mrfast
Expert Class
Posts: 114
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posted September 16, 2002 07:32 PM
New Kawasakis for '03
Probably old news by now but this is what I know.ZR1000 is a sure thing,Vulcan 1600 classic,700cc sport atv,Zx12 available in lime green and dark red or purple?,ZX7r gets bold new graffics(orange),new zx6rr.
  
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beansbaxter
Needs a life
Posts: 5911
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posted September 16, 2002 09:01 PM
According to reputable websites, the 12 is supposed to come in green, silver, and black(violet). At least that's what I read.
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TurboBlew
Moderator
BUSY DOING THE SCHIAVO
Posts: 4590
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posted September 17, 2002 03:12 AM
Are they seriously bringing back the ZX7 AGAIN? Ugh, I think that gets runner up besides the KLR for "most consecutive model years without any signifcant changes" 
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big12
Novice Class
Posts: 91
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posted September 17, 2002 12:11 PM
Has anyone seen the new zx636r and the zx6rr. I just recently saw them on motorcyleonline.com. They look very nice. Something they should have made awhile ago.
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ZHooligan
Moderator
Post Whore Extraordinaire!
Posts: 3829
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posted September 19, 2002 03:52 PM
I was talking to a Honda / Yamaha dealer yesterday. He said he was happy to see Honda had stepped up with the new CBR600 and Yamaha had done some nice things with the R6. That said, he felt like Kawi has trumped them both if indeed the RR is released. And he felt the extra 36 cc's on the standard ZX6R was going to be hard to sell against as well. He hopes the RR is really a ploy and that they (Kawasaki)only have a couple hundred available to sell.
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To those who do not count their life in years, but in how life
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future; -- Youth is forever.
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mrfast
Expert Class
Posts: 114
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posted September 19, 2002 06:19 PM
Kawasaki supposedly said at the dealer show that all models will have been revamped by 2006
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mrfast
Expert Class
Posts: 114
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posted September 19, 2002 06:28 PM
Models 10+ years;Voyager,Concours,750 Vulcan,250 Ninja,500 Ninja,500 Vulcan,KLR650,KX500,VN800A?,ZX600E and probably others.I sure hope they can re-establish themselves as an aggressive company.
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swft
Needs a life
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posted September 19, 2002 08:09 PM
I saw that 8% of the 600s brought in will be ZX6RRs...So that's maybe one per dealer.
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Rubber Pants
Zone Head
Posts: 798
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posted September 20, 2002 10:35 AM
I don't know why yhey have changed their outlook so much? Probably the economic times with the yen as well as the market for the biggest part of their business! (Industrial products,ships,robots,trains,planes etc???) You would think that they would like to continue with that reputation in the personal type products though.....would'nt you????
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redelk
Moderator
Please... speak to the hand.
Posts: 3212
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posted September 20, 2002 07:05 PM
Just saw the brochure of the 636 & 6RR at my dealer. Right now, they are slated to get just one of the 6RRs. They have been a "Ichiban Gold" dealer for over 6 consecutive years, so they might score two of them, at best. I doubt it, though. One interesting thing I saw in the sales brocure was one of the bikes doing a wheelie. When was the last time you saw something like that in an "official" sales brochure, eh?
Even though it does not have a adjustable swingarm, like the RR, the 636 looks like the scoot to have. Sure it would be nice to have the rare RR, but how many out there still get excited over a '96 7RR? Of course, from what I've heard, the 636 won't be a legal enterant in most of the racing circuits, but that's what the RR is for, right?
I feel the 636 and the 6RR is KHI's first step in reclaiming the crown as the leading sportbike manufacturer. Serious twisty riders, as well as the "magazine numbers bound" posers and squids, will be beating down the doors at their Kawi dealers, just to get their hands on one of the 636s.
Boy I hate jumping on the "Green is the Greatest" bandwagon. Especially after years of disappointments and broken promises from "snake oil" bike show reps. Still, this is just another example of how the "good ole days" or "golden age" of sportbikes is far from over.
"Individual brake pads for EACH caliper piston"? It's here. How much of a benefit it will be is yet to be determined, but engineering like this in a "production" bike was unthinkable just a mear few years ago. Just by looking at what the manufacturers have offered over the past six years, illustrates how sportbike technologies have grown at a quantum rate.
Though we all would say that such technology is long over due, it's only because of the fact that we have become jaded... no, SPOILED... over the past half decade's advancements. Still, if ya'll are anything like me, instead of saying "Thank you", I'm more likely to say, "Is that it?".
Now, it looks like we have been reduced to waiting until mid-year on the ZX10R. Most likely '04. There is a "method to their madness" at KHI. What sucks is that we'll just have to wait and see till we know exactly what that "method" is. The fight for crown of best sportbike manufacturer has always been a "war" and the 600 class has always be the "foot soldier" in this "war".
This is just another battle to be waged and what better to do it with then the 600's? With the introduction of KHI's 600 family, I believe a new offensive has started. It will only be a very short time, before the next "shot" is fired. Both by the other manufacturers and KHI in response.
I still gag when I find myself jumping on any bandwagon of "brand fanatics", but it just think KHI has done it right... for a change. Ah yes... these are good times.
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There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing, and mountaineering; all the rest are merely games.
-Ernest Hemingway
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beansbaxter
Needs a life
Posts: 5911
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posted September 20, 2002 09:21 PM
Just checked out the new wave of motorcycle magazines at the local Hastings...I'm very excited for what Kawasaki has planned in 2003 and on. I think Kawi will regain the dominant lead it held in the 90's. Stay tuned....
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brickman
Expert Class
Posts: 294
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posted September 21, 2002 02:17 PM
kawasaki are big ass sell outs that zx10r must have ben a slow ass turd for them to put off putting it out this year.the gsxr 1000 must have them runing scard.
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Dino
Pro
Posts: 1422
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posted September 21, 2002 05:10 PM
Ithink they're holding the 10 back so they can sell a few more of those 03 12's 
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uh oh
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swft
Needs a life
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Posts: One MEEEEEELLION
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posted September 23, 2002 08:46 PM
Lessee...'04 is 1000cc across the board in WSB...AMA to prolly follow suite. We shall see!
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OZZY
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need guberment cheese
Posts: 3172
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posted September 24, 2002 05:51 AM
I think Kawi is heading towards The Suzuki way of building sportbikes. The greater the number of parts shared between models in the same line the less cost to manufacture.
Look at the Z1000 and the bits and pieces that are the same as the ZX6R/RR.
IF this is the case, then the ZX10R may very well be a slightly changed ZX6RR bike with a 1000cc engine slid into it.
As far as the 10R being a dog at this point, who knows, I doubt it. I dont think that Kawi has the $$ resources to develop all the new models it wants to introduce at once. The 1000cc sport bike market is not where the $$ are at, so why spend your $$ there when you can spend them in the market areas that bring the most return on investment first? Cruisers and the 600 class are the majority of the market, hence the first new models out. Suzuki built the 600/750 before the 1000 and they are considered by many to be genius by doing that. Kawi does what I hope is a similiar thing, and they are called "big ass sellouts"
Honda is in the process of revamping their model lines, which they stated at the start to be a a 3 year program. They don't change every model in 1 year. Nor does Suzuki, so why expect Kawi to ??
We, the large cc sport bike market,are a minor part of the business. If we were the major force of the profit columm then we would see the big bore bikes get first attention. Hmmm maybe we did get first attention, the 12R was out before the new 6R/RR.
Racing sells, and the biggest selling portion of the sport bike market is 600cc. How many people here even follow or have attended a 600 supersport race in the last year?
I have read many posts here that tell a new rider to start out on a smaller cc bike, and work up to the litre class. By our own advice, the 600cc market is a preferred entry level. Therefore I believe the manufactures are correct in building the latest greatest 600 class bikes first. Get the buyer brand loyal if possible, then move them up to the flagship class. It is those purchase dollars that keep the manufacturers open to build "our" preferred bikes.
Wheww, that is a long and rambling post. Sorry it isnt as eloquent as Reds'. Just had to get on the sopa box for a couple minutes.
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ra12r
Zone Head
Posts: 919
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posted September 24, 2002 06:40 AM
I just hope the motor designs are compatible to the zx12 motor. That way things are interchangeable and expandable. I really hope the zx10r motor is a zx12 motor with a shorter stroke and bore!!! Then we can immediately upgrade with all the parts for the zx12 motors available!!!!!
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Rubber Pants
Zone Head
Posts: 798
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posted September 24, 2002 07:04 AM
I personally think that Kaw has a site on things more than we think as sport bike people.....loook at
http://www.sportquads.com
as they are unveiling a sport v twin 700.... Raptor sqasher!! I think I'm going to get one myself (even though I never ridden one) as a friend of mine has a v twin Prarie 650 4x4 with a pipe and it sounds GREAT and goes like hell! Trust me!!! They know what their doing.
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swft
Needs a life
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posted September 24, 2002 07:19 PM
 Edited By: swft on 25 Sep 2002 08:40
It's gonna be an exciting year! Gonna have to save those pennies! 
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