Considering a Kawasaki Ninja as first bike. Few questions.

**ZK-Awesome** · 14th June 2008, 20:52

I've got a scooter that I use to get to school when I wake up late (it's about 2ks each way, or 15-20 min walk). It's good for that but I also go out to the aero club etc which includes faster stretches of road on the weekends. If I got a new bike I'd also like to be able to use it to get to blenheim (from nelson) when football team requires, or to Golden bay/abel tasman when boredom requires. I find the scooter boring now, even though it goes 65k on the flat at full throttle. I've got counter-steering sorted now as well.

I've been spending time on trademe but there doesnt seem to be much good locally on there.

But I did find a 1987 kawasaki ninja for sale, in my price range. Quite a bit of $ has been spent on the engine to make it good. The owner said that all that's wrong with it is a minor fuel leak. For this reason, it wasnt started for me. Externally it's painted bright green, though the paint hadn't been cut &polished yet. The fairings are okay, some are a bit rough, but I wouldnt be too embarrased by their condition. Exhaust pipe had a few dings. They want $1500 for it, the low price due to the rough condition of fairings and fuel leak. I had a sit on it and the seat was nice & low. I found it lighter than the Hyosung GT250 that I tried on earlier.

QUESTIONS
1. I don't like the green. (it's green like this http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-119089846.htm)
I would ride it green initially, but I would like to get it changed once I could afford it, black or red probably. How much would it cost to get someone to paint & polish it? Can it be done DIY?

2. Fairings, It's got em. but since it would be my first bike, I dont want to drop it and break em. I also like the naked look better. Can I take them (or some of them) off without adverse affects to safety, wof etc?

3. Trip distance. I would likely ride it to school and back once or twice a week, the whole 2 kms each way. This doesn't seem like it would be good for the engine, these short trips. I would let the engine warm up for a minute or so before I took off, then take it slow - it's not like I can go hard to school anyway. I fly aeroplanes so I know that warming up engines is necessary. With thats aid I would also take it for longer trips around the faster local roads. Would these short trips be bad for the engine, when mixed in with the occasional longer ride? Maybe I'm better off sticking to the scooter? I can't afford both at the moment, will be selling scooter to get bike.

4. Is the Ninja too powerful? It's supposed to be 30-something hp, is that too much for a learner? My scooter is something like 3hp (derestricted), and I feel it's lack of power up hills. I do want more power. I intend to take it easy for the first couple of weeks that I have it to get used to riding a bike(with gears an all)

Cheers for doing so much reading if you've got to here!

**FJRider** · 14th June 2008, 21:09

1. Its your first real bike, so dont worry about the colour just yet. A few minor "offs" and a repaint is needed. Spend paint money on GAS.
2.Like naked bikes ...buy one.
3.Nothing lasts FOREVER, if ya get the Kawa'...ride it, and take the long way to school.
4.Licence is capacity based...not HORSEPOWER based. And when at the first set of traffic lights...boys WILL be boys....GO FOR IT...

**Edbear** · 14th June 2008, 21:22

The 250 Kwaka has a good rep and should be fine for you. However, I would be VERY suspicious of the one you mention.

Don't buy a bike unless you can ride it first and if you are as innocent of mechanical things as you sound, find someone who can check it out for you.

**ZK-Awesome** · 15th June 2008, 06:26

Yeh I've got a pre-purchase check semi-organised.

**Meanie** · 15th June 2008, 08:40

Originally Posted by Edbear

The 250 Kwaka has a good rep and should be fine for you. However, I would be VERY suspicious of the one you mention.

Don't buy a bike unless you can ride it first and if you are as innocent of mechanical things as you sound, find someone who can check it out for you.

What he said
Never believe someone who says i cant start it cause its got a fuel leak Surely if your gonna sell a bike you will make sure its running so prospective buyers can at least listen to the motor running
Get it checked out by someone who knows plenty about bikes
Good learners bike though, not too much HP but still enough to get you into a bit of strife Good luck

**CB ARGH** · 15th June 2008, 09:52

Big ups to you mate for entering the weird world of wabbling wockstars!

Umm... yip.

Anyway, I am in the exact same shoe as you (thank god it's a big one), I can't help you in most of the questions, but I can help you somewhere.

Don't buy it until you have seen it going! I made this mistake when purchasing a Gas Powered RC Monster Truck off trademe, it was a long drive out to pick it up, and when I got there the glow starter wasn't charged (to dummies, this is a thing that lights the sparkie, without needing a CDI or anything), so I decided to buy it on the spot.

I get it home, charge it, and hello... It doesn't go. Buyer said that I should've seen it going first, and that I probably broke it and want my money back.

Thankfully I know how to fix these things, so I did, and sold it on for a good 50 bucks profit!

Try, before you buy, REGARDLESS OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES!

**skidMark** · 15th June 2008, 10:01

Well if you dont like green you cant own a Kawasaki (P/T)

**Bren** · 15th June 2008, 10:05

Originally Posted by skidMark

Well if you dont like green you cant own a Kawasaki (P/T)

oh, but mines black

**alanzs** · 15th June 2008, 14:35

If it won't start, that's a big clue: IT DOESN'T START. If it doesn't start, it isn't running and you want a bike to run. Keep looking... JMHO.

**Rockbuddy** · 15th June 2008, 15:00

Originally Posted by skidMark

Well if you dont like green you cant own a Kawasaki (P/T)

Damn ill have to sell my two, ones black and ones white, and i used to have a red one

**Roki_nz** · 17th June 2008, 13:10

I have a question about the ninja. What this all about talk that no new bikes are arriving untill september? Any one got a link to the article

**Nordy** · 17th June 2008, 13:16

its not that no new bikes are arriving, just that whats on its way have already been pre ordered by customers.... (like me)

**Jez** · 17th June 2008, 13:28

I heard there was a problem with their construction line that was holding up the supply of the '08 Ninjas to the general public ... basically they are still struggling to fill pre-orders

**Nordy** · 17th June 2008, 13:31

There are also rumours flying that everythings going to the USA and we are getting the little leftovers.

The only thing we know for sure is that there is a backlog for whatever reason. Which is why all the shops have waiting lists (some longer than others but most covering the next two shipments)