First bike on a budget - ZZR 600 V ???

[Shamblatron]

Hi all

My potted history first as it might help

I rode a 125 when I was 17 for a few years (13 years ago!), I rode daily on my Susuki GP 125, I recently took my CBT and theory and I have my DSA booked for the end of April.

I have been looking around the second hand market for a first proper bike, I started looking at 400's but after being out on a GS 500 after my CBT which I really enjoyed (legally with an instructor I should add) after only having ridden 125's I started looking at 600's.

I am not the tallest fella so after searching around the forums with this in mind the underdog ZZR 600 has won me over on paper, plenty around in the second hand market and a good all rounder seemed to be the advice.

I actually sat on one today and I was excited, the riding position felt good not to upright not to heavy on the wrists and although an old design it looked good (opinions welcome on this) and most important my feet hit the floor!


Thanks for sitting through all that and here is where I welcome some advice. I have a budget of 1500 - 2000 so....

1. If you have owned a ZZR 600 please can you let me know the highs and lows and what to look for when buying second hand?

2. If you did not buy a ZZR 600 and went with another bike for your first, can you let me know what you went with and again the highs and lows of your bike and what to look out for.

Again thanks for reading, I look forward to your comments

Cheers

Shamb

[druidsam]

a couple of years ago i thought about a zzr but was put off by a couple of mates( one is a kwacker fan) who reckoned they could be bad with rust,i took them at their word and bought a thundercat which i have never regretted and am still riding today,unfortunately i dont have any first hand experience of the zzr,,welcome to the forum....dont be shy,get reading and posting



......................Sam

[grotbag]

Greetings Shamblatron and welcome to the forum



"although an old design it looked good (opinions welcome on this)"

As a new rider the only piece of advice I'm gonna give you is this - doesn't matter what other peeps think about the looks of the bike you chose, your not buying it for them, your buying it for you!

[Shamblatron]

Thanks Sam

I will hot foot and have a look at the Thundercat as it not a bike I have looked at so far and I am keen to get a big list of possibilities before commiting myself.

I have read about rusty downpipes on the ZZR should I be looking elsewhere for rust on the ZZR?

Sham

[druidsam]

i would check the swing arm and rear sub frame on the zzr but as already mentioned i am going on hearsay,if looking at thundercats then check second gear by riding in 2nd and accelerate hard right up to the red line,if it jumps out of gear then walk away from it,also shop around as you can get bikes in that price range with quite a few accessories,ie.stainless exhaust,crash bungs,braided brake lines double bubble screens and so on



..........................Sam

[Shamblatron]

Thanks for the welcome Grotbag

I know your right but if I don't go through the mire of pro's and con's i will end up looking at the other bike I could have brought thinking I should have at least considered it.

I guess proof wil be in the pudding when I can test ride stuff when I have passed my test I think only then will I know which is the right bike (the one that leaves the biggest smile wins me thinks) until then I am enjoying the looking around and other peoples suggestions as I have no idea of the current second hand market.

Cheers

Sham

[Shamblatron]

Thanks for the added advice Sam

Sham

[Spree]

Hya Shamblatron and welcome to the biker forum.

The advantage of the ZZR 600 is cost, they tend to be cheaper than Honda's or Yamaha's, maybe for good reason - I really don't know as I have never been a fan of Kawasaki's as such. That doesn't mean that they are a bad bike, just that I really don't know a lot about them - sorry

[deano]

hiya shamblatron
I got a 29 year old kwaka which is still roadworthy & not particularly rusty
be interested to know where yer username comes from

[grotbag]

Originally Posted by Shamblatron

I have no idea of the current second hand market.

Easiest way to browse and get an idea Sham is on ebay. There's a good mix of shops, dealers, private and the odd scammer!
See what you fancy, watch em and see what they sell for or even if it sells!

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