Kawasaki ER-5 Advice Sought

[Maxander]

I'm a born again biker returning after 25 years of non biking.

The bike I've been riding for the past 6 months is the Kawasaki ER-5. Everyone seems to underestimate this little beauty as a training bike, but she performs very well. In July this year I camped around Scotland on her with a friend on his Honda VFR800, doing 1,500 miles in 6 days and she was very comfortable, even though my luggage was borrowed or improvised. Fuel economy was wonderfull at about 250 miles for a 17ltr tank, mainly due to us avoiding motorways and trunk roads and taking in the scenery without the need to speed.

I came back from Sunderland recently and spent some time at a constant 80-90mph, I noticed the tank range dropped off to about 150mile and I guess that is a bit too much for her. That isn't my normal riding style though.

I've since added a small Puig windshield and a 48ltr back box, and we are planning a 2 week tour of France, Northern Italy, and Switzerland next year.

My questions are, what should I look for on the ER-5 when doing long trips, she has only done 8,000 miles ?

How often would you change the oil ?

How good a reputation has this model for electrical reliability ?

At what speed am I asking too much of her 70, 80, 90mph ?

I admire the ER-5s simplicity and on the one occasion I've had to put her down on her side, cocked up a u-turn , there is very little to scratch or break, no fairing, hard side panniers, etc. I could do with a couple of crash bungs fitted though methinks !

This website is a marvelous community and have enjoyed reading the input.

Regards

Maxander