kawasaki z200 1976

grant965 · Brolly Dolly Joined: 02 Mar 2011 Karma :

Hi all, looking for something cheap to run to uni/work. Both with 2 miles, how would one of these fair as a reliable commuter? How would it compare vs a more modern 125 (will be 2005ish). Bike in question is currently a non runner but looks fairly tidy and is up for £300. Wouldnt usually want something ao old but it is half the price to insure vs a ybr125 and even more for a cbr125.
Thanks, Grant
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Ex bikes: 05 Suzuki En 125, '98 Yamaha Thundercat, '08 Honda cbr125, '05 Kawasaki z750, '03 Triumph Daytona 600, '91 Kawasaki ex250, '03 Hyosung Comet 125
Current Bike: '02 Suzuki TL1000R

P.addy · *Formerly known as* P. Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Karma :

I tend to have the mindset that a bike over than 2000 will not be a reliable commuter. I hardly ever see anything less than a 2000 model on the motorway on the way in to work.

Obviously that is just in my head but something that old would worry me.

pepperami · Super Spammer Joined: 17 Jan 2010 Karma :

Surely it will depend on how far your commute is and how well you are going to look after the bike.
You only get out what you put in.
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The other Paul Rudd · Scooby Slapper Joined: 06 May 2013 Karma :

A 2 mile commute? I walked further than that to lectures each day and usually with a hangover. Buy a bicycle for £50 and pocket the remaining £250.

grant965 · Brolly Dolly Joined: 02 Mar 2011 Karma :

Shaft · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Dec 2010 Karma :

Cheeseybeaner · World Chat Champion Joined: 15 Jul 2010 Karma :

Robby · Dirty Old Man Joined: 16 May 2002 Karma :

I tend to work on the rule that any bike will cost at least a grand before it's reliable - so that £300 bike may need £700 worth of parts.

The rule is one learned through years of bitter experience, so now I don't get surprised. I recently bought a bike for £500, another box of parts just turned up this morning.

Shaft, seeing as you'll be curious:
Front tyre
Head bearings (they were so fucked they had about 5 degrees of movement inside the notch)
Front brake pistons, pads and seals
Coils (tried changing the HT leads on sealed coils. Failed)
Service
Rear shocks (very cheap used Hagons on ebay)

Back to the OP, pushbike with lots of gears, maybe even a mountain bike if there are lots of hills. Once you get a bit of fitness in a couple of weeks you'll appreciate it, and the whole not spending money/being able to still ride it after a few drinks is a bonus.

Rogerborg · nimbA Joined: 26 Oct 2010 Karma :

_Iain_ · Banned Joined: 01 Feb 2012 Karma :

Am currently using an older bike to knock about between Maidstone & Chatham to socialise & such. Costs me peanuts to insure, about a tenner to fill the tank & no worries with scratching it etc.

To make it useable propperly;

* Pilot sporty's - Part worn £15 a tyre
* A new tube - £5
* Throttle cable £10
* Gearbox oil change - £5
* Plug £1.50
* Air filter cleaned & soaked in 80/90 gear oil £free
* Headlight bulb £3.50

Issues so far;

* Carb was jetted slightly lean & caused it to start heat seizing, which meant riding very slowly till it cooled. £1.50 jet and a decent clean of the carb saw this sorted.
* Cheaped out on changing the rear tube when i did the tyres. It went bang. Which is a pain in the arse as you cant use tyreweld on it to get you home, and i diddnt opt for breakdown cover.
* Headlight bulb pops every so often. However older bikes run 6v electrics, and no petrol station stocks a 6v 25/25W miniture prefocus bulb.

If you're up for the constant fiddling & playing around to get it running right then an older bike could be perfect, if not i'd be looking for the cheapest 50cc twist & go on gumtree. Thumbs Up

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Shaft · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Dec 2010 Karma :

ZRX61 · Victor Meldrew Joined: 05 Nov 2003 Karma :

Those Z200's were a shower of shit when they were new, I can't believe one actually survives.
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27cows · World Chat Champion Joined: 01 Nov 2009 Karma :

Z200 was a decent little runaround, I seem to recall. But there are about 5 left on the road for a reason Laughing

Get a CG125 and be done with it.
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1cyl · World Chat Champion Joined: 04 Feb 2004 Karma :

I wish I'd never junked mine. Big biking mistake I made there. Especially since I paid a pound per cc for it and got it through an MOT with no advisories before ruining it. Never skipped a beat.
https://p1.bikepics.com/2004/07/01/bikepics-173880-full.jpg
https://www.bikepics.com/members/slimmotochump/80z200/default.asp?i=103971&s=0/.
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stevo as b4 · World Chat Champion Joined: 17 Jul 2003 Karma :

You had an outstandingly cool example of a Z200 there! Thumbs Up

27cows · World Chat Champion Joined: 01 Nov 2009 Karma :

You don't see many bin bag seat covers these days, more's the pity Laughing

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Rogerborg · nimbA Joined: 26 Oct 2010 Karma :

P.addy · *Formerly known as* P. Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Karma :

I think its more the constant low mile run arounds that contaminate the oil with condensation and shit. It leads to increased wear due to less effective lubrication.

You may get the initial 3 mile wear, but rather than it stopping there, the oil gets to its far more engine friendly rate and removes the condensation and likely engine fuck up bi-products.

Thats my view on it, possibly wrong Laughing