Options for my new bike

Now I have the BMW for commuting & general riding I wanted to replace
my ZZR 1100 that I sold in a flurry of silliness. To say I regret it is
an understatement.

ZZR's are a bit thin on the ground (well decent ones seem to be)

I have kind of got myself a shortlist. Any comments regarding the
reliability & any general comment would be gratefully received.

ZZR 1100 OR 1200

Suzuki Hayabusa

Yamaha Thunderace

Honda Blackbird

I'm a big chap for a bike at 6' 3" with silly long legs. The 'busa
could be a problem on insurance & it at the limit of my budget (£4-£5k
max)

Any thoughts regarding the above or any other contenders please?

--
'Just because you're paranoid, don't mean they're not after you'

Nige

Subaru WRX (54)
Land Rover 101 GS/Ambi (Morph)
BMW 650 GS Dakar
WANTED Kawasaki ZZR 1100 D series in mint nick

 

Nige says...

ZZR1200s are fine, they feel pretty similar on the move to the old
ZZR1100D models. I just couldn't get on with them becasue I have silly
short legs and Kawasaki did away with the 1100s eccentric chain
adjusters that could lower the rear end. It was almost impossible for me
to touch the deck on a 1200, unlike the bent knee shuffling around I
could manage on the old 1100s. Other than that they are excellent bikes
for someone taller than me.

 

I loved mine, it was a mint 1995 with 11k on the clock, why did i ever
sell it? Bit heavy by modern standards & took a lot of weight to get it
over, but it could go forever.

--
'Just because you're paranoid, don't mean they're not after you'

Nige

Subaru WRX (54)
Land Rover 101 GS/Ambi (Morph)
BMW 650 GS Dakar
WANTED Kawasaki ZZR 1100 D series in mint nick

 

I'd reckon the latest, lowest-mileage, cleanest ZZR1100 you can find.

Utterly sorted bike, and incredible VFM.

(No experience of the Busa, the Blackbird leaves me cold, and
ThunderAces are thin on the ground whereas there are a lot of ZZR1100s
out there)

 

Nige says...

My last one was a 95 M plate D2, it was reasonable condition with about
25K when I bought it, sold a year later with 40K and looking better than
when bought. Like you say, they're heavy but just keep going and going.
I sold mine because a good Thunderace came along and it was a touch
sportier. The ZZR was fine for distances, but I wasn't doing long trips
any more.

 

How does the ace compare, it looks sportier, they are very thin on the
ground too. Looks more like a sports bike.
--
'Just because you're paranoid, don't mean they're not after you'

Nige

Subaru WRX (54)
Land Rover 101 GS/Ambi (Morph)
BMW 650 GS Dakar
WANTED Kawasaki ZZR 1100 D series in mint nick

 

Nige says...

In actual fact, even though it appears sportier the Ace doesn't feel
that much different in riding postion than the old ZZR, it's quite a
relaxed set up and nowhere near as sporty as a ZX-9R or Gixer. You've
got to bear in mind that I'm 5'8" with a short inside leg though. As I
said before, Colin Irvine and Mike Barnard have both had a couple of
Aces each and neither is a small chap.

 

I'd reckon the latest, lowest-mileage, cleanest ZZR1100 you can find.

Utterly sorted bike, and incredible VFM.

(No experience of the Busa, the Blackbird leaves me cold, and
ThunderAces are thin on the ground whereas there are a lot of ZZR1100s
out there)[/QUOTE]

OK - I have no experience on the ZZR but do have on the other 3. I
owned a Blackbird and a Busa and a mate had a Thunderace that I rode a
few times.

I know what people mean about the budgie (Blackbird) leaving them
cold. It did everything so well it sort of became bland. Still an
extremely competent motorcycle and would be the best of the three for
touring while still being able to scratch with the best of them.

The busa was my favourite even though the build quality wasn't as good
as the budgie and the engine not as smooth. I actually thought the
busa felt slower than the budgie as it just pulled through the entire
range rather than the cam rush you got from the budgie around 7000rpm
(mine was one of the first carbie ones) even though I knew the busa
was accelerating harder.

The Thunderace was showing its age. Still fun to ride, but it was
originally released as a sports bike and has the riding position to
show for it.

Of those three I'd go the busa again (gunna have to make this decision
myself again in a few months time). The budgie would be the logical
choice, but **** logic, get the busa.

Cheers

 

Kevin Weller says...

Weird, I found the 1200s I rode to be really grunty in the same way as
the three 1100s I'd owned, the last of which I still owned then. If you
want to go back lane scratching on a ZZR11 or 12 then you bought the
wrong bike.

 

The funny thing is the 'busa fits me pretty well actually, miles better
than gixxer thou etc.

--
'Just because you're paranoid, don't mean they're not after you'

Nige

Subaru WRX (54)
Land Rover 101 GS/Ambi (Morph)
BMW 650 GS Dakar
WANTED Kawasaki ZZR 1100 D series in mint nick

 

Can't compare a 'Busa to these since I've never owned them but as Kevin
says they make a great all-rounder. Not so good at commuting because of
the width though.

I'm not sure it would be any more expensive than the others in your
list. Mine cost me about £330 to insure fully comp at last renewal and
I was 34 at the time (garaged and Meta'd in what I suspect is an
average risk area).

 

I can put up with most things on a bike, but the real killer to me is
the right foot vs. brake lever angle. As my legs are so long, the
'cover the brake' angle hurts like **** on 90% of bikes, even big ones,
there just aint many bikes out there i can feel safe on & with no
ankle/shin pain!

Most bikes wont let you adjust the rear brake pedal either, feckin'
annoying really as most other things can be adjusted. I suppose i could
chop a bit out, have it welded & bend it down, but it aint the best
solution. Also, in the eyes of insurance/filth the bikes modded. May
not even comply with owt if you start chopping & gluing!

I'm having a good look at a good Zed 11 & a 'busa tomorrow.

--
'Just because you're paranoid, don't mean they're not after you'

Nige

Subaru WRX (54)
Land Rover 101 GS/Ambi (Morph)
BMW 650 GS Dakar
WANTED Kawasaki ZZR 1100 D series in mint nick

 

Agreed.

What impresses me now is that, as the 9Rs get older and older, they get
more and more respected. Which is interesting, given that they were
always described as "OK, but no Fireblade-beater".

Niall Rowan (whom you know, of course) was rhapsodising about his, only
last weekend, and this is a bloke who's been riding as long as I have
and who has owned a lot of bikes (generally more modern than mine....).

I really, really like the 9R, myself.

 

The Older Gentleman says...

Mine was ok, but I liked the Ace before it and the Gixer thou after it
better.

 

Lozzo wrote:

*perk*

Forgot you'd had that - how did you find it compared to say a VFR750?

I want more power, but don't want to end up crippled every time I
decide to ride more than 20 miles, plus I don't want to end up with a
boring barge like the CBR1000 I briefly had.

 

If these are long in the tooth, what does that make the ZZR1100 then
given they've been around a fair bit longer?

 

says...

Faster and sharper than a VFR despite having 40K miles on it. The VFR is
pretty bland in comparison. It used a bit of oil, but I'm told all Exup
engines do that when they've racked up some miles. Bloody comfy and
handled exceptionally well considering it was a sports tourer and had a
riding position to match. The bonus of the engine is that valve
clearances only need doing every 25K miles.

If you weant a sports tourer with power and VFR style comfort then a
Sprint RS or ST might be worth a look. Daytonas are cheaper for the same
year but not as comfy.

 

Agreed.

What impresses me now is that, as the 9Rs get older and older, they get
more and more respected. Which is interesting, given that they were
always described as "OK, but no Fireblade-beater".

Niall Rowan (whom you know, of course) was rhapsodising about his, only
last weekend, and this is a bloke who's been riding as long as I have
and who has owned a lot of bikes (generally more modern than mine....).

I really, really like the 9R, myself.[/QUOTE]

One of my comments when I changed the 9R for the 10R was that if it
was good as the 9R was then I'd be keeping it for quite a while. They
really are a good bike and it's only when you compare them directly
against the latest generation of sports bikes that they start to lose
out.

It has to be pointed out that they've become chick wheels of late and
any other colour than green should be treated with contempt.
Especially the pink ones.

 

You're quite short compared to me though... and weight a darn sight
less.

Whereas you need a new EXUP valve every 5k? ;-)

Hmm... I'm not keen on those, mainly due to the reliability issues I'm
aware they can suffer with.

It has to be said you can't beat the sound of a nice triple though...
and I'd be quite happy with a Tiger, actually.

 

Andy Bonwick says...

One of my comments when I changed the 9R for the 10R was that if it
was good as the 9R was then I'd be keeping it for quite a while. They
really are a good bike and it's only when you compare them directly
against the latest generation of sports bikes that they start to lose
out.

It has to be pointed out that they've become chick wheels of late and
any other colour than green should be treated with contempt.
Especially the pink ones.[/QUOTE]

I know of three girls with ZX-10Rs now. Definitely the new chick-wheels.