Ex-125 Biker..... ZZR600, ZZR1100 or neither?

[simon_a6]

Many years ago I owned a Honda NS125F. I think it was derestricted as it could hit 95mph... just. On a track of course!

I'm now in a position where I want to go thru the CBT, and all Mods to get a proper bike.

As a kid, my poster-bike was the ZZR1100. Loved the styling of it, and the beast of how it looked.

A friend of mine has the VFR800 2003, and says an 1100, that one in particularly, is probably not the right "first bike" for me to get, though I would be really sensible with it.

I don't want to buy a bike, and think "damn, I still want that old ZZR". But I have heard bad stories about it, from brakes being poor, to things wearing down on it.

I've seen some on Ebay for £1,000 upwards. Some in black (which I think is best) to various colours.

Would a ZZR1100 be NUTS for me to get, would a ZZR600 be better, or something else?

I currently drive an Audi A6 2.7 Quattro, so I am no stranger to speed, and have a clean record.

All the best.

Simon

[Kickstart]

Hi

Brakes are of the quick seize variety, but they can be rebuilt or upgraded.

However a bike with ~175mph top speed might not be a good idea for someone with a nominal amount of experience on a bike

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[simon_a6]

Considering I like the larger feeling bikes, what would u recommend?

I recall finding the NS125F a bulky bike, feeling bigger than a 125. My heart or dream is a ZZR, but maybe 1100 is too much.

Would 600 be better?

[Az]

For starters your A6 isn't really a fast vehicle in comparison to a ZZR1100, Both the ZZR600 and 1100 would wipe the floor with your Audi (nice car btw).
The NS125F is reasonably fast for a 125 (I owned a derestricted fox eye NSR which is a similar, possibly the same engine?) but again, it'll have nothing on a 600 sports bike, especially a ZZR1100.

The point I'm trying to get across is that you may feel that your no stranger to speed but the speed of a ZZR1100 will be a lot quicker than you've most likely experienced.

If you want a ZZR1100, get one… at the end of the day the bike is only going to go as fast as YOU want it go.
The typical steps would be to get a ZZR600 and then move onto a ZZR1100 but, if you really can trust yourself to be easy with the bike and get used to its power before you test its limits, then just go for the ZZR1100 but it's a very fast bike.

You may also want to test ride a ZZR600 so you get a feel of how quick a bigger bike really is before making up your mind (after you've passed your tests).

[Kickstart]

[simon_a6]

Thanks, that's good advice.
I'm certainly not going to be an idiot on a bike, but I do recall how the power and feel on a bike is rather intoxicating.

The NS in comparison isn't anything like as big, but at the time it it felt and looked bigger than most 125s.

On the response about the Audi - I was merely saying that I am use to a "vehicle" with power. Compared to cars I have had before that car, this one has grunt to it, and performance. But it's not abused at all.

But compared to an R8, it's nothing.

Back to the ZZR - I think you are right, a 600 would be what I was looking for in a bike, and more than enough power. I never realised the 600 could do 60 in about 3secs. That's mental!

Seeing as it has been some time, I should probably take it easy. Get something that feels big and powerful, but not over do it. A friend said they have the VFR800. Reading about them, they look terrific, and are apparently light, smooth and better brakes?

I've not sat on a ZZR in years, and don't recall the VFR. What are both like in the real world?

[blurredman]

Does the dodgy 2nd gear on the ZZR's issue also extend to the 1100?
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CBT: 12/06/10, Theory: 22/09/10, Module 1: 09/11/10, Module 2: 19/01/11
Past: 1991 Honda CG125BR-J, 1992 (1980) Honda XL125S, 1996 Kawasaki GPZ500S, 1979 MZ TS150.
Current: 1973 MZ ES250/2 - 18k, 1979 Suzuki TS185ER - 10k, 1981 Honda CX500B - 91k, 1987 MZ ETZ250 (295cc) - 40k, 1989 MZ ETZ251 - 51k.

[trevor saxe-coburg-gotha]

[mysterious_rider]

My personal opinion is you ride one bike, you've effectively ridden them all.

There is zero difference from a small bike to a large bike, infact I'd probably find it harder to ride a 125 these days than the average thou.

Just control that wrist twist around the corners.

600 seems a happy medium.
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KAWASAKIIIII

[Baffler186]

I've also had quick cars but even my lowly Bandit 600 was a massive shock coming up from a 125. I think you'll find that the 600 will be plenty powerful enough - the only reason I would get the 1100 is if either you preferred the comfort and feel of it, if that differed from the 600 considerably.

[Polarbear]

Get the 1100. It goes as slow as the 600 and faster when you want to

They are also as cheap as chips and reliable.

Put GOOD brake pads in them HH version and get to know their limitations. They are OK, but hauling a beast back from 3 figures can be a bit ass clenching.

I had a C version and loved it.
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Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[skatefreak]

I came up from a derestricted NSR125 to a cbr600.
Good luck out riding a 600 any time soon though.
More than enough grunt to keep you happy and entertained however you can still keep it sane.
It has more berries than I'm comfortable pushing and a good size for a first bike.

As they are older bikes you could always pick up a 600 and move up after a year or so. At the age you are looking the bikes wont depreciate much unless you binned it etc...

If you have the self control for a 1.1 and are confident you wont push things to hard to soon then by all means its not a terrible idea however it is a big if especially as you recognise the speed intoxication aspect

-Jvr

[DrSnoosnoo]

I went from riding nothing and driving a Fiat Punto 1.1 L 2 years before, had had a blast in a Supra but that's irrelevant.

I have the ZZR600 and many of the E models I know of don't have the second gear issues that have been eluded to.

I will tell you the ZZR6 is an insanely fast bike for someone who completed their DAS over a 2 week period on an ER6.

It gets to 60 as fast as you can control the bike, that's the limiting factor, it reaches just below 60 (?) in 1st gear, at least mine does, then second up towards 100 so in just a few seconds you can be in licence losing territory.

I, like you love the look of the 1100 but just couldn't afford to insure one at the time and when I saw my 600 I had to have it.

I won't get rid of this bike either, I'll buy and sell others I think.

TLDR the 600 is a fast bike and the 1100 is faster. Providing you're not an idiot, you'll be fine on either.
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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

[stevo as b4]

If insurance is kind to you, then IMO it's just a case of finding a nice example of either. Id like the 1100 more, simply because I've seen more clean 1100's than I have 600's and Kawasaki has got nicer 600cc bikes such as the F/G/J series ZX6R's which are still good CBR600 do everything in comfort bikes.

The only thing with the ZZR1100 is that you would have to find a nice well looked after one, and a bike that's had all the consumables replaced as required. An 1100 with crap brakes, worn bushes, chassis bearings and knackered suspension will at best feel horrible and soggy, and at worse will be totally dangerous!

Buying a cheapish one and replacing everything that possibly needs doing chassis wise is never a bad move. Otherwise you need to be very careful and check everything. Ideally you don't want one that's still on the original shock, or exhausts, as those kind of parts will be shot to bits and fit for the bin now.

p.s I don't think you'll find the 1100 intimidating, remember it's tuned for a fair bit of top end power, and will have much higher gearing than the 600, and a lot more weight to blunt it's roll on ballisticness. It can be stupidly fast, but you will still need to work it a bit to get it going mental speed at least on std gearing.

[chickenstrip]

As others have said, you can go from small to large with no problems if you have a bit of self-control.
Another thing to think about as well as the power, is the weight of the machine. The 600 will be easier to guide through traffic, and more fun/less work in the twisties.

But also, what do you intend on using the bike for? Commuting? Sunday fun? Probably go with the 6. Long distance/touring? The 11 would be a good choice for that.

But you can do it all on either if you have to.

[Amber Phoenix]

My wife has a '93 ZZR400 (essentially a sleeved down ZZR600). I find it a very easy ride TBH. It's low, nimble and is bags of fun when you really open it up.

Friend were we bought the bike from, replaced the front brakes with some Nissin's (off CBR I believe), which I hear is a common upgrade to address the brakes issue. Bike has no problem with 2nd gear. Do have to watch the ram air box, got to be sealed nice and tight, other wise you lose power at high revs - box doesn't pressurise correctly, floats won't sit right and wrong fuel/air mixture goes in.

Either way a good little bike. Dead cheap to buy, tonnes of spares about cheap (so long as you're not after masses of replacement fairing).

Suitability of a ZZR1100 for a newish rider aside, what's the insurance like?
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Beginner Biker Adventures Blog
Yamaha FZ6 S2 2007

[mentalboy]

Another vote for the 1100.
I was led to believe that second gear only tends to be a problem if the bike's been used by a wheelie merchant.

Look for six pot upgrades on the front brakes, braided brake lies and desrestricted carb tops.

Here's mine as a teaser

EDIT: Mine's £138 fully comp



https://i1174.photobucket.com/albums/r601/mentalboy1/P5230004_zps297cc667.jpg
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Make mine a Corona.

[dangerousdave]

I moved up to a ZZR 600 after a kmx200, and it was plenty fast enough lol

The engine was much revvier than the Kmx, initially it was a little dissapointing in that there wasn't that much go below 5,000 rpm. When I first gave it some beans down a motorway slip road I was pretty surprised at how it took off.

Would say a well looked after example would make a good second bike, but I'm guessing good ones are becoming a little hard to find due to their age.

The zzr1100 might be a good shout in a few years time. They are epic machines still, I saw one recently & it still looked awesome along side new bikes.

I found the jump from 600 to 1000cc+ to be a learning curve , the 1000cc engine being more flexible, but deceptively powerful as serious speeds can be achieved just by looking at the right hand handlebar. I kept finding the back wheel breaking loose out of turns on wet roads. I never found this on the 600, so in that respect, the zzr600 was much more forgiving.

But everybody is different, you do what feels right. And enjoy it.
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1988 Kawasaki KMX 200

Previous: Yamaha YZF1000, ZZR600, KMX200, DT50, KX80, CG125, PF50

[Tamsin]

I've always liked the zzr1100. My uncle got one when he was going through his midlife crisis. As a kid, the noise it made was utterly biblical and the styling feels so very "of its time" I seem to recall something about it being the fastest production bike at the time too

[mentalboy]