Have not been on a bike for 5 years
Have not been on a bike for 5 years
Hi All,
A newbie who hasn't ridden for about 5 years (I have 3 kids 5 and under).
My first bike was a honda VT250 (about 15 years ago), since then I have owned (in order) 1985 GSXR750, 1985 CR 250, 1991 ZXR750J1 (blue one), 1989 CBR400 (track bike), 1992 KX 80, 1994 ZXR400 (track bike), 2003 KX 250.
I still have the ZXR400 track bike, it has been sitting in my garage since my first was born over 5 years ago.
My wife gave birth to my 3rd daugther 3 weeks ago and I have been on leave from work since then. I have used this time to take the cover off my ZXR 400.
The bike has not been started in 5 years, I bought a new battery, new plugs, new oil filter, some oil, drained the tank and added new fuel etc and to my surprise the old girl started. I ride her around the block, but she was very rough and had flat spot around 6ooorevs. I am going to book her in to get a tune, but should I also:
- replace the chain
- bled the brakes and get new pads (I pretty much had no brakes when I took her around the block).
- get the forks and suspension re-done (I am i bit heavier these's days)
Is there anything else I should consider?
The aim is to get the bike too a point, where I am completely comfortable that all is OK, for when I venture back out in the track, as its a track bike only and its been awhile since I have ridden a bike.
Cheers
A newbie who hasn't ridden for about 5 years (I have 3 kids 5 and under).
My first bike was a honda VT250 (about 15 years ago), since then I have owned (in order) 1985 GSXR750, 1985 CR 250, 1991 ZXR750J1 (blue one), 1989 CBR400 (track bike), 1992 KX 80, 1994 ZXR400 (track bike), 2003 KX 250.
I still have the ZXR400 track bike, it has been sitting in my garage since my first was born over 5 years ago.
My wife gave birth to my 3rd daugther 3 weeks ago and I have been on leave from work since then. I have used this time to take the cover off my ZXR 400.
The bike has not been started in 5 years, I bought a new battery, new plugs, new oil filter, some oil, drained the tank and added new fuel etc and to my surprise the old girl started. I ride her around the block, but she was very rough and had flat spot around 6ooorevs. I am going to book her in to get a tune, but should I also:
- replace the chain
- bled the brakes and get new pads (I pretty much had no brakes when I took her around the block).
- get the forks and suspension re-done (I am i bit heavier these's days)
Is there anything else I should consider?
The aim is to get the bike too a point, where I am completely comfortable that all is OK, for when I venture back out in the track, as its a track bike only and its been awhile since I have ridden a bike.
Cheers
- robracer
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Re: Have not been on a bike for 5 years
Welcome to KSRC Ryano, hope you can find enough time to do the work on the bikes, round our place the bikes are at the bottom of the list of priorities, the kids are at the top of course 

- Whickle
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Re: Have not been on a bike for 5 years
Welcome to the forum
As for the bike, i would also give the carbies a good clean out. That may solve your flat spot issues. Other than that, maybe some fresh rubber before hitting the track. There are quiet a few members here that do track days at the Creek and other tracks. They generally post up when they are going.
As for the bike, i would also give the carbies a good clean out. That may solve your flat spot issues. Other than that, maybe some fresh rubber before hitting the track. There are quiet a few members here that do track days at the Creek and other tracks. They generally post up when they are going.
- waynemorgan
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Re: Have not been on a bike for 5 years
Welcome aboard 

I don't like the term insane - I prefer mentally hilarious!
Re: Have not been on a bike for 5 years
Thanks for the feedback guys. Hopefully, I will have the bike ready in a month or so and I will keep an eye out for any track day posts once the bike is going.
Cheers
Cheers
- swearbear9r
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Re: Have not been on a bike for 5 years
hi and welcome mate.......... great bunch of ppl here ....... most of them lol 

Swearbear
- shinnynoggon
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Re: Have not been on a bike for 5 years
welcome



live when i'm alive, sleep when i'm dead
zx12r 05 roady "black betty"
zx12r 00 roady "midori"
zx9r 99 tracky "weed"
zxr750 93 soon to be race bike "cactis"
zx12r 05 roady "black betty"
zx12r 00 roady "midori"
zx9r 99 tracky "weed"
zxr750 93 soon to be race bike "cactis"
- P4nza
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Re: Have not been on a bike for 5 years
Willkommen!!



2009 Kwaka Ninja 250R (Charlotte) Roady SOLD :'(
2010 Kwaka Ninja 250R SE (Jenny) Tracky SOLD :'(
Now i got no kwakas to ride! :\
"...I thought my tongue was longer than that!"
Team Crashed 2010
2010 Kwaka Ninja 250R SE (Jenny) Tracky SOLD :'(
Now i got no kwakas to ride! :\
"...I thought my tongue was longer than that!"
Team Crashed 2010

- the kid
- KSRC Addict
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Re: Have not been on a bike for 5 years
You are in good company here Mate , Red Dave hasn't been on a bike for about 5 years as well . 

Ummmm let me see
- tim
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Re: Have not been on a bike for 5 years
Welcome to ksrc mate!!!
Got some pics of the beastie?

Got some pics of the beastie?
Geez you must spend a lot of time with the kids Robrobracer wrote:Welcome to KSRC Ryano, hope you can find enough time to do the work on the bikes, round our place the bikes are at the bottom of the list of priorities, the kids are at the top of course

2008 ZX6R Special Edition