So Yes I posted a few weeks back saying I loved my ZZR, and I would never get rid of it, but unfortunately two weeks ago when I was up the old road with some friends, It died, some would tell me it was time for me to go, me I think it was an untimely death, but it died.
No, I didn't crash it, no it didn't explode, in fact at the moment it's sitting in my driveway. It's effectively a 200kg paperweight, I do love that bike and will continue to do so, it had a hard life, and it soldiered on till it could do no more. What happened? Well to be as exact as I can, I popped a spark plug and in the process shredded the thread that normally holds it in.
Some may ask why not get a helicoil done to replace it? Well the answer is, I phoned around and asked a few places they said it's a $700 cost minimum, by the time they drop the engine out and remove the head and do the helicoil and replace the engine in the chassis. So I had to make a judgement call, I decided to move on to new ground(in this case a new bike). So I searched for days and days(ask my girlfriend, I was possessed). I found one a CBF250 on Bikesales, I went to look at it and it was a no go for many reasons, looked like it was a repaired write off, and had oil leaking from cylinder heads, just looked like a general lack of maintenance. So I got frustrated, I called Western Motorcycles about their CBR250R Repsol Edition for $4990, said I couldn't have one in my time frame, then they called me back about an 08 Ninja 250R which had less than 10,000Km's on the clock and was in great nick. I offered them $3,750 for it(down from the $4,990 they 'planned' to put on it) and they said yes, I rode it away that afternoon!
Now almost a week later and I love it, after a few issues with the bike, western has said they will more than happily reimburse me for my troubles. But I have had a blast, riding this new ninja, it goes quick, it sounds great and feels even better when cornering, does well as a commuter as well. Never look back is something that applies to this bike. It's just to fast.
Now unfortunately because I'm at uni I am unable to upload pictures of this new investment, But they will come. Probably tonight.
Till Next Time
-James
