Kawasaki Sportsbike Riders Club - Australia - Online Forum

So over the last year, the missus has spent 2 or 3k$ on random stuff without telling me. Just comes home and says, 'Hey, Look what I bought!' The tats I could kinda get behind, she still has less than me even if they cost more (can't stand coloured ink). But the family photos were the last straw. I don't understand the person who spends >$1000 on pieces of paper... So I say,&^% it! Time to get some new wheels. Thing is I have no clue what. Currently I reckon my options are:
- Restoration of my '00 ZX6. Engine rebuild (80K on clock), re-paint of the tank. Maybe re-paint the rims as well. Maybe 3-4k$?
- '09 ZX6. Seen them between 7 and 10k$
- Z1000. Don't really know anything about them. There's a 2012 for 12k. The idea of same hp as a 6 but with loads more torque is appealling.
- VN900C. I've always wanted one and there is a 2010 for <8k. Plus the new ones have 6 gears now... I don't ride above 60 most days anymore because what person has time for a life anymore? So it probably suits my current level of skill these days. Besides, if I can ever afford another trackday I got no problem whipping her out and probably won't be the slowest in yellow

- '14 636 ABS. It's a 636. It's got ABS and traction, which is probably a good thing for an idiot like me. It's a 636...

Option number 1 will almost definetely happen at some point anyway. When I first got her in '07 she still pulled 105 hp at the wheel on 2 separate dynos and was just a godess through the turns. She deserves another life. Other than that, I'm torn mostly between the '09 6 and the Vulcan. But I don't see the point in owning >1 supersport, tbh. Not when I don't do either the twisties or the track anymore. Also, trying to find a flat bit of ground around here to adjust the chain is a nightmare (my garage has a 30 degree incline, sideways). Belt drive for the win.

PS. Any truth to the rumours that current kwakas don't have the ram air growl anymore? What year did hey get rid of that??

Haha gday LOCG it's been a while. Dude you're all over the shop

If you're gonna fix your 6 better off finding a cheap written-off or out-of-rego donor bike and dropping the engine in making one good bike, keeping key spares and dumping the rest.

If you buy another 6 you'll never put your old one back on the road; why bother fixing up an old 6 and riding it when you have a new one to ride already?

Time for some test riding.

It has been a while Owen, welcome back! So, what's wrong with the engine on the old 6? If it still runs fine, why spend money on it? I would have thought that 80k is not that high on an older engine that hasn't been raced. To be honest, if you want to spend money on it to put it back on the road you are better off flogging it off for $3G and putting the money into a newer bike as you reach the point of diminishing returns pretty quickly spending money on old bikes in this country, unless you are doing all of the work yourself. The other option is to take it to the track as is and get yourself a more suitable naked/upright road bike. (best of both worlds IMO )

Also, there's also a big difference in the power between a 2012 Z1000 and any 600. They are a genuine 1000cc engine now, unlike the first generation bikes and they have heaps more power than the old ones.

Sounds to me like you are more interested in the Vulcan for the road, but you are still trying to convince yourself that you don't really NEED a 'cool' sportsbike and that it is ok to plod around on a slow cruiser. If that's what you are really after, forget what everyone else's opinion is and get what YOU want. The only way to really find out for yourself which bike is best suited is to get out there and ride them all. Sometimes you are very surprised with the outcome after testing all of the options. As long as you are out there enjoying your riding, it is a good day, no matter what you are on.

Hey Nelso, It's Jason. Not sure if confusing me with Pinchy? The 6 has a wee bit of oil coming out of the top of the headers atm, and 2nd gear likes to pop back down to neutral when the engine is under load. Certainly spending money on it isn't a smart thing. So it will probably sit in the garage for 10 years as that project that I never quite got a round too . And yeah you are right on the Z1000, they are a bit mental these days with short wheel base and short gearing. The Vulcan I will get eventually. Not sure if I want one just now or not, but I think that will become an obvious answer when I can actually fire one up.

Took out a S4R on the weekend. Nice enough bike. Could have some fun on it. Gonna take a while to get used to that style of engine though. Plus I can get a lot newer bikes for the same price. Couple of more test rides and I reckon one of em will just pop out at me.

hi nelso

The Z1000 might be off its head, but the Z800 seems just right in the power dept. Gonna take a while to get used to a motard style in the twisties, but seems pretty much right for commuting. Now I just have to find a pipe. Pick her up on Thursday. 2013, 19k kms, $10k with 6 month warranty and rego.

lifeofcrimeguy wrote:Hey Nelso, It's Jason. Not sure if confusing me with Pinchy?

Oops, sorry mate. I did know that and for some stupid reason I had a brain fart and put the wrong name down. And Pinchy will never be referred to as Owen. He ceased to be an Owen the day he became Pinchy.

good stuff jason... i toyed with the idea of the Z800 but went with a ducati hypermotard... we can swap if ya want