7R rider myself. I heard a saying once: Going up a pass road with a ZX-7R you were the guy working the hardest, sweating the most, and probably last of the group to arrive ... but, you were also the guy with the greatest grin under that helmet and it would not go away for quite some time 😀 And I can say it's the truth.
I had one off these. Had Ohlins front internals, Ohlins rear, PFM callipers and floating disks, full Akra pipe and tune.e A it was not uncomfortable at all, had the best front end in the business and beat GSXr 1100/750s and R1 s at the track all the time. Just a brilliant bike with a awesome motor.
💯 agree. Out of all the bikes I’ve owned over the years it wasn’t the fastest, the most refined, the hottest bike out thier for the masses. But it’s the only one that consistently has me searching for either that same bike, or the same spec as the one I had because its by far the one I miss the most. When the right one comes along I’ll be stickin her in the garage next to the foxbody, just as I did many years ago only this time I won’t be letting her go. To me the perfect combo of that 90’s era perfection(add a kx250 or kx500 next to them and now we talkin dream garage😉)
Guy who’s never ridden a sport bike here (I ride a KLR650): I have so much respect for these old super bikes, and they hold a special place in my heart. Awesome bike man!!
I've had 2, both red and purple, stunning looking and addictive induction roar, the induction pipework was designed to add a few bhp at high speed!, very planted, safe ride, indicated 165mph, but had to sell due to pressure on wrists and creaking back!, but awesome and addictive, some say they were a bit fat and slow, but thats missing the point entirely as its all relative, anything over 130 is a rocket and these were supposed to do 160, anyway no matter, they win all because they are the best looking 750s ever made..
Just bought a 1999 ZX-7R for €1300 and am getting the Ninja back in working order. I live a 15 minute drive from the Nürburgring and the ZX-7R will be my future Norschleife bike. A species-appropriate attitude in my opinion.
I LOVE that you guys across the pond really know how to appreciate 80's/90's superbikes. I used to ride an '83 Kawasaki GPz 305 and the pack I rode with were all on liter bikes (Ninjas, Gixxers, VFR's, FZR's, etc...). They were all respectable bikes, but they had their places: Yamahas = track bikes, Interceptors = daily drivers, Katana's = tuner bikes, Ninjas = Lords of The Streets.
iv'e had 3 7r's and to sort thr brake issue you need to fit the 4 pot calipers off a 1200 '97 bandit, bolt straight on but need slightly longer hoses. Job done, trust me..
I would agree. Late 90's, early 2000's sports bikes are the last best rider bikes built. Carbs, no electronic rider aids, just man and machine. I have a 1999 R6 and a 2002 R1. I'd love a 1997 ZX7R in red and purple (fast bikes pulp friction). I had 2 1998 ZX7's back in the day, a red one and a green one. That induction noise 😍 I miss those bikes so much.
I dropped back from a 2000zx9 to a 96zx7, and a fantastic bike. Handled better than the 9, loved it. Rode it for over 10 years, but it started to cost to much. Could stay with the 9s and the zx12s. Best bike I ever had.
Love everything about this. Had my GSXR 1000 K5 since 2007. Considered selling it a few times and could never part with it due to sentimental reasons. Once something becomes a strong memory to lost loved ones it's better to just hold on to it. Even if it only gets out once a year. I hope you still have it otherwise I know you would be hiding a massive void.
I've got a zx7r p6 2002 and I love it I've had quite afew bikes but this one I really enjoy .it is true you will spend but that is part of the era they come from .
@JonnyLeeguitarist don't sell it if you haven't already the prices are slowly starting to climb like you predicted these are getting rarer as they get tracked and crashed we need to preserve a few good ones 😀
I had a 1995 and loved it. It was the most uncomfortable bike I've owned but it couldn't be beat in the twisties. They owned the tracks when new with alot of wins and poles and championships.
Brakes on new bikes must be great. I had the same ZX7r, same colour. Every ride was a blast, even lying on the tank going down the motorway to work in the rain. I used to use 1 or 2 fingers only on the front brake and could put it on it's nose anytime with no effort. My best bikes in earlier years were Gsx1100's including a red katana and 1 GPZ1100, early model. The other bike that bought me as much joy as the ZX7R, was a Ducati Darmah, SD900. Nothing had brakes like the ZX7R. Under hard braking, the back wheel had no weight on the ground and would just skip along behind, gripping intermittently, just to make it interesting, being careful to keep it straight. That is on warm and dry roads in Aus though. And yes, that grin was from ear to ear and back again. The most number of smiles per mile for sure on th ZX7R. Oh, and I wasn't up with the faster riders either 😁
You sure your calipers don't just need a overhaul? Them 6 pot tokico's are bad for spitting the dust seals out but when there in good shape they work okay, your brakes shouldn't be that bad, get some braided hoses on and ebc hh pads with fresh fluid and serviced your calipers and they'll be good👍
@@JonnyLeeguitarist Me too.. it's my 4th one! I first bought an H2 ZXR in 1990 on finance aged 18.. the insurance killed me, so i had to sell it after 12 months! 😂
I was a bit surprised you said the brakes are rubbish my p1's brakes are awesome and ive had on the track many times , but could be the brakes need an overhaul, great bike one of the best looking bikes ever
Nice bike mate, I ride a 2000 ZX9r I totally agree that people should buy these bikes from this era they are just awesome. As for those brakes, they can be difficult to bleed properly causing a spongy lever, try this it works for me with these and later radial Tokico's that are also a pain especially if you have to start with a dry system. What I find works every time to get a solid lever and better braking, is knowing that they can and usually do trap air in the back half of the caliper, so what I do is take one caliper off (probably best to do the left caliper first as you should when bleeding them), put an allen key in between the pads and pump the brake lever while turning the caliper upside down and at different angles, this purges the trapped air and should give you a solid lever. Obviously fitting good pads and braided lines helps too if you hadn't already.
Superb explanation of this model, the front end is one of the best ever fitted to a superbike of this era , to get the best from the handling you have to suss out the rear ride height and then as you said brilliant and well planted. You appear to live close to me , good footage of Wirral area and Two Mills going to Wales, just subbed , like your presentation mate.
I’m in the situation of maybe having to sell my Z900RS that I’ve spend a load of money on & thinking I may get one of these to still at least have a bike? - good to see you riding on the Wirral also. Found this video really helpful
I ride a P5, green. It’s hilarious. You don’t need brakes if you know how to use one.Never ceases to put a smile on my face, every time I go out on it. The induction roar is infectious, they’re heavy enough to pile through most inconvenient obstacles. Those who know, ride a 7….
More than enough power to get you into serious trouble…My mate sold me his as he’d bought a 10R…needless to say he didn’t have it for long. I rode it myself, far too powerful for the roads we use. It was an early one without the electric gizmos…
I had one of these, best bike I had but bought it new. Brakes were awesome but your one is old so prob not good pads or maybe discs are past it’s sell by date? I out-braked a GSXR-750 on a street race, he beat me on the straight but I got him on the roundabout with the brakes. (After watching many episodes of WSB). Yes the guy is right ‘96/97 was a great year for bikes and 90s generally and AFFORDABLE. Super bikes now pushing £20k, crazy!! PS: This bike in the orig green got super bike of the year (‘97 I think)? And voted best looking bike. I got looks on mine ❤️
Hahahaha!!! Now that was a fu..ing good show!!! One of the best in a long time...Thanx man!!! I got the little one of these things...1996 ZXR 400...and what a little ripper that is!!! Actualy, its my boyz .. 😁 love to jump on it once in a while when my cramps in my legs are not acting up too much
Great video mate, and your certainty right about how uncomfortable they are, being in liverpool meself i took mine to the ponderosa, by the time i got back i thought my neck and back was broke😂.
i think the first gen fuel injection saves a bit on the maintenance, while still enjoying the raw experience. 2001 gsxr 600,750,1000. 2003 was a big year for fuel injected cbrs, yamhas, kawasaki, the r6
@@JonnyLeeguitarist yours has been sat in my mates garden since those scally pricks pushed it over. I rode it to work and back about 10 times. You're welcome to take it back mate. Don't want anything for it but I can't watch it get weathered anymore. Going to end up scrapping it for parts if you don't want it back but I much rather think it's still out there being used.
I agreed with you in selling. I am sure if you sell you will regret it in the future. On the other hand, if you find another one exactly the same you could make from two bikes 1 bike and sell the second one and keep the better one and have a historic piece that will increase value over time from the times we're bike we're real bikes 😂
Had it's predecessor a 93 zxr750L1. It had it's niggles but overall despite it being an all year round bike (think cut slicks on a January morning) it was reliable. Best front end of any bike in that era, brakes would hoist the rear wheel. Life got in the way and it became unused so sold it, big regret
@@JonnyLeeguitarist I've 2 bikes tucked up in my dining room safe & dry, I'd need to ask her if she could do without some furniture to make room for a 3rd
Though at first was Welsh Rd a41always liked these my first i was a fzr 750 I got it in 1994 first owner in and it passed me 4 years after I sold it would buy back it was around Chester
Sorry to gob off but a bit of advice from an old fart to any youngster thinking of going this route Go Honda V.F.R. 750/850 you will save a fortune !! trust me and they are quite comfy !!!!
Love zxr750, zx7r, zx9r & zx12r era all just out & out true riders bikes and loads of fun. I've got a a1h 12r loads of fun but fcuk me she's a heavy beast. I'd love a 7r but I might have to settle for a 9r due to being 6ft 5 I might make the 7r look like a mini moto 😂
Sorry but not a patch on the "YAMAHA Y.Z.F.. 750 R" AND THAT'S a fact !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Having owned both and raced both The Yamaha as stock is much better bike !!!!!!!!!!! If it was not for the Blade being launched at the same time the Yamaha would have been the better selling bike and is constantly the forgotten Gem in the crown !!!
You need to fix the brakes. Those are some of the craziest calipers on the market for its era. You can endo into a corner with one finger. I know because I spent a lot of time and money restoring a set from 1993 with proper floating rotors from SunStar. The later versions from around 1996+ had 3 sizes of pots fixing the brake pad uneven wear issue. Get some stainless lines, master and calipers rebuilt, stainless pots, new rotors, and modern carbon ceramic sintered pads and you would not believe how those brakes from 30 years ago function.
