Kawasaki Z750S (ZR750K1 apparently)

**NZsarge** · 1st March 2008, 17:37

Originally Posted by Jim2

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

Originally Posted by Jim2

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.

**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.

**jrandom** · 28th July 2008, 12:51

Originally Posted by James Deuce

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?

**pzkpfw** · 29th July 2008, 13:25

Originally Posted by James Deuce

Finally found some instructions on how to remove the fairing.

Geez. You could've asked...

**James Deuce** · 29th July 2008, 18:21

Originally Posted by jrandom

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?

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

Originally Posted by pzkpfw

Geez. You could've asked...

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