THINKING of becoming a new member. :)

Ok, so I currently have a 2009 Ninja 250r. I love the little bugger, but it really is little. So I've been thinking of what my next bike should be. I do lots of touring and going cross country (Seattle to the Grand Canyon and back, the long way) was a bit challenging on it. Both power wise and space wise. I also like camping just off fire service roads. The Ninjette did OK on that front.

Anyway, I've been contemplating what my NEXT bike is gonna be since I'm just about done paying off the Ninjette and I got my basic skills in. I can't afford a 2wd Ural or that would be a blast. So I'm thinking of getting a KZ1000 p. My car is a CVPI so I'm used to the, uh, special attention, they can bring, and I really wouldn't mind the same in a bike. They seem to have reasonable power without being insane, and large without being unwieldy. Not to mention fairly affordable!

However I've read enough about them to realize that different engines provide various amounts of power even within the KZ1000 series which one would assume to be 1000cc. Where can I find a list of year to year changes of the bike as well as engine specs for them all? Or is there a special board for KZ100's like there is for Ninjettes?

Anyway, I'll try to keep this short, so loggin' off.

Most only dream of becoming a new member. Wow that is pretty neat! Touring on a lil'Ninja! But since you like fire roads and such maybe a KLR650 on/off road machine is more you're meat. It's kind of a does both (tour or scramble) well. It's big enough and roomy enough. Not to say the 1000 is not a capable machine but it does not scramble well. Just from your post I would say one of these dual-purpose machines would make your day and night. Either way welcome here. There are quite a few members here with KLR's so maybe they will have info for you.

Yeah, I've thought of a KLR, but they're high for me, and MOST of my riding is commuting and Touring. I've rather given myself a choice between a Dual Sport and a Cruiser. And the realistic option is a Cruiser/Tourer. Especially since I want something with good fairings. It may not snow here, but it gets pretty chilly. High DC output is nice too for the heated gear.

Of course I realize that what I'm going to end up doing is just having a small fleet. A KLR (ooh, wouldn't a diesel one rock?) or a Ural for mountain adventures, and touring bike for winter commuting/touring, and the Ninjette for summer carving. As much as I like the idea of off roading seriously, i'm not really all that adventurous and our summers are SCARY short anyway.

But for now, I'm shopping for a good winter bike.

Looking at parts, I see references to 96-05. Was 96 a year with major changes? And if so, are bikes post 96 typically better than the pre-96's?

Also, the Ninjette has been my only bike (2 years). I'm a big guy, so the extra weight doesn't really worry me at all. But has anyone here gone from a tiny bike to such a bigger bike? Any issues?