I knew there was something about you Toby I liked, besides old Lincoln's. Your a crazy biker like me and like high horse power crotch rockets. I've had my share with Yamaha VMax and a bunch of 120 plus Horsepower widow makers. It's funny how we like both the Lead sled slow mobiles and the ones that make you pucker when on the gas! Ain't life grand!
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Yep. I like plastic covered crotch rockets!! I thing they ruined the look of sport bikes when they went to the naked and carbon fiber look like the 2nd gen R1. The first R1 and R6 look GREAT.
The old Katanas were weak but had cool paint jobs....stickers, stripes, ripped looking designs...AWESOME.
My first bike was 3 months after I turned 18: a 79 KZ 750 twin. Ran great, good shape $350 what was not to love????
Parents told me I couldn't have a motorcycle since all my life since I was under 18. I was drag racing cars up and down the roads since I got my license 9 days after I turned 16 anyway..but some parents will be parents.
So. I turned 18 and then they said NO....not under my roof crap control grab, ot maybe you're not keeping it here....at least that's what I heard. So, I bought it and paid the neighbor with a LOADED 85 Gold Wing 10.00 a month to keep it in his garage next to his.
Then got picked up a 76 or 78 CB650 that I traded a shot gun and a chain saw for.
Then an 89 EX500 with lower sport faring that looked exactly like a ninja 600. The 600R and RRs always wanted to race me and I was like....ummmm really...I can't. It cant...
72mpg though!!!
Then I got a 92 ZX-11 from original owner that had the 2nd gear recall done and it ws mint condition. Sold that to a buddy that later went on to open a bike shop and mod the heck out of it.
Then a 91 ZX-11 repaint in bright yellow. Was scared to go look at it because repaints usally suck but it was NICE.
Came with extra engine and wheelie bars. They used to drag it from time to time. Its dogs were undercut by Fast by Gast.
It got stolen and so I thought the ZX-11 was good, the ZX-12r must be better.
It was a fast bike but I couldn't stand riding it. Too much work!
I was used to big torquey ZX-11 that I didn't have to rev. I could short shift and be in high gear at 42-45 and just roll the throttle and roll on out.
The 12R would buck and pop....and spit. You had to kick it down two gears all the time...sometimes 3. It loved RPMS. It was like an R6 times 2 ...on crack!!!
It was sweet looking though. Gold side chain, snorkel ram air body work and undertail and custom matching mini chain guard, tail lights, flush turns signals, iridescent windscreen, mini mirrors. Even with the most forgiving fuel inj MAP I tried it was annoying.
Plus the flywheel was so light it was easy to stall. They weighted the flywheel the 3rd year for the B model because of this.
I sold it after only a few months to 1.5 yr or so.
Later had a sweet old 71 boat that I got a great deal on from original owner. Traded boat for original ZX10 89 model.
This one had receipts for 1700 worth of engine work. Some ZX-11 cam parts, rebuilt, 1040 kit, carrillo rods, trans undercut, etc, etc. It is not quite as fast as my last ZX-11 but plenty enough to get the blood flowing!!!
Got my son a 04 Ninja 250 and I find myself riding it more than mine.
It's so flicky, like a toy, not big and heavy.
Maybe I would really like the ZX-10R they came out with in 04 or so. Was highest power to weight ration or any bike ever built. The articles said you only need a back wheel. Take off, lift it up and stay on the rear tire.
384 lbs wet I think.