maggs
17-07-2012, 08:40 PM
Hi All,
Just recently joined and paid my membership dues and looking forward to conversing with you guys.
I'm no spring chicken, over half a ton but still riding and have been for 40 odd years. A couple months ago I sold my 07 R1 cause it was just too painful riding after some bolts now restrict my back movement plus a bunch of old war wounds. I only lasted a few months without a bike and said screw this, there must something I can still ride. I'm not ready for a Harley just yet so I started looking for a project. Come across what seemed like a good deal on ebay and made a bid and ended up winning a 96 ZX7R. She looked pretty ratty in the photo's but the price was right and I've been a kwaka guy since 79 when I bought my first roadie, a Z1000 MkII. I didn't have enough time to go and look at it so just hoped for the best.
When I arrived to pick her up I was pleasantly surprised. Apart from being filthy I could see some nice bits were fitted and new tyres and chain and sprockets and an ABM top triple clamp with a near new set of Renthals. The guy told me he suspected the cam chain was stuffed as the last ride he had a year or so ago ended with a lot of clacking noises and finally it wouldn't start. He handed me a brand new cam chain and wished me luck.
Got her home and unloaded her and ripped into it. Total strip down and suspected a motor rebuild was probably going to happen too. I ripped the plugs out and number 3 hole was full of water and the boot was split real bad. Blew the water out and did a compression test, all good. Hmm, maybe the clacking was the plug hole shorting out the spark. Ripped of the cam cover and chain was perfect and tight. Looks like I might be lucky here for a change.
Over the next few weeks I polished the frame and swinger and painted the rest. Added a few bits of bling and put her all back together. After lots of drama with the carbs, I finally got her running nicely.
As purchased.
http://i1071.photobucket.com/albums/u510/smagaric/ZX7ROriginal.jpg
About a week ago.
http://i1071.photobucket.com/albums/u510/smagaric/IMG_0174.jpg
http://i1071.photobucket.com/albums/u510/smagaric/ZX7RPainted2.jpg
Since the photo I've changed a few bits and put the grab bars back on. Worst of all I crashed her on the second test run. Luck it wasn't a major deal but could have been. I wasn't happy with the fuel line from the tank to the filter. It's a moulded jobby that has lots of turns and kinks so an oem was needed as it was starting to crack. Rode into the local bike shop and order one. One the way home it started to starve for fuel so I switched to reserve and was right at tee intersection closing in on me and started braking. Got down to about 20 k's in speed and started to tip her into the corner when the rear just ripped right round in front of me and down I went. Shocked the crap out of as I wasn't doing anything naughty and the road has brand new sticky asphalt on it. You guessed it, the fuel line broke and leaked petrol right onto the rear tyre. I can confirm that petrol and tyres equals disaster. Anyways, I picked myself and bike up and quickly put the stand down and examined my brand new 2 pack paintwork. I thought no way can it not be damaged. Yep, unscathed. The only damage was a scraped bar end and spool and snapped the gear lever knob off. I could not believe that was it. For me, a skinned knee and some cracked ribs. We both got off lightly.
Even though our new relationship has gotten off to a bad start, I'm looking forward to putting some miles on her. If it ever stops raining here I'll get some decent photo's up.
Just recently joined and paid my membership dues and looking forward to conversing with you guys.
I'm no spring chicken, over half a ton but still riding and have been for 40 odd years. A couple months ago I sold my 07 R1 cause it was just too painful riding after some bolts now restrict my back movement plus a bunch of old war wounds. I only lasted a few months without a bike and said screw this, there must something I can still ride. I'm not ready for a Harley just yet so I started looking for a project. Come across what seemed like a good deal on ebay and made a bid and ended up winning a 96 ZX7R. She looked pretty ratty in the photo's but the price was right and I've been a kwaka guy since 79 when I bought my first roadie, a Z1000 MkII. I didn't have enough time to go and look at it so just hoped for the best.
When I arrived to pick her up I was pleasantly surprised. Apart from being filthy I could see some nice bits were fitted and new tyres and chain and sprockets and an ABM top triple clamp with a near new set of Renthals. The guy told me he suspected the cam chain was stuffed as the last ride he had a year or so ago ended with a lot of clacking noises and finally it wouldn't start. He handed me a brand new cam chain and wished me luck.
Got her home and unloaded her and ripped into it. Total strip down and suspected a motor rebuild was probably going to happen too. I ripped the plugs out and number 3 hole was full of water and the boot was split real bad. Blew the water out and did a compression test, all good. Hmm, maybe the clacking was the plug hole shorting out the spark. Ripped of the cam cover and chain was perfect and tight. Looks like I might be lucky here for a change.
Over the next few weeks I polished the frame and swinger and painted the rest. Added a few bits of bling and put her all back together. After lots of drama with the carbs, I finally got her running nicely.
As purchased.
http://i1071.photobucket.com/albums/u510/smagaric/ZX7ROriginal.jpg
About a week ago.
http://i1071.photobucket.com/albums/u510/smagaric/IMG_0174.jpg
http://i1071.photobucket.com/albums/u510/smagaric/ZX7RPainted2.jpg
Since the photo I've changed a few bits and put the grab bars back on. Worst of all I crashed her on the second test run. Luck it wasn't a major deal but could have been. I wasn't happy with the fuel line from the tank to the filter. It's a moulded jobby that has lots of turns and kinks so an oem was needed as it was starting to crack. Rode into the local bike shop and order one. One the way home it started to starve for fuel so I switched to reserve and was right at tee intersection closing in on me and started braking. Got down to about 20 k's in speed and started to tip her into the corner when the rear just ripped right round in front of me and down I went. Shocked the crap out of as I wasn't doing anything naughty and the road has brand new sticky asphalt on it. You guessed it, the fuel line broke and leaked petrol right onto the rear tyre. I can confirm that petrol and tyres equals disaster. Anyways, I picked myself and bike up and quickly put the stand down and examined my brand new 2 pack paintwork. I thought no way can it not be damaged. Yep, unscathed. The only damage was a scraped bar end and spool and snapped the gear lever knob off. I could not believe that was it. For me, a skinned knee and some cracked ribs. We both got off lightly.
Even though our new relationship has gotten off to a bad start, I'm looking forward to putting some miles on her. If it ever stops raining here I'll get some decent photo's up.