ZX9R - To the Brass from Auckland

[Biggles08]

Well I have my first Brass monkey badge and not sure what to do with it...but I have it :-)

I rode to the Brass monkey (Down the bottom of the SI for all you uninitiated) on my 98 ZX9R and was suitably impressed with her effort. Had a couple of issues on the way, the first being a slow leak that ended in a complete flat in Waiuru at 8am! I was traveling with my father on his ZZR1200 and we had bike to bike comms. I was complaining all the way down the desert road about all the ice on the road of which miraculously my father had experienced none of?!?! I not once considered that my tires may not be up to scratch and it wasn't until after a pit stop for a quick 'warm you up' coffee in lovely Waiuru did my dad notice my rear tire looking a bit sad. He kicked it (like he lovingly used to to me when I was younger) and discovered every trace of air was anywhere but in the tire. Of course this explained the strange wiggles i was experiencing.

Appart from this (oh BTW we pumped it up and carried on stopping every 40k's to pump it up until we made it to Welly where we needed to check in for the midday ferry...we then got it fixed at Welly motorcycles prior to hopping on the ferry) my bike was experiencing a serious amount of carb icing all through the desert road. This aided in distracting me from the wiggles i was experiencing as I had never had my bike misfire like it was. Interestingly, the only reason that I even considered this to be the case was about a week ago, the previous owner of my bike contacted me through this forum saying that he recognized my bike #plate and told me about the icing he had experienced with this bike. He explained that he had fitted heated carbs from Kawasaki Japan and never experienced this again....well I did.

Anyway, later in the trip my dads ZZR 1200 (also with heated carbs) experienced the same phenomena i was so this made me feel better.

Is there anything I can do about this...I guess I'm just lucky that I live in AKL and these wet cold conditions aren't the norm here....??? wait a minute!!!??? (another argument for another time ;-))

My point is I have not had this issue here in AKL...ever, but then I haven't owned my bike through a winter yet. Does anyone know of a solution to this?

Apart from these small issues, the bike went really well and I was comfortable enough for the entire trip of over 3600km in total (the over sized tank bag made a nice wee pillow to lean on although above 180kph it became a problem....mmmmmuuust......gggett....bbbehiiiiind thhee fairringgg!!!)

Great bike...great ride....bring on next year!!! Check out some of the photos below.

[cowboyz]

super bike. nice colour too.......

[Maha]

Cheerful write up there Biggles, those 'sunny but brisk' South Island days are the best.

[Biggles08]

super bike. nice colour too.......

mmmmmmm....green with envy! ditto to you! I saw two other green ZX9Rs at the brass, one had an aftermarket rear tire hugger and looked very smart. Do you have icing issues with yours?

[slinky]

looking at the pics makes me extremely jealous!!!!

did you get those thermals you were talking about on the ATNR???
lol, ur bike looks nice n packed up with all the gear on the back!!!

[Biggles08]

looking at the pics makes me extremely jealous!!!!

didn't read the thread. am at work, and this laptop gives me headaches if i stare too long!
But did you get those thermals you were talking about on the ATNR???

I only had two pairs of thermals so after a week on the road I wasn't very pleasant to be around. I was trying to get a heated vest wired up for under my one piece but it kept blowing fuses so I gave up (for the moment). You should be jealous it was an awsome ride!!! next year Sl1nky...next year bud!

[cowboyz]

mmmmmmm....green with envy! ditto to you! I saw two other green ZX9Rs at the brass, one had an aftermarket rear tire hugger and looked very smart. Do you have icing issues with yours?

not sure what "icing issues" means to be honest. but no. bike runs mint. I brought it in march and have done 13000 on it so far. great bike to tour on. fantastic bike to cane it on, and not bad for commuting. I actually dont like it much in town. I just leave it in first gear in town.

Hopefully next year I will get down south island with it. good stuff.

[NinjaNanna]

This site will be very useful for you http://www.zx-9r.net/phpBB2/index.php

I haven't experienced Carb Icing on my bike yet, but what I do recall reading on the site above, is that there is a coolant line that runs near the carbs that is meant to minimise carb icing, there is a filter in this line that clogs up.

I think this effected all carb models but may have been specific to the "B" model that I have. I think you have the C am I correct?

Cheers

Shane

[cowboyz]

sweet. yes mine is a C1 model. Going to check out the zx9r forum for a bit.

[bladez]

looked like a fun trip what was it like riding down s-island

[rogson]

If you don't "tour" in cold, foggy/misty conditions on your carburetted ZX7, 9 or 10 you probably haven't encountered carb icing.

It occurs when its cold and the humidity is high, when cruising for longish periods at a low throttle settings (say, up to 150kph). Cold, moist air expanding into the vaccuum behind the throttle drops to below freezing temperature precipitating carb icing.

[paturoa]

Sorry we didn't catch up at the BM, where did you camp?

Where were the pics taken.

[doc]

I only had two pairs of thermals so after a week on the road I wasn't very pleasant to be around.

Found the answer to that "Icebreaker thermals" they guarantee that you wont stink for 14 days at least. It's merino , I asked if it was NZ made and got this answer. "It's made from a NZ renewable resource that is remanufactured in China" They are the best thing I've used so far and I couldn't smell anything.

[cowboyz]

mmmmmmm....green with envy! ditto to you! I saw two other green ZX9Rs at the brass, one had an aftermarket rear tire hugger and looked very smart. Do you have icing issues with yours?

If you don't "tour" in cold, foggy/misty conditions on your carburetted ZX7, 9 or 10 you probably haven't encountered carb icing.

It occurs when its cold and the humidity is high, when cruising for longish periods at a low throttle settings (say, up to 150kph). Cold, moist air expanding into the vaccuum behind the throttle drops to below freezing temperature precipitating carb icing.

oh. I too much of a pussy to ride when its too cold.

no no no.. that wasnt my excuse....



Try this one...

The weather is always fantastic around ashhurst so we dont experience cold spells.......


yep . that should work..

[Biggles08]

Sorry we didn't catch up at the BM, where did you camp?

Where were the pics taken.

Hi paturoa,

We were camping about midway down (maybe 150mtrs up the hill from the KB flag) in the middle slightly towards the road. About as far down as the toilet block away from the road. I'll post a pic with this message with the location. The other pics were in the Lindis pass and the lake just south of Lake Tekapo (the one with the dam that you ride over). Maybe next year we can ride down together from somewhere. We road from Akl - Taupo - Welly - picton - Nelson - Murchinston - Greymouth - Arthurs pass - springfield (didn't see Homer though) - Tekapo - Wanaka - Alexandra (where incidently we needed to get dads radiator aluminium welded as he sprung a leak!!!) - Brass Monkey - Tekapo - Chch - Kaikoura - Picton - Welly - Palm North - Taupo - AKL. The longest day was sunday after the rally where we rode all the way to Kaikoura in one day....slept well that night.