GEAR
When you go into a store to try on a helmet, try on a new helmet also, besides the display one...as you may find tha tit does NOT fit the same. AS far as ordering out of a catalog, I say BULL CRAP! First of all it may not fit the same an it may not be just what you ordered...teh you have the restocking fees, and waiting for the gear, or equipment to arrive. Beartooth Kawasaki has gone to great lengths to provide us with a web site to share information with each other. If it's a piece of equipment fo ryour bike then order it through Beartooth...they have a free number, and a discount...if you are certain that a certain helmit will fit then order it from them...but BC on the catalog orders from a warehouse that does not support the manufactures of motorcycles...especailly your brand i.e. Kawasaki. Dealers depend upon our returning for equipment and parts to stay in business. Their mark up on some bikes is very minimal..just ask KAWI, or someone in the Kawasaki motorcycle business how much they really clear on a Ninja 250R! The depend upon your tuneups, airfilters, oilfilters, chains, sprockets, and related kawasaki equipment to provide for us to keep their doors open for us...Think about it...Seriously... I have a serious problem with shops carrying cheap garbage replacement parts over the genuine parts. You can't find many shops willing to carry Vanson Racing Jackets because they cost so much...so There is one place where I have to go out and get my own gear. I want the best protection that I can Buy. I will drive 50 miles not to go to my local rip off dealer to visit another kawasaki dealer selling the same equipment at a price that is not OVER the manugfactures Suggested Retail Price. You will find some shops in big cities that have the cornere on the market so big that they literally rob you...where else you going to go, but perhaps 50 miles farther away? Dennis Kirk, MAW, all the Catalog places could give a Rats Hiney about what you ride, and they are not in the business to support your dealer. If you don't support your dealer then he will eventually have to either bring his prices down to a resonable cost or close. Support you r dealer, or at least try to support our Forum Sponsor for some items...Beartooth is not making a dime from the Forum, only off of the merchandice that they sell to those of us that believe in supporting the cause....cause they provide a service that is not only national, but international...anything that you want to know just ask... ask about the 2005 ZZR-600 and find out that it is only a ZX-600 that has ben available in places like canada and is unchanged now for the past several years...the 2004 ZZR-600 is a better touring bike. Ask about the Ninja 250R and then compare it to the ZZR-250 that they have in Canada...no more steel tubing frame, 16" rims.....but an aluminum chassis with 17" rims...a better taillight system and turnsignals and a better fuller fairing..still not available to us in the US...Yeah, I have some complaints, bitches and moaning...Kawasaki USA could do a better job...but why when they can make more money off of a cheaper bike for the Kawasaki Corp of USA? Greed, or just not interested in providing something better and charging a little more for it....more inventory...more everything to contend with...leave well enough alone,,,they provide one 250 model......I believe in supporting Kawasaki and the dealers. The dealers can't get teh ZZR-250's here for us...or they would...I really believe this...So we have to buy what is available and enjoy it...after-all ther are other Kawasaki's available to us. THE Ninja 500R is a serious bike that may live on for anohter couple of decades even...It's just that good of a bike.. The ZX-600's have had changes the past 3 now 4 years, if you really read in depth about the heads, pistons and things that have changed on/in them. I don't NEED a racing bike, but they are awesome light weight bikes weighing less than the 500 by 33 lbs!!! They weigh far les than the ZZR-600...just jump in start reading the fine print, specs and you will be amazed at what is going on...Kawasaki is seriously moving forward, and not standing still in the racing world.