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From the Philippines

3K views 28 replies 4 participants last post by  Jeff in Kentucky 
#1 ·
Hey guys, I'm from the Philippines, and I'm planning to buy a new bike. Now, it's harder to find good bikes here in the Philippines, esp if budget is kinda tight(like mine), so I need your help to make the most out of my investment... So I got a few bikes in my list and among those I have:

2002 ZX7R with less than 2000km in good condition with akra exhaust -135k

1999 ZX9R with 7000km and two brothers exhaust, K&N filter - 150k
(needs some wiring repairs)

1997 GSXR SRAD 750 but has been stocked for 2 years - 90k

Can i get some pros and cons? I'm around 155lbs and 5'11" height if that matters. Can i also get the fuel consumption on these? And some other info, anything is welcome. Thanks! :)
 
#2 ·
Welcome here.

My opinions-

I would not buy a bike that is not running and needs repairs- the owner should do the repairs themselves before selling the bike, since what is said to be simple and cheap to fix may not be at all.

An experienced rider can look for any problems and test ride them- these are powerful bikes, maybe too much engine power and braking power for a beginner.

Tell the seller that the engine should be cold (not started yet that day) when you get there.

Another option is taking each bike to a mechanic for their opinion, and paying the mechanic for their time.

Fuel use- the 3 you listed will probably have the 900cc with more fuel use (and higher accident insurance) and the 700s with less fuel use.

Which is more comfortable varies a lot, if several people test rode these 3 bikes, I am guessing it would be a split decision for who liked which one the best for comfort, looks and how they handle on straights and corners.

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#3 ·
Thanks for the reply. Actually right now i'm leaning towards the zx7r. Partly because it looks good(though the gsxr with modded tail looks good too), but also because the guy's mechanic who is working on the carbs right now, is also our mechanic, and he happens to be a really good 1. So i'm just waiting for him to pu on the carbs so I can get inputs from the mechanic with regards to the condition of the bike. :) also, seems like the zx7r in general, has less problems compared to the zx9r? This bike will be used for both city and for out of town trips.
 
#8 ·
Just a follow up question. I'm currently shopping for motorcycle gear and want something that provides protection while looking casual. Anyone got any suggestions?

Oh and it's always hot here in the philippines, 25C-35C on average. Sometimes reaching 40C.
 
#9 · (Edited)
#10 ·
I used to have a jacket like this one, and I added a better back protector. You get a lot for the money, and it looks casual:
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Olympia Airglide 4 Jacket - RevZilla
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I now have a jacket like this one linked below, and I took all the armor from the Olympia jacket and added it to this one:
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Xelement 'All Season' Mens Black Tri-Tex and Mesh Jacket - LeatherUp.com
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ALPINESTARS OSCAR MONTY SHOES - BROWN - Urban Rider London

TCX X-Rap WP Shoes - RevZilla

Dainese Street Rocker Shoes D-WP - Brown ?? FREE UK Delivery | FREE UK Returns

Speed and Strength Last Man Standing Armored Moto Shirt - RevZilla

Speed and Strength Off The Chain 2.0 Textile Jacket - RevZilla

Held 6320 Catinga Jacket WP - Black

Some of the gears I've been looking at so far. Another question, is it better to have a jacket, and another full suit to wear over it during the rain? Or to have a jacket with a waterproof liner?
 
#13 · (Edited)
The average rider can usually get by with just the waterproof inner jacket liner, and a cheap pair of rainpants to go over their regular pants. It also helps to have waterproof gloves, but they usually get very hot above 75 degrees F when it is dry even with a Gore-Tex type breathable waterproof lining. I always have two extra pairs of gloves in my jacket pockets, for warmer or colder or wetter weather later that day. The spare gloves also give me some cushion to fall on if needed.


In colder rain all day you may want to get a higher quality rain jacket and rain pants, and also maybe heated grips and a heated jacket liner. The cheaper option is just stopping more often at gas station stores along the way to warm up and dry off.


Rain just above freezing quickly gets miserable if you are not dressed for it. A cheap last resort is putting plastic grocery bags over your socks and in the front of your jacket, and maybe layers of newspaper inside your jacket.


You can wear extra layers of clothes under your regular jacket and pants for more warmth, if the outer layers fit a little loose, but loose clothes are a bad idea for riding over 80 mph because they will flap around a lot.


A lot of cold weather riding is a good reason to get a bike with fairings and a windshield for more weather protection and less wind fatigue, except the extra costs to buy it and with more to break if you fall.


I would spend more for higher quality gloves and boots, and at least a basic full-face helmet, for more safety especially for a beginner, then slowly add rain gear as you find the need for it.
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#15 ·
You probably want perforated leather for track days, and a nylon vented jacket for the streets so you do not get heat exhaustion on hot and humid days, especially in slow traffic.


Hours of rain and wind can cool your body too much if it is below blood temperature- the jackets always have the rain liner with some insulation, that unzips for dryer and warmer weather.


I write from the viewpoint of middle Kentucky (1991 to now) and upper western New York State (1960 to 1990). I do not remember much about Sacramento, California weather (1959 and a couple of visits later). Maybe there is a local forum for better writing about jackets and other gear that works well for your area.
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#17 ·
I am not able to see the video.

The slight popping might be fixed with some carbs cleaning, especially the float valves and lower jet screws- carb floats can be tested by floating them in a glass jar half filled with fuel, to see if they sink. Bad floats would probably cause bogging instead of popping, from too much fuel going to the engine.

The popping when dropping down to a lower rpm is likely from being too lean- is the air filter clean? Was a custom exhaust and/or custom intake added without rejetting? Was the bike stored with a fuel stabilizer added to the fuel, then ran a while to get the stabilizer down into the carb float bowls?

If you take the carbs apart for cleaning, it is a good idea to add an aftermarket jet kit at the same time. My cruiser starts much better and has some more power from two jet kits, a homemade airbox, drilling out the backs of the stock mufflers, and hours of experimentation to get the jetting adjusted.
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#19 ·
It sounds normal in the video, with no blue or black or white smoke visible.
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#20 ·
2 pictures of the bike. Low quality, my cousin sent it through facebook, but it looks pretty clean. Papers have some problems but I'm working on it. I might get the bike, have it repaired. The seller gave me another discount so right now it's at 120k, which in the current exchange rate is around $2553. For that price here in the Philippines, I couldn't even buy a CBR 150.
 

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#21 ·
If the mechanic that rode it says it has a normal amount of power, it seems like a good deal.

Make sure the battery is getting enough volts to charge it at 3,000 rpm.
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#23 ·
Ok, so my bike is finally here! My cousin will teach me how to drive it, so far my only experience is my almost daily ride to the gym using the Yamaha mio 110cc automatic scooter, so I'll be going to an open area in a few minutes from now to test it out. Wish me luck! Oh, and any tips on how to move it around when it's not running?

I never expected that I won't be able to plant both feet flat on the ground. I'm almost 5'11" in height. Lol
 
#24 ·
OKAY, it was hard... Turning was hard, fell down once when turning while letting go of the clutch, and the bike jerked, i feel more confident since there are frame sliders so no damage was sustained to the bike. It was hard, but I expected it to be even harder.
 
#25 ·
Going less than 10 mph is a lot harder than at 10 mph or above- the gyroscopic effect from the spinning wheels will keep the bike standing up better at just a little higher speeds.

I like this video below for a race bike staying up by itself with no rider and a flat back tire- as it slows down more it starts to sway back and forth more:
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEGihH-Mo50
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#26 ·
Going less than 10 mph is a lot harder than at 10 mph or above- the gyroscopic effect from the spinning wheels will keep the bike standing up better at just a little higher speeds.

I like this video below for a race bike staying up by itself with no rider and a flat back tire- as it slows down more it starts to sway back and forth more:
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEGihH-Mo50
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Yeah and the problem is the really slow driving is hard because i'm not yet used to the clutch. I'm gonna practice in a less tight area so I can get a better feel of the bike. I'm still afraid of leaning for the turn cus I feel like it's gonna fall. Any tips on parking and moving the bike around? Is it normal that i can't plant both feet on the ground at my height?
 
#27 ·
For moving the bike around at slow speeds- lots of practice, especially if you can follow behind someone good at it.


You might be able to adjust the back shock lower, or add a different seat, so your feet reach the pavement better. Another option is boots with a thicker sole, but it affects the shifting and braking, especially if you go Herman Munster way too thick for the boot soles.


It helps that you started with a scooter, but even a little smaller diameter wheel handles a lot differently than a bigger diameter wheel, while you are also learning the feel of the clutch and throttle and shifting and braking and cornering.


An old 250 Ninja to practice with a few days might help a lot.
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#29 ·
Raising the back makes the steering quicker for track days, but the bike will feel less stable and less comfortable for normal street riding.

Most try to avoid pushing their bike around to move it, especially on slopes. Some of the heavy tourers like the Goldwing have reverse that runs off the starter motor.

If you raise the front then back wheels off the pavement, see if the wheels spin freely- the calipers and brake pads might need to be cleaned.

This video below shows how to clean calipers and brake pads:
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNz00OTRLzM
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