Come And Live in New Zealand

"toadterror" (toadterror) 01/08/2015 at 02:23 • Filed to: None

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After reading about car culture in Australia over at Jalopnik I thought I'd do a quick search for some interesting vehicles for sale over here in NZ - and hopefully tickle some wants.

We have a superb car culture over here, come and see!

Prices are in NZ dollars (and some are quite cheap too!)

HSV R8 wagon:

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Ford F6 Typhoon Ute (Manual):

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Nissan Stagea RS4S (Manual):

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Nissan DR30 RS-x:

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Subaru Exiga STi:

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550 Touring M-Sport (for peanuts!):

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Manual Diesel wagon in blue?:

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Evo 9 Wagon?:

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Manual Diesel Legacy:

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A rare S401 Legacy STi for $9300US :

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This:

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A 993 Turbo driven by Michael Schumacher (blue leather interior!):

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Didn't even know these existed, but now the want is very, very strong:

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Z8 Alpina:

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And finally this (it's even been featured on Jalopnik! :

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Sorry, didn't mean to go on that long but I just kept finding cool stuff! I'm currently on the look out for a '04 Forester STi but there aren't any for sale at the mo :(

tl;dr: Come live in NZ

DrJohannVegas > toadterror 01/08/2015 at 02:24

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Shhhhhhh. I'm trying! Don't make it crowded down there!

Edit: The Southern Alps and all the delightful middle-displacement Japanese bikes I can't get in the US are calling me.

toadterror > DrJohannVegas 01/08/2015 at 02:27

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I'm actually heading down south for a bit of a tour in a couple of weeks on my BMW! (you have to wait for the summer holiday traffic to clear out)

What kinda bikes are you thinking?

DrJohannVegas > toadterror 01/08/2015 at 02:38

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I have a terrible, unstoppable desire for a VFR400. It's madness, but that's what being deprived does to a person.

CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist) > toadterror 01/08/2015 at 02:58

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The HSV Club Sport. Perfect for commuting, perfect for track days, perfect for stuffing my bike in the back, perfect for the gas station, and perfect for every jalop around. But...it's a automatic. No problem! If you're spending 45000 USD on a wagon, a couple more grand will cover the swap. :)

beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard > toadterror 01/08/2015 at 03:22

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Youve got the roads for them all too. Just spent two weeks being a dirty camper on the north island.

I dearly missed my car back home so I could do the twisty bits justice.

ToyDeathbot > toadterror 01/08/2015 at 03:57

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You forgot a car formerly in the Royal Family of Brunei's car collection! :D

Being those ex-NZSAS Bodyguards does get you some good stuff.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-ca…

BATC42 > toadterror 01/08/2015 at 04:12

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In a month and a half I'll be there ! Don't know if I'll be able to afford a car, but I hope to.

Axial > toadterror 01/08/2015 at 04:49

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Does NZ do like AUS and more or less force you to get RHD conversions on imported LHD vehicles? Because UK doesn't.

Distraxi's idea of perfection is a Jagroen > Axial 01/08/2015 at 05:26

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For "normal" cars, yes. Which basically makes it impossible for cars, as you have to demonstrate that your RHD conversion meets crash regs. It's easier for commercial vehicles as the safety regs are more relaxed, so we see some RHD converted US market pickups, for example.

There are a limited number (500 a year) LHD permits issued for "special interest" (i.e. performance or collectable) vehicles under 20 years old, and you can pretty much do what you like for cars over 20. See http://www.nzta.govt.nz/resources/fact…

thebigbossyboss > toadterror 01/08/2015 at 06:40

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Is it warm down there? Here it is -26C. If NZ is warmer, I want in, if it's colder no thanks.

spanfucker retire bitch > toadterror 01/08/2015 at 07:01

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Pffft. I'm not moving to some place that has roving bands of Uruks, pillaging the countryside.

Keep your Orc problems to yourself!

1.21 JIGGA WATTS!!! > toadterror 01/08/2015 at 07:35

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Spent three weeks down there last December-January and looped probably 90% of the entire country. I miss it. Best. Vacation. Ever.

Group B Enthusiast - Captain of the supercharged barge > toadterror 01/08/2015 at 07:36

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NZ has always been my dream destination...

This:

Plus this:

=

JGrabowMSt > toadterror 01/08/2015 at 07:55

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Voodoo Blue is an amazing name.

I need it in my driveway.

Flavien Vidal > toadterror 01/08/2015 at 08:04

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Holy markup batman!!

That spider is worth about 30000 USD in France... Almost double that price in NZ...

twochevrons > toadterror 01/08/2015 at 09:20

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To everybody who wants to move to NZ, yes, it's every bit as good as you think. There's JDM and European awesomeness EVERYWHERE. Fuel is cheapish (pricier than the US, cheaper than Europe), and you've only got to look at Google Maps to see how amazing the roads are.

I grew up in Auckland (I'm in the US now), and my folks still live there. Last time I was back, I borrowed my father's Citroën BX 16v (one of the more underrated '80s hot-hatches) and had a fantastic time tearing up and down the North Island. Until I broke it, but that's another story.

burntartichoke > toadterror 01/08/2015 at 11:17

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I want a Stagea so badly! :(

Axial > Distraxi's idea of perfection is a Jagroen 01/08/2015 at 14:51

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So reading that, it seems that if I were to move to NZ my 25 year old ZR-1 would be relatively easy to use on public roads. Might need a few safety modifications (amber turn signals?), but no RHD conversion.

There's also the temporary, overseas tags option.

I find it interesting that AUS and NZ require RHD, while UK doesn't require RHD and other countries (including the USA) don't generally require LHD.

RallyWrench > toadterror 01/08/2015 at 16:26

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I'd love to, thanks! I came over there for 3 months back in 2002, it was an absolutely epic experience. I live in California, and I liken New Zealand to CA without the assholes & overdevelopment. Just a wonderful, wonderful place, with a vibrant car scene.

Early in the trip we rolled into Taupo late at night after a day on the road. I immediately noticed all the race car trailers & found my way to the track the next day. It was just amazing, and from there I found all kinds of great car shows & specialty shops to visit throughout our trip. I wish I'd shipped back the Nissan Bluebird SSS Turbo we bought while there for about $400 US, but it wasn't yet 25 years old so importing it was a no-go. I'll have to dig up & scan my pics some day, very fond memories there.

toadterror > DrJohannVegas 01/09/2015 at 00:57

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They are just so racey! I'e had a quick blast on one in Wellington and you could just tell the city was not the place to be one one - screaming to be let free on some country roads! Just get one, you'll be a happier person

toadterror > Axial 01/09/2015 at 00:58

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In this country, if it's a turn signal, and it blinks, it's sweet.

toadterror > RallyWrench 01/09/2015 at 01:04

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Those SSS Bluebirds are a sweetheart of a car - complete sleeper - Terrific steer - was yours dark silver? If you do still have those picture - do it and share it on Oppo, I'd love to see them!

That would be Taupo Motorsport park - it's had a bit of an upgrade of late - Held a couple of A1 GP races too..

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taupo_Mot…

I live in Rotorua so it's about a 50 min drive for me down there - got my first track day in the NA MX5 with the local club there in about a month!

toadterror > twochevrons 01/09/2015 at 01:08

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Seriously everywhere. Everyday you'll see a cool euro or rare Japanese import - About a month ago I almost brought a Toyota Sera (for $1000 NZ) but the amount of work it needed was crazy - such a cool car - this one was crack pipe from doom.

Ah man a BX 16V? Those are so awesome! Please tell me it was red? What broke? Everything?

toadterror > ToyDeathbot 01/09/2015 at 01:09

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Very cool car huh, it's a little (a lot) out of my price range, but damn if it isn't cool.

toadterror > beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard 01/09/2015 at 01:10

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Cool! where did you go? I live in Rotorua, get there?

See any cool cars while over?

toadterror > CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist) 01/09/2015 at 01:14

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Believe it or not there are a few stick shifts around!

toadterror > spanfucker retire bitch 01/09/2015 at 01:16

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For a lot of Kiwis, the Lord of the Rings and the hobbit are embarrassing. That's all people think of this place when they think NZ - There's so much better stuff here (this from a New Zealander that doesn't like any of the new Hobbit Movies)

toadterror > 1.21 JIGGA WATTS!!! 01/09/2015 at 01:17

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Awesome. Did you make Rotorua? That's my home town - see any cool cars?

toadterror > Flavien Vidal 01/09/2015 at 01:17

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We are a long way away...

toadterror > BATC42 01/09/2015 at 01:17

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Where will you be? Studying in Auckland right?

toadterror > thebigbossyboss 01/09/2015 at 01:20

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It's warm. Today was 26 degrees!

toadterror > JGrabowMSt 01/09/2015 at 01:23

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I LOVE the names Holden has for their cars. Crunch Green?

toadterror > burntartichoke 01/09/2015 at 01:24

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Me too. So many automatics here though - prefer a Forester STi (little bit more practical, little less Nissan)

toadterror > Group B Enthusiast - Captain of the supercharged barge 01/09/2015 at 01:34

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Exactly.

Took this just the other day (mine and my dads)

7 of the best BMW cylinders ~

toadterror > CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist) 01/09/2015 at 02:19

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Ever heard of the HSV Avalanche? - Lifted HSV

Flavien Vidal > toadterror 01/09/2015 at 02:36

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So am I... I live in Japan, very far away from my home french country...

These are actually cheaper than in France here and come with even less mileage :)

http://www.goo-net.com/usedcar/spread…

http://www.goo-net.com/usedcar/spread…

toadterror > Flavien Vidal 01/09/2015 at 02:49

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Wow those are cheap and that blue!

What do you do over there?

CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist) > toadterror 01/09/2015 at 02:50

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so it's the true New Zealand outback Rallycross mobile.

toadterror > CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist) 01/09/2015 at 02:52

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5.7L v8 - AWD HSV wagon - sounds good to me!

Flavien Vidal > toadterror 01/09/2015 at 03:17

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I'm starting my own company... Can't really develop on that for now, but doing pretty good :)

My wife is Japanese so it simplifies lots of things (paperwork, visas...etc).

Group B Enthusiast - Captain of the supercharged barge > toadterror 01/09/2015 at 08:05

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O.O So much WANT!

twochevrons > toadterror 01/09/2015 at 09:30

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A friend of mine back in high school had a Sera. It looked like it was from the future, especially next to the Triumph 2500 that I was driving at the time! I never ended up owning any Japanese imports (I instead went for Euro oddballs – a Rover SD1 and a Citroën Xantia), but they still hold quite an appeal.

The BX is in white – they look quite good in that, too, IMO. One of the balljoints in the shift linkage broke, right as I was turning across traffic in an intersection. Not ideal, though at least that meant that I got to instead borrow my mother's car – a manual Alfa 156 wagon! Fantastic car, but it somehow managed to feel even more fragile than the BX.

The BX does pretty well, really – it's got 320,000km on the clock (pretty good for an '80s French performance car!), and the mechanicals are in amazing shape. It still loves to rev, and it's hilariously quick when you wring it out. Even the hydraulics don't give any real trouble. It's just everything else that breaks.

RallyWrench > toadterror 01/09/2015 at 12:35

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I've heard it was updated & lengthened, Speedhunters did a drift feature there not too long ago. Very cool, I'd love to get some track time there!

My SSS was white with black & red trim. CA18DET, adjustable suspension, good seats. It was an '84 with registration PG 3371, as I recall. I was there with my now-wife, and we're car shopping all around Auckland, test driving beat up old Falcon sedans and a Honda City with an obviously blown head gasket, among others, and then I see this SSS badge on what looked to me like a US market Maxima... "That's the one!!" It was something like $1000NZ, which with the exchange rate at the time was around $400US. We lived out of it, camping everywhere, and drove it to the tip of the South island & back up over 3 months, with only a couple little hiccups that I was always able to remedy on the side of the road. I was able to fling it around a bit on some amazing dirt roads, it was a really fun car. Wish I had it here now.

It looked similar to these:

Maybe I'll get those pics out this weekend, we haven't reminisced on that trip in awhile. Cheers!

1.21 JIGGA WATTS!!! > toadterror 01/09/2015 at 13:25

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Yup. Rotorua was our third day in NZ. Unfortunately, we traveled 6000 km (3728 miles) that trip, which averages out to 353 km per day (219 miles per day) . That mean that we didn't have much time to sit down and see the small things. I did like a lot of the cars I saw there. Especially the Senator and Falcon (and Ranger of course), things which we do not have in the States. The only things we stopped to see in Rotorua was the thermal pools and geysers.

I have been meaning to start a mini series on Oppo about my trip down there, complete with pictures, because we saw A LOT of things...

BATC42 > toadterror 01/09/2015 at 14:33

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Yes, and I just got my student visa

toadterror > RallyWrench 01/09/2015 at 16:52

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That is a great looking car, Just begging for a big par of yellow fog lights! Loving the small blacked out lip on the front.

Sounds like a great trip, where are you now?

toadterror > twochevrons 01/09/2015 at 16:56

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Thats a great story! I use to see this red BX with four (four?) spoke mags around and every time I was overcome. Such a sweet looking mobile! 320Kms is getting there, what was the rego? I'll look it up!

156's are a great car, it's so funny how small they are when you try and pack them, was it a selespeed?

toadterror > 1.21 JIGGA WATTS!!! 01/09/2015 at 16:58

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Cool, and do it! Also, that's a lot of driving every day, we don't have that big a country so you really covered some ground!

Distraxi's idea of perfection is a Jagroen > Axial 01/09/2015 at 17:01

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Pretty much, yes.

I guess the "RHD required" thing is because Oz and NZ don't have much of a freeway network; most long distance roads are two lane. And overtaking is where wrong hand drive is most dangerous. They're more relaxed about older and spcialist vehicles becuase those don't tend to cover a lot of miles.

toadterror > BATC42 01/09/2015 at 17:02

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Awesome, you'll love it.

toadterror > Group B Enthusiast - Captain of the supercharged barge 01/09/2015 at 17:05

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Great bikes, what ind of BMW are you driving? (making an assumption?)

twochevrons > toadterror 01/09/2015 at 17:42

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Citroen had some crazy wheels in the '80s. My father's has the stock alloys, which look like the car in the picture (in fact, the whole car is identical to his). With 160 very peaky hp and weighing in at only 1000kg, they're absolutely hilarious to drive. For even more insanity, a friend of mine put the engine from one of those into a Peugeot 205 GTI.

My parents' 156 is a manual with the 2 litre JTS engine. Not quite as exciting as the twin-spark or V6, but it's a thoroughly enjoyable drive, and it has a lovely exhaust note. I love the interior, too, even if it breaks if you so much as look at it too hard. As a station wagon, it is a total failure with comically small rear seats and hardly any load space (my current daily driver here in the states is a Volvo 850R wagon, so that sets a pretty high standard), but it's so utterly gorgeous that I'd still own one in a heartbeat.

I hear that the Selespeed has a bit of a reputation for quirks, but I've never experienced one, so I shan't judge it. I've actually been meaning to do an opporeview of both cars for ages, but I didn't grab anywhere near enough photos last time I was there. I might put them up anyway if I find time to finish the writeup.

Group B Enthusiast - Captain of the supercharged barge > toadterror 01/09/2015 at 17:52

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Lawls! I'm a long-time BMW fanatic, but I've yet to own one... First car was a '96 Impala SS (350 SBC/54K miles), and I've currently got a 2004 Park Avenue Ultra (supercharged/120K).

RallyWrench > toadterror 01/09/2015 at 18:14

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It was indeed, I'll be back someday for sure. I'm just outside of San Luis Obispo CA, on the coast between SF & LA. My little slice of NZ here in CA.

beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard > toadterror 01/09/2015 at 18:31

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Yeah, flew in to Auckland, went to Tauranga for a couple of days by the beach and then across to Hamilton via Hobbiton, down to Waitomo Caves and then on HWY 4 past the national parks down to Whanganui to get ti Wellington for NYE, then up for a couple of days in Taupo and Rotorua on the way back up.

HWY 4 was pretty awesome, not too twisty that we'd get into trouble and not too hilly that the little Almera we were driving would run out of breath up hill. If I had my car I probably would have done something silly.

Only regret was not having enough time to do the south island, but I think I'm gonna head back there with my mates and do a motorbike tour in a couple of years.

Didn't get a chance to do the hot mud in Rotorua but we checked out the Redwoods and Waimangu. The GF got sick of the sulfur, it was pretty bad for the days at the holiday park we stayed at.

as far as cool cars go, cause I'm an Aussie most of the JDM import sports cars I see at home anyway.. I thought it was way cooler to see all the boring JDM econoboxes and Kei cars we don't get.

1.21 JIGGA WATTS!!! > toadterror 01/10/2015 at 00:25

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Google Maps wouldn't allow me enough points to plot it, but we covered a loop around the exterior from 7/8 to the top of the North Island to 7/8 to the bottom of the South Island and back....

mattsname > Axial 01/21/2015 at 15:29

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No NZ is not like Australia, you don't have to convert but the laws regarding private imports and reselling are weird. You can import any LHD vehicle privately to NZ regardless of age. It requires minimal compliance and must pass a warrant of fitness (road-worthyness) but otherwise you are good to go. On cars under 20 years old and operated as LHD you have to own it for 5 years before you can resell it as a LHD. If you want to sell it within 5 years it must be converted to right hand drive. This applies only to cars under 20 years. Over 20 there is no requirement for selling/reselling LHD cars. Friend of my family imports Corvettes. Interestingly GM prohibits export of brand new vehicles. All C7's here are technically 2nd hand.

N4CR > DrJohannVegas 01/22/2015 at 06:32

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Absolutely raped the shit outta one around a track once. It was sprung for a friend who was half my weight but yeah.. came back minus some footpeg, boiling over radiator, but was a hoot!

Torque of a twin with screaminess of a IL4.. weird combo. And it vibrates like fuck! You'll love it.

Also would recommend NSR300 without power valves (highly tuned NSR250), RG150R is suprisingly quick and fun for a tiny bike, and ZXR250C, the 19krpm screamer king of 250cc 4 strokes. Reliable as hell and will do 210+kmh!

And 06 + ZX10R. And 01 ZX12R And try a ZX14 or flying couch as I call them..

Yes, I love kwakas.