I think the time has come...

Wed May 4 12:59:17 PDT 2011

Hi Paul,
I guess I am in the same frame of mind as you only from a ZZR1200 platform.
The Ninja 1000 caught my attention as a lighter alternative, without the complexity, frills, electronics, bells and whisltes, humongousity,  and above all Trump-deep pockets that the Concours represents for me.
I DID manage to inveigle my local dealer into letting me take a new Ninja 1000 for a 10 minute spin.
Pretty impressive. The cabin space is deceptively roomy (the bike looks like a squid externally) for my 6ft 1inch frame. The bars are at a height as comfortable  as the Contibars I have installed on the ZZR.
Only thing is the seat, which  while seeming to be comfortable enough cants you forward towards the tank. Nothing a Corbin shouldn't fix.
The dealer hadn't a clue about how to get the price of the OEM hard bags I would want to get.
But it was an enjoyable experience to change direction with just a wish for a change.
Also surprising was its remarkable resistance to side winds. It was one of those "burn" season gusty, central Texas days and I had just dismounted from the ZZR on which were strapped the huge, out-there Givi bags and was, on the way to the shop, pretty well shoved around by the heavy winds. 
However on the same roads in the same conditions, straight line progress was more the norm. I don't think that the addition of bags will radically change this.
Re: performance. Not much to report. I respected the dealer's wish not to "violate its virginity" as he put it, and rather concentrated on "feel" "comfort" "fit", etc.
Throttle response is instantaneous, driveline operation smooth enough, no real clunkiness in  shifts; the power is there all right but .........
It requires a total pardigm shift from the raw midrange oomph of the ZZR and the silky surge of the Geeper I had. 
Been doing some more investigation and came up with this discovery of a potential Achilles heel.

http://www.cyclepathic.com/ninja1000/ninja1000suspension.htm

Now, off I go to buy some lottery tickets.

Randy  from New Orleans.

From: Paul Heim <pmheimjr at gmail.com>
To: Randy Peters <ARPEE44 at yahoo.com>
Sent: Tuesday, May 3, 2011 6:52 PM
Subject: Re: I think the time has come...

I'm still happy with mine, but the Ninja 1000 looks tempting.  Horsepower a 
little better than the Geeper and weight a little less than my ZR-7S.  And 
human (old fart) ergonomics like the GPz.  I could replace 2 bikes with 
one...  Then again, every week I see a different bike I'd like to own. 
Finances dictate that I stay the course.

Paul in Ohio

-----Original Message----- 
From: Doyle, William
Sent: Monday, May 02, 2011 12:02 PM
To: Paul Heim
Subject: RE: I think the time has come...

I am with you. Mine is also here to stay.

-----Original Message-----
From: gpzlist-bounces at micapeak.com [mailto:gpzlist-bounces at micapeak.com] On 
Behalf Of Arthur Robinson
Sent: Monday, May 02, 2011 11:52 AM
To: Doyle, William
Subject: RE: I think the time has come...

Getting older!!!?

I went to a Sunday breakfast meeting at a local café where old Brit guys
on their old Brit bikes congregate to talk.

While I was wandering the parking lot a beautiful 'tricked out' BMW
1000RR arrived with a matching rider in his immaculate leathers. He
asked me to help him to disconnect his electrics (which should have
tipped me off) and then took off his helmet to reveal an even older guy
than me (I'm 70).

It turns out that he is 83 and rode in the IOM TT in the 50's.

Let me tell you, I'm inspired and won't be letting my old 95 go while I
can still put a leg over it.

If anything happens to my '95 (God forbid) I'll be looking for another.

Art in TO

-----Original Message-----
From: gpzlist-bounces at micapeak.com [mailto:gpzlist-bounces at micapeak.com]
On Behalf Of Rob Hamalainen
Sent: 02 May 2011 09:43
To: Art Robinson
Subject: RE: I think the time has come...

I also am putting my GPZ on craigslist.
(Dave do you mind if I borrow some of your listing?
It reads a lot better than what I had).
I have a 2011 Concours in the garage waiting for
this weekend.  I am getting older so I had to
go for the slower black one.

Rob 95

-----Original Message-----
From: gpzlist-bounces at micapeak.com [mailto:gpzlist-bounces at micapeak.com]
On Behalf Of David Spaulding
Sent: Saturday, April 30, 2011 1:11 PM
To: r2h at comcast.net
Subject: Re: I think the time has come...

Hey guys, you guys probably know better than I do.  I haven't paid too
much
attention to prices lately, so please feel free to let me know if I have
it
overpriced or under or whatever.  I won't be offended. Luckily, money
isn't
much of a problem for me so I am not trying to squeeze out every last
cent,
just want to price it right.

Dave

-----Original Message----- 
From: David Spaulding
Sent: Saturday, April 30, 2011 1:31 PM
To: Dave (in Des Moines) Spaulding
Subject: I think the time has come...

It saddens me to say this, but I've posted my GPz for sale on
CraigsList.
You can find it here if you want to read my reasons or know someone that
might be interested:

http://desmoines.craigslist.org/mcy/2355080622.html

I'm still going to keep my helmet and jacket and don't think I am
putting
away my boots just yet, but my GPz needs an owner that will treat her
like I
did those first 10 years.

Dave in Des Moines

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