I own this bike:
**CBR600RR3 on a '04 plate,
**11,900 miles,
**Local market value: 5,500-6,000euro (US$6,992-7,627)




And an old friend might straight swap me this bike:
**a stock Z1000 on a '04 plate,
**14,900 miles,
**For sale at 5,750euro (US$7,317)
just like this one here (dont have a pic):



i've always had race replicas and im really not sure if i'd be into the naked, big bars thing, but i know this bike has a lot of potential (looks wise) and can run around 136HP with an exhaust.

i love the way hondas are made and i know the general resale value of kwaks (and naked bikes) is a bit down on hondas (and race reps) here.
but how do Kawasakis take the mileage, any probs with this particular model??

would i still have fun on the Z1000 or would the wind blast be too much?
are they any good on the twisties?
should i just keep my own bike?? (the market here for used bikes is not great right now, plus the season is over)

 

The older Z1k had the old ZX9R engine, which was one stout piece of machinery. The Z1k will probably only be more fun up until 9/10ths pace, but who regularly rides 9/10ths on the streets?

I think the Z1k don't hold their resale value as well as the 600RR, though, so the decision is up to you. Actually, most Kawis depreciate much faster than their other-Japanese counterparts.

 

i'd have to call you a f*cking moron if you traded...

 

Well most kawi's with that mileage need to get the valves clearanced and get a new cct (cam chain tensioner) . They are notorious for valve lash and timing chain slap.

I had a kawi before my cbr and let me say honda is build MUCH MUCH better. Kawi's feel very raw with harsh suspension and bikes vibrate everything. IMHO my hands usually went numb from bar vibration... hell I even felt it through the gas tank and leathers into my chest.

 

guys, thanks for the input, i was able to PM some owners, and even heard from a guy that owned both bikes at one time or another!
I've had the CBR for 2 and 1/2 years and thought i should change. even though im still really happy with it! and only the looks might need a refresh? (paint job), i keep hearing how awesome 1000cc bikes are.
the plan was CBR1000RR or GSXR1000 but i'll have to try a bit harder to sell my bike i think. bad time i guess.

i enjoy taking the 600RR close to (or beyond ) its limits, and my own! so now im not so sure if the Z would've been a step forwards or a step into flexy, steel-framed boat handling lessons. im sure its the ideal large city bike and fun to ride/be seen on.
i loved em when they came out and i still think, it (and the ZX6R's of the time) has argubly one of the coolest lookin rear-end/seat cowl/tail light combos of all time (if that matters)

here's a few of the pics that got me all shiny bike syndrome and thinkin wierd things:














Modified by kneeslide at 9:53 PM 10/30/2008

 

....making me miss my Z1K