Anything wrong w/ Kawi's? or do people just like to pick on them??

[McBiggity]

Just wondering.- Seen a lot of posts that bash kawasaki's. Are they inferior to most bikes out there? reliability problems? anything? I'm just curious- I'm relatively new to bikes so maybe I'm missing something.

[TLRMan]

but if you are Dragracing, and want to really put the screws to it, the Old ZR1 2 valve is the way to go!

Still..Kaws suck....

[VIPERSRT1]

Originally posted by TLRMan


Still..Kaws suck....

aaaahhhhhh KAWASUKI GO GOOOD


btw it's all in good fun,,, if you look at everyone that rags kawi, they usually own a suk,, and vise vers

[rocker]

[i]Nothing wrong with any brand besides a harley sorry jenn [/B]

c'mon what do ya mean, besides the leaks and other numerous problems that pop up frequently who the heck wouldn't want one.

[McBiggity]

ok-I just didn't want to be outcasted and run out of town for wanting a new 636

[VIPERSRT1]

DONT WORRY WE STILL WILL


jk
heard there not too shabby..
still wont touch a gixxer but its an ok starter bike....

[McBiggity]

i ride an ex500 now- so anything I get will be an upgrade. I sat on the gixxer- but did't like how it felt- a little too bent over forward for my likes.

[jsven007]

Just wondering.- Seen a lot of posts that bash kawasaki's.

Where are these posts? Kawasakis are great motorcycles from what I know

[stoinkythepig]

Kawasakis are usually heavy compared to their competition. They seem to last awhile so longevity is not an issue I'm aware of. They have had more reasonable ergonomics than other bikes in the past but the newest ZX6R seems to have ended that trend.

I like mine and consider the extra weight an easy tradeoff for better comfort. It's still frighteningly fast and handles better than I can ride.

[Kham]

Originally posted by TLRMan

Still..Kaws suck....

you're expert opinion?

[Kham]

Originally posted by stoinkythepig
but the newest ZX6R seems to have ended that trend.

i can feel it. im starting to see squids moving to the new 636.

[Kham]

Originally posted by mcbgti
ok-I just didn't want to be outcasted and run out of town for wanting a new 636

i don't regret my decision to go with the new 636. im loving every bit of it. problem is i cant get enough of it. dont worry about what SUKI fans say. they're just jelious the 636 is equal to their 750 class in some way. haha..

[McBiggity]

hey Kham- I know that you recently picked up a new kawi.- was it the 636 of the RR? How do you like it? Can you make any comparisons between your new bike and any other bike you may have ridden?

Edit.....


sorry- didn't read your post above

[Kham]

Originally posted by mcbgti
hey Kham- I know that you recently picked up a new kawi.- was it the 636 of the RR? How do you like it? Can you make any comparisons between your new bike and any other bike you may have ridden?

Edit.....


sorry- didn't read your post above

i got the single 'R', street version. i haven't ridden that many bike so i can't give a good comparison. if you're looking for comfort, dont get it. the power is incredible compare to F4i. probably same midrange, 5k-6k rpm compare to 7R.

i only weight 120lbs so any 600 feels like a rocket. imagine me on the ZX10R next couple years.

[Honclfibr]

I think my '98 6R is the bees knees. It's light. It's fast. It's comfortable. It's reliable. In my exhaustive survey of 1, it's my #1 choice. Kawi Uber Alles!

The 636 looks even less comfortable than the gixx tho, though I've never sat on one myself. Have you? Did it feel comfortable? Unless you're determined to buy new, or really want fuel injection, you could get a '00-02 6R for less than half of the cost of a 636 and end up with a similarly competent bike with much more relaxed ergos...

[McBiggity]

definitely not set on buying new. Haven't sat on the new 636 yet- but the gixxer was not very comfortable..

I have seen a few 2000- 2002 6r's that I really like-
my ex500 is very comfortable so I would like something comparable to that. I would rather buy used anyway

[Half Squid]

Originally posted by VIPERSRT1
DONT WORRY WE STILL WILL


jk
heard there not too shabby..
still wont touch a gixxer but its an ok starter bike....

I Would not recomend any of the newer 600 class bikes for beginer, These suckers are light and very powerfull!!! The 600's are nothing what they used to be!!

On the main topic, I think Kawi's are good bikes, comfortable until this years 636 & RR. Just easy to rag on a bike that is ssually puke green!

I rode the Chefs old ZX7 and was very impressed with the comfort handling and throttle responce. As long as it's not green I would get one!

[Honclfibr]

Hehe, yep. I've been in your shoes. This is where you find out your EX500 isn't really a sportbike, and that real sportbikes are *real* uncomfortable.

Motorcyclist is real good about comparing the ergos of the bikes they test in their shootouts. It's no substitute for actually sitting on the bikes, but it helps you see where the discomfort comes from. I found the most important number to me was bar rise. Going from something like 8 inches on the EX500 to 6 on the ZX6E to maybe 4 on the ZX6R took a bit of getting used to. The 1.5 of the GSXR750 I looked at was too much, and that combined with the forward sloping seat had me looking down through the windshield to see the speedo.

They even make the data available online. http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/performancedata/
You can see that the 636 is very similar ergos to the GSXR, at least on paper.

[TLRMan]

Originally posted by Kham
i don't regret my decision to go with the new 636. im loving every bit of it. problem is i cant get enough of it. dont worry about what SUKI fans say. they're just jelious the 636 is equal to their 750 class in some way. haha..

See...This is why I ride a TLR..The only thing you can compare it to, is a Dumptruck! A fast dumptruck......

[JJ]

It's just that people are tired of seeing the back of them. People complain all the time that they are heavy, lack hp, whatever. Anybody that I know that rides a 7R loves em. Even the bike editors in Europe (from what I've read) loved em and wondered why they were getting a bad reputation.

[Kham]

Originally posted by TLRMan
See...This is why I ride a TLR..The only thing you can compare it to, is a Dumptruck! A fast dumptruck......

huh? you calling me name?

[Ken]

I have nothing to add, I just wanted to post. Yep, Kawaskis are reliable, (mostly) comfortable, powerfull rides. Type-for-type a Kawaski will generally have more useable power in a more comfortable and slightly heavier package than the compitition. Kawaski is a company that tends to design what they want the right way the first time and are verry reluctant to change much for a long, long time. They do the job right the first time.

I guess the next question is why you have your heart set on a Kawaski? There will always be a zillion 600cc repli-racers that you can get your hands on if you want one. The Hondas are nice and the YZF600r is a GREAT bike that is way more comfortable and more powerfull in the low and mid range than the r-6 (untill the '03s any way). Look a the SV650. A definate upgrade from the EX500 and can be had more sporty or less sporty. The numbers don't impress you on that one? Try the VTR SUperhawk. Want the bar rise of the EX on a bigger bike? Get yourself a Honda VFR800 and never need another bike untill your dead. I'm glad you'r not looking at stuff like liter bikes ot TLs. You'lllearn more faster on a smaller bike. I found that ou the hard way, BUT, since you DO HAVE that Ninjette, you might have enough seat time to appreciate the bigger bikes too. I have a ZX-9r and my GF has a 600Katanna. I find the big bike a lot more fun on the open roads, but in the tight stuff I am faster on her Katana, despite all it's short commings because I can romp on it sooner and harder than I can (or will) on the ZX-9.

Good luck either way!

ken

[McBiggity]

i'm not set on a zx6r. I actually checked out a 2001 VFR the other day- absolutely fell in love with it. Salesman said he could work some magic numbers for me. Very tempting, and I know I would own that for a very long time.

[jsven007]

I actually checked out a 2001 VFR the other day- absolutely fell in love with it. Salesman said he could work some magic numbers for me. Very tempting, and I know I would own that for a very long time.

VFRs are great sport--tourers, I really like the older models pre-2002. For a first bike, it is also heavy. Keep in mind that if you buy a VFR, it is not a super-fast twisty machine. You might be happier on a lighter, more agile bike, especially for a first bike.

Add frame slider to any bike that you buy, plastic is very expensive.

[SEVENSGT]

Originally posted by TLRMan
See...This is why I ride a TLR..The only thing you can compare it to, is a Dumptruck! A fast dumptruck......

Or a slow RC51 right