4 bikes in a day.

[cowboyz]

Well today was interesting.

Realised on Friday that my rear wheel bearings were a little dodgey. Tried to get some replacements but no stock so no fix till next week.

Went to work this morning on the 9 (bike 1) and stuffed around. SarahTvet wanted an oil change for skippy so a plan was created. I greased up to 86gsxr for a bit to loan me one of his 1986 gsxr750s. Of course, being the gentleman he is he had no issues with that so put the plan into action.

While waiting for Skippy I pulled the 9 apart. 2 bearings were ok but the third was really clunky. It came apart really easy which was nice for a change apart from one moment where I hit the bearing through the wrong way and it ended up in the centre of the hollow hub. Bit of a balancing act to get it out again. Skippy showed up and duely got a oil change. Bit of lack of planning but ended up with the 9 in pieces and 2 peeps and 1 bike so pillioned Sarah back home on skippy (bike 2). It was very bizarre in a very sedate way. Winding through town trying to get out of Palmy I found it very easy to scrape bits on the road. I dont do the peg scrapping thing on the 9 so a little unnerving. Out of the open road and "meander" would be the word of the day. Really nice to ride a bike that is not encouraging you to go faster and faster. It was very nice to lay back and take in the scenery.
The 750 had battery issues so played musical batteries because some fitted some and not others so in the end it was the 9s battery in skippy and skippys battery in the 750.
86 was keen to give the 750 a stretch as he hadnt ridden it in a while so I jumped on the Daytona (bike 3) for a run into Palmy for fuel. I thought I would cruise behind the 20yr old suzuki. Quickly found out I was sorely mistaken as 86 gave the 750 what can only be described as "a fucking big workout"
Quick stop via work to pick up my wallet I had left behind and swapped to the gsxr750 (bike4) and headed out to meet up with the others to go in search for a blackbird.
Fair crowd at the mobil servo. Decided the plan would develop itself if we got on the bikes and ride so headed out valley road. I used to do this road just about every weekend but havent been out that way for ages and it was in remarkable condition. The 750 felt fantastic. In some ways it is easier to ride than the 9 and in others it felt a little cramped. Certainly has alot of character. Good run out valley road to Apiti then on to Pembolton(?) to Ohinhiti (sp?) for a well deserved drink. Found out then that the Blackbird we were in search for was having a sleep in Taupo for the night so headed back vinegar hill home.

Damn fine day.

[banditrider]

What was up with ya on the hill? Looking for reserve? Scratching something?

[cowboyz]

Oh and had a bit of a fuel issue on vinegar hill. Got a massive 137km out of the main tank on the 750. Fuel economy was not high on the list when they built that was it????


Or was I just "adjusting" Not alot of space on that 750 ya know!

[ynot slow]

Is an amazing variety of rides to compare to the green machine,riding in one day.From the laid back style of Honda to sports orientated Suzi of similar era with different tyres,brakes,suspension to the Daytona of modern era,the Kawasaki should be better than the Gsxr mostly, but power of the Gsxr and Kawa similar but handling and braking of Kawasaki superior?Be a good evaluation of bikes in a similar type i.e sports types,the Gsxr 80's,the Kawasaki 90's and Daytona 00's.

[AllanB]

Hmm lets just hope he does not have any women problems......"well girlfriend one needed a new haircut, so after riding ..........." etc etc etc.

[cowboyz]

dont get me started.

Oops already have.

I heard somewhere the brakes on the Daytonas are shit. (where did I hear that from)

To be honest. Every bike has its little quirks. lets do a better sum up of each

1980 CB750 (Skippy). Plenty of torque. Doesnt really want to get up and go but rather menanders along at a reasonable pace. Very very easy handling. Very easy to ride and enjoy the scenery. Does not inspire speed but rather inspires the rider to sit back and take in the wonders about oneself. Can have a casual chat to pillion even at 120k. Mainly because you are 0.5 inches apart and secondly because everything is so casual.

2005 Daytona 955i. Super tall. Feels like you are on top of the world riding it. Twist the throttle and you wonder why you are not going faster. Then you look at the speedo and realise you ARE going faster. Extremely deceptive acceleration, and very polite. Plenty of power to pump out of the corners but again, it is very polite and you get a very secure feeling about riding it. Brakes are very very good BTW (a few select will get the dig above)

1986 GSXR 750. From the first moments on the bike it becomes very apparent very quickly that the bike has some go. Quite heavy compared to modern bikes but the weight quickly disappears as you get going. You get the feeling that you are very low with the rider sitting completely inside the bike which also makes for excellent feedback from the road. Bit of headshaking with high speed cornering but no problem pinning the throttle coming out of corners either without the feeling the rear is going to spin up. It bogs down below 5k so there is a need to keep the motor revving if you want to go places.

1998 ZX9R I have had this bike over a year and the simple aggressiveness still has me not riding as hard as it could be ridden. Snap on the power in any gear and you can feel the lack of weight in the front of the bike. Very very easy to get the front to lift coming out of corners if you are not smooth on the throttle which can be unnerving. Brakes are pretty average. I dont think they are as good as the Datonas but they do their job. The 9 starts pulling from 3000rpm so there is not a need to keep the revs up. Although the Daytona and the 9 are pretty similar on paper they are chalk and cheese to ride.

[ynot slow]

Good to compare them on the same day though.As you say the GSXR is for it's time the essential track bike with lights and plates.Was taken to Manfield on a new 1986 model GSXR750 in 1987 for castrol 6 hr event,was seat of the pants exhilaration.Not that ideal to pillion on.The guy had tried and bought a GPZ750,the gixxer,then bought an XJ1100,Kawasaki ZX10,over about 8 yrs,he still liked the gixxer,albeit the later bikes larger capacity and handling meant for easier riding.

The Daytona isn't as good as the Honda though,the Honda feels like it is doing 120km,so you slow (for cops), if the Daytona feels like your doing 110km but more likely 150km,sorry officer.

[sugilite:Me]

Just yesterday, by a quirk of fate, I too got to ride the mystery wrapped in an enigma that is skippy! With relaxing acceleration, and waaaay better handling than I was expecting, She is a revealation to ride. Cowboyz is right, you can really take in the scenery and still get a long at a respectable clip. I did not scrape anything like cowboyz, but then, I was one up. This bike rides over bumps, even mid corner ones really well, not a lot phazes it. The handling feels so light for a bike it's weight, prob a lot to do with skinny tyres.

I have to admit, I was impressed