may be in the market for another bike

[jezza 0]

Right her indoors has given permission for me to buy another bike, currently looking to choose between either a honda blackbird or a zzr 1400, something that can munch miles as I've missed two up touring over the last couple of years, the bikes also need a bit of go which is why I've narrowed it to these two.
Anyone had any experience of these two bikes.

[fr499y 0]

Both cracking bikes, Honda as always have reliable engines, but I've heard of frames snapping at the head stock in the event of a bump. ZZR 1400 is more powerful, more of B King territory when it comes to power/speed/torque. I would personally go for the ZZR but both are cracking bikes. You will find a lot of the blackbird's will have corroded engine cases etc.

[Tony nitrous 0]

Never owned either but ride with a lot of guys who do/have.

Both good bikes, both proven products.

Personaly i'd go for the ZZR,
im not a fan of the Birds basic suspension,
(unadjustable front and back needs to be raised)
or the linked brakes.

If the budget will stretch to it,
the ZZR is a much better bike in my eyes,
Suspension, Electrics, Performance, etc etc.


Then again, they're both runner-up's to a Hayabusa as a Pillion Touring Missile !

[dick65 0]

ive tried the blackbird but much prefered the thunderace fully ajustable suspension nice smooth engine very fast and bags of grunt and the fairing works a treat although pillion comforts awful,as tony says the birds suspensions lacking and most will be high milers by now,if i had the cash id look at the kwak but both good bikes depends what you want

[jezza 0]

I think I'm leaning towards a kwak , spotted one at a dealers that looks good , Just waiting for my mate to check it out and let me know what its like as its a fair distance away from me.

[jezza 0]

@Tony nitrous wrote:

Never owned either but ride with a lot of guys who do/have.


Then again, they're both runner-up's to a Hayabusa as a Pillion Touring Missile !

the thing thats put me off a busa is the rear seat , the mrs likes her comfort , the kwak has a proper seat as such.

[dick65 0]

what about a triumph or dare i say one of those tall rounders?
i like those big kwaks in green

[Stue11 0]

ZZr anyday ive ridden me mates and wouldnt mind one meself cracking machine and suprisingly really light. Thinking of getting one meself one day

[Grumpyowl 0]

my mrs rides with me on my Busa and has never complained about comfort..

she would not go far on the back of the Ace though

[jezza 0]

@Grumpyowl wrote:

my mrs rides with me on my Busa and has never complained about comfort..

she would not go far on the back of the Ace though

whats the furthest shes travelled on it, as comfort is the key to me getting one of these bikes. The mrs whinged about the bandit when we done ambleside to home ,just over 200 mile non stop. I'm one of these people that just rides and forgets about the pillion, other riders just to get the miles covered and didn't I get it in the neck for not stopping (she's lucky she did not come to fort william with me).

[fr499y 0]

TBF the zed's are alright for pillion, got a custom seat cover on mine so a little more padded, but the pegs are nearly as low as the riders!! busa's are ok if your 4ft nothing or dont mine your knees wedged by your elbows

[Grumpyowl 0]

horses for courses my mrs is 5'2 and has no probs coast and back 200mls.

gen2 2010 bike seats are firm but comfortable.

i paid £160 for 2 medical grade gel pads implants on the seat of my last bike and would not do that again.
i thought they were crap and not worth the money.
get her a sheepskin pad


ps
if you dont want the sports tourer then my mate has a gtr1400 shaft electric screen etc
very good bike for serious touring

but i prefer something a bit more sporty

[dick65 0]

pan european

[jezza 0]

@Grumpyowl wrote:

horses for courses my mrs is 5'2 and has no probs coast and back 200mls.




if you dont want the sports tourer then my mate has a gtr1400 shaft electric screen etc
very good bike for serious touring

but i prefer something a bit more sporty

I will keep options open on the busa ( I shall see whats happening with the zzr I've spoke about first)

This is the one I've phoned about- http://www.pghmotorcycles.com/product/12457-86/Kawasaki-ZZR1400

At the moment gtr's are a bit out of my price range probably looking to spend 5 -6 grand at the moment.

[jezza 0]

@dick65 wrote:

pan european

just for that I'm gonna post the video of the monkey sha**ing the frog again.

[lee1 1]

whats up with the gsx 1400

sorry I cant help mate

[dick65 0]

@jezza wrote:

@dick65 wrote:

pan european

just for that I'm gonna post the video of the monkey sha**ing the frog again.

no

[fr499y 0]

jezza, seriously.. go for the ZZR not the busa... you gotta be mad to go for a busa over a zzr for distance riding

[madsod 0]

The zzr is one meen bad ass bike . you will love it

[smilinjack 0]

I bought a ZZR1200 having tested the Blackbird in 2003. I've still got it 60,000+ miles later, been to Europe two up numerous times, love it. Speed, power, comfort, only maybe comes second to the 'Bird on handling, but not by much. And that's the 12-the ZZR1400 outclasses anything you care to mention as a two up hypertourer. My mate's got a 12 and a 14 and he's in no doubt the 1400 is the best bike he's ever had. Get one mate, in green if possible.

[Tony nitrous 0]

@jezza wrote:

@Tony nitrous wrote:

Never owned either but ride with a lot of guys who do/have.


Then again, they're both runner-up's to a Hayabusa as a Pillion Touring Missile !

the thing thats put me off a busa is the rear seat , the mrs likes her comfort , the kwak has a proper seat as such.

Busa is a great pillion bike.
Its the reason my Streetfighter Busa has a standard tail
and why I fancy a Gen2 Busa next as a Touring bike.

Distance? Close to 1200 miles over one weekend,
but 400 miles on a Sunday ride is normal with a pillion.

There are aftermarket seats, racks, backrests available
but we have never found them nessesary.

[Grumpyowl 0]

@fr499y wrote:

jezza, seriously.. go for the ZZR not the busa... you gotta be mad to go for a busa over a zzr for distance riding

is this pub talk or have you owned a Bussa?

you seem to be very dismissive of the bike

[fr499y 0]

@Grumpyowl wrote:

@fr499y wrote:

jezza, seriously.. go for the ZZR not the busa... you gotta be mad to go for a busa over a zzr for distance riding

is this pub talk or have you owned a Bussa?

you seem to be very dismissive of the bike

not pub talk like i said, gotta be mad to get the busa over a zzr for distance... The seat is small, the pegs are high unless your 4ft, boxes look stupid on them thats if you can even get them.

Just from experience there... but each to there own, some like them some don't, its my opinion take it or leave it

[Tony nitrous 0]

Owned an 04 Busa new.
Owned an 02 Busa 2nd hand.
Got a streetfightered Busa now.
Looking for a Gen2 Busa in the future.

We dont live on a little Island,
our bikes get to stretch their legs a little...
A run up the coast to Cairns is over a 1000 miles.
Busa's are a popular mile eater out here
and I've never had a problem from my pillions.

[Grumpyowl 0]

@fr499y wrote:

@Grumpyowl wrote:

@fr499y wrote:

jezza, seriously.. go for the ZZR not the busa... you gotta be mad to go for a busa over a zzr for distance riding

is this pub talk or have you owned a Bussa?

you seem to be very dismissive of the bike

not pub talk like i said, gotta be mad to get the busa over a zzr for distance... The seat is small, the pegs are high unless your 4ft, boxes look stupid on them thats if you can even get them.

and you know this because you've owned one sat on one in a showroom or what if its not pub talk?

i'm 5'10 not tall but not short have helibars and touring screen and toured holland for a week last june no problems with comfort, speed, fuel consumption or reliability.

I won't dismiss the zzr because i have not owned one or have experience of one.

but i can comment on something i own and have experience of..

[dick65 0]

best thing to do is get some test rides jezza and take mrs jezza too

[Grumpyowl 0]

@dick65 wrote:

best thing to do is get some test rides jezza and take mrs jezza too

were all different shapes sizes and have favourite makes.

but it doesn't matter what size it says on the label, if it fits its the right size..

if you know what i mean .
good luck and enjoy whatever you choose

[fr499y 0]

@Grumpyowl wrote:

and you know this because you've owned one sat on one in a showroom or what if its not pub talk?

i'm 5'10 not tall but not short have helibars and touring screen and toured holland for a week last june no problems with comfort, speed, fuel consumption or reliability.

I won't dismiss the zzr because i have not owned one or have experience of one.

but i can comment on something i own and have experience of..

im on about for pillion, one thing jezza said.. and owned one.. I've said what I think about them and that's the last I am saying this thread... Grumpy, just cause I am 22 doesn't mean I sit on bikes in the show room and pretend I know about them.. I've ridden loads, I've owned loads ( 26 different bikes in the past 3 years, not including ones I've had for test rides, loan bikes.. ) Everyone's different, everyone has a opinion and I was just expressing mine..

[jezza 0]

@dick65 wrote:

best thing to do is get some test rides jezza and take mrs jezza too

i think thats the best thing as its her who's gonna sit on the back, the bandit aint much of a tourer anymore with the noisy exhausts, nitrous bottles etc, mind you i'm still keeping it and modding it further as its my baby.

I'm not dismissing anything yet and with busa's you do seem to get a similar reg and mileage for a tad less money than the kwak.

[dick65 0]

@jezza wrote:

@dick65 wrote:

best thing to do is get some test rides jezza and take mrs jezza too

i think thats the best thing as its her who's gonna sit on the back, the bandit aint much of a tourer anymore with the noisy exhausts, nitrous bottles etc, mind you i'm still keeping it and modding it further as its my baby.

I'm not dismissing anything yet and with busa's you do seem to get a similar reg and mileage for a tad less money than the kwak.

nice one jezza keep us updated m8

[Stue11 0]

@dick65 wrote:

@jezza wrote:

@dick65 wrote:

best thing to do is get some test rides jezza and take mrs jezza too

i think thats the best thing as its her who's gonna sit on the back, the bandit aint much of a tourer anymore with the noisy exhausts, nitrous bottles etc, mind you i'm still keeping it and modding it further as its my baby.

I'm not dismissing anything yet and with busa's you do seem to get a similar reg and mileage for a tad less money than the kwak.

nice one jezza keep us updated m8

[Tony nitrous 0]

@lee wrote:

whats up with the gsx 1400

As a pillion bike, Nothing.
Plenty of grunt and not bad on the back...

I dont mind the fact they're a naked bike,
im happy to match anyone mile for mile with their tupperware bikes,
only downside to me is the lack of top end and budget running gear.

I do like them though,
Im talking with a guy about buying his crashed/light damage one
to use as a pillion bike.

EDIT: Just had a message,
im off to look at a GSX14 this weekend...

[Grumpyowl 0]

@Tony nitrous wrote:

@lee wrote:

whats up with the gsx 1400

As a pillion bike, Nothing.
Plenty of grunt and not bad on the back...

I dont mind the fact they're a naked bike,
im happy to match anyone mile for mile with their tupperware bikes,
only downside to me is the lack of top end and budget running gear.

I do like them though,



Im talking with a guy about buying his crashed/light damage one
to use as a pillion bike.

EDIT: Just had a message,
im off to look at a GSX14 this weekend...

Good luck hope you get it

You could do this with it

Or fit one of these

[Grumpyowl 0]

@fr499y wrote:

[







I've said what I think about them and that's the last I am saying this thread... Grumpy, Everyone's different, everyone has a opinion and I was just expressing mine..

Don't get hold of the wrong end of the stick fr499y.

Theres been banter about MY bikes better than YOUR bike since bikes were invented

Its all good wind up and banter..
and it would be boring if weall agreed all the time.

[Tony nitrous 0]

Well said,
...and at the end of the day remember one thing,

We cant all be perfect,
because they never made enough B-Kings for all of us !

[fr499y 0]

@Grumpyowl wrote:

Don't get hold of the wrong end of the stick fr499y.

Theres been banter about MY bikes better than YOUR bike since bikes were invented

Its all good wind up and banter..
and it would be boring if weall agreed all the time.

Its ok mate, just tend to get a lot of people saying i know jack shit, i've never ridden bla bla bla when they dont know, winds me up a bit

[Tony nitrous 0]

[quote="Grumpyowl"][quote="Tony nitrous"]

@lee wrote:

Good luck hope you get it
You could do this with it
Or fit one of these

Its coming through the Streetfighters club.
Last time I saw it, it had a full race system, flat bars,
a powercommander, and was being launched down a drag strip!... ...

[Grumpyowl 0]

[quote="Tony nitrous"][quote="Grumpyowl"]

@Tony nitrous wrote:

@lee wrote:

Good luck hope you get it
You could do this with it
Or fit one of these

Its coming through the Streetfighters club.
Last time I saw it, it had a full race system, flat bars,
a powercommander, and was being launched down a drag strip!... ...

just ripe for a sidecar then

you could make it a 2x2 off roader fit a gel seat and go walkabout in comfort

[stantheman 0]

a couple of mates went touring italy last year both on busas anyway on the way home they were filling the tanks every hour and ten minutes mind you they were going some 160 plus

[jezza 0]

booked the day off tomorrow so I'm gonna go round a few bike shops to see whats available.

[Stue11 0]

@stantheman wrote:

a couple of mates went touring italy last year both on busas anyway on the way home they were filling the tanks every hour and ten minutes mind you they were going some 160 plus

Not suprised

[madsod 0]

@stantheman wrote:

a couple of mates went touring italy last year both on busas anyway on the way home they were filling the tanks every hour and ten minutes mind you they were going some 160 plus

not to fast then

[Stue11 0]

@jezza wrote:

booked the day off tomorrow so I'm gonna go round a few bike shops to see whats available.

Good luck mate keep us all updated

[madsod 0]

hope you find what you are after ,

[Chadatious 0]

[Davehutch-hutchs 0]

@jezza wrote:

booked the day off tomorrow so I'm gonna go round a few bike shops to see whats available.

nice 1 Jez

[lee1 1]

good luck jezza

[jezza 0]

this is a contender, £6200 , just over 5000 miles on a 08 plate , 1 owner. The mrs loves it However I want to see a couple more first.







Did look at a couple of zzr1400's however this was at a main dealership and they wanted nearly £7000 for an 07 plate with 21000 on the clock.

[Davehutch-hutchs 0]

nice Jezza a proper bike better than them bandit crap

[smilinjack 0]

Did look at a couple of zzr1200's however this was at a main dealership and they wanted nearly £7000 for an 07 plate with 21000 on the clock.


I think you mean 1400s on that plate, and yes they will command a higher price than Busas because they are so superior and will keep their price better.