Washed, waxed, & complete minus an exhaust upgrade

[ZooTech]

BTW...I'm still waiting for someone to comment about how useless my rear-view mirrors are!

Ok... "Wow, those rear-view mirrors look useless!" How's that?

[Itzamna]

That's a nice looking bike. So that's what a new clean bike looks like. Makes me want to go wash mine to look the same. I always end up on a gravel road by the end of the day, so it's pretty pointless most of the time. Looking real good man.

[brbolin]

Very "scrumtrilescent"!
I want one.

[keysman]

I just had to give my bike a bath yesterday. Nice looking bike.

[brbolin]

ZooTech
Not to rehash an old thread, but every time I'm on this board and see your avatar with your bike, it just makes me drool.
I'm just starting out, so I know I'm not going to be getting one like that any time soon, but after I've ridden a while, I'd love to have a beauty like that.
Kind of a compar-o question (I don't have a Kawa dealer in the area, so I haven't actually seen one of these in person), is this along the same lines as a V-Rod or a Victory Hammer?
I love those two bikes' styling (and the upcoming Suzuki Boulevard M105 looks to be heading that direction, too), but just wondering if it was in the same "class" as those beasts or not? Also, I notice you have the single saddle, is this a bike that could easily do a 2-Up seat, or would it look rather stupid?

Thanks!

-B

[ZooTech]

Kind of a compar-o question (I don't have a Kawa dealer in the area, so I haven't actually seen one of these in person), is this along the same lines as a V-Rod or a Victory Hammer? I love those two bikes' styling (and the upcoming Suzuki Boulevard M105 looks to be heading that direction, too), but just wondering if it was in the same "class" as those beasts or not?

Yes, it is. It's a small niche class known as a "power cruiser". The Honda VTX 1800 (styles "C" and "F"), Harley V-Rod, Victory Hammer, Yamaha Warrior, and Kawasaki Mean Streak (and it's twin sister, the Suzuki M95) are in this class together. The Mean Streak is the slowest of the group, but won the comparison hands down (before the V-Rod came out) because of its superior handling and braking. It utilizes sport bike aluminum wheels, tires, inverted front forks, and dual front disc brakes with six piston calipers. It's by no means slow, but it'll have to use its cornering prowess to keep up with the other bikes overall.

Also, I notice you have the single saddle, is this a bike that could easily do a 2-Up seat, or would it look rather stupid?

Actually, I have just about the most versatile seat setup possible for this bike. I leave the solo saddle with fender bib on 99% of the time, but I also have a removable backrest for longer trips as well as a passenger pillion I can mount up if the opportunity arises. There are even sissy bars for this bike, but I gotta draw the line somewhere!



Solo with backrest installed:




Solo with passenger pillion installed:




Bibs:

[blair]

Do the machined wheels make that much difference in handling? Wouldn't spoked wheels do as well? Or would they be a weakness?

[ZooTech]

Do the machined wheels make that much difference in handling? Wouldn't spoked wheels do as well? Or would they be a weakness?

Spokes would be a liability. You have to run tubes with spoked wheels and they are prone to rapid deflation if punctured. My wheels are lightweight and strong, and use tubeless tires.

Spoked wheels have their place. On the right bike they look great...very classy. But I don't think they fit the formula of the Meanie too well.

[brbolin]

Very nice. Thanks, ZooTech.
I'll be adding this to my "future bike" list now.

[Bike Phreak]

Wow I am a Kawi guy, but mostly sport bike. I can't lie. I would sport that for sure. I bet you can brush your teeth in the morning off the chrome.