Kawasaki ZH2
- Skub
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Kawasaki ZH2
I had my bike's first service today and since dealers can't treat us to free coffee and stuff,mine handed me the keys of a ZH2 and told me to piss off for a couple of hours.
Let me start by saying,What an engine.
I'll probably say it a few time more.
A lovely comfy bike,footrests much lower than my own and as happy around town as either munching miles or being silly.
It's very easy to be silly on this bike. Everything is fine until about 8k on the tacho,then my brain stopped keeping up. No powerband or big step,just a linear,massive rush of power. Weather was a bit mizzly,though the roads seemed ok,but I was genuinely fearful that the rear tyre may not cope. It did. Diablo Rosso 3 jobbies. I was impressed.
The headlamp cowling and little flyscreen did a surprisingly decent job of deflecting wind blast,just as well considering the numbers this thing is capable of attaining and how fast it happens.
Suspension coped well enough with a range of roads. The rear felt pliable without being soft and only on the worst roads did the forks feel a bit harsh. Nothing to kick it out of bed over.
I didn't fiddle with any of the dash options,I'd need to go to feckin' night school for that. It was set to full power mode and by god it felt like it.
Most folk have an opinion on the looks and aside from the carbuncle of a can,I quite like it.
Anyway,bollox to all that. What an engine.
Would I own one? Yes I would,but I'll qualify that with the need to budget for service costs.
Let me start by saying,What an engine.
I'll probably say it a few time more.
A lovely comfy bike,footrests much lower than my own and as happy around town as either munching miles or being silly.
It's very easy to be silly on this bike. Everything is fine until about 8k on the tacho,then my brain stopped keeping up. No powerband or big step,just a linear,massive rush of power. Weather was a bit mizzly,though the roads seemed ok,but I was genuinely fearful that the rear tyre may not cope. It did. Diablo Rosso 3 jobbies. I was impressed.
The headlamp cowling and little flyscreen did a surprisingly decent job of deflecting wind blast,just as well considering the numbers this thing is capable of attaining and how fast it happens.
Suspension coped well enough with a range of roads. The rear felt pliable without being soft and only on the worst roads did the forks feel a bit harsh. Nothing to kick it out of bed over.
I didn't fiddle with any of the dash options,I'd need to go to feckin' night school for that. It was set to full power mode and by god it felt like it.
Most folk have an opinion on the looks and aside from the carbuncle of a can,I quite like it.
Anyway,bollox to all that. What an engine.
Would I own one? Yes I would,but I'll qualify that with the need to budget for service costs.
"Be kind to past versions of yourself that didn't know what you know now."
Walt Whitman
https://soundcloud.com/skub1955
Walt Whitman
https://soundcloud.com/skub1955
- Skub
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Re: Kawasaki ZH2
"Be kind to past versions of yourself that didn't know what you know now."
Walt Whitman
https://soundcloud.com/skub1955
Walt Whitman
https://soundcloud.com/skub1955
- MingtheMerciless
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Re: Kawasaki ZH2
I don't think I'm entitled to comment as I think I'm the only person who liked the Bimota Mantra................
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- Horse
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Re: Kawasaki ZH2
Isn't that officially the only production bike to have a wooden dash?MingtheMerciless wrote: ↑Wed Aug 12, 2020 8:07 pm I don't think I'm entitled to comment as I think I'm the only person who liked the Bimota Mantra................
Even bland can be a type of character
- KungFooBob
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Re: Kawasaki ZH2
DaveN's Chundercat track bike had a wooden dash, but I don't think it was standard fitment
- Skub
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Re: Kawasaki ZH2
Coleraine,Portush,Portstewart area. In and around the NW200 basically.
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- Mr Moofo
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Re: Kawasaki ZH2
they have managed to bolt on an impressive amount of plastic onto that ...
What's going on with the end can?
What's going on with the end can?
- Skub
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Re: Kawasaki ZH2
Random precision!
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Walt Whitman
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- Yorick
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Re: Kawasaki ZH2
They'd save about 10 kilos if they put on a proper headlight and lost all that random plastic around the front end.
- Scotsrich
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Re: Kawasaki ZH2
The days of the ‘flowing’ motorbike are gone and never to be repeated.
Now it’s let’s make it look like a transformer as that’s what people want.
I blame KTM for starting it all.
Now it’s let’s make it look like a transformer as that’s what people want.
I blame KTM for starting it all.
- Tricky
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Re: Kawasaki ZH2
Nice write up
I am so tempted to try one, - was very pleasantly surprised by seeing one in the metal, looks miles (miles) better IRL than it does in pictures IMO, and agree, a smaller better-looking end-can would transform it IMO
I am so tempted to try one, - was very pleasantly surprised by seeing one in the metal, looks miles (miles) better IRL than it does in pictures IMO, and agree, a smaller better-looking end-can would transform it IMO
- Skub
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Re: Kawasaki ZH2
Look a bit better?
"Be kind to past versions of yourself that didn't know what you know now."
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Walt Whitman
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- Skub
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Re: Kawasaki ZH2
Troo Dat. At certain point ugly becomes distinctive,becomes beautiful. That's me that is.
"Be kind to past versions of yourself that didn't know what you know now."
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Walt Whitman
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- Horse
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Re: Kawasaki ZH2
Anybody who says a DS is ugly should be guillotined.....
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- Horse
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Re: Kawasaki ZH2
Which reminds me, Billie Piper has a new series soon ...
Even bland can be a type of character
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Re: Kawasaki ZH2
She's an odd one, not conventionally beautiful, but there's something about her that floats my boat.
"Does this bus go to the Titanic?"
"No missus, It's a submarine you need....."
"No missus, It's a submarine you need....."