> > Well there is a new horse in the stable this week.
> > (actually about 134 RW HP) It is 13 years old BUT!
> > looks brand new. Rides brand new. Sounds brand
> new.
> > I bought it from the estate of a 70 year old who
> > passed away in his sleep. He owned 8 bikes when he
> > passed so all were very low mileage and had been
> > babied since he purchased them. WOW, what a find.
> It
> > had 4774 km on it when I picked it up.
> > 1992 ZX11 Kawasaki Ninja. Riding it out to Sooke
> > from down town Victoria it felt more like a
> turbine
> > than a M/C engine. Just point, squeeze and swoosh.
> > Your there.
> > Parked beside the Ratbyk the contrast between the
> two
> > is beautiful. The Rat in bright Viper Red. A bit
> > tatty, rough around the edges. A naked bike. Makes
> > good power but it is a brute, harsh power like a
> big
> > block Chevy. A good example of early super bikes.
> > The Temptress is all black. Beautiful flowing
> lines,
> > An exhaust note that whispers. Power that just
> seems
> > seamless, never ending, just a rush. No throb or
> > strain, just color me gone, NOW!
> > I'm going to love this ride come spring. Have not
> > licensed it yet. Rode it home on a 1 day transit
> > permit. The rains have started in the NW so no
> > sense in wasting money on insurance until spring.
> To
> > nice to take out in the rain. Going to go over and
> > make it fit me this winter. Find the right luggage
> > etc. and turn it into Ken's ride. I have already ordered a shop manuel and bar risers for it. Searching out a luggage rack
and a taller windshield at the moment.
I have read thread after thread here on the Forum about wider
rear tires. Well, got it now. 5.5" rear wheel with a 170 60 17 radial tire on it. Also, don't know how many thousand times I've tried to shift the Rat into 6th gear and not found it. Well got one now. Lost about 100 lbs of weight as well. The dry weight on a ZX 11 C3 IS 508 lbs. You can feel the difference just sitting on the bike. Actually you don't sit on it, like being perched on an XS. You sit down into it. The weight it carries seems lower down.
While cornering I can actually feel the front tire "plant" it's self
and take hold of the road. A feeling that I have never had on
the Rat.
Doubt if I will be looking for more power any time soon. The ZX11
is supposed to do the quarter in 10.5 at 130 mph plus. Top speed is supposed to be in excess of 170 mph. I will never find out. I like my life and my license.
I think it was a great find. Very pretty and impressive bike. I will
try and post some pictures in the future of the "Temptress".
Ken/Sooke
78E Ratbyk
82 FT500 "lilRat"
92 ZX11 Temptress
>
> > (actually about 134 RW HP) It is 13 years old BUT!
> > looks brand new. Rides brand new. Sounds brand
> new.
> > I bought it from the estate of a 70 year old who
> > passed away in his sleep. He owned 8 bikes when he
> > passed so all were very low mileage and had been
> > babied since he purchased them. WOW, what a find.
> It
> > had 4774 km on it when I picked it up.
> > 1992 ZX11 Kawasaki Ninja. Riding it out to Sooke
> > from down town Victoria it felt more like a
> turbine
> > than a M/C engine. Just point, squeeze and swoosh.
> > Your there.
> > Parked beside the Ratbyk the contrast between the
> two
> > is beautiful. The Rat in bright Viper Red. A bit
> > tatty, rough around the edges. A naked bike. Makes
> > good power but it is a brute, harsh power like a
> big
> > block Chevy. A good example of early super bikes.
> > The Temptress is all black. Beautiful flowing
> lines,
> > An exhaust note that whispers. Power that just
> seems
> > seamless, never ending, just a rush. No throb or
> > strain, just color me gone, NOW!
> > I'm going to love this ride come spring. Have not
> > licensed it yet. Rode it home on a 1 day transit
> > permit. The rains have started in the NW so no
> > sense in wasting money on insurance until spring.
> To
> > nice to take out in the rain. Going to go over and
> > make it fit me this winter. Find the right luggage
> > etc. and turn it into Ken's ride. I have already ordered a shop manuel and bar risers for it. Searching out a luggage rack
and a taller windshield at the moment.
I have read thread after thread here on the Forum about wider
rear tires. Well, got it now. 5.5" rear wheel with a 170 60 17 radial tire on it. Also, don't know how many thousand times I've tried to shift the Rat into 6th gear and not found it. Well got one now. Lost about 100 lbs of weight as well. The dry weight on a ZX 11 C3 IS 508 lbs. You can feel the difference just sitting on the bike. Actually you don't sit on it, like being perched on an XS. You sit down into it. The weight it carries seems lower down.
While cornering I can actually feel the front tire "plant" it's self
and take hold of the road. A feeling that I have never had on
the Rat.
Doubt if I will be looking for more power any time soon. The ZX11
is supposed to do the quarter in 10.5 at 130 mph plus. Top speed is supposed to be in excess of 170 mph. I will never find out. I like my life and my license.
I think it was a great find. Very pretty and impressive bike. I will
try and post some pictures in the future of the "Temptress".
Ken/Sooke
78E Ratbyk
82 FT500 "lilRat"
92 ZX11 Temptress
>
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