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James Deuce
26th December 2005, 21:58
200kms on the clock today.

It really is half way between the R6 and the CB400. Sit up ergos with excellent steering, but less chassis "integrity" than the R6. I like that because I had to push the R6 to make it feel alive. I know I've waffled on and on, but I've been looking for that engaging "fun" factor in motorcycling, that is really easy to get with anything 400cc or less. Bigger bikes seem to become clinically over-competent at their design brief, leaving compromises that make them literally a pain to ride anywhere other than in their design-focused "kill-zone". Then there is the other extreme, where the bike is TOO general in its application to be much fun at anything.

Bit of a bugger that I'm addicted to 100bhp now then isn't it?

We went for a picnic at the Rimutaka Forest Park today, so I tried the Wainuiomata coast road out. Best bike I've taken down there, and that is without (theoretically) being able to use 7,500rpm of the rev range. Bloody good at dodging sheep, and for old school two-piston brakes bloody good at stopping for cars randomly exiting driveways and suddenly stopping in the middle of the road in a 100km/hr zone. (Note to self: Must check pads for signs of glazing). Plenty of nice comments from Heather about my "rear" (first time in years) thanks to a very visible rear LED cluster and super illuminating brake light.

Kawasaki have done a superb job of making an old school steel spine frame look and feel like a modern bike. That engine is a growly mofo, and I can't wait to see what it sounds like in anger, once there are a few more kms onboard. The switch gear has a very slick feel to it, but I do wonder what it will feel like after the next few months of commuting. The lack of a headlight flasher is perplexing too.

The suspension is tiresome though. Leaving the pearl out of the paint would probably have freed up enough in the budget to make a rear shock with a little less compression damping. The rear is 7 way preload adjustable, and has an adjuster for rebound damping that does very little as the compression damping overwhelms the rebound most cruelly. The ride is brilliant on smooth tarmac, but as we all know, a good proportion of our roads are rather bumpy. I'm walking like John Wayne at the moment. The forks, though unadjustable, haven't caused me an issue, no doubt thanks to being over sprung enough to work with my (considerable) weight. They definitey don't have enough rebound damping, large bumps leave the front wheel hanging long enough to be perceptible, even to a ham-fisted dufus like me. I'm wondering if a revalve is in order as well as the fork springs.

I will continue to blather about this bike. I rather like it's upmarket appearance and down-home under-pinnings. It's very like a four cylinder TRX850, the V-TWIN like pulse replaced by a characteristic Kawasaki induction noise and exhaust growl.

Season's Salutations everyone. Try not to be too jealous about my Christmas present. :)

StoneChucker
26th December 2005, 22:13
I'm glad you've found what seems to be the perfect bike for you. You are so right about bigger bikes being "clinically over competent", if thats not the case then how can an '85ish A100 be as much fun as an '04 R1? However, you can't tell that to someone who has just got their full licence, after being "stuck" on a 250cc. Hell, I can remember telling people when they asked me, I'm on a cbr250 but (quickly added) I'm buying a bigger bike soon.
But, thats a part of motorbiking for some people I guess, I only wish I had time to ride some something similar, a motard possibly...

madboy
26th December 2005, 22:26
Try not to be too jealous about my Christmas present. :)I'm not... I needed socks more than I needed a new bike. :moon:

Scouse
26th December 2005, 22:35
Yada Yada What Ever Big Bikes are so Engieered Gaylord..........!

James Deuce
26th December 2005, 22:41
Yada Yada What Ever Big Bikes are so Engieered Gaylord..........!

It's the Review forum. If you don't like it, don't visit.

2_SL0
27th December 2005, 19:29
Nice write up.

sedge
27th December 2005, 19:56
I thought I'd better warn you. Now you have a Kawasaki you will experience the love and devotion of many lesser bike(r)s... It's just something you'll have to put up with I guess.

:)

James Deuce
27th December 2005, 22:30
Aaargh. I'm LOOKING for excuses to go for a ride. This hasn't happened for a decade or two.

Stupid bike.

The headlights!! They could be classified as light pollutiion by astronomers. I've never owned a bike that has better headlights than my car. Until now.

310kms now. Motorad better be open New Year's day so I can get my 1st service done

Grumpy
27th December 2005, 22:35
I've heard nothing but good shit about this bike....... but then it's a Kawasaki isn't it. I wouldn't expect anything else

James Deuce
27th December 2005, 22:41
Grumpy, you and stevedee have been instrumental in helping me make a decision, err sorry, boosting my excuse repertoire about buying the Z. I'm pleased I did. It's better than it should be, just going from the spec sheet.

inlinefour
28th December 2005, 01:32
Aaargh. I'm LOOKING for excuses to go for a ride. This hasn't happened for a decade or two.


When are you coming back up to the naki James?:drinknsin :niceone:

adyone
28th December 2005, 08:15
thanks for the review I am thinking of a z750s my self , it's good to get a real owners view of the bike , my other chice is the new er6n . I'm new to KB and I am getting heeps of great info/advice.

stevedee
28th December 2005, 18:27
About a year ago I went into Motorad to look at the Z . I was just going to look at it. Was thinking of an SV650 but had read a wicked revue in the August 2004 Superbike mag that made me think, the Z came out on top.

So Carl (Motorad) pushed the Z out of the line up and said have a sit on it or something like that. Sat on it, thought wow, looked at it from every angle ... big grin, the bike was me, sat on it again, and a very tall grey haired biker in leathers walked past me and looked me right in the eye and said buy it! and walked away. So I did. Same colour as the one in the Superbike shootout. Never regretted it. It's fast, (for me and the Police), the brakes suit me, the weight suits me, the height suits me, (5'4" on a good day), and the turns, ah the turns....... It is just plain good fun. I start the ride with a grin and finish with a grin. What more could you ask off a bike? My advice? Buy it.

Skunk
28th December 2005, 22:25
thanks for the review I am thinking of a z750s my self , it's good to get a real owners view of the bike , my other chice is the new er6n . I'm new to KB and I am getting heeps of great info/advice.There MAY be a fully faired ER-6 (the f) coming. It's due for release in the UK around April. We MIGHT get it here - who knows? I'm waiting for it, or the Z750...

James Deuce
4th January 2006, 10:15
500km (Work stopped me from going anywhere over ther New Year break) up now.

Suspension sorted a bit better. The shop, being a bunch of cheeky buggers, had set the rear preload on position 6 out of 7, which the manual notes is for "carrying a passenger and luggage". Now preload is an interesting concept. Everyone thinks it is for making the shock stiffer, but what it actually does is move the start of the shock travel further into the compression damping range, hence the "stiffer" feel.

One click of preload off back to position 5, and add a click of rebound damping (3 out of 4, instead of position 2) and "hey presto!", no more getting bounced out of the seat. It's still a bit "uncomplicated" in that overdone compression damping way that Kawasaki seem to specialise in. No worries on a racetrack, but round the bays on the South coast of Wellington is a different story Mr Kawasaki.

Hitcher
4th January 2006, 14:19
You've been riding. Bastard. I, on the other hand, have been to fracture clinic and got the first of my damage photos from ANZA...

James Deuce
4th January 2006, 23:13
Ahh yes.

Sorry Brett, I truly am. I am pleased that you are still inspired to ride. It is a difficult habit to break.

I rode over "the hill" tonight.

I've been a dork, insisting to myself that sportsbikes are the ONLY type of bike for me. This bike is way more fun the the R6 was. Don't get me wrong, the R6 is a mother of a bike, and you guys riding round on 1000s have my instant respect. They demand SO much commitment from the rider than a measly 600, and the R6 made all my senses tingle when I was on my game and healthy. You guys on these sportsbikes should quietly salute the racers who have died testing the technoilogy you take for granted, every time you ride.

We all change though. I have to remember that I have a family to support. People who actually like me being around, unlike you sorry bunch of virtual critters, who prefer me to celebrate the biggest penis substitute I can afford.

Every motorcycle is fun, and after 3 years of screwing about with past legends, personal demons largely of my own making, and ego issues that don't mean a hill of beans to anyone but myself, I can say confidently, that I have a bike that seems to have been designed for me.

The Z750S does everything that the R6 did, taking into account the way I ride. I'm largely legal, I don't care if I'm first or last, and it's still good enough to challenge my abilities.

In the next five years I'm going to buy an off-road oriented bike and tour NZ via backroads, before they all go. It doesn't matter what you ride, especially here on KB. Just so long as you do.

sedge
5th January 2006, 19:59
I rode "over the hill" tonight.

The Z7u50S does everything that the R6 did, taking into account the way I ride. I'm largely legal, I don't care if I'm first or last, and it's still good enough to challenge my abilities.

Ahahahaha.... It's all slippers, peaked cap and a pipe now eh Jim :)

Sedge.

James Deuce
7th January 2006, 16:55
Yes indeed Mr Sedge. Have to wear the Nolan helmet with the front flipped up when I'm smoking the pipe though. The Arai just fills up with pungent blue smoke.

Ridden the Z750 in high winds, hail, pouring rain, over gravel roads, and around a jacknifing truck.

Once I've done the suspension I need to save up and get:

1. A taller screen
2. A rear hugger. The rear mudguard doesn't do a thing.
3. A fender extender for the front mudguard.

It has a peculiar tyre fitment too. Bridgestone BT019 front, and BT012 rear. I'm not complaining mind. Bloody brilliant tyres wet or dry, and no dramas on gravel. In fact the less "stiff" nature of the chassis made it much easier to ride in gravel, no bouncing off comparatively small bumps, or the tyre "falling off" bigger rocks like on the R6.

Still can't get over how my textile jacket is now waterproof thanks to the more upright riding position.

stevedee
7th January 2006, 18:23
Its life Jim but not as they know it!

spd:)

merv
7th January 2006, 18:53
Good one Jim. Sounds like you are taking on the kind of riding I've always liked too, the back country windy roads. Over the holiday break my Bro' came down here (minus his own bikes) so my lovely wife Mrs merv let him ride her DR650SE.

We did a few rides, Paekak Hill, trip to Castlepoint, but then on 1 Jan we thought it would be nice to stay kind of local but have a good ride. I mentioned on another thread we rode out to Waikanae, did Akatarawa Road, had a pie for lunch at Te Marua store, then did Whitemans Valley, then Wainuiomata Hill and Coast Road, icecream for afternoon tea at Rimutaka Forest Park (are all the stores run by Asians now? Great service!), then a quick break down at the sea end of the road and then back home.

Being a dirt biker I've always liked the tight roads - many of my road bike friends hate them - and the VFR is good to ride no matter how tight the road is (so I don't need a new road bike) and bikes like the DR650SE are also good on those sorts of roads though without 100hp.

So yeah you can have a lot of fun, even close to home without going too fast.

Here's some pics. The pie stop and down by the sea.

James Deuce
27th January 2006, 09:41
3000kms.

Including a 1200km round trip to Tauranga and back through the Hawkes Bay to Wellington. I've done 80% of the mileage I'd done on the R6 in 8 months, in one month.

Got it right for a change, though I wouldn't have bought it if I hadn't bought inlinefour's CB400. I'm as happy with the Z as I was with the TRX.

Devil
27th January 2006, 10:21
3000kms.
Heh, i'm nearly up to four months with the triumph and Its nearly time for the 10,000km service. I really should keep off it :P

MacD
27th January 2006, 10:21
Have you tried carrying a pillion yet? The Z750S appears to be better set up for a pillion than the Z1000.

Devil
27th January 2006, 10:24
I'd be interested to see what that is like. I briefly considered the Z750S, but the pillion area didnt look to be too friendly (leg room and seat material - plywood??)

James Deuce
27th January 2006, 10:27
No pillion yet, largely because no one likes me. :(

Devil
27th January 2006, 11:24
No pillion yet, largely because no one likes me. :(
What? You're in the Hutt, there'll be plenty of willing slu^hu^hu^pillion's out there.

James Deuce
13th February 2006, 20:58
Ahh Devil, were it only that easy!

4000kms. Blimey, is it just me, or do these Kawasaki thingies get better over time, or is it me getting more used to the old girl?

I'm rediscovering stuff I'd forgotten, like limb independence, precision, fast steering, low speed precision, loading up suspension and tyres differently, staying relaxed while the bike moves around under me, body firmly fixed to a trajectory, but the bike squirming, bouncing, and shuddering.

All because of one simple thing. I'm comfortable. I've done a 1200km tour on the Zed now and it was no chore, every kilometre was memorable for being uncomfortable only in the normal motorcycling way; sore bum, aching right knee (Cartilage looks like swiss cheese. Schoolboy Hockey is brutal), and the indignity of having to constrain my willing steed to speeds that are somewhat less than a legend in the making.

I'm allowed to ride with Moto Guzzi owners, because the Z750 hails more from the MG Le Mans end of the spectrum than the hallowed halls of GSXR-dom. It's certainly more engaging than I expected a commuter to be, leaving cages at the lights in a cloud of orange pixie dust, eating up twisty roads and calling me a wuss all the way, and delivering me to work everyday early with a smile on my dial. I know the smile will get wiped off over the morning, but the ride home is sure to post it back on that rubbery thing some people call my face.

All because of a cheap hack, crafted from the Kawasaki parts bin, by some genius engineer with a knack for turning random bits into real bike.

Oh yeah, the suspension seems to be working now, and really is quite a good compromise. Which in reality means it will be saggy and bouncy by 7000kms. It would only take another $1000 to make a good bike a great one. How about a Z750RS or GT Mr Kawasaki?

cowpoos
13th February 2006, 21:17
I've done a 1200km tour on Zed now and it was no chore, every kilometre was memorable for being uncomfortable only in the normal way; sore bum, aching right knee (Cartilage looks like swiss cheese. Schoolboy Hockey is brutal), and the indignity of having to constrain my willing steed to speeds that are somewhat less than a legend in the making.



getting old huh....how did Zed find it.... :shake:





:woohoo:

Bob
9th March 2006, 02:30
I've not ridden one, but as I've sat on a couple I would say to anyone that is thinking of buying a Z750 to make sure you get to sit on one and make sure you are comfortable.

I was interested in buying one, until I sat on it. The tank is sculpted to allow your legs to tuck into it. Sadly, in my case all it does is jut into my thighs. I tried moving about in the saddle, but the same result each time.

So as I say, make sure you sit on one and ensure you/it fit each other!

I've also perched on an ER-6f and we fit each other like a glove, so it isn't just a case of "All Kawasaki tanks will either suit you or cause pain".

James Deuce
3rd April 2006, 18:00
What a difference! But then, you were all EXPECTING me to say that.

Derek MacAdam from Motorad did the installation and as usual did a superb job. I can't tell that the front has been dismantled and the rear Ohlins looks like a factory installation.

I have a couple of corners that give me a good idea of (relatively) high speed suspension behaviour and one slow speed corner that really tests front and rear suspension at the same time. The first couple of faster corners revealed that the steering is now massively faster than it was, and you can dial in your desired lean angle and the bike tracks true through that particular radius with no need to correct for small bumps or a slight change in camber. Fast steering and stable with it. Excellent.

The low speed, off-camber, rippled-then-bumpy test corner revealed a great deal more composure than the stock suspension could ever manage - what was that noise? Oops, footpeg touched down. No drama and way more feel when right over.

The front setup was a total gamble. Shaun Harris suggested 0.95kg Traxxion constant rate springs, and they have immediately tamed the initial brake dive I used to get on the stock Kawasaki progressives. The new springs still have that slightly stiff feel that goes away in about 500kms, but in combination with the lighter fork oil than standard, the stock valving works a whole heap better. Previously a big, sharp-edged bump would leave the front wheel hanging in space while the rebound damping caught up. No more. I can feel everything without it being a jolting distraction, like the stock springs used to be. There's no adjustment available on stock Z750 forks, so thank goodness that worked out, though I suspect that has a great deal to do with Shaun's expertise and judgement.

The rear shock is a revelation. Derek has given it a rough setup to match my weight and riding style, but I'm buggered if I can think of a single change I'd make yet.

I need to go for a decent ride now and test the suspension out a bit more. I guess many people would be a bit bemused by the wad of cash I just dropped on a "cheap" commuter, but this bike impressed me from the outset. Good handling, good power, average brakes (but then they just slow you down, right?), and good comfort until your butt gives in to the plank Kawasaki make you sit on. It tours, scratches, and commutes with no drama, and I like it.

I just wish Kawasaki would place as much emphasis on rider comfort (suspension and seat combined) as they do versatility and performance. Then it would be perfect from the word go.

Big thumbs up to Shaun Harris for the advice and patience, and the excellent pricing, and to Derek and Motorad for their usual professionalism.

Hitcher
3rd April 2006, 19:47
All you need now is a hugger...

pzkpfw
4th April 2006, 21:14
...make sure you get to sit on one and make sure you are comfortable.
...
I've also perched on an ER-6f and we fit each other like a glove ...

Absolutely, but applies to any bike-and-rider really.

Yesterday I sat on an ER-6N, and really really hated it. The seat - narrow hard thing between my legs I do not want. The bike also just felt too short or something.

Sat on Jims' bike today; and while the seat still felt too hard, everything seemed to fit, including the tank to my legs and all that. With the seat and handlebars allowing some adjustment, I reckon it'll be just fine (for me).

I'm expecting Motorad to owe Jim a beer or two, when I buy a Z750S...

[Added later:] Orange '05 model (like Jims; but not my original choice) is now on it's way...

Can also highly recommend Motorad so far.

James Deuce
11th April 2006, 07:10
Anyone able to tell me why braided brakes lines aren't a standard fitment at the factory for every bike with hydraulically actuated brake calipers?

Got the lines installed yesterday and it only took one mini-stoppie 20 metres back from the lights outside Motorad to get used to them. The Z750's brakes are characterised as "adequate" in most of the trade rags, but $120 worth of braided brake lines have turned it into a stopping demon. I had one car pull into my lane on the motorway in high density traffic trvelling at about 80km/hr.

Boy was my face red when I stopped dead, with a mere two fingers of gentle pressure applied to the front brake lever.

The best thing is the "feel" at the lever. More force equals a direct link to the amount of braking power achieved with all that rubber brake line sponginess gone.

I can stroke the brakes to adjust entry speed now. No more ham fisted squeezes to get it just about right. Makes everything much smoother.

All you blokes on 15-18 year old 250s - go get your suspension and brake lines replaced. You'll go faster, I promise.

James Deuce
11th April 2006, 07:43
Oh yeah - 7000kms now.

stevedee
11th April 2006, 08:07
Hey Jim did you buy the lines from Motorad or just get them to do the fitting?

James Deuce
11th April 2006, 08:10
Motorad sourced and fitted the lines. They get them made up specifically for your bike.

It's really cleaned up all the lines that went over the rear of the front mudguard.

Looks great, but works waaaay better than the original lines.

James Deuce
16th April 2006, 18:48
7500kms

Finally got to go for a "real" ride today. Over the Rimutakas, around the lake to Martinborough, and through the Gladstone Rd and back to Carterton.

The major improvement in handling and cornering is now evident. The old shock used to get "choppy" in bumpy corners past about 20 degrees of lean, and then the front end would get out of sync with the rear adding a pitching moment and pushing you wide just before the apex. That whole scenario had really affected my riding, and limited the amount of commitment up to the apex, and made me late on the throttle on the way out, plus I "fiddled" with the brakes a lot, cocking up entry speed, just because I wasn't sure what the heck was going on the the front-end traction department.

The Ohlins is eerily smooth at boot scraping angles of lean, and I can get on the gas a lot earlier. You can "feel" just how much traction you have thanks to a compliant spring and superb damping that actually works better the harder you go.

The front end gets better the harder you push. It can feel choppy when riding like a Nana, but up it to 6/10ths or more, and it does everything it should. Less abrupt dive means better feel on the brakes hard, both for front end traction and feel at the lever and the brake throttle transition is much smoother.

I've said it before and I'll say it again. If you are going to spend up on bling, make the first $1.5k suspension and brake improvements. It's the surest path to feeling more confident, and faster if that is your thing.

Spend the next $1.5k on healthy food and exercise. Lose 20kg and find more acceleration, top speed, and larger lean angles.

Phase 2 of the performance enhancement is starting..........

Then I could change my handle to NotSoFatJim

airplane
16th April 2006, 19:14
Jim2, was that you I was talking with at the top of the Rimutakas about midday? I was on the red z1000.

I'm interested to read about your brake changes; the z1000 also has Ok brakes and some more responsive performance would be great. I think I'll ask Motorad what they can do for me.

Cheers

James Deuce
16th April 2006, 19:21
No, wasn't me - I think I saw you and another Z1000 on the motorway when I was heading North and you were going South. It may have been pzkpfw, who just picked up his Orange Z750S last week. Tall skinny guy with a beard? I'm a short fat guy with a beard.

Braided lines make a massive difference and apparently Carbone Lorraine scintered pads are the go too. Removing the crossfeed pipe meant that one of the clips was removed on top of the mudguard and it left a hole showing in the guard, but a cut down panel pin from Repco blanked it off perfectly and looks almost professional.

stevedee
17th April 2006, 09:38
Twas me at the top of the Rimutakas I think. Looks like the Zeds are getting more popular eh? Jim has convinced me about the braided lines, next service I'm going to organise some , but that's still a few months away.

spd:-)

Hitcher
17th April 2006, 15:19
Carbone Lorraine.
Quiche's big brother?

Gazzar
17th April 2006, 18:07
I am thinking of getting more sponge fitted into the seat but that is all for know the bike has done 4000ks now and i am likeing it.:niceone:
Its a good balance of power and weight for me by myself or with the missers on the back. Had a good run down to Rotorua on friday and back yesterday.

James Deuce
1st May 2006, 08:47
Front and rear wore out in perfect harmony, though the front was somewhat more worn than the rear. The trailing edge of each tread block on the the front Bridgestone BT019 was right down to the tyre carcass. The rear BT012R (not S as previously reported) was down to the tread wear blocks and had worn evenly across the width of the tyre.

These would be the best OEM tyres I've had on any bike but it was turning into a mission to get a replacement set.

Then I saw bugjuice's advert in Kiwirider.

Orange bike - check

Kawasaki - check

Faintly gay rider sitting side-saddle with trouser snake photoshopped onto tyre - check - I'm not buying those!

Luckily for Avon's NZ distributor, Kerry from Motorad talked me into a pair of Avon Viper Sport. Mitch then got involved and gave me shit for not getting, of all things, a pair of Bridgestone's touring knobblies, BT020s. I hate them. They're noisy and generate a small, but perceptible weave at high lean angles as the knobs, errr tread blocks dance around under whatever sport tourer/jimthefatbastard combo I'm riding

I just put it down to Mitch having one of those months, and remained committed to the Avons, despite having invective heaped upon me when I dropped the bike off (all in jest of course) for the new tyres.

Low speed handling is markedly improved, with almost no tendency to rapidly tip the bike onto it's side when using large steering inputs at low speed, unlike the Bridgestone's. The Bridgestone's steered around the front, if that makes any sense, where the Avon's feel like they are working together. I didn't get to scrub them in until last night, thanks to the weather overr the weekend, and even then the Paekak hill was damp in places, but I was really pleased with how the the bike steers, brakes, and hooks up on the exit.

Hopefully we'll get a weekend where I can get rid of the chicken strips altogether, and concurrently those silly vipers stamped into the tyres near the edge.

erik
5th May 2006, 17:02
The front setup was a total gamble. Shaun Harris suggested 0.95kg Traxxion constant rate springs, and they have immediately tamed the initial brake dive I used to get on the stock Kawasaki progressives. The new springs still have that slightly stiff feel that goes away in about 500kms, but in combination with the lighter fork oil than standard, the stock valving works a whole heap better. Previously a big, sharp-edged bump would leave the front wheel hanging in space while the rebound damping caught up. No more.

Well, I've just finished measuring, measuring again, checking the calibration of my home-made spring rate measuring device, and then measuring the other spring and have come to the conclusion that the stock Z750S springs are 1.08-1.09kg/mm constant rate springs (not progressive. You can tell progressive springs by the progressively increasing spacing of the coils, the spring rate increases as the close-together coils bind).

It makes me wonder if the preload wasn't set properly for you with the stock springs?

It's going to be interesting trying them in my bandit 400. :)

(in the pic, the red is the measured z750s springs, the bluey-magenta colour (don't ask me, I'm partially colourblind) is what 0.75kg/mm springs would look like and the white is the stock dual-rate bandit 400 springs)

James Deuce
5th May 2006, 17:05
Yeah I know they were constant rate. As soon as I saw them once they were out of the bike I knew the Kawasaki literature was lying.

Forks aren't adjustable at all on the Z750, hence the new springs. It's weird that the Traxxion springs feel firmer to me than the stock ones, when they're about 0.1kg lighter.

I hope it all goes well man! :)

James Deuce
6th June 2006, 18:25
I've got this week off and I finally got to go for a recreational ride for the first time since doing up the suspension and putting the Avon Vipers on.

I beetled up the Hutt motorway, went off at the Wallacville exit and up the Whiteman's Valley road past Wallaceville house. At the first right hander, which is noticeably off-camber, my boot was firmly welded to the road. Oops. That was a bit aggressive. Rapid steering duly noted, I moved the ball of my foot back onto the peg.

When I last went up this road, the super stiff standard suspension would push the bike all over the road, large bumps feeding back through the rider as steering input. With shock and fork springs well and truly bedded in, the suspension has that supple but controlled feel that I love. I'm no Jimbo600 (I get to ride my bike ALL the way home) but I do like to boogie sometimes, and managed a couple of footpeg scrape to footpeg scrape flicks through corners on the way up the takas today.

The Avon's looked noticeably less stressed than the OEM Bridgestones, and the level of feel is a revelation when right over.

Can't wait for Summer.

erik
8th June 2006, 01:20
Good to hear. :niceone:

I tried the Z750S springs in the bandit, but I think they are too hard and the original springs aren't too bad, so I've gone back to those. No worries though, I'll keep 'em and maybe find a use in the future.
The gsxr1100 rear shock is working much better than the stock one though, no more bottoming out. :)

Appologies for the slight thread hijack...

rogson
8th June 2006, 08:38
........The rear shock is a revelation.......

Yep, I put Ohlins on my road bike. Cost a fortune, but oh the difference - worth the money IMO.

I remember an interview of Eddie Lawson where he said if you don't notice your back-end the shock is doing its job. Thats what the Ohlins are like - no matter what type of riding or surface. Magic!

James Deuce
29th June 2006, 17:42
Put the Micron on today.

It's about 4 inches shorter and 4kg lighter.

The deep growl it made with the standard pipe is even deeper and growlier without being obnoxiously loud, even though it says "race use only". Somehow the whole bike looks lighter. Haven't been for a ride yet. I'll let you know how it goes.

The last photo shows what the stock pipe looks like.

Hitcher
29th June 2006, 18:32
I look forward to observing your aural enhancement! It looks very nice.

stevedee
30th June 2006, 22:01
The pipe is cool but may I suggest getting rid of the snow shovel ?
http://www.hamicad.co.uk/ZX6R.html no offence mate.

spd:-)

frogfeaturesFZR
30th June 2006, 23:49
That exhaust really suits your bike, bet it sounds heaps better than stock

Hitcher
2nd July 2006, 16:40
Well, yesterday (Saturday 1 July, or FJR1300T Day) I got to do more than listen to Jim2's ride, I got to ride it. From Masterton to Eketahuna (Wear the fox hat).

The Z750 in its native state would have to go dangerously close to being the best value-for-money motorcycle on the planet. Jim2's enhancements take what is a very tidy package to being something quite outstanding.

The bike is a great looker, in that funky Kawasaki way. The metallic tangerine colour is a personal favourite. Folk who have met me can vouch that I am a not an unsmall gent. Yet the Z fits nicely. I'm not sure how my arse would stand up to a day in the saddle, but that can be fixed (the saddle, not my custom-fitted arse). Nice wide bars in a "natural" position. Pegs, levers and other acoutrements all nicely located and visible.

My biggest surprise was the effectiveness of the screen in creating a nice bubble of quiet air for the rider to sit in.

For a bike to impress me, it has to do three things well: go, stop and handle. The Z750's engine is derived from the magnificent Z1000 and its heritage shows. It's a wonderfully balanced donk that breathes like its on carburettors, so good is the fuel-injected throttle response. And through a Micron it sounds hornier than a horny thing. The six-speed box is nicely matched to the engine.

The brakes are well sorted, efficient and predictable.

As for the handling, Jim2 has made an investment on front and rear suspension to replace the standard fare, and has a nice set of Avons for the bit where the rubber meets the road. You'd need to be spending more than $17,000 on a stock new bike that handles as well. The ride is firm, but not jarringly hard, and it tracks like it's on rails.

Nice. Very nice. All you young dudes who pant breathlessly after some cranked-over sprotsbike should have a look at the Z750. I hope Kawasaki sells thousands of these. They're wonderful.

James Deuce
9th April 2007, 19:29
What makes someone chose a particular motorcycle over the plethora of models and niches now available to motorcyclists? Does the large number of motorcycle types actually provide a better purchasing and ownership experience?

Over the last five years since I returned to riding bikes after a self imposed exile of ten years, I’ve struggled to find a bike that satisfied both the urge to have fun, as well as having a reliable mode of cost efficient transport. An old CBR600 revived my biking mojo, then a TRX850 cemented my resurrected motorcycle obsession. A brief period of “Banana Bike” ownership convinced me I wasn’t quite ready for pipe and slipper motorcycling. Not that there’s anything wrong with Suzuki’s GSXF range, it’s just that a bright yellow GSX600F made me the victim of rather more derision than I felt comfortable with.

Yes, I’m shallow.

In early 2005 a red and black Yamaha R6 caught my eye, and thanks to some heavy discounting at the time, a rather spectacular R6 hit my garage. I had many memorable rides, some in particular with a friend who is no longer with us. But. With a capital B. The R6 was so uncomfortable in city traffic that I ended up with a diaphragmatic hernia. A combination of a wristy riding position and a need for constant head turning put stresses on my middle aged frame that actually hurt me quite badly.

So I bought a Honda CB400FII for commuting. Fantastic riding position for commuting, really comfortable seat, but limited ground clearance and weather protection, and nothing like the urge of the R6 on the open road had me thinking again. In late 2005 Kawasaki released the Z750S and the rest, as they say, is history.

I sat on the Zed in the shop, and the next day listed the CB400 for sale and traded the R6 on the Z750S. In Pearl Magma Red. The CB400 sold the same day I traded, so I had some spare cash for a change. Spare cash for turning the Z750 into a bit of a project.

Riding the Z750 home that day made me realise that I had indeed made the right decision, but I also had some scope for making it better, making it MY bike. The first 5000km were racked up pretty rapidly. I like to explore a bike’s potential as quickly as possible and found that the Z750 went round corners brilliantly and thanks to similar horsepower to the R6, and a fatter mid range, the Z750 was quicker on the road than the R6 from point to point. So long as the roads were race track smooth.

Anyone who has ridden on New Zealand roads over the last decade will know that the roads are anything but smooth. In fact our race tracks aren’t all that smooth. So the suspension had to be dealt to first. A couple of emails to Shaun Harris (the TT winner) of Moto-Dynamix and I had an Ohlins shock and Traxxion Dynamix fork springs and fork oil on the way.

Talk about making a silk purse out of a sow’s ear. I know that the Z750 is supposed to be a “budget” bike, but I believe the two most important safety features of a motorcycle are the suspension and engine characteristics. The Z750’s throttle response is magic, fuel injection that feels like a bank of well set up CV carburettors, and an almost linear relationship to throttle position and engine speed. Except for that damn emissions flat spot all bikes seem to be growing these days. No off idle jerkiness, and without that horrible feeling that the engine just shut off when you throttle right off.

If the engine is the Z750’s high spot the stock suspension is most definitely its limiting factor. Bugger all rebound damping front and rear, no damping or preload adjustment for the front, and rebound adjustment for the rear that does nothing. Add to the mix progressive springs front and rear that bind and lock solid about half way through their travel and you’ve got a relatively quick bike that bangs and bounces from pothole to bump and back again.

The Ohlins and Traxxion Dynamics kit gave me a firmly suspended but well controlled bike. Just like my R6 had been, except the rear shock doesn’t fade when pushed for a couple of hours. Braking distances dropped, I could get on the throttle earlier, and change line at will. The improved handling capacity highlighted the limitations of the brakes, so braided lines were installed, vastly improving power and feel. The new lines vastly improved the looks too, as the installation removed that great ugly link pipe between the front callipers. A quick visit to an automotive supplies outlet and I had a cut down panel pin blanking the hole left in the front guard.

My desire to “improve” on Kawasaki’s product had now been well and truly fanned. I am aware that adding “stuff” to a bike does nothing to add to its value or offset depreciation, but by golly it is fun to make changes and actually improve a bike. Most motorcycles come off the production line so good, that it’s hard to know where to start. Problem is I may be starting to over capitalise!

I’ve added and added to this bike, taking a budget bike aimed at Born Again Bikers and turning into a sporty Sports Tourer, with decent luggage capacity, excellent handling, and a bit of “attitude”, thanks to a Micron Pipe and Stebel Nautilus horn. The Micron is great because cruising around town and commuting means you’re generally using the mid range to haul yourself around, and in this respect the Micron sounds like the stock pipe. Tap the top third of the rev counter and it sounds like a race bike, screaming to redline and raising hairs on the back of your neck. At least it still does for me. The Stebel horn makes iPod deaf or cellphone blind pedestrians leap at least 10 feet vertically and 20 feet backwards meaning I don’t even need to slow down to avoid them.

Just to give you an idea of what I’ve done, here is a list of mods:
Ohlins Rear Shock
Traxxion Dynamics Constant rate fork springs.
Micron Muffler and link pipe
Oggy Knob Crash Bungs
Braided Brake Lines
Oxford Race Stand Spools
Swanman Rear Race Stand
Ventura Pack Rack System and Expandable Rally bag (make sure you buy the grab rail for when you have the pack rack off the bike)
Ventura Headlight protector
Stebel Nautilus Horn (all bikes should come with one as standard)
’04 ZX-6R Rear Hugger, slightly modified.
Metal Gear front brake discs (because I somehow warped the front left stock disc)
Strip of rubber beneath the instrument cluster to kill the vibration noise from there.

The stock tyres are really nice, the front is a Bridgestone BT019, and the rear is a BT012R both of which seem to be specially made for the Z750. Replacement time saw them rejected though, thanks to being 3 months away and 50% more expensive than the average price for a 120/70x17-180/55x17 tyre combo. Good excuse to try some Avon Vipers out. How good are the Vipers? I’m on my second set.

What glorious headlights! Their angular shape actually gives some view of the road ahead when cornering at night, and their range and penetration are excellent in stock trim. Something like an HID kit could only make them better. Hmmm, another potential modification.

Fuel consumption has been brilliant, averaging out at around 16 km/l. Actual consumption figures vary tremendously between fuel retailers for some reason, dropping to 14 km/l for Shell fuel, and rising to 17 km/l for Caltex. All I can put that down to is the some manufacturers adding ethanol to the standard fuel blend in greater or lesser amounts.

Actually fuel consumption brings me to the one major gripe I have with the Z750S. The seat. That thing is a torture rack. After an hour, the seat foam compresses and you are sitting on the plastic seat base. I sometimes go looking for Shell fuel stations so I drop my range from 3 hours to 2.5 hours. I have plans though. The next change I’m making to the Zed is a Rider seat from McDonald Motor Trimmers in Tauranga (http://www.trimit.co.nz (http://www.trimit.co.nz/)). Then a double bubble screen, then some flash levers, then some rear sets – aaaargh, make it stop!

I still smile when I look at MY bike in the garage, I look forward to riding to and from work every day, and I love to get out in the countryside with my mates on their much sportier tackle. The great thing is I don’t have to make excuses if I feel like taking it easy, and they have to make excuses if I arrive somewhere first.

Kawasaki, do us all a favour. I know you’ve got a new model coming out. Do something about that seat, and fit suspension that does something other than hold the bike up off the ground. I’ll still change stuff, but at least this brilliant semi-faired motorcycle won’t be almost dangerously compromised right from the word go. I chose this bike because it looked great, the engine ticked the right boxes, and there was plenty of scope to make it “mine”. The only niche it belongs to is “motorcycle”, just like all bikes used to, and thanks to a great basic package, you get to chose which end of the road biased motorcycle spectrum you’re aiming for.

Storm
9th April 2007, 19:47
Beauty writeup Jim- keep us posted on your ever changing bike :D

Hitcher
10th April 2007, 09:19
Hmmm. Bling. Nice.

Krayy
10th April 2007, 09:32
Exactly the argument that I'll be using when I hit up the wife for the Buell for the 40th in October...if I get a budget bike (Hornet or similar), then I'll spend so much doing mods that it'll end up costing the same as the Buell anyway!

BTW, if you have a mid-life crisis at 21, does that mean I've only got a couple of years left?

Crisis management
10th April 2007, 09:36
Good write up, Jim. Similarily I have issues of old age and decreptitude with sports bikes and am struggling to find a worthy sports/tourer, I will have to add Z750 to my short (bloody short) list.
It seems there is a real lack of all rounder type bikes now, the marketing driven specialisation of bikes has led to such a narrow focus that we need a plethora of bikes to fulfill all our riding styles, and I'm too broke to be able to afford a garage full!

bistard
10th April 2007, 10:29
Nice write up Jim & those mods,although not individually huge,have transformed the bike into a all round useable tool,not out of place commuting or scratching over the Tukas,well done that man!!
I dont know what you mean about R6s being uncomfortable,by the way,mine is fine!!

MrMelon
10th April 2007, 10:42
You're making me want one of these now! You never see any for sale on trademe though.. I don't particularly like the shape of the front fairing but there's this blue z750 around town that has what looks like the z1000 front and tail on it and it's very nias. Maybe it's just a year older though.

Squeak the Rat
10th April 2007, 10:42
When I bought the z750s I thought I was making a compromise with enjoyment being proportional to the cost. I was wrong. Nice write up Jim, ditto to everything - except to say you don't need to mod this bike (apart from the springs), but it is fun!

James Deuce
10th April 2007, 10:47
You're making me want one of these now! You never see any for sale on trademe though.. I don't particularly like the shape of the front fairing but there's this blue z750 around town that has what looks like the z1000 front and tail on it and it's very nias. Maybe it's just a year older though.

There's two bikes in the range - Z750 and Z750S. The Z750 is the naked bike, and the Z750S is the half faired one. The running gear is the same.

SPman
10th April 2007, 15:23
They don't sell this model over here - although the ones I saw in Mt Eden cycles - the fairing didn't do much for me, styling wise. The basic Z750 package though is still highly under rated and good value for money - I really enjoyed the one I rode.

limbimtimwim
11th April 2007, 17:47
The Ohlins and Traxxion Dynamics kit gave me a firmly suspended but well controlled bike.Funny, I thought your bike took dives like a boxer in the employ of Don King. :)

But yeah, despite it only being a few Ks of riding, I still rate Jim's Z750 over a Honda Hornet, which I guess is one of the Z750's logical competitors. The engine goes 'whizzz' with more enthusiasm.

James Deuce
11th April 2007, 17:49
Suspension that moves = good

Suspension that doesn't = bad

Old suspension didn't move = bad

New suspension moves = good.

When is the myth that only super stiff suspension is any good FINALLY going to go away? The whole point is to keep your tyres on the road, not bounce you from ridge, to pothole, to tiny piece of gravel and back again.

limbimtimwim
11th April 2007, 18:02
Oh yes totally agree; just remember what I had stepped off.

When I got the GSXR, I thought the suspension was too hard. I now think it on the soft side of perfect. Dulls the handling a little but, as your say, keeps both sets of tyres in contact with the ground. Your Z750 is a fine machine, I think there might be one similar in my future.

If I could just forget how much I enjoyed an fj1200.....

James Deuce
11th April 2007, 18:07
Torque Surfing is fun. Try an FJR1300. That will make you forget your FJ1200.

merv
11th April 2007, 18:20
So ya reckon even a VFR rider would like them? The Kawasaki that is.

BarBender
11th April 2007, 21:20
The middleweight Zed is a great bike and punches well above its weightclass. I've spent a bit of time on my brothers bike (06 Z750) and they look and ride great. He's getting a belly pan and radiator side covers imported. Should look the bizzo when it finished.

Not a fan of the S looks either but personal preference regarding style is in the eye of the beholder.

The 07 Zed looks sharp and has a racy straight lines kinda look. Getting rid of the undertail plastics will give its booty the real baby got back look!

James Deuce
11th April 2007, 21:32
So ya reckon even a VFR rider would like them? The Kawasaki that is.

Probably not I suspect - finish won;t be what you're used to. Might be fun to swap and see some time though :innocent:

James Deuce
11th April 2007, 21:33
Not a fan of the S looks either but personal preference regarding style is in the eye of the beholder.


Didn't buy it for looks, I bought it for weather protection and that headlight. The Z750 is definitely better looking. I am waiting to see IF there will be an S replacement, and whether ot not Kawasaki might actually employ a stylist this time. The new Z750 looks like a glob of Play Doh some toddler squeezed in his grubby little fist.

Having said that, the following is turning up early next year apparently:

http://www.diseno-art.com/encyclopedia/vehicles/road/bikes/Aprilia_Shiver_750.html

BarBender
11th April 2007, 22:23
Didn't buy it for looks, I bought it for weather protection and that headlight. The Z750 is definitely better looking. I am waiting to see IF there will be an S replacement, and whether ot not Kawasaki might actually employ a stylist this time. The new Z750 looks like a glob of Play Doh some toddler squeezed in his grubby little fist.

Having said that, the following is turning up early next year apparently:

http://www.diseno-art.com/encyclopedia/vehicles/road/bikes/Aprilia_Shiver_750.html

I doubt it was Play Doh Jim. Too soft and rounded. The new bike looks more like broken or shattered glass caused by stones thrown by the same grubby fisted toddler who is now a 7 year old little shit... Still I like its origami-ish styling..Sharp bits on the bike will ensure you stab yourself in an accident before you hit the deck.

Not sure about a S replacement. Perhaps they'll keep it the same.
Shiver looks OK....Wonder if there is a faired version?

James Deuce
24th April 2007, 22:32
I sense a paintjob in my future.

<img src=http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/photopost/data/514/Kw_Z_750_S_2005_1024.jpg>

Hitcher
25th April 2007, 16:37
She's black coffee - little bit 'o cream
Sweet brown sugar - my midnight dream
Black pearl - my kinda girl
Just the kind of thing to rock my world
Black pearl - she's my kinda girl

limbimtimwim
25th April 2007, 16:45
This is it
Its time for u to go to the wire
U will hit
Cuz u got the burnin desire
Its your time (time)
U got the horn so why dont u blow it
U are fine (fine)
Ure filthy cute and baby u know it

Cream
Get on top
Cream
U will cop
Cream
Dont u stop
Cream
Sh-boogie bop

Ure so good
Baby there aint nobody better (aint nobody better)
So u should
Never, ever go by the letter (never ever)
Ure so cool (cool)
Everything u do is success
Make the rules (rules)
Then break them all cuz u are the best

Yes u are

Cream
Get on top
Cream
U will cop
Cream
Dont u stop
Cream
Sh-boogie bop

Look up in the air, its your guitar

Do your dance
Why should u wait any longer?
Take a chance
It could only make u stronger
Its your time (its your time)
U got the horn so why dont u blow it (go on and blow it)
Ure so fine (ure so fine)
Ure filthy cute and baby u know it (u know it)

Come on
Cream
Get on top
Cream
U will cop
Cream
Dont u ever stop
Cream
Sh-boogie bop

Cream
Cream
Cream
Sh-boogie bop

Cream
Cream
Right there
Cream
Dont u stop
Cream
Sh-boogie bop

Boogie

Zapf
25th April 2007, 17:05
I still rate Jim's Z750 over a Honda Hornet, which I guess is one of the Z750's logical competitors. The engine goes 'whizzz' with more enthusiasm.

I have been thinking about what if I put a CBR954 motor into a CB900 Hornet... :yes:

limbimtimwim
26th April 2007, 09:19
I have been thinking about what if I put a CBR954 motor into a CB900 Hornet... :yes:That'd probably be a good thing. Just don't put in the cams from a tractor, okay?

MD
26th April 2007, 20:45
The new boys on the block have reached our showrooms. I had a gander at the interesting shade of metalic green 750 which looks pretty damn smart. Shop also had a black and an orange 1000. Personally I think the stylist did OK.

James Deuce
26th April 2007, 20:46
I think the stylist was my three year old. Made some pretty similar shapes with Play Doh today.

stevedee
26th April 2007, 21:01
Just read the June UK Superbike review of the 2007 Z750 they rate it again as a great buy. Apparently it's been the biggest selling bike in France for a few years? (Guess that would be due to the HP restrictions there?) The 2007 has a bit less HP, more torque, nicer suspension components and brakes but is a little heavier. Price is same as the previous models.

I think I'll stay with the one I've got.

spd:-)

BarBender
26th April 2007, 21:39
The new boys on the block have reached our showrooms. I had a gander at the interesting shade of metalic green 750 which looks pretty damn smart. Shop also had a black and an orange 1000. Personally I think the stylist did OK.

Yeah they look great. A mate bought an orange? Zed Thou. They look great in that colour...much better than black. The green 750 looks cool too...

James Deuce
22nd May 2007, 17:45
Woohoo! Brakes fixed! Vesrah scintered pads and new brake fluid and she's all go. Not even the slightest vibration. That lovely hiss is back, and there is real feel and power and the "grabiness" has left the building. I think the pads were fluttering in the calipers because they weren't perfectly true.

Do NOT take up the free brake pads offer with the Metal Gear disks, the pads are nasty. Nasty with a capital "N". The disks are brilliant but the pads are ghey.

Saga closed.

bell
22nd May 2007, 18:00
Yeah they look great. A mate bought an orange? Zed Thou. They look great in that colour...much better than black. The green 750 looks cool too...

If I'd had a choice of colours, I'd have gone for the black. Sorry if these pictures a crappy quality - pinched off an ebay auction.

The orange does look ok I'll admit. But only on Thursdays. I think I'd find it harder to live with long term.
61841 61842 61843

BarBender
22nd May 2007, 18:21
If I'd had a choice of colours, I'd have gone for the black. Sorry if these pictures a crappy quality - pinched off an ebay auction.
The orange does look ok I'll admit. But only on Thursdays. I think I'd find it harder to live with long term.

I see you have the older model in your pics.
I was referring to the 07 line up. :msn-wink:
But hey...each to his or her own. My brother has the 06 Z750 and wouldnt be seen dead on an orange or green bike.

bell
22nd May 2007, 18:35
I see you have the older model in your pics.
I was referring to the 07 line up. :msn-wink:
But hey...each to his or her own. My brother has the 06 Z750 and wouldnt be seen dead on an orange or green bike.

Mmmm. Unsure about the 07 until I see it in the flesh. Definitely unsure about that green...

Seen these vids?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZecqbIrWHY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Q-PIFdDv4k
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSZjmKZM8gE

Hitcher
22nd May 2007, 19:03
I have seen one in the flesh and in "that green". I liked what I saw. I also liked what I saw in its big brother, the Z1000, despite its "funky" cans.

James Deuce
1st March 2008, 16:08
I've finally installed my Christmas present.

Huge difference to the riding position and a much more natural bend to these Renthal Streetfighter bars.

Plus the look cool :)

There's some Bikestore Bar Ends on the way. I rode around the block and down the motorway and the steering feels so different! Much lighter and more precise, possibly because there's no unnatural bend to my wrists, and I have a slight lean forward to the bars. Might help the arse ache a bit.

Check out the difference in bend angle and appearance!

<img src=http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/photopost/data/514/medium/Renthal_Bars_002.jpg>

<img src=http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/photopost/data/514/medium/Rider_s_Eye_View_April_07.JPG>

sinned
1st March 2008, 16:50
It is difficult to judge from the photos how much higher the bars are. Only indicator is the relative position of the brake fluid reservoir against the faring. How much higher is the bar?

BTW - didn't realise so much has been done to the bike. Great project.

James Deuce
1st March 2008, 17:26
It's actually lower, believe it or not. The Kawasaki bars bend away from the clocks and up, while the Renthal is flatter and a less aggressive bend, so the reservoir ends up closer to the fairing.

NZsarge
1st March 2008, 17:37
I've finally installed my Christmas present.

Huge difference to the riding position and a much more natural bend to these Renthal Streetfighter bars.

Plus the look cool :)

There's some Bikestore Bar Ends on the way. I rode around the block and down the motorway and the steering feels so different! Much lighter and more precise, possibly because there's no unnatural bend to my wrists, and I have a slight lean forward to the bars. Might help the arse ache a bit.


I had a similar problem with the bars one the FZ1 but being a flat bar so to speak I simply turned the bar down to a position a felt more comfortable and checked it did'nt fowl the tank or cause the motor to rev up from an idle at full lock either way, adjusted the controls to the way I like and it's like a different bike to ride, so much more comfortable it's not funny..

James Deuce
30th April 2008, 10:40
1. Americans don't ride in the rain. Bar end bolts need to be stainless or they turn orange rapidly. Coastal Fasteners provided me with two stainless hex head bolts in exactly the same pattern as the blackened steel ones provided with the bar ends for practically nothing.

2. I've put the stock pipe on and installed it very carefully and am getting better performance from this than the Micron. The Micron will be on Trademe with a $1 reserve this evening. I think the packing has evaporated and combined with taking a couple of knocks, wasn't sealing as well as it should at the connection points. I hate mucking about with exhaust sealer. I usually end up gluing an eye shut. The Zed is now VERY quiet. More whistling death than shrieking hoon.

3. Different tyres can give you a new bike. I've had three sets of Avon Vipers now and loved them. Good mileage especially from the front. I now have Metzler Sportec M1s installed (Thank you Wellington Motorcycles. $400 is an INSANE price). I have to be careful though, because fresh tyres ALWAYS feel better. The bike sits very differently at rest than it did with Vipers. Turn in requires less effort, though this could be down to the worn Viper rear being flatter across the centre than the Viper front. One thing that is immediately more noticeable is the Metzler's make precise road positioning easier and once on their side hold a line better than the Vipers, though again, I have been fiddling with the rear suspension (2 clicks of rebound and one of compression - massive difference in turn in and how soon I can apply power and better drive plus holding a neutral line under acceleration - Ohlins FTW!) in an effort to make the handling more nimble.

I've priced up Ohlins cartridge emulators for the forks. Just waiting for the final part of the Katana deal to be sealed and then I'm off to the 'Naki for a couple of days to get them installed by Mr Taylor. That will mean that the final part of the suspension issues are sorted.

Can't wait.

Dooly
30th April 2008, 16:49
2. I've put the stock pipe on and installed it very carefully and am getting better performance from this than the Micron.

Did the same thing last week on my Triumph TT600. Took the Jardine muffler off and put the stock one back on.
It ran out of top end real noticably with the Jardine and felt way stronger with the stock muffler back on.
Kinda like the quite noise too.

Will be temporary as I'm waiting for a PCIII for it to arrive and coupled with the Jardine/K & N will be able to sort the fuelling out to get the performance out of it.

James Deuce
26th July 2008, 16:08
Finally found some instructions on how to remove the fairing.

Pulled it all to bits, cleaned everything up and applied polish and silicon spray.

Torqued up header bolts. It's been sounding like it was pinking when cold. Borrowed a stethoscope and found a small leak from pipes one and 3.

Removed dorky and hopeless mirrors and replaced them with bar ends mirrors.

What a difference.

<img src=http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/albums/thumbs/5/406d0d67ac9f05db71ab21d073b8b5d6_5944.jpg?dl=12170 45074> (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/picture.php?albumid=620&pictureid=5944)

<img src=http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/albums/thumbs/5/9858c0bf88b1168860987ef8d09ab731_5945.jpg?dl=12170 45074> (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/picture.php?albumid=620&pictureid=5945)

<img src=http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/albums/thumbs/5/831439438ea76e8c91c2fdcdaa5ee874_5946.jpg?dl=12170 45074> (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/picture.php?albumid=620&pictureid=5946)

<img src=http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/albums/thumbs/5/c34b984eb9e132eecc22db71465ce472_5947.jpg?dl=12170 45074> (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/picture.php?albumid=620&pictureid=5947)

Hitcher
26th July 2008, 16:52
Hopefully the Zed's new flatmate won't go getting any strange ideas...

James Deuce
28th July 2008, 09:47
Blimey. I've bought a new bike.

If you have a motorcycle chances are someone has started a forum about it.

I spent several fruitful hours on the Z750 forums over the weekend, learning about how human beings will always go for the most complicated solution to anything, which usually results in broken bike pieces and excessive expenditure.

About 20c worth of a $2.50 roll of foam draft excluder cured the fairing buzz that has obviously plagued all Z750S', if the forum is anything to go by. I did this rather than drilling holes and adding screws as some did, which resulted in broken fairing parts. Couple this with removing the dorky (I hope I don't have to re-dorkulate at WoF time) and useless stock mirrors which I think were adding to the amount of noise generated by the fairing because of how they bounced and vibrated and the riding experience is significantly improved. Rattles and buzzes wind me up.

I'd been pondering a vaccum balance for the FI or another valve check despite it being within spec last time because of how rough it was running in the mid-range. Reading the Z750 forum with particular attention to breathing revealed that very few of the '05 Z750S' left the factory with their exhaust header bolts torqued within spec. Riding pzkpfw's identical Zed revealed his to be magnitudes of measurement smoother than mine.

Almost a full turn on 4 of 8 header bolts has transformed the Zed from being a bit rough to smooth as Vern Troyer's butt (Don't watch that vid. Dwarf sex isn't sexy. Neither is his ex-Girlfriend.).

A most productive weekend.

merv
28th July 2008, 12:27
Never anything wrong with taking the simple approach to problems because the outcomes are rewarding for so little cost. Good on ya Jim.:niceone:

jrandom
28th July 2008, 12:51
Almost a full turn on 4 of 8 header bolts has transformed the Zed from being a bit rough to smooth as Vern Troyer's butt...

Inneressing!

It was a bit ruggedy in the engine-smoothness department. I caught myself formulating 'Heavy Industries' LOLJOAX in mine head as I rode along.

So, um, kineyeva nuthago nowmista?

:D

pzkpfw
29th July 2008, 13:25
Finally found some instructions on how to remove the fairing.

Geez. You could've asked...

James Deuce
29th July 2008, 18:21
Inneressing!

It was a bit ruggedy in the engine-smoothness department. I caught myself formulating 'Heavy Industries' LOLJOAX in mine head as I rode along.

So, um, kineyeva nuthago nowmista?

:D

Of course, but I must make sure I have bike #2 running next time so I can go with you.


Geez. You could've asked...

That's like asking for directions and results in an automatic male fail.

The Pastor
30th July 2008, 16:30
finally found some instructions on how to remove the fairing.



you needed instructions on how to remove a fairing??

James Deuce
30th July 2008, 17:51
you needed instructions on how to remove a fairing??
Yes. The nose assembly needs things to be removed in sequence or you break stuff. It isn't as simple as it looks.

jrandom
30th July 2008, 17:56
Of course, but I must make sure I have bike #2 running next time so I can go with you.

Pfft. I'll ride down next time, and we'll just swap.


Yes. The nose assembly needs things to be removed in sequence or you break stuff. It isn't as simple as it looks.

HULK REMOVE FAIRING!

:done: