second life

I love the process of bringing something back to life, something that’s been maybe pushed aside, forgotten about, or even abandoned, the rare opportunity to offer another chance.

In this case a 1997 Kawasaki ZX6R (F3)

Now, like a lot of people, I love Facebook market place, its a treasure trove of unloved gems.

I was getting ready for work one morning, and while I was waiting for my coffee to brew I loaded up Marketplace, the top of the pile was this Kawasaki. Listed at the sum of £800 and in the description stating it’s been off the road under a sheet in the garage for 13 YEARS! Now that’s starting to sound like a barn find, and who doesn’t love a barn find.

Normally I might consider an offer because I love a bargain but in this case I had a feeling, Im up early, its not even 7am yet, lets just drop the seller a nice message and offer the full money, lets be honest I wanted it and its Facebook, 85% of people don’t respond for a week anyway.

To my surprise I got a reply within minutes, a few questions later I had arranged to pick it up the same evening after work, so I loaded up the trailer and got too work.

At the time I was a technician in a Motorcycle Garage surrounded by many other enthusiasts, and to my disbelief without me even mentioning it one of my colleagues states “I Saw a 97 ZX6R on Facebook this morning for 800 quid, I messaged them and it had sold already!”, as you might imagine there was quite the stir when he found out why I had the trailer with me on a normal work day.

later that evening I drove South to Peace Haven in East Sussex, a quiet coastal town surrounded by the rugged South Downs.

I wasn’t sure what too expect, marketplace is often a gamble, on arrival the bike was parked on the driveway in all its glory. Shockingly it fired right up after the owner faffed around with the 90s alarm fob, it only ran on 2 cylinders and it was definitely a bit lumpy but sure enough it ran, as tatty as it might have looked.

we were losing light so swiftly got it on the trailer and secured it with some ratchet straps, being mindful not to blow the fork seals.

After a natter we did the paper work. Unbelievably the seller had full history up until the bikes retirement in 2013, including the original Kawasaki warranty booklet and owners manual.

I got in the car and was about to set off when the seller approached my window with an aftermarket screen and a period correct Scorpion end can to which I was delighted.

I drove into the night speculating what I might find, exited to get my hands dirty, and ready to take the bike into work the next day.