Kawasaki ZXR250 Help-Needed

**SuperDave** · 18th March 2006, 23:11

I think its quite reasonable to expect a 15 year old bike with relatively high KM's to be a bit tempremental when it comes to starting. In saying this the ZXR shouldn't have a problem firing up if you start it correctly the first time - learn the right amount of choke for the bikes temp and situation and you should be able to get it started first time everytime.

Getting the simple cheaper things done can also greatly improve things, stuff like just replacing the oil with a quality oil and replacing all the plugs as well as cleaning out the air filter and flushing out the coolant and replacing with fresh. Batteries arn't expensive so getting a brand new one is a good idea too.

I also had some trouble getting mine started when I first got it - it pretty much needed to be crash started everytime which is a real bitch. I got the basics maintenance done and after that it had no problem starting.

**Olly** · 19th March 2006, 08:59

Awesome; I'll go grab some of that 15/40 oil today... is it bad to mix it with what ever is already in there?

**slimyxylofone** · 19th March 2006, 09:09

Don't mix oils, bad news. Use this as an opportunity to change the oil and filter. From then on you know what oil is in there and how old it is. Change it every 5-6000kms after that.

**.produKt** · 19th March 2006, 12:32

SO about this oil, IOf anyone is in chch would you mind popping me a pm and telling me where i can go to buy parts for my bike?

I have no idea where to find the oil and brake pads etc

**Olly** · 19th March 2006, 16:19

Hi Again Guys; Very sad now... I decided to go for a fun long ride today and all was well (So Much Fun). I returned home to grab somethings before going out again and somehow the rpm meter thing now multiplys everything by like 4 so instead of it saying it is idleing at like 2,000 as it does it now says it idles at 8,000... There is no way it is going that hard. Can anyone tell me some possible causes for this false reading.

... Guess I will have to take it back into the bike shop tomorrow to get them to sort it out.

**imdying** · 20th March 2006, 09:04

I work with a guy who likes old Hondas, things like 50 years old Dreams. They start with a single push of the starter every time, no good reason why a 15 yo ZXR250 won't.

I can help you with your bike if you get stuck, just pm me. I think there's only one of me...

**.produKt** · 20th March 2006, 14:48

Well an update on that actually =)
I trickle charged the battery overnight, and it started first pop in da mornin.

Which made me a very happy man! as i were a bit downhearted thinking of the bills i'd have to pay to get it runnin

**g34l** · 23rd March 2006, 11:51

i had a 16 yo zxr205 too, and running it everyday. it runs quite all right with 91 for me. however, i did find it strees when the petrol tank went down to about 1/3. i did even had it lost power and the engine started to struggle on the motorway, so i had to pull it off and gave it a rest. now i try to keep the tank reasonabl.

i actually sent it out for servising and tunning. it is quite costly, i had it for nearly two years now, and out for four times, and not a single time was less then 500. worse of all, next time in, i think the clutch and rear tyre are going to be replaced. anyway, for safety and efficient sake, it worths it.

the battery imporved the starting issue a little bit, but i did not think that is an electrical problem. i did not use the original battery, but replace with another replacement, slightly bigger capacity, but with the terminal round the wrong way so i had to modify it.

these days, i got to take of the 7 oclock traffic in auckland. i think something i found was, try not to have the bike stationary. even 20k on 2nd gear will be good as goal, at least the fan did not have to come on.

besides the down sides, which are not too major, zxr is good!!

cheers, mate!

**John** · 23rd March 2006, 11:56

Olly if you need help, antallica knows where I leave get my number off him - I can sort any problem out for ya give ya some tips and such.

**Sniper** · 23rd March 2006, 12:32

Originally Posted by John

Olly if you need help, antallica knows where I leave get my number off him - I can sort any problem out for ya give ya some tips and such.

Just don't bend over in front of John

(pt)

**Delta-9** · 23rd March 2006, 12:44

Hey can anyone tell me how much oil to put in my '89 ZXR250? Normally bikes have it printed on the engine but I can't find it anywhere.
And can anyone tell me why my bike revs out at 16k? I've changed the spark plugs (to Split Fire performance plugs), I've cleanded the air filter and I've checked the fuel lines. There are things I haven't tried yet and I don't want to unless I have have to, like cleaning and sychronising the carbs - removing carbs is not a fun job on a sports bike I can tell you, especially a 4 cylinder!
Is there anything I haven't thought of yet?
And one dumb question - How do I change the "L-Plate Rider" thing? cause I'm not.

**N4CR** · 23rd March 2006, 15:29

Hey mate, when it revs out to 16k that is an electrics problem .. sounds like it is strangling itself to death eh? I had it once going up to whangarei in the rain for 4 hours, dried it out overnight and it worked fine the next day. Might need to strip the bike and check all electrical connections.

Mine's being a bitch starting with an aux fuel tank at the moment, might need to figure out how to hook up the carb primer line, I tipped some fuel in before but didn't help it to start. Battery was flat before but have a new one.. it turns over and ignites every now and then but only a single pop or so. Crash starting it sorta makes it shudder and it sounds like it has not enough fuel or something, runs for about 3 seconds before stalling.

Fugdarnit!

**imdying** · 23rd March 2006, 15:34

Sounds like the battery is so buggered that all the current it can deliver is going straight to the starter motor, and thus none is left to make spark with

Charge it up good before you try again.

**justsomeguy** · 23rd March 2006, 15:42

Hi Olly

NOOOOOO!!!!!!!

DON'T RUN IT ON 96 - DRAIN THE TANK IMMEDIATELY. OR YOU WILL FOUL THE PLUGS.

John - the head mechanic at Botany Honda - the guy who did all the servicing on it - actually made me throw out about 5 litres of 96. Those plugs are brand new mate you don't want to fork out another $80 plus labour to get another set.

Is it still showing the wrong revs?? That is terrible. There is a thread here where I asked about it. You still have all the reciepts I gave you?? Ring those people and tell them what all is happening.

Every aspect of that bike was given a thorough going over by Botany Honda, Davey's Motorcycle Wreckers, Red Baron Motorcycles, Corsa Motorcycle Wreckers and BLACKYOSHI, Juzzer and I.......

So it should be the sweet.

The oil in it is Elf Moto4 HpEco Semi Synthetic 10 by 40W. It was changed less than 500ks before you got the bike so should be ok for a fair bit of riding. The filters new too.