Me and Kawasaki.
I don't know why I like Kawasaki so much, I just do. It goes back to even before I had a driverslicense. I just knew I would get my motorcycle license and ride a Kawasaki. Sticking with Kawasaki will limit my choice of motorcycles (but maybe that's a good thing with so many models around), so I also keep an eye on the bikes of the 'competition'.
It started in 1984 with a secondhand KL 250 (single cylinder, four-stroke, off the road bike), which I bought after I failed my first license test. Back in those days it was possible to ride on public roads with a 'learners permit' and an L plate on the back of the bike (without supervision of an instructor, that is). I passed the second test and started using the bike to commute (school) until winter. Sold the bike the next year (why? that's what I am still asking myself too).
The story continues in 1986 with the purchase of a secondhand
Z750B (parallel-twin). The bike was modified by a previous owner: higher handlebars, custom paint, 'homemade' 2 into 1 exhaust.
This was the start of a period with lots of trouble. The electric system
wasn't very well on that bike. The electric start failed most of the time. But
the engine had then been cranked over a couple of times, resulting in
unburned fuel in the exhaust. After starting the engine with the
kickstarter that often resulted in an explosion that blew the inner
part of the muffler onto the street (I always had to check that there
weren't any people or cars behind me, when starting the bike!).
For those interested: the Z750 story continues here.
Nice Z750B feature: brakelight failure indicator!
In 1989 I bought a new, US model, CSR650.
At that time I liked the LTD models, and this grey imported CSR650 was
the option that was financially available. I had the bike for just over 2 years
and was pleased with it, well, at least until I had a 2 hour testride on a Zephyr 750!!
I had arranged a testride on a Zephyr 750, I had the bike for 2 hours and was
blown away by it's handling, brakes, seating position, looks, the whole lot
(all this compared to the CSR). I couldn't wait to get one. But the dealer was
on holiday, the b*stard, OK, mc dealers are entitled to holidays too, but they
should be limitied to wintertime ;-)
Finally, I got the bike in august 1991, on a tuesday, had the 1000km service the
next friday and was off to Germany for the weekend. This bike stayed with
me for 5 1/2 years and 116000 km. Thanks to a colleague I went on many holidays
across Europe (with him and the Zephyr).
I had the Zephyr until march, 1997. Back then I thought it was time for
another bike. But Kawasaki did, at that time, not have a model that I liked
to have.
Late 1998 I saw the first pictures of the ZR-7. Just the bike I was looking
for: no nonsense, low budget bike. I had to wait until may 1999 for my
ZR-7, but it was worth the wait.
In the fall of 2001 I thougth it would be a good idea to have a commuterbike (and not use
the ZR-7 for commuting). A trail/dual-sports/off-road bike seemed like a good
choice for that. But there aren't many bikes of that sort at dealerships. At
last I decided on this new KLR650.
Great bike. The single cylinder engine runs very nice, and sounds even better under accelleration.
At last Kawasaki has made a 2-cilinder bike again that I like.
It is the 650 cc ER-6. I have the naked version with ABS.
