Your opinions on ZX9R

[Dunn-y]

I'm looking to change bike at some point this year and my budget is between £1000 - £2000. I have had a look at some bikes and came across a few ZXRs that fall within my budget and after doing a quick check on insurance prices I'm looking at paying £300 TPFT for a 2000 model ZX9R.

Would like everyones opinions on this and ZXRs in general.

[sam anon]

I changed from my old curvy to a 1998 C1, basically just due to the fact it was a better bike for the same price. I loaned myself the money, bought the ZX9R in winter, waited until summer and sold the SV.

There is a good, active forum at zx9r.net, so check that out for advice on models from 2000. Issues with 1998 bikes can include gearbox problems and the need for regular brake maintainance on the 6 pot calipers, but I think I've read these issues were quickly sorted, and 2000 models may use better 4 pots.

I've not ridden, or know any particular issues with 2000 model, but it's a large, comfortable, fast motorbike. Sure, they are known as heavy, and not great handling, but this is compared to R1s etc etc. I can't remember what my old SV handled like but the 9 is hardly a pig in the corners, and that's with a dodgy rear shock.

I easily get 200 miles to a tank, and averaged 50mpg on a varied commute. Parts are generally readily available for reasonable money.

Let me know if you need anymore info!

[yorkie_chris]

Big, fast, fairly comfy.

Relatively reliable. Seen one with a worn out camchain and another with a dodgy tensioner VERY lucky that didn't lunch the thing. Valve clearances worth keeping check on but maybe I've been unlucky haven't done enough to get a proper idea however all 3 times I've done that they've needed multiple adjustment.

Things can rot on them, calipers especially. Suspension wasn't great and will benefit from a fettle after so many years especially.


You can't sling them around like an SV, they're more like a hypersports bike than a supersports comparing these days but they would give GSXR11s and stuff a run for the money.

[The Idle Biker]

Well I had a ZX7R for the best part of a year and I loved it once it got moving and out of the traffic. In slow moving stuff I didn't get on with it. Too heavy to be enjoyable at low speed and the turning circle was like an oil tanker.

Really robust though, hard as nails, bullet proof engine and took long high speed corners superbly. It was as they say "planted". The front end was superb and it was nimble enough to be fun on track or on the twisties. A common was to upgrade the 6 pot calipers to Bandit 4 pot, but I sold it before I got a chance to do that.

In that kind of budget range I think they are great buys.

[NTECUK]

Try a ZX6r .They are good road bikes.
Practicly (for me) faster A to B tham my RSV R.

[Biker Biggles]

ZX9R Old school sportsbike and none the worse for it.Much more comfy than the modern ones,just like the pre 2002 ZX6Rs were,but easily quick enough for the real world.I can get over 60 mpg out of mine on a motorway run at over the legal limit,and they are unfashionable hence cheap tp buy.Bargain.

[Dunn-y]

I've seen a ZX9-R E1 for what I think is a decent price and my insurance came back at the same as what I was paying for the SV. The bike has 45,000 miles and apart from a few cosmetics marks looks ok. Only problem is if I were to buy I need to sell either the CB or SV as soon as possible to make room.

What's everyones opinion on a 2000 ZX9R E1 with 45,000 miles on the clock? Any major things I should look for as I might be viewing it tomorrow if the seller gets back to me.

[sam anon]

45000 miles isn't an issue with a good service history, and the bigger the bike means they're less likely to have been ridden hard.

Did you check the zx9r forum?

[Dunn-y]

I had a quick look through but couldn't find anything major that goes wrong with them apart from gearboxes in the pre-2000 models and front calipers that need regular servicing.

I'm hoping the view the bike next Monday (14th) and I think it all looks OK with no major things wrong with it then I might go for it. But I only have room for 2 bikes, not 3 so ideally I need to sell one of the bikes I have.

I'm not sure which bike to sell though. The SV or the CB.

[sam anon]

Big, fast, fairly comfy.

Relatively reliable. Seen one with a worn out camchain and another with a dodgy tensioner VERY lucky that didn't lunch the thing. Valve clearances worth keeping check on but maybe I've been unlucky haven't done enough to get a proper idea however all 3 times I've done that they've needed multiple adjustment.

Things can rot on them, calipers especially. Suspension wasn't great and will benefit from a fettle after so many years especially.


You can't sling them around like an SV, they're more like a hypersports bike than a supersports comparing these days but they would give GSXR11s and stuff a run for the money.

I'll vouch for the tensioner, mine jammed and needed replacing, it was £20 off eBay, and can be changed with just the tank off if you've got little hands. Or children. A keen ear on the right hand side of the engine behind the cylinder block should tell you if there might be a problem, there may be a rattle rather than a whir.

They are known as having fairly noisy top-ends/camshafts etc. so have a listen when started from cold, then again when everything is up to temp.

Mine also needed 15 shims replacing after 25000 miles. I think shims need checking every 16000 miles, which seems quite often, but I think most people do go beyond this.

[Spanner Man]

Good morning all.


The ZX9r is a very under rated bike. Unfortunately for Kawasaki the R1 was launched very soon after, & stole it's thunder.

Apart from the dodgy gearboxes on C1 models, they're pretty reliable, & the 6 pot calipers do indeed need regular cleaning, & lubing. Overhauling them is time consuming, & consequently expensive. The seals are pricey too.

Valve clearances need checking every 7500 miles. Which, compared to everyting else on the market is extremely frequent. Reckon on 4-5 hours labour, plus the cost of any shims.


Cheers.

[Dunn-y]

Thanks for the input. Is there a reason why the valve clearances need checking so often? I do like the look of the ZX9R with the frequency of the valve clearance checks the only thing im not keen on as I do about 6 - 8k a year.

[yorkie_chris]

Kawasaki don't have a great record with top ends ;)
It is worth checking them. They are not too bad to do though.

[cb1000rsteve]

There's a tidy zx9r on Facebook page motorbike gear / parts for sale / wanted. There is also a tidy gsxr 750 k5 5500 miles £3000

[sam anon]

Good morning all.


Valve clearances need checking every 7500 miles. Which, compared to everyting else on the market is extremely frequent. Reckon on 4-5 hours labour, plus the cost of any shims.


Cheers.

Oh, that put my 16 000 mile estimation to pot then, sorry! At some point soon I'll hit 50 000 and get mine done for the third time.

Spanner Man, let me know when you have my tyre quote and I shall book it in!

[Biker Biggles]

Ive got a late ZX9R (F2)and unless I have misread something the valve check is every 16000 miles.I think they changed the intervals because all the others had longer ones and it made the Kwaks look fragile.My older ZX6R was 7500 miles.