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administrator · 09-25-2007, 11:09 AM

Original Article:
2008 Kawasakis: First Look

Please discuss the Motorcycle.com article 2008 Kawasakis: First Look in our Motorcycle Forums below. Use the reply button to let others know your comments or feedback on the article. Constructive criticism is always appreciated, along with your thoughts and personal opinions on the bikes and products we have tested.

BrowningBAR · 09-25-2007, 11:27 AM

The 250R redesign looks like a fun and cheap little bike.

Gritboy · 09-25-2007, 11:41 AM

Nice! Performance updates aside, Kawi seems to listening:

A return to japanese 250 sportbike that looks the part. Hopefully, more newbies learn on 250R's to bigger sportbikes now and still feel cool. Hope it sells well.

The ZX-14's new paint alone make it's look less like a plastic blob... my only complaint of a stellar piece of absurdly powerful technology. Nice visual update.

acecycleins · 09-25-2007, 12:02 PM

I know Superbikes and streetbikes are different animals but kudos to Kawi. Maybe Hacker can see a few race wins next year with the ZX10. Good going guys.

nweaver · 09-25-2007, 12:30 PM

IN the photos, its a 110/70r17 front (a IRC Road Winner RX-01F), so the front is a 110/70R17, not a 120/70R17.

If you have the original of the side profile photos (the ~8 Megapixel versions Kawasaki PR sent you) you can probably check the rear tire as well.

seruzawa · 09-25-2007, 01:01 PM

Sorry, I just don't like the George Foreman Grill look of the ZX-14.

But I like them offering improved 250s in both street and DP modes. I hope these sell well.

And kudos for a side exhaust on the ZX-10. Maybe this under-the-seat craze is over. Perhaps they'll see the light someday and ditch the obsolete chains for a modern belt drive design.

BTW, mscuddy. Notice the change back to pressed components on the ZX-10. The more things change the more they stay the same, eh? Maybe the next "new" design will look like a Benley.

The_AirHawk · 09-25-2007, 01:27 PM

Now, even the littlest Ninja looks Deadly. Hopefully, the new +1mm forks will work better than the screendoor-closers Kawi had it saddled-with before.

Kenneth_Moore · 09-25-2007, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gritboy

Nice! Performance updates aside, Kawi seems to listening:

A return to japanese 250 sportbike that looks the part. Hopefully, more newbies learn on 250R's to bigger sportbikes now and still feel cool. Hope it sells well.

The ZX-14's new paint alone make it's look less like a plastic blob... my only complaint of a stellar piece of absurdly powerful technology. Nice visual update.

+1. Kawi seems to be in the "zone" Honda used to own. Solid products, the right new models, excellent pricing. Go Green!

Buzglyd · 09-25-2007, 01:50 PM

Imagine if the Ninja 250 was a two-stroke!

Great little bike though. Hopefully it will keep the youngsters from buying a ZX10 as their first bike.

longride · 09-25-2007, 01:59 PM

I could see myself on a ZX-14. The new Kaw's look pretty nice.

09-25-2007, 11:09 AM	#1
administrator Administrator Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: On My Bike Posts: 0	2008 Kawasakis: First Look Original Article: 2008 Kawasakis: First Look Please discuss the Motorcycle.com article 2008 Kawasakis: First Look in our Motorcycle Forums below. Use the reply button to let others know your comments or feedback on the article. Constructive criticism is always appreciated, along with your thoughts and personal opinions on the bikes and products we have tested.

09-25-2007, 11:27 AM	#2
BrowningBAR Leo Bloom Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: In a really, really, really old farmhouse Posts: 4,256	The 250R redesign looks like a fun and cheap little bike. __________________ I'm a nothing. I spend my life counting other people's money. People I'm smarter than. Better than! I want... I want... I want everything I've ever seen in the movies!

09-25-2007, 12:02 PM	#4
acecycleins Founding Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: North Georgia Posts: 2,781	I know Superbikes and streetbikes are different animals but kudos to Kawi. Maybe Hacker can see a few race wins next year with the ZX10. Good going guys. __________________ Do you really understand what the term insurance means? Insurance: a form of risk management primarily used to hedge against the risk of a contingent loss. Health insurance is risk vs loss Mr Obama! What you're selling is a lifestyle product to be taxed- A$$hat!

09-25-2007, 12:30 PM	#5
nweaver Founding Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 458	250R Front Tire... IN the photos, its a 110/70r17 front (a IRC Road Winner RX-01F), so the front is a 110/70R17, not a 120/70R17. If you have the original of the side profile photos (the ~8 Megapixel versions Kawasaki PR sent you) you can probably check the rear tire as well. Last edited by nweaver : 09-25-2007 at 12:46 PM.

09-25-2007, 01:01 PM	#6
seruzawa Balrog of Morgoth Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: 8501 ft. Posts: 13,537	Sorry, I just don't like the George Foreman Grill look of the ZX-14. But I like them offering improved 250s in both street and DP modes. I hope these sell well. And kudos for a side exhaust on the ZX-10. Maybe this under-the-seat craze is over. Perhaps they'll see the light someday and ditch the obsolete chains for a modern belt drive design. BTW, mscuddy. Notice the change back to pressed components on the ZX-10. The more things change the more they stay the same, eh? Maybe the next "new" design will look like a Benley. __________________ Indeed, some of us will always be sympathetic to Mrs. Palin if for nothing else than her enemies. The bile she extracts from her critics is almost like a dye marker, illuminating deep pockets of asininity that heretofore were either unnoticed or underappreciated.

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09-25-2007, 11:41 AM	#3
Gritboy Founding Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 532	Nice! Performance updates aside, Kawi seems to listening: A return to japanese 250 sportbike that looks the part. Hopefully, more newbies learn on 250R's to bigger sportbikes now and still feel cool. Hope it sells well. The ZX-14's new paint alone make it's look less like a plastic blob... my only complaint of a stellar piece of absurdly powerful technology. Nice visual update.

09-25-2007, 01:27 PM	#7
The_AirHawk Founding Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Egypt; in the State of DeNile....... Posts: 7,504	Now, even the littlest Ninja looks Deadly. Hopefully, the new +1mm forks will work better than the screendoor-closers Kawi had it saddled-with before. __________________ *Parfois, on fait pas semblant* Sometimes, it's not pretend *Tuez L'Homme Blanc* Kill Whitey Oderint Dum Metuant Let them hate so long as they fear Gustatus Similis Pullus Tastes like Chicken Arbeit macht frei, you Nazi SOB's Nothing to see here, Citizen. Move along now.........

09-25-2007, 01:50 PM	#9
Buzglyd Founding Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 7,722	Imagine if the Ninja 250 was a two-stroke! Great little bike though. Hopefully it will keep the youngsters from buying a ZX10 as their first bike. __________________ One Big A$$ Mistake America

09-25-2007, 01:59 PM	#10
longride Super Duper Mod Man Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Anywhere they let me Posts: 9,649	I could see myself on a ZX-14. The new Kaw's look pretty nice. __________________ I'm a knucklehead