For me it would this....
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8369/8586891474_966d9c9820_o.jpg)
It was in the window of Vectis Motorcycles in Cross Street, Ryde when I was 12. I leered at it so much the owner invited me in to sit on it.
I saved every penny from them till I was 14 and still couldn't afford it, don't think I have ever wanted anything as much since then.
(http://classic-motorbikes.net/images/gallery/kawasaki_z1000a1.jpg)
1st big bike i ever rode....
Either the ZXR750 in the old "Fly Killer" advert or the KR1S. Both were bedroom poster bikes along with the RGV.
Been trying to find a copy of that ad for a mate of mine for ages.
This bike. I bought it to do the KD thing from riding a cruiser type bike and managed to figure it in about 5 weeks. Not looked back since :)
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc1/5773_113135673703_2791420_n.jpg)
Quote from: Dom1 on July 15, 2013, 11:29:27 AM
Been trying to find a copy of that ad for a mate of mine for ages.
I did recently too but google images let me down.
Wonder if anyone else has had any luck?
Joined the site because I had a B1 at the time. I'm not specifically a Kawasaki fan.
Hung around due to irrational fondness for you c*nts.
The S2 350 triple, a guy at college had a mate with one, and he ragged it up and down the street in a cloud of two-stroke smoke, brilliant. I had an S1C 250 a few years later, but it didn't have the mean attitude of the 350.
GPZ900R
Z650 B1
(http://www.classicbikes.co.uk/images/stockz650b1green01.jpg)
not the actual one but same colour and year
First bike was a KMX125. Liked the first ZXR's in '89 as thought they looked mean and then saw them around BSB and WSB races. Eventually bought a P model ZX7r in 2003.
My first big bike was a Gpz500, but the bike that made me a kawasaki fan was the ZX7R
Mate at work got a KR1s. Great bike, would love to own a mint example one day.
This puppy started me out..
(http://www.moto-sale.ru/pics/kawasakigpx600r1999.jpg)
Quote from: MOz on July 15, 2013, 11:18:48 AM
ZXR750 in the old "Fly Killer" advert
Same bike, different reason. Was my first big bike and took me to my first trackdays :)
(http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f185/lsjbagpuss/Scan10007.jpg)
Gramp took me for a ride on his new Z1 in 72 when I was 6. Been Kwakazaki man since.
Quote from: Dom1 on July 15, 2013, 11:00:01 AM
For me it would this....
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8369/8586891474_966d9c9820_o.jpg)
It was in the window of Vectis Motorcycles in Cross Street, Ryde when I was 12. I leered at it so much the owner invited me in to sit on it.
I saved every penny from them till I was 14 and still couldn't afford it, don't think I have ever wanted anything as much since then.
Got to agree with you, great bit of kit and for a schoolboy shit loads of power. In fact just loads of power and would probably still scare the shit out of me (providing it could carry my extra weight)
Never had a particular attraction to KHI, in fact I liked the look of the NC24/NC30 Hondas when I first started looking at getting into biking. Once I was actually buying a bike I looked at gixers to start, but ended up finding a decent ZX6R F3 and buying the bike rather than an image.
It will always hold a certain something....1st bike, 1st trackbike.
But
Everything changed when I bought the Benson's B1.
The thing is, since having the Kwaks, I've had an R1 and CBR600RR. The fit and finish of both bikes makes you realise that KHI didn't have any idea about build quality. Sure the Kwaks have a bit more soul and an raucious edge, but it's the lack of these flaws in the other bikes is what gives them their longevity.
KR1-S in Green and white was a stand out bike for me as it felt in such close reach even as a schoolboy in the late 80's. ZXR750 in green was the posterbike dream but seemed a distant fantasy. A local mono wheeling hero first with a GPZ900 and then one of the very first ZZR1100's got all the girls and seemed so very cool to me at 16.
By the time I had a full license in about 1994 the brand was not really at the top of my shopping list, a chance encounter with a 636 B1 got me back onto a Kawasaki and led me onto a ZX10R for a good few years. Money/time no object to be able to have another bike then the latest 10R would have me back with the brand once again after a long run of 4 different Yamaha's in recent years.
When I was 17, my mate had a Z500 with rearsets, flat bars, and a dreadful rattle can spray job. I used to go for a blast on it with no licence or insurance.. :embarrassed:
Four years later, after it'd sat unused for a while, I gave him £500 for it. :cool:
04 ZX10R
Quote from: mc101 on July 16, 2013, 07:57:05 AM
04 ZX10R
One of the best looking 1000's to date.
For me
(http://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/Gallery/Kawasaki%20Z1300%2079.jpg)
Quote from: WizzBang on July 15, 2013, 09:00:17 PM
Never had a particular attraction to KHI, in fact I liked the look of the NC24/NC30 Hondas when I first started looking at getting into biking. Once I was actually buying a bike I looked at gixers to start, but ended up finding a decent ZX6R F3 and buying the bike rather than an image.
:sign5:
Had never really thought of biking but went and did CBT as something to do
Got licence as CBT was about to run out and then toyed with the idea for a bike for a while, maybe a Hornet or CBR600...
Went to a warehouse full of NC30 and 35s and was smiten but too expensive and too small for a sensible runaround so continued bumbling around on a CG125
Popped back into the Kwak dealer I had done my test with to buy a new/cheap pair of gloves and came away with a pristeen ZX6R-F3, green of course!
Had little intention of changing it until I was unceremoniously parted from it one morning on the way to work and there wasn't much left of it afterwards, or the Ford Cougar with the faulty mirrors/indicators/driver! :evil:
Only course to take after that was the 10R, dealer located a green one for me, sold by them, just run in (owner had scared himself) and all the bits that I would have bought anyway :cool:
Can't think of much I'd change it for now
I ponder 748s, 996s and stuff occasionally but must say a nice ZX7R is probably the only thing I really have a hankering for - another Kwak, who'd have thought!
(There's always a B1 somewhere in the garage... ;) )
KH500 was my first big(ish) bike in the mid 70's except mine had the full Rickman set up. Fantastic in a straight line, not so good through the bends.
http://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/model/kawasaki/kawasaki_kh%20500%2076.htm
Mine looked similar to
http://www.classic-motorcycle-fiberglass.com/kawasaki.htm
But in all black
for me it would have to be my kr1 b2. bought it for £500 IN 1999 and have totally rebuilt it, would never sell it as there is something about a stroker.
totally different bike to my zx636 b1h
(http://i1361.photobucket.com/albums/r677/martinkr1b1h/100_3536_zps2b42c808.jpg)
(http://i1361.photobucket.com/albums/r677/martinkr1b1h/100_23852_zpsf80f5a29.jpg)
What's the difference between KR1 & KR1S?
(http://homepage.ntlworld.com/webzxr/zxr750r/Gallery/N/akira.jpg)
That was the reason I chose a ZXR400 as my first bike.
Quote from: Doug_Z1000 on July 15, 2013, 12:52:42 PM
The S2 350 triple, a guy at college had a mate with one, and he ragged it up and down the street in a cloud of two-stroke smoke, brilliant. I had an S1C 250 a few years later, but it didn't have the mean attitude of the 350.
We've still got an S2 in the garage at home with 6k miles on it; bit of a daunting experience according to the old man!
loads of differences between a kr1 and kr1s.
kr1 was only made for one year ,and only 1000 uk bikes were ever made. kr1s followed on from the kr1 with the c2 then c3, a lot made of those, but you never see them.
some of the differences are
kr1s exhausts have removable cans and give 3-5 bhp more than one piece kr1 expansions.
have diff frame/swinger/forks/wheels/brakes. and the top end had some revisions, ie. diff porting in the barrels and bigger powervalves.
the last one I built had 60bhp at the rear wheel when I got it set up on the dyno at Aylesbury. [that was,nt my bike, it was one I built for someone] [I have built quite a few kr1s,s]
reckon mine will prob have around 56-58bhp at the rear wheel;
Did the piston issue ever get properly sorted with KR1/KR1S?
they did. but only after Kawasaki sold all the bikes. as all bikes were recalled on warranty, as with the old style pistons ,the peg would work loose and
score the bore. so they changed the pistons so the peg was in the middle of the ring groove and the rings wrapped over the peg.
but now, the pistons are no longer available, but the rings still are. most people now use mitaka pistons/rings. or if the barrels are really ported,the track boys use single ring tz
pistons/rings
Kawasakis are shit..... Just like this pooey site
Quote from: Johnnyfireblade on July 17, 2013, 04:53:59 PM
(http://homepage.ntlworld.com/webzxr/zxr750r/Gallery/N/akira.jpg)
That was the reason I chose a ZXR400 as my first bike.
Same. the zxr400 wasn't my first bike, but I still had one. Picking up my zx7r was one of the happiest days of my life haha
...still got it
Quote from: Phil_8 on July 17, 2013, 08:45:38 PM
Quote from: Johnnyfireblade on July 17, 2013, 04:53:59 PM
(http://homepage.ntlworld.com/webzxr/zxr750r/Gallery/N/akira.jpg)
That was the reason I chose a ZXR400 as my first bike.
Same. the zxr400 wasn't my first bike, but I still had one. Picking up my zx7r was one of the happiest days of my life haha
...still got it
Yanagawa was in WSB when I passed my test and started following racing. :)
^ Still the loveliest WSB ever.
Scott Russell Muzzy Kawasaki...
(http://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/Classic%20Racers/Kawasaki%20ZX-R%20750%20SBK%201993%20%201.jpg)
I know being British I was supposed to be cheering Foggy but damn.
Love that pic, great helmet design and those twin Muzzy's are the business.
Kx250 that was till my old man smashed it to bits as he did not want me to have a bike
Quote from: flymo on July 19, 2013, 09:03:21 AM
Kx250 that was till my old man smashed it to bits as he did not want me to have a bike
Pull up a couch and let's discuss this.
he is just anti bikes that is all
zx-7 but got a C1H as it was my fist bike :azn:
Quote from: T.C on July 16, 2013, 06:09:57 PM
KH500 was my first big(ish) bike in the mid 70's except mine had the full Rickman set up. Fantastic in a straight line, not so good through the bends.
http://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/model/kawasaki/kawasaki_kh%20500%2076.htm
Mine looked similar to
http://www.classic-motorcycle-fiberglass.com/kawasaki.htm
But in all black
One of these tried to kill me on a roundabout in Wisbech whilst on a test ride. Nearly put me off bikes for good. Luckily my sedate Suzuki GT250 cuddled me all the way home. Tony's "Not so good around bends" is an understatement. The frame was made out of Plastercine.
Then the Z1 arrived and I was sold.
The first gen B1H and ZX10R. It was the shot in the arm Kwak needed to spring new life into the range from what was at the time relatively sane selection of bikes.
First time I saw a 10R was wheelieing off a crest and then nearly tankslapped the rider off when he landed it. When I spotted him again later he looked like the happiest crazy person I'd ever met :tongue:
it was the blue zxr400 my mate had that did it for me. Then the zxr750 and then the lovely zx7r when it was up against the srad and blade.
Quote from: Dom1 on July 19, 2013, 08:49:06 AM
Scott Russell Muzzy Kawasaki...
(http://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/Classic%20Racers/Kawasaki%20ZX-R%20750%20SBK%201993%20%201.jpg)
I know being British I was supposed to be cheering Foggy but damn.
That's me that is.
(http://img826.imageshack.us/img826/9405/dscn1666m.jpg) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/826/dscn1666m.jpg/)
Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)
Was a family friends KH250 that got me into bikes when I was a lad, then he bought the Z1300. That made my jaw drop when I first saw it.
my first ever ride pillion on my mates zxr750 with the hoover tubes...
zx7r, a big bruising thing of beauty
looked great then, still looks great now :moto:
Rob
Quote from: Lord Danoir the first on July 15, 2013, 12:50:12 PM
I'm not specifically a Kawasaki fan.
Hung around due to irrational fondness for you c*nts.
:sign5: :rofl:
My ZXR400, I loved that little bike even if I looked enormous on it at 6ft 3.
First Kwak I really got to know was my dads ZZR600, nice and comfy for touring but with a bit of poke too. Then he got a 9 and I loved it, brilliant bike. My first Kwak was a zx6r G and moved on to my B1 when they first came out. The difference between the G and the B1 was like chalk and cheese but though some have slated its hard shock I've found I've actually gelled with it and if I get a new bike one day it will remain in my garage. So, hard to say which bike made me a fan, they all left their mark one way or another. Despite the sometimes shocking build quality and bolts made of cheese the engines have always had that little bit extra in my opinion.
'My' first bike was a Kawasaki KE100. My Dad bought it to teach me to ride a bike when I was 7!
(http://www.dirtbikerider.us/Pics22/20061112-1163329805515-1978-Kawasaki-KE100.jpg)
Graduated to a KX80 motocrosser when I'd got the hang of it.
My road 125 was a KMX125, then a KR1-S after I passed my test, then a new ZXR750L2 after that. Been through a ZX7R too.
I've had some of the iconic Kawasakis!
Forgot about the KMX125. My mate who is a few years older had a brand spanker at 17 and I was insanely jealous. It had to be one of those or a TZR 125. By the time I could get a 125 I went for the TZR but remember how cool the green KMX seemed back then.
04 Zx10r made me a fan but the ZX7r kept me a fan
None, I just never left when the CBR forum came to visit many moons ago now :tongue: :cool:
I do like the Z1000 though :cool:
ZX9R, fell in love with my first one, had 2 more since that got written off by a delivery driver :rolleyes:
I rode Glenn's (Sonic) ZX636 B1 and fell in love with it.... Traded the R6 in for one a few months later :moto:
(http://cdn2.bikesevolution.com/pics/8b/f1/kawasaki-club-ver-tema-kawasaki-ninja-400r_05.jpg)
This was my first bike, loved it.
KH125, KH250, KH400, Zx9 all owned over a period of years... :moto: