Holy Mac...$1700 to get my ZXR250 back on the road!!!

**trickjack** · 13th March 2007, 17:05

Hey all...turns out after receiving a quote to get my mean black machine back on the road, it's going to cost me $1700 all up! just over a grand for parts!! (some from Japan) and 8 hours labour!!!!!!

Outrageous really. I guess you can say i bought a dud. but i did give her good thrashing prior to her konking out. ie redlining, maxing out. fuck it was fun. Initially I was informed my carbs needed cleaning out and valve clearances done. but nooooooooooo, to my dismay the list is as follows:

REPLACE FLOAT NEEDLES AND SEATS
REPLACE MANIFOLD GASKETS (FROM CARBURETTOR TO HEAD) - PERISHED AND OLD
REPLACE CARBURETTOR O-RINGS
ADJUST CLEARANCES - RESHIM
REPLACE SPARK PLUGS
REPLACE OIL AND OIL FILTER
REPLACE REAR BRAKE PADS

I also requested a jet/tune too.

worth the thrashing? maybe. all in all this type of work needed to be done eventually. i guess...

my questions to you is this:

am i better off spending my dollars on upgrading to a larger ride?

your thoughts on the price to get her sorted?

and how neccessary is a jet tune?

trickjack

**doc** · 13th March 2007, 17:23

Originally Posted by trickjack

Hey all...turns out after receiving a quote to get my mean black machine back on the road, it's going to cost me $1700 all up! just over a grand for parts!! (some from Japan) and 8 hours labour!!!!!!

Outrageous really. I guess you can say i bought a dud. but i did give her good thrashing prior to her konking out. ie redlining, maxing out. fuck it was fun. Initially I was informed my carbs needed cleaning out and valve clearances done. but nooooooooooo, to my dismay the list is as follows:

REPLACE FLOAT NEEDLES AND SEATS
REPLACE MANIFOLD GASKETS (FROM CARBURETTOR TO HEAD) - PERISHED AND OLD
REPLACE CARBURETTOR O-RINGS
ADJUST CLEARANCES - RESHIM
REPLACE SPARK PLUGS
REPLACE OIL AND OIL FILTER
REPLACE REAR BRAKE PADS

I also requested a jet/tune too.

worth the thrashing? maybe. all in all this type of work needed to be done eventually. i guess...

my questions to you is this:

am i better off spending my dollars on upgrading to a larger ride?

your thoughts on the price to get her sorted?

and how neccessary is a jet tune?

trickjack

First four on the list time consuming, but not difficult. Why not do the last three yourself easy peasy and save some money.

**desmo dave** · 13th March 2007, 17:51

Originally Posted by doc

First four on the list time consuming, but not difficult. Why not do the last three yourself easy peasy and save some money.

were sposed to be cheap to maintain

**imdying** · 13th March 2007, 17:55

If you're going to go to that much effort, and you're planing on raping it some more, get the cam chain (and tensioner?) replaced at the same time.

**Drum** · 13th March 2007, 17:57

Originally Posted by trickjack

..... I guess you can say i bought a dud. ..........

Not a dud, probably just a bike that has never been looked after.
Preventative maintenance is cheaper than restorative.

**desmo dave** · 13th March 2007, 18:01

Originally Posted by Drum

Not a dud, probably just a bike that has never been looked after.
Preventative maintenance is cheaper than restorative.

bike cant have been looked after and serviced.

**Buster** · 13th March 2007, 18:08

Get another quote.

**doc** · 13th March 2007, 18:34

Originally Posted by desmo dave

bike cant have been looked after and serviced.

Na these items are simple maintainance issues nothing about being a dud. Nothing is being repaired. Agree about camchain replacement not knowing about service history.

**Harry the Barstard** · 13th March 2007, 18:41

Yeah man the other guys are right. The hole dont fix it unless its broken is a load of crap. Maintainance is key, I always chip away at her over the winter months when im not on it as much, thens she is all go for summer.This is a good habit to get into if the cash floww isn't that good. One avenue you may not have chased up is a good pair of second hand carbs. There are plenty at the wreckers. As for the last three do it yourself or get a mate to show you. After all teach a man to fish!

**trickjack** · 13th March 2007, 19:19

Thanks for all your input guys. much appriciated.

any other thoughts on what else i should do while they're at it???

i am currently seeking a second quote, awaiting a response.

**trickjack** · 13th March 2007, 19:21

does anyone know what a jet tune is???

i heard it enhances performance.

any thoughts?

**Gremlin** · 13th March 2007, 23:01

carbs have jets... it needs to be tuned for correct fueling etc, and not quite as easy as a FI onboard computer...

Basically, to make the bike run well, it would have to be tuned. Just depends how good the mechanic is, and how long they spend on it, as to how good it is. If the bike was poorly tuned before, you would notice a big difference.

**imdying** · 14th March 2007, 08:16

Originally Posted by trickjack

does anyone know what a jet tune is???

i heard it enhances performance.

any thoughts?

It only enhances performance if it has the wrong jets in it to start with. I wouldn't bother changing them unless you run it up on a dyno with an O2 sensor and prove that it really needs doing.

**rok-the-boat** · 14th March 2007, 20:19

1700 for that is total con - total rip off. 8 hours? I am not a pro but if I hadthe parts it'd take a couple of leisurely hours. And I doubt you need everything on that list. I don't thikn you'll need four needles and seats. One might be leaking, but not all 4. And I bet they don't even bother to replace them. And carb o-rings. I have never had to replace one of these. At worst, one might need doing. The only tricky thing on that list is shimming the valves. The rest is a piece of cake. And if you thrashed it and it stopped, none of the above seem to me to be a likely result. Did petrol leak from the carbs when you stopped? This would indicate a dodgy float needle (I bet, no). After they have done it, it'll be the same, then they'll whack you with another bill, this time attacking the electrics. You are being conned.

**Ixion** · 14th March 2007, 20:23

The time is not unreasonable. Fairings to remove and a reshim on a 4cylinder DOHC is going to tak emore than a couple of hours.

The parts seem pricey though. Essentially, over $200 per cylinder for float needle and seat, manifold gasket and o'ring . (allowing another $200 for brake pads plugs and oil)

That seems decidedly expensive.