[FatRakoon]

I have just recently bought a scrapped ZZR

Its the American imported one, and yes, its the ZX6

I have put a few touches to it, and here are some piccies

http://www.fatrakoon.co.uk/zzr600

Dont moan about the site, I just threw it together, and added these pics to show my mate, and never got round to doing a proper job ( Thats me all over )

This very bikes has had all the plastics replaced, and some bits to the engine too ( Covers luckily - the engine itself is still ok ), the frame has also been redone with aluminium alloy ( handy when some of my family work with it ) and the entire bike has now lost 130lbs.

Ok, my views on the bike:-

1 - Comfort
Yes, its a Sports Tourer as opposed to the ZXR, however, I have found it to be perhaps the most awful thign I have ever owned, and I have owned a fair number of bikes. I hate it.

2 - Handling
Yes, its fairly good at handling, not on par with pretty much any other 600 I have ridden, so dont expect it to keep to the road like a CBR or GSXR, or the ZXR, but then, they are a different league!

3 - Speed
Ok, its not bad for a quick fisting ( Now now ) down the road, but its not a racer, and anyone should appreciate that, despite its look and feel, it just does not cut it. Oh, and its a fantastic ammoutn of performance to get the front wheel up just enough to look impressive to your mates, and have total control ( Thats a real myth, but you know what I mean! - it never loses its line )

Overall, its a very good bike, has far more accel and speed than anyone could sensibly use, handles just enough to make a good rider stay on the road, oh, and the fual economy is actually fairly good, although as this is the only 600 that I have owned, I can only compare it to completely different bikes, which wont be fair, but I get way over 50 miles to a gallon, and I thrash mine, so I am happy there!

Choice for future
No way... I would Never buy one of these again. However, sports style bikes are not my thing, I must stress that, so the chances are, that I would moan about pretty much any bike in this style, I am very much a sit-up-and-beg rider, and having just sold off my GoldWing before I bought this one, I am judging it by the wing, which is unfair, but now I do have one, I am not going to sell it off, so that says quite a lot in its defense!

 

[FatRakoon]

I think its most likely because I have to rest a lot of my main weight onto my arms. I dont like this, which is why I liked the Guzzi and GoldWing so much perhaps?

Also, with my size, and the shape of the fairing, coupled with the riding position, I get smacked perfectly in the eyes with air going over the fairing, and this makes thigns worse! - if I lift my head a little, the blast goes under my helmet ( Fnarr ) and tries to pull it off ( ooer! ) and if I lower my head, I have to look through the fairing!

Dont get me wrong, for a sports/rep style bike, it quite probably is a very comfortable bike, but as I said, going from a GoldWing to this, is one hell of a downgrade. I could happily go all day on the goldwing, and often did, 500 miles in one journey ( apart from refills and grub of course ) is nothing, and when you get off, you dont need to stretch and get rid of the aches, but this thing... Painfull knees, tired wrists, and both back and neck in agony after just 50 or so miles!!!!!

Also, one thign thats is sad, is that I really miss the stereo!

I used to love doing 10mph with 450w of Bhangra hammering my ears!

 

[FatRakoon]

I am not sure how it is for you ( I am assuming your American? ) but in the UK, its illegals to use headphones! - A stereo is ok, but not headphones.

AFAIK its because with headphones, blank out most of the noise of other traffic, while an external stereo does not!

Now, if this is true, then I find that to be extremely prejudice against bikes, because lets be honest, 99% of cars are silent, and you cannot hear a single thing from inside one!

Anyway, thats what I heard.. Whether that law is true, I dont honestly know as I have never been caught.

Cruiser - yes, I have to admit, I do need to get one! - I also have a GS850 which is a lot more to my liking, but its in desperate need of new gaskets in the bottom and middle of the head, plus its currently not taxed anyway, so...

Thats got a more "StreetFighter" feel to it, which I would seriously consider doing to the ZZR, however, my project pictures give me the real impression, that a ZZR is not really the kind of bike to "Fighter"... Or at least not as good as the ZXR would be anyway!

Also, the GS is a big and heavy bike, and I cannot put my heels down, so I need to alter the ride height a little, while teh ZZR is a near-perfect height for me

 

[FatRakoon]

Yeah, I am just up the road from you! :twisted:

I live in Colwyn Bay, CONWY

Sort of between Bangor and Chester, near Llandudno/Rhyl :wink:

Sure enough, if you fancy a run out, I suppose I could make it.

I got 3 kids though, so time is hell to get... Its times like these, I wished I still had my Guzzi, cos I didnt care about the mileage on that ( 126000 miles when I sold it - its done over 300k now with its current owner, and still has never had any spanners touching it yet )