ZXR 250 fairing-fuel tank cooling ducts

[Deanos]

I'm trying to source a set of the cooling ducts which run from the fairing to the fuel tanks. Can anyone suggest a place where I can find these? I have tried wreckers, the local Kawasaki dealership and so far the only place I can get them from is the dealer at $200 per pipe imported direct from Japan. Am considering making up a set of pipes my self, so any advice/ info would be mint.

[placidfemme]

Hey...

I'm looking for a pair of those too, one of mine was damaged when I crashed...

I havn't looked recently, but when I was looking, from wreckers, they were about $70 a set or each, I don't remember...

But a lot of people said if you want to make some yourself, go to Payless Plastics or a similar store and buy a vacum hose and cut to fit, or a pool/plumber place and get those pool hoses and cut to fit... also if you do that, and you wish to paint it to match your bike, make sure to use a paint that flexes, otherwise in time the paint will crack and it'll look like shit...

let me know how you go cause i'd been keen on feedback so I can look into the same thing :)

good luck

[Deanos]

You legend, thats a mint idea, i'll get some hose and try it out this weekend, what wreckers did you manage to source them through out of curiosity?

[placidfemme]

You legend, thats a mint idea, i'll get some hose and try it out this weekend, what wreckers did you manage to source them through out of curiosity?

City MotorCycle Wreckers in Grey Lynn, Auckland (09 376-9260). Ask to speak with Rikki :)

[Fishy]

an old vacuum.

[mynameis]

WTF !! I can't believe they are saying $200 for those. Rubbish !!

It's only plastic that goes from top fairings to fuel tank, good on you for trying to make one and not buying it.

Vacuum cleaner hoses are mint idea plus just get a grey one and it will match any colour bike. The A model's have a metal one though.

[Deanos]

Have pretty much settled on the plastic hose idea, I'll let you know how it goes. One thing I have come up with to make it look professional is to glue the hose pipe over a piece of flared out metal piping, this will give it more strength where it screws onto the fuel tank as well as give it a better looking transition from pipe to fuel tank. Also a piece metal piping will serve as a good means to attach the new pipe at the fairing end of things. Thanks for the good input everyone.

[sefer]

Yeah use Vacuum cleaner hose, or go to a pool shop where they sell pool sweeper hose by the metre. I think it only comes in blue but just spray it whatever colour you want. It's not like they do anything apart from cover the (usually) rusty holes in the tank designed to have the hose slipped over.

[placidfemme]

Sweet mate... should be interesting to see you results :)

[Deanos]

I bought some 50mm inside diameter ducting from a plumbing supplies centre, its cost me $12 for the required 60mm long section. The reason for the larger piping is so it slides over existing piping section attatched to the fairing a looks natural.

Process:
I stuck some foam around the fuel tank fitting so the tube sat snugly and central on the tank.
Cut the pipe into 30mm lenghts and cut the old pipe already on the bike in half as seen on link pic.
Then I slid the new pipe up onto old pipe and pushed it gently onto fairing adaptor making a snug fit.
Next I pushed the other end over the foam onto the fuel tank.
Here you can trim off lenghts of tube to get it the right length.
Once happy I put the srew through new pipe and it was sorted, fits snugly and look better than the old pipe... Way to save $400 on new piping.

http://homepage.mac.com/deannathanstroud/Menu15.html

Click here to see how my ducts look, hope it helps you with your bikes.

[imdying]

Looks suprisingly good! Shame it's a little light grey, but not a bad fit :yes:

Should try a few turns on the preload adjusters, I found that helped a bit... you can always wind them back :)

[Deanos]

Yeah it is a bit lighter than the original but I'm going to give the fairnings a respray to silver so will look bloody good then.