Excellent all around bike
Written: Jun 03 '03
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Pros: Excellent all around bike
Cons: Limited on the track
The Bottom Line: This bike is for anyone who wants something that will go and has little experience with the big bikes.
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| doctorjeep's Full Review: 2000 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-9R |
I purchased my 2000 ZX9R brand new from a dealer in the late fall of 2000. I got a really good price on it 7999 out the door. Normally you cannot barter with bike dealers because they operate on a pretty slim margin but in this case price is what sold me. My other options that I was looking at were the Honda RC51, CBR929, and Yamaha R1. This was the first brand new bike that I ever purchased and I can say that it was a very good experience all around.
Handling is good, sharp and responsive. Engine is strong power is linear in delivery. Gear box a little difficult. I have had some minor problems with false neutrals but they seem to only occur when I am accelerating hard in fourth, fifth and through sixth gears. The suspension and frame are my only soar spots. The suspension and frame are great when you are just riding around town, or doing some minor twisty riding on the back roads. Put the 9R on the race track and you will see the real limitations of the chassis and stock suspension.
When the chassis and suspension are loaded during hard, high-speed corners you can feel it flex. I understand that 99% of all people who ride bikes will never ever experience this sensation because you really have to be pushing the limits of the bike and tires but for that 1% out there who are like me, this can be a very eerie feeling if you are not prepared for it. Over all, my entire track experience with the 9R was pretty good but I found that it would not handle as well as the GSXR 1000, Honda 945 or Yam R1. To get it to be competitive with those bikes I replaced the rear shock with an Ohlins unit, Re-Valved the forks, put a Yoshimura 4 into 1 race pipe on it, and dropped the front 4 mm and raised the back 5 mm. To drop some weight I put OZ Racing rims on. These modifications transformed the 9R from a two-wheeled brick to a serious track bike that can out perform nearly anything through the hard corners. Power to weight is a big problem on the straight when compared to the competition.
I have had zero mechanical problems with the bike and the fit and finish are great. It is a wonderful bike to ride around the town, do some back road high-speed riding, or jut go out messing around. The breaks are fantastic, seating and ergonomics are a little on the tall side for me (I am 5'5").
I would recommend this bike to anyone who wants something that will go and has little experience with the big bikes. The stock set up is very neutral and riding characteristics are quite predictable.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 7999.00
Condition: New
Model Year: 2000
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Epinions.com ID:
doctorjeep
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Reviews written: 8
Trusted by: 2 members
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