New to the ZZR600 - Some help please :-)

[Valski]

Hey all. I'm a newbie, so I hope my questions won't sound too dumb.

Firstly, I have a 1990 ZZR600, and I just can't seem to adjust the mirrors to the right position to see the traffic in the lanes side me. I've ridden other bikes and never had this problem. Both of them have the wide angle mirrors on them, which is ok, but seems to be blocking the main mirror view.

Secondly, what is the recommended gear change pattern? As in, 1st to ?speed, 2nd to ? speed, 3rd and so on. Reason I ask is that I'm in the process of selling the yamaha cruiser I have (glorified lawn mower) and I'm not used to the sound of a real bike. I can't yet distinguish how the "scream" is supposed to sound.

Lastly, because I've only just bought my ZZR, I'd like to have it checked out thoroughly for any problems. Can anyone suggest a good place to have this done?

Thanks in advance.

[HemiDuty]

Yeah the mirrors on a lot of sportier bikes aren't really wide enough, you can fit wider ones but it is up to you.

As far as changing gears, for normal road riding I reckon it comes down to throttle. If you are using light throttle, 4 grand is fine, medium throttle about 5,000 - 6,000 RPM and when you are on it fairly hard anywhere between there and redline is good

Dunno where in syndey is good, maybe the guys down there can help with that?

[Morden]

Great Bike I had a Blue and Black one untill I wrote it off

I found that when in trafic (and thus riding a little more sedatly), when slowing down, you really don't want to let it go under 3G unless you intend on stopping. Mine stalled at around 1-1.5G But (like most 600's) had no guts under 3000.

If your riding a bit harder (such as in "the hils", every city seems to have "the hills"), 5G is a good point to have it when cornering, gives you a nice smooth amount power curve to ride out with, but please note, match your gear to your roadspeed, not the otherway around, 5G in top gear is not recomended for twisties, as you'll be close on 100km/h (depending on what final drive ratio your running).

With a little practise, you'll be able to pick these two points by ear and feel, Under 3G will feel VERY slugish, and 5G-8G is a very distinct power band (or at least was with my ZZR)

Hope this helps.

[Valski]

It does help. Thanks!

[Ratmick]

It does help. Thanks!

Ram-air howl kicks in at around 7-8k.

What Morden said, if you want to keep things quiet, you can get away with short-shifting at 4k, but it will not pull away with any verve. Change at around 5-6k RPM, and it goes much better.

If you really want to see what the bike will do wind her out in second/third/fourth and change at around 8-8.5k RPM...

...however be prepared to be doing the wrong side of the imperial ton at the end in fourth, so give yourself plenty of room (and hang on).

Have a good one...

[mike-s]

Yeah, it does take a bit of getting used to, the only places i know, aside from being good, are at LEAST 25km from where you are (in a easterly direction), So places i know to get bikes looked at, aren't realistically in your scope, sorry mate.

[Glen]

Not sure about good guys around Minchinbury. Castle Hill Motorcycles is good. Mick (Cook) is a good bloke who won't rip you off. He's in Victoria Ave, in one of the unit's across from Heartland Holden.

[jewjew]

Or you can try Parramatta Kawasaki

[Valski]

I might give Castle Hill a try. I know that Parra Kawasaki is a sponsor of this club, but I have heard some not so good things about them.

[Rusty]

1990 hasn't got ram air, Mr Ratmick.

Valski, keep it above 4000 rpm and it'll be ok. The red line's 14k, so change gear before then.

[Phil]

1990 hasn't got ram air, Mr Ratmick.

Valski, keep it above 4000 rpm and it'll be ok. The red line's 14k, so change gear before then.

"the red line is just a guide " copyright madtim (or phantim or gpxtim or whatever......)

[Smitty]

"the red line is just a guide " copyright madtim (or phantim or gpxtim or whatever......)

hahaha
me thinks it applies to 18million$ GPx's
not sure about standard ZZR600s

[SilverFox]

I set my mirrors so I just see the edge of my elbows (& edge of my rack) rather then the lanes either side. I find it less distracting and safer.

As for gear changes.... sometimes I shift from 1st-2nd before turning at the lights and other times around 5-6K or during extremes just below the red line. The bike seems happier with more revs then less.

The legendary Kwaka Klunk when I shift from 1st to 2nd is music to my ears but scares the shite out of other riders near me.