opinions on kawasaki zzr 600

[lee8040]

What are people'sopinions on these bikes? Very reliable good bikes or one to aavoid? Was goingg sensible and looking at the gpz 500 but my head would like something which looks a bit nicer and a little more sporty but don't want mega running bills if they have common Issues

[sgtcalle]

I ran one for a year. At the time I didn't like it, but looking back it had a certain charm.

Don't expect a sweet handling sportsbike. It is a heavy old thing and you have to manhandle it into the bends. Mine was an old abused D model so a newer better looked after one might handle better. It had trouble tracking a line through the bends too if really pushing on. Standard brakes are crap and seize a lot. There is a straight swap with Nissins off a CBR6 I believe, but I never bothered.

As a sports tourer though I liked it. I went long distance 2 up, and it was great, although the seat could be comfier. Great engine, pulls like a train. I also found it easy to work on, learnt a lot about bikes from my ZZR.
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CBR600F '02
Manchester

[DrSnoosnoo]

As the resident zzr600 bummer I shall reply.

Firstly dont consider the earlier D model, years 90 and 91 I think, they're called the ZZR600D1 and D2. Why?

They released an improved version, the E series. They are visually distinguishable; the D is much more square around the indicators etc while the E is much more rounded. Also the E has ram air, there are 2 grills beneath the headlight.

After E3 (95), there's adjustable forks.

I can add more to this later but I've done 25k miles in the last 3 years and nothing has gone wrong that I haven't done to it.
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I'm Sam; Northern, Ginger, Lover
Did have: '95 ZZR600 '83 CG125 '97 ZZR1100 '15 Hypermotard 821 SP Do Have: '10 ZX10R

[DrSnoosnoo]

The rear shock would probably be done for on any example younger than 2000, many replacements can be had for around 100 notes and in my case it made the bike a much better ride.

The brakes. Contentious. Some people, me included, the cbr Nissins are a brilliant upgrade once you've sorted the alignment out on the calipers. Much much better. That said, the standard tokicos are good, you just have to clean them regularly, more regularly in the winter or they'll be horrible.
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I'm Sam; Northern, Ginger, Lover
Did have: '95 ZZR600 '83 CG125 '97 ZZR1100 '15 Hypermotard 821 SP Do Have: '10 ZX10R

[lee8040]

https://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=32824259594&globalID=EBAY-GB&alt=web

So your saying something like the above avoid? Is that the d model?

https://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=321824259594&globalID=EBAY-GB&alt=web

[DrSnoosnoo]

[lee8040]

Want something under 20k. The gpz I was looking at had 13k that example I showed was 17500 both around same money. Prefer another colour to that example though

[jjdugen]

Probably THE most underated motorcycle of all time!
Trouble is, they are all getting a bit long in the tooth now and have been through the hands of many uncaring owners who really wanted an R6 or similar.
As stated, go for a well looked after E model. If its sold as having a lumpy or erratic throttle response, junk the ram air gubbins.
Yes, the rear shock WILL need an upgrade, the brakes are OK but the Nissins are much better.
Get that sorted and-
You have one of the fastest 600's, yes even now!
Handling I found to be extremely stable, once suspension is sorted, (one of the fastest runs of the 'mountain' of any bike I've taken there.
Typical Kawasaki engine, a big gruff, but a real howler when on song.
Can't praise them high enough, loads sold, lots of spares, kept in production since Queen Victoria reigned.
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The CBR900RR has been sold. Aprilia Falco worms its way into my heart.
Try Soi 23 on Amazon for a good read.... Self promotion? Moi?

[J4mes]

[jjdugen]

Sauce? I think you mean 'source' unless you like your HP so much its colouring your thought processes.
150 mph without resorting to post 14000 RPM's is still good by todays standards, especially as it actually has some oomph a lower revs.
Remember, we are talking about sub £1K machinery, not much else to touch it for the money.
I forgot to mention that the old fashioned fairings are very effective at keeping wind and weather at bay. They are a Bstard to remove though.
I've owned two and sold loads, once you know your way round them they are a solid bike with reasonable access to service items. In fct, you've set off a little hankering, might just have a quick cruise around E Bay, see whats on offer these days.
____________________
The CBR900RR has been sold. Aprilia Falco worms its way into my heart.
Try Soi 23 on Amazon for a good read.... Self promotion? Moi?

[wr6133]

D Model 90-92 had no ram air. Consumables are all still available (mostly same as E). Replacement fairings can be a pain in the arse (but doable I have a brand new chinese kit on mine). I wouldn't discount a D model if it's cheap enough

E model. Pre 95 has 3 BHP on the D. Thats via Ram air and some mildly altered engine internals. Post 95 you gain adjustable front forks. Chinese fairing kits are available easily on fleabay for the E models so you can get one cheap with fucked plastics and sort them for under 300 notes.

Brakes are dog shit on both models. The only time the Tokicos on the front could be considered to be near the bare minimum criteria for barely acceptable is for the first few lever squeezes after a complete rebuild.... they really are a load of crap, if you do serious miles you are forever fettling at them. However nissins from a CBR6/fireblade/vtr bolt on with minimum effort and transform the braking.

Fresh rear shock and better guts in the forks can vastly improve the handling too.

[lee8040]

Thanks it won't see much mileage just commuting up the a414 to work and back

[Wonko The Sane]

I've done 25k commuting on mine with the odd run up to the lakes or down to the midlands.

I'm 6'1 and found it a little cramped but still comfortable commuting but get cramped on long motorway runs at first, now not so much.

mine had the 'upgrade' Nissin callipers, they were fine at first but then after a re-build the lever came back to the bars due to the amount of play in them, some fettling work to sort the alignment helped but then made the pads wear quickly at a funny angle so I've swopped back to standard which don't feel as plush but do the job well (think it's the feel that people prefer on the nissins)

At 30k my rear shock had seen better days from an all year commuter despite it having a rear hugger, a YSS unit from wemoto fixed that - keep the linkage greased (three grease nipples under the bike) to keep things happy.

Mine is coming up to 50k and I plan to keep it until it's dead which I expect to be at about 20k on the clocks and then ebay it for spares / repairs.

faults I've had are:
dealer fitted allarm requiring you to bounce on the bike, turn it on, off and then press the remote to de-activate it - resolved by having it removed.

exhaust recirculation blanking plate breaking loose - this was just after being shunted from behind by a Renault so the bike can't be totally blamed

Leaking banjo connecition on oil cooler just enough to put a couple of spots of oil under the bike after a run.

beyond this, just consumables required.

I find my tyres square off quickly (BT23 and PR3) if I do too much motorway without taking the scenic route home, a few scenic runs and quick roundabouts helps them out again, can be a pig to corner on squared off tyres.

9/10 would buy again.
____________________
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They're also on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Focus-Rider-Training/196832923734251

[lee8040]

So the 2 main things that are being said are the brakes may need upgrading and the rear shock goes? Does it just make for a slightly rough ride when Iit's gone?

Seen a nice one but it's150 miles away. They deliverbut not to happy only seeing pictures online although it is a dealer with a month warranty. Wish it was closer

[spottedtango]

My father used to have a purple zzr600. He said the handling was a bit dodgy, it felt like the bike was disconnected in the middle, too heavy for proper bend swinging but then I don't think that's the idea behind the zzr.

I think its probably got a lot more power than the rest of the bike can properly manage so just don't pretend its a full on sports machine

[CaNsA]

[andym]

[lee8040]

How do they compare to costs and reliability to something like a Kawasaki gpz500? I no there 2 different bikes but my minds saying be sensible for costs and go gpz but my heart is going towards the zzr

[Polarbear]

Get the 1100 instead. They are no more money than the 600 and a genuine 170 mph motorbike. Stick luggage on it and it will tour anywhere 2 up with the kitchen sink with no problems.

The engine was one of Kawasakis best
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Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[lee8040]

[lee8040]

[stevo as b4]

A baggy worn 147bhp bike will ride much worse than a 100bhp one. You could also throw over a grand into chassis bearings, shock and fork rejuvenation and you'd be wanting to probably overhaul the brakes meticulously on any 175mph bike if you value your safety.

A mate at work in the late 90's had a tatty ZZR 600, that was used as a daily workhorse for years. The main problems he had was warping discs, and rotting exhaust collectors.

He moved location in 2001 and could then walk to work instead. But one day he walked into a dealer and saw a mint used Suzuki TLR 1000. This was back when dealers would throw you the keys for an hour if you were semi interested even. That was the end of his ZZR and it was instantly forgotten.

[J4mes]

[Wonko The Sane]

[Kickstart]

Hi