Tomfoolery
13-07-2011, 01:28 PM
Bike: Kawasaki ER6n
Location: East London Kawasaki
Weather: Cloudy but warm, 18º
Socks: black, mis-matched
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6141/5933106881_1c5f2158d3.jpg
The Kawasaki was always going to be an outsider in the group of bikes I'm looking at. None of the Japanese companies make a big-bore, sporty, well-equipped twin anymore, but I felt I should at least look at the little Kwack. It's only six grand. In the showroom, it holds it's head very high. Shorter, more squat and better-looking than the Versys, it's the least-ugly of all the Kawasakis. It's not an attractive showroom to look round. I don't quite know what the Japanese company are thinking looks good right now, but there's not a gorgeous bike in there. They're all hideously, horribly ugly but the Versys and ER6n are saved from the crappy, plastic 'Manga' treatment of unnecessary covers on things, stupid edges to superfluous bits of bodywork, and generally nasty looks from the Zthou, Z750 and ZX sports range. Shame, as Kawasaki have proved in the past they can make really great-looking bikes.
Anyway, I close my jaw and turn my back so I don't have to look at the rest and concentrate on the ER. It has ABS, nice paint (I didn't like the green of my demonstrator at first but now can't decide between that and the white), good detailing in some areas, neat clocks, and a comfy seat. Looks good.
A bit of chat with a salesbod who's keen, but not all over me and I fill in some forms to get the keys. He reckons it's a surprisingly nippy bike after we chat about what I'm after and what I've ridden already.
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6013/5933104479_999d9d8142_z.jpg
I manoeuvre off the pavement into a bustop and start up. It's very light to push around, and very quiet on tickover. I give it some welly away and we're off onto the hideous A12. Through traffic, the slow-speed handling is astonishing. The best I've ever experienced. The clutch and throttle are light and responsive, although feel slightly 'dead', but the way the bike turns below 20mph is phenomenal.
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6127/5933668474_eec260348e.jpg
However, it really, really needs some Renthals. The bars are too high and too narrow. I feel squished into the bike. I didn't notice what bars are on the Versys, but they'll definitely be wider - use those. It could be this that causes me difficulty when I get to some nicer roads. Above 60 I'm really having to muscle the bike around. It behaves better if I sit still and heave on the bars, but it's not a comfortable riding style. It doesn't feel stable either. The Monster, my GS and ZX7R had a wonderful mid-corner stability. You lean halfway and you can feel the tyres and suspension compressing and digging in. What you do after that is your choice. The ER leans in, but feels jittery. It certainly didn't feel planted. The result was a lack of corner speed and lean angle, and big chicken strips. Boo. I thought at first it could be the tyres, but they're Dunlop Roadsmarts which I've heard excellent things about, although whether the ones you get on the new bikes are the same as you buy off the shelf, I'm not sure.
Location: East London Kawasaki
Weather: Cloudy but warm, 18º
Socks: black, mis-matched
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6141/5933106881_1c5f2158d3.jpg
The Kawasaki was always going to be an outsider in the group of bikes I'm looking at. None of the Japanese companies make a big-bore, sporty, well-equipped twin anymore, but I felt I should at least look at the little Kwack. It's only six grand. In the showroom, it holds it's head very high. Shorter, more squat and better-looking than the Versys, it's the least-ugly of all the Kawasakis. It's not an attractive showroom to look round. I don't quite know what the Japanese company are thinking looks good right now, but there's not a gorgeous bike in there. They're all hideously, horribly ugly but the Versys and ER6n are saved from the crappy, plastic 'Manga' treatment of unnecessary covers on things, stupid edges to superfluous bits of bodywork, and generally nasty looks from the Zthou, Z750 and ZX sports range. Shame, as Kawasaki have proved in the past they can make really great-looking bikes.
Anyway, I close my jaw and turn my back so I don't have to look at the rest and concentrate on the ER. It has ABS, nice paint (I didn't like the green of my demonstrator at first but now can't decide between that and the white), good detailing in some areas, neat clocks, and a comfy seat. Looks good.
A bit of chat with a salesbod who's keen, but not all over me and I fill in some forms to get the keys. He reckons it's a surprisingly nippy bike after we chat about what I'm after and what I've ridden already.
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6013/5933104479_999d9d8142_z.jpg
I manoeuvre off the pavement into a bustop and start up. It's very light to push around, and very quiet on tickover. I give it some welly away and we're off onto the hideous A12. Through traffic, the slow-speed handling is astonishing. The best I've ever experienced. The clutch and throttle are light and responsive, although feel slightly 'dead', but the way the bike turns below 20mph is phenomenal.
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6127/5933668474_eec260348e.jpg
However, it really, really needs some Renthals. The bars are too high and too narrow. I feel squished into the bike. I didn't notice what bars are on the Versys, but they'll definitely be wider - use those. It could be this that causes me difficulty when I get to some nicer roads. Above 60 I'm really having to muscle the bike around. It behaves better if I sit still and heave on the bars, but it's not a comfortable riding style. It doesn't feel stable either. The Monster, my GS and ZX7R had a wonderful mid-corner stability. You lean halfway and you can feel the tyres and suspension compressing and digging in. What you do after that is your choice. The ER leans in, but feels jittery. It certainly didn't feel planted. The result was a lack of corner speed and lean angle, and big chicken strips. Boo. I thought at first it could be the tyres, but they're Dunlop Roadsmarts which I've heard excellent things about, although whether the ones you get on the new bikes are the same as you buy off the shelf, I'm not sure.