200kms on the clock today.
It really is half way between the R6 and the CB400. Sit up ergos with excellent steering, but less chassis "integrity" than the R6. I like that because I had to push the R6 to make it feel alive. I know I've waffled on and on, but I've been looking for that engaging "fun" factor in motorcycling, that is really easy to get with anything 400cc or less. Bigger bikes seem to become clinically over-competent at their design brief, leaving compromises that make them literally a pain to ride anywhere other than in their design-focused "kill-zone". Then there is the other extreme, where the bike is TOO general in its application to be much fun at anything.
Bit of a bugger that I'm addicted to 100bhp now then isn't it?
We went for a picnic at the Rimutaka Forest Park today, so I tried the Wainuiomata coast road out. Best bike I've taken down there, and that is without (theoretically) being able to use 7,500rpm of the rev range. Bloody good at dodging sheep, and for old school two-piston brakes bloody good at stopping for cars randomly exiting driveways and suddenly stopping in the middle of the road in a 100km/hr zone. (Note to self: Must check pads for signs of glazing). Plenty of nice comments from Heather about my "rear" (first time in years) thanks to a very visible rear LED cluster and super illuminating brake light.
Kawasaki have done a superb job of making an old school steel spine frame look and feel like a modern bike. That engine is a growly mofo, and I can't wait to see what it sounds like in anger, once there are a few more kms onboard. The switch gear has a very slick feel to it, but I do wonder what it will feel like after the next few months of commuting. The lack of a headlight flasher is perplexing too.
The suspension is tiresome though. Leaving the pearl out of the paint would probably have freed up enough in the budget to make a rear shock with a little less compression damping. The rear is 7 way preload adjustable, and has an adjuster for rebound damping that does very little as the compression damping overwhelms the rebound most cruelly. The ride is brilliant on smooth tarmac, but as we all know, a good proportion of our roads are rather bumpy. I'm walking like John Wayne at the moment. The forks, though unadjustable, haven't caused me an issue, no doubt thanks to being over sprung enough to work with my (considerable) weight. They definitey don't have enough rebound damping, large bumps leave the front wheel hanging long enough to be perceptible, even to a ham-fisted dufus like me. I'm wondering if a revalve is in order as well as the fork springs.
I will continue to blather about this bike. I rather like it's upmarket appearance and down-home under-pinnings. It's very like a four cylinder TRX850, the V-TWIN like pulse replaced by a characteristic Kawasaki induction noise and exhaust growl.
Season's Salutations everyone. Try not to be too jealous about my Christmas present.
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Originally Posted by Jim2
Cool.
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