notice it's showing signs of wear. It's stock standard apart from a tinted double bubble and heated handgrips, but the best thing is that most of the expensive maintenance has been done - new chain and sprockets, new brake rotors and carriers (front), new brake pads supplied with the bike, new conti attacks front and rear, head stock bearing replaced, etc etc.

Have gone for a few rides on it and am happy to say it goes pretty nicely. Not so flash in the lower revs, carbs could use a clean and perhaps a rejet - it stalls if you pull the clutch in at cruising speeds, annoying coming up to a set of lights or having to brake hard for an orange....

So it's not as much fun in town. But out of town? Yee ha!

Cornering feels nice and planted, easy to turn in, easy to hold the line, and pulls away quite nicely too thanks for asking officer

Sorry, I've only got the trademe pics at this stage... I'll endeavour to stop riding it for a minute at some point and take some decent ones

**kiwifruit** · 25th March 2008, 21:39

Congrats

They make a nice induction noise eh

**phoenixgtr** · 25th March 2008, 21:40

It's the wrong colour

In all seriousness, it's not a bad ride. Much more planted and solid than my bike (strange cause they're the same model), but noticably more gutless (carbs) and the brakes are terrible (just need a bleed and a bloody good clean), but it's got potential.

**Deviant Esq** · 25th March 2008, 22:00

Originally Posted by phoenixgtr

...noticably more gutless (carbs) and the brakes are terrible (just need a bleed and a bloody good clean), but it's got potential.

Yeah, after we discussed it and I took for for a bit of a pootle across the city and back (and across and back again

) I was quite sure what you meant about the brakes - they really aren't what they ought to be. Didn't really notice too much about the carbs on that ride, but went for a ride over the hill and down to the Wheatsheaf, over Gebbies Pass, and back through Halswell in the dark this evening, and definitely noticed the response being a bit fluffy... once you have a bit of revs on it's fine and pulls strongly, but yeah, it does faff around a bit in the mean time.

I quite like the colour, thankyou!

Actually, it looks almost Honda like in paint scheme... but only almost and it definitely says Kawasaki on it, so I'm not gay. Phew!

Also, thanks for helping me out and getting it down to Christchurch for me, you deserve thanks for that, despite what you say, so there! Looking forward to tomorrow night

**Mikkel** · 25th March 2008, 22:10

Hehe, I knew this...

Congratulations mate! Looks like you've gotten yourself a nice bike.

The brakes could be anything from crappy pads to contaminated fluids I suppose.

Has she been sitting still in a shed for an extended period or...?

**Dave-** · 25th March 2008, 22:14

nice one dude, you must come around and try latest concoction

appletons estate rum, ginger ale and a slice of lime...

**helenoftroy** · 25th March 2008, 23:43

Looks great

Aint it exciting getting a new bike....

look forward to seeing it later today on the ride

**Spuds1234** · 26th March 2008, 04:30

The ride round the hills last night was awesome.

Now I know how DE felt when we all went blasting past him on the CWNR. He turned things up a bit down the Wheatsheaf Straight and left me behind.

Lol I was tucked in behind the fairing giving it a tits full and there he is sitting up, cruising and still pulling away from me.

Bastard.

Its a very nice bike though. I like it.

**CookMySock** · 26th March 2008, 05:19

that is fully nice, bro.

DB

**Bikernereid** · 26th March 2008, 05:41

Gorgeous bike mate!! Here's hoping you have many kick ass miles (sorry Ks) on it.

**sugilite:Me** · 26th March 2008, 06:49

Great choice of bike, nice colors, sweet ride dude!

**Deviant Esq** · 26th March 2008, 06:57

Originally Posted by Spuds1234

Lol I was tucked in behind the fairing giving it a tits full and there he is sitting up, cruising and still pulling away from me.

Bastard.

Its a very nice bike though. I like it.

Wouldn't have any idea what you're talking about, honest...

Hehe cheers man, glad you like it! Even though it's not quite old school enough for you... sorry!

Originally Posted by Bikern1mpho

Gorgeous bike mate!! Here's hoping you have many kick ass miles (sorry Ks) on it.

You can say miles if you like - the clocks are in miles anyway being a UK import! But either way I'm sure I'll have much fun and many kick ass (insert distance measure here) on it