Decisions decisions

[wolverine04uk]

Ok, so my little SV has gone over the 20k mark, which isn't much I know. But I've got a grand to spend, and my local dealer has a 51 plate ninja 600 which he's offered me for £3500 with 2k trade in on my SV. (Sv's a '99 curvy). So, says I, I can find an extra £500. After all the SV is due a service, and I can put the money from that to this.

So I check the insurance, who want another £250 to insure the ninja.

So.

I have a grand.

The dealer wants another £500

The insurance wants £250

So I'm paying £750 more for the priveledge.

Do I do it? :?

Opinions please. Would you?

[Peter Henry]

Well if you are comfortable in making that deal happen and you feel your riding skills are up to the difference that the kawasaki can bring to you......then buy it!

Having owned an SV and a ZX6 I am maybe biased. Those 600 Kwaks are simply ace mate! All kinds of newer bits and bobs than the curvey SV also.

The amount of cash differenc eyou are talking about to me souinds a no brainer? You will be getting far better VFM with that trade than I did by selling my SV and buying the Ducati mate. :wink:

Just please tell me it is a green one? :?

[wolverine04uk]

Um... no its blue. :oops:

But, still, the blue's nice. I actually prefer it to the green. Although I know you can't have any Kwaka but a green Kwaka. :D

Is there really that much of a difference in the ride? I know about the diff 'tween IL4s and V2s. I am very very very tempted.

[Peter Henry]

Well your Kawasaki is more "leading edge" than the SV and that is not meant as any slight on the SV at all. Straight out of the box you get a great going,stopping and handling machine mate.
I have owned many bikes but not many impressed me as much as the ZX6R Ninja did! :wink: You might find that there is actually more low down power than you might have expected also, although yeah get the motor spinning and they really go to work. :D

[valleyboy]

Is it a 636 ??

And whats wrong with green :P

I test rode a 600 Ninja, and the 636 Ninja.. and I could tell the difference between them..

Test ride it if you can, the ride is about a million times smoother than on an SV... thats mainly down to engine type, though it does take a little getting use to the lack of engine braking down low in the rev range... it is there, but its at 10K+ rpm! :lol:
You'll find the bike much more planted on the road, much more stable, plus its got about another 30-40 MPH on top of what your SV can do...

Not sure about the older Ninjas, but I know my B1H is actualy lighter than my K3 SV was.. with an additional 40 odd HP to boot...

Plus, my bit:...
if you do test ride it.... take it to the red line... OK, 1st will get you 60.. but it gives you an inkling as to what hte bike can do. it does bugger all acceleration wise below 8-10K rpm.. you think its pretty good.. then you get above 10,000 rpm... it takes off like a bat out of hell being chased by Satan himself... yes, ITS NOISY AS HELL.. but thats where the fun is at on these bikes 8)
when you do this... twist the throttle gently.... dont do what I did and ham fist it... the front WILL pop up, as you will find yourself on your back wheel pointing skyward accelarating like mad!

[instigator]

Buy my 2000 J1 Model zx6r instead. :D Only £2300, 13.5k miles, nice and red.

Anyway, quality bikes. Nice, strong engine jsut suffer from the usual carb icing problems. £3500 is quite a lot for this time of year, although I guess that is not surprising as it's from a dealer and you pay over the odds.

Good bikes. Can't fault them when the rear brakes don't stick. Get a good 180+ miles from the tank on the motorway doing a steady 70mph!

[wolverine04uk]

Is it a 636 ??

No, its the 600.

Buy my 2000 J1 Model zx6r instead. Only £2300, 13.5k miles, nice and red.

Only if you take part ex. :D

I thought 3.5k wasn't too bad, looked Parkers guide and recommended 3.8k. Suppose I could haggle him down a bit. Reckoned 2k trade in was pretty good too.

[Peter Henry]

Dont let him side track you mate,if you are happy with the deal that is all that matters. yeah the 636 are great but the 600's are certainly not at all shabby! 8)

[Professor]

I thought 3.5k wasn't too bad, looked Parkers guide and recommended 3.8k. Suppose I could haggle him down a bit. Reckoned 2k trade in was pretty good too.

I've seen brand new GSXR600's at Fowlers for £5000.

IMHO Parkers Guide is unreliable with regards to motorcycles: it uses
outdated information and, as a result, overvalues bikes.

As to the 2K trade-in it does indeed sound good, but try asking them how
much cash they would pay for your bike. With trade-ins it is always a game.

[Warren]

IMHO Parkers Guide is unreliable with regards to motorcycles: it uses
outdated information and, as a result, overvalues bikes.

thats good news if you are haggling with insurance companys :)

[Professor]

It's not only bikes that often get overvalued by insurance
companies. When I moved to the UK in 1991 I came in a Romanian car
called a Dacia. This was basically a Renault 12 produced in Romania
under license. The Renault 12's went out of production in France in
1980 but were still produced in Romania and mine was brand new
(situation similar to that with Royal Enfield which is still
produced in India). When I came to the AA to insure my Dacia their
computer gave its value at £9600. I laughed for a long time and then
spent 2 years trying to persuade my friends and colleagues to steal
my Dacia and drive it off a cliff. Unfortunately, nobody took up my offer
(unlike one of the Simpsons episodes) and in the end the car had to
be destroyed due to customs regulations. I still keep the number
plates as a memento.

PS. I also vaguely recall that at the time there was someone in our
department whose British car kept breaking down and he couldn't sell
it, as much as he would have loved to. People used to suggest that
we crash into each other.

[Biker Biggles]

Knock him down.That's too dear for the Kwak by a good £500.I guess it's a J2 which makes it a really good bike as a practical sports 600 but they are getting on a bit now and are unfashionable compared to the latest pocket rockets.The dealer will struggle to shift it at anywhere near that price at this time of year.(or ever)Get it at the right price and be happy.

[Ratty]

Check out Biketrader.co.uk There is a 636 on an 02 plate, 3100 miles and looks well in silver & black with extras as well, including an Datatool alarm. Listed at £2600, I'm sure it must be a typo. Looks like a Denton phone Number so it should be local to you. Would be worth a ring at that price. Search against Kawasaki, ZX, private, Price between £2k & £3K and it should be shortlisted. Then you can afford the insurance.

Ratty

[valleyboy]

The 636's are an insurance group higher... so it could make a differnce to your costs...

But you know you wants it! lol

[wolverine04uk]

Thanks for the replies.

Ratty, I've had a look at the biketrader website and can't seem to find the bike you're on about. Must've sold. :(

I think I read somewhere that there is a point where the ninja needs a massive service, like many hundreds of pounds service, at some point. Anyone know anything about this? Its just that if there is such a thing, then I can spot the bikes that are due it. Also is there much difference between the J1 and J2 models?

And Valley... you're right. :twisted:

[instigator]

Won't take Part exchange, but I'd do you £2200 for it if you managed to sell your sv. ;)

[Biker Biggles]

No difference between J1 and J2 except colours.They need a valve clearance check every 7,500 miles which is a big service if done by a Kwak dealer.Most of the servicing you can do yourself,as it's basic stuff.
The first 636 bike was very similar so that's a good bike too.