Kawasaki Sportsbike Riders Club - Australia - Online Forum

hi y'all.. been at least 2yrs since I last posted in here... and sadly almost just as long since my beloved 2002 ZX9R has been on the road.

history... a couple yrs ago, I ruptured the c5/c6 & c6/c7 discs in my neck, plus fractured the C6 vertebrae.
this resulted in 1 month straight in hospital including a couple of weeks in ICU... a fused C6/c7 joint in spine and loads of pain and years of rehab.

I got back on the bike for a lil while (a couple of months) after the injury, but then had complications with the injury and pain etc.
So I had to stop riding.

During this time, my bike sat there...alone, doing nothing.
I had no one who could prepare my bike (drain fluids etc) to prepare my bike for the loneliness that was too follow.

I managed to ride the bike for 4mins about 8mths ago, but the pain was too great.
So I stopped once more.
The bike has just been sitting there full of fuel, oil, brake fluid etc etc.

Now I am feeling alot better and have been cleared to ride again.. I want to get my beast up and running, once more.
However I am not entirely sure what is required.... what is mandatory and what is recommended.
I would really like to do as much work myself as possible.

So far I have drained the oil, completely & replaced it, plus oil filter.

I have drained the fuel tank completely. I have replaced the fuel filter.

I have been told I need to put a small amout of oil in the cylinders, before turning the bike over, but I am not sure how much is a "small' amount? a teaspon? a squirt of the oil tin? etc
(I also read somewhere I should rock the bike back and further to get oil around the clutch etc... not sure of this is correct)

Also I am concerned, could the bore of my cylinders be pitted? without pulling the engine down (which I CAN'T do myself) how would I know?

I am currently looking at purchasing a new K&N Air filter to replace the older one.

Should I drain the brake fluid?

Any tips? suggestions? ideas? or mandatory rules I need to follow??
Then please let me know.
Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

Wow what a story. I hope your feeling better. You've changed the oil the filter the gas etc. I would put a can of injector cleaner in the gas, (I know you have carbs) to clean any varnish that might have built up in the carbs. A small amount of oil in the pistons is not a bad idea, but just a squirt. Then turn it over, (the motor) with the spark plugs out by pushing the bike in 3rd or fourth gear to loosen things up a bit. Change the coolant and check your coolant hoses, they tend to crack when left for a period of time. If all moves ok then you can try to start it. Make sure your oil light goes out immediately. If it does ride it slowly for a bit. Tires do not age well, make sure you check them as well as flushing your brake fluid, (It collects moisture). Make sure your calipers are free and work. Make sure the fork pistons are clean and free of debri and rust. Bounce the suspension to make sure it works (rebound damping and spring action). Test the brakes at a low speed and heat them up a bit in low gear by holding them on for a bit then releasing them. After about 500 miles change the oil again. I'm probably missing something as I'm old but that should be a start. Cheers!!!!

Thanks Oldman...

I'll give that a go...

I'm terrified I'm going to miss something and the bike will pack it in and reagrevate the injury... if that happen, I'd never heard the end of it from everyone... ranging from the Neurosurgeon, the mother & of course the mrs...