Kawasaki Z200 - £350-£450? I fancy this..any views?

[crammy69]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... TQ:GB:1123

I'm gonna try and go see this tonite as its local to me and looks well priced, I fancy something that I can extend the commute into the winter on and this looks the job ( ok, TBH I dont really need it but Ive got a £500 cheque from the insurers in lieu of car hire burning a hole in my sky rocket )(



Any experience of these?

[Cerberus73]

nice old kwak crammy at that money... go for it, unless the engine sounds like a bag of nails.. i even like the colour. closer to 350 ya can get her for the better the bargain... so time to get picky with any minor flaws

[digger06]

gutless little things, but they were a pretty solid no frills machine

[crammy69]

Well I went to see it, other than a bit of grottyness along the bottom edges of the petrol tank and paint chips on it, the frame and so on was very well preserved indeed. I took it for a very short run up the fellas road and back and the engine started to weep oil out the head, so looks like a new head gasket required (big job? ) . He wants every pound of the £450 buy it now, so gonna have a little think on it.

Cheers
Simon

[Cerberus73]

if you aint badly needing it and its a impulse sorta buy, and well its "free money" courtesy of the insurance hold out till end of auction, if no one else bids go back offer £350 plus his listing fee, and mention that he could end up listing it again or advertising it for a long time on free sites etc as its a crap time of year to be selling bikes. and your stood there with the moolah ready to grease his palm. actually walking away and playing the waiting game stands in your favour, shows yer not chomping at bit and if no one else bids or makes a offer that theres no huge demand. the cash ya save could pay for the head gasket and a service.

[wightegi]

Cable opperated front disc ,the cable looks to be routed the wrong way . They need care and lubrication.

[cruncherkid]

gutless little things, but they were a pretty solid no frills machine

That's hit the nail squarely on the head about them.......i would also be looking under those horrid (and badly fitting) aftermarket fork gaiters to see what horrors are lurking

[crammy69]

Cheers guys, its only had 2 bids so far, one of which was cancelled, so maybe a last minute bid might see it owned . How big a job is chaninmg the gasket, Im guessing not huge , just bolts etc?

[Pjam]

How big a job is chaninmg the gasket, Im guessing not huge , just bolts etc?

Bit more involved than that but not too hard I'd guess. I'd be more worried about why it's weeping, and if he's trying to hide it ........... along with what under those gaiters as cruncher said.

I'm not familiar with them so can't recommend, I'd go with what the others are saying ...... pithless etc. Does look nice though.

[CubMate]

Had one in the eighties and found it excellent for the London commute although it ran out of steam on the M25, 60mph was a realistic travelling speed. The big end went at 37,000 miles but I put a new crank in and kept it for a further 20,00 miles without problems. Points to watch are the usual ones, the mudguards rust through from the inside. The swing arm pivot bushes wear so I put a grease nipple on the arm, and the cable operated front brake likes plenty of fresh grease on the cam and ball bearing plate otherwise it siezes.
The head comes off without removing the engine from the frame and has three potential oil leak points. There are "O" rings on the cam cover and the cam chain tunnel ( probably the source of the current leak ). Also the rev counter drive cable weeps when it's "O" ring gets tired. I'm not sure of parts availability, worth checking.
Hope this helps,

Doug.