ZXR7 - what do we think?

[Gracie Jones]

Have given up looking for a 1000 twin.

Firestorm - don't love the looks, wheel base too long
Zuki SV - not keen on looks
Duke SS - too pricey and impractical
TLR - same as storm

Don't want an inl4 litre bike, so thought about the ZXR7. Torque is what I'm after, but can't afford insurance and cost of a litre bike - also, don't really want a litre bike.

NEeds to be good as a london commuter, for touring and track. And I don't want a 600.

Anyway, thoughts on this issue are most welcome.

Many thanks in advance of your pearls.

Luke

[Gracie Jones]

Image.

[zx636]

Hi.

If you want something that is as light as a 600 and not much down on a 1000 then consider the gsxr750. They are much better for commuting than the zx.

[Dom_]

RSV??

[Silver]

Okay, I was a bit confused by your first post whether you meant ZXR750 or ZX7R but the picture clears it up. You should be able to pick up a ZX7R fair cheaply I would have thought. I used to have a ZXR750 - it is reasonable heavy and quite low at the front - not sure I would have wanted to commute on it very far. Having said that, for a bike of it's age it rode very well But you'll still be beaten by the latest 600s.

Can't really comment on the ZX7R as I haven't ridden one, although my final comment holds true with them too. I knew a bloke who spent money dynojetting etc his ZX7R just to make it as fast as his mate's ZX6R.

[Irezumi aka Reuben]

You probably want to look at the TRX Yamaha and (more up to date) the Aprilia Falco.

And perhaps an Ducati ST3/4.
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[stevo as b4]

The 7R is a great bike but its no commuter, unless the rider looks very like a Gorilla!
Its a great bike, and id definately prefer it to any GSXR, even the later K versions, its just it aint comfy for many people for much of the time. Its heavy, stable, and tougher than any YZF750, and better built than any GSXR.

[RealNinja]

I've got a ZX7R, and beleive me it ain't a commuter!

The clutch is heavy duty and while not a problem while riding normally, it will soon pump up your wrist in a filtering situation.

They are heavy compared to the newer 6's, but the trade off is the best front end in the business, and the feeling that they are welded to the tarmac!

They will always lose out to the newer bikes due to their power/weight ratio, but it doesn't cost much to get them on par with the latest 600's. A couple of suspension mods (fully adjustable suspension) and dynojetting/K&N ing brought my power up to 123bHp, and will see off uncommited 600's on the track

Suspension as standard is hard (but not as hard as the rear on a ZX6R B1!)

Upside is that the bike was never changed all the time it was in production, so parts for a P1 will fit a P2, P3 etc, etc right the way up to the 2003 model. Spares are easy to find and plentiful and there are a lot of mechanics that know a fair bit about them.....

PLUS last, but definatly not least....

THEY ARE ABSOLUTLY GORGEOUS! They look like nothing else on the road! (which is the reason I had one )
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[Fallen Angel]

Go for it Gracie!

That's one gorgeous looking bike!!!

BUT.... Like RealNinja says, they're not meant to be the best for commuting. There's a report on one in April's BIKE or RIDE magazine, I've got it at home and will scan it for you if you like.

Have you seen one somewhere at a decent price or are you just wind-shopping at this stage?

Fran
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[Gracie Jones]

Cheers for all yee views chaps. Just window shopping at this stage.

Problem with the Falco, XTR Yam whotsit and the ST3 is that they simply don't look as good as the il4s. What is with that? Why can't somebody build a twin that is as good looking as an in line sports litre bike or 600?

Maybe because the market is smaller. Don't know.

Anyway, for looks, the Duke ss thou twin still does it for me. Hopefully test riding various bikes at the weekend. will update.

Cheers again.

Luke

[Dusty]

I really like the looks of the zx7, but when I rode one about 18 months ago I wasn't that impressed to be honest. Felt like it was making less power than my R6, albeit in a slightly lower in the rev range. Brakes were appalling considering they were 6 pots, no where near as sharp as my r6's 4 pots. Maybe this was just a bad example.

Felt more stable than my r6 though by a long way - wasn't shaking it's head coming ut of corners etc. But then I guess this is partly because it weighs a fair bit more.

The seating position is quite hunched up, more so than most modern 600s. So I wouldn't really recommend one as a commuter, but would be great for trackdays.
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[map]

For what it's worth if you want a 1000cc v-twin all-rounder why not the Suzi V-Strom DL-1000?

Although I think you talked yourself out of wanting a 1000 and it doesn't have the sports bike looks.
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[BLOFLY 636]

such a hard decision choosing a bike and I really don't want to confuse you anymore so if you don't want any more options stop reading right now....ok your still reading so I will put down the bikes I think would suit you the KTM adventurer, BMW rockster and GS range, speed tripple, ZRX 1200, ducati 1000 monster and vfr 800 happy hunting!
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[BlueNinja]

What about a Ducati 750?

Not a 600, still a big V-twin, and buckets of torqe also less insurance then the 998, or Aprilias RSV.
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[Gracie Jones]

Blue ninja,

Which Duke 750 do you mean? The older version of the SS - now updated to 800 (and the 900 updated to 1000)?

cheers,

L

[BlueNinja]

The SS. The one in the pic bellow is a 1999 model Ducati 750ss. Looks comfy, sporty, and powerful. Also not to over the top in the sports bike part. I prefer bike with not too much plastic. But that my opinion. You should be able to find a second hand bike like this for around 3k-

https://mc.magasi.net/grafikk/Ducati-750SS-1999.jpg
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Big Kawasaki ZXR 400 project here:
https://www.theundertaking.com/index.php?showtopic=483

[california_rookie]

Honda VFR. 800cc, V4, sexy as hell. What else could you possibly want? And before you say it's not sporting or flickable enough, I had an older fellow behind me on a 'spirited' ride out in the sticks. (twisty b-roads). Despite my best (read: feeble) efforts, I never lost sight of him in my mirrors. And the new one's got underseat exhaust.
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[G]

An older fire blade?

More power than the twins, slightly down on torque, but not that much. A decent spread of power/torque as well.

On the ss:
From what I've heard they fall way behind in the 'sportys' stakes; may look sporty, but relative to 'proper' sports bike, is still playing catch up by a long way.

[Rory]

Aprilia Tuono? KTM SuperDuke?
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[bish777]

Early slabside GSXR 750 would be a good choice as they're light (170 something kilos), kick out 100 horsepower and handle well.
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[natv4]

If you're after a commuter, you could do worse than a VFR800 (don't bother with the V-tec).

They are a less full on position, but still forward.

The controls are all hydraulic (so nice and light for all that clutching.

Very versatile bike, track days (I'm told), commuter, fun.

They look good if you like that sports bike kind of thing.
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[Visitor Q]

[natv4]

Sorry, did I mention VFR is a capable tourer (I know, not high on most people's list). I'm happy to use it to do any distance. Europe was a breeze.
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Travelling around the world...a bit at a time. Where am I now? / Visit my BLOG
Bike: Blue Honda VFR800fi (*NEW*) Mileage: 22k Countries visited: GB/F/D/CZ/PL/E/I/B/A/HR/H/Rus/E/MA
West Europe...2004, East Europe...2005, Russia/France...2006, Morocco...2007