Dropped my bike, advice please [Archive]

tone_crafter

9th February 2008, 19:57

Hey people after my second day of having my new ZXR250 I dropped it :(

I was cleaning it up to take some photos and stupidly sprayed some tyre cleaner on the tyres. I didn't realise how sliply the stuff was and it slipped out from under me as a turned out of the driveway.

There is a crack about 80mm long above the indicator and a deep scratch on the edge of the top fairing (seen in the second photo). On the right fairing there is deep scratching and some small craching around the mounting bolt towards the front of the fairing (as seen in the second to last photo).

Other damage that I probably won't bother repairing:
-Mufler is scratched but was already damaged and I was already thinking of replacing this.
-Small scratch on riders foot peg.
-Scratch on brake leaver.
-Scratch on end of hadlebar.

Can anyone make some suggestions of good places to go to get the fairings resprayed and the crack plastic welded that will do a good job that's not too expensive. I live in Mt Eden Auckland. I would do the work myself but I have no experience in this area and would probably do a bad job of it. The bike was recently painted before I bought it so I may ask the guy I bought it from where he got it done.

I'm pritty dissapointed I did this so soon but it could have been worse. My gear is a bit scratched up but not torn. Luckily my helmet is fine.

tone_crafter

9th February 2008, 20:02

Here's a picture I took 10 minutes before I did it.

Blue Velvet

9th February 2008, 20:20

Bugger. Is it not insured?

tone_crafter

9th February 2008, 20:30

Yeah but I was temporarily insured with swann for 14 days and my excess for a crash is $1800. I'm changing to NAC but the is still $1000, I just made a claim for my last bike which was stolen so my excess went up.

lanci

9th February 2008, 20:35

Was this the expensive bike from red baron???

I think this sorry to say, is why ideal bikes are naked and not fared.

All the best fixing it......

JimO

9th February 2008, 20:38

well it might hurt your feelings but just ride it, worry about fixing it later....chicks dig scars, i put a $500 gouge in the side of my new hilux early december and by the time i got it fixed after xmas i didnt notice it

HDTboy

9th February 2008, 21:16

Buy a roll of red duct tape, it adds street cred. Just ask Barbender.
Then clean all the shit off your tyres, I'd use brake clean, but others wouldn't. Then get straight back on the bike and wring its neck for dropping you at a silly slow speed.

If you really want to get the fairings fixed, and painted, click the link in my sig.

Clivoris

9th February 2008, 21:50

I think this sorry to say, is why ideal bikes are naked and not fared.

Some people would say, one of many reasons.

Buy a roll of red duct tape, it adds street cred. Just ask Barbender.
Bwahahaha.

homer

9th February 2008, 22:02

i know how you feel you just want it back to as was

i took the fairing off mine got it painted and touched up
cost me $250

tone_crafter

10th February 2008, 09:01

This wasn't from red barron. I think I'll leave it for a while as I don't want to get it fixed and then come off it again. I did clean the stupid tyre cleaner off with brake cleaner and some degreesing stuff. Still a little nervous to really commit myself to corners for a while tho.

I will need to get a new lense for the right indicator soon as I'm due for a warrant in a month. I'll keep an eye out on trademe. I notice there's some threaded holes just above the side fairings which I think are for crash protectors so I might look into that.

scracha

10th February 2008, 11:16

Good gawd...ZXR250s with USD forks can crash? Touch up paint and fibreglass filler are your friends. You'll likely be cheaper with aftermakret indimicators.

babyblade250rr

10th February 2008, 11:37

yep cycletreads for aftermarket indicators, kerosene will remove the crap on your tyres paintwork can be done at reflections, Hope you didnt use silicon based tyre shine??

babyblade250rr

10th February 2008, 11:38

levers and barends are also cheap at cycletreads

Brett

10th February 2008, 12:20

Don't worry about it. If this is your first bike, it will most likely go over again...hopefully just because of something silly like not putting it on its stand properly. I would just ride it as it is. When I dropped my first bike (ZXR 250C) just after I had got it, I left it and was so glad I did because it meant that I didn't have to worry about scratching it again once it was mint again. Fix it just before you sell it. In fact, don't even bother with that. It didn't make mine any harder to sell, and I only got about $400 less that what it was worth, and it would have cost more than that to fix up.

tone_crafter

10th February 2008, 14:46

I might get the crack in the top fairing welded up and get some touch up paint to go over the scratches roughly. Will get it fixed up nicely when I've been riding it for a while longer.

I think my tyre pressures may have something to do with it too. I only weigh about 60kg and the service manual said to run both at 28psi. I have a Pirelli Sport demon 110/70-17 M/C 54H on the front and a Dunlop Rideen GPR-70SP 140/60R 18 MC64H on the rear if that means anything to anyone. The rear is quite flat in the middle and will probably need changing very soon. Any suggestions for tyre pressures and a good rear tyre for my weight?

EnzoYug

10th February 2008, 22:27

Every bike I've owned I've dropped within 7 days of owning it. My last 2 I literally threw myself underneath them to avoid damage. Busted a rib having a bar end nail me.

But im a light guy (low sixteys) and it takes awhile to get used to new shapes / new heights.

But enough about me - HTFU! Bikes that have been dropped look sexier - remember, no one else knows how good it looked "before" and therefore they don't care. In a few weeks you'll no longer wince when you look at it and you'll be glad you didn't fork out shitloads for work that is only cosmetic.

Ride it, tell people about that time you had to 'lay her down' on a nasty corner and everyone will think you're a hero. An irresponsible, law break motoriding hero.

(except other bikers o'course. they'll just nod sagely - after all, you're in the 2fiddy club!)

tone_crafter

11th February 2008, 08:12

ipod1098

11th February 2008, 08:23

pilot powers are good tyres, i run fr @34 ,rear@36psi.Don,t fix it apart from indicators (for warrant) you are sure to have future incidents.. it,s all part of learn,n. Best of luck.

NOMIS

11th February 2008, 08:23

Lol u put tyre shie on a bike???? wellll yeh reflections good and they do a awsum job for a good price, ring them on 09 4448433 there on the shore or email reflections@woosh.co.nz .
Why man tyre shine on a bike?????
I thought about it before but not worth it lol.
If you got the money try dunlop stradas, or just talk to the guys at cycle treads they will give u the ryte advice on tyres.

NOMIS

11th February 2008, 08:30

Thanks EnzoYug that makes me feel a bit better. So being another light rider can u make a sugggestion as to what would be good tyre pressures for me to run on this bike? Tried 22psi in both thismorning and they felt a bit soft but it's hard to know.

Hey man i got a hornet 250 i run 32psi in both tyres the rear 180/50 r17 cant remember ther front but im 63kg and there fine i hit the pefs thru corners alot sometimes not even at a very fast speed they have lots of crip and are fine in the wet even tho a bit low on tread, Dunlop stradas dont no if they come in your size tho, and yeh i droped my bike in the first week kicked it into gear by accident with stand up half siitting on it idling with the choke on brand spanking new paint job with a dent in the tank and a crack in the rear seat. :-( waaaaaaahhhhh

jrandom

11th February 2008, 08:33

I dropped Betty the GSX1400 in the driveway 48 hours after I picked her up brand new.

:crybaby:

Just ride the ZXR scratched. You'll probably drop it again anyway.

Kinje

11th February 2008, 09:49

Thanks EnzoYug that makes me feel a bit better. So being another light rider can u make a sugggestion as to what would be good tyre pressures for me to run on this bike? Tried 22psi in both thismorning and they felt a bit soft but it's hard to know.

I wouldn't want to have my tyre pressures that low, would feel very sluggish response. I run 32 front 36 rear in my CBR250RR.

tone_crafter

11th February 2008, 12:28

Yea it does feel awfully low! I'll give a higher pressure a try. Turns out we have a plastic welder at work so I may try and repair the crack myself.

Jimmy B

11th February 2008, 13:08

Hey TC

Andy from next door here,

32 psi front and 36 psi rear sounds right.

Avon site recomends 33 psi front and 36 psi rear for the ZXR400.

Glad that you found a plastic welder.

As an idea, nothing wrong with repairing the damage and taking the side fairings off for a bit if you think that you may drop it again. Mind you, the reason for this wee off is well understood and would've happended to anyone. You probably won't drop it again :niceone:

tone_crafter

11th February 2008, 14:17

Yeah I don't think I'll be dropping it again any time soon (touch wood). I'll try 32 front, 36psi rear tonight and see how it feels.

EnzoYug

11th February 2008, 17:09

dont ever run it tooo low. as the walls of the tyre will take damage from bending. the lowest it should be run is 3/4 of the recommended range.
the recommended average for a bike like yours (dependant on tyre design/brand) is 30 front 32 back. for your weigh i'd be running it at 29 - 32 (one up) or 30 - 36 (two up).

The experts can disagree with me, but at the end of the day it's all about how safe you feel. however I wouldn't go lower than 26 - 30

I run my GT at 31/36 but she's a fat beast and I often take pillions.

tone_crafter

11th February 2008, 20:42

One positive outcome from all of this, check out these shiny tyres. Well worth it for these lovely pictures hahaha

surfchick

12th February 2008, 13:06

I dropped Betty the GSX1400 in the driveway 48 hours after I picked her up brand new.

:crybaby:

Just ride the ZXR scratched. You'll probably drop it again anyway.

oh no... bad driverway...
I's so small I can't really push big bikes around so i straddle it like all good things to keep her steady:doctor:

I dropped my learners bike on one of those grass bits between concrete strips on a corner when the rear tire took a different line from the front...in poring rain... already late for work... luckily for me the crank casing and clutch/bar ends fell into the grass bit and missed any concrete...

concrete is the mana-stealer of a bikes shine:gob:

FROSTY

12th February 2008, 14:46

good ol fashioned soap n water --HOT water cleans most of that slippery shit off

Soul.Trader

12th February 2008, 14:57

Wow, you put tyre shine on the FACE of the tyre :crazy: My hand was practically shaking while I was carefully shining the walls of my tyres because I was nervous some of it might get on the face.

tone_crafter

12th February 2008, 15:19

Yeah I did :o Don't worry I won't do it again!

Jimmy B

13th February 2008, 07:51

Wow, you put tyre shine on the FACE of the tyre :crazy: My hand was practically shaking while I was carefully shining the walls of my tyres because I was nervous some of it might get on the face.

Bro, your call but personally I wouldnt let any of that stuff get within a hundred feet of my tyres......:no:

HungusMaximist

13th February 2008, 14:51

Don't do tire shine either, it's usually for gaybos or show bikes, but hey that's just me. :msn-wink:

Take Enzo Young's advice, unless it's absolutely necessary to fix her up. You'll surprised the damage you have there will costs you around $300-$400 bucks, if not more.

I know a central panel beater who does plastic welding and also a dude who does spray paint. Let me know if you really want to get it done aye.

Grub

13th February 2008, 15:01

... can u make a sugggestion as to what would be good tyre pressures for me to run on this bike? .

Any psi in the 20's is way too low. Both of my CBR600's, the '90 with crossplys and the '00 with radials (and way different tyre sixes) both ran the same pressures 36fr, 42rr so at your weight the 32/36 or 34/38 that peeps are talking about sounds way more sensible minima.

Often the low pressures listed by the vehicle manufacturer are for ride comfort and have little to do with handling and reducing tyre wear.

tone_crafter

13th February 2008, 17:25

A bit off topic but my bike is taking ages to return to idle. Can't remember if it was doing this or not before I droped it. I know nothing about carbs but could something have been moved or bumped from it being dropped. It wasn't a very hard fall.

Also today I tried running it on the reserve valve on the way home and every now and then it was jerking at lower RPMs. Could there be something in the bottom of the tank? Runs fine on the normal valve. I might drain it on the weekend and see if there's any crap in it.

jcupit69

13th February 2008, 17:53

You want at least 30psi in your tyres!!!
I standardly run 32psi in each and that does for most days....if im going out for an absolute thrash and can be bothered i usually put my back one up a lil. Did the same on my old zxr c.

If i were you i wouldnt get the cosmetics repaired straight away, especially if its a new bike to you. Wait a lil while longer till you know the bike and are more confident on it. You'd hate to go get it repaired only to drop it again 4 weeks later. :niceone:

Just make sure you give her a good spanking to make up for it :spanking:
gota love that 19000rpm red line :banana:

PirateJafa

13th February 2008, 18:47

Grab a Pirelli Sport Demon for your rear tyre too... they are excellent - as sticky a tyre as you need on a two-fiddy, warm up pretty quick and handle well in the wet as well as the dry.

I run my Pirellis at 34 (front) and 36 (rear) around town, 36-38 and 38-40 respectively if I'm going out for a blat out in the country or other long-distance highway riding. Put in a extra 2-4psi into the rear tyre if you're carrying a pillion, and drop around 2psi from both wheels if the road is wet.

mister.koz

14th April 2008, 09:53

I see now why you wanted the manual :(

I've not long had my zxr which was bruised and a little ugly when i bought it. I agree with the guys here when they say don't worry about the scratches until you want to sell it.

The cost of getting that showroom shine is way high!

Also, there are some flush mounting front indicators around that suit the zxr's nicely and i think they look better as well as being lots of $$ cheaper than the kawa-origonals. (like this http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Parts-accessories/Frames-bodywork/auction-150233683.htm)

I have noticed my zxr is a little funny around idle, when it gets there, its constistant but takes its time. I have found that mine wont idle nice at all when cold unless you teak the idle to about 2000rpm, when its hot, it idles smoothly between 1000 and 1500. (smoothly for a jumpy as engine that is :) )

Its easy to get really paranoid when you have had a problem with a bike or dropped it, i reakon that the idle thing was there before but you didn't notice cause of the prettyness :)