ZRX61 wrote: Sun Jan 11, 2026 12:29 am
Arsebiscuits, it's still behaving like running out of gas while accelerating when the engine is cold at certain rpm. I can't believe it takes damn near 8 miles to warm up.
Gonna pull the allegedly new fuel filter the seller says it has (it looks suspect) & fit the actual new one that I bought last week.
May end up pulling the fuel tap & checking that too.
Not only when cold, but my Firestorm did that, turned out to be a split in the fuel tap diaphragm. Was very intermittent but a bit scary on the fast lane of the motorway. Confused me at first as felt like it had run out of fuel (it hadn't) but then started and ran the 15 miles home with no signs of issue at all. Back in about 2009 Honda charged £30 odd for a flap of rubber and a spring
Took a closer look at the fuel filter that's on the bike. It's spotless, flows fine.
Swapped out 6 of the 7 screws on the screen for Allens. (7th weird nut will be here this week to finish that project) Ditto the two screws on each side cover.
Faffed about with the turn signals.... Turned the ignition on, they worked.. for about 6 flashes, then they didn't. Checked/replaced fuse, no difference. Checked relay, it's fine. Left switch cluster is coming apart tomorrow.
IMG_20260112_150459500.jpg (1.54 MiB) Viewed 1829 times
IMG_20260112_150509929.jpg (1.58 MiB) Viewed 1829 times
IMG_20260110_113802516.jpg (1.84 MiB) Viewed 1829 times
WooT! Special nut doodad arrived for the screen, so now I won't have to scrap the entire bike. Thought the original had merely fell off. Turns out the hole in the (aftermarket) screen & the hole the fairing didn't align so it hadn't been installed. I gave it some attention with a drill & now it's all copacetic.
IMG_20260113_141308425.jpg (1.32 MiB) Viewed 1788 times
Took the switch cluster apart, zero corrosion in there, in fact it looks like the bike rolled off the production line this morning.
They're working now, multiple times... so we'll see how it goes next time I ride it... I think the issue may have been the hazards circuit.
So, todays tally:
1) Turn signals
2) Muffler badge
3) Garage door remote doodad
4) Screen hardware
5) Upgraded valve stem caps from cheap plastic to blingie black aluminum.
6) Spare seat will be here later, that's going on a shelf until I have time to drop it off at Dustyn's in Hesperia.
It now has the OEM Kaw mirror on the left & an EMGO one on the right. Both appear to have flat glass... but the right one magnifies what you see in it. I'm a bit baffled.
Probably not an issue in your climate, but I'm never fitting alloy valve caps ever again. They corroded onto the valve stem, I had to replace a valve once because I destroyed it trying to get the alloy cap off.
KungFooBob wrote: Wed Jan 14, 2026 7:59 am
Probably not an issue in your climate, but I'm never fitting alloy valve caps ever again. They corroded onto the valve stem, I had to replace a valve once because I destroyed it trying to get the alloy cap off.
Zero corrosion on the GPz11, ZX11 or ZRX11. I have a set of Z1 engine mount plates laying around that I bead-blasted maybe 20 years ago & didn't get around to using... still haven't rusted.
Just after I went to bed last night I remembered something to add to the * to-do* list, Decided to add it this morning.... No bloody clue what it was.
Removed the front half of the rear fender, scraped all the congealed chain lube off it. Gave it a squirt of the Megquiar's Insane Shine plastic goop & now it looks like I fitted a new part.
Did a bit more faffing about & took it for a test ride. Stumble is gone... altho I'm gonna pop the ignition cover off tomorrow & have a look in there.
(edit: Did that, also looked like it just rolled off the production line in there)
Guess I got some reading to do...
Took the '83 GPz11 for it's first ride over 10miles. Hit the local freeway headed to the nearest Kaw dealer.
Just before I got off the freeway after about 40 miles the warning light started flashing...
Shortly after that the DFI warning light started flashing. Bike was running fine.
Left the dealer & headed home, no warning lights... after about 40 miles the warning started flashing again, followed by the DFI again.
Bike was running fine when I got home.
Buggery bollocks
Still doing the 175 mile home/RockStore/Sagebrush Cantina/Hone loop on Sunday though.
Sunday plan:
Take a spare key so I can remove the seat without stopping the engine, that way I can check the green light on the computer brain to see if it's trying to tell me something.
Looks like diagnosis will start with the engine heat sensor under the #1 intake.
It's also getting some Rislone 2-in-1 Tiger Piss with tomorrows fill up. Also looking for a local place to check/clean the injectors.
Walked out of the Kaw dealer yesterday afternoon to find about a dozen people (including the entire workshop crew) standing around the GPz making appreciative noises.
Last edited by ZRX61 on Sun Feb 22, 2026 3:08 pm, edited 1 time in total.
ok, got the code: 1 long, 3 short.. so engine heat sensor, grey wire. Also, nailed the exact moment the master caution (sorry, I'm an aircraft mech) started flashing the first time today (followed by the DFI lights): Getting airborne on the 405 South at Nordoff (I was making good progress). But as I was hauling ass in the #1 of 6 lanes I didn't think it prudent to pull over. Stopped for gas after that, but didn't check the green light on the brain. Coming home later it started flashing again & this time I pulled over to take a look at the green light. Reset after turning the bike off & on again. Then it happened again just before I got home after 174 miles today, this time I just hit the kill switch & restarted the engine to reset it at a red light... so plan for the week: Faff about with the multimeter etc & the tank is coming off at some point for a general look about under that.
Buggery bollocks Part #27...
Resistance on the wire from the engine heat sensor to the brain connector block is supposed to be less than 5 ohm (apparently). It's actually 39.5 ohm...
and the wires going into the connector block look like "someone was here before me..."
Hmm.. apparently the wheelbase is damn near 4in longer than the ZX11, it sure doesn't feel it. 1565mm vs 1470mm
Gonna have to measure it myself to check.
ZRX61 wrote: Tue Jan 20, 2026 3:08 am
Hmm.. apparently the wheelbase is damn near 4in longer than the ZX11, it sure doesn't feel it. 1565mm vs 1470mm
Gonna have to measure it myself to check.
Maybe the front end is pulled in to compensate,so the bike feels sharper on the turn in?
Skub wrote: Tue Jan 20, 2026 11:03 am
Maybe the front end is pulled in to compensate,so the bike feels sharper on the turn in?
Possible. The ZRX11 feels like a KX500 compared to the ZX11, it's way more fun in the twisties. Apparently the ZRX11 has the same steering geometry as the ZX7 (haven't checked that). The GPz11 went up The Snake on Sunday a lot easier than the ZX11 did last month... with that said, the road was dry this Sunday with hardly any traffic, whereas on the ZX11 last month the shady corners were wet & it was the first time I'd ridden a bike up there after the road had been closed for 7 years. It felt like I was driving a frigging bus (altho I was held up by some fanny in a McLaren).
I remember when I changed from my 900R to my first ZZR,riding home the 1100 steered like a truck compared to the 16" wheel on the 900. I stuck in a shock with adjustable ride height and jacked the rear of the ZZR a bit to get that sweet turn in feel.
