psycho1122
Pro
Posts: 1608
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posted June 03, 2005 08:19 AM
GREAT TOPIC!
I also own a 2000 GREEN 12. It has been the "Do All" bike. I have done everything from Touring (200-400 mi. VERY comfy), Drag Racing (9.66 @ 150 mph), Canyon Carving, Top Speed Runs (196 mph STOCK w/ muzzy pipe and PCIII, Arizona Desert at 2,200 ft. mean elevation), Track Days (1:52-1:54 lap times at AMP's 2.28 mile course), 2nd Gear (NO CLUTCH) power wheelies, grab third and hold as long as you want! Let's not forget the SUPER stability of this ride at triple digit speeds (from 140-160 mph) through mountain passes (hwy 87 from Fountain Hills to Payson AZ.)!!
I've riden other bike's from R1's to 10r's, G1K's etc. I am always glad to get back on my ride. The ONLY thing I give away is @ 70 lbs.....I can live with that! 
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You say PSYCHO like it's a BAD thing!!
  
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dougmeyer
Needs a job
moderated
Posts: 2713
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posted June 03, 2005 08:22 AM
That's what I'm talkin' about !
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zxfingyz
Expert Class
Posts: 424
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posted June 03, 2005 08:50 AM
The 12 is bad ass. What magazine is that where they do the actual speed tests on all the bikes and list the results? The 12 is .002 less fast than the busa in their test. Other than that nothing is faster. And in real world tests performed every day in real time and under strictly monitored real world conditions the Busa is UGLY.
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fish_antlers
Administrator
The Truth is Out There
Posts: 21895
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posted June 03, 2005 09:03 AM
someone had to rattle the cobwebs out of yer heads... 
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What business is it of yours where I'm from, Friendo?
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Ninjaman12R
Needs a job
as a Deal's Gap tour guide.
Posts: 4767
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posted June 03, 2005 10:54 AM
naysayers can hug the root....
Will do Rick, for sure..................
That is of course if that piece of junk 12R will crank and move under its' own power. You do realize they are junk right??? Surely you've read the magazines, or talked to the 'zuki guys, they've known it was a turd since day 1.
That indeed brings up an interesting point. Why did I buy the 12R???
(this will be long winded and boring, but what the hell I feel like typing)
It was in September of 2000, on the 10th of that month I wadded up my '99 Zx1100 which was mint and had 4200 miles on the clock. That was one pass through Little River Road I shall never forget. It ended my vacation which had started that morning when I started my journey across the great state of Tennessee. I was beat up pretty bad, but no serious injuries. Since I had no bike to ride, and was in a constant state of pain I left out for home the next morning. I'll never forget waking up, then trying to get out of bed. It was as if I was paralized or something. I was so friggin' stiff it took huge effort to move the slightest bit, and it hurt!!! After about 7 hours of driving a truck and sitting in one position I actually had to have assistance getting out of the vehicle when I arrived home. Even still, I spent the most part of that drive thinking of what I'd replace the 11 with. It was the second one I'd owned, and I loved them both, but felt it was time to move on to a different machine.
I'd ridden a 12R that a buddy of mine bought. He worked at a dealership in sales and he got the first red 12R that they received. I rode the thing twice the first day he had it. The first time was just to feel the thing out. It definitely had more power than the 11, lots more. But I was just having fun and was not in the market for another bike, so I wasn't riding it from the standpoint of "could I enjoy owning this bike". I was just tickled that I was getting to thrash a new 12R. Thrash is an understatement, that bike, and the way it was treated is a true testament to how tough they really are. Its' rev limiter was checked on a frequent basis from day one.
The second time I rode it was much more interesting as it was dark, and I thought the 12s headlights worked way better than the headlights on my truck I had at the time. Plus I had to evade the cops after a flat-out 6th gear haul on the interstate. Gasoline meet Mr. Match I guess, now that I look back at it all. But I really didn't see it that way then because as I said, I was not in the market for a new bike. My 11 was pristine and I've never gave a fuck about keepin' up with the Joneses. Again I was just stoked to be out thrashing a new 12R, and was instructed by Daniel to thrash the hell out of it so it'd "Loosten Up".
So with all this you'd think that the 12R would have been a shoe-in after I crashed my bike and was put in a position of being in the market for a new scoot. Nope, I actually dismissed it because of all the bad press. I read the reviews when it came out and it didn't really set the world on fire, but there were still some favorable things said about it. But there were also snipets about the sight glass and people putting too much oil in them. Something in which I have never really figured out. Then the rumors of a German magazine test rider blowing one up. So I figured I'd stay away from it.
I went and looked at a 'busa because it was an obvious choice. The ZX11 started a trend that was followed by the CBR1100XX, then Suzuki raised the bar in a huge way with the 1300. Immediately I hated the look of the busa, but I thought that it might grow on me. Then I sat on it and felt way too cramped. I had two guys to steady it for my so I could try and get into a comfortable riding position and it never happened for me. So I left the dealership and thought about it a few days , then I went back. Same deal, ugly bike when viewed from the front IMHO, and too cramped for my liking. So I eliminated it from being a potential purchase. Then there was the 1100XX, I knew from riding a friends that it was a no go. Too similar to the 11 performance wise, and I hate linked brakes. Then that left the 12R right??? Nope, I entertained a host of other bikes just because I felt like I had no other choice. Thought about a ZRX, the FZ1 that was about to come out, and even possibly a 1200 bandit. I was bummed, and rightly so because I can assure you that neither of those bikes would have satisfied me. I've since spent quite a bit of seat time on an FZ1, and a ZRX1200. They are nice bikes no doubt, but they don't do it for me. I thought I'd love the ZRX1200 at the gap, I missed my 12R as soon as I made the first of 318 turns. I have no idea what I was smoking when I thought about a bandit. LOL
So I just decided to wait it out a bit and not rush into anything bacause all this had taken place in roughly a week and a halfs' time since I had crashed. State Farm hadn't even paid me for my bike yet. Then little things started happening, like me riding for the first time after my wreck. I blasted Mike's ZRX down the road I live on a few times and it let me know just how bad it sucked to be without a bike. So I started hashing things out again and the 12R sorta popped into my mind. I instantly scolded myself for such utter ignorance, but then it happened again, still I refused to give it a chance.
Luck would have it that Mike and Daniel had been riding , the rear tire on Daniel's 12R had blistered and had a few cords showing. He left it at Mike's house and had Mike take him home because he didn't now how safe it'd be to continue riding on the tire. I went to Mike's and saw Dan's bike sitting there, asked Mike why Dan left it, he then showed me the blister and told me the deal. I told him that blister wasn't too horribly bad, and considering that Daniel lived less than 10 miles away the tire should make it if someone didn't try to push the bike hard. He called Dan, told Dan what I'd said, and jokingly Dan said "Tell him to ride it over here then". That's exactly what I did. Shit I was bikeless dudes, even though it was a junky ass 12R with a blistered rear tire, it was still way better than nothing. So I rode it to Dan's house and was easy with it until I was about a mile from his house. I lit the fuse a bit and smiled as the thing growled through the recently installed Muzzy. For a minute I forgot that I was riding a piece of shit, and was having fun. Even still, I refused to give it a chance. Even though it surely seems obvious looking back, I didn't give the bike a fair shake because too many bad things had been said about it. I just couldn't seem to get over it, and wasn't even trying to. Why would I??? The thing's a piece of shit!!!!
I talked to Dan for a few minutes until Mike made over to pick me up. He told me that they had 2 12Rs at the dealership. One red and one green, half of what they'd ordered I think. I told him no dice, and commented about how his was a hoot to ride and all, but the 12R was not for me. I really didn't want to tell him his bike was a piece of shit. He looked puzzled, but didn't push anything on me. He's known me for over 20 years, so he knows how stubborn I am.
As fate would have it, that little one mile blast planted a seed. I mulled over things for a couple more days and the 12R would pop into my mind and I'd immediately dismiss it. I even told Mike about it as I didn't want to tell Daniel. I knew if I did he'd be putting a sales pitch on my ass. Mike was telling me I'd be fucking up and yadda yadda yadda. He's more of a standard rider, so he was pushing the ZRX and the upcoming FZ1 as prospects. I told him that once you'd had a bike with horsepower in spades it was hard to get excited about bikes with detuned engines. Then that statement alone made me think some more. I didn't want to go down in power. So I again looked at the busa, XX, ZX-11, and the 12R. Out of those four I'd already eliminated the busa and the XX, and really didn't want to purchase a 3rd ZX-11. Surely this can't be happening I thought!!!! So I thought on it, and thought on it, then thought on it some more. Even to this day I'm amazed at how long it took me to come around. But eventually I did. I was sitting on my porch, kicked back in a lounger enjoying an ice cold Budweiser and reading the then current issue of Motorcyclist. Damn I was confused as shit. I was weighing out too many things and taking it all far too seriously.
I decided that out of my choices the piece of shit Kawasaki was indeed a prospect. But in the few times I'd rode it I never really thought about owning one. So I called my boy Daniel and we talked. He'd put a new rear tire on his bike and I asked him if I could take it out and ride it. He was shocked and told me come get it, and to ride it like I stole it. I told him no, I was gonna come get it and actually ride the thing and see it I thought I'd enjoy owning one. He was more than glad to oblidge.
On my way to get the bike I though about the negative things I'd heard. It didn't surpass the busa's top speed according to the mags. Big fuckin' whoop I thought to myself. Fit and finish not quite up to the Busa's, again I thought big fuckin' whoop it's all about the riding experience for me. One blew up in Germany!!! Again I thought big fucking deal, dan's bike has been passed around like a cheap whore and treated even worse, and the bike runs CRAZY strong. Eventually I came up with the idea that if I did indeed buy the 12R and find myself hating the thing 6 months down the road, I'd just sell it and take my lumps.
So I get there and get the bike, complete with fresh crappy 207 on the rear. I take it out and just cruise the thing for a while making mental notes on various things. The power was a non-issue, I loved the hit of the thing and still do. Then I hit a few twisties and remember how damned stable the thing felt banked over. I was really digging the bike in a major way and having a blast. I made up my mind when I came out of a nice 2nd gear right hander. When I juiced that biatch and she just jumped out of that corner like a demon posessed I went from doubting the 12R to loving it. To this day I love the way that goddamned bike will thrust you out of a corner.
I told Dan when I got back that as soon as State Farm got off their asses and wrote me a check I'd call him. I did call him when they settled up, then he told me some even better news that made my day. Due to the fact that the 12Rs were selling like chocolate wrapped turds at dealership across the country, his dealership marked the 2 they had left down to $9500!!!! I was calling him a lying motherfucker and told him to not "Fuck with my emotions". He then assured me that he was being straight with me and I couldn't believe it. I was expected to pay way more, even though I knew Dan would cut me a deal. He didn't have to, $9500 was cheap.
I get to the dealership and have to make a very important decision. Red or Green???? I liked both colors, still do, and after an hour of debating this I picked red. That should have also been an obvious choice as red, and variations of, have always been my favorite. My wreck must of really had me fucked up I guess!!! So I bought Lil' Red and the rest is pretty much history. I've never regretted the purchase. I , like most others, have made the standard mods. Mods are a Yoshimura Rs3 duplex system, PC3r, scotts damper, yellow box, 17t front, corbin seat, throttlemeister, ZG double bubble, mirrors from an '02, all the hans CF except the snorkle, K&Ns, heat blanket, billet basket, muzzy clutch kit, muzzy aluminum fan, and other small things. The bike is even better with those mods, but I was pretty happy with it in stock form.
I know this has been a very long-winded post for me, but this thread really did get me to thinking back to when I made the plunge and bought Lil' Red. I've had so many good times on that bike. From smoking the Boss Hosses and being in a nationally published magazine, to railing in the Smoky Mountains with the smackhouse crew, and all the local rides on my favorite backroads, even taking my son on his first street ride. I've had a blast with this bike and it has a HUGE sentimental value to me. It's why I've hung on to the thing even through the hardest of financial times. It'd be a sad day if I ever did have to let it go. I don't plan on ever selling the thing no matter what bike I own next. Lil' Red will always have a spot in my garage, and in my heart. It constantly renews my passion for the sport and what is not to love about that.
All you 12R guys just keep on banging gears and smilin' underneath those helmets. I plan to do the same.
____________
What we're dealin' with here is a complete lack of respect for the law.
Sheriff Buford T. Justice of TEXAS
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Otis
Needs a job
Captain Kickstand
Posts: 3028
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posted June 03, 2005 11:17 AM
Well, said Rick.
I only have one addition to your story son. You said:
" I was sitting on my porch, kicked back in a lounger enjoying an ice cold Budweiser and reading the then current issue of Motorcyclist. Damn I was confused as shit. I was weighing out too many things and taking it all far too seriously."
You forgot to add that you were wearing those awesome house shoes with a stack of balony on the BBQ. LOL
Great read brother.
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Ninjaman12R
Needs a job
as a Deal's Gap tour guide.
Posts: 4767
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posted June 03, 2005 12:05 PM
You silly fucker.................
You know Chris I can't recall for certain, but you may be right!!! I know I was more than likely sportin' a pair of ever fashionable "house shoes", but I don't know if I had my grill lit or not.
Another thing I should've added to my post above. I think it's obvious that I made the right choice in bikes. But there was another set of wheels put into motion the day I purchased Lil' Red. It was a set of wheels that'd eventually see me joining two internet forums devoted to the 12R. That really opened things up. Because of that I have been on the best rides of my life during the DG Rallys we've had. I've met some of the coolest individuals a guy could ever want to meet. I've rode with some cats that can flat haul ass, and made friends that are more like brothers to me than riding buds.
Some of the BEST times of my life have been spent over in the mountains of East Tennessee. Even though I was riding over there way before there was a 12R, my best times have been since I got the 12R and started going to the rallys over there. Be it riding the Gap, Foothills, Cherohala, BRP, 360, 28, and so on and so forth,or hanging out at the cabins partying with a cast of characters that can only be described as colorful. Not to mention getting kicked out of every go-kart track in Pigeon Forge!!! I may have never met the likes of my brother from Detroit Chris, or my confused gay brother from Lake City Florida, Harry and his lover Bart. I may have never met the individuals we all know as redelk, or jonwright, lucky, HDL, Roger, Crashtech, Horsepower Mike, TurboDogFucker, MattSterbator,Bfly ,lubricity, zx11_12 , slug, GreenGlen, and tons of other great guys. So many in fact, I can't sit here and remember them all!!! How cool is that?!?!?!?
I'd have never met Oldkawboy and his sons Chad and Zach, very nice guys for sure.I'd also probably never got to tour the Fontana Dam either!!!
Yeah, looking back a lot of great things got set into motion when I bought the 12R. Very few bad things, oh yeah there are some bad things. My tire bill instantly went up 300%, and my driving record, though never squeaky clean, will forever be tarnished.
____________
What we're dealin' with here is a complete lack of respect for the law.
Sheriff Buford T. Justice of TEXAS
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your car is slow
Needs a job
Fuck Nitrous...Got Boost?
Posts: 4089
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posted June 03, 2005 12:16 PM
quote:
...and I'm still keeping the Harley for two-up riding... 
I bought a busa for that
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Do not taunt happy fun ball!
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worm~hole
Needs a life
Miles to go before I sleep....
Posts: 10623
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posted June 03, 2005 03:22 PM
..yeah but, can you also take the kitchen sink with you?
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“We sleep safe in our beds because rough men
stand ready in the night to visit violence on those
who would do us harm.”
-George Orwell
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your car is slow
Needs a job
Fuck Nitrous...Got Boost?
Posts: 4089
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posted June 03, 2005 03:34 PM
Dunno...my passengers arent ever that large
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Do not taunt happy fun ball!
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frEEk
Administrator
ummm... yeah
Posts: 9660
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posted June 03, 2005 04:21 PM
quote:
quote:
...and I'm still keeping the Harley for two-up riding...
I bought a busa for that
what's the difference?
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frEEk
Administrator
ummm... yeah
Posts: 9660
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posted June 03, 2005 04:22 PM
quote:
..yeah but, can you also take the kitchen sink with you?
isn't that what the harley is? 
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your car is slow
Needs a job
Fuck Nitrous...Got Boost?
Posts: 4089
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posted June 03, 2005 04:29 PM
quote:
quote:
quote:
...and I'm still keeping the Harley for two-up riding...
I bought a busa for that
what's the difference?
10 - 15thousand more in my pocket.
100 more horsepower
100mph more top speed
and so on..and so on.
____________
Do not taunt happy fun ball!
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dougmeyer
Needs a job
moderated
Posts: 2713
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posted June 03, 2005 05:55 PM
I have a confession to make. My beautiful green 12, IGO 200, is a Trannie. She was born red. I knew from the start she wasn't happy, just not as she was meant to be. So I searched for someone living with the opposite mistake, and found a friend in Minnesota. We exchanged bodies and lo and behold, both found happiness with our correct colors. I rode her when she was red and it never felt right, but green? Perfect.
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park12r
Expert Class
Posts: 124
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posted June 03, 2005 07:23 PM
 Edited By: park12r on 3 Jun 2005 20:27
er......let me try this... i used to have a y2k silver,i name it bullet..we have happy times together,till 1 day we had an accident..it wasnt her fault...because she was so badly hurt i had to put her to sleep.......i was quite badly hurt too i thought of giving up riding when i recover... in fact i give up for 6months.before the itchness came back..i though of getting another model/make... even thought of busa ...but i really cant accept the look of the busa, then i got back myself a used y2k green 12r. i name is er..monster....then the new 02 12r was born..i couldnt stop myself on looking at the 02s....after asking around n comfirm...i change the new clothes(02 fairings) for my monster... although she is 6years old now..but she still look 4years old...she is now wearing some new accessories.pc3,knn,muzzy full ti system,cam spockets,stacks,block off,fan,advancer,clutchkit, gills rearset,fsd undertray,hugger, ohlins front springs n rear shock,braking wave brake disc,brake pad, brembo master pump,helds brake lines,some other cf stuff,ti nuts,highcom gaskets...and what she given me back was..unlimited smile inside my helmet, n looks around me, ans most importantly the memories we had,and will have in the future....love my blackie monster..
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ZXPETE
Parking Attendant
Posts: 1
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posted June 04, 2005 01:30 PM
ALSO I'M 6'2" 280LBS AND MY BLUE 04 ZX12 Fits like a glove and pulls my fat a$$ to 9.7s in the 1/4 @141mph and all I'v done is Akr.full pipe and power comander Dyno @ 168.9 rear wheel don't know of any other almost stock bike that could do that !
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extremelean
Pro
Posts: 1651
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posted June 04, 2005 02:44 PM
quote:
I have a confession to make. My beautiful green 12, IGO 200, is a Trannie. She was born red. I knew from the start she wasn't happy, just not as she was meant to be. So I searched for someone living with the opposite mistake, and found a friend in Minnesota. We exchanged bodies and lo and behold, both found happiness with our correct colors. I rode her when she was red and it never felt right, but green? Perfect.
Doug........THATS WAY TOO MUCH INFORMATION....aka= TMI !!!
Thank you very much
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tuusinii
Pro
Posts: 1031
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posted June 05, 2005 11:06 PM
The ZX is not sport tourer it is hyper sports tourer. Just came back for one week doing autobahns on Germany and You all know what that means... :-) Because at this time of year (this isin't a holiday season) there isin't too mach trafic and I could do many tanks at the speed I wanted... So traveling at a nice 200-240kph(125-150MPH) was like peace of cake on the ZX... It just loved it and even didn't look like giving out it's best - the bike was just rolling easilly!!! And some sprints at WOT and the bike just pulls to past 300kph and needle still going forward - god I love that. So 4400 km and the bike didn't even notice it! And by the way in the Performance Bikes article thay had the latest and the greatest in every category starting from Buell to lot of 600s, 1000s, Busa, Ducatis, Turbo GSXR and ZX12. Only one missing was ZX10. So they made a couple mile track to an old airfield simulating real roads, not racetrack. The track had one main straight with over 2 miles and another 1 mile straight. It had a curve section, decreasing radius curves, off camper curv, pumby curve... So like a roadtrack. And the result was the ZX 12 was second fastest only to GSXR 1000. Leaving Fireblade, Duc 999, all the 600s, Busa by many seconds behind. And at the twisty part it was fastest - even faster than GSXR! So if anyone thinks that ZX12 is slow - You should start riding one!!! And just to notice it wasn't in the straight where the ZX made it ground - it didn't had the fastest topspeed...
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Otis
Needs a job
Captain Kickstand
Posts: 3028
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posted June 06, 2005 03:26 AM
Well said Rick, well said.
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jeroen
Expert Class
Posts: 144
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posted June 06, 2005 04:49 AM
Tuusinii: any chance of posting a scan of the Performance Bikes article here? (or somewhere else ) ??
____________
Jeroen - BMW R850R
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dougmeyer
Needs a job
moderated
Posts: 2713
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posted June 06, 2005 02:01 PM
Which one did have the fastest top and what was it and the 12's?
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zxfingyz
Expert Class
Posts: 424
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posted June 07, 2005 09:20 AM
GSXR1300 I think 9.88 and ZX-12R 04 9.92. Bad with numbers but I
Got it out of the issue of motorcyclist with the Confederate Wraith on the cover.
And,
When surveyed, all 30 Hellens agree, the Busa is FUGLY.
is it possible that busa owners are the IROC owners of the new millenium?
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dougmeyer
Needs a job
moderated
Posts: 2713
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posted June 07, 2005 05:41 PM
Speed, man Speed. It's about top speed. What was the top speed? I want speeds!
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nedragr
Zone Head
Posts: 504
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posted June 07, 2005 05:54 PM
quote:
The ZX is not sport tourer it is hyper sports tourer. Just came back for one week doing autobahns on Germany and You all know what that means... :-) Because at this time of year (this isin't a holiday season) there isin't too mach trafic and I could do many tanks at the speed I wanted... So traveling at a nice 200-240kph(125-150MPH) was like peace of cake on the ZX... It just loved it and even didn't look like giving out it's best - the bike was just rolling easilly!!! And some sprints at WOT and the bike just pulls to past 300kph and needle still going forward - god I love that. So 4400 km and the bike didn't even notice it! And by the way in the Performance Bikes article thay had the latest and the greatest in every category starting from Buell to lot of 600s, 1000s, Busa, Ducatis, Turbo GSXR and ZX12. Only one missing was ZX10. So they made a couple mile track to an old airfield simulating real roads, not racetrack. The track had one main straight with over 2 miles and another 1 mile straight. It had a curve section, decreasing radius curves, off camper curv, pumby curve... So like a roadtrack. And the result was the ZX 12 was second fastest only to GSXR 1000. Leaving Fireblade, Duc 999, all the 600s, Busa by many seconds behind. And at the twisty part it was fastest - even faster than GSXR! So if anyone thinks that ZX12 is slow - You should start riding one!!! And just to notice it wasn't in the straight where the ZX made it ground - it didn't had the fastest topspeed...
Good article eh??? Even the old man at the bike shop was impressed with the 12's numbers and it's ability to keep the pace with the others. If I remember right the Kawi 636 was the 4th fastest around the track??
You guys should be able to find the magizine at a Barnes and Noble.
Bottom line... is the Busa is a slug in any given territory besides a straight line.
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eastbaydave
Needs a job
Posts: 2245
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posted June 08, 2005 07:23 AM
like I say....what other bike have you ridden that has you giggling in your helmet...
...and no one can hear but you....(& I like to think the bike hears me too...) :P
____________
Enjoy the ride!
02' ZRX1200
00' ZX12R sold
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