zzr600

[mic]

might be a more sensible first bike than a fireblade... but are they any good? always seem a little cheaper than cbr600 and even cheaper than bandits half the time....[/code]

[CarlosCBR]

Depends on age and condition. A mat bought a 12,000 mile N plate and although it had done minimal miles, it was worn out. Needed new shock, linkage, most bearings and loads of other bits.

Blade will be fine, just take it easy.
____________________
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OPv5mDPQ14

https://www.facebook.com/carl.simmonds.7

[jimspeed]

I bought mine a year ago for £550, its 1997 with 30K on it in very nice condition but no tax or test, I put it thru an mot and it passed with no advisories apart from the rear tyre getting close to the limit
I have put another 3 k on it after giving it a good service and it has been trouble free and a very forgiving bike to learn on 60+ mpg if I take it easy and pretty rapid up to 120ish.
it ticks all the boxes I want it to with lots of decent storage on board too and comfy for a days riding etc.
____________________
Hyosung cruise 125(passed test on, sold) Kawasaki el 252 (better than expected but sold on) Kawasaki GPZ500S first "big"bike.(sold) ZZR600 E5..Z750 2007,ER5, currently on a 2008 Enfield bullet electra x and loving it..
,"Alpha-9: Is there any correlation between dyno rod and dyno kits?"

[Conzar]

A Blade will be fine, just keep it up 9k rpm to ensure the best oil circulation for the engine
____________________
Current ride: ZX6R 636 ------- Previous:KTM EXC 450 Supermoto --- ZX6R B1H --Hornet 600--CBR 600--SV650
11:05:35 Rob Fzs: i just wanna own an rd350 valve before they send us to war with durkadurkastan

[J4mes]

Thundercat? I considered the ZZR600, CBR 600 and Thundercat when I bought my first bike and decided on the 'Cat because I thought the ZZR was looking most dated of them all, the CBR was more to insure than both the ZZR and the 'Cat, and I preferred the look/ colours that the Cat was available in.

[moppy]

I owned one and I would own one again (only the E models mind) provided it already had the following mods or I had the money to do them:
- Nissin 4 pot calipers
- Upgraded rear shock

It really is a lovely bike, and even though I've moved on to a ZX9R engine from it, the ZZR6 still feels faster in my mind, purely for that rush from 10k to 14k rpm. It is ridiculous. And so goddamn comfortable too.

[wizzzard]

A jack of all trades master of none I think. I'm currently on my second one and love them.

Tame and manageable under 7000 but lively enough to raise a smile above. Comfortable low seat, decent wind protection and even has foldable hooks either side of the rear seat for bungee usage.

Mine has 65,000 on the clock and the engine still pulls well.
____________________
And did you exchange a walk on part in the war for a lead role in a cage?
Zeitgeist / Addendum / Moving forward

[Carvel]

Stop being a fag, buy a fireblade.
____________________
2002 Aprilia RSV1000R, Cbr600Fs, Mk1 B12, Vfr400 NC30...

Matt B: I can deal with crushed nuts to beat Ollie.

[henry hoover]

Get a cbr600 and track the arse out of it and if /when you start getting to the point where you can cut it in the fast group buy the Blade
____________________
Cbr600rr 2010 Sold
Zx6r 636 2006 sold
Gsxr 750 L1 current

[Wonko The Sane]

I commute on one, my first bike after a 125 varadero.

Quite happy with it, it's restricted to 33bhp as I'm behaving myself and doing as I'm told but still quick enough.

[lilredmachine]

Well, as long as the gearbox didn't start hopping out of 2nd. Many never saw past 35,000 miles with that one.

Mine had 75,000 miles on it when I got it, I abused it to 85,000 miles then I sold it to a mate for £50. Good times.

Incidentally, I sold it and bought a Street Triple. The ZZR was faster.
____________________
Bikes: too many, too much for one man to maintain anyway.

[calum17]

I have owned 3 so far and just purchased my fourth. I think they are brilliant bikes, comfortable over long distance, fast, fun and forgiving on back roads, controllable through traffic, sensible enough and stupid enough at the same time.

My 1990 model will be for sale in the next week or two if you do decide to go that way

[_mjs_]

Got a ZZR about two weeks ago after a year on a CB500 and I'm buzzing my tits off on every ride

The brakes do work okay but you need to apply a good amount of force to get them to bite. I've ordered some CBR600RR calipers which are supposedly an easy swap.

Next payday I'll be buying a Hagon shock too as the stock one is no good for pillions as the added weight makes the centre stand bottom out when leant over.

I also think they look awesome in an old school sort of way!

https://i1323.photobucket.com/albums/u587/mjs1066/20130701_073710_zps5d70ef9b.jpg
____________________
Previous Bikes: 2006 Honda XR125L > 2003 Yamaha DT125R > 1996 Honda CB500
Current bikes: 1997 Kawasaki ZZR 600 E5 > 2006 Honda Varadero XL125V

[SteveZZR]

ZZR is an excellent machine but the front brakes were a bad design (4 pot with chambers joining at the bottom - bastard to bleed!) and the rear shocks have had it by 25,000.

E models are much better than D's - 13 years of spare parts on eBay and 10BHP over the old D for starters.

CBR Nissin Calipers are almost essential upgrade - I'm on my second bike and when I took my first one (stock brakes) for a pre-sale MOT I actually thought I'd had a total front brake failure at one point before realising I was on stock brakes again.

the ZZR 1200 rear shock is a cost effective upgrade - costs £200 at worst and is every bit as good as a Hagon but has remote preload with a nice (especially if you take full advantage of the bikes versatility - mine is used for solo riding, commuting, shopping, long distance, two up, track days, the list goes on)



You can go further with the mods if you want too: see here https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=275257


Also, if you can choose pick up a slightly less early model, E3 onwards have adjustable forks and the clip-ons have holes for adjusters to go in (which allows ZX6R F forks and wheel to be bolted straight in for further improvement / adjustment)


EDIT: proof of the 'jack of all trades' machine

Two up with luggage
https://i1188.photobucket.com/albums/z413/SteveZZR/BMFzzr.jpg

Garden Chair (ok, this is the rolling chassis of my ZZR 400 parts bike)
https://i1188.photobucket.com/albums/z413/SteveZZR/WP_000119.jpg

Track Bike
https://i1188.photobucket.com/albums/z413/SteveZZR/AJP_7025_zps77f0b41f.jpg

Last picture is still the same ZZR but it got a facelift with a ZX6R fairing after a crash last year

This is it right now with an ever-increasing list of mods on it
https://i1188.photobucket.com/albums/z413/SteveZZR/ZZ6Rg_zpsc53b05a2.jpg

ZX6R fairing, Bi-Xenon (properly fitted non-bodged) HID lights, CBR Nissins, ZZR 1200 shock,
CBR1000F clip-ons came after this pic, got a ZX9R C M/C to fit, ZX6R F forks and wheel waiting in the wings (forks want a rebuild), possibly ZX10R USD forks to fit one day, ZX6R J swingarm (allows 180 rear tyres; F forks and a J arm will allow me to buy part-used (3 laps or so) ex-racing tyres (road legal of course) for £60 a pair (120/70-17 front, 180/55-17 rear)

As you've gathered I'm insane and love my bike, it isn't a million miles from perfect but still a way off but I take pride that I built it from the ground up after my crash (new engine so everything had to be removed) and I'm proud of what it's taught me and what I've achieved.

I hope you follow the path of the ZZR and manage to have half the fun, adventure, and learning that I've had.





Merged my double post:

[_mjs_]

Good post Steve, I've already been lurking ZZR International... I signed up in fact but yet to make any posts there!

Does the 1200 shock boost the ground clearance much? I'd like a bit more height to be honest (the roads on my commute are a potholed mess). I saw a 600E with dogbones from I think an 1100 that looked stupidly jacked up. What the best way to get a sensible increase?
____________________
Previous Bikes: 2006 Honda XR125L > 2003 Yamaha DT125R > 1996 Honda CB500
Current bikes: 1997 Kawasaki ZZR 600 E5 > 2006 Honda Varadero XL125V

[SteveZZR]

[_mjs_]

Cheers, just the sort of info I was looking for
____________________
Previous Bikes: 2006 Honda XR125L > 2003 Yamaha DT125R > 1996 Honda CB500
Current bikes: 1997 Kawasaki ZZR 600 E5 > 2006 Honda Varadero XL125V

[SteveZZR]

[SteveZZR]

[UnspeedySam]

This thread has almost made me want my old ZZR back. It was stock except for the 'blade callipers and braided lines I put on, which did improve the braking a LOT. Mine was a bit worn out, most of the fairing lugs were broken so it rattled ALL THE TIME and it desperately needed the 1200 rear shock upgrade, but overall it was a great all rounder.

However the main reason I wouldn't have one again is that the bars are far too high and/or close to the seat so I found it very uncomfortable over distance. I am just over 6ft though, so maybe that was it.

I've now got my ZX6R J2 which has perfect ergonomics for me...the only things I want off my ZZR are the ability to buy pannier racks* and the centre stand. Other than that it is just about the best all rounder I could ever want. In fact it was sold as the ZZR600 from 2005-2008 in the USA...so it is probably one of the more sport tourer-ish sports bikes you can buy.

*One of my best mates is a decent welder so this might be a future project.
____________________
Riding: BMW R1150RT `02 bought mildly crashed
Fixing: Also the BMW as I get less broken bits
Gone: ZZR600 '00, TRX850 '97, RXS100 '93, JS125-6B '07, BMW R1100RS '93, Kawasaki ZX-6R-J2 '01, Honda Bros NT400 NC25 '88

[mysterious_rider]

I fitted half braided lines and a nissin master cylinder to my zzr, really helps make the brakes good!

Other than that I think they are pretty decent bikes. Had the usual crap like water pumps etc break but it happens to all old machines I suppose.

Ended up fitting renthals and ditching the fairing though.


https://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj88/mysterious_rider/new/IMG_0021.jpg
____________________
KAWASAKIIIII

[SteveZZR]

I'm 6 '5 (which is why it looks like a mini Moto in the track pics)

Cbr1000F clip ons have made the distance a bit longer the tank but i still ride around nearly upright...