Got me a new motorsickle, and it's all KB's Fault!

[sugilite]

I bought my 1st road bike this century, in fact it was waaaaay back in 1994 that I last bought a road bike!
Personally, I blame kiwibiker and it's folks for posting so many damn tantalizing road rides and events, you evil bastards!!!!!

It's a Kawasaki 1989 ZXR750 that I got for a good price!
I'm just charging the battery, though I already started it with the battery out my superbike. I took this bike for a ride from southern Hawkes Bay to Taupo and back about 6 months back, and it's a real sweetie.

Plans:
Well, I'll be using it mainly as a road bike.
It is also eligible for post classic, and I have about 6 sets of tyres off the superbike lined up for it.
I'm also going to fit my spare arrow race system to it. (see pic one)
I'm hoping my spare white power shock will go in, but it's a long shot me thinks....

I checked out the post classic times for the atrix series in 2005. Watch out guys I'm commin :devil2: I mean to say 1:19's being a hot time? I've done faster than that on my motard bike lol (1:18 flat on my KX500) I'm thinking a high 1:15 is definitely doable on the 750 :niceone:

Any ways, thanks guys for motivating me to get back to the roadie fold :spudbn:

BTW, anyone got any spare fairings for this model? I have the feeling Ill need a plain fairing for stealthy reasons.... :devil2:

[Sniper]

NIce work man. :)

[GSVR]

You got a thing about green bikes or something? Tidy bike and they don't go to bad either.

[sugilite]

Yeah, it seems that way, I was traditionally a kawa dirt bike guy and a suzuki road bike one, then dickytoo (Richard) turned me fully to the green side lol

[T.W.R]

Tidy ! good honest old bikes with plenty of fun to be had;)

spare fairings mmm you may be lucky! if you find any :2guns: :angry2:

$4500 for factory ex jap, just fairings don't go that early in model (only to J1)
otherwise ex england :eek5:

[sugilite]

Heres hoping I get lucky with some old race fairings!
I have a set of Keihn flat sides ready to put on too. Tis all good!:niceone:

[chanceyy]

Nice bike sugilite, might see you on it one day soon :laugh: as you go flying past my place of course :bleh: :spudflip:

[babyB]

hay good on ya sugilite, im sure youll enjoy your new fredom

(lol a funny lookin gsxr though:rofl: )

[Shaun]

Heres hoping I get lucky with some old race fairings!
I have a set of Keihn flat sides ready to put on too. Tis all good!:niceone:

your'e a nutter:calm: But who am I to say

[kiwifruit]

cool bike man,
ive always liked those.
Enjoy!

[BEAMER89]

:spudbooge Very nice bike matey! l always liked those ZXR 750,something about that colour scheme.

[kro]

Looks to be in very tidy condition. I love those damn things.

[miSTa]

BTW, anyone got any spare fairings for this model? I have the feeling Ill need a plain fairing for stealthy reasons.... :devil2:

Fairings are available here http://glenshiel.co.uk/acatalog/Catalog_ZXR_750__433.html and here http://www.skidmarx.co.uk/prices_road_bodywork_kawasaki.htm

Good choice btw, they go well, and are comfortable.

[sugilite]

I bought a replacement battery today and charged and installed it.
She started right up, so it was off to the local bike shop for a w.o.f. via my road (part of the targa rally, so yee haaa stuff.)
So it's like been sunny for weeks, I get 7 km's into it and I see a wall of rain heading for me! No wait that sure rain sure looks thick, Oh great it turned out to be hail and then rain!!!:shit:
I don't know what it is, but whenever I get a new bike, the universe decides to baptize it!:scratch:

It did not last too long and I was quite dry again before getting to town. It flew through the WOF and it was off home again.

The best part of the road (a decent hill climb) was dry, so I put her through her paces. I did notice the portly 230KG dry weight, but she did her best to hide it lol.
The front end on these bikes are stuff of legend, thus the front end feedback was not to bad from the front michilin malcodamia nut or what ever it's called, but for sure, I'm looking forward to getting a grooved slick on there pronto, same for the rear.:yes:
I'm impressed with the stability, though I should prob still fit a steering dampener for racing safety. I think I'll reduce the steering lock whilst I'm at it.

It's a revvy motor being a 750 4, I like the motors character. It is so typical of the late 80's powerband style! It feels so much like my GSXR750 from the same period it's not funny!
I noticed the collector box on the exhaust has had the bash, so the race pipe will make a big difference there me thinks. And fer sure those Keihn flat slides will be primo. :2thumbsup

The rear shock is shagged, so under power she is wallowing and running wide, especially on sweepers.
STOP THE PRESS!!! I just now went and measured the shock, and it is the same length as my spare White Power shock for the superbike, and I have 3 different springs for that shock, so yahooooooo! :woohoo:


A little birdy told me a while back that a friend of mine has a set of spare marvics doing nothing....now those would sharpen up steering response!
This post classic race/road bike project is just getting better all the time!!!:banana:

[sugilite]

Thanks for the cool comments everyone!
Special thanks to ZZR for the fairing links....

Baby b, I was thinking I was going to have to build a GSXR 7/11 to be competitive, but then I saw the lap times and the 1989 ZXR came up for a good price, I just had to do it.
I'll be going for a cruisey night ride later, and yeah, it will be a buzz to enjoy the freedom of the open road again!

[chanceyy]

hail.. rain sorry had to laugh :rofl: at the hail rain christening bit .. so you stole the rain we supose to have today :bleh:... the paddocks really need it more than you sugilite so send it over :yeah: :2guns:

[Insanity_rules]

Respectful ride mate!

[babyB]

Thanks for the cool comments everyone!
Special thanks to ZZR for the fairing links....

Baby b, I was thinking I was going to have to build a GSXR 7/11 to be competitive, but then I saw the lap times and the 1989 ZXR came up for a good price, I just had to do it.
I'll be going for a cruisey night ride later, and yeah, it will be a buzz to enjoy the freedom of the open road again!
well of course you cant pass up a good bike:Punk:
hope you had a good ride tonight

[T.W.R]

[QUOTE=sugilite]
The best part of the road (a decent hill climb) was dry, so I put her through her paces. I did notice the portly 230KG dry weight, but she did her best to hide it lol.

Lols did you get the lead filled one? :whistle: (pt) the old girls are 205kg dry & 231kg wet. That can be peeled down to 178.5dry on paper, mine is closer to that than 205kg. Its east to do even with my restricted cash flow, so with a little coin to play with, it could be done easily.

throwing a bit of coin at the engine can get 115hp at wheel too

[sugilite]

I just got back from my night ride, magic!
It was a wet road heading out the valley and on through to the Manawatu Gorge, then after Woodville it got biblical to and through the gorge! I was down to 30 kmh. def some of the heaviest rain I've ridden through and I was starting to get concerned about possible slips!
I was wearing a rain suit and motocross boots, so all sweet, I just got the old water down the arms into the gloves routine....and yes, I saw you mr plod behind the hedge with your car in the ditch!
Went to palmie, to get dicked around by the traffic lights, I forgot about that with bikes lol

Heading for home, the rain had stopped and the road was showing signs of drying, the pace was nice and I did not see anything other than the occasional truck, I hit reserve and could not find the fuel tap in time before I came to a grinding halt hehehe
Got going, picked up some gas, ogled the bike whilst hydrating myself then took a cruisey ride through the valley on a semi dry road, simply sublime, I'm falling in love with this bike :love:

I'll give the bike a service, err later today!
I think the choke might be sticking on as it is running crap down low, but will also pull the carbs apart and give em a jolly good clean up.
Why I'm at it, will change oil/filter and fit my modified standard rear shock from my superbike. I'll fit the white power shock when I start racing it....

Thanks for the info TWR.
The specs sheet I found for my model said 230 KG dry, so it is nice to hear it is lower than that.
I'm sending her to Jenny Craig anyways via the titanium/carbon race exhaust, I'm picking it will be quieter than the current exhaust it has lol I'm surprised it passed the wof!
It already has fiberglass fairings. Other than the usual stuff one takes off to race it, what other things can I do to trim the pork that you know of?
Thanks for the info TWR

[Dafe]

Hi Anthony,

Good write up and congratulations on the new/old ZXR750.
Good to hear that spare shock you had will slot right in.

Thanks heaps for the learn you gave Bruce and myself. :devil2:
Perhaps we could come up to visit again sometime soon and enjoy another good bash about the countryside. I'm definately keen!
Those roads you have around your area are fantastic......... I mean, who else here would have their own personal race track outside their frontdoor?

Just not so sure about being given the learn by a ZXR750. Would be interesting for sure. :o

I rode one handed from your place back to Masterton where the Heavens opened up on us. I had to stop at the local servo and buy some clear glasses as the tinted visor was no good. (Mental note for next time!)
Monday I had to buy a wrist support!:Oops: (Will wear next time!)

BTW, did you guys happen to pass the chick that waved us down first time around the loop?

Anyways Sugilite. Thanks again for a fantastic days riding. See you again soon I hope.

[T.W.R]

apart from the usual trim downs of secondary bits n pieces, lighter exhaust etc. removal of the engine subframe peels a bit of weight off along with that removing the steel tube radiator & oil cooler carrier and replacing with alloy helps. Removing extra lugs off the frame & subframe takes some more aswell as the carrier tray & rear guard skirts and so forth. changing the swingarm to an H2 trims off roughly 3kg alone, H2 axles & swingarm pivot arm shaft are lighter aswell (being hollow instead of solid).

motor wise a couple of kilos can be shed easily enough if you want to spend money on the crank, rods,and gudgeon pins etc.

[sugilite]

Hey Dafe, yeah, it was a great days riding, always a pleasure to pass info on :niceone:

The roads are awesome here, but there are quite a few local ones of similer styles for me to explore, so for sure I'll be working out some future ride/learn sessions!
The ZXR750 will easily keep the pace, and with using the holistic approach to riding, the bike type becomes less important.
BTW, riding to Masterton one handed was a good move, you will really ingrain those benefits into your ride style with that sort of dedication!

Uncle B and I did not see that arm waving chick again, I was looking out for her on the reverse of the loop too.
Talk about over reaction, we were doing about 80 in a 100k area at the time, and if we had ignored her, we could of really put the hammer down on that stretch of road, talk about a spoilsport :weird:

[sugilite]

A HUGE Thanks to you T.W.R.
You are a real mine of information. :Punk:
I've noted those items down and will keep an eye on e-bay for them, cheers!:done:

[T.W.R]

:blink: wealth of info :lol: just a few things i've done myself to mine & things i'd like to do, but its just an exercise of tinkering with what i can afford at present.

Depending on what you want to gain out of the engine, theres simple bits that can be done
H1 CVKD 36mm carbs, change the main jets from 130s to either 132s or 135s. remove the airbox air intake chokes or fit an H2 airbox minus its intake chokes.
H2 CVKD 38mm carbs, change the main jets from 128s to 130s or 132s. remove the airbox intake chokes & inlet silencer.
Or completely cut the rear section of the airbox off & fit an FJ11 Yamaha airfilter to the airbox, but requires using 140 main jets.


Either remove the base gasket or head gasket from the cylinder block to increase compression. slotted sprockets on the cams are handy, timing advances of 6deg inlet and 8deg exhaust increases mid range.
Bead blasting the inlet ports and polishing exhaust ports improves things aswell

[Uncle B]

Hey sugilite, glad to hear you got the ZXR all legal begal :banana: Let the mods begin (cue evil laugh) If you put as much passion into the rebuild as you do your riding she'll be rippa :niceone:
I'll come and watch you race and cheer you on.

Loved those roads you took us on. Following you on the superbike was a hoot.....a sight I won't forget.

Yeah I was looking for the crazy waving lady on the way back. Pity she spoilt a great stretch of road :doh: Least I gave you a bit of entertainment with the big pass manoeuvre :zzzz: followed by a brave attempt at holding you off :killingme I wish i had a camera to capture the moment as you flashed past at warp speed holding a triumphant finger up :first: classic man :niceone:

We'll be up for round 2 in the future.....one handed of course.

Till then

[Lazy7]

great bike. great taste in bikes. great taste in bike colours. all round i cant fault your choice at all.

p.s - am i the only one who thinks that the zxr's where the only half decent looking sports bikes around this time frame?

i could have designed a better looking suzuki or yamaha back in 1989.

[sugilite]

Heyya Uncle B, The 750 will look much the same to follow, just minus the powerstands!
And yeah, fer sure you, Dafe and myself can cut some more grooves soon. I had to laugh when I saw all those darkies driving out the valley the next day :rofl:

Lazy7 you too have impeccable taste in bikes and color scheme :yes:
Yeah for sure Suzuki took an ugly pill about that time, I reckon they only just started to get it right with the K5 1000.

I'll be working on the bike later today, I'll fit that shock!