The dark side

[mike the bike]

I've always owned Hondas, with the occasional Suzuki.  Now I've gone to the dark side and got a Kawasaki.  Does that make me a hooligan?
I was sitting on my mate's patio, social distancing, even bought a flask of coffee with me.  His back yard, various sheds and garage are like something from Steptoe and son.  I noticed the tarpaulin had come off a  bike with the wind.  A Kawasaki GPZ500S.  Sounds good.  Only wants £500 for it.  So I tarted up the VT250 and sold it for £800.
I looked at it yesterday and the years have been unkind to it.  Needs a lot more fettling than I first thought.
Anyway, it's now mine.  Bought it for £300.

[davefirestorm]

I’ve never owned a Kawasaki had 1 Yamaha 4 Suzukis,always favoured Hondas since 1977 when I stopped buying British

[cooleronthecoast]

I've had road bikes bearing the manufacturers names of 3 of the big 4, but strangely enough not any from Suzuki.   The only Suzuki I've ever owned was a RM125 crosser and what a little screamer that was!


There's no particular reason for that.  I don't hate Suzukis at all, its just I've ended up with mainly Hondas it has to be said, with a fair sprinkling of Yamahas and Kawasakis too over the years.


A couple of years back I donned the rose tint glasses and bought a Yamaha RD200, I had one as my first road bike in 1975.  It was fun to ride and brought back many happy memories, but I've (for no reason I can readily explain   ) acquired a fair amount of lard around my waistline since those halcyon days back in the mid 70's (remember the long hot summer of 76?)   and so a top speed of around 85 mph achieved by my first RD couldn't be replicated on the more recent one.   Lol

[Andrew-S]

I've had road bikes bearing the manufacturers names of 3 of the big 4, but strangely enough not any from Suzuki.   The only Suzuki I've ever owned was a RM125 crosser and what a little screamer that was!

Yep RM crossers were evil things and always trying to kill you, my RM370 broke my right wrist or maybe I dd that through lack of skill........ 

[Andrew-S]

I've always owned Hondas, with the occasional Suzuki.  Now I've gone to the dark side and got a Kawasaki.  Does that make me a hooligan?
I was sitting on my mate's patio, social distancing, even bought a flask of coffee with me.  His back yard, various sheds and garage are like something from Steptoe and son.  I noticed the tarpaulin had come off a  bike with the wind.  A Kawasaki GPZ500S.  Sounds good.  Only wants £500 for it.  So I tarted up the VT250 and sold it for £800.
I looked at it yesterday and the years have been unkind to it.  Needs a lot more fettling than I first thought.
Anyway, it's now mine.  Bought it for £300.

Nothing wrong with the Kawasaki 'dark side', I've been the 'devil incarnate' for many years.........

[bobv7]

Funnily enough I've never owned a Suzuki either. I did go out intending to buy a GS1000 but the "Don't care" attitude of the dealer caused me to walk away. I had a Kawasaki W650 for a couple of years and a cracking bike it was too and I thought better than the new Bonnevilles. However, it was the only bike I've come across that seemed to have screw treads cut into paint!

[Spitfire]

Strangely enough Suzuki is the only one of the big four that I have never owned as well, Kawasaki (H1) Yamaha (Yamy 80), Honda (too many) but no Suzuki, don't know why.

Cheers

Dennis

[mike the bike]

Suzuki electrics are a pain to work on.  The colours in loom change for no apparent reason

[mike the bike]

I bought a brand new painted mudguard for my GS850G.  Nice finish but not a scrap of paint underneath.

[Seamus]

Only ever had 2 Suzukis. One was a T350 Rebel, that I bought new in 72. The other is a T350 Rebel that was finished late last summer. Same colours etc. Love it.

Umpteen Hondas, BSA's and Triumphs. One Kawasaki (78 Z1000 A2). A few Yamahas, but these just seemed to pass through my hands but never got used.

Most were good fun,even the Brits. Still have a soft spot for the Bonnie and Commando that I had.

[Oggie400F]

I had a GPZ550S for my daily 100mile round trip commute for nearly 5 years.
Nice little bike, comfortable, quick and nimble and also reliable.
Wish I hadn’t sold it when I got the VFR.

[mike the bike]

That's good to know

[Rob62]

I’ve always been a honda and yamaha man personally... A couple of years ago I bought my first Kawasaki and I was impressed at how solidly engineered it was.... I’ve only ever had the one so I don't know if its typical Kawasaki or just because this particular model happens to be a 175mph missile.... but its certainly a well built machine. I’ve never owned a Suzuki and never fancied one tbh.... not because of any reputation or other superstition, just never fancied any of the models (with the possible exception of a ts250). My twin bro has 3 suzuki’s and he loves them as do many of the 2t fraternity...the RGV’s are particularly well regarded.. Thousands of other bikers love them too so I guess they must be doing something right.... just buy whatever you fancy is my advice, don't worry too much about other people’s preferences...

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

I had a second hand Suzuki 750 GS in 1980/81 ish only owned it for a few months.  Two things scared me it's willingness to lift the front wheel off the ground if you dared to use first gear.  Plus all the chrome work was pimpled or rusty when it was only 2 years or so old.

Replaced the chain within weeks as it was so out of shape with a Reynolds one but left the sprockets as they were due to cost.  The chain was too wide for the sprockets but I was assured by the place that sold it me that that did not matter a jot! Had shaft drive after that my Honda CB400 is the first chain driven bike I have owned since I sold the Suzuki.