Goose

[Gosling1]

Getting the valve clearances correct will also help a lot. I am sure Andrew will do a fine job on the balancing.

[Lurch]

I'm hoping not to have to touch the valve clearences. This 2nd engine is only about 10,000k's old.
That and from what I know the shim arrangement in these engines can be a prick of a job.

[Lurch]

Was feeling like shit today, so knocked off early.
But did cruise around to Typhoon's place to get the carbies tuned. He did an awesome job. The whole bike feels crisper and pulls a lot nicer off the line.
He took a look at the spark plugs and reckons its running just fine mixture wise.

Things still to do;
Find a new circlip for the pillion peg.
Get a new rocker cover gasket and retap the rocker cover bolts (should be a fun job )
Get the lower fairings resprayed.
Service the starter button (I think thats where the problem is)
Do a service on the front forks (new oil, charge the air)
Remove and polish the oil cooler.
Enjoy the mighty beast!

[GPZ_Jim]

very kewl! love the curvyness of the 80s bikes

just curious how easy/hard is it to source tyres in that sort of size? I was staring down the barrel of having to fit a white wall tyre on my gpz

[Whickle]

Metzler make tyres for these. You may have to get your local shop to order them. no idea on price tho.

If i keep my z750 (1980) i may just find out.

[MickLC]

Metzler make tyres for these. You may have to get your local shop to order them. no idea on price tho.
...

Pirelli Sport Demons come in a fair range of sizes too and are a pretty good option. Tyres in these sizes are usually cheaper than most normal sportbike tyres too.

[Gosling1]

Metzeler do a great front tyre for these old dungers - in either 100 or 110 section, Lasertech. It's the old ME33 pattern which has been around for years and works really well on these style of bikes. Generally expect to pay around $160-$180 fitted & balanced for one of these.

The Sport Demons are also a great tyre, I am pretty sure that Mick LC has one on the back of his z650, and I am using one of these in 130/80 x 18 on the back of the Black Pearl. Excellent grip and the mileage looks like it will be good as well. I think the SD rear in this size was about $240 fitted ??

Another alternative - if you can find them - is the Avon AM21 Roadrunner in a 120/80 x 18 rear tyre. These also have excellent grip and wear properties, but can be hard to track down. I paid $150 fitted & balanced for a rear tyre on my z650 last year.

[Lurch]

Any one got a spare 750 rocker cover gasket around, before I order one?

[Lurch]

CR Wank Factor Ride today:

(Pic by Whickle)

[tim]

Top pic whickle, bike's looking great lurch, you win the prize for best helmet/bike coordination.

[Lurch]

Purely coincidence, I swear
The old beast still needs work - but at least he's looking the part now

[Strika]

I'm hoping not to have to touch the valve clearences. This 2nd engine is only about 10,000k's old.
That and from what I know the shim arrangement in these engines can be a prick of a job.

What makes you say that?

[Lurch]

Just what Ive been told - thats all.
Ive decided tho, that come next winter the top end will get a proper freshen up

[Gosling1]

I'm hoping not to have to touch the valve clearences. This 2nd engine is only about 10,000k's old.
That and from what I know the shim arrangement in these engines can be a prick of a job.

What makes you say that?

under-bucket shims ...

compared to the over-bucket z9 shims, which are a walk in the park by comparison

[Lurch]

The latest 'large' bike purchase recently has been a stock exhaust for Goose.
Now these black-chrome pipes are as rare as rocking horse shit. I ended up getting mine from Canadia. And cost a bomb!

So todays garage argument was fitting them. Several hours later I was able to fire the beast up to find the engine no where near as noisey as I thought it'd be and NO SMOKE!!