ontopic for once: 2nd hand bike review

ZX-12R.

Since finishing work last monday, I've ridden the 12R every day except
yesterday (I was pissed) and have racked up about 700 miles in 5 days
riding. Not a lot, but enough to form some opinions about the bike.

Pros:

* It's pretty quick, understandbly for some thing with it's claimed
power/weight ratio
* It's fairly nimble for such a long and (relatively) heavy bike - I
wouldn't call it "flickable" but it's certainly not a bike that has to
be wrestled into corners
* for someone of my height/shape, it's really very comfortable indeed
- some have described it as "tall" but that's only "tall compared to
actual sports bikes" as it's really not tall at all compared to my
KTM.


Cons:

* it seems incredibly thirsty - the average fuel consumption seems to
be less than 40mpg based on the current back-roads idiocy type of use.
* for a "sports tourer" no-one seems to market a luggage kit (hard
panniers is what I'm after, hard top box is not)
* could really do with better brakes.
* our cat seems to like to sit on it, resulting in paw-prints on the
seat


all in all - pleased.

 

Planning on taking it anywhere soon?

 

yes.

I'll call that hotel in Verdun later and see if they've got any rooms
free.

 

IME this leads quickly to clawmarks on the tank.

 

It'd probably be even quicker if it wasn't lugging all those feral
apostrophes & spaces around.

Goodo.

 

That one's booked under my name if you want to refer to the rest of us.

 

Book one for me while you're at it, would you? A nice run up there in
the R36 and a(nother) night on the piss sounds quite tempting.

 

Taking a car on a motorcycling holiday?

What's your name, Sniper?

 

Huh I won't be able to ride until the end of the year but I am driving
the auto cage, it hadn't occured to me to follow you all as Luggage
Bitch.

Towing a 3 bike trailer and packing a Defib obviously.

I could have thrown Kath in the boot.

 

Well now that it has, when will you be round to collect my throwovers?

"We're gonna need a bigger trailer".

And accidentally slammed the lid down on her other leg no doubt.

 

Aye. I'll be joining her for a fortnight in about four weeks, then
coming back together. Doesn't feel like nearly a month already...

 

WUSS, I did over 1000 Thursday to Sunday

And got pissed twice in between

 

Only if you don't trust the stupid bar guage (like I didn't). It drops
the 1st one after about 2 miles, then seems to take ages to drop the
next 3 bars, then drops like a stone.

I didn't ride too far on the flashing last one, so I probably ended up
filling up more often than I should have.

No, it has 'large sports bike' pretensions. Soft luggage just doesn't
work on that huge exhaust. You might have better luck when you get
hold of the muzzy-a-like ..

Yeah, it's better with HH pads in the front, but then it's hard on the
discs. I probably tended to ride a bit easier than you, so wasn't
feeling the limitations of the brakes that much.

The calipers are ok, all the pistons were greased a while back when
the front pads were changed (the time before LC did them).

Yeah, after riding the firestorm around for a few weeks, I miss the
big 4 pot, the extra 200cc and the fuel injection !

Back to back with the 'Busa, the power delivery is virtually the same,
but I prefer the 'higher' riding position of the 12R.

Fitting behind the screen is difficult if you're over 6 foot tho' .. !

Cheers,

Paul.

 

Lucky you, after today's bad news it looks like my planned return to
the elephant is out

I'm so fucked off I'm considering asking someone to take me as
pillion. I need a break that doesn't involve my bones.

There's a 'ryn' on the end of that you know, who do you think you are
Champ?

 

that's A.'s middle name. Just the K. Claims to be named after, well,
K.

 

For the French odyssey or the 'Fant ?

I'm sure there'll be chair places available for the cold trip.

Is it actually decided where this years icy trip will be ? North or
South ?

Paul.

 

I'm planning to go to the Elefantreffen again, this time on the ST4s .

I don't think I'll join the arctic circle camping trip, the cost of the
ferries alone is enough to keep me out.

Which reminds me time to start ordering the heated gloves and boots.

 

heh. Pretty much the only firearm to be seen on country's national
flag.

 

Mozambique?

 

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, ogden

No, she went of her own accord.

--
Wicked Uncle Nigel - "He's hopeless, but he's honest"

I have already made the greatest contribution to the fight against climate
change that I can make: I have decided not to breed. Now quit bugging me and
go and talk to the Catholics.