www.zxrworld.co.uk

Evening all.

Just thought I'd introduce myself and take advantage of this moment to "pick" your brains if you like with a little dilemma I have. Your contributions will be greatly appreciated so thanks well in advance.

British born but live in Cyprus most of my life. Being surrounded by sea offers a profound amount of tranquility I have to say. Mad about bikes but always on the look out for a bike with character. Will the ZXR be my next bike? Well... that's were you come in.

By a complete stroke of fate I stumbled across a brand spanking new ZXR400. She's a minter, with 00000 km's on the clock and the last action she's really seen was being wheeled into a showroom and then a basement. Year of manufacture is 2001, whilst year of import to Cyprus 2002. Now I've just sold my CB400 which served me well but as I said, character is essential and the CB400 well... bland is the word that springs to mind.

The dealer is asking for 2 grand for her, roughly 2,4 sterling which in my mind is a steal. I suppose what I'm asking for is, why do you think i should spend 2 grand on a zxr400?

A couple of concerns on my end are: What are the implications of a bike laying dormant for so long (6 years really)? I know for a fact that there is 0 parts availability here in Cyprus, but what about elsewhere?

Your suggestions are GREATLY welcomed at this point

Cheers!

eeerrrrrrrmmmmmmm you're still thinking about it? you must be crazier than me!! why would you worry about spares if its brand new? the only thing i would worry about is how its been stored, if its been filled with oil then ok, if its not then it may have rusted up internally, i would try and bump start it with the ignition off to see if the engine turns over before even trying to fire it up.

If you do need spares i was a go between for a chap in cyprus after a cush drive a while back which he got from Barton motors of Bath over in the uk., so there's an outlet for you!

go get it!

Well in all honesty i've been digging up as much info on the ZXR as I could since my post. Have to admit, I'm liking it more and more.

Having owned an MGF before trading it for a scooby, have to say that I love anything that can be customised. It seems the darkside is well and truly alive for this bike and I reckon i'd be flippin mad to refuse this offer.

The dealer selling is willing to do a complete check up before delivering the bike which eases my mind to a great extent. I am wondering though, would the tires be pretty knackered after 6 years of virtually nothingness (isn't 3 years the average life expectancy)?? If changing the tires is recommended, what do you see as a right choice as far as brands go?

Cheers for the go between offer may well take you up on the offer although i do frequently visit the UK. Are there any other Cyprus registered zrx's on the forum or that you know of?

no zrx's here mate only zxrs

mgf to scooby?? i've heard that before!!

tyres i would definitely change after 6 years, go for pirelli diablos, evo corsas or similar, well thats my personal preference and i think they suit the zxr down to the ground!

a brand new zero miles ZXR for 2.5K, why are you still here? go buy the thing before i do!! A brand new ZXR a few years back (before they stopped making them) would cost you over 4K.

hey, I paid the best part of £2k for a 12 year old one with 8000 miles on the clock. given that offer i'd probably have bitten the dealers hand off.

Thanks everyone for pushing me in what I too feel is the right direction.

Just to give you an update:

- Spoke to kawasaki's authorised mechanic this morning. He knew all about the bike. He reckons 400 pounds will be enough to restore it to its former self (new battery, new rubber, fluids, health check + labour).

- Obtained Bike's VIN and Engine Number which is now with merchanic who's currently running a background check on the bike with Kawasaki Japan. Just to make sure it's all legit

- Mechanic also looking into parts catalogue and workshop manual availability through Japan.

The dealership currently selling the ZXR has offered to make it roadworthy at their own service centre (not affiliated with kawasaki). Thinking of knocking another couple of hundered of the price and just taking it the authorised kawasaki myself - makes perfect sense really.

Keep you in the loop as I know more.

Cheers

Hows cyprus these days? i spent 6 years out there when i was in school, dad was stationed in Ayios Nikolaos. Loved it to bits, but i bet it's changed a fair bit since i left in 98 i know it was getting even more touristy in Ayia Napa and Larnaca.

Got to know several people via forums who spent time in Cyprus. Can't say that much has changed since 98 though. Ayia Napa hit the clubbing headlines during 99 - 2001 and was pretty much self declared the Garage capital of the world. This then led to Ayia Napa being crowned as the sleeze capital of the world with images of orgies and what not hitting british tabloid papers. I also love Cyprus but the place can get on your nerves. I'm one of the lucky ones really as I travel a lot due to my job so can't really complain

you can get all the parts microfiches and workshop manuals from here mate!

Cheers for pointing that out... only found that out last night as I was browsing the site.

Well just to let everyone now, I've done it, by this time next week all being well I should be the proud owner of a brand new ZXR

Can't say I'll fully appreciate this little beast until she's run in but most certainly worth the wait!

I'm coming over to Cyprus in August for my sisters wedding, I'll need to wave at any ZXR400's I see now

Trust me greengoblin, you may have a little difficulty there. Speaking to the kwakker merchanic this morning and I may well have the last standing ZXR on the island!!!

There's proof of another couple roaming around but i've never seen one personally. Cypriots as a nation tend to all drive high powered bikes (R1's. Busas etc), anything under 600cc as a bear minimum is considered a scooter. EU statistics naturally point out that we also have the highest death toll and i'm guessing the highest bike accident rate... 400cc is more than enough for me

Johnny Deviant wrote:Cheers for pointing that out... only found that out last night as I was browsing the site.

Well just to let everyone now, I've done it, by this time next week all being well I should be the proud owner of a brand new ZXR

Can't say I'll fully appreciate this little beast until she's run in but most certainly worth the wait!

Have to say im Kawasaki Green with envy!

Theres a couple of new ZXR400's on the isle of man, they want over 4K for them even tho they stopped making them 4 years ago, if only i had the cash. If i sold my 7R and my current ZXR400 i could possibly just scrape enough to buy one