First new big bike EVER!

[r1flyguy]

Lovely looking bike.
Im wondering if the ZX10R gas forks would slot straight into the front of that.

[Skub]

Lovely looking bike.
Im wondering if the ZX10R gas forks would slot straight into the front of that.

Ssshhhh.

[G.P]

Can't get on with the looks, but I totally understand the Naked thing. My Monster 1200 still encourages silliness, but mostly sub three figure silliness.

Rode may mates 06 ZX10R last summer and it didn't seem to clear its throat until it was at illegal speeds, Marvellous thing but not sustainable in my world. I had enough trouble on the old ZX9R I had..

Good on you skub, keep us updated.

[Skub]

Can't get on with the looks...

I'll keep posting pics at ya,you'll like the looks very soon,resistance is futile.

[rodbargee]

Love the stance and still in love with most big Kawasakis!

[Supermofo]

Something about this bike makes me want to ride much more often. I think some of it is down to being able to ride how the mood takes me.

I found with my last sportsbike ('only' an R6) it made every ride feel like a challenge and everything felt very serious as it didn't start working till you were going quickly so I felt I had to be on it all the time. The 690 is the opposite I can ride how I want depending on my mood and so I enjoy riding it more and don't feel like every ride was something to get my head into first

[Skub]

Something about this bike makes me want to ride much more often. I think some of it is down to being able to ride how the mood takes me.

I found with my last sportsbike ('only' an R6) it made every ride feel like a challenge and everything felt very serious as it didn't start working till you were going quickly so I felt I had to be on it all the time. The 690 is the opposite I can ride how I want depending on my mood and so I enjoy riding it more and don't feel like every ride was something to get my head into first

That's undoubtedly true,with the Zed there's no weight of expectation to ride in a specific way,it's a much more chilled experience. Some days I feel like a mug because it's taken me so long to realise. Maybe an age thing too.

I used to believe it was foolish to imagine buying a particular type of bike would change how I ride,because I was as much of a cock on a 125 Innova as the 10R,but I think there comes a time when the stars align and a change of bike coincides with a change in attitude.

However you analyse it,it's a very cool thing.

[Skub]

A bit of matt c/f bellypan bling from French outfit MotoVision.

They post very quickly,faster than some UK companies and their stuff fits well.

[Skub]

Just over 4k and 3 months later on the Michelin Power 5s and the rear is properly gubbed. I'll need to get another one on asap. The front looks good for the life of another rear,then I'll maybe try a set of Pilot road.

I really like these tyres and I wasn't expecting to get 4k from a rear,more like 3k. Around 2k they lost the lovely,effortless turn in,but right down to the state it's in now,it never became what I would call hard work. No misbehaving or tracking road imperfections.

Wet and damp grip are really good,no moments or issues. The shitty stock Dunlops were rubbish on anything but perfectly warm and dry roads. Having a tilt on when running over damp or wet patches had my arse twitching like a rabbit's nose. Not nice.

So hopefully new tyre day tomorrow,along with another oil change. I'll be at 8k by then.

[Skub]

New shiny schitt. The red adjuster will be green before long.....maybe.

I had a set of cheap Oriental levers on and they were ok for what they were. Seemingly well enough finished,maybe a little sloppy in the fit,but for a tenth of the price of ASV and the like,not terribly bad. If you were fixing something to a budget,they're ok.

Anyway,these came today. Expensive bastards,but lovely bits of kit,much more gradual and fine adjustment allowed to get exactly where you want to be. Weeksy will have a set before long.

[Skub]

ASV don't give a choice of adjuster colour when you buy,they like you to give them another £18 for that honour.

[Skub]

I'm on a mission from the god titanium. I loves me some quality fasteners.

The latest addition is a couple of the rear engine bolts.

[weeksy]

They don't look cheap

[Skub]

They don't look cheap

A little at a time,then it's ok as long as you don't start doing overall sums.

[Skub]

The creeping titanium fest.

[Mr. Dazzle]

You bought solid bolts, not ones gun drilled through the middle?

You fucking peasant.

*plonk*

[MingtheMerciless]

If I remember correctly didn’t the SR71 have to have special tools to work on it that contained no cadmium (something to do with it attacking the Ti?). I can see a blingy tool kit arriving soon.

[Count Steer]

The threads on those engine bolts look a bit 'blurry'. Is it a camera thing or a machining titanium thing? Or is it just grease?

[Skub]

The threads on those engine bolts look a bit 'blurry'. Is it a camera thing or a machining titanium thing? Or is it just grease?

Yeah,grease and swarf.

[Skub]

There's a bit of a long reach for the gearchange shaft from the casing to the lever. Web!ke sell this little doofer to give support between the two.
A well made piece of kit which took 5 days from Japan to N.Ireland. Impressive.
It's almost a surprise when a part fits straight on with no ballsing about.