Bit of a dilema. Been offered a pan for reasonable money from a mate of mine. Its a good bike ( maintenance wise) and its one bike ive never owned or even ridden. Im thinking maybe i should buy it but what worries me is the zombie interest factor - maybe ill get bored of it in double quick time and want to get shot? Maybe i wont.

Any pan owners riders got any opinions? It'd do me a treat for motorway work and it would have to have a bit of scratchabillity to it. What dya reckon?

I went to have a test ride on one before buying the FJR. Took it off the centre stand to get onto it and decided the seat was too high and the bike too top heavy so didn't bother. Okay someone taller wouldn't have as much of a problem but they didn't put those bumpers on the fairing for show.

Youre exactly right Ian - its a top heavy beast and no mistake. My mate who owns the bike at the mo is a skinny bloke ( prolly eight and a half stone soaking wet) and only about five seven in his sidi's! he loves it but then he's not me so i dont know why i mentioned that!

I dunno, i always wanted one and its on my list of bikes ive never owned that i wouldnt mind having a personal view of if you see what i mean.

Mind you pans hold their money so maybe i could have it for a bit then flog it on and not lose.

Bit of a big job to Klik though so im told, gotta cut a bit of the fairing out. Then again bob and keith from kliktronic have kliked a couple of pans so theyd give me the patern for any brackets and the tips on how to fit ............i think im talking myself into it arent i?

What i want to know, and i need a sincere opinion , is can the bike be fun to ride?

Can't really answer that as I didn't actually ride it because I didn't feel safe (and therefore wouldn't have enjoyed it). But I have toured with a few people with them and they do enjoy them so yes it is possible. One of the chaps I was in Italy with had his teenage son on the back and when we asked the son what bike he was going to get when he was old enough he immediately said the pan because he knew what it could do. It is a very competent bike, just don't expect it to be a ZZR.

they can be fun to ride zombie, i used one for quite a while & was sad to see it go.
they keep their price well, so i imagine you wont lose out in the long run.
bit of a change from the raptor tho.
things to look for are the exhausts rotting, & service intervals of 4000 miles, the mirrors are bloody great & you might find the standard screen a bit on the low side for a tall bugger.
i flew around the backroads of northumberland on the ZZR , following a few police pans-they didnt seem to notice the top heavy handling traits.

i would go for it m8-you might just like it.

Well thats done it for me, if Dave the painter reckons theyre alright then thats good enough for me. Ill have to shift the raptor ( not gonna be easy!) but ill keep y'all posted.

If it's any help, my ex rides a pan, he's 6 foot 3" and loves it. Had it for a couple of years now and I must say, it's the most comfortable bike I've ever been pillion on.

Im 6 foot 2 and i certainly love it. Dont see how this will help????














Forgive me im dirty.