Kawasaki Sportsbike Riders Club - Australia - Online Forum

I would have one in a heartbeat, if I could find it in me to part with the 9.
from an objective standpoint you need to consider;

Insurance costs

Maintenance costs - chain and sprockets, tyres, brake pads etc. more power means all of these components must wear at a greater rate than your current 6. Current owners might like to jump in and list what they might average on these items. Also I know of the 12's appetite for clutch plates, usualy devoured whole after several hard fast take offs, current owners please comment. I see che has had 5 clutch rebuilds, I know thats in 150 000 kms, but still.

Rego cost - Is there a higher premium on TAC for this bike?

Is it realy what you need, or just something you want? Emotion is powerful when choosing a bike but you still need to have some sense of reality, even if only a little

Here's an idea also, ask this same question on another forum, perhaps with a little less bias, and see what sort of response you get.

J..if the 636 is boring u... well id consider (god forbid i tell a chick to buy one of these)..a zx10r... similar bike, but MUCH more ballsy...

if its for other reasons (like touring) why not look for a good cond zx9r (smaller version of the 12, but boy are they popular on here)...

give us more details mate??

or do u just want the biggest dick in the pissing comp??

Will everyone who's trying to take her up on her challenge please back the fark orf... I want to see Smitty, Gos and every other middle-age-and-up big-bore whore with a dodgy ticker keel over and start pleading for oxygen when she posts the first pic of herself on her new black 12...

greenmeanie wrote:Wouldn't matter what anyone says cause you would buy one anyway.

Yes, best way to get Seraph buy something is to tell her not to buy one!

"Touring mode"? Having ridden with Seraph before, I don't think such a mode exists!

Its not a bike to commute on, and I'll leave it to the Sydneysiders to comment on riding a large sportsbike in peak hour Sydney traffic.

To put the question in perspective, you should explain what happened to the 6!

Slow and wobbly wrote: Maintenance costs - chain and sprockets, tyres, brake pads etc. more power means all of these components must wear at a greater rate than your current 6. Current owners might like to jump in and list what they might average on these items. Also I know of the 12's appetite for clutch plates, usualy devoured whole after several hard fast take offs, current owners please comment. I see che has had 5 clutch rebuilds, I know thats in 150 000 kms, but still.

I have an early A series..and no problems with clutches
I also get ricers in Subies who think the 12R is easy
Easy it is not..and the clutch gets worked..hard
no Rex or XRTurbo or HSV has come even close

Rego cost - Is there a higher premium on TAC for this bike?

no...TAC is same as my ol '750


hth

I-K wrote:Will everyone who's trying to take her up on her challenge please back the fark orf... I want to see Smitty, Gos and every other middle-age-and-up big-bore whore with a dodgy ticker keel over and start pleading for oxygen when she posts the first pic of herself on her new black 12...

oooh..yes

yes pleeze
gotta luv the 12


GET ONE

I think costs would be the same as a litrebike, like tyres sprockets etc.
Insurance is the same if not less.
They are not bad to commute on one, very comfy seat and they are not that big once you get them going.

The big selling point for me on the 12 is the instant power you get at low revs, you can just cruise around all day between 3 and 5 if you want to.

They do go through tyres, but I think all bikes 1000cc and up would be the same, just get some metzelers they last long aparently.

If your just gonna commute get an ER-6, I would.

Insurance was no dearer, the clutch plates is a yank thing (or is that a wank thing). Maybe if you "dump" the clutch but why would you ever do that, its not quick (off the line) or clever in the least. May be spectacular I spose.
They DO get hot VERY quickly (Qldf) pulled up at a set of lights, if you get caught at the next set the fan will kick in. They go into the red quick.
That was in Rocky traffic, i couldnt guess what it might be like in inner city Sydney for example, but i would imagine it would NOT be good.
The reason we mention licences is that it so easy to go way faster than you think, and yes most big bore bikes have this prob, but 220 literally feels like 120.

As far as chain and sprockets go, my bike has 37k at the moment and they still look like new, starting to wonder if I'll ever have to change them. As for clutches, so far I've had no sign of slip but the shifting isn't as smooth as it used to be, I'm guessing it will need replacement at around the 50k mark.
I use my bike as a commuter, peak hour in Melbourne is no problem at all, just a lot of lane splitting. Now I'm in Bendigo and it couldn't be easier.
The heat can be a problem, got caught in heavy traffic in 40 degree weather a couple times, but the temp guage never hit the red. Since then I've insulated the airbox and its had no issues.

seraph wrote:I know all the reasons I SHOULD get a 12, I need y'all to tell me the reasons NOT to get a 12. thinking '03-'05 refuse to spend over $10.5K. -J.

seraph...

don't ask for reasons NOT top buy one, just BUY one....


they are awesome and mate keep your licencse locked up..... it will disappear very easy.

as for fuel... i haven't had a problem with it... and i have a '00 model....

seraph wrote:I know all the reasons I SHOULD get a 12, I need y'all to tell me the reasons NOT to get a 12. thinking '03-'05 refuse to spend over $10.5K. -J.

go for it ............. lifes too short not to get what you want

mfzx6r wrote:

seraph wrote:I know all the reasons I SHOULD get a 12, I need y'all to tell me the reasons NOT to get a 12. thinking '03-'05 refuse to spend over $10.5K. -J.

go for it ............. lifes too short not to get what you want

And Jamie - there is your answer. Simple as that !! Marz's reason is *exactly* why I bought mine........

Anyway, there are some other things that have already been discussed......

Fuel - 220km per tank = Fun Fun Fun. If you can drag 250+ from a tank thats fuel economy-run stuff.

Tyres - 6-8k per set = normal commuting on sports tyres. 1 track day can shag a set of soft-compound tyres.

Chain ? Mine is the stocker at 24k, and looks and feels brand new. It has hardly stretched at all since new.......(wish I could say that about my old girlfriends...... )

Brakepads ? Still on the originals, brakes only slow you down anyway

Clutch plates ? Have not had *any* clutch problems on my '05.

Your licence is not really in any more danger than on anything else, although they do get up to speed *really* quickly, and whoever said that 220 feels like 120 is dead right.

Did I hear "Dodgy ticker" ?? mange mia grande cazzo !!

Have you had a test ride on one yet ?? You will handle the size easy mate, they handle great in the tight stuff, take my word for it

There a bit anti-social you'll go out for a ride with your friends - suddenly look round and they've all disappeared

I had a ZX9 F2 until an unexpected excursion into the German countryside ended our relationship - I loved the bike - incredibly underrated.

I replaced the bike with an 06 ZX12

The 12 is just a larger version of the 9 with possibly an even more relaxed riding position. Takes a little more muscle in the bends but they are generally ridden by "larger riders" so not much of a problem. Put a full Akra, dyno'd with a custom map and you'll hit 170-180bhp at the wheel. Absolutely ballistic!! Really,really pleased with mine. As the Yanks would say "no substitute for cubes". Later bikes like mine have twin throttle butterflies to smooth out the injection and radial brakes that are exceptional.

I think the real reason for ceasing production is that they would not meet Euro III emission regulations - note all the manufacturers 07 models sprouting hideous looking exhaust systems.

ninjabob wrote: I think the real reason for ceasing production is that they would not meet Euro III emission regulations - note all the manufacturers 07 models sprouting hideous looking exhaust systems.

is that right bob, i was wondering why they stopped production... what a pity....

i have mates that run honda's and suzuki's... lets put this way.. i find myself off the bike, for other to use.... or on a long ride.

seraph... don't ask any more reasons... just buy one...

Thanks for replies punters, I appreciate your input. Yes, I have taken one for a test ride, back to back with an '06 636, old school zx6r, gixxer 750 and zx9r, and the 12 won hands down for handling, power delivery and sex appeal, felt nimble and light as a feather above about 10km/hr and I'm well and truly strong enough to muscle it through twisties just as fast as I damn well please I think I've made my decision and with a new job all but in the hand, shouldn't be too long til I have my new beastie can't wait!!! -J.