First new big bike EVER!

[Skub]

Preliminary report.

I picked up the bike this evening after the flash and lucked out with a lovely,dry and sunny hour long drive home.

I must admit I initially hesitated to have the work done,as I'm well aware I've voided the Kawasaki warranty on a 9 month old bike. However given the returns,I'm so glad I did.

I wasn't after,nor needed massive bhp gains,what I wanted was sweet fuelling and a bike that rides the way mister Kawasaki intended,not after the eurocrats messed with it. That has happened.

The bike has a real sense of urgency now,with no on/off snatchiness from the throttle,much easier and more pleasant to ride.

I'm looking forward to some decent time in the saddle now,no more fiddling....for a while!

[Skub]

Finally shot of the unimpressive stock Dunlop tyres,the front was gubbed before the rear and I couldn't stick them any longer. 3850 miles.

New set of Michelin PP5 installed today. I only had time for a 20 miles run home from the shop,but even at that,new tyres = deep joy.

Odd looking pattern,almost like a wet!

[Supermofo]

Every test of a Kwak I've read in the last few years singles out the OE spec Dunlop for abuse. They can't save that much money getting Dunlop to make shit versions of a tyre over using the Dunlop version surely? Not when compared to the negative reviews they get.

That tread pattern is similar to the road 5 but with more slick bits. The road 5 is odd too as you can definitely see the join in compounds within a couple of hundred miles. Love the road 5 though, good tyre.

[Skub]

4000 mile oil and filter change,it came out like brown water ffs.

[Druid]

You're doing your own oil and filter changes on a new bike?


Good man

[KungFooBob]

iirc it's a keeper, going by how long he kept the zx10, service history won't matter.

[Skub]

You're doing your own oil and filter changes on a new bike?


Good man

That's me.

It had it's first free service at 600 miles,the next oil dump wasn't until 7500 miles,a bit too long in my opinion.

iirc it's a keeper, going by how long he kept the zx10, service history won't matter.

Ha,more than likely. I'd say I borked any warranty by dumping the cat and getting the ecu flashed anyway!

[Mr. Dazzle]

It had it's first free service at 600 miles,the next oil dump wasn't until 7500 miles,a bit too long in my opinion.

Just out of curiosity what are the recommended intervals?

The old Triumphs are (IIRC) 1000 miles. My car doesn't actually have fixed intervals, it works it out based on the type of driving you do and it can be >20,000 miles. Presumably bikes are somewhere in the middle.

I've not owned a new bike so I don't know what they say these days.

[Skub]

It had it's first free service at 600 miles,the next oil dump wasn't until 7500 miles,a bit too long in my opinion.

Just out of curiosity what are the recommended intervals?

The old Triumphs are (IIRC) 1000 miles. My car doesn't actually have fixed intervals, it works it out based on the type of driving you do and it can be >20,000 miles. Presumably bikes are somewhere in the middle.

I've not owned a new bike so I don't know what they say these days.

It'll vary from bike to bike,but mine was 600 miles for first service,4000,7500,12k etc.

I always dump the oil and filter every 4k. I use semi synth oil and genuine (made in China ) Kawasaki filters.

[Druid]

It had it's first free service at 600 miles,the next oil dump wasn't until 7500 miles,a bit too long in my opinion.

Just out of curiosity what are the recommended intervals?

The old Triumphs are (IIRC) 1000 miles. My car doesn't actually have fixed intervals, it works it out based on the type of driving you do and it can be >20,000 miles. Presumably bikes are somewhere in the middle.

I've not owned a new bike so I don't know what they say these days.

Service intervals for my Monster are 7500 miles/12 months.

It's been many years since I did anywhere near 7500 miles in a year, so my bikes get at least an oil and filter change every spring

[Supermofo]

It had it's first free service at 600 miles,the next oil dump wasn't until 7500 miles,a bit too long in my opinion.

Just out of curiosity what are the recommended intervals?

The old Triumphs are (IIRC) 1000 miles. My car doesn't actually have fixed intervals, it works it out based on the type of driving you do and it can be >20,000 miles. Presumably bikes are somewhere in the middle.

I've not owned a new bike so I don't know what they say these days.

6k miles for the 690 but that includes a valve check as well (well a rocker arm baring check as far as I can tell).

I do oil, filters and screens at 3 with dealer valve check at 6. The 690 only holds 1.8 litres of oil so no way I'd leave it 6k miles.

[Mr. Dazzle]

The 690 only holds 1.8 litres of oil so no way I'd leave it 6k miles.

Car again...but my 100k Beemer doesn't burn a drop. It can electronically measure oil level and it never drops below "max" even when the oil has been in there 20 thousand miles

My (Druid's!) 74k VFR never needed topping up either.

The 69 Bonneville may as well be two stroke It did have fucked guides and rings though, so hopefully it will be a bit more frugal when I reassemble.

[rodbargee]

Ooooh! I LIKE That! cant beat a KAWASAKI.

[ZRX61]

Every test of a Kwak I've read in the last few years singles out the OE spec Dunlop for abuse. They can't save that much money getting Dunlop to make shit versions of a tyre over using the Dunlop version surely? Not when compared to the negative reviews they get.

My ZRX11 came from the factory with Bridgestones. One time I put Dunlops on it & ended up throwing the fuckers away before they were worn out. Back to Bridgestones ever since & both ends slide about a bit but feel perfectly safe.

[Yorick]

I rode dozens of other bikes on track. Test bikes, demo bikes, hire bikes and punter's own bikes.
I never looked at what the tyres were. Got my knee down on them all, so they all worked ok.

[G.P]

both ends slide about a bit but feel perfectly safe.

*Swoon*

[ZRX61]

I rode dozens of other bikes on track. Test bikes, demo bikes, hire bikes and punter's own bikes.
I never looked at what the tyres were. Got my knee down on them all, so they all worked ok.

People used to rave about Pirelli Phantoms back in the day, but they either stuck like shit to a blanket or you were part of the landscaping... no inbetween.

[G.P]

I rode dozens of other bikes on track. Test bikes, demo bikes, hire bikes and punter's own bikes.
I never looked at what the tyres were. Got my knee down on them all, so they all worked ok.

Having seen you "larking about" at Snetterton in the wet, on road tyres, I can attest to this

[Yorick]

I rode dozens of other bikes on track. Test bikes, demo bikes, hire bikes and punter's own bikes.
I never looked at what the tyres were. Got my knee down on them all, so they all worked ok.

Having seen you "larking about" at Snetterton in the wet, on road tyres, I can attest to this

Cheers, the tenner's in the post

[Skub]

Update.

Just over 6k up now on the Zed,that's more than the pitiful mileage I attained in the previous 5 years with the 10R.
Something about this bike makes me want to ride much more often. I think some of it is down to being able to ride how the mood takes me. If I want to pootle about cruising,the bike allows this in comfort,if a more spirited session is desired,the bike handles sweet enough to raise a smile.

The triple figure stuff is where a sportsbike lives and a naked bike is always going to be much harder work to maintain this,so apart from the odd foray into this zone,the plan of buying a naked to slow me down on the road has worked without spoiling my fun. The Ten always wanted to be over 80mph,or maybe it was just me.

I've stopped fiddling with the suspension as everything seems to be under control and I can ride without noticing issues.
The ECU flash has made the engine a sweet thing and has the add on benefits of not upsetting the suspension and funnily enough better mpg.
It's taken me longer than I thought to lessen my input through the higher bars and just let the bike be itself,but I'm learning!

*I can't honestly think of anything else I need to make the bike the way I want,time to enjoy the miles.


*Today anyway.