[ksurk]

Just clicked past 75k on the clock and a quick 5k miles from pa to utah and back, always impressed by this lil ninja.

Had a run in with some snow in the first 80 miles on some steep roads, had a drop and broke the fairing so duct tape did the job for the rest of the trip. Now that the fairing is messed up, along with other things, I gave er a go playing around a lil more intensely off road and if it wasn't for ground clearance this thing would shred hard.

I do have the suspension set for a 200+lbs rider and me being only 170 it works well, still bottoms out

Don't worry this moto will get some love, considering i got 25k more before I roll it over! Well once I get a new speedo cable or drive, that broke in the last 200 miles of my cross country journey, the speedo drive was squeaking a bit, but will pull apart and inspect. Fairing will get a bunch of epoxy for now until I decide how im going to make it look good again or something else.

 

[ksurk]

But seriously it would be pretty cool to see kawi do something like the tenere 700 with ninja 650 motor. Once they decide the thumper 650 is done, which does not look like anytime soon. What do you think?

 

[ridervfr]

nice jump. how long did you ride a day on your journey? you stayed at hotels/motels - or camped?

in the 75,000 miles what broke, what parts did you replace> ? pretty wordy I know, inquiring minds want to know. Peace

 

[Clive]

But seriously it would be pretty cool to see kawi do something like the tenere 700 with ninja 650 motor. Once they decide the thumper 650 is done, which does not look like anytime soon. What do you think?

Or this. Been around in the UK for a long time

Detuned GPZ engine, same as the EX.

 

[ksurk]

@ridervfr on the way out did 3 days, virgin utah, to an hour outside amarilo, 13 hours almost 900 miles, day 2 to nashville 900 miles, then day 3 was "easy" 700 miles into central pa.The leg out did one hotel and one homies house.

Way back did central pa to 3 hours north of oaklahoma city, bout 1k, second day did 900 miles to gallup nm. Then had to wait a day for a snow storm then finished into utah. All cheap hotels on the way back.

As far as parts its a laundry list, i guess as far as what broke...

Replaced my ogrinal clutch cable at 69k due to fraying

Starter button fell out around 50k

Wheel bearings at 45k replaced before they were bad

Headset bearings replaced at 60k, but should have been done before that as they were indexed

Fork seals seem to go every 2-3years will be my 3rd time replacing them

Upgraded the ignition system (cop) and regulator (mosfet) at 50k to get a stronger spark and preemptively get that stuff

Bypass kickstand switch at 40k due to malfuction

Replaced kickstand at 65k becaucse the spring was tired and no one sells 1st gen springs, so 2nd gen kickstand upgrade

Carb rebuild in 2017 at 25k by ductiman, still going strong!

Replaced 3 grab bars, but thats from have my bike rack, 1st one last 60k miles and broke 3 in 10k miles

Upgraded the tired suespension at 62k miles with racetech fronts and ninja 300 rear

Petcock was going at 60k miles went with a pingell upgrade

Front brakes upgraded to floating rotor and ss line at 25k

Stock seat replaced at 60k miles with corbin, wish i woulda done that sooner!

Only bought 1 battery so far, the stock battery lasted a long time!

Besides that normal maintaince, tires, chains sprockets, oil changes, airfilter, the works. Im probably forgetting stuff

Not bad for a bike i bought with 6k miles for 1,600 bucks

 

[ksurk]

Or this. Been around in the UK for a long time

View attachment 57712

Detuned GPZ engine, same as the EX.

That thing is pretty rad, i can't make out the model in the pic, what is that thing? Would be cool to have the ex motor in an off road package.

 

[Clive]

That thing is pretty rad, i can't make out the model in the pic, what is that thing? Would be cool to have the ex motor in an off road package.

Its the KLE variant of our GPZ/Ninja. It has the EX (UK) engine which is slightly detuned. Sold here for a few years, see them coming up on Fleabay often. Usually used as a commuter or general runabout.

It was an official Kawasaki produced model, think it ran for about 5 or 6 years here in the UK.

 

[ksurk]

Its the KLE variant of our GPZ/Ninja. It has the EX (UK) engine which is slightly detuned. Sold here for a few years, see them coming up on Fleabay often. Usually used as a commuter or general runabout.

It was an official Kawasaki produced model, think it ran for about 5 or 6 years here in the UK.

Euros always get the cool bikes 😂

 

[Clive]

Euros always get the cool bikes 😂

Yeah we get the cool weather too! Surprised the KLE isn't in the US. 4 for sale on Fleabay here in the UK. Most of em looked after by more mature riders! This one is on at £2995, thats good money for an old bike

 

[ridervfr]

@ridervfr on the way out did 3 days, virgin utah, to an hour outside amarilo, 13 hours almost 900 miles, day 2 to nashville 900 miles, then day 3 was "easy" 700 miles into central pa.The leg out did one hotel and one homies house.

Way back did central pa to 3 hours north of oaklahoma city, bout 1k, second day did 900 miles to gallup nm. Then had to wait a day for a snow storm then finished into utah. All cheap hotels on the way back.

As far as parts its a laundry list, i guess as far as what broke...

Replaced my ogrinal clutch cable at 69k due to fraying

Starter button fell out around 50k

Wheel bearings at 45k replaced before they were bad

Headset bearings replaced at 60k, but should have been done before that as they were indexed

Fork seals seem to go every 2-3years will be my 3rd time replacing them

Upgraded the ignition system (cop) and regulator (mosfet) at 50k to get a stronger spark and preemptively get that stuff

Bypass kickstand switch at 40k due to malfuction

Replaced kickstand at 65k becaucse the spring was tired and no one sells 1st gen springs, so 2nd gen kickstand upgrade

Carb rebuild in 2017 at 25k by ductiman, still going strong!

Replaced 3 grab bars, but thats from have my bike rack, 1st one last 60k miles and broke 3 in 10k miles

Upgraded the tired suespension at 62k miles with racetech fronts and ninja 300 rear

Petcock was going at 60k miles went with a pingell upgrade

Front brakes upgraded to floating rotor and ss line at 25k

Stock seat replaced at 60k miles with corbin, wish i woulda done that sooner!

Only bought 1 battery so far, the stock battery lasted a long time!

Besides that normal maintaince, tires, chains sprockets, oil changes, airfilter, the works. Im probably forgetting stuff

Not bad for a bike i bought with 6k miles for 1,600 bucks

sweet, I bought my 04 in 07 with 1500 miles for 1500 bux, got 52,000 on it, but it has a donor low mileage engine in it now. Like you, laundry list of stuff I will spare you hearing. Thanks for sharing. Peace