Kawasaki Sportsbike Riders Club - Australia - Online Forum

So after 3 months of trying I have finally managed to sell my ZZR and now have my heart set on buying a 9

I have found one I like the look of - 2003 model, lime green, low kms, nice exhaust, right price.... now Im just after the low down... the good, the bad, the ugly..... any comments?

Congrats

BAD = Big, heavy, no slipper clutch and it's green

GOOD = thinking.........................................thinking.............................................thinking

Blurr wrote:Congrats

BAD = Big, heavy, no slipper clutch and it's green

GOOD = thinking.........................................thinking.............................................thinking

What's a slipper clutch and why would it be better if it had one???

Keep your weird orange hippy mumbo jumbo to ya self!

macca wrote:What's a slipper clutch and why would it be better if it had one???

They stop rear wheel compression lockup on down shift's I think .....

Disco wrote:

macca wrote:What's a slipper clutch and why would it be better if it had one???

They stop rear wheel compression lockup on down shift's I think .....

yep spot on Disco

macca wrote:

Blurr wrote:Congrats

BAD = Big, heavy, no slipper clutch and it's green

GOOD = thinking.........................................thinking.............................................thinking

What's a slipper clutch and why would it be better if it had one???

Keep your weird orange hippy mumbo jumbo to ya self!

HA Pot calling the kettle black. Have you seen your tracky lately

Good:

Slightly more upright than most sports bikes while still feeling like a real sports bike.
Midrange
Looks
Lack of weight (i had a seven before, this thing is like a 250 in comparison)

Bad:



Conclusion:
Theyre not as fast as a modern 1000cc sports bike, but they probably handle real world conditions better too. They dont do anything wrong and are quite easy to ride.
I think if you like the look and feel, just get one. You wont be dissapointed. The same could be said about most sports bikes under 10 years old.
Any jap sports bike over 250cc and built in the last decade thats in good nick is going to bring a huge smile to your face.
Theyre all pretty damn good.

The 2003 models were a pretty well sorted machine

Mate I luuuuv mine...Have you had a ride yet?

Mine's the metallic comet blue but there's just something about a green kwaka...

Why? I find it comfortable for long rides....and it's better than I am...

gotta luv tha nine

Search found 2391 matches: zx9 most discussed bike on this site

Slipper Clutches , Phffffftt . They are only for ham fisted Boofheads who lack mechanical empathy and can't change down properly . Same people only have Automatic car licenses and still look at the shifter to see where reverse is .

The later ZX9r is one of the best all round value road bikes available . For your dollar you won't get a bike that goes as hard for as long so comfortably while using meager amounts of fuel .
Sure there are faster bikes . How much over 250 do you want to go ?
Sure there are quicker accelerating bikes . How much quicker than 11 seconds do you need to do the quarter in ?
Sure there are more comfy bikes . How comfy are those Aspencades ?
Sure there are better braking bikes . How far did you want your rear wheel off the ground ?
Sure there are bikes that corner better . How fast did you want to get around PI ?

Sure spend a few extra grand and you will get something that does some things better , but there is nothing that can do all the 9 does for so reasonable a price !

And they still look shit hot

I thought you were gonna get a 10 Macca!!

The 9's alright - good bike, reasonably comfortable, for me personally I thought it was a little big and heavy (so I go and buy a 7 which is even heavier ) and also for me it was a little too upright, I prefer the more aggressive positioning, I'd get a really sore bum on it!!

But the 9 is a great bike... and green is the holy colour

What would you know Mel , so little experience and you are a GIRL . Sore Bum ??? After 1600k why wouldn't you ???
And contrary !!! Heavy as a complaint and then buy a 7 ??? Such a woman !!!

Quote from a review of the 2000 ZX9

Kawasaki's refined ZX-9R should be a wonderful bike, although slightly heavier than Yamaha's R1 and Honda's new CBR 929. Nevertheless, the new 9R will be far more bike than most of us can handle, and Kawasaki's well-deserved reputation for comfortable rider ergonomics and ample wind protection make the 9R, perhaps, the right choice for the "real world". We'll have to wait and see when the rider reviews come in, but Kawasaki seems to have carefully refined an outstanding motorcycle in the 2000 ZX-9R.

And they still improved them in subsequent years

I've ridden Dave's 9 quite a few times and as much as I bag him out about it, they're an awesome bike.

The good:
The best all-round, do-everything road bike you can get. They have plenty of get-up-and-go, very comfy for long rides, plenty of luggage attachment options for long rides, won't limit you in the twisties, easy to ride. Basically, you can do practically everything on them, and it does it all really, really well.

The bad:
It's getting harder to find one in good condition with low kms (if that's what you want)
(plus a bunch of personal preference reasons relating to my riding style and my lack of long legs that obviously only relates to me)

Since you've found one with low kms, in good condition, in the best colour and at a good price - well, if you like the feel of the 9, get yourself over there and put a deposit on it right now!!! I think the '03 model is the best looking out of all the 9's - never been a fan of the older, single headlight look.