On the bike hunt - Part 1 - Kawasaki

Hello all,

I went to test ride the Kawasaki ER-6n last Saturday at Edinburgh Kawasaki. I wanted my better half to come with, to sit on it and see it with me so we got geared up around 12 and headed out.

The bridge has roadworks going on at the weekend so the traffic was a nightmare. Coming down the hill before the bridge at Rosyth, I was filtering through the traffic at a slow 15mph. Tootling along this blue car in front decided to move from the right lane to the left, without signalling or checking mirrors. This meant that when she moved across, I had to slam on the brakes big licks to avoid being side swiped. I then hammered on my horn and instead of this idiot moving in to the left lane and stopping, she just slammed on the brakes in the middle of the lanes.

Evasive action was needed, but I just couldn’t physically move the bike, 2 up, enough to avoid her and Em’s knee struck the back of her car.

I can honestly say I have never been as angry as I was that day. More so because Em had been hurt, but because of the complete lack of any sort of driving knowledge displayed by that idiot woman. Thinking about it now I am starting to get angry! GRRR.

So we eventually got in to Edi-Kwak and spoke to a guy there who was a little less than vague. He didn’t deal with the sales side and he would have to see what he had to do to give me a test ride.

After a wee while I got everything set and off I went. The bike was quite quiet and even though it was a twin, wasn’t that vibe-y.

I headed out for around 30 minutes and in that time I checked the handling, speed, clocks etc. I was quite excited about this bike before test riding it and after I felt a little let down.

It felt cheap. Very skinny bike, crap clocks and the bars….oh dear. The handlebars are angled such that you feel like your elbows are about to touch. Very very uncomfortable, but changeable. The throttle was slick, as was the gearbox. A good pull from lower revs and came alive when you bridged the 6k-7k revs.

The seat was really comfy and Em’s one was too.

So after I got back I spoke a wee bit with the sales guy this time. OH BOY could this guy talk. He went on about mirrors having to be the width of the handlebars, the emmissions regulations and the weather…I only asked what price it was.

So he said £3995 for the 6n, and £4200 for the 6f, the fared model which I didn’t really take notice of until I saw it in the flesh.

A very very nice bike and very different to the N, even though it’s just some plastic on the outside. The clocks were both analogue, better than the digital one of the naked version. And it was fared, perfect for motorway miles.

Then I dropped the bomb, would you consider a Buell as a Part-ex?

Out we went and he hummed and hawed and said he personally likes them but he’s a business man blah blah.

So I left with his card and I was to phone him on the Monday.

Instead I emailed him and he said this:

Kawasaki ER6F rrp £4895.00 Our price £4700.00
Trade in price for Buell £3000.00
Balance to change £1700.00

Stop right there sonny jim. £4700 for the F?? But you said £4200 to me in the shop…and forget that!! £3000 for my exotic, £8000 bike?!

Taking the piss I thought. Not so.

As for the why is the value off the Buell as it is, it reflects best retail at the top of the selling season, versus worst trade at the bottom of the season

Very good….Goodbye.

So that was Kawasaki out the window. I am desperate for a FZ6.