Ebbs Down

[No Worries]

Originally Posted by ceo012384

I swear no matter how much money you had, you would never buy anything newer than 10 years old

Not true. I like the 2001-04 Gixxer 1000, any year Busa, ZX9's up to 02, R1's up to 05, any year RC51, 2004-on CBR1000, etc. But I really don't care for many of the newer bikes with super-high HP and lack of low and mid-range grunt. And with the way the economy is going, I'm just being pragmatic about buying used.

Why do I like old bikes? My CBR1000 only made 108 HP when new, equal to most 600's. But I can do full throttle from a stop on my old CBR1000 without worry of flipping it (sorry Ebbs). That means from 0-60, I can beat all the new, short wheelbase bikes (2.75 seconds for the CBR according to Cycle magazine, 1991). Check out the magazines if you don't believe me. And I could probably do that with a full load of groceries and beer in my saddle bags and tank bag. That mine has a better seat, bigger fairing, bigger gas tank, and a centerstand is just icing on the cake. The tonnage may be a problem for some, but there's no tracks around here anymore, so it doesn't bother me.

As for the ZX9, it is a fast, quick, comfortable, good handling superbike. Ebbs could take it anywhere in the country, and stay up with any newer bikes. Plus, I like green. And if Ebbs still has a place in his heart for Kawasaki, all he would need is liability insurance, and he could keep the extra money for speeding tickets.

Around 1998 or so, all the liter bikes went to the same size as 600's, but the ZX9 was still full-size until the end. That's important for some (big) people. When Sport Rider compared the Busa against the ZX9 in 99, the ZX was a full second quicker than the Busa 60-80 (could have been 80-100), but anyway, that's some power for an engine that's almost 400cc's less. Yes, I do like the ZX9.