Kawasaki Sportsbike Riders Club - Australia - Online Forum

Kristy wrote:Is it really that difficult to ride slow and carefully, gradually building up to being a good rider on a 10??

In a word, yes.

Know how your ZXR250 doesn't like sitting below 80 or so? (if you don't, that should be an indication of where you are in your learning process with respect to bikes) Litre bikes have that problem at 120.

Kristy wrote:Is it really that difficult to ride slow and carefully, gradually building up to being a good rider on a 10??

It's a bit like hopping into an F1 car and expecting to be able to hang a lap record! It just ain't gunna happen. Sure, you could possibly drive an F1 car. Most likely you could even drive it briskly, however, the power even for an experienced pilot is pretty scary and attempting to take it into the "Real" fun zone early in the experience is usually gunna end up in tears!

If you want to carve up the mountains with the fast guys you will get hurt on any bike but for a cruise on the weekend the thing most likly to get you hurt is situational awareness, or lack of it. That being said you can get into trouble faster on a 1000 than a 600 but if your head is not in the right place then they will both bite and hard!

You will be fine with a 600.... I have had an 05 636 for more than 6 months, I am around 190cm, and weigh 86kg, and I love it... and obviously being a female, theres a good chance you will be even lighter, which means, better power to weight ratio...

I think another thing you have to be careful about, is not that you think you will be conservative on it, coz thats the same way I ride, but on a thou, you give it a little squirt (which you will find yourself doing) and you will realise you will get to a spot ALOT quicker than expected. Now if your just in cruise mode, and you find yourself in that situation, you might be in a spot of bother...

For example, compare going for a cruise through the twistes, and hitting the same 2 corners on your 250, to a thou. On your 250, you exit the first corner, and you will have to strangle it to get it up to 80 at the breaking point of the next corner. On a thou, you twist your wrist, and you'll hit 100+ at the same point, without even noticing you were accelerating. Now the issue is, you have to break that much harder to enter the corner at a safe speed.

I personally say get a 600, you wont be disappointed...

Ok, now that we've established that I want a 10, are there any girls that ride a 10???

Neka79 wrote:i use to love chasing down R1's on my zx6r...

Pfft - I remember chasing down I-K on his R1 on the old GPX250

No-one needs a litre bike on the road - a 600 is more than good enough.
There are more factors though - your likes, bike fit (one of the main reasons I had my ZX9R), and your ability.

You won't find the 600 to be an easy step up - just an easier one than to a litre, and you'll certainly have fun on it (even the BF will have fun). I've ridden Cath's, and apart from the physical size (too small for me), it's the best handling bike I've ridden (not that I've ridden many)

Ultimately, take everyone's thoughts and arguments and let them factor into about 15-20% of your decision at most. Make the rest based on what you want (or will you have to split that 50/50 with the BF?) and a lot of test riding. You'll need a lot of test riding to get a decent feel as you don't have a lot of experience yet. Although that lack of experience can make it hard to get a test-ride too

Go on some group rides and ride whatever people will let you.
Then decide what to get.

My 3c (inflation and all)
ty

Ah I overlooked the 'established I want a 10'.
Don't be surprised to have trouble getting a test ride.
Find a very friendly 10 owner
ty

ty wrote:

Neka79 wrote:i use to love chasing down R1's on my zx6r...

Pfft - I remember chasing down I-K on his R1 on the old GPX250

Eh? I'm going over the backup tapes pretty busily, but I don't remember ever having a GPX250 on my tail while I had the R1... admittedly, that was a minimum of six years ago now...

LOL - was on an aus.moto ride on the OPH - you told me to get a bigger bike.
I could be wrong - it may not have been the R1 - was late 2002 or early 03.

ty wrote:LOL - was on an aus.moto ride on the OPH - you told me to get a bigger bike.
I could be wrong - it may not have been the R1 - was late 2002 or early 03.

I remember now... blurrily. That would've been November or December, 2002, so I would've been on the ZX6... and, from memory, the exchange in question would've occurred at the cafe after the first stint from Berowra... I was still loosening up for the day.

my advice... what ever u get..insure the bloody thing...

a mate of mine went out for a ride today with his bro in law ... his bro in law threw down his 05 gsxr600 at slow speed....
"its not too bad , shouldnt cost him too much" my mate said... apparently he has damaged

rhs fairings
rhs ductail
rhs peg and brake lever
aftermarket can
nose fairing needs repainting
tank *may* have damage (minimal tho)
rhs indicators

things that these guys wont kno (they are young, on 1st big bikes for less than 3 months) are whether shit like

forks
bar (clip on)
frame
subframe
swingarm
etc are damaged...

i reckon just with the parts listed, without touching the tank, he wont get away with much change from $2k.... wonder what his insurance would of been??

I-K wrote:

ty wrote:LOL - was on an aus.moto ride on the OPH - you told me to get a bigger bike.
I could be wrong - it may not have been the R1 - was late 2002 or early 03.

I remember now... blurrily. That would've been November or December, 2002, so I would've been on the ZX6... and, from memory, the exchange in question would've occurred at the cafe after the first stint from Berowra... I was still loosening up for the day.

That'd be it.

Went to the bike expo today. Sat on a 6 and had trouble reaching the ground. Sat on the 10 and to my suprise I could reach the ground fine! The 10 is lower, so the decision has been made to go with the 10
Just to make sure I'm not imagining things, both Ross and his mate tried the 6 and 10 and they both agreed that the 10 IS lower and has a lot more comfy seat!

Nana says ...... Buy what ever you can afford to insure fully comprehensive. That is of course after you have all the other necessary bits, zip together armoured leathers, a spine protector, armoured boots, armoured gloves, a full face non cheap arse helmet & the advanced riding course. And as a treat to yourself jerk a set of M3' on it as well. Tyres are as good an investment as leathers.

Being a short ar$e myself i find it my "crim" comfy as & pretty easy to manouve around. It's the unplanned "roll on wheelies" in 4th gear that get my attention ... NOW.

So they had an 04 zx10 at the bike expo to check out and sit on? Seriously, you've obv already made your decision, congrats for that, please try and take on board some of the advice thats been given. & by the look of it you will be #1 female rider on the ksrc board with the 10, sweet.