Kawasaki Sportsbike Riders Club - Australia - Online Forum

Hi All,

Have an '03 Z1000 which is playing up. Can't get past 7K rpm, seems to lose compression. Thinking it might be an issue with the Air Box or solenoid. Has anybody experienced this and have a solution? Kwaka have a part to replace for around $300 that I'm trying to avoid forking out for if it's not required.

Cheers..

huh?

does it rev cleanly then hit like a rev limiter? or does it struggle all the way to 7grand?

cant see an airbox being the issue, unless it blocked up?

G'day I'm not an expert on this one but I have heard of a few cases of this where due to the vibration from the engine at this rpm that the sidestand cutout switch was playing up causing the engine to cut out and not go any faster but once the revs come back down all is fine. Just a check before going to the dealer anyway.

potta9 wrote:G'day I'm not an expert on this one but I have heard of a few cases of this where due to the vibration from the engine at this rpm that the sidestand cutout switch was playing up causing the engine to cut out and not go any faster but once the revs come back down all is fine. Just a check before going to the dealer anyway.

Spray the crap out of the switch with wd40

Bad fuel? Had it happen to me in NT with that Opal no smellable crap Longest day of my life when the speed limit was 130

Wattie wrote:huh?

does it rev cleanly then hit like a rev limiter? or does it struggle all the way to 7grand?

cant see an airbox being the issue, unless it blocked up?

Revs clean till around the 7K, then just struggles. My mechanic noticed a valve that when under revs closes off, located near the air box (or so I think). First time he noticed that the reed on this valve was worn, screwed around with it and it was ok. Less than a week later, started noticing a high pitched sound coming from the engine during warm up and that's when I started losing the power. Took it back to the mechanic who again screwed around with this valve and get it going again only to have it play up again the following day. He's now looking at options to avoid the $300 charge from kwaka to replace this valve. I was hoping that someone on here had experienced the same issue and had a resolution. Perhaps the Air Box Mod???

Probably time to upgrade to a ZRX my friend

UncleChopChop wrote:Probably time to upgrade to a ZRX my friend

Thanks for the advice. Love the Z too much though..

Sounds to me like the butterflys in the throttle body.

Yeah the only valve near the air box is your Kleen air system which puts fresh air into the exhaust. Could also be a fuel starvation issue .

UncleChopChop wrote:Probably time to upgrade to a ZRX my friend

He doesnt sound 50 yet, so probably too early.

Hey Chitchats, If I had been open minded enough to look at a ZRX when they first came out, I would probably have bought one then and there!! As it is, it took me until I was 40 before I realised what a fantastic bike they are! To think, I could have been having this much fun for the last 10 years!!!

Strika wrote:Hey Chitchats, If I had been open minded enough to look at a ZRX when they first came out, I would probably have bought one then and there!! As it is, it took me until I was 40 before I realised what a fantastic bike they are! To think, I could have been having this much fun for the last 10 years!!!

Strika, not doubting the ZRX, powerful naked that will humble most (if not all) sport bikes, not to mention hard to find and hold their price remarkably well.

Maybe i am speaking out of turn but most owners are from 40+ and quite festidious about them, and this includes the courier in Sydney city on one, looks as if he rode out of the showroom on it an hour ago.

A shame they are discontinued, now for a new big "naked" Kwaka their is only the Zed and in my opinion they are not looking so naked anymore more "toury".

At 37 and 40 not far away maybe the ZRX will be for me, however if i ever "social" ride i may get scoffed at for the dirtiest, well (over) used bike in the pack, but that won't be my problem to deal with.

Ride safe.

Issue now sorted. Cleaned the throttle body entirely and placed a K&N filter in it. Replaced the clutch cable while he was at it (needed it). Running like a dream now. Thanks for your help.

BTW, approaching 40 but still not interested in the ZRX. And the '03 Z looks nothing like a tourer..

I must admit, if I was to sell the ZRX, I would be getting a 2011 Z1000 fully faired model, they are the nicest bike on the market ATM...