crappy Kawasaki Oz

[swabio-ACT]

damn Kawasaki OZ!

Why don't they bring out the cool stuff here! Like OEM carbon etc! Stingy buggers! Apparently you can't even do a special order of the stuff I guess I will have to wait until it hits the states or UK in mainstream so I can call up a store and get them to ship it! I can't believe that Kwaka Oz aren't a) bringing it over and b) allowing it to be backordered etc.


http://www.kawasaki.ch/fileadmin/pdf/zu ... nja_fr.pdf

[photomike666]

I agree they should offer all services to all customers, but I don't like the half tank thing - all or nothing

[Barrabob]

You would think they would at least be able to do that stuff on order or as a optional extras type thing i dont know if that would mean that all the options would then have to undergo adr testing involving breaking more bits than they actually sold but if they have a factory ohlins damper as a option from kawasaki rather than a dealer then they can send it out to the journos like that.

They seem to be a bit nicer with a damper fitted to and i dont know how much weight you save with all the carbon fiber bits but i reckon the hugger could be made out of something better than plastic and the chain gaurd too.

[mrmina]

u can always get shit off ebay

[Yankee]

i think that a same color rear seat cowl looks waaay better anyway!
but yeah, i hear ya... unfortunately Ozzie just doesn't have the buying power to warrant getting extras over here (yet?!)

[Nick]

There’s a few carbon bits out for the 05, http://www.redracingparts.com , and Sparco are doing a carbon front mudguard to suit a 70 profile tyre,for bigger angles of dangle

http://www.performancemotorcycleparts.c ... sparco.htm

[swabio-ACT]

I realise you can get other CF bits from other sites ie/ red racing, oppracing etc.

However the OEM stuff is IMO, better quality, as it is full on Pre-Preg, autoclaved Carbon, and comes fully warranted, guaranteed to fit, etc etc.

And generally factory carbon has a better finish than a lot of the aftermarket mobs. I just think that it should be an option for us poor Aussies!

In the end I suppose I will have to just order stuff from dealers o/s, would prefer to get it here, but alas we cant

[Plaz]

damn....some of that gear looks great....not sure about the tank though

[I-K]

From the pdf:

"Au moment de l'impression, ces accessoires etaient encore en course du developpement"

referring to the carbon stuff on the 10R and the 636-C. Translating, it sez, in effect,

"At the time of writing, these accessories are still in development"

meaning they can't even get them in Switzerland.

Depending on who you spoke to at Kwaka Australia, chances are they had no idea these items even existed and just played it safe.

I've made a few idle phone calls to importers after seeing official photos of their company's new bike on the web, and typically got "Oh, they don't tell us anything, mate" by way of reply.

Also, why this apparent prejudice against aftermarket producers/overactive faith in the quality of factory-produced components? It's not like Kawasaki have a little carbon shop out the back. Like most of the parts which go into a bike, production of these genuine accessories would be outsourced, most likely to an established carbon motorcycle-goodie house which, if they were being pitched primarily at the European market, probably won't even be Japanese.

It's a pretty safe bet that, if that's indeed even the case, Kawasaki aren't bothering with releasing these carbon bits in Australia, they're doing it because they considered the low expectable demand, the ready availability of quality kit from specialist, reputable outfits with a global presence like Harris and QB Carbon and the potential of local carbon workers like GCC, Extreme Creations or the bloke in Adelaide whose Triumph Daytona is in the current issue of Rapid Bikes to take up any remaining slack, and decided it's not worth it.

Consider that Suzuki ended up having to give away the stock of accessory lower fairings they brought in for the SV1000S.

[swabio-ACT]

I-K, well although the pdf ments it is still in development, the carbon is hitting the market in the UK already, although there web site is not updated a couple of dudes on MCN ninjas have mentioned that the accessories catalogue has the gear and it can be ordered already.

Re aftermarket gear, I have the GCC tank protector and am quite happy with that. Although, a mate of mine has a beserka amount of carbon for his bike, from several OZ manufacturers, and it varies in quality by a massive amount. The GCC stuff and some he got from a dude in sydney are the best, but even the GCC front fender is spider cracking after a couple of months. Also, the range of accessories available for the '05 ZX6R in Oz, is pretty low, I tried to get an idea of getting my lower fairing done and it was pretty much a no go. 'too busy' or from the turkey @ Bilspeed ? (not sure if it is correct, the dude in queenbeyan) wanted a ridiculous amount of $$$, and after seeing his dismal work for my mate I would not trust him with a chook raffle.

So personally, I would prefer to be able to get my hands on some genuine Kwaka carbon. If kwaka do not want to sell it here due to 'ADR' compliancing etc, fair enough. However, why would it not be possible to back order it from JPN / Europe / US ??? As a 'track only' not for road use' etc.

You can take the piss out of ppl all you want for having differing views than yours, however, at the end of the day, it is horses for courses, and I still want to be able to buy some genuine Kwaka carbon :p

Also, yes it is probably outsourced, as are many components, however the quality control i believe is greater than the majority of aftermarket manufacturers. Although I would love to see the carbon from OPP racing, as that looks quite good in the pix.

[swabio-ACT]

this is a cut and paste from the MCN Ninjas forum, when I asked about a carbon bellypan...........


It's in the Kawasaki accessories catalogue, s/n 011BST00055 priced at £404.20GBP. If you checkout http://www.superbike.co.uk and see the staff bikes, they've got the Kawasaki carbon mudguard/fender and they reckon it's factory quality. Other goodies include the two black bits at the front of the tank, described as knee grip covers (£179.01) my legs aren't 42" inside measurement so my knees don't reach that far forward
Fairing inner cowling covers - £210.25
Exhaust cover ( from the riders brake pedal up to the seat - £112.05
Side panels - no price yet
Chainguard - £131.67
They aren't cheap, but it's claimed to be genuine carbon fibre with epoxy resin, autoclaved using MotoGP technology, whatever that means.

[I-K]

FOUR HUNDRED POUNDS?!!!?

[ty]

that was my reaction too!

[swabio-ACT]

FOUR HUNDRED POUNDS?!!!?

that is still cheaper than what that Bilspeed dude wanted!

[Gosling1]

400 pounds is just a ridiculous amount of money for a belly-pan, even if the Bilspeed dude wanted more. Current xchange rates convert to almost 1 large - for a bellypan ???? Don't get me wrong, CF is a great look, and if you can somehow convince our local big K to bring it in, good luck. Somehow I think that being a 'dinkum' kawasaki part will ensure that it costs top $ thru K anyhow as the below example shows:

fairing inner cowls ( as quoted) at 210.25 pound each - (genuine Kawasaki bits) - from GCC they are around $230 for a 12. This equals 97 pounds...its a *lot* of difference ( different bikes sure, but an inner cowl is an inner cowl - as you quite rightly say, horses for courses, and if you have the readies to splash on your scooter, then go for it mate